April 21, 2010

Lady Chica has a Bedtime To Do list. After we get home from the park the dogs get fed. Then she wants her toy laden with peanut butter. (Blitzen gets it after she is finished. He doesn't get one bc he takes everything into the living room and messes up the rug.)
Then LC demands a treat, a cookie. And then she goes to sleep.

Wednesday 6 am. Up for a pit stop. I have been writing something called Ghost Town, about my childhood in rural Michigan.
Persis: what year did you sell the old homestead?

10 AM Woke in a panic from a dream. I am going to Walgreen's to develop pics of Martha addressing invitations to her wedding. It goes in the "Wedding Scrapbook". This will not have pics of the wedding. Just the circumstances. My view of it all.
The wedding is May 1 in Green bay Wisconsin where Jeff's family live. Our family is scattered about the country. So we will be converging on Friday.
The pups go to visit Pup on Thursday. The grandsons have been put in charge of me. They will get me to the plane. I hope they can get me thru O'Hare where we change planes.
Martha arranged the ceremony and the reception so that I can take a nap.
Jeff expects the "elderly" to leave early in the reception. (Elderly being Martha's fa, mo and step mo.)

Got some pics from Walgreen's. Stopped by Senior Center and got leftovers from the luncheon. Came home and took a nap. Mildred baked a cake for Oda Mae's and Russ" birthday and invited the neighbors. One of our neighbors is moving this month bc she can no longer live alone. That leaves three out of six.

Off to Lea's for PPQS. We ought to be able to finish yellow and green batik tonight. This quilt is going to Lea's former sister-in-law. Her former husband's sister.

Blitzen's Tale
Lady Chica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

BOOK REVIEW
Stephen White, *Warning Signs* (2002)
Alan Gregory series. This book has a far fetched plot: a young man is setting off bombs all over the city of Denver.
Dr. Gregory has a new patient, a woman who hints around that her son is planning something like the Columbine action. As usual, Gregory is torn between patient confidentiality and warning somebody. He has a duty to warn the police or the victim if somebody makes a direct threat, but this is only a woman talking in generalities.
I enjoyed the book despite not believing in the reality of it.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 20, 2010

Baptis Center I am still asleep.
By 9:15 I had processed six units.
M-1, M-2, M-2, M-2, W-4, M-1

M-1, M-1, W-1 by 9:50 am


M-2, M-1, M-2, M-2 by 11:00

M-2, M-1,M-3 until we close at 11:30. Sixteen units today. Only one family.

Came home, took a short nap and had a massage.
Strange evening at the dog park. Not one dog barked. I wanted to send some background noise to a friend. Some puppies and I mean puppies wanted to play with B and LC but the latter rejected the pups. LC could get nobody to run with her.

Blitzen's Tale
None of our regular big busters were there. Just some new dogs who looked at us and wondered why. I wandered around smelling.

Lady Chica's Tale
I stood at the fence and stood at the fence. Nobody came. One or two big busters came and sniffed at my nose. They just did not understand. Chance and Buddy didn't come.

Now 7 PM. I guess I will just sit and read tonight. Maybe a nap.

BOOK REVIEW
Michelle Gagnon, *Bone Yard* (2008)
Not for the squeamish. Scenes of torture. I did not anticipate that. The book starts mildly enuf. Some bones are found on the Appalachian Trail. A forensic scientist is called in. Special Agent Kelly Jones of the FBI is sent to the case bc bones are found in both Mass and Vermont. Eventually two bodies are found in New York state.
A serial killer has been killing young male prostitutes for ten years. He has buried the bodies but somebody dug them up and spread them around the trail.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 19, 2010

Up t 9:30 AM LC was washing my face again. And off to Wendy's. It is chilly again. And I had put almost all my winter clothes away and pulled out my pack of shorts.

Judy reported the latest news. She has cable and watches the news shows. Bill Clinton has been ob eding about political anger. I think and Judy agrees that it is all basically racist.

The computer techs instlled Open Office on my machine and it is too complex for me. I cannot figure out how to set up a data base. I think I will install my old Works. I had been thinking about installing Works word processing bc it is more IdiotUser Friendly.
Well, Works will not install on this computer. Ha.

I was too wired to take a nap. Finally we went to dog park. Nothing much happenin'. I am exhausted from struggles with computer.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Well, there was a young filly who was eager to run, but there was an older male dog who kept pestering her. Ruined our running.

Lady Chica's Tale
We were ready to go home when Buddy appeared. So he and I did a few short runs to say hello. I finally got Mom to chase me --- when I walked. I can walk faster than she can.

Oda Mae just brot me a piece of strawberry pie. Oh, yum!!!!

BOOK REVIEW
Stephen White, *Remote Control* (1997)
Alan Gregory series.
At any one time the thrillers are concerned with one subject. Just now (2010) the subject is terrorists. See White's latest book. During the late nineties the subject was technology.
This book is involved with imaginary advances in technology. One is able to record feelings and another person can experience the feelings.
A man being with a woman is recorded, and various people are out to get that disc. I can't remember when we knew who the villain was.

April 18, 2010

Twas the 18th of April in 75
Hardly a man is still alive
Who remembers that famous
Day and Year.

Saturday night. Hard drive home in the rain but I am glad it has cooled off, sparing my Air. We saw four One Act plays at UTA. Each play was sort of a sketch. Good acting. My defination of good acting means one thinks it is real.

8:30 AM Dressing for religious services.

2:40 PM Sunday School class was interesting this morning and it was fascinating how it blended with the sermon.
During lunch the high school kids put on a program to raise money for their spring mission trip. They sang songs of the sixties, dressed for the part. It was titled LOL and it sure did.
Slight rain. I am about to take my nap.

Dog park was beaucoup uncomfortable. chilly with a breeze blowing. Always a breeze blowing by the Trinity. West Fork. Blitzen got the big dogs all fired up and they tried to have a fight.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
That boxer and I really got into it. He was serious about it. Then he went off and tried to get in a fight with a border collie. Not many dogs around.

Lady Chica's Tale
I have to admit that I got into beside Blitzen, with that boxer. The boxer got really, really fired up. He wasn't cool.

I ache tonight. Probably a front coming in.

BOOK REVIEW
Helen Perjean, *Dead Man Walking* (1993)
The play is like a prologue to the book. The book was written ten years after the execution of the person in the play. In fact, the personality of the person in the play is a composite of the first two prisoners counseled by Prejean.
Perjean is a nun working in the housing projects of New Orleans when she is asked to write a letter to a man on death row. Eventually she becomes his religious counselor and walks with him to the place of execution.
In the process of seeking a reprieve for this man, Prejean becomes an advocate for doing away with capital punishment. Prejean also meets with the family of the victims.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 16, 2010

9:30 am. I am euphoric. Back online. I was so discouraged last night. Off to tai chi ce matin.

1:00 PM Went to tai chi. Read paper and ate nibbles at Senior Center. Returned to computer. I had not thought about what I would wipe out. My lists of books read is GONE. Emails are saved on web. I save pictures so they can be replaced. In the old days all my emails saved would be erased. Maybe I have Kodak or something on the web.

I keep seeing ads for exercises to keep one's brain active. Seniors need to exercise their brains. I strongly recommend putting together one's computer.

4:15 PM LC can be such a pest when she wants me to get up. She washes my face. I cant find my grocery list. I know I am forgetting something.
And then she just lay under the table in the park.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
We didn't do much running tonight. I was all tired out from last night.

Lady Chica's Tale
Milo has joined our Running Group. He is a pale tan little thing, looks like a chihuahua/terrier mix. I mostly lay around under the table. Mom went over to the canopy to talk with Ray.

BOOK REVIEW
Stephen White, *Blinded* (2008)
Alan Gregory series. Again Alan is in conflict over the need for patient confidentiallity. One of Dr. Gregory's patients tells him that her husband has committed murder. Alan is pressured to call the police. Events unwind.
Sam PUrdy, Alan's policeman friend, is invited to eat turdurken for Thanksgiving dinner. I have wondered how it gets sliced.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 13, 2010

Managed to get out of bed.

Baptist Center
10:00 am. So far 7 units. The first four people came before 9:30.
M (3), F (5), F(2). Here comes another customer.

Here is my job. A person comes in wanting groceries. First I ascertain their residence. People must live in a certain area of 76104. The food bank is fussy about that. We require a picture id and something mailed to the address.
I then look up the person on the computer. People can get groceries every thirty days. If the person has not gotten groceries recently, I give that person a number and he or she can go back to the food pantry.
Today we had three or four who did not live in the area. We had one person who came only three weeks ago. Judy showed her a list of other places to go and talked with her. (Judy is our director.)

So then I came home and took a nap.

The dogs insist on going to the park after I get up from my nap. The usual. I sat around chatting on such a lovely evening.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I really got under the skin of that old bulldog on the other side of the fence. Ha ha. We had a lot of guys running. Came home all tired out.

Lady Chica's Tale
Buddy never came near the fence. Lots of guys to run with. Finally I just lay down on the grass. This little puppy came to play with me. He turned over on his back and I didn't really know what to do with him.

Andso it goes.

BOOK REVIEW
Lou Manfredo, *Rizzo's War* (2009)
This is a true police procedural. Joe Rizzo and Mike McQueen are New York policemen. The book is a day by day account of their activities.
I loved the book. Several reviews on Amazon.com and most found something to complain about. One reviewer called it an "almost book". It is not a thriller. No shooting. And they negotiated with the Hell's Angels.

finish

Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 12, 2010

Correction: Author of *Hard Rain* is David Rollins.

Judy took Szabo to the vet for his annual. So we met at Wendy's at noon. The girl taking our order said, "You're late today." Later the manager came over and said, "You were late today." He seemed to thinking taking the dog to the vet was an acceptable excuse.

Judy came up with my reaction exactly to the plane crash of the Polish president. Why were all the top people in the same plane?

judy's husband is out of work and home underfoot. Judy is tearing out her hair.
2:21 PM Ready to take my nap.

After my nap we went to the dog park. Pefect weather again. Buddy was there and dogs ran until they got tired.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Buddy was there and Cassius came later. So we had some racing pals. We got tired out.

LadyChica's Tale
Blitzen told it all. We ran a lot. Then we sat down under the bench where Mom was chatting.



BOOK REVIEW
Lyn MacDonald, *They called it Passchendaele* (1978)
I finally understand what they were doing in WWI. From 1915 until 1918 the Brits were holding (with the help of the Ladies from Hell, the Dunks and the Anzacs) a sliver of land around Ypres on the border between Belgium and France.
I could only read 54 pages of 230. Both sides built trenches and just stayed there. The British lost 430,000 men and the Germans as many.
One million men killed. The farmers are still finding shells.
The book is full of first hand accounts of the activities day by day.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 11, 2010

7 AM Up for a pit stop. I was having a dream but it has slipped awyay. I have slept well. I am going with Martha and jeff to visit the Spring Blossom show at Dallas Arboretum. Then we will have lunch.
Up at 9:30 am. Whine. Whine. Complain Complain. Every morning I have to walk around getting ---

I managed to feed and walk dogs, get dressed, ready by 11:30. Dallas Arboretum is on the other side of dallas. The azalea were out of this world. We had never seen them in full bloom. They were gorgeous. So many of them.
We walked for an hour and a half. We sat down and rested every so often.

Then we went to lunch at Cheesecake Factory. I couldn't make up my mind and Martha wanted dessert. I had shephards pie. Meat mixture with mashed potatoes on top. Good. I took a piece of cheesecake home. I have never tasted cheesecake like that.

They drove me home. The dogs allowed me to sleep for two hours. Then Blitzen barked and Lady Chica licked my face. I was forced to get up and we went to the park. Not many people there. Dogs found things to chase, like horses in the distance.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
We couldn't get the busters going. On sunday people are there who only come once in a while. They dont understand how to make it happen. We saw horses off across the field.

Lady Chica's Tale
Well, we got a lot of running back and forth to the front fence and back again. None of the big dogs would run. One little bird dog was scared of me on the other side of the fence.

8 PM I may just go to bed. I am tired.

BOOK REVIEW
Harold Rollins, *Hard Rain*, (2008)
I hope his hard rain is fantasy. It is radioactive waste from munitions.
Vin is a special investigator for the Air Force. He and his partner/former lover are sent to Turkey to investigate the murder of an AF officer.
The story is pure chase, from one murder to another, from falling into a cistern for four days, to a vast conspiracy.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 10, 2010

10:30 am. Debating about going back to bed. My journall has been dull lately. I am recovering from having teeth pulled. It takes a lot of energy.

My need for sleep seems insatiable. I slept until Martha woke me at 12:30 noon to finalize arrangements for tomorrow. We are going on the Spring Blossom tour at Dallas Arboretum. I have to choose between lunch at Cheesecake Factory and lunch at Blue Mesa. And the Wedding. Many of us are going to Greenbay WI for Martha's wedding. I am sharing a hotel room with my granddaughter. , Brianna. The grandchildren have been put in charge of me.

Well, we went to the park. Not many dogs and most were strangers. Only the little bulldog Kevin. Kevin and Blitzen have come to some arrangement. They ignore each other.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Cassius was there this afternoon and we got a lot of running in. All of us were tired out. I sat in the wading pool for a while.

Lady Chica's Tale
Cassius is a boxer who is a year old. He just loves to run. I dont know much about him. He just runs. Killer is a little wimp, some kind of herding dog. He got in Cassius way and C had to jump over him. He kept trying to pick a fight with Cassius. Silly dog. He is half the size of C.

Took another nap.

BOOK REVIEW
Jeffery Deaver, *The Stone Monkey* (2002)
Lincoln Rhyme series. Rhyme is a forensic scientist rendered quadreplegic after an accident.
Now he consults with NYPD from his wheel chair. This is an interesting book and I wish I had not looked at the last chapter. Real surprise.
A cargo ship sinks off Long Island. Aboard the ship are illegal immigrants from China. Some manage to survive as does the "snakehead" (coyote) smuggling them into the country. The Ghost as the snakehead is called sets out to find and kill the illegals while Rhyme and various agencies hunt the Ghost. The story ends mostly happy.

April 9, 2010

After I managed to get myself up and over to the Senior Center, we did not have tai chi. A Health Fair was set up.
I took a virtual Alzheimer's Tour. I was debriefed with two younger women. I did not find it very strange. First of all, my normal mental state is such that reality is a buzzing surround. And age has slowed me down.
What frustrated the younger women was being so slow at doing tasks. We had to find a white jacket and put it on. Then we were to write 3 sentences to our family. Then fold towels. I never got to the other two tasks and had forgotten them. I was not frustrated.
The tour was set up to train aide workers in a care facility.

I came home, ate lunch and took a nap. Then off to the dog park where we stayed a couple hours in the perfect weather. Perfect. sunny and cool

Blitzkrieg's Tale
We did a lot of running off and on. Ray brot his wading pool and we surely enjoyed that. I like to walk around the edge of the field, smelling all the smells. I have to keep an eye on Mom, however, so that she doesn't leave without me.

Lady Chica's Tale
I had such a good time sitting in the wading pool. Nothing like a dip in the pool after a good run. Mom has been staying longer at the park in this nice weather. I just like to lie in the grass.

Well, I am missing part of Bill Moyer's journal, altho both Judy and I say it depresses us.



Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 8, 2010

Well, this has been a slow day. And not even a book review. I slept like a log. Got up feeling refreshed. So we went off to the dog park. No dogs present, for the most part.

Blitzkrieg's tale
Mom got us all off schedule today. We get up and go to the park. She knows that nobody is ever there around noon. I walked around the parimeter smelling smells.

Lady Chica's Tale
I stalked a few blackbirds. Or are they starlings? Mom says she doesn't know. She says blackbirds may be a generic name, whatever that means. She talks sometimes when I dont understand what she is talking about.

We came home. I intended to take a nap and the afternoon passed. Then I couldn't sleep. I am waiting for MI 5. I didn't watch it last week. I wonder who died last week. They keep killing off the characters.
Ruth went off into the wild blue yonder but I saw the actress who played her in two cameo roles.

No book review. I cant find where I put the WWI book down.

Nobody has commented on Getting to Know Dr. Liz. I expected my sister to argue with me.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 7, 2010

PPQS tonight.
Up at 10 am. The usual, breaky and walk. Now I am going to sew like a fiend.

I did sew some blocks. Then I took a nap while we had a t-storm. Sun is out at 2:30 PM

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Lady Chica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

John gives each of the dogs a treat. Pup takes his. Lady Chica eats hers. Blitz buries his. LC carefully watches Blitz and goes over and digs up his and eats it.

Lea and I each had a pair of pants to shorten. So we each measured for the other. She sewed her jeans on the machine and finished. I am halfway done by hand.

No book review tonight.

April 6, 2010

Baptist Center. 11 am -- so far thirteen single men. At Bunkhaus they have microwaves.two family units.
The clients kept coming one at a time and I was busy.

I came home, ate lunch and took a nap Then off to the dog park. Sat and chatted during a perfect evening.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
We had a nice afternoon at the park. Sometimes we raced with Buddy. A lot of the time we just lay in the grass and enjoyed the afternoon.

Lady Chica's Tale
I stalked birds. I ran with Buddy. We had packs going on both sides of the fence. Buddy keeps trying to jump the fence. He can jump to the top but he cant get over. Then I just lay on the grace. It was pleasantly cool. Just perfect weather.

Came home all tired out.

BOOK REVIEW
J.A. Jance, *Lying In Wait* (1994)
J.P. Beaumont set in Seattle, WA. A fishing ship burns and a corpse is found inside. Beau meets two friends from high school. I had read this long ago; so I could make guesses.Interesting set of motivations for the murder.


Hugs, Dr. Liz


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 5, 2010

The Northwest Passage has opened up with thawing of glaciers. THINK on NPR was interviewing an author who has written about hunting for Northwest Passage.

Met Judy at Wendy's. We discussed genetics, immune system, disease, a world wide pandemic as well as Outlander. We discussed why Outlander is so popular. Beaucoup web sites.

Came home and took a nap. Then off to the dog park. Eighty degrees and a perfect day. Dogs ran for a while. Sat chatting until twilight.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I found a bratwurst lying just outside the fence. I dug a real deep hole but I couldn't get under the fence and Mom put me on a leash. Then old Chica started digging and she got put on a leash, too.

Lady Chica's Tale
We had packs of dogs running on both sides of the fence. Then Mom made me do that silly stuff of running thru tunnels. Afterwards Blitzen saw a bratwurst. I tried digging out and Mom put me on a leash, too. When we went home, she threw it in the trash can.

LC means that I went outside the fence and picked up the bratwurst. Otherwise Blitzen will spend the rest of his life trying to dig out.

BOOK REVIEW
no book today. I am reading, inch by inch, a book about WWI. I did not realize very much about WWI. I never understood why they had trenches and what they were trying to do. The brits dug trenches along the border between Belgium and France and were holding.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 3, 2010

Southern Illinois University has a saluki for its mascot, because the univ is situated in Little Egypt. A saluki is, some say, the oldest breed of dog, Bedouins consider it sacred. It is a sight hunter in the desert. Altho how it got from a wolf to a saluki is beyond me. It looks like a whippet (a small greyhound).
I wore my saluki tee shirt to tai chi class. Nobody had heard of a saluki and one class member did not believe a univ would have a *dog* as a mascot.

Friday night. TV program New Tricks was a rerun.

I woke up at 11 am on Sat. How it got to eleven am is beyond me. Did some sewing. It was cold and now it is too warm. Planning to take a nap.

The dogs did not behave as usual at the park today. They sat around under and on the table. Chance barked at the fence and Buddy whined. Buddy whine barked. After a long time LC exploded toward the fence and they ran.
When I walked to the gate, both of them were there waiting. I dont remember LC ever doing that.

7 PM I am ready for another nap. I made bread pudding today. I am getting better at it.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Dead Watch* (2006)
Stand alone. As I began reading I realized I had read this before and remembered every detail. Reading it again was soothing.
Jake Winter was in army intel in Afghanistan until he was wounded. Then he got a PhD and now consults with the president's office. As the book opens, he is called in to find a former senator who has disappeared. He meets the senator's wife with whom he begins an affair. The plot is tangled around itself. Great read.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

April 1, 2010

6 AM Up for a pit stop and some Advil.
LC lies beside me, making her little crooning noise as she sleeps.

10 AM The lawn mowers did me in. By that I mean that the dogs make a fuss and I was totally awake. Busy doing my laundry. Drinking egg nog.

I am all tired out from doing laundry. Took a nap. Then off to the dog park. Few dogs. Somebody noticed my Saluki tee shirt. Knew somebody who used to teach at SIU. The wind was blowing sand from Big Dog side. The puddles have killed the grass on that side.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Not many big busters there today. I wandered around smelling things. I always make a round of the paremeter. (sp?)

Lady Chica's Tale
I had only the birds to chase today. Mostly just sat around. Lots of wind.

Think I may take a nap. Tired out.

BOOK REVIEW
Jonathan Kellerman, *Rage* (2002)
Alex Delaware police procedural. Eight years before the novel opens, two teen age kids killed a toddler. One of the kids is killed after a month in prison. The other kid gets out and calls Dr. Delaware. On the way to meeting Alex, Rand is killed. So Alex and Sturgis set out to find the killer. Publisher's Weekly should be happy with this killer.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

March 11, 2010

Alarm rings at 9 am so that I can get to the dentist by 11:30 for a final fitting. I will have full dentures on my lower jaw.
Sun is shining.
Diane Reams, NPR, is discussing American education. Boy!!! do I have opinions.

Visit to dentist was short and sweet. Came home and took a nap. Driving takes so much time and the traffic has been horrible lately.

The dog park had been sprinkled with coarse ground corn meal. LC was busy cleaning it up for them. At Pup's house both dogs and Pup eat bird seed.
LC was busy harassing dogs on the big dog side as well as chasing school buses. The other side of the park harbors soft ball fields.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I just wandered around smelling the perimeter. Rain leaves new smells.

Lady Chica's Tale
The park guys sprinkled corn meal all over the place. I mostly chased those big yellow monsters that drive around. I also stirred up trouble with the big busters

I took a nap and woke up planning to watch MI 5. PBS is having a pledge drive. I wonder what audience they are targeting tonight with music from the thirties. Those seniors are pretty old.

BOOK REVIEW
Stephen White, *Privileged Information* (1991)
First of Alan Gregory series. Alan is a psychologist practicing therapy in Boulder, CO. white is also a practicing psycotherapist. In this novel, Alan begins courting Lauren whom he marries in later books. A woman patient kills herself, and the police think Alan had been having a sexual affair with her, forbidden to therapists.
Alan's dog is killed, and that upsets me more than the murder.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

March 10, 2010

Yes, Paulette, *Bone Collector* was a movie starring Denzel Washington.

up at 9:45 am. Takes forever to boot up my computer. No reading today until I do some work.
I am piecing quilt blocks. I keep finding beginnings of projects. I have five or six lap quilts underway. All are improvisational log cabins. See black and red for design. Log cabins are strips sewn in such a way that block is half dark and half light.
I have a pile of blocks. I pin a strip on each block. Then I sew the pile one by one. Then I press. Then I sew another strip.
Meanwhile I have some caftan shirts cut out.
Most of my quilter friends have projects like this. Last year people gave me boxes of scraps.

One of my neighbors believes that an evil spirit inhabits her apartment. She hears noises in the ceiling.

My neighbor, Helen, is back in the hospital. We dont know why.

Well, then we harnessed up and drove to Martha's where leftover food was waiting. Apparently Jeff cooks a whole recipe of soup and so much is left over. It is always delish. Then I found my way across Arlington to Pup's. I remember how to drive from east to west, but driving west to east is so confusing.
We are working on the green and yellow batik.

Blitkrieg's Tale
Lady Chica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *The Fool's Run* (1989)
This was first published under the author's real name, John Camp. Camp had written another novel (the first Prey) and his publisher demanded a pseudonym. Hence John Sandford was born.
This novel stars Kidd. Obviously Lucas Davenport beat out Kidd, who does have cameo roles in the Prey series.
Kidd is an artist by day, supporting his habit (art supplies) by doing computer stuff by night. The computer stuff is awfully dated. They dont yet have email. I guess Camp was ahead of the times in having his hero a computer nerd.
In this novel, Kidd is hired by one company to ruin another company.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

March 8, 2010

Woke up from a dream where I was writing a mystery. I did a beautiful job of describing the detective, but I couldn't figure out who murdered whom.

Listening to Diane Reams with a topic of "early release from prison" with guests pro and con. So ironic after last night I was reading *Newjack* about Sing Sing. My take on the subject is that they need more sociology. Crime rates vary with age of population. Has little to do with judicial system. Crime rates are going down bc population is aging.
Argument will be enjoyed.

10:18 AM Off to Wendy's. Need to buy stamps, make a library run. Rainy day. Thunder storms.

Judy and I are regulars at Wendy's. As we tottered up to the service window, Judy's iced tea was on the tray and the girl was asking me, "Vanilla or chocolate?"
Judy was talking about all the weird things she had seen on the news.
I responded about backlash from culture change. The change has mostly taken place and the back lash people are desparate.

Made a library run. Our branch post office is open from 10 to 12:30 and 2:30 to 4. So I have just ordered stamps online. I am in deparate need of a nap. Gloomy and raining.

After my nap we went to the dog park. Just as we arrived the sun came out --- just for us. No other cars, no other dogs. We were visited briefly by a little white dog. Several vehicles with big dogs drove by but didn't stop. Big dog area was almost totally covered with water. Lots of ponds in the little dog park. The dogs seemed to enjoy themselves.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I had a good time moseying around the park, smelling all the new smells. Rain brings out new smells. Mom mostly sat and read a book.

Lady Chica's tale
I was reduced to chasing birds and there weren't even very many of them. I stood around waiting for cars to park but there weren't more than three or four. It was a nice day. The su came out.

Have not finished a book. Will spend the evening reading.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

March 7, 2010

The play we saw Friday night was *Dead Man Walking*. It was well done, well acted. UTA theatre dept is super.
It was not what I expected. It was an ongoing dialog pro and con about capital punishment. I especially liked that they used quotes from the Bible to support each argument.

Sunday morning. I must be feeling good bc I did not agonize putting on jeans. Drizzling this morning. Gloomy.

We took a brief walk and dogs got all wet. I have my slicker. Dog park at 3. I look at weather prediction when showers are pausing.

4 PM woke from a nap. Where has this day gone? We are going to dog park. At 4 the gates close and I cannot walk out. So we may as well go to the park.

We only spent about twenty minutes at the park. The park was one big puddle and even the dogs did not like it. Chance was there but Lady Chica would not run. I even ran a little to encourage her. It kept sprinkling on and off.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I dont know why Mom had to go to the park today. I was having a perfectly nice nap and she dragged us over to this pond.

Lady Chica's Tale
Chance was there but there was this big puddle next to the fence. Chance was all muddy. I just did not feel like running.

6 PM. Making bread pudding for supper. I am experimenting with baking in the micro wave.

BOOK REVIEW
T. Jefferson Parker, *Iron River* (2010)
Iron River is not in northern Minnesota. Rather it is the name given to the guns crossing the border from USA to Mexico. Charlie Hood is a sheriff's deputy loaned to ATF.
I dont know why I am reading this book. Half the space is taken up by descriptions of guns. Charlie spends his time going from gun shop to gun shop, making ATF inspections.
The other half of th spae is taken up by shooting people. This is a war, ATF versus cartels.






Hugs, Dr. Liz

March 5, 2010

I woke at 11:30. Decided to go to dog park. Beautiful day. We stayed until Blitzen almost got into it with a pit bull. Pit bull was unfixed and blitzen was doing his thing, but the pit bull turned on him.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
None of the big ol busters would run. Then a pit bull came over on this side, and I decided to socialize him, but he was having none of it. Then Mom went home.

Lady Chica's Tale
The park was sooo booooring. boooring. No cars moving. None of the big busters came near the fence. Tiger was there; I saw her. But she didn't come near the fence.

Didn't need a nap today. Tonight I am going with Lea and John to Studio Theatre at UTA. Dont know what play we will be seeing. John has season tickets. Signing off.

I am reading Stephen White's *Seige* because I saw a great review of it. I have been reading White for 20 years. His series protagonist, Alan Gregory, has a cameo row in this book. I can hardly put this down.

BOOK REVIEW
Peter de Jonge, *Shadows Still Remain* (2009)
Police procedural but not a serial killer. Introducing Darlene OHara, NYPD. OHara is investigating the disappearance of a young woman. Then the woman's body is found. Homicide takes over but she continues to investigate on her own. Rather a cook book novel. Author has co-authored with James Patterson.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

March 2, 2010

A bone --- an empty yogurt carton --- what's in my bed? The dogs like to lie on the bed chewing and meditating. Chewing releases endorphins.
Off to the Baptist Center.

By 10 AM we have had 7 units. One child was screaming. I have been busy steadily. Some families, some men from bunk house.
11:30 Food Pantry is closing. 13 units

Came home and took a nap. Bill Moyers is retiring. George S is taking over the Today show. Where in the world is Matt Lauer?

Spring is here. The turtles are migrating. In Gateway park they waddle from the River across the road to who knows where.
Pleasant and sunny in the park. Lots of small dogs.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Mostly I wandered around the edges, smelling things. After a rain there are always new smells.

Lady Chica's Tale
I scared one of those big busters right through the fence. I looked at him and he ran off with his tale between his legs. Chance was there and we did some runnning.

Walked the perimeter of small dog park.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 28, 2010

I saw a cartoon where a couple's bed is taken over by three large great danes. One little heeler/sheltie does it for me, lying on the covers so I freeze to death
4 AM she has gone to sleep on the couch. Probaby too warm on the bed.

I woke from a dream where I had a baby and was a refugee in the wilderness in some primitive Mid Eastern country. In the dream I had escaped from being held in a building.

11:30 AM Gottta get to dog park and back before Martha comes to pick me up to spend aft admiring her new kitchen. Sun is shining.

Pleasant at the dog park. Dozens of dogs. Woman told me that Buddy got into four fights yesterday.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Lots and lots of dog at the park today. I am still tired from yesterday.

Lady Chica's Tale
Not much going on. Lots and lots of big dogs but nobody came over near the fence. I was glad to come home.

Martha picked me up at 2:30 and we just hung out. Jeff had bought champagne for us to toast the new kitchen. Gorgeous. I took a nap. We watched Olympic hockey game. Watched closing ceremony with sound off. music playing.

BOOK REVIEW
T. Jefferson Parker, *California Girl* (2004)
This was told in flash backs and I had a hard time getting into it. Four Beck brothers. had a rumble when they were in high school with the Vonn bros. Saw Janelle, age four.
Later Nick became sheriff's deputy and was in charge of homicide of Janelle, age 19,
Andy is a reporter. This was 1968. Thirty six years later, 2004, Andy uncovers the real murderer. No more said. Martha gets mad at me when I reveal the ending.

February 27, 2010

What a day. I am exhausted. Got up about ten and messed around. at one I loaded dogs and set out for Lea's to attend Circle Theatre.
The car would not start.
My next parking buddy came over. He has a clone of my Saturn. He gave me a jump start.
So off I went.

Lea decided it would be safer to take her car. She was not sure she could drive, having had eyelid surgery this week. But we arrived safely. And home safely. The car started. I stopped by my local repairman on the way home. he tested the battery and it tests fine. So.

Circle Theatre was OPUS. It did not have much of a plot. It was an inside look at a string quartet. They fussed and argued. They fired one violist and hired a woman. Then the fired man came back and wanted to replace first violinist. And then the cellist got upset and smashed an antique violin.
It doesn't sound like much, but it was fun.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Lady Chica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

By the way, the other day someone asked why I didn't name my other dog Donder. No wonder that Blitzen gets upset.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 25, 2010

Up at 9:30 but I feel a front coming in. Lea suggested it might be nerve damage. Meaning my nerves react to a coming front.
Sun is shining. I need to go to post office. The little satellite has weird hours.

Well, Brianna's xmas/bday present is off in the mail. Dropped off library book due today. Took dogs to small park nearby. New smells. New smells. New smells. I let LC off the leash and she ran circles around me. She loves to play chase.

Blitkrieg's Tale
Mom took us to a new park. All the new smells were so exciting. Mom let LC off the leash and she likes to play games. It is not fair that she got to run all over the park.
Well, at the big park we got to run a lot. Buddy and Chance were both there and lots of dogs ran on both sides.

Lady Xica's Tale
I had a great run. We went to a new park and Mom let me off the leash. It is such fun to tease Mom. I run up and then swerve off. She gets frustrated!!!!!
I am exhausted tonight. I ran and ran and ran and ran. Finally I was ready to go home. It started to rain.

I keep telling myself I need the sleep. I am healing.

BOOK REVIEW
Robert Crais, *The First Rule* (2010)
This is the first book I have read published in 2010. Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. The First Rule has to do with Serbian mafia --- your only family is the gang.
After leaving the Service, Joe Pike was a military contractor, i.e. mercenary. Now he is a PI in LA. One of his unit is killed in a home invasion along with family. Joe Pike takes care of his own altho it has been ten years since they served together in the military contract.
The killers are involved with Serbian mafia who are bringing in guns from Korea. Not recommended for sensitive readers.

February 24, 2010

Rent. I just thot of it.
Slept till 12:30 noon. I can feel myself healing. My sinus are so clear. Antibiotics are miracles.
PPQS tonight. LC is eagerly looking forward to helping John garden.
Lea had minor surgery on Monday. So we will spend a quiet evening.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Lady Chica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

Lea made dinner, best soup I have ever tasted. Dump cake. corn bread. No wonder she was tired. We came home early. It is taking longer to recover than she expected.

BOOK REVIEW
Laura Childs, *Tragic Magic* (2009)
chick pick. scrapbooking mystery. Carmela owns Memory Mine, a scrapbooking shop in N'orleans. Her friend, Ava, owns Juju Voodoo shop. They are hired to decorate a haunted house. The owner falls out of a window in flames. The house is scary, haunted.
I find this awfully mild. Carmela has a relationship with homicide dick.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 22, 2010

February 21, 2010

Slept until 11 am. Gave up on religious services. As a side effect of anti-biotic I am outsourcing my innards. I did not think I could make it thru a service.
I will see dentist tomorrow and ask about Immodium. Flyer says not to take with anti-biotic. I looked on internet and immodium interacts with certain chemicals, including black pepper.
The weather is warm. I was out with only a tee shirt.
Helen's grandchildren were playing tag and my dogs were crazy. So we went out. The dogs would not run with kids. Blitzen is afraid to go away from me. Anyhow, kids and dogs got acquainted. After that, we came in and dogs ignored the kids outside.
Doing laundry at long last.

;The sun came out and we hurried to the dog park. Lots and lots of dogs there. Chance and Buddy were there. So Lady Chica did a lot of running. Blitzen does not run much. He goes over to the fence and stirs everything up.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I love to get those ol busters stirred up. I stand at the fence and trash talk. I yell "Your mother's a bitch." And of course she is.

Lady Chica's Tale
I had fun today running with Chance and Buddy. That ol Buddy is a bully. He bit a dog who got in his way.

The temp dropped as we sat in the park. Some people just outside my window are letting loose a bunch of balloons.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Mortal Prey* (2002)
I find this hard to read; it is like a Greek tragedy. Lucas Davenport, Minnesota BCA. The book is about Clara Rink, the female hitman. Clara fled to Mexico and was doing fine. Until an assasin killed her lover, wounded her and caused a miscarriage. Clara recovers and sets forth to eliminate a set of people. We know at the beginning that she will be killed at the end.

February 20, 2010

Went with Lea for a fitting at Allie Coosh.

February 19, 2010

At 3 am I made a pit stop and fell asleep on the potty. As I was falling off I woke enuf to go back to bed.

11:23 am I slept well. Muscles feel good. Dogs got me up, barking at some lawn machine. Sun is shining. Temp will get to sixty today, they say.

Went over and got a hair cut. About time, I say.
Came home and took a nap.

We got to the park early, about three. Sun shining, lots of dogs altho none we knew.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I tried to get those big lugs to run the fence but no luck. I got really mad when mom was petting this puppy.

Lady Xica's Tale
I ran back and forth along the fence. Sometimes I got somebody to run with me. Tiger rane or twice. She is a fruitcake, loose in the head. But what can you expect of a catahoulie.

Another nap. Today has been devoted to sleep. I was dreaming and continued to finish my dream when I woke up, but I dont remember it. It was like something from Outlander.

BOOK REVIEW
Have not finished a book today. I spent too much time sleeping. Reading a book by Harold Coyle, but it is hard going. He has Druze Christians, Iranians, Americans and israelis. Each is getting ready for a confrontation.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 18, 2010

10:30 AM The dogs have been kicking up a fuss all morning. I sat down at my computer and looked out the window at two police cars. My first thought was that somebody had died. Often somebody dies in the night and the police have to break down the door. I never use the lock without a key.
So snoopy me, we harnessed up and went for our morning walk. The dogs were happy. The mgr was talking with the police, and I asked if somebody had died. "That's usually why the police come", I said. No, nobody had died. I moseyed on my way.
Some woman was sitting disconsolately by a pile of empty cartons. I had noticed the cartons yesterday, somebody moving in.
So much for that story. I will never know.

I tottered off to vote early in the primary. Now 2:15 PM. Now for a nap. PPQS tonight.

4:21. The dogs were willing to take a nap this afternoon. Tonight Lea and I are going to work on the green and yellow batik quilt.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Lady Xica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Broken Prey*
Lucas Davenport, Minnesota BCA. The basic premise of this plot is far fetched, but the book is a good read. Lots of suspense as Lucas hunts another serial killer.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 16, 2010

I had not set alarm as I had thot but woke anyway. Yeah me. Off to Baptist Center. Sun is shining.

Baptist Center
We have had a heavy rush. Baptist Center was closed Thur,Fri last week.
Big Rush: 4 units,2 each
By 10 am we have done 7 units, one of t hem 6
By 10:50 we have done 12 units.
By 11:15 we have done 17 units,one of them 7 members.

I came home and tried to take a nap and the dogs kept pestering me. Then I had a massage. My massage therapist was telling me about a person she knows (now in jail) whose husband stole a prescription pad and has been writing his own prescriptions for hydroxocodein (??).

We finally made it to the dog park. Buddy was there and the dogs got some exercise.

Blitzkreig's Tale
I tried socializing some young pups, but Mom wont hear of it. And the pup's owner grabbed him. I wasn't going to hurt him.

Lady Chica's Tale
I take my meals in my den. I ate supper tonight and just flopped. Chasing Buddy.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Naked Prey*
I really enjoyed this book. Perhaps bc there are layers of killers. One couple gets killed. Then another couple gets killed by partners of the first couple. Then the killer's killer gets killed.
Oh, yes, Luke Davenport, now of the Minnesota BCA.
Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 15, 2010

6 am Up for a pit stop. I was having a horrible dream I dont' remember.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Mom forgot to let me write my tale yesterday. Just cuz I was asleep. Aunt Martha came over and we took a walk in the field. Most of that funny stuff is gone.
Second Tale
There was a cute little puppy, but Mom put me on a time out. He kept wanting to play. Not many dogs there today. I was bored.

Lady Chica's Tale
Aunt Martha walked us. she walks a lot better than Mom. Mom is such a slow poke. Mom tells her she needs more exercise.
Secnd Tale
None of the big ol busters would run today. Buddy arrived just when we were going home.

9:35 am Had a difficult time sleeping in with dogs clawing me from both sides. It seems like a month since last Monday.

I did 3 minutes on the treadmill, slow and level. Burned 2 calories. (50 calories = 1 point)

Met Judy at Wendy's. I was tired out.

After a nap we went to dog park. Dogs were bored. Buddy arrived as we were leaving.

BOOK REVIEW
Bill Crider, *Murder in Four Parts*
Sheriff Dan Rhodes is invited to join the Clearview Barbershop Choir. Before he can join, the director is found murdered in his florist shop. It looks as if he got into an argument with somebody and the killer smashed him with a pipe.
Crider's books are fun to read.



Hugs, Dr. Liz

february 14, 2020

8:20 AM Up for a pit stop. Most of the snow is gone. Some remaining on roof tops. Many of the sidewalks are dry.

Up at 10:30 am I was thinking. Martha is remodeling her kitchen and I am envious of her new refrigerator and convection oven. The refrigerator has the freezer in a drawer at the bottom. So much more rational.
If I won the 46 million dollar lottery, what would I do? I like living here. I would buy the whole compound. I would get myself an automatic gate opener for staters. I would stay in this apartment while I remodeled another. I would knock out some walls to make one apt out of three.
I would put a skylight in the kitchen. Maybe two or three. I had a skylight in Houston and I loved it. Then I would get new appliances. I would get some new furniture.

I told Martha my fantasy. She laughed and said for 46 million we could build a house for her with a mother-in-law house behind it.


Then I would buy new pews for the church.
That done, I would set up a chair in sociology with my name. The Elizabeth Nall chair of sociology. I could do it at both SIU and Michigan State. Maybe I could call one of them my mother's name. Or Libby. That one could be at Uof T. They would be tax deductions.

So much for fantasy.

Martha came over to review dress for MOB. The top doesn't fit. We decided on what we want. She brot laundry bc her washer is not plugged in.
Then we walked dogs. Rather she walked and I tottered along behind. She also brot left overs. One was cherry sauce on chicken. Oh, my.

I proof read a paper for Lea. Now for a nap.

BOOK REVIEW
Harold Coyle, *They are Soldiers* (2004)
Coyle has changed his milieu to Middle East. In this volume a National Guard Unit is deployed to keep peace between Israel and Palestine. The captain is regular army. He learns the benefits of "community" for National Guard {they are soldiers}.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 13, 2010

Friday night
Watched the opening of the Olympic Games. I switched to PBS to watch *new Tricks* and *Waking the Dead*. Switched back in time to see the torch lit.
As usual, I did not really understand the ending of Waking the Dead.

At 9:30 Lady Xica demanded breakfast. I couldn't get back to sleep and the dogs were restless. So we went off to the dog park. The park was one big puddle overlaid with snow. There were leftover snowmen melting. It was warm enuf for me to be wearing only a sweat shirt not a jacket.
LC came home all muddy. So we had to take a shower.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
The park was weird. There was a lot of water and all of that funny stuff. I had a good time chasing dogs and monitoring a fight. Mom plans to get me a black and white striped referee shirt.

Lady Chica's tale
I came home all muddy and we had a shower. I mostly just stayed at the front fence monitoring the cars.

At two I slept until 4:30. I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, my first. Did not care for it. Will not repeat. At some point I went to sleep again until 7 PM. I am so tired from walking thru the snow.

BOOK REVIEW
Bill Crider, *Of all Sad Words* (2008)
Sheriff Dan Rhodes has revised the poem:
Of all sad words of tongue and pen
The saddest of these are:
It seemed like a good thing. [Reminds me of what Dan in Sunday School class was saying.)
Rhodes ran a Citizens Sheriff's Academy and now he has vigilantes helping his investigations. A trailer house blew up, they found a body in the woods and then a still. It seems that drinking moonshine has become a fad. But everything ends happily and the citizens help set up the web page.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 12, 2010

Dont be jammin on your brakes,
so saith the spokesman for Texas DOT.

Thursday
6 PM Walked dogs. Sidewalks are covered almost to ankles. What a mess.
10 PM DFW has recorded 9.4 inches, setting a new record. Temp is 32 in Fort Worth.
We took a bedtime walk. The scene was beautiful, snow falling softly. I was homesick for Michigan -- briefly.

Friday
5 AM Snow has ceased falling.
Contrary to expectations, temp did not fall and ice did not form. Snow is slowly melting. Temp at 11 am is 33 degrees. At this rate it will take a week to clear roads. This means another nightmare dog walk. Got out my Michigan boots.
At 5 am LC and I heard a boom and we were scared. Then I realized
that snow was falling. I the drifts were falling. Now I have heard another one.


Martha said that we made the national news with eleven inches of snow. All time record in the DFW area. I chatted with Martha as she drove up from Laredo.
Walking the dogs was much better this morning wearing boots. The boots gave me more traction. The dogs couldn't run in the field bc the snow was too deep. We visited with a man making a snowman. Blitzen circled it three times wondering what it was and then peed on it. The little boy (about 3) threw a snow ball at Blitzen.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
That funny stuff is all over. We couldn't even run in the field because it is so deep. We went over to talk to this man who was doing something. I couldn't figure out what that thing was. I looked it over carefully and then marked it. That kid threw the stuff at me.

Lady Chica's Tale
Personally I would just as soon stay home. That stuff has no smell and it is hard to walk in. Blitzen is so something or other. He has to look at everything. If I cant herd it, what good is it? Herd it or eat it, I say.

After talking with Martha for an hour, we took a nap. I got up and put on my outdoor clothes. I think the dogs expectd to go to the park, but alas. The parking lot is impassble. This morning our gate was only half open. The apt next door kept their gate open.
A tree split down the middle in our compound. Texas trees are not used to this much snow.

Martha: I walked back and forth to mail box. None of the sidewalks are clear. And there are puddles of water all over.

Comment: Other dogs rolled in the snow and enjoyed it. I think my dogs are too small. The snow is just too deep for them.

BOOK REVIEW:
John Sandford, *NIght Prey* (1994)
I was bored with this book. The search for the killer was boring.
Lucas Davenport, assistant chief of Police in Minneapolis. An investigator from the state bureau insists that a serial killer is stalking the state. He kills women in different jurisdictions. When the second murder finally occurs in Minneapolis, Lucas gets involved.
The killer is stalking a woman while he kills others. Not enuf suspense.
Lucas proposes to Weather.

February 11, 2010

Up for a pit stop at 6:30 AM. SNOW I looked out the window and the bushes are covered with snow. Snow is coming down in tiny flakes.


Slept till eleven. Slept the clock around. We must have an inch of snow. I dont remember ever seeing so much snow in Texas. The weather man did not expect this much so soon.

Walking the dogs was a nightmare. My footing was treacherous and Blitzen was pulling. IN the field there is three or four inches of snow. I often let the dogs run, leashed together but Blitzen was too oriented toward the cars going past. The sound must have been different. I made it home. I made it home.

Blitzkreig's Tale
We went outside and everything was different. There was this funny stuff all over the ground. I wanted to run and run but Mom is an old slowpoke. Mom is such an old slowpoke. Josh used to come over and play but we never see him any more.

Lady Xica's Tale
Yes, everything was different. Weird stuff. No smell. It was cold on my feet. Blitz wanted to run but I wanted to go home. When we got home, Blitz and I had fun playing and chasing.


4 PM Weather station at DFW has 6.2 inches of snow. The record of all time is 8 inches. David Finfrock (our weatherman) thinks we may break the record. Temp is above freezing. Snow will stop in the night and slush will freeze. Schools are closed.

I am going to send this off at 5 PM before we have a power outage. Snow is weighing down lines.

I did not read a book today. I have been sewing.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 10, 2010

Up at 10 am. Took the dogs out. Thn we had to rush home and take a shower when Lady Xica got in the way of Blitzen's marksmanship.

I am depressed this morning. All my neighbors are in the hospital. (That is an exaggeration. Helen is in the hospital. Oda Mae and Russ are staying w/their son while Russ gets radiation treatments. I dont know where ----- is. Cant remember her name. She is in the first stages of Alzheimer's.)
I cant find my Xmas camera. I know it is hiding under a piece of fabric somewhere.

I keep trying to think of good things. Lea is overnighting our batik quilt to Colorado to the silent auction. An org called Power of Seven is raising money for breast cancer research. That recent book I read about silent dying had a lot of good stuff about cancer. Our quilt was mentioned on the radio. Lea bid on it her self.

The above paragraph is how I think, thots all jumbled together.

Noon. I was ready to kill Blitzen. He went beserk about the leaf blower going by and pulled the cover off my coffee table. But under the piles of junque was my camera. I feel so much better.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Lady Xica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

PPQS:
Lea and I began working on the green batik quilt.
Storm warning from 3 am to Friday 6 am. I intend to stay in the house tomorrow.

BOOK REVIEW
Faye Kellerman, *Blindman's Bluff* (2009)
I have read this before but enjoyed it enuf to read over again.
Peter Decker, LA police procedural. Blind man is a translator for the court. He is a peripheral character in a homicide investigation.
A wealthy man and his wife as well as security guards are killed on a remote ranch. The younger son is injured. Decker believes that the gunmen are hired killers, and he thinks that one of the surviving family members had hired them.
Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 9, 2010

Baptist Center: Food Pantry
1- single man
2-single man
3-single man who lives at Bunkhaus
4-family of 3
5-single man
6-family of 2
7-single man
8-family of 6, Hispanic
9-single man

Total of 9 units.

I came home and took a nap. Up and off to the dog park. Buddy was there and Lady Xica did a lot of running.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
There was a cute little King Charles Spaniel girl, but Mom put me on time out. Mom is such a spoil sport. I keep saying.

Lady Xica's Tale
I did a lot of running with Buddy. I like to tease him. I start running and then I run off. There were a bunch of little dogs getting underfoot. They were all muddy.
When we got home, Mom sat around looking at that thing that sometimes makes funny noises.

Watched a documentary on bombing raids over Germany during WWII. As I watched, I was remembering the bombing survey taken after the war.
Then I watched a new series, NCIS Los Angeles.

BOOK REVIEW
A male reader has read *Outlander* and is bored. He was expecting soft porn. I guess that is a woman's book. It was classified as a "romance". Got an award as best romance of the year. I guess it is.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 8, 2010

Woke up in drenching rain. Off to Wendy's to meet with Judy. We commiserated over politics. Then the rain let up. So we dashed off to the dog park as fast as we could go. The little dog park was one big puddle. Actually there were little walkways in between puddles. The dogs chased birds.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Big puddles of water all over the little dog park. We chased birds, huge flocks of black birds. No other dogs were there. None.

Lady Xica's Tale
I had a lot of fun chasing birds. Lots of birds. No other dogs to scare them off. I dont know where all the other dogs were. It wasn't raining.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Mind Prey* (1995)
Not recommended for sensitive readers. Luke Davenport police procedural. In this book he gets engaged with Weather.
A woman and her two daughters are kidnapped and kept in a cellar. Lucas found them in five days but those days are horrible.

February 7, 2010

I woke up from my dream and kept on dreaming. What is that called, Carol?
Iwas attending a big AlAnon convention. It was chaos. Everybody was discussing and arguing at the top of their lungs.
I was supposed to make a joint presentation with another woman I had never met and she never showed up.

I managed to get to Sunday School. We were discussing the storyof the tower of Babel. What do you remember of your childhod teachings? How do you see it now. We had a spirited discussion.
Church and lunch at the round table.

After a nap we took off for the dog park. What a miserable day. We managed to make it between drizzles. Everybody else was home watching The Game. My goodness, NPR--- yes, NPR announced the score at the end of the first quarter.


Blitzkrieg's Tale
Nobody at the park. Mom says they were all home watching the game, whatever that means. I wound up playing with my sister. Grr.

Lady Chica's tale
Not much doing at the park. Mom says I have learned to play half fetch. She throws the doll's head and I chase it. Then she has to chase me to grab it. Blitz and I were pulling on the doll, and I got the head and Blitz got the body.

BOOK REVIEW
Keith McCarthy, *The Silent Sleep of the Dying* (2004)
This novel reads like a text book. McCarthy is a histopathologist (whatever that is) and his hero is a consulting pathologist. John Eisenmenger is called on to investigate a strange episode. A woman died of cancer and her body was mistakenly cremated. It turns out the autopsy was faked. The woman died of a multitude of cancers. She worked for a pharmaceutical company. And the plot takes off from there.
There are interesting descriptions.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 6, 2010

Up at 9:30 AM. Sun is shining. I am determined to do some quilt piecing today.

What I managed to do is start piecing another quilt.
Dog park was not comfortable. Cloudy and windy. None of the regulars were there on the little dog side. Buddy and Chance were there. Lady Xica and Buddy and Chance ran for the whole hour. Idiots kept standing beside the fence blocking the runway.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Old Buddy and chance kept running and running. People kept standing in the way. Didn't seem to know what was going on. Lots of dogs ran on either side.

Lady Xica's Tale
I really felt energetic today. I ran and ran and ran and ran. Mom was complaining that I got all muddy but Buddy sat down in a mud puddle. One dog jumped over Chance.

We all came home and took a nap. I am subsisting on soup. I have gained back all I lost. I make a soup of canned green beans and tomatoes. 16 points today (Weight Watcher points)

BOOK REVIEW
John sandford, *Heat Lightning* (2008)
Virgil Flowers, police procedural. Virgil works for Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension under the supervision of Lucas Davenport. Two murders, each man propped up under a veteran's memorial in a small town with a lemon between his teeth. Then another. Then another. Virgil hears that Vietnamese put a lemon in the mouth of people they executed. The victims were in a veteran's support group.
So we think there is a Vietnam connection.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 5, 2010

Thrusday night. I survived MI-5. I keep thinking they are going to kill Adam off. Then I couldn't get to sleep. Too much adrenalin.

Tai chi this morning. Twelve students there. I was shocked that one of the students had no bra and a low cut neckline.
Noon. Now for a nap.

It was a perfect day at the dog park. Ray was there with Charlie and Maggie. None of the big dogs came near the fence. Buddy was there bc I heard his mom calling him.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I haven't eaten anything today. My tummy doesn't feel good. I just wandered around the park.

Lady Chica's Tale
None of the big busters came near the fence. I watched the front fence, keeping an eye on that cop car parked there. He was up to no good.

We came home and took a nap. Then we watched our television programs on PBS.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Phantom Prey* (2008)
Lucas Davenport, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, police procedural. By this book. Lucas has a toddler son. Kidd is married, too, but we dont know to whom.
The usual serial killer. This plot has an unusual twist, shocking, that you learn at the middle of the book. You know who the killer is but Lucas doesn't.
Weather pressures Lucas to help a friend find her missing daughter.



Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 4, 2010

I had a dream that was like a novel. The time seemed to be just before the Civil War, like about 1860. I was on a church mission trip to the south. (Actually I think this might have been illegal.) My fiance, resembling Jamie Fraser, was with a management training group for a mining company using slave labor. (i have been reading about Spaniards use of slavesin Peru.) He came to the conclusion that he could not work with slave labor. So he was quitting.

I was perturbed about slavery. So I planned to go home. My parents drove down toget me. (A lot of anachronisms in this dream.) Eva R was in the mission grp and plannedto go home with me. Then she went to visit Mia who had just immigrated from Germany. Eva came back the morning we were to leae completely amnesic about our plans. Mia had invited her to stay as a house guest and Mia was wealthy and the house was luxurious. On and on and the dream ended.


Two responses to yesterday's journall. Jack LaLayne is still alive and will, doing jumping jacks.

I went to the bank and I went to Joanne's to buy scrapbooks. I came home tired. Decided it was now or never to take dogs to park. Few dogs there of course. Cloudy but not rainy. We were almost ready to come home when Chance and Buddy arrived.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Mostly I sat around on the table. Grass was wet. No dogs to chase.
Lady Xica's Tale
I spent the time parking cars. Not many to park. by the time Buddy and Chance came I was tired out and ready to come home. Mom was complaining how muddy we were.

Took a nap. Waiting for MI-5. Hi, David

BOOK REVIEW
Niall Ferguson, *The Ascent of Money* (2009)
Exciting new perspective on how the world works. We did a power study in the Valley in 1959. Power studies were all the rage. The one man with the most power was the banker bc he controlled credit.
Ferguson wrote the forward to the paperback edition after the crash of 2008. He defines all the abstruse terms like derivatives.
Ferguson is writing the history of money. The first items are promissory notes in ancient Sumer. still clay tablets exist.
It certainly gives a distinct flavor to history.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 3, 2010

Up at 11 AM. I went to sleep at midnight. So I had eleven hours of sleep. I had dreams where I was a spectator, like watching a movie.
My leg muscles are sore bc I was trying to hop yesterday. At Baptist Center, Nancy was talking about reading somewhere about doing jumping jacks. So I tried --- and failed. It takes strong leg muscles to jump.
Iwonder if Jack Lelayne is still alive and doing jumping jacks.

I am still sleepy -- noon -- altho Ihave not taken anti histamines. PPQS tonight. We go over to Pup's.

Word of the Day
Maginot Line. Before 1940, France built a system of defenses between it and Germany, called the Maginot Line. Impregnable.
In 1940 Rommel with his tanks, copying old Nathan Bedford Forrest (get there fustest with the mostest) swung through Belgium in a blitzkrieg (note:blitzkrieg), bypassing the Maginot Line and conquering France.

A friend of mine (native German) said that it is clear that my ancestors were Prussian. I never think of Germans as conquering warriors. They conquered the Romans and conquered France. The only reason the US won the war is that a lot of Germans settled in the U.S. Germans and irish. Ferocious barbarians. (Just call them Texans).

Took another nap. This seems to be physical need, not depression escape. It takes a long time to recover from hopping. Lucas Davenport said that when he played hockey in college, he was fine the next day. In his forties, it takes two or three days to recover. I wonder what it will be like when he is in his 80's.
I am determined to do a jumping jack.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Lady Xica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

The dogs had a good time. They came home and played and chased each other around the house.

Lea quilted the border of the batik quilt while I finished the scrapbook for the Puerto Vllarta vacation.

BOOK REVIEW
Jan Burke, *Hocus* (1997)
Burke's novels always contain some ancient crime surfacing to cause trouble. Irene Kelly is a newspaper reporter married to a homicide dick, Frank Harrison. In this book Frank is kidnapped by a group called *Hocus*. Hocus means hoax. First they infiltrate a bank computer and turn off requirement for fees. Then the library, erasing fines. Tricks.

Frank arrests two members and then Frank is kidnapped by the group. Held hostage. A complex plot unwinds.

February 2, 2010

4:30 AM Up for pit stop, waking from a wild dream. In that most recent John Sanford, Kidd was crawling around the Texas prairie outside Crawford.

My Master's Thesis was the first disaster study ever. The only literature available was the air force survey of bombing in WWII. I did interviewing in Flint following the tornado in 1953. I studied the response of formal orgs: Red Cross, Salvation Army, Michigan State Police. In that tornado several blocks of houses were just vanished. Vanished. I saw a refrigerator in a tree.
I was fascinated that the neighbors were in shock. I mean shock. The inhabitants of the houses were dead.

Baptist Center. I was steadily working all morning. 15 units got groceries

Dog park was sort of uneventful today. Medium cold. I did not wear enuf. My hands got cold. Blitzen did not get in trouble. Lady Xica got a lot of exercise.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Dog park was sort of boring today. The big busters kept getting in fights but they were always on the other side of the fence.

Lady Xica's Tale
I did a lot of running this evening. Everything seemed sort of quiet. Neither Buddy nor Chance came by this evening.

Quiet evening at home reading.

BOOK REVIEW
Malcolm Palmer, *Silent Treatment* (1995)
I have renewed this book twice and I cant get interested. It may be that I have read this book before in the long long ago. I said before that reading Palmer's novels convinces one that one does not want to go to a hospital.
This novel is about doctors and a hospital and an HMO.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

February 1, 2010

Alarm rings at 9, waking me from a pleasant dream and I woke up happy. I used to have a program which put the current temp in the tray on the bottom of my screen, next to time. Diane Reem on NPR is discussing toyota recall. Couldn't care less.
Temp is 32, wind chill 30.

Judy and I discussed finishing unfinished products. This was started by describing my quilt blocks.

Came home and took a nap. At four we set forth for the dog park. Blitzen and LC were bored for a while and started playing with each other. Then came Chance and Lady Chica started running. Finally came Buddy who got into a fight with another dog. I think Buddy attackedthe other dog for getting in his way when Buddy was running.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Chica and I had a lot of fun hassling each other. She wanted me to chase her but I dont have the strength anymore. That Chance is really young with a lot of energy. Buddy is an agressive ol boy.

Lady Xica's Tale
I had a lot of fun today. Nobody was there at first. So Blitz and I hassled each other. Finally Chance came and we did a lot of running. Then ol Buddy turned up. I really dont like Buddy. He is a bully.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *The Devil's Code* (2000)
A Kidd Novel. Kidd is an artist and a hacker. This novel is all about NSA, spy satellites and encryption of data. Kidd's colleague, Jack Morrison, is shot by a security guard, ostensibly trying to steal encryption codes. Kidd investigates.
In the course of investigation, Kidd flies to Dallas where he says about Dallas traffic, "a pod of Texans headedup the freeway in what seemed to be a rest of Chaos Theory."

Sandford wrote two Kidd novels before he invented Lucas Davenport. Somehow Kidd does not generate such postive reaction. I surmise that Kidd is too far out.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 31, 2010

8 am It looks as if I may make it to Sunday School.

At Sunday School we are discussing our childhood versions of Bible stories. Today we discussed the story about four men lowering a paralytic through the roof so that Jesus could heal him.
I think people should think more about the political ramifications of jesus' teaching. At this point in time, Jesus personifies the establishment.
The Pope is urging priests to blog. WWJB
Had lunch at the round table. Talked mostly with David the iceman.

After my nap we went to the dog park. No wind so it was bearable. Chance and Buddy were there. Packs of big busters were running the fence.
This never happens. Blitzen would not come home. he kept barking at a big dog. Finally I put Lady Xica in the car. Blitzen still would not come, but all other dogs were going home. The last person left besides me carefully waited to pull out until I was pulling out. I was impressed.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I felt really good tonight. Good running weather. Chance and Buddy were there and we had a pack of big busters running. I did not feel like going home when Mom left. I knew she would never leave me behind.

Lady Xica's Tale
Blitzen pulled a Chica tonight. he was determined not to come home. I was ready. I did a lot of running with Buddy and Chance.

7:35PM. I am ready to take another nap. Tired. Being cold tires me.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Chosen Prey* (2001)
Lucas Davenport police procedural, chasing a serial killer. We have alternate chapters with the killer, who is an art history professor. Lucas is back with Weather, after an hiatus. The end of the book implies that she is pregnant.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 30, 2010

11 AM Blitzen loudly proclaims he wants breakfast. Finally got up. He is relentless. At least the house is illuminated by the sun. I have been turning on lights.

We took off for a library run and the dog park. Few dogs there. After an hour Blitzen was whining to come home and Lady Xica wanted to play chase. (Blitzen almost never whines. Mostly he demands loudly.) I am exhausted. I finally got her into the air lock and eventually she came up to the gate.
A flock of gulls was hovering over the pond which had developed in the soccer field.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
A little winter weather goes a long way. Mom put my sweater on me and that felt good. Not many dogs there. We did get a few running once in a while.

Lady Xica's Tale
I get to running and nothing else matters. Old Blitzen wanted to go home. So Mom chained him to the fence while she chased me. She doesn't run very fast.

I came home and slept for three hours. Whew. I had an interesting dream. I was attending some kind of convention. A long line of women were waiting at the rest room. So I got in my car and was looking for somewhere to go to the restroom. Pat, somehow you were running around with me.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Dark of the Moon* (2007)
Sandford is introducing a new protagonist, Lucas Davenport getting too old. Lucas works for Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Working under his supervision is Virgil Flowers.
Virgil is in his late thirties, rather a rebel.
Virgil is sent out state to investigate a double homicide. As he drives into town he sees a fire. An old man is burned up in an arson.
police procedural

Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 29, 2009

Thursday night 11 PM. I think the storm has passed us.

8 AM Friday. It is raining but I see no signs of ice. Prediction is freezing drizzle this aft. I think I will stay out of the car. Back to bed.

11 AM Got up. We are having a hiatus between rains. So I will dress and we will walk around the block.
Twice I heard the emergency vehicles go screaming down the street.

We took our walk just in time. It is beginning to sprinkle. The wind chill was fierce. I need to walk the dogs more often. Talk about resistance training. The dogs came home and chased each other around the house at 25 mph. I mean literally.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Mom took us across the street to a big field. Lots of new smells. had a ball.

Lady Xica's Tale
I am glad Mom did not let go of the leash. That horrible Blitzkrieg runs off and Blitzkrieg is his name. He runs down by the creek and gets caught on the branches.

One day I expect to meet a feral hog or a bobcat or a coyote down by the creek.

Martha and I had our more than hour long chat on cell phone as she drives up from Laredo. Jake and Joanna are moving in together Feb 1.
3 PM I feel so cozy and warm inside. Rain has stopped.
4:30PM Feeling cozy and warm altho I think temp is dropping. Temp is 32 degrees with wind chill of 18. Going down to mid-twenties. There will be ice on the roads where puddles stand.
Took a nap for two hours. Evening draws on.

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, * Sudden Prey* (1996)
Another Luke Davenport police procedural. Luke has been made deputy chief of Minneapolis PD. In the course of a bank robbery, a woman robber is shot. her husband decides to shoot the spouse of every police officer involved. Cops and robbers.
Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 28, 2010

I notice that I have been dating these journall thewrong year. It is 2010.

Up at 10:30 AM. First order of business is to take car to have oil changed.

The oil change took 30 minutes and the commute was one block. So I was home in short order. It was raining and we went to the dog park. After 15 minutes Blitzen asked to go home. I have a slicker with hood in which I look like the pictures on those packages of frozen fish.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
I enjoy the rain but only to a certain extent. I raced around the field and then asked Mom to go home. LC was ready to come home, too. This is the kind of day to sleep.

Lady Chica's Tale
I really love falling water. I get in the shower with Mom every night.

I was settling in for my nap when thunder rolled and rain came down like buckets. I felt snug and warm cuddled next to LC, aka heating pad.
Amazed to find it is only 5:45 PM.
Watched the PBS Newshour. I am getting bored with MI-5, always the same plot. Some terrorist org planning to blow up London.
Checked weather channel. Severe thunderstorms tonight but temp is predicted to stay at 32. So we should not have ice. I am so happy I do not have to commute to a job tomorrow morn.

Turning off computer at 7 PM

BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford, *Winter Prey* (1993)
Lucas Davenport, police procedural. In this volume, Lucas meets Weather, the woman whomhe marries about ten books later. We get the back story on Weather who is a surgeon.


Lucas has left the Minneapolis police dept. (Was he fired for use of unnecessary force?) He is spending the winter in his cabin in northern WI. The sheriff asks him to help investigate a brutal murder. In the remains of a burned out farmhouse the firemen find three bodies. Add to this a gay priest.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 27,2010

Up at 9:30 am altho I stayed up reading until 4 AM (See book review) Grey day not too cold. I plan to do my laundry this morning. PPQS this evening.

Blitzkreig's Tale
Lady Xica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

Lea and I are donating our most recent quilt, not quite finished, to a fund raiser for research on breast cancer. Lea's daughter in Colorado is involved with "Power of Seven". Somebody is climbing seven mountains. The quilt will be in a silent auction.
Pics of the quilt are on Lea's facebook. Lea Worcester.



BOOK REVIEW
John Sandford,*Certain Prey* (1999)
Lucas Davenport series police procedural. Lucas is asst chief of police in Minneapolis, MN. (This is what kept me up until 4 AM.) In this book Lucas is chasing a female hitman. A lady lawyer hires a hitman to take out the wife of a man she wants to marry. From there on the plot gets complicated. You love the hitman, altho you come to hate the lady lawyer.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 26, 2010

Had a dreadfl dream I cant remember but a flood of feelings came flooding. I feel as if I had been struck by lightning. Off to Baptist Center.

Slow slow slow. I guess people are working at stockyards. We only had five family units.

Came home and took a nap. Then off to the dog park. Buddy was there and the dogs did some running.
They seem to sense time. At the end of an hour they come to find me, expecting to go home.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
Not much to say today. I sat on the table a lot of the time. I like to sit on Mom's back pack. She has a little one labeled ACU. I guess that came from Josh. I used to play with Josh but he is too grown up to come over and run with me.

Lady Chica's Tale
Buddy was at the park and we did some running along the fence. Not much going on. There were fights in the big dog side. Mostly little dogs dont fight.

Tuned in to NOVA but it was too slow, about Monarch butterflies. We always had a lot in Dighton bc our back forty grew milkweeds. Monarchs feed on milkweeds.

BOOK REVIEW
Janet Dawson, *Witness to Evil* (1997)
Jeri Howard, PI, is hired to go to Paris and find a girl named Darcy. It turns out Darcy's grandmother was a hidden child, hidden from the Nazis in rural France. Darcy wants to visit the places.
After Darcy comes home she is sent to a boarding school. One of the maintenance men is murdered and Darcy vanishes again.
Janet Dawson is a CPS worker in CA and her books are parables about abused children.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 25, 2009

Up at 9 before the alarm rings. Feeling good. No benedryl last night. No pains. off to Wendy's to meet Judy.

Judy and I sat depressing each other about the state of the nation. when I got home, Judy called 2 say the motorsickles were there. I am taking a nap.

I bought a Mother of the Bride dress. It is composed of four fabrics, pieced like a crazy quilt. I love it. Long dress. I will make top into a jacket. It is deep purple but not dark. I love it.

We went to dog park about five. Not warm but not cold. I wore a sweater (not ski jacket). Blitzen and Lady Chica played with each other. They ran with Buddy. In general got some exercise. I am so tired.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
We horsed around at thepark, had fun. Played with LC. Ran with Buddy.

Lady Chica's Tale
Not many dogs at the park. Mom was reading. We ran with Buddy. I think we finally tired him out. Another little dog was running withhim. Blitz and I played together. We usually dont do that at the park. I like to grab B's leg.

BOOK REVIEW
Clyde Edgerton, *Raney* (1985)
Rany is a small town Free Will Baptist and Charles is a liberal librarian from Atlanta. I emphasize librarian. Some of my best friends are librarians. And in the Riots at SIU, they were themost radical. This is the story of their marriage. They started out by playing country music together.
In some ways country music is a symbol. For Rany, it is normal music. For Charles, it is folk music.
I did not find this funny. I found it heart wrenching. I think the ending tells it all. The baby was baptized at the Episcopal church and the Baptists held a reception. The godfather was black, an army friend of the father.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

I just realized I have been saying 2009. It is 2010

January 24, 2009

Up at 10 AM. Martha and Jeff are coming over to steam clean carpet. Thot I would wait to take dogs to park to get them out of the way.
I forgot to mention last night that John took us out to dinner at JayJays.

I had loaded dogs to go to park when M and J drove up. We stayed at the park until after three. Stiff breeze but not too cold. Blitzen played with Friday.

Blitzkrieg's Tale
We stayed for a long time at the park. I was ready to come home. Friday turned up and we did a little running around. Those little black puppies were around. I keep trying to socialize that little boy dog.

Lady Xicha's Tale
I was too tired today. We stayed at Pup's from noon till seven last night and I got worn out. And we stayed forever at the dog park.

I came home and took a nap. Fussing around putting things back in place around the house. I watched CSI-New York. Found it boring.

BOOK REVIEW
J.A. Jance, *Breach of Duty* (1999)
J.P. Beaumont police procedural. Beau is a homicide dick with Seattle PD. An elderly woman is found burned to death and Fire Dept declares arson. They find $300,000 in a refrigerator in garage. Also some old bones are found in a park and a native American lady insists they belong to a shaman and have power.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 23, 2009

Slept until eleven. I have to hustle. Dropping pups at Pup's. Pup really is his name. Then off to set up exhibit at Woodland West, on Park Row near Tom Thumb.

7 PM I am exhausted but I have had so much fun. I got to library at 12:45. The setup took me five minutes. We had three partially fnished quilts. also a scrapbook.. Somebody was talking to us all the time. I saw other booths. gourds, buttons, GSP orienting.

Blitzkrig's Tale
Lady Xica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's

Oda Mae and Russ were here today, visiting their house. Russ has to hve radiation. My favorite neighbor has given up the ghost. Doris was alwaysthe life of the party. She wore funny hats. I mean hats meant to be entertaining. She got shingles, worse and worse. Then she contracted an infection in the hospital.

BOOK REVIEW
Diana Gabaldon, *Brotherhood of the Blade* (2007)
Third Lord John book. Brotherhood of the blade is just the bonding of soldiers. This book is complex. The theme of the book is repairing the honor of Lord John's father. The fa was accused of treason (giving info to French troops) but was a duke and House of Lordsdid not want to try him. He could only be triedby his peers. Lord John finally tracks down traitorsand exonerates his fa.
Jamie Fraser plays a cameo role. At this point Jamie is on parole working as a groom.

I seem to be living in the 18th century. Last night I was watching MI-5 and was amazed that Heathrowwas in the story.




Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 22, 2009

Up and off to tai chi. Then to Kroger to buy glue for scrapbook. All my glue has dried up. I am excited about what I am doing for scrapbook. Now for a nap. 1 PM

After my nap we went to the park. My dogs did not seem too excited. We stayed until 5:30 to avoid traffic which was in vain. We drove west to Riverside to get on 121. Somehow Beach St. was just plugged.

Blitzkreig's Tale
Nobody was eager to run. I just wandered around the park. I tried to socialize this little pup but everybody intervened. Nobody seems to understand that pups need to be straightened out.

Lady Xica's Tale
I was ready to come home. Mom dragged me through the agility mess. I dont know why she thinks I am going to do that voluntarily. She sat and read mostly. Ray was there and Marcie.

BOOK REVIEW
Diana Gabaldon, *Lord John and the Private Matter* (2003)
Lord John Grey was a minor character in the Outlander series. He was a teen ager in *Outlander*. His bro saved Jamie after Culloden. Lord John was the warden of a prison where Jamie and other "traitors" were incarcerated. He was gov of Jamaica in *Voyager*.

Gabaldon was asked to write a short story and a new series was born.
This story is set in 1757. Lord John is home between postings in France, in the Seven Years War between England and France. A soldier in his regiment is found beaten to death and Lord John is asked to investigate. (The regiment was raised by his bro.) His superiors think the man had been a spy.
I read this in 2003 and found it boring. Today I found it entriguing. Lord John is gay and his lover died at Culloden. His sexual orientation is always part of the story.

Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 21, 2009

9 am Going back to bed. Sun is shining. Will be a beautiful day.
My task is to put together a scrap book for our Saturday presentation. Pics of our quilts.

Slept until noon. I have slept the clock around. I was tired.

I am tidying, trying to find a thank you note for scrap book. We spent more than two hours at the dog park. Weather was perfect. Lady Xica ran up and down trying to entice a dog to run. Finally Buddy arrived. Dogs were ready to come home.

Blitzkreig's Tale
We stayed for a long time at dog park. I ran for a little bit but mostl I hung around Mom and sat on the table. We couldn't get any of those ol buggers to run.

Lady Xica's Tale
I am spelling my name differently. at the vet's, Dr. Jan told Mom about a dog who spelled her name that way, true Mexican.
Buddy finally came but by then I was too tired to run.

BOOK REVIEW
Diana Gabaldon, *Outlandish Companion* (1999)
This is an encyclopedia of all kinds of lore about the Outlander series. There is a synopsis of the first four books, Q&A from fans. And lots more.
There is a selection that was a short story that appears in the seventh book.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 20, 2009

Up at 8. Temp is 62 degrees. Gnash your teeth, Michicanos. We are off to the vet for Blitzen's annual exam and shots.

Blitzen was a pill. Otherwise he is in good shape. The vet techs have known Blitzen for ten years.

Blitzkreig's Tale
I truly hate that ol vet. They stick things into me. Mom says it will keep me well but I dont believe it. They had everything in one sticker today.

Blitzen's corner looks like an archeological site, with s atack of bones.
4:20 PM We are under a tornado watch. On my way to Pup's.

Tornado touched down many, many miles east of us. Lea and I spent out time fixing stuff to take to next Sat. We are going to be one exhibit at "Doing Your Passion" Some branch library.

Lady Xica's Tale
What happens at Pup's stays at Pup's.

I have not had time to read this week. I have been busy, busy, busy.



Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 19, 2009

Last night a reader said my late night would haunt me in the morning. This is the haunted morning. Up at 7:30 to get to Baptist Center. Predicted temp todayin the 70's.

Baptist Center
Slow this morning. Lots of people have temp jobs at stock show. 10 family units for groceries at 10:25PM
Altogether 14 family units by closing time.

I came home and took a short nap. Then I had a massage. Leah, my massage, therapist spent last week at something called the Chili Bowl. Small cars racing on an indoor track. She did not enjoy the week. I heard detail by detail.

Came home and went to dog park. Kelly came in and talked. Kelly talks and talks. The dogs ran off and on. Buddy was there when we came in. He was chasing our car on the road.

Blitzkreig's Tale
Buddy was there and we ran off and on. We ran and rested, ran and rested.

Lady Chica's Tale
Buddy was there. I ran on and off, on and off. Not much doing.

Came home. Booted up computer and my sister called on Skype. I feel as if I were living in Brave New World. She showed me pirate tee shirt she bought for her grandson in Oz.
I am tired, tired, tired. Massage tires me out.

BOOK REVIEW
Diana Gabaldon, *Drums of Autumn* (1997)
Fourth book in Outlander series. Claire and Jamie Fraser are blown ashore in Georgia, American colonies. Jamie's aunt has a plantation in North Carolina. Clare and Jamie head there, where the governor gives Jamie a huge land grant (the gov assuming Jamie will keep law and order on the frontier). Jamie brings in men from where he was in prison. They were in prison for the Rising, but it was treason.
I so enjoy this book for the picture it paints of life in the wilderness. They build a cabin, produce their own food.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 18, 2009

Up by 8:45 am. wow. Sun is shining. Temp will be 68 today. This week temps will be in sixties.
Meeting Judy at Wendy's at eleven.

HUMOR
TCU has a mascot, horned frog. One week TCU had a big game and they died a pond purple, urged people to wear purple. Now. Town Talk has a big sign board telling what the special is today. I drove by and saw FROGS. How can they sell frogs? Are frog legs frozen? Oh,yeah. Big delicacy.
The next trip I saw GO FROGS.

Judy and I discussed Haiti. I did not realize until this aft and evening that Haiti only had one runway at the airport. Furthermore, the port is damaged. What a mess. One dr said they were practicing Civil War medicine (our war of northern aggression). They are amputating limbs that are becoming infected bcthey have no antibiotics.

I took a nap. Then Off tothe dog races. Happily Chance was there and my dogs ran and ran. When we were going out, Buddy was coming in and he howled long and hard that we were leaving. Blitzen still has issues about his name.

Blitzkreig's Tale
I have decided to change my name. This is what I am, a blitzkreig. So there, too. I suppose Mom will still use my old name for my "call name".

Lady Chica's Tale
That Blitzen is so stupid. I am embarressed to be seen withhim at the dog park. I had a great time running with Chance. She and I are buddies.

BOOK REVIEW
Barack Obama, *Audacityof Hope*
I have read this before, two years ago during the election campaign. I think every citizen should read this. Obama lays out his value system. He is proceding according to his lights. He also says that politics is "a contact sport".
For one thing, he is being a constitutional president, eschewing the empirical presicdency that has been developing since LBJ.








Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 17, 2009

Up at 10:30. Slept like a log. Off to the dog park. martha is picking me up after the Cowboygame. Sun is shining. Will be warmer today.

The weather is PERFECT. Absolutely perfect. Dog park is mostly empty over the noon hour. My dogs were content to lie down under the table.

Blitzen's Tale
Everybody thinks I am a reindeer. I just hate my name. I think I will see about getting it legally changed. Mom is so behind the times. She thinks about blitzkreigs.

Lady Chica's Tale
Not many big busters and we couldn't get anybody to run. Mom thought she could get me to run the agility course without being on a leash. Funny mom. She has such funny ideas.


1:36 PM I am going to take a nap and let the Cowboy game take care of itself!!!!

I watched the last few minutes of the game, in time to see Brett Favre make his fourth touchdown pass. Martha was devastated.

We watched more pictures of Haiti. How horrible. Everything is devastated.

We had seafood soup for dinner. Oh, my. mussels, shrimp, clam, crab legs and what not.
Martha made gingerbread cup cakes.
We watched telly and Martha brot me home.

BOOK REVIEW
Ian Rankin, *Exit Music* (2007)
Inspector Rebus police procedural. Rebus is about to take retirement. One more body discovered beside the road, a Russian expat poet.
It is weird to be running around Edinburgh after being there in the 18th century.


Hugs, Dr. Liz

January 16, 2009

Up at 8:30 AM. I am going back to bed. Probably not to sleep.
I have a strange plant growing in one of my plants.

10:30 am. Had a great nap with Lady Chica snuggled against my back like a heating pad. I wish radio and/or tv had something on I wanted to hear or watch.

Well. I found something. Channel 13-2 had reruns of NOVA. I did some hand sewing.

After a nap, we set forth for the dog races, and I do mean dog races. We stayed for two hours. Lady Chica, Blitzen, Chance and Buddy ran and ran and ran. Chance's Mom told me thank you. Chance was tired out.

Blitzen's Tale
Chance and Buddy ran and ran and we ran and ran. What else is there to say?

Lady Chica has asked me to write her tale. She reports she is too tired out to write.

BOOK REVIEW
Nevada Barr, *Liberty falling* (1999(
Anna Pigeon's sister, Molly, is seriously ill in a New York hospital. Anna stays with a friend in Liberty Island, a national park. A girl jumps and a ranger falls or is pushed off a balcony on Lady Liberty. Anna of course becomes involved.


Hugs, Dr. Liz