Murder in 3 Acts

A while back there was a TV movie, “Murder in 3 Acts” shown on ABC in Oz.  It concerned the murders committed by Snowy Rowles around 1930.  The disposal of the bodies was accomplished by the method discussed by Arthur Upfield & mates over coffee.  Upfield has just sold his first BONY novel and was looking for a plot device for his 2nd.  The main thing was to dispose of the body completely and, hence, pose a nasty problem for BONY.

Rowles was there with them.  However, he was careless and was caught & hanged.  Upfield’s book came out & was serialixed during the trial.

If you can obtain the film, it is a good view.

New Riechs’ Novel

I just finished reading the latest Kathy Reichs’ novel: 206 Bones.   I recommend it to mystery fans.

Her approach to forensic mysteries is so much better than Cornwell’s.   I’ve come to hope, the bad guys kill off the Cornwell’s protagonists.  They don’t work any more.

ALBACON – Redux

I had a very good time at ALBACON.  You should have been there.  I did a few panels, mixed with everyone, went to parties, got not enough sleep, the usual.

Next year ALLEN STEELE is the literary GoH.  Y’all come on by.  We give good con!

What panels do you want to attend there?

Y’all come to ALBACON, you hear!

Susan invited you to “Book Signing” on Friday, October 9 at 3:00pm.

Susan says, “Please, post this event on your blog. Let everyone know that the Romance Writers have come to Albany, NY. It’s going to be a lovely event. Be sure to say hi to me, when you come, as I will be attending.  I’m a panelist in the writer’s conference.”.

Event: Book Signing
What: Retail
Start Time: Friday, October 9 at 3:00pm
End Time: Friday, October 9 at 5:00pm
Where: Sovereign Best Western Hotel, Albany, NY

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=145834023037&mid=135d9acG32b139a0G722447cG7

Burn the Books!

“The language and thought police are hardly some Orwellian invention; America has been unusually susceptible to plagues of Comstockery and self-righteous tomfoolery.” Jon Newlin; Well, Shut My Mouth; Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana); Oct 13, 1996.

Redwoods & a deserted Hobbiton

Saturday, 20 June 2009.  I awoke to another fine day.  It was sunny and comfortable.  I decided I would catch breakfast up the road.  I did my shoulder exercises, packed the car and headed north.  Drive was quite pleasant with light traffic.  The scenery was quite nice and the road wound between and through fields. 

Just south of Phillipsville I got off of 101 and onto the Avenue of the Giants.  I took my time and slowly drove down the road that wound between giant trees.  It was most relax will.  In Phillipsville I asked about the whereabouts of Hobbiton, USA.  It turned out and that I had passed the overgrown sign to Hobbiton, USA next to the sign that proclaimed The Chimney Tree.  I returned both the café and Hobbiton, USA were closed.  I took a picture of the sign and then started walking up the path.  It turned out that there are some tenants living on the grounds and warned me off as I was trespassing.  Darn!  While I was there, at least 10 cars slow down to give the area a look. 

I think the owners are vastly underestimating the attraction of Hobbiton, USA.  Granted it would cost a fair bit of change to bring the area back to high standards.  However, I would bet and donate some money that if the owners asked for help on The One Ring.Net and The Frodo Franchise blog, they would attract more than enough talent who would be willing to work for free in order to restore Hobbiton, USA to splendor.  All they would have to do is put up a plaque afterwards indicating which human, Elf, dwarf, etc., had helped with the restoration.  Moreover, they could host an annual picnic on the weekend closest to 1 May, which I believe is the date that Bilbo returned to Bagend, to do a spring cleanup on the grounds for the following tourist season. 

I sorrowfully took my leave and slowly headed up the Avenue of the Giants.  It is truly a magnificent experience to slowly drive this road.  Some of the trees along the road appeared to be about 10 feet in diameter.  Further away there must’ve been even bigger trees than those along the road.  It was truly an invigorating experience for the soul and mind. 

It was a short drive after the Avenue of the Giants ended to Eureka where I stayed for the evening.  Once in my room I’ve read for awhile, then went to the adjacent restaurant for dinner, called up a few friends to work on meetings along the road and then read some more until I turned out to light.  

I also decided I would spend an additional night here as I was meeting an old friend for a late lunch and rather than try and drive on afterword would put my feet up, make some phone calls and read little bit.  I would head out to some parks on Monday morning.

Up the coast

Thursday, 18 June 2009.  Got a fairly good night’s rest and awoke to find a hazy overcast and cool morning.  I headed down to Denny’s for a grand slam breakfast and on the way back I noticed the cloud cover, probably high fog, had more or less listed in the sun was out.  About time to get some work done on my diary.  While I didn’t upload diary entries to my blog, I did get about five or six days recorded.  I should catch up with over the next day or two and be able to post my entries. 

About noon, under bright sun, I headed up Highway 1 to the San Francisco area.  The first portion of the trip up to Santa Cruz was slow, rather pleasant but nothing special.  I did get a look at your grocery stores vegetables being harvested in the field.

The drive north of Santa Cruz was exceedingly nice.  The only real problem was getting through the CF that is known as Santa Cruz.  This is where I once again had some problems following almost nonexistent traffic signs.  Highway 1, the rest of the way, hugs the coast and is well worth the drive.  The drive it has gentle hills and curves as it runs almost on the beach to cliffs overlooking the sandy beaches.  For the most part I was not bothered by insane drivers, though there were a few, and could enjoy a leisurely drive up the coast. 

Ignorance is bliss.  Unfortunately, it also leads to driving on a road that appears to be the only one, it isn’t really, from the coast to San Francisco Bay.  Route 92 is a very beautiful drive marred only by the fact that there is a continuous heavy stream of traffic from one coast to the other.  The road snakes through rising hills almost to the Bay before dropping down onto the coastal roads.  It would be great fun to drive without the traffic. 

After petrol I found my motel and called Janet Coyle who arranged the Middle-earth Tours for us.  I dropped by for a lovely chat.  All too soon I headed back to the motel.  I once again tried to call a couple folk but to no avail. 

After reading for a couple hours I headed back into Belmont to Toto’s Pizza where I had some ravioli.  It was quite good.  Dessert was some Baskins and Robbins ice cream.  I headed back to the motel, watched some TV and read.  No response from my friends.  After a shower standing in a tub that didn’t drain, a call to the night.

A lazy day in Simi Valley

Tuesday, 16 June 2009.  I sort of slept in on a day that was quite pretty.  I had high hopes for actually getting something done but my resolve deserted me and I curled up and simply read. 

I did start the day by going over to IHOP and picking out on one of their new butterscotch creations which gave me all the sugar I needed for the next week.  However, it was so good. 

I was slightly good as I did do my shoulder exercises.  The left shoulder seems to be more or less fully healed.  And the other hand the right shoulder still hurts from a combination of arthritis and tendinitis.  At times it is a great inhalation of breath to grow older. 

Many pages later I got a call from Lynn that she had finished her work for the day and did I want company.  Of course,  I did.  When she arrived, we headed across the street for some pizza.  It wasn’t bad, and the place was civilized as it served Pepsi.  Afterwards, we finish cleaning some photos off my laptop and browsed through a bunch of others that still remained.  

Her company was a very fine ending to a lazy day.

Tasty Mongols!

Thursday, 11 June 2009.  Today started out much the same as the day before.  It was cloudy and cool but still a lovely day.  However, things would be happening later that day. 

About 5:30 Gary Lee picked up three of us and we headed over to Caesar’s Mongolian BBQ for a meeting of the Tasty Mongols’ Horde.  Joining us there were Laura and Harry Turtledove, Jenny and Craig Miller, Kate, Bob and Miriam Wadey, Heather Ryan and Lin Daniel.  Good food, fine company and excellent conversation.  A most enjoyable evening!

Wednesday? I don’t need no stinkin’ Wednesday

Wednesday, 10 June 2009.  I decided, I would call off the world today.  I curled up in a recliner and read for most of the day.  It felt very good.  Not the day was bad, as usual the morning and most of the day was cloudy with what everyone calls June Gloom, I just decided I didn’t want to do anything.  So there.