Scottish Fest

This is a picture of one of the many pipe and drum bands I saw yesterday at the Kalamazoo Scottish Festival.

The festival was held at the Kalamazoo County Fairgrounds, so there was lots of room but, unfortunately, the rain kept many people away, including some of the vendors.

Speaking of vendors, we really liked the t-shirts by Got-Kilt? (Follow the link to pictures of the t-shirts on his web site; there you will also find a link his blog with a Celtic joke every Monday.)

After a rainy start, the day turned out to be sunny and breezy -- perfect weather for all the activities, and there were quite a few:

Event Attractions For 2007

* Ceilidh
We are host a traditional ceilidh again this year at the Kalamazoo Fairgrounds. Friday night, please bring a dish to pass. Join us for an enjoyable evening of storytelling, singing, piping, and dancing.

* Pipe Bands
Enjoy on-field performances by area bands and two massed band demonstrations. Talk with band representatives about piping and drumming and, maybe, give it a try!

* Clans
Visit the clan tents to trace your roots, meet “family,” and join in the parade of tartans!

* Dancing
See demonstrations of highland dancing given by the award-winning Kathleen McMahon Dancers. Watch or join in with the Kalamazoo Royal Scottish Country Dancers.

* Heavy Events
Cheer the regional amateur athletes competing in such highland games events as the stone put, hammer throw and caber toss. You could test your skill in the renowned haggis throw!

* Children’s Games
Kids of all ages may participate in the children’s parade and games.

* Artisans
Watch artisans demonstrate ancient crafts. Marvel at spinners, weavers, and a blacksmith.

* Re-enactors
Walk through the encampment of Grant’s Company of the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment. Visit the History Tent and join in the activities with Elliot MacFarlane.

* Vendors
Shop for Scottish and American food, clothing, jewelry, books, music and more.

* Animal Exhibitions
See rare Highland cattle and watch border collies in herding demonstrations. Visit Clydesdale horses, Jacobs Sheep and see the greyhounds.

I didn't see the Clydesdales or greyhounds, but enjoyed the herding demos and visiting with the Border Collies and the longhorned Highland cow and her calf.




















Lots of people bought their dogs, so I got meet and pet lots of beautiful dogs. Here are a few:




















A cute Dachshund in a kilt.




















Just a few of the 16 Border Collie puppies.



















Connery stopped by our booth to visit and enjoy the shade.

The people who didn't attend due to the threat of bad weather missed a good festival and lots of fun. Hopefully this year's Irish Fest will have equally lovely weather (unlike last year's monsoon).

Math 911

I got this from a friend and couldn't resist sharing. I think the title should be "When NOT to Call 911!":

Summer Flowers

After weeks of heat and humidity, it's cool and rainy. Despite the weather change and attacks from Japanese Beetles, my Hibiscus is thriving. It has 10 flowers today! Unfortunately, you can't quite see all of them in this picture.

Rowling Writing a Mystery?

Today on Fox News: Report: 'Harry Potter' Author J.K. Rowling Working on Crime Novel

Rowling demonstrated how good she is at misdirection in the Harry Potter books, so I'm sure any detective novels she writes will be very well written. I just have one question: she's the richest woman in Britain and she still writes in cafes? How the heck does she avoid being continually interrupted by her fans?

At Last, Camelot

In the early '80s, I fell in love with the Broadway version of Camelot with Richard Harris and Meg Bussert. Unfortunately, we didn't own a VCR at the time, so although I watched it countless times on HBO, I was never able to tape it.

I've been hunting for the tape for several years without success. A few years ago I even e-mailed Meg Bussert who is an instructor at NYU Steinhardt. At that time all she knew was that the rights had been sold to A&E. When I contacted A&E they had no idea when it would be available.

Now, quite by accident, I found it was released on DVD May 1, 2007. (At last!) I've already ordered my copy from Amazon.

If you haven't seen this version, I must say I like far better than the 1967 movie with Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave (which looks very dated). The performances are fresh and entertaining. Bussert plays Guenevere with a charming mix of innocence and cunning. Richard Muenz portrays Lancelot as confident but a bit naive. These interpretations make the tragic ending all the more poignant. Harris is, of course, superb as the idealistic and forgiving Arthur. I can hardly wait for my DVD to arrive so I can see it again after 24 years. (Man, does that make me feel old! I was about 20 the last time I saw it.)

UPDATE Aug. 22: It arrived today and I watched it immediately. It's a good as I remembered: beautiful costumes and staging, wonderful music, and Harris was so good I didn't think of Dumbledore once. :) There aren't many special features on the DVD (not even closed captioning), but I don't care. I'm so glad to finally own a copy of this version!

Damn Bees!

According to NPR and National Geographic, bees are disappearing by the thousands -- and I know there they are. They are in my living room!

Every day I find a dead or dying bee near the sliding door and kill at least one live bee that's hanging around the door. I can only assume they are attracted to the flowers on the porch and come in to enjoy the air conditioning any time we open the door. Unfortunately for the bees, coming in here is a death sentence.

I'm rapidly overcoming my bee phobia because I'm so afraid they will hurt my cats that my instinct is to kill the the bees. Is that an unrealistic fear? Maybe, but Saffron is so sick she doesn't need a bee sting to add to her problems. Sophie likes to eat bugs, and has found several feeble bees for me, so she's even more likely to get stung.

My husband tells me these bees don't even have stingers, but I don't care! I'm not taking any chances. Bees, be warned: enter at your own peril!

Davison Election has 10 Candidates

According to this week's Davison Index, the Nov. City election has 10 Candidates, the largest number in years:

Mayor Fred Rappuhn has thrown his hat into the ring for another four years. Rappuhn has served as mayor for four years.

Rappuhn has some competition though, with three other candidates in the running: Jim Hansen (a former city councilman), Charles Purdy, and Fred "Mac" Fortner, who has also served on council in past years.

Mayor Pro Tem Ralph Arceo and Councilman Don Csutoras, are running for re-election. Newcomer Gordon Winther, who was choosen to fill Kevin McKague’s vacant seat on Monday June 25, has also turned in his petition.

Three other residents running for city council are Tim Bishop, Jim Hershberger and Tom Lesnock.

Future issues facing the city council include looking at building a new municipal center, continued infrastructure needs and economic development.

I'm not surprised. I think many residents are annoyed about the canopies, scheduling major downtown work just before this year's Pumpkin Festival, and the idea of a new "municipal center" (i.e., city hall and library).

Saffron Update: A Step Back

Saffron had a bit of a set-back this week. She started throwing up again Thurs, right before we went to the vet on Fri for her weekly B12 shot. She lost 5 oz. last week (which is a lot, since she only weighed 5 lb. 10 oz. before that!). The vet examined her, did a blood test, and gave her fluids, Reglan for her tummy, and her vitamin shot. The blood test showed that her liver enzymes are slowly getting worse. That could be the cause of her digestive problems. Her overall health is excellent, especially considering her age and her illness, which is why she has a good appetite and why she is doing as well as she is. The vet says I’m doing a very good job taking care of her, but I’m disappointed. I kept hoping that if I could just get some weight on her, her liver problem would improve. For now, we are going to try fluid and Reglan twice a week to see if that keeps her comfortable and helps her tummy. I’m glad she’s bright eyed, happy, and comfortable, but losing hope that she will improve. I'm thankful every day that she is comfortable and happy but afraid she won't be with us much longer. This picture is typical of her these days: resting, relaxed, happy -- and purring.

UPDATE Mon., Aug. 13: Fluids are helping. Last Fri, she weighed 5 lb. 5 oz. (and must have been pretty dehydrated); today she was 5 lb. 14 oz. and today she clearly feels better! Yesterday she wouldn't eat anything except baby food (she usually prefers her crunchy food); today she's eating everything in sight: baby food, treats, crunchy food, and our food!

Progress, At Last

I saw the sports doctor yesterday. We are both pleased with how much my tendonitis has improved. I'm done with physical therapy, only use ibuprofin for inflammation, and am doing my home exercises every day. I'm doing so well that I didn't need to schedule another follow-up appointment! I now see the sports doc on an as-needed basis. Hoo-ray!

I continue my home exercise plan and wearing my brace for another 3-4 months. It I get the faintest twinge of sharp pain, I see the sports doc again, but right now everything looks very promising!

Since typing is one of the things that makes the tendonitis worse, I asked if he had any advice for how to deal with teaching three on-line classes this fall. In addition to being as ergonomic as possible, he recommend dictation software: here's the Mac version. I ordered my copy today. He said once you get used to it, it's very efficient and he uses it all the time. I hope it's as easy as it looks! Of course, I will be blogging about it once I get my copy. :)

The Man in the Moon

What do you see when you look at the full moon? I see a friendly face smiling back down at me, but maybe I'm not seeing what everyone else is seeing.

This site has some wonderful images of How to see the man in the moon and Images seen in the Maria of the moon. Some of these images are quite complex, like these examples of the man in the moon and the moon hare:







































What I see is actually a much simpler version of the Man in the Moon. I've darkened the facial features so you can get an idea of how I see it:




















Is this what you see, or do you see something more complicated?

What Happens After Harry Potter 7

In an online chat Aug. 30, Jo Rowling told us what happened after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

Summary on CNN Rowling: So you want to know what happens next?

Complete transcript on The Leaky Cauldron.

I'm glad Jo filled us in! This info, plus the Epilogue, should be enough to keep other authors from trying to "fill in the gaps" -- and it's so much better than Sir Arther Conan Doyle's Reichenbach Falls solution for dealing with Sherlock Holmes. I don't know if this will satisfy readers' desire for more Harry Potter stories, but it's good info.

Halloween Stitching

Not long ago I mentioned that I'm doing lots of little counted cross-stitch projects. Here are pictures and links to the designers. I'm also challenging myself to stitch on something other than plain old white Aida cloth, so I'm stitching each chart on the colored fabric pictured with it.

I love Meowy Halloween (I'm stitching all three and they glow in the dark!), Halloween Kitty Moon, Christmas Kitty Moon, and The Cat Did It (customize with your pet's name), all by Stitchy Kitty. I used 16 count fabric for Meowy Halloween and 14 count for everything else. This was the first time I used 16 count and I really like it! Note for non-stitchers: this refers to number of squares per inch. Each cross-stitch, which looks like a little x, is one square.























































































I found Ursala Michael's Bewitching Banner in the September issue of Cross-Stitch and Needlework and couldn't resist stitching it! (Don't they remind you of the Sorting Hat in Harry Potter? :)

This will be the first time I've used DMC Light Effects floss (fluorescent colors, but there are now more than the 2 colors pictured on the DMC site). I'm stitching this pattern on 28 count Opalescent/Raw Belfast Metallic Linen by Zweigart. The pictures don't do it justice! It's pretty with a hint of sparkle. Note for non-stichers: when using linen you stitch over two squares, so this design has 14 stitches per inch, not 28.


























Merlin Max is one chart in special series by A Kitty Katz Originals. This chart came with all the charms you can see in the picture (spiderweb, spider, "Halloween," key, witch shoes, witch head, moon and stars, and candy corn) and was the same price as most charts without charms! This is a good deal since charms can be expensive.


























I couldn't find fabric quite like that pictured with Merlin Max, so I'm using a really pretty, sparkly fabric by Laguna called Rainbow Sparkle. The picture on Herrschner's web site (click and scoll down) doesn't do it justice! It's a pastel blend of blue-ish, purple-ish colors on a light blue/gray background with sparkly rainbow metallic thread throughout. I will try to take a picture when I'm done stitching. If it shows the fabric well, I will post it here.

I don't recommend Herrschner's, by the way; I didn't spend anywhere near what they charge for Rainbow Sparkle! As always, I buy my supplies at Stitches 'n' Things in Fenton, MI. which has much better prices and service than any online site!

#$%& Ragweed!

Summer's here and the time is right for Ragweed pollen. Crap. I hate this stuff! The mold level has remained relentlessly high all summer, now there is also Ragweed. I don't need to see an allergy report to know it's here. The first clue was when I woke up earlier this week with swollen, itchy eyes -- and that's with prescription allergy medicine and central air conditioning (my friend, the big pollen filter).

SIGH. Only two more months until my friend Jack Frost shows up to kill the Ragweed. October seems unbearably far away right now.

Harry Potter Links

My friend Jason Fisher posted some cool Harry Potter links on his blog (Lingwë - Musings of a Fish) yesterday, including these Scholastic links:

Explore Cover Art: See the HP covers and deluxe covers up close.

Pronunciation Guide: Learn how to pronounce Hermione, Scrimgeur, and other unusual words — includes phonetic spelling and audio clips.

While I was exploring these sites, I noticed that Scholastic also has an HP Glossary. Who knew Scholastic has so much cool HP stuff?

Be sure to visit Jason's blog. He has lots of interesting HP entries on word origins and other linguistic topics.

Weather Radio

I bought a Midland WR 100 Weather Radio (only $30 at Kroger). I've always wanted one but had the impression you got every county in the state, not just your own. This radio was easy to program. You can set it for up to eight counties, but I set mine so I only get weather alerts for Genesee County. This radio has a battery back-up so it would be great for camping (not that I do that any more!).

According to the manual the National Weather Service sends out a weekly test message every Wed. It's text only (and the yellow light comes on) so I missed it. I guess I'll find out if the audio alert works when the next thunderstorm hits!

UPDATE: July 27.
We had a severe thunderstorm warning tonight and the alert never sounded on my weather radio! I double-checked the programming, took out the batteries and re-programmed it, and had a friend (who is familiar with weather radios) double-check it for me. Neither of us could find anything wrong. It works fine if you want to listen to a weather report any time, but doesn't give alerts, even when it's set to give alerts for all counties, not just Genesee. I'm going to return it and get my money back! If I do get another weather radio, it won't be this model and if I can find a different brand, I will buy it instead.

Festival of Flags 2007

Today is the first day of Davison's annual Festival of Flags. A parade on Main Street, an ice cream social at the fire hall, and fireworks in the park kick off the activities. For a complete schedule of everything that's happening between now and Sunday refer to The Davison Index or the Chamber of Commerce web sites.

The festival is one of the many things I like about living in a small town. My only complaint it the timing. Since it's the the Festival of Flags and Davison is the City of Flags, I think the festival should take place on an appropriate holiday, like Flag Day or Independence Day.

The Festival used to always be on Flag Day until some wimp complained that it was too cold in June to sit in the beer/entertainment tent at night. In June! That person must no longer live in Michigan if he or she think June is cold. Now the Festival is at the end of July, when it's always hot and humid. Hope the whiner is happy now that the rest of us are miserable in the hot, sticky weather!

Even if it's hot and humid, the Festival of Flags is always worth attending. I can hardly wait for Art in the Park this weekend.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I just finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Wow! I won't post any spoilers but I was very pleased with the book. It lives up to the hype, it wraps up every loose end in the series, and is very satisfying. I especially like the climactic battle(s) and the Epilogue.

I'm just sad that it's the last book. Oh, Jo, please change your mind and write more!

Two More Days...

Just two more days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows! I'm so excited I can hardly wait. Muggle Net has a clock counting down the hours, minutes, and seconds to midnight Friday night/Saturday morning. (I'm surprised The Leaky Cauldron does not have a count-down, too!)

Need something to tide you over until book 7, but you've re-read books 1-6, and re-watched all the movies? Check out the Harry Potter Wiki or J. K. Rowling's web site. I expect both will be quite busy over the next few day!

Summer Vacation

I’m really enjoying my summer vacation. Every day I wake up and I think, "Wow, I don't have to go to work or grade papers today!" I really needed this break.

Yesterday I finished physical therapy for my tendonitis. I’m doing everything they tell me (a LOT less typing, daily strengthening exercises, medication, etc.) and hoping for the best. To keep away from the computer, I’ve doing lots of needlework (counted cross-stitch and needle punch) while watching DVDs and TV shows Mom or I taped during the school year, and reading.

I've also had time for several visits to my favorite needlework shop, Stitches 'n' Things, in it's new location (Fenton). God, I miss having it just a few blocks away! It's worth the drive though, since they have the best products and service in the state. It's fun to look at all the new patterns and see what everyone is working on. Of course, I've bought quite a few new patterns and all kinds of supplies.

You may be wondering why doing needlework doesn't aggravate my tendonitis. It's because I have two cool stands so I can work without holding the frame in my left hand: a floor stand for larger pieces and a lapstand for smaller pieces. (I'd link to the company but their site is down. I hope they are still in business because their products are excellent!) Right now I'm working on lots of little projects involving my favorites things to stitch: cats, Halloween, and Christmas.

The cats are great about keeping me company, especially when my husband is at work. Sophie likes to lay on my lap (when she’s not bouncing around like a kitten!) and will do so even if I’m doing needlework. She likes to get under the frame and bat at the thread! Saffron has never been very cuddly, so when she is in a cuddly mood, it’s special. She likes to stay where she can see me and some days doesn’t want to me out of her sight. On those days she even follows me to the bathroom!

I’m also working on some long-awaited research projects. I'm expanding the Frodo paper I presented at last year's Mythcon (the annual conference of The Mythopoeic Society). As part of my research I'm reading part of Christopher Tolkien’s History of Middle-earth (12 vols. of his father’s notes and drafts of everything); Vols. 6-9 are the drafts of The Lord of the Rings. I’ve found a few things that apply to my Frodo paper, but it’s just fascinating watching JRRT’s writing process and watching the story develop from the children’s-book-sequel to The Hobbit into the book we know and love. Some weird bits from the early drafts:

• Frodo’s original name was Bingo Bolger-Baggins (thank God JRRT changed that!)
  
• Aragorn was originally a Hobbit ranger called Trotter
• Treebeard was an evil giant who was responsible for Gandalf’s delayed arrival in Rivendell
• The Riders of Rohan were servants of Saruman
• Aragorn married Eowyn

Weird, eh?

Speaking of books, only a few more days until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I know what I'll be doing this weekend! :) I can hardly wait to see what happens, and if I guessed correctly (refer to my post on HP).

Books, Cats, Needlework ... life is good.

The Hula Chair

I recently saw a commercial for the funniest weight loss product I've ever seen: The Hula Chair! You sit and the base of the chair moves in a circle, simulating a hula dance, and no doubt leading to tight abs. I can't believe anyone would buy this thing!

For specs, video, etc. on the Hula Chair and other hilarious products, refer to Weight Loss Gadgets for the Lazy and Unmotivated.

Funny Ads

I got these old ads from a former student and they are so funny I had to post them here! (Click on the pictures for a larger view.)

My mom-in-law remembers the "More Doctors Smoke Camels" ad but we aren't sure the others are real. They are hilarious, not to mention politically incorrect, whether they are true or not!

How times (and ads) have changed, eh?

R.I.P. Captain America

Have you heard the news?! Captain America Buried at Arlington National Cemetery. What is wrong with these writers? They can't kill Cap! He symbolizes our country, so what are they saying about our country?

They didn't even kill him heroically: "He was headed to court after refusing to sign the government's Superhero Registration Act, a move that would have revealed his true identity. A sniper who fired from a rooftop was captured as police and Captain America's military escort were left to cope with chaos in the streets."

If he's going to die, Cap should die saving the President or doing something equally heroic. Apparently the writers are more interested in writing about the grief, depression, etc. caused by the death of a beloved American superhero.

My husband tells me to be patient because the comic industry is notorious for undoing stories like this. He's right but it still frustrates me. Many comics are very well-written with complicated and sophisticated story lines that enjoy, but I quit reading them when the writers had Silver Age Green Lantern Hal Jordan go insane and kill the entire Green Lantern Corps. He then redeemed himself by sacrificing himself to save Earth but it made me so mad I couldn't wait several years for them to undo the story, so I stopped reading.

At least I know Cap got a really good funeral and he'll be back ... eventually.

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day! Celebrate freedom and remember our troops today!

God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood

Courtesy of the Red White and Blue - Toby Keith

America We Stand as One - A Tribute

Saffron Update

I haven't written about Saffron in a while so here's an update: our little purry girl is doing better! Last week we added Hills prescription food to her diet and it has made a huge difference. She clearly feels better and canned food has apparently stimulated her appetite for all food, including her Regular Iams crunchy food. She looks happy and relaxed and has a little bounce in her step. Thursday night I saw her playing with Sophie for the first time since Christmas!

She gained 2 oz. this week. That's significant since she only weighs 5 lbs. 12 oz.

I'm so relieved to see Saffron feeling well enough to play again. In Jan. the vets who did the ultrasound told us she probably had cancer and only a few months to live. I hoped but never expected her to improve this much and I feared I would never see her play again. We're both happy girls. :)

Night Blind by Jan Worth

Looking for something interesting and unusual to read? I recommend Night Blind by Jan Worth. It's the story of a Peace Corps murder in the Kingdom of Tonga in the 1970s (based on a real murder in Tonga when Jan was a Peace Corps volunteer). It's not a typical who-done-it murder mystery but it is an intriguing look at how this horrible crime affected other young Peace Corps volunteers. I especially like the setting. I knew nothing about Tonga before reading it and felt like I went on a little vacation in this beautiful, tropical setting.

Jan is a dear colleague of mine and I'm so proud of her success! She self-published her novel through iUniverse and is doing well. She recently attended Book Expo America in New York where she recorded a podcast (also available in iTunes) for Book Expo's Author's Studio. You can read more by and about Jan on her blog.

The End of Battlestar Galactica

If you haven't seen the new Battlestar Galactica on SCI-FI, you are missing one of the best shows on television. It's nothing like the 1978 series of the same name. It's edgy and well-written, with believable, three-dimensional characters in an impossibly stressful situation. The episodes are so well-written with ever-building tension that it's hard to go to bed right after watching it. If I do, I sometimes dream about it because I can't stop thinking about it. Now that's good writing!

If you've watched either series, skip this paragraph. If you've never seen the old or new series, here's the setup: the 12 colonies of man have been destroyed by Cylons, the cyborg/robots created to serve man but turned against him. A handful of survivors escape to space in anything that will fly, protected by the last Battlestar, Galactica. In hopes of starting over, Galactica is searching for the lost 13th colony, Earth. Like all good Sci-Fi the stories are about humans and how they react to the situation they are in. The current series deals with things barely touched on in the original series: grief, survival, racial discrimination, love, religion, etc.

(Speaking of religion, in the new series the Cylons are monotheists, and some are quite fanatical about it, while the humans are polytheists. For three seasons I've been wondering what the heck this means!)

The new series has some wonderful twists: some of the characters who were originally male are now female (Starbuck and Boomer, for instance), which makes for a better balance of male and female characters, and adds a whole new dimension to Starbuck's relationships with Apollo, Adama and Zak.

Another amazing twist is that Cylons can now appear to be human. There are 12 models of Cylons, at least 7 of which appear to be human -- and no one can tell at glance who is human and who is a Cylon. At least one major character on Galactica is a Cylon, so viewers are constantly asking themselves, "Oh my God, is that character a Cylon?". There are multiple copies of each human model, so killing a "skin job" doesn't result in death; the Cylon's consciousness and memories merely download into another identical body. Imagine the complications for the poor humans fighting them, and the discrimination against the few "skin jobs" who are sympathetic to the humans.

It's wonderfully complex and interesting, which is why I am so disappointed to hear that the producers recently announced that the next season will be the last. The writers/producers have an actual ending planned, and since the end of the series is not unexpected I'm sure it will be stunning. Since the new series has lasted 4 seasons (3 seasons longer than the original) and the writing has been outstanding since the beginning, I guess we really can't complain that they have announced the end.

How do I think it will end?

*** SPOILER ALERT *** I'm going to mention the Season 3 finale. If you haven't seen it yet, stop reading now!

Season 3 ended with Starbuck apparently returning from the dead, saying she'd been to Earth, and she would lead the fleet there. I'm sure she will. I'm also sure they will not arrive in 2007/8. It will either be in our distant past (and they will end up being our ancestors) or the far future (and they will end up re-populating Earth after the Cylons destroy us). What makes me think so? A couple of things.

First, the "history repeats itself" theme of the new series. We are told repeatedly that everything that is happening now has happened before and will happen again in the future. This is often mentioned in prophecies about Earth and Starbuck's "special destiny" (foretold by a seer in season 1 or 2 and a prominent storyline in season 3).

Second, the opening and closing monologues from the 1978 series:

[opening] There are those who believe that life here began out there, far across the universe, with tribes of humans who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians, or the Toltecs, or the Mayans. They may have been the architects of the great pyramids, or the lost civilizations of Lemuria or Atlantis. Some believe that there may yet be brothers of man who even now fight to survive somewhere beyond the heavens...

[closing] Fleeing From The Cylon Tyranny the last Battlestar, Galactica, leads a rag tag fugitive fleet on a lonely quest for a shining blue planet known as Earth.

This afternoon I saw two episodes of the 1978 series on the Ion (Independent Television) channel. It confirmed two things: the current series is much better and my ideas about the end of the series.

One of the 1978 episodes, "The Hand of God," was about Galactica nearly finding Earth. They picked up a transmission from unknown source, possibly hundreds of years old but clearly from a NASA lunar mission. Of course it appeared to come from the Cylon basestar that suddenly appeared from behind a planet and this led to a spectacular battle in which the basestar was destroyed, thanks to Apollo and Starbuck using intelligence from Baltar. At the end of the episode Apollo and Starbuck just miss another transmission from Earth: "The Eagle has landed."

See how it supports my theory? The message from Earth may be hundreds of years old, the Cylons got there first, etc. I'm sure the current writers will make it edge-of-your-seat tense and unforgettable, with unexpected twists, but I still don't want it to end. Thank God for DVDs!

6 Reasons to Buy a Mac

In case this ad is too small to read, the reasons in the ad are:

• Run Office and Windows
• Equipped with iLife
• Four-way video chatting
• Supports iTunes U
• Unbelievably secure
• Built-in wireless
  

PCs don't have built-in wireless?! Now I understand why everyone I know who is switching from a PC to a Mac has asked me "You have wireless? Really? You can use your laptop anywhere?"

Hard to believe, isn't it?

For more reasons, read Why You'll Love a Mac (Apple even offers educational discounts) and watch the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" commercials.

All Aboard the Hogwarts Express!

June 1 on CNN: Potter buffs may soon be able to visit Hogwarts. I only have one question: do I get to take the Hogwarts Express?

I am OK

Thank you to everyone who e-mailed to see if I'm OK! I am fine, just too busy teaching spring semester to blog. Spring and summer semesters here are accelerated, so we do 14 weeks' work in just 7 weeks. Talk about hectic!

For those who've asked, this entry is an update on me and my cats.

Me and My Tendinitis

My arm still hurts but I have hope for improvement. I had a busy day with it yesterday: I had physical therapy in the morning and saw the sports doctors in the afternoon.

Right now I do physical therapy twice a week and see the sports doc every 4-6 weeks. Apparently I have an usually bad case of chronic tendinitis. It’s nice to have my perception confirmed by professionals, but I’m also getting tired of hearing things like “Wow, I’ve never seen a case this bad!”.

My sports doc (Dr. Ross) and his colleagues at MSU Sports Medicine (whom I am seeing while Dr. Ross is on medical leave) are very encouraging. They tell me this is a problem with young, active people (i.e., it’s not age-related) and that it can get better with therapy. They say I am doing all the right things and so is my physical therapist and they think I can probably avoid surgery.

If it does come to surgery, the most recent studies indicate that cutting and splicing the tendon really doesn’t help, but removing the inflammation and scar tissue does. That means a less invasive surgery and quicker recovery. I hope to avoid it but if that’s the only way to fix it for good, I’ll do it. We’re switching to Blue Cross in Oct. so I can have Dr. Ross do the surgery, if it comes to that.

My insurance coverage for PT runs out at the end of July and my new coverage (Blue Cross) doesn’t start until Jan. 08. I was concerned about what to do if the pain gets worse between July and January, but the docs assured me that they won’t let it get severe again. The physical therapist will give me a home exercise plan (but I’m not that far along yet) and they can always give me anti-inflammatories again if necessary. Whew! Knowing I have a plan makes me feel better!

When he was examining my arm yesterday, the MSU doc said the radial something or other was out of alignment. (I will have to ask the physical therapist what this is called. *) He held my hand like we were shaking hands, we both pushed gently as he twisted my arm, and I felt something pop back into place! He said this was part of what was causing pain to shoot up my arm and showed me how to check for it and explained how I can pop it back by myself. Wow, if only the tendon damage and inflammation could be fixed so easily!

I iced it good last night and today it’s hardly swollen at all! That plus the encouraging visit to the sports doc yesterday gives me hope.

My Cats

Saffron is doing well. She hasn't had any digestive problems for over a week now. She's eating well and looks like she feels good most of the time. She's occasionally unsteady on her feet but even then she's bright-eyed. She looks very relaxed and happy (stretched out more than ever when she sleeps on the bed) and purry. The vets x-rayed her in early May after a bad bought of vomiting and diarrhea and they found no sign of cancer: no tumors or swollen organs. Everything looked for an 11-year-old kitty. This is unexpectedly good news and it gives me hope. I'm still hoping it's liver disease, not cancer, and that she'll be one of the lucky kitties who recover.

Sophie, who is now 10, is still very playful. They changed her arthritis medicine (Cosequin is now called Daysoquin and the ingredients are slightly different) and the first day I put it on her canned food she hesitated. Maybe it tastes different! She did eat it and I hope it works just as well so that she stays happy and playful for a long time! She's frustrated because Saffron doesn't feel like playing with her, so we try to play with her a lot. Her favorites are headwrestling ("I'm gonna get the kitty!") and chasing the laserpointer.

So things are hectic here but improving. I'm looking forward to taking summer semester off so I can work on my needlework, research, and writing. I'm also looking forward to staying home as much as I want to!

Thanks again to everyone who expressed concern at my lack of blogging since April!



* The physical therapist says my radius (bone on the thumb side of the forearm) was probably out of alignment due to the tendon inflammation and related muscle weakness. It's called radial head subluxation (aka, Nursemaid's elbow) and, according to WebMD, is unusual in adults but very common in kids who have been picked up and swung around by their hands. The description on WebMD of how it's fixed is exactly what the sports doc did to me!

UPDATE July 9: One of the docs at MSU said this is called radial head somatic dysfunction. It's not quite the same as Nursemaid's elbow but is treated the same way (i.e., popping the radius back into place). It's caused by muscle weakness, which is of course caused by the inflamed tendon and favoring that arm for two years. The exercises to re-strengthen those muscles will help prevent it from happening again.

What the Cats Do While I'm at Work

Physical Therapy Phase 2

Today the physical therapist, Carrie, started myofascial release in addition to the my other treatment. This is a special kind of massage that helps improve flexibility and reduce pain by directly massaging the tendon. I though it would hurt more than it actually does. She starts by massaging tendon with ice, which numbs it, then massages the tendon. It hurts a little but it really helps! After the ice and massage I get the medicine via the ionizer (which I think is called a Tens Unit). She said she's is doing the latter for longer than the doc prescribed because the inflammation was so bad at first that I couldn't stand to be touched. It sure has made a difference!

My arm still hurts, some days more than others, but it has improved significantly since I started PT and the pain no longer wakes me up at night. I'm very pleased with both the therapists (Patty and Carrie) and with my progress! I'm still hoping to avoid surgery if I can. I'll probably learn more when I see Dr. Ross (the sports doc) again on the 24th.

Saffron's Good News

Saffron had a rough day Monday (more vomiting and diarrhea but not as bad as Feb. 20). Instead of just getting her weekly B12 shot, we saw Dr. Joe for a check-up. He gave her something for her tummy, fluids under the skin (to prevent dehydration), and her B12 shot. We also decided to do a detailed blood test to compare to the tests from January. The results, which we got today, were very good. Her liver enzymes are almost identical to January (abnormal but not too bad) and everything else is good. She's perky, bright-eyed, and hungry all the time (even when she was having digestive problems Monday).

Dr. Joe was surprised and pleased that Saffron is doing so well overall. Two months ago the specialists who did the ultrasound told she was probably dying from cancer, but since then she has improved steadily (except for two days of apparently unrelated digestive problems on Feb. 20 and Apr. 2). I'm still hoping it is liver disease instead of cancer and she will be one of the lucky kitties who recover. For now she is happy, comfortable, and hungy and those are all good signs.

My Sweet Lord

Mar. 30 on CNN: Controversial chocolate Jesus exhibit canceled. No wonder! Talk about abysmally poor taste. It does support my Da Vinci theory: want to cause an uproar? Include a controversial Jesus theory. Only in this case it's a chocolate, naked Jesus.

Physical Therapy Day 2

I had my second physical therapy session yesterday. The first thing I did was ask why my arm hurt so much after the first visit! The therapist assured it was probably from the tests (measuring my grip, etc.), not from the treatment. To make sure it was more comfortable this time she put the patch next to the tendon instead of right in top. She also set the machine to an even lower setting. It took more than half an hour, but my iPod and I were ready.

It didn't hurt at all yesterday and didn't wake me up last night. Woo hoo! Progress at last! Today I am finally caught up on my grading after spending 2.5 weeks grading the same batch of papers. I've never taken so long to return papers and my students have been very understanding, but it's a huge relief to not have them hanging over me! I'll post them to Blackboard tomorrow and have a few non-grading days before my 112 students turn in their research papers next Fri.

After my bad experience with the doctor at Genesys, it's simultaneously a relief and a distress to have a good sports doctor and two physical therapists say, "Wow, you've had a really rough time." It's nice to have them confirm that this is an unusually bad case of tendonitis, but I'm ready for to be over. I'm glad I'm on the right track now.

Grade-free and pain-free is wonderful feeling. :)

Death of the Canopies

I am angry beyond words after reading yesterday's Davison Index: DDA reversal orders all canopies down. Instead of a pilot project in which part of the canopies would be removed, the Downtown Development Authority is removing them all, without consent of the business owners or the public (who want to keep the canopies).

The first section of canopies was removed Mar. 18; the rest of that block's canopies were removed Mar. 24. Every time I've driven down Main Street since Mar. 18 all I could think of was how awful it looked, especially the Davison Hotel. I was glad the pilot project was a compromise because, surely, everyone in favor of removing the canopies could now see how much work (and money) would be involved in restoring the building facades.

Instead, the ^#$%^& DDA is ripping down all the canopies thanks to Mayor Fred Rappuhn and every DDA member who voted for it: Eric Reichle, Melanie Helms, Marcia Johnson, Sue Fisher, and Authority Chairperson Barbara Jean Peckins-Muszynski.

Mr. Mayor, I will never vote for you, or anyone who supports you, ever again. You should all be ashamed of yourselves for destroying the public's trust as well the canopies. As The Index's Editor points out, Anyone want to trust these people now?

Hooray for Sean O’Bryan, Dave Larson, and George Kiess who voted against the mayor and the rest of the DDA!

One of the big questions is cost. Those who wanted to remove the canopies kept saying they were structurally unsound (without providing supporting evidence). They are the ones who decided to remove the rest of the canopies "after hearing the cost to refurbish the remaining canopies in the southeast block would be more than $35,000." Notice what they don't tell us? How much would it cost to leave them alone? (Nothing!) How much will is cost to fix the facades of all the buildings on Main Street? Uknown. The old street lights were -- guess where? -- on the canopies, so now there are no street lights. How much will it cost to install new lights? Unknown. AND they want to build a new city hall/library/museum. At least the public gets to vote on that. After the blatant lies and public betrayal about the canopy "pilot project" I know exactly how I will vote -- and I'm sure I won't be alone.

The Winner: Dan Brown

Today on FoxNews: 'Da Vinci Code' Author Dan Brown Wins Copyright Infringement Case.

I figured the judge would rule this was not plagiarism, especially since Brown refers to Holy Blood and the Holy Grail in the text and names a character (Leigh Teabing) after the authors. Teabing refers to The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail as "perhaps the best-known tome" on the subject.

I'm just sorry to hear that authors Michael Baigent and Richard Leigh now have now have about $6 million in legal bills. Instead of suing when there is no clear case of plagiarism, they could have made money by promoting The Da Vinci Code, which in turn promotes their book. Unfortunately, it looks any money they've made in sales due The Da Vinci Code will be needed to pay legal bills. I'm always flattered when someone cites one of my articles; too bad Baigent and Leigh didn't feel the same.

Harry Potter #7 Cover Released

Today on CNN: Cover for final 'Potter' revealed.

It's certainly brighter than the last few covers. I'm taking it as a sign there will be a bright, happy ending.

My predictions for book 7:

• Harry will kill Voldemort
• Harry will not die
  
• Despite his attempts to face Voldemort alone, Harry will be assisted by Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and the rest of Dumbledore's Army, the Order of the Phoenix, etc.
  
• Neville will turn out to be a really powerful and competent wizard, much to everyone's surprise. Likewise for Luna.
• Everyone will be surprised when Snape turns out to be a good guy after all and helps Harry defeat Voldemort
• Snape will die and we'll all feel bad because he will have proven he really was loyal to Dumbledore all along. (He killed Dumbledore on Dumbledore's orders, to convince Voldemort and the Deatheaters of his loyalty to Voldemort, you know!)
• Jo Rowling has said there will be two deaths. As I've predicted above, I say Voldemort and Snape, but I wouldn't be surprised if Harry lost another parental-figure, I just hope it's not one of the Weasleys!

Only 114 days until we find out how it all ends!

Update Mar. 31, 2007

Ideas I've Heard From Others:

• RAB = Sirius Black's brother, Regulus and the locket is in #12 Grimauld Place (Harry and the Weasleys found it when cleaning but didn't realize it was a horcrux).
• Is Harry a horcrux?
  

Having trouble keeping everything and everyone one in the HP series straight? Check out the Harry Potter Wiki. For discussion and news try The Leaky Cauldron, MuggleNet, and, of course Jo Rowling's web site. For movie news go to The Official Harry Potter Web Site.

Physical Therapy Day 1

I started physical therapy today and it was not what I expected! The therapist reviewed my history, examined my arm, and measured everything (muscles, grip, etc.). For treatment she put medicine on a patch, put it on the sore spot, and hooked it up to an ionizer. Basically, electric pulses ionize the medicine into the tissue. For now our goal is rest, healing, and pain reduction. When those improve we move on to a different kind of massage and, eventually, exercise. It hurt a little at first but then she adjusted the level of stimulation. It took about half an hour so I was glad I had my iPod with me! I had to leave the patch on for two additional hours after the treatment. For now I’ll be getting PT three days a week and the therapist said I should notice improvement after a couple of sessions.

It hurt again when I got home so I ended up resting and sleeping instead of grading (as I had hoped). I’m simultaneously relieved (that I’ve started therapy and it should help soon) and frustrated (because I’m still so far behind on my grading). Thank goodness my students are so patient!

Sophie the Drama Queen

Not to be outdone by all the attention her sister has been getting lately, Sophie decided to scare the crap out of us today. She let out a low-pitched warbling yowl like she was dying; the sound alone was so unexpected and scary that she nearly gave me a heart attack! We both ran to find her hunched in the hallway looking miserable. Then she started throwing up.

The yowling scared me so much that I called the vet. By the time Dr. Joe called back Sophie had calmed down, stopped barfing, and had a drink of water and a little food. Whew! Dr. Joe says she's probably fine, especially since she's eating and drinking again, but to keep an eye on her just in case. Apparently some cats with intestinal obstruction do the same thing. I did ask if this could be a Siamese thing, but said it's more of an individual personality thing. Apparently our Sophie is just a highly vocal girl who wants to tell us when she doesn't feel good. Given that, and the panic attack during her last visit to our old vet, I just pray she lives a long, healthy life!

Was Houdini Murdered?

Today in the news: Was Houdini murdered? Exhumation may bring answer.

To quote the CNN article:

The likeliest murder suspects were a group known as the Spiritualists, which became Houdini's nemesis in his final years. The magician devoted large portions of his stage show to exposing what he said were fraudulent seances by the group. The movement's devotees included Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle.

An unlikely conspiracy theory!

Houdini's nephew and Anna Thurlow (a descendant of one of the Spiritualists) are all for it. I'm just waiting for Doyle's heirs to weigh in...

New Sports Doc and New Hope

Today I went to Lansing to see Dr. Herb Ross about my tendonitis. He is the sports doctor who fixed my knee 15 years ago when we lived in Lansing. After seeing the jerk at Genesys in Flint, I wanted a second opinion and I knew I exactly who I wanted to see. I'm so glad I did!

Dr. Ross was appalled that the jerk in Flint was so rude and unhelpful. In a very polite and professional way he told the exact opposite: it's not age related, it's not blood-supply related, there are non-surgical things we can try, surgery does not involve cutting the tendon and permanently weakening it, and there are pain medications other than morphine that will help! Oh, and I'm not imagining it: sudden barometric changes do make it hurt. Finally, if I do eventually need surgery, it just means removing scar tissue, not cutting the tendon. Wow, just hearing all that made me feel better!

When he examined my arm he could see the damage and atrophy. I'm not sure how much is from the original injury. He did say I only really need the forearm brace for physical therapy and to stop the muscle-building exercises. Some of them are doing more damage than good.

I started my treatment today, too. Instead of another shot in the tendon, which I was glad to avoid, he gave me prescriptions for two anti-inflammatories (for about 10 days). They are the same meds that I have injected in the past, but he says the pills actually work better. I also have a prescription for physical therapy and I see Dr. Ross again in about 6 weeks.

Between the drive to Lansing and back, two hours at Dr. Ross’s office, and a long wait at the pharmacy, I needed a nap when I got home! I'm tired and my arm still hurts, but now I have hope that it will improve soon, that it can heal, and I can't begin to tell you what a huge difference that makes.

Saffron Update

Saffron spent the day with the vet today. She was fine when we were there yesterday for her weekly B12 shot but this morning she had so much sudden vomiting and diarrhea that I was afraid to leave her. We both needed to go to work, so I called the vet in a panic.

Dr. Amy saw Saffron immediately. She looked good and was no longer having digestive problems when we got there. Dr. Amy assured me it was probably just a bug (bacterial), maybe from something she ate, and not her disease. We don't use any of the tainted pet foods that were just in the news, so thank goodness we didn't have to worry about that!

Saffron stayed with Dr. Amy while I went to work. She got some fluid under the skin to prevent dehydration and an antibiotic shot. Instead of putting her in the boarding kennel, they kept her in the work room where they could keep a close eye on her. She got good care and expanded the size of her Briarwood fan club at the same time!

When I called between my classes to check on her, she was doing fine but wouldn't eat for them. She was very glad to see me when I picked her up after work, rubbing her little face all over my hands. She was very glad to get home where she ran right to her food and water for a snack!

She looks great, has no more digestive problems, and acts like she feels good. She seems to have more energy than usual. I don't know if it's the fluid, the antibiotics, or if she's just happy to be home; I'm just relieved to see her acting so well!

Thank you to everyone who has been asking about her and who warned us about the tainted pet foods!

More on Cozies

I've been thinking about my previous post on cozies and I realized I didn't mention the main reason I like cozies! Cozies are comforting.

This weekend when I was looking for something to read, I realized how important the comfort element is to me. My tendonitis has been hurting a lot, I feel overwhelmed with grading (I'm behind because of the tendonitis), and I'm worried about Saffron. I wasn't in the mood for a medical thriller (too graphic), a psychological thriller (too scary and/or unrealistic), or a police procedural (too graphic). I realized I needed a cozy! In cozies the violence usually take place off stage and the focus is on how the crime effects the characters' lives. There are lots of descriptions of food, settings, and wonderful characters. When you need a comforting visit with old friends, a cozy series is even better. The fact that the murderer is always brought to justice at the end of the book is also comforting.

Thinking about this made me remember that reading a cozy (a book in Dorothy Cannell's series) help me cope with 9/11. When I couldn't take any more unthinkable tragedy, I curled with one of her books and I was transported to a little village in England where I didn't have to think about anything else. When I saw Dorothy at Magna cum Murder that October, I told her why I now considered her books comfort reading and we both cried. She has new book this year and I can hardly wait to read it!

Need comfort? Read a cozy.

Nigerian Scam Revenge

I just heard this on the latest NPR Technology podcast: "Scam-Baiters" Turn Tables on Would-Be Cons. The best part is "One scam-baiter convinced his correspondent to film a reenactment of the "Dead Parrot" sketch from Monty Python" and humiliated him by posting it on YouTube. As you can guess, it's wildly popular.

Follow the link to read all about it on Xeni Jardin's blog, including links to the Nigerian Dead Parrot sketch on YouTube and the e-mail behind the video.

I'm so glad to see someone fighting back against the Nigerian scammers. I wish I'd thought of it but I lack the technical saavy for dealing with scammers.

Lake Wobegon Podcast

At long last I can listen to Garrison Keillor's weekly News from Lake Wobegon (NLW) on my iPod, free! To subscribe go to the Prairie Home Companion's about the podcast page or subscribe through iTunes.

While you are at it, you might also want to subscribe to GK's Writer's Almanac. It's a daily 5- minute podcast with almanac info and a poem. (I like pithy podcasts, in case you hadn't noticed.)

I got hooked on NLW when we lived in Lansing. One of my co-workers, Helen, had been recording it for years. She kindly loaned me a box of cassettes filled with nothing but NLW and I was hooked. Sometimes it made me sad. I was living away from my hometown and my mom and the dog I grew up with had recently died, so sometimes NLW made me so homesick I could hardly stand it. Most of the time, though, it made me laugh because I knew just what it was like to grow up in a small town, albeit not quite as quaint as Lake Wobegon.

Helen, in case I never told you, thanks. I think of you every time I listen to A Prairie Home Companion or NLW. I wish I knew where you are now so I could thank you in person.

I"m off to listen to the latest News from Lake Wobegon, where the women are strong, the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.

Star Trek XI & New Voyages

Today StarTrek.com confirmed rumors that the next film (ST XI) will be about young Kirk and Spock. No news on who the actors are yet, but the film will be directed by J. J. Abrams (who created Alias and Lost, two of my favorite modern TV shows), and will be released on Christmas day 2008.

Can't wait until 2008 for more the original Star Trek? Check out Star Trek: New Voyages (ST: NV). These are Internet-only free new episodes created by folks who loved the original series and are producing a 4th season as if the original series was never cancelled. You won't recognize the actors playing Kirk, Spock, McCoy, etc. but you might be surprised by some of the guest stars: William Windon (Commodore Matt Decker), Walter Koenig, and (coming in Spring 2007) George Takai.

The first episode I watched was "In Harm's Way" (season 4 episode 2). It's time travel story involving The Guardian of Forever, The Doomsday Machine, and Christopher Pike. The writing and production values are amazingly good. They've captured Trek right down to the music and the NBC peacock. It's a hoot seeing how close they come to the original (and best) series. In case you are wondering why it's not a copyright problem, Eugene Roddenberry, Jr. is one of the producers.

The cast and crew are devoted to the original series and want to continue it without parodying it, so the actors are good but are not imitating the original stars. They are excellent, especially when you consider no one is getting paid for this. They have a sense of humor, too. It you watch "In Harm's Way," be sure to watch through the credits for a clip of Jeff Quinn (Spock) singing a line from "Bilbo Baggins" (but he's a much better singer than Leonard Nimoy).

Watch a review on CNET.com.

The only problem I'm having with ST: NV is downloading episodes! Most episodes are posted on mirror sites, with 4 or 5 parts per episode. Windows Media Player seems to be the standard format (and that works fine on my Mac PowerBook G4) but not all mirror sites use the same format. If you dowload WMP format, be patient; it will take a while. If you download .avi files they may not work with QuickTime 7; you may need to download VCL Media Player or something like it. Some files are zipped, so Mac users will need something other than StuffIt to open the files.

Despite my download problems, I've now watched everything available (three episodes and one vignette) and I can hardly wait for the next new episode! That should tell you how impressed I am. Actually, I'm more than impressed, I wish I were involved.

May ST: NV live long and prosper.

What is a Cozy?

I love mysteries and want to start blogging about the books I'm reading. Before I do I think I need to define the term "cozy" for those who are not familiar with mystery fiction. Here's a quick definition from the Cluelass web site:

A "traditional" mystery whose best-known practitioner is Agatha Christie. Common elements include: a domestic setting such as a country house or quiet neighborhood; a limited roster of suspects, all part of the victim's social circle; little or no description of violence or sex; a mildly romantic subplot; and an amateur sleuth or eccentric professional.

There is also often a cat. Contrary to popular opinion, a cozy does not mean the kind of story where the cat solves the crime. That is one kind of cozy and, yes, I have been known to buy mysteries because they have a cat on the cover! I read many different kinds of mysteries but am especially fond of cozies.

The wonderful things about cozies is that there are so many to choose from. Whatever you are interested in, there's a mysteries series for you. There are too many sub-genres to list here but some popular ones are culinary (with recipes), cats, dogs, horses, historical, supernatural, coffee shops, inns, etc. I'm sure you get the idea. The tone of cozies varies as well, so you can always find something to suit your mood (light and funny, serious, scary, etc.).

Where can you find out if you like cozies? I recommend Detecting Women 2: Reader's Guide and Checklist for Mystery Series Written by Women by Willetta Heising. The checklist (by author) are helpful but so is the huge cross-reference section where you can look up series/authors by the sub-genre (culinary, supernatural, historical, etc.). This books is limited to female authors but Heising also has a Detecting Men checklist for male authors (all genres, not just cozies). Unfortunately, Detecting Men does not include a cross-reference section and is limited to authors who write series (so don't look here for authors like Dick Francis).

My favorite bookstore, Aunt Agatha's in Ann Arbor, is a great place to find any kind of mystery. They even have cross reference notes on the shelves ("If you like Anne Perry you might also like Elizabeth Peters, Robin Paige, etc.").

I did a quick Internet search and found Cozy Mystery List with lots of info on cozies and two humorous definitions of cozies: Cozies I Have Known by Polly Whitney and What Makes a Cozy Just That?

What I like about cozies: interesting characters, settings (including places and historical settings like Anne Perry's Victorian England), and plots. I also love the variety of sub-genres. I will read a series just for characters I like, even if it's not "perfect." For example, one of my friends says that Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series is nothing like a real 12th century Bendictine monestary, but I don't care. I love the characters so much I can suspend my disblief.

The suspension of disbelief is required to some degree to read any mystery novel with an amateur sleuth but when a story becomes so implausible it destroys that suspension, I won't read or watch it. Some examples: most Agatha Christie but especially And Then There Were None (aka Ten Little Indians) and Jessic Fletcher. Call me a heretic, but I don't like Agatha Christie. I can tolerate Miss Marple on TV but Hercule Poirot needs his fussy little face slapped. I just don't understand why so many people like these characters. And don't get me started on Jessica Fletcher! Most serious mystery fans are sure Jessica is really a serial killer. What else could explain the fact that she stumbles over dead bodies everywhere she goes?

Sure, it's easy to make fun of a badly written traditional mystery (like Jessica Fletcher) but nothing beats a well-written cozy. Be sure to read it on a rainy night while you are snuggling with favorite cat or dog and sipping your favorite beverage. It's a mini-vacation of literary bliss!