Monthly Archives: February 2014

Imagine my Surprise

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Marion

I’m not a crusader. I’m an observer. When I get involved in an issue, I usually try for reason, persuasion and incremental change. Often I just stay on the sidelines and watch with ill-disguised amusement. That’s where I started during … Continue reading →

Posted in Ruminations | 3 Comments

Clearing Anne’s Room

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Marion

Saturday, February 22 I got out of my car and 11:00 am. At 12:32 I put the last bag in the trunk and closed it. Just about ninety minutes to clear Anne’s things out of her room at the board … Continue reading →

Posted in Ruminations | 2 Comments

The Art of Anxiety

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Marion

Tuesday. February 18 I stop at the red light, look to the left, and seeing that it’s clear, I make a right turn onto Hwy 116. I waited until after the commute traffic period to leave, so there are very … Continue reading →

Posted in Ruminations | Leave a comment

The Spenser Books

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Marion

Recently Spouse and I donated almost all of our Robert B Parker books to Mockingbird. This collection included nearly all the Spenser books, hardcover and paperback; all of the Jesse Stone novels; most of the Sunny Randall books and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Egalitarian After All; Syfy’s Helix

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Marion

(WARNING: May contain spoilers.) I was delighted when Jeri Ryan joined the cast of Syfy’s new horror show, Helix, but I hated the interpretation of Constance Sutton, the teeth-pruning, book-hurling, face-slapping, killer-snogging COO of EvilCorp LLC. This is a terrible … Continue reading →

Posted in Ruminations | Leave a comment

Reanimated; The SFWA Bulletin Kerfluffle Lurches Back to Life

Posted on February 14, 2014 by Marion

I wrote about this in June of 2013, I think. I thought it was dead. The Science Fiction Writer Assocation (SFWA) issues an association journal called The SFWA Bulletin. It’s a house-organ, basically, aimed at providing useful information on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ruminations | Leave a comment

An Oscar-Nominated Director

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Marion

When you stay on the grounds at the Alegria Inn, you get breakfast in the charming dining area that looks across the garden to the beach.  Usually in B&Bs, people chat a bit at breakfast, even if they don’t know … Continue reading →

Posted in View from the Road | 6 Comments

The Alegria Inn

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Marion

What’s to like about the Alegria Inn, in the village of Mendocino? Here are a few things: The hosts. The Alegria’s owners, Eric and Elaine Wing Hillesland, are archetypal B&B owners; friendly,  helpful, accommodating, flexible and realistic, both interested and interesting. … Continue reading →

Posted in View from the Road | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Underworld: Awakening

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Marion

On Wednesday I had a really productive writing day, which meant that I was too wound up to go to sleep early. I decided to watch Underworld: Awakening on FX. The Undeworld movies are Kate Beckinsale vehicles, based on an … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | 1 Comment

W is for Wasted, by Sue Grafton

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Marion

In the 23rd Kinsey Millhone mystery by Sue Grafton, Kinsey’s elderly landlord Henry gets a cat named Ed. That is about the most interesting thing that happens in the book. Ed is one of the better characters. W is for … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews | Leave a comment