What I Discovered About My Husband

We agreed that we would each clean our own bathrooms when we moved into our townhouse four years ago.  I don't go in my husband's bathroom and he doesn't go in mine.  I'm not the world's greatest housekeeper, but from time to time I do scrub my toilet, sink, and floor.  I assume my husband does the same in his.

Being prone to feeling guilty, I often worry that my housekeeping skills are not up to par.  Maybe Milt will notice that the kitchen floor is dirty or the furniture bears a thin layer of dust.  However, he usually doesn't say anything and I usually attribute that to his considerate personality.  In my mind, I imagine he's stewing because he married a slob of a wife.

That is until this morning when I ventured into forbidden territory--his bathroom.  It's not far away physically from my computer, but emotionally it's at th othe end of the continent.  But somehow this morning, a vague odor seemed to be emanating from down the hallway.  Cautiously I tiptoed to the forbidden bathroom doorway and peeked inside. 

After I recovered from the stench, I immediately noticed the thick layer of muck that covered everything--sink, tub, toliet, floors.  No wonder he never complains about my cleaning.  This pot certainly can't call this kettle black. 

As he was away on his regular Saturday morning shopping trip, I gathered my cleaning supplies together and headed into no-man's (or should I say, "no-woman's") land.  It took several types of cleaners and various scrubbers (my favorite being the amazing Mr. Clean eraser), but my husband's bathroom is now sparkling clean.

I'm just waiting now to see if he notices.

(photo from www.megahowto.com)

The Agony and the Ecstasy of Laptops

I've lived my entire computer life with a desktop.  I've never felt any urgent need to carry my computer around with me.  Anything I need to use it for can wait until I'm home at my desk.  At least, that's what I said until my husband Milt and I began to plan our trip to Alaska. 

When we are traveling, I want to be able to maintain my online contacts-and I don't want to have to go to some hotel lobby and figure out a strange computer.  So, we recently got a Toshiba laptop.  Even though it took us TWO DAYS to figure out how to get an Internet connection, we finally got the machine up and working and it seems to be doing its thing.  It remains to be seem if it will prove helpful to me on our trip--but I will let you know.

Until then, I can always use it if--I should say WHEN our desktop compter goes down as it does from time to time.  My goodness, how did people ever survive before computers?  Here I am-unable to function without two of them!

Cozy Authors At River's Edge Cafe

Fellow cozy mystery authors Diane Morlan and Karen Gallahue will join me this coming Sunday afternoon (June 12) from 2-4 p.m. for A Cozy Afternoon For Mystery at the River's Edge Cafe in downtown Aurora, Illinois, (18 W. Downer Place) for the restaurant's first ever Author's Series.  The free event will feature all three of us discussing our mysteries and the craft of writing--and, of course, answering audience questions. 

River's Edge is--appropriately--a cozy place.  They serve lovely beverages and pastries.  I've been there myself and if you plan to attend our event, you should know that parallel parking is available on city streets in the area.  I have been assured that, even though there are parking meters, they are not functioning, so you will not have to worry about bringing a supply of coins. 

Following our formal presentation (although, we're never terribly formal), the three of us will be available to sign copies of our books--if you'd like to buy one--or two!  I hope you will come down and say "hi" if you're in the area.  We always love to meet and greet our fans.  Diane Morlan is the author of Too Dead to Dance and Karen Gallahue is the author of Murder With a French Twist.  My books are Sounds of Murder, FM For Murder, and Voice Mail Murder.