Carolyn Hart

Woke at 5 am with a nightmare. My sister says it is the books I read. Actually listening to books on tape is worse.
Pushed snooze button four times. Thot of my son. Saturday (yesterday) he had the day off. He deliberately set alarm in order to push snooze button several times

My friend, Nan, is denomination searching. She wished to visit Arlington Unitarian Universalist church, and I suggested that I would accompany her so that she would not feel so strange. first I explained that Arlington UU was a church in name only, that it was de facto a fellowship. Nan asked what was the difference. Well, today must have shown her. It was *Do It Yourself* Sunday. Members share poems and pieces of reading. One member recited *The Owl and the Pussycat*. She told her story and it was clear that the poem had deep meaning for her. She and a friend used to recite it over the phone.
Today was also potluck. Nan decided to go home. Lea asked if I would go with her to La Madelaine, where I had a spinach thing.
Lea and I are fast friends. We agree that the most important equipment for a trip is books. So we went to Half Price books to pick up some paper backs. I mean, we did pay for them
I came home and took a nap until Lady Chica decided I needed to get up and licked my face over and over. Temp is 93 degrees. We are off to Ft. Woof.

BOOK REVIEW
Carolyn Hart, *April Fool Dead*
chick book. The heroine owns a book store selling mysteries on an island. She is holding a puzzle thing to publicize a book signing. Somebody fakes a list of clues all having to do with dark secrets people are hiding. One of a series.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

William Bernhardt

We arose and went forth to Ft. Woof. Hot and humid. Saw our friend, the history prof from TCU. Lady Chica went up to him and asked to be petted. She has changed so much. She lies onthe table.
Stopped at Town Talk to pick up cheese cake to take to AA bday party. Hot and humid.
Paid the rent.

Came home and took a nap. Where has the day gone? Went to AA bday party which lasted until 9:30. I have been attending for five or six years now. I have been watching people stay sober.

BOOK REVIEW
William Bernhardt, *Dark Eye*
I would not recommend this book to anyone with a delicate stomach. The murder scenes are described in detail. One of the sexual encounters is gross. The protagonist is a practicing alcoholic, and I the reader want to stop her drinking. It is fascinating, however. An autistic young man is solving puzzles, cryptograms left by the killer. The killer is using Poe's stories.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Patricia Cornwall

I woke from a strange dream. I am not exactly sure what happened, but I was in a protest meeting of some sort. I was suddenly asked to give a lecture off the top of my head on the status of women. So I went to the podium and began. In the audience was a woman buck naked, as protest (forget burning your bra). Of course, she had precedence. Isaiah did this in Biblical times. He was reminding people that as prisoners of war they would be paraded naked through the streets.

I slept until eleven. I was tired.My walking on the beach did me a world of good, releasing my ham strings. I can now squat!!!

Well, I wish I used the phone more frequently. I am needing innoculation for going to Mexico.
I drove over to Public Health in Arlington. They gave me a piece of paper with phone number and I have made reservations for Tuesday after Baptist Center. I had forgotten this was Labor Day weekend, and the traffic was horrendous. Almost worse than Houston.

I stopped off at Sonic and treated myself and Marilyn to a fried ice cream Sonic blast. that was so good. Then I came home and slept for two hours. I was tired.

I have not listened to books on tape nor sewed a stitch. Off to Ft. Woof.


BOOK REVIEW
Patricia Cornwall, *Trace*
Scarpetta novel. I prefer the early Cromwell, but this was welldone altho depressing. Five years after she was fired as Chief Medical Examiner in VA, Scarpetta returns to Richmond to consult on a case. Trace refers to traces of bone ashes and paint found in two disparate corpses. Scarpetta is accused of carelessness.

William Bernhardt

Wed nite at the dog park. Blitzen seems to need to re-establish himself. He goes around humping various dogs. Meanwhile Lady Chica has become friendly. She has come and sat on the table under the shelter. Making up to people.
Just ordered a trial version of earthlink. I may change providers.

The bigots were out in the park tonight. Some people are so racist.

Thursday morning. I gave Marilyn a wakeup call at eight and planned to go back to sleep, but I am wide awake. I am so agile these days. Walking on the beach did me so much good. We are going to stitch workshop at Club House.

What a busy morning. Attended Stitchin Time. That teacher gave each of us triangles to make one quilt block of flower garden. Wow.
Martha emailed me offering leftover shrimp scampi if I drove over and picked it up. Yes!!!! It was out of this world. I have monk fish besides.
Then off far far away to post office to pick up mail.
Now for a nap.

I never did get to sleep, I don't think. Maybe I did. I got up and have been sewing furiously on my string quilt top. Listening to novel by William Bernard.

BOOK REVIEW
William Bernhardt, *Dark Eye*
When I listen to books on tape I get into them. I feel as if I were in Las Vegas. Bernhardt's books are different. Serial killer in Las Vegas. The protagonist is a woman profiler who is an alcoholic and keeps drinking. I hope it has a happy ending. I am on disc six of eleven.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Tuesday August 26

Arose and went to community breakfast. Really good. German pancakes with sauce. My walks on the beach did me a world of good. I was jumping up and down, serving others.
Took a nap.
Then I took Marilyn to Senior Center to sign up for food bank.
Made a library run.
Have been having a lot of trouble getting on Juno. Lea suggests I try other ISPs.

Took my second nap. Off to Ft. Woof.

Back from Vacation

Arrived home 8 PM. Exhausted but happy. We had a good week. Went up to tell Marilyn I am home and she offered me a dish of ice cream with choc sauce. That is a joke, bc all week I was eating dessert for my entre at expensive seafood restaurants.

Monday 10 am. I intend to spend the day lolling in bed. I am more agile but tired. The first day I walked barefoot in the sand and could barely walk for four days. I would not qualify for the senior olympics.

I did go down and visit Marilyn who gave me a bowl of soup. Martha I am using your red bowl. Went to Walmart and bought a scrapbook binder.

Meeting of Philosophical Paleontology and Quilting Society. I will bring dogs home.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Lisa Scottoline

Mornings are easier without the dogs. They get up and Blitzen barks and lady Chica licks my face, demanding to be walked and fed.

Attended Sunday School and church. Then Ron brot some watermelons to the fellowship hall so that we could fellowship together. The Farmer was there.

REMEMBER: I will be gone for a week. On vacation.

BOOK REVIEW:
Lisa Scottoline, *Legal Tender*
Boilerplot but fun. Bennie Rosato (Benita) is a defense lawyer in New York City whose cases are mostly demonstrators and such. Her law partner wants to defend massive pharmaceuticals and plans to dissolve the partnership. Then he is killed and bennie is the chief suspect. Her race to find the real killer is a fun odyssey.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Jayne Ann Krentz

Tomorrow will be my last journall for a week.
Slept in until ten again today. Even Blitzen did not get up. I think the cool weather makes a difference, altho my muscles ache this morning.
Going to Circle Theatre with Lea this afternoon and leave Blitzen and Lady Chica for their vacation.

Nobody to greet me at the door when I came home. I am so tired, happy tired. Lea and I attended *Unnecessary Farce*. It was hilariously funny, a true farce.
Then John took us out to eat at Ryan's buffet. The food was sooo good. I am tired and sated.

Jayne Ann Krentz, *White Lies*
I can't believe I read and enjoyed this book. paranormal romance and soft porn. A fellow resident recommended it. So I took it home so that I wouldn't hurt her feelings. I intended to just look at it, but I became intriqued. Paranormal means the characters have psychic powers.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

James Lee Burke

Slept until ten. Every muscles in my body hurts. What did I do yesterday? Probably moving fast. We had heavy rain during the night.

I have been working all day on my string quilt. Also my tote bags. Cut out lining for tote bags.
Went to Ft. Woof as usual. Then Marilyn had a homecoming party for Helen who has been in hospital and nursing home. We shared cake outdoors.

BOOK REVIEW
James Lee Burke *Moon of Red Ponies*
Finally finished listening to tape. It ends in a satisfactory manner, like reality. The focus of conflict during the novel was a set of stolen computer discs. Finally they were sent to the media and published but nothing much happened. And Billy Bob lived happily ever after.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Linda Fairstein

I have had a day!!!! First off, I went to Stitchin Time. A fellow resident of Sunset Gardens is having a craft class. The teacher cut off fabric for a tote bag, actually two for me and one I will give Clara. So I have a new project.
Then I took my car to Kwik Kar in Arlington, where I have gone for 15 years. The little light that is a coolant icon kept coming on and going off. It turned out to be the thermostat. They cleaned it and replaced something. Now even the AC is cold. I don't really understand all this.

Then off to Town Talk. They had lots and lots of goodies. I bought strawberries. I read in Wikipedia that people who eat fruit regularly have a lower probability of getting shingles. I know two people with shingles, Bill R and Doris.

Came home and took a nap. Then worked steadily on my string quilt. I am making three scrap quilts. Off to Ft. Woof at seven. Lady Chica got muddy. She got wet and rolled in the dirt.

BOOK REVIEW
Linda Fairstein,*Killer Heat*
Police procedural. Our heroine is an assistant district attorney and the case revolves around a serial killer. They visit various historical sites around Manhattan. Interesting.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

J.D. Robb

Sometimes I think dogs have built in alarm clocks. At ten am Blitzen barked and barked until I got up. He wanted breakfast. All testosterone!!!!!

I just had time to shower and dress and get over to Senior Center for birthday luncheon for Bill R , our tai chi teacher. he has shingles. It was good to see him. Margie T was there. We had spaghetti. from Olive Garden.

Took almost all library books back. I WILL BE OUT OF POCKET NEXT WEEK. Going to Galveston for memorial Reunion on LIbby's birthday. Libby is my daughter who died 2006.

I slept for three hours this afternoon, until Blitzen barked and barked. After we had gone out to pee, I had fed them, and they played for a while, they quietly went to sleep while I worked on a quilt top. At seven we went to Ft. Woof. There were a lot of new little dogs there, and Blitzen was busy humping everyone. On the way home, Blitzen told me that he was just trying to organize the crowd, that the chaos was getting on his nerves.

BOOK REVIEW:
J.D. Robb, *Survivor in Death*
romantic police procedural. soft porn. Lt. Eve Dallas is a member of NYPD in 2059. This is a clever book. I enjoyed it. A family of four are wiped out by a home invader, and Dallas has to figure out why.

James Lee Burke

8 am. Up in time to eat breakfast. Still sleepy. No pains this morning.
Staffing reception desk at Baptist Center and busier than if open. All morning I answered questions. We are closed bc at 1 PM we are giving out 1200 school uniforms.

PPQS is Philosophical Paleontology and Quilting Society

I came home, ate lunch and took a nap. Then we dashed to Ft. Woof. Then I went off to have dinner with Leta. Leta is a great cook. We had goulash.

On the way to the meeting I was almost run over by a police chase. I was in the near lane when a great big white van was racing down the center line. Right behind him was a screaming police van. I meanwhile got into the outer lane. Then another police car came screaming. Then another police car came screaming. By then I was totally disoriented. I turned at the wrong corner. Then I met the three police cars come screaming back. I did manage to get to the meeting.


BOOK REVIEW
James Lee Burke, *Moon of the Painted Ponies*
I am only on cassette four of nine. His protagonist is BillyBob the Texas lawyer who has moved to Montana. He defends Johnny American Horse who dreams of red ponies.

I have two other books underway.
I will be going out of town next week. I will be returning all my library books.
We are having a Memorial Reunion on Libby's birthday. LIbby is my daughter who died in 2006.

Torch

I ache all over this morning. We may not get rain but the air pressure is changing. I think I will go back to bed.

I have worked hard all day on my three crazy quilts. Resting now and then.

Off to Lea"s (with dogs) for PPQS meeting. I could not even list what we talk about. Our conversation goes back and forth.

BOOK REVIEW
Deanie Francis Mills, *Torch*
My assessment is that this book is not focused. It seems to me that the author could not make up her mind what book she is writing. There is the mystery of the arsonist and the hunt for him. Then there is the story of the arsonist as well as the coming of age of the reporter. I found parts interesting. The novel needs editing.

Seven Sisters

A little gecko is living near me and walks across my window.

I made it to Sunday School and church. I have been tired all afternoon. Listening to tapes of *Torch*. The casettes are bad.

Finished hemming Lea's quilt. Went to dog park. Both dogs tired themselves out and are asleep. Judy, Ken and Szabo were there.

BOOK REVIEW
Earlene Fowler, *Seven Sisters*
In this series, every book title is the name of a quilt pattern. This pattern has seven stars and is based on pelaides. In the book this is the name of a ranch. I had read this before but wanted to read again for the relationships. Each book is an episode in Benni Harper's life. In this case, Benni's stepson is engaged to marry a woman from an important ranch family. At the engagement party, the fiance's aunt's husband is shot.

Indiana Jones

10:44 am Dawdled in bed until time to shower and dress. Dogs to Lea's backyard and me to Indiana Jones with Lea.
Well, Indiana Jones is still Indiana Jones. (It is a movie starring Harrison Ford.) The usual impossible events. As the story grows more rediculous the movie gets better and better. Harrison Ford is still sexy in my book.

After the movie, Lea and I made our pilgrimage to Joanne's fabric. This was a PPQS field trip. I bought a pattern and Lea bought some fabric.

Book Review
Earlene Fowler, *Broken Dishes*
This is the series where each title is the name of a quilt pattern. I could not find this pattern in my book of patterns. It may be there under another name. In this book, Broken Dishes is the name of a ranch where Benni Harper is helping her friends start a dude ranch. On a trail ride, one of the ranch dogs brings back a human bone. Long buried.
I thot I was so clever guessing the villain in the first chapter, until I reached the end and realized that I had read this book before long ago. It was published in 2004.









Hugs, Dr. Liz

Marcia Muller

Woke at 8 am. Sky was overcast. So we hightailed it over to Ft. Woof where we met Judy. Yeah. Mower was in small dog park. So we sat in big dog park near where Blitzen escapes so that we could watch Blitzen. Then a huge intact male pit bull arrived. So we retired to small dog park. Meanwhile Blitzen escaped in another place in the fence. Fortunately he joined us in the small dog park. Judy and I chatted away for two hours.

I took a long nap. Then I went over to chat with Marilyn and found myself watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games. I am glad I did not miss that. Incredible.

BOOK REVIEW
Marcia Muller, *Where Echoes Live*
Yeah. This is the book where Sharon McCone meets Hi Ripinsky, whom she later marries. It is a very complex plot, concerning a company who scams land out of the BLM. Somehow one can buy federal land if one stakes a mining claim. I don't understand it. Companies fake gold mines in order to buy land cheap.

Delectable Mountains

The Bible never talks about how Jesus handled recalcitrant followers. I can hear them now, "Jesus, I come from the same village as Hezakiah and you turned the water into wine at his wedding. I have a right to have you turn the water into wine at my wedding."

We got up at 10 am and raced to Ft. Woof. I did stop for coffee this morning. Park was not bad with a breeze blowing and shade. Most of the time we were the only small dogs. Rascal came for a while. His owners think he is a whippet but I think he may be a saluki.
Blitzen pulled a Lady Chica on me when it came time to go home. Usually he waits at the gate.

I came home and took a nap. This evening I spent the evening at Marilyn's chatting with Oda Mae and Mildred.


BOOK REVIEW
Earlene Fowler, *Delectable Mountains*
The title of each book in this series is the name of a quilt pattern. Delectable Mountains were the destination of Bunyan in Pilgrim's Progress. This has to do with the plot of the book. Benni Harper directs a children's play of an adaptation of Pilgrim's Progress. The church maintenance man is killed in front of the altar and an antique violin is stolen.



Hugs, Dr. Liz

Wednesday Aug 7

Up at 6 am for breakfast. Then back to bed.

The maintenance man drives by in his golf cart and my dogs are agitated. The morning is so cool. I have hair apt unfortunately and cannot get to dog park.

I got my hair cut. Then it was cool so we went to Ft. Woof. Few dogs and people.

I am hemming Lea's most recent lap quilt. I listen to tape, visit Marilyn.

BOOK REVIEW
Sally Spencer, *Dying Fall*
English police procedural. This is not Miss Marple's English village. Set in Lancashire, England, in 1966 this is a dying industrial village complete with hard mods (gangs). Someone is burning tramps alive (albeit asleep so they don't feel pain). Chief Inspector Woodend and his team must find the culprit. One of a series.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Hank the cowdog

Forgot to set alarm. Woke with fifteen minutes to get outthe door.

This morning was chaos. Next week kids begin getting school uniforms and people were hectic. I blew up and I feel such shame. I believe that I am the only woman who ever blows up.
My problem is that I shut up and shut up and then blow. I don't know how to politely talk to somebody.
In Sunday school class we talk about feeding the poor, but nobody mentions that the poor are demanding and sometimes hostile.

I came home and slept four hours. Chatted with Marilyn and watched wether channel. AT 5 pm temp was 99. I walked dogs to pee and they came in and have gone to sleep. No dog park tonight. Walking for three minutes exhausted me.
The dogs have slept all evening.

BOOK REVIEW
John R. Erickson, *The Case of the Most Ancient Bone*
Hank the Cowdog. This is the fiftieth book in the series. The series is composed of children's books, funny for children with sly humor for adults between the lines.
In this book, archaeologists come to dig on the ranch. They find a buffalo bone which Hank covets. Two coyotes come in to steal the bone and Hank manages to trick the coyotes into leaving. He is a hero.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Killer Angels

10 am Well, I am up and walking. PPQS meeting tonight. Meanwhile I stay indoors.

I stayed inside all day except for walking the dogs. Tonight we all went over to Lea's. Lea's dog, Pup, was lying in the hole he had dug. Next to him Blitzen was lying in a hole he had dug. Shades of Hank the Cowdog. Meanwhile Lady Chica was barking at the mice.

Our topic tonight was medicare. Lea is contemplating medicare four years from now.

BOOK REVIEW
Michael Shaara, *Killer Angels*
Listened to it on tape. It is easier for me bc narrator uses different voices. This book was published in 1974 and was used for *Gettysburg*. Everybody should know about it by now.
It is a "fictional" account of the Battle of Gettysburg. Strange how suspense builds as Pickett's charge nears. I remember the scene from Ken Burns' documentary of the 25th reunion at Gettysburg. As the Rebs come forward, the Yanks run down to meet them and they all hug.

I think wars are so stupid. Twenty-five years later the combatants are friends.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

Sneaky Pie Brown

AT 4 PM outdoor thermometer in the shade reads 104.

Attended Sunday school and church. Our interim pastor is a forceful speaker and wears cowboy boots in the pulpit. I am not sure about where he is on the theological scale. He began the sermon with an AA slogan. There is a God and you aren't he.
Then he quoted Karl Barth and Paul Tillich. Also Bonhoeffer. Those are all guys from the fifties but pretty radical.

Came home and took a nap. It is so hot outside. The dogs take a brief walk, demand to be fed and go back to sleep.

Official temp is 107. I watched the news at Marilyn's and it was all about the heat. I went over to chat with Marilyn for a while. I am doing hand work on my crazy quilt.

BOOK REVIEW
Rita Mae Brown, *Claws and Effect*.
This is a neat mystery for those not bothered by dogs and cats that talk. They only talk to each other, not the humans. But the animals discover the secret passage left over from the Underground Railroad.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

Saturday Aug 2

Noon. I have decreed we will not visit the dog park today. Too hot. I only woke at 10:30 am. Struggling with my ISP. I have so many projects to finish.
Listening to *Killer Angels* on tape. These books are easier to hear on tape bc the narrator changes voices.
The Black Hat Brigade of Detroit was considered the best unit in the Union Army.

I feel so tired. No energy. Tuesday will be 107. Over 100 all week.


BOOK REVIEW
Jonathan Kellerman, *Compulsion*
Alex Delaware novel. I have read this before but I could not remember the ending. Well, it was worth reading twice. A serial killer is on the loose, a shape shifter. A frustrated actor uses disguises.

Friday August 1

8 am Up briefly to orient myself. Woke from a nightmare where all was chaos, sort of like the beginning of Left Behind.

11 am Lady Chica licks me until I get up. She is so determind. I believe that Hank the Cattle Dog is a blue heeler altho he is not pictured as such.

Ran errands. Remind me never to go to the bank at noon on Friday. Long waiting line. I am so tired this afternoon. The temp ranges around 105 every day.

Couldn't get to sleep. Just tired. Took dogs to Ft. Woof and they just lay around. Then they come home and use the house for a race track.

BOOK REVIEW
Janet Ivanovich, *high Five*
I found this amusing whereas in the past I have hated this series. The protagonist is Stephanie, a bounty hunter in Trenton, New Jersey. In this book she is searching for her Uncle Fred, who has vanished.

J.D. Robb, *Interlude in Death*
romantic police procedural. This is the series about Eve Dallas in 2060, lt in New York Police. Only this time she is off planet in a resort satellite owned by her husband. She is speaking at a police seminar and murder ensues.


Hugs, Dr. Liz