Pizza and Neighbors

This was going to be a book blog. I read Robert Crais' new book "Taken" , Michael Connelly's new one "The Drop" and the new Stephanie Plum book Janet Evanovich, "Explosive Eighteen" and I wanted to tell you about them. This was all before my neighbor brought over more pizza!

If you haven't been following me on Facebook let me give you a little background. The section of my city that I live in has been known as "Little Italy" for many years. It is a multi-block area that was developed by a bunch of Italian people who all moved from Italy to Detroit and then all built houses in the same neighborhood back in the 60's. My neighbor grew up across the street and eventually bought the house next door to me. She is a school teacher and he owned a pizzeria. He now sells pizza spices and homemade dough to boutique grocery stores.

Starting the week after Bob died they have been bringing me pizza. EVERY WEEK! It started with an innocent phone call, "Hi it's your neighbor. It's pizza night so call me when you get home and I will bring some over!" Every week! I don't like pizza very much! I think I may have to move! I tried telling her I already ate. She said, great, you will have dinner for tomorrow. I tried nicely telling her, "you really don't have to do this". She rubs my arm and very sincerely says, "It's my pleasure". What do you say to that? I was thrilled when they went on vacation.

I guess I will post next week about the books.

Seattle

I am on vacation in Seattle. The same Seattle that has record snow and an ice storm. A state of emergency has just been declared because the entire city and surrounding areas are covered in inches of snow and topped with about a 1/2 inch of ice. Those of you from northern climes know that this means no one is getting out. They actually are asking everyone to stay home. Seattle is all hills. Cars and buses can't really get around and tend to slide, a lot, downhill.

Believe it or not this has been a very relaxing vacation. My sis-in-law Stefanie and I had grand plans for this week.. shopping, walking to Starbucks for breakfast coffee, taking the bus downtown for..um... more shopping. All the girl stuff she has missed since moving here. The weather and school closing has made that pretty much impossible but I find that this really isn't bad news. I have been running non-stop for 3 months and this forced relaxation is just what I needed. At home I would have too much to do to just lay on the couch and read. Plus there is the loving factor. Lola and Nolan have been giving me tons o' love!! I get hugs and kisses all day. I get to play princess and read chapter books..ahhh.

It may not be the vacation I planned but I really think it's the vacation I needed. Of course heading to the Keys in April won't hurt!

Stay warm!!

The book blog

In the past couple of weeks I have been asked for reading suggestions about 4 times. I am posting my "starter" list below. These are mostly mysteries and all in series so if you like them you can continue the series. (I have to figure out the picture thing).

1. I recommend the "In Death" series by JD Robb (who is Nora Roberts) to pretty much everyone who asks me about books. The first one is "Naked in Death". Eve Dallas is a cop in the near future. There is romance and mystery and a great on-going story line about all of the main characters. I smile, I cry. I have been hooked on these books since they started in the 90's. There are over 20 books in this series so it gives you something to read for a very long time.

2. The "Prey" series by John Sandford. The first one is "Rules of Prey". They are all good, fast reads and another long time series with the main character a cop named Lucas Davenport. What I like about this series is frequently you know "who done it" but Davenport doesn't so it's interesting to see how he is going to figure it all out. These are must buys for me, my mom and my sister.

3. Michal Connelly - hey I am on a cop roll here! The first book in his series is "Black Echo". These are more intense and suspenseful murder mysteries starring Harry Bosch. He also wrote the "Lincoln Lawyer" and few others with the same character, Mickey Hailer, that are tied-in to the Harry Bosch books.

4. Robert Crais - Start with "Monkey Business". His main characters are Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. Elvis Cole is a private detective and Joe is his go-to muscle and best friend. Joe eventually gets his own books.

If you are looking for something lighter and funny you should try "One for the Money" by Janet Evanovich. LAUGH OUT LOUD funny. I cannot tell you how much joy I get out of this series. My mom and I read parts of these books to each other on the phone because we just crack up. I have been known to embarrass myself in airports with these books *snort*. I am sure you have seen the ads for the upcoming movie.

So, if you are interested in contemporary or historical romance or Urban Fantasy let me know and I will send you a list of books I have read and enjoyed lately.

Final farewell to 2011

After all the crap I went through in 2011 I can honestly say it was the worst year of my life. I am very happy to be done with it and get on to 2012, Mayan calendar and all :D

I don't make resolutions on New Year's Eve but I do try to make reachable goals. I don't even remember last year's goals that's how crazy my year was. This year I am taking my diet and exercise in hand. I work out with a trainer once a week for a very long and grueling hour and I try to get to the gym 2 more times. I say TRY but I really don't. It's cold and wet and dark and I am tired. My foot hurts my back hurts my dog needs to be let out... These are my perceived hurdles but really, I just don't feel like it! So, I am looking for ways to motivate myself.

My second goal is to get my basement cleaned out. For those of us in Michigan a basement can be a godsend and/or a curse. We stash everything in the basement and forget about it. Top that with a husband who never got rid of anything, ever, and you see my problem. I gave away the old treadmill and have been slowly taking things to the Salvation Army. I still have a long way to go. I plan on having a few very large garage sales as soon as the weather turns warmer do I need to get my butt in gear!

I see 2012 as the perfect year to start over. For the first time in a long time I have plans. I hope to detail those plans here over the next months so stay tuned!

I wish you all a happy and healthy New Year!

Monday... ha ha...oops... Tuesday

Four days off and I am back to work...kind of. I am here for about 6 hours a day Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. My company gives Fri/Mon off on the Christmas and New Year's weekends. This is the first time in about 10 years that I have worked the days in-between. I am heading to Seattle (Hi Stefanie) in 2 weeks and didn't want to take the vacation days needed. No one here, I am just puttering..cleaning files, posting blogs...

So I seem to have survived my first Christmas without the hubby. I kept very busy and cried when I needed to, which wasn't that often. I am getting sick to death of this though. I think I have been doing very well and BAM all of a sudden something weird hits me and I start bawling! Yesterday it was cleaning house. I know, weird right? When we had people over I did the shopping and cooking and Bob cleaned the house. I had my brother and his family over and had to clean everything myself! I guess that is enough to make anyone cry. :D

I got a lot done over the time off and hope to get more done this coming long weekend.. Next up, an overhaul of my diet and exercise regime. Wish me luck I am honestly going to need it.

So this is Christmas

Bah Humbug! As much as I try I just can't seem to get into the "spirit" this year! Yes, I know, my husband died... it will get better...blah blah... I don't think it will ever be the same for more reasons then that. My immediate family is all spread out, Mom and Sis in Dallas, brother and family in Seattle leaves 2 brothers. We used to have a big crowd and now we are down to a few. The weather doesn't help this year...warmish for December, overcast and rainy. Not really Christmas type of weather. I am not depressed... I just don't feel like being freaking JOLLY!! How about you?

I'm Baaack!

Wow, I haven't blogged in ages! I didn't really have anything to say....which I am sure most of you don't believe! I have been trying to get into Christmas a little bit. It's not working. As you may know from previous posts, this is not my favorite holiday to begin with. Without Bob here it just seems pointless this year. I am sure I will get more into the spirit in the next few years, but maybe not. What I would really like to do it travel for the holidays but, and that's a really big but... I hate the actual travel during this time of year. Crazy people, screaming kids, bad weather delays... bleck!

This year I am heading to my niece and her husband's for Christmas eve, volunteering Christmas morning and then my brother's for Christmas dinner. Then the next day I am having another brother and his crew for dinner! Still trying to decide what I want to do for New Year's but it looks like the jury is in and I will survive the holidays this year! How about you?