Book - Fatal Remedies

Donna Leon - some of her earlier stuff was good. This....this SUCKED. What the hell was the point of it? It couldn't figure out what it wanted to do, tried to get clever, and change stories midstream. It's practically like the late desperate writing of the TV series L&O and spawn.

Wifey gets arrested after second window-throwing vandalism. Somehow there was no other way to protest the travel agency 'sex tourism' packages. The owner of the agency gets killed. We suddenly get to a sordid story of repackaged expired and counterfeit meds.

Strike One on the Zune

Went to the Costco to pick one up, since online it said they were in stock. Crappy people. Not there. May have to go to Best Buy or something.

Back to Work!

First full active day back at work. Feeling extremely good. Unloaded 2 winners already, set up new spreadsheet to calculate amounts to cover losses, potential buys.

Baby Shower!

HOT day today. Lots of people there, not the conventional shower, thank god!! Men and women, no stupid games, just the present-opening. Lots and lots of pink, LMAO.

Still, sooooo glad for our friends. What a wonderful event for them. Good to see her so happy.

Decision - New MP3 Player

Agggh. I dislike shopping. Really low tolerance now too. But needed to get a new one after my iRiver croaked - right when I was lay-overing in Madrid too. But of course.

Didn't feel like spending my energy on my usually exhaustive research before buying, so just did a few hours and decided on the Zune. Hope it'll work well enough for my needs.

Transferring accounts and new brokerage

Got nervous about all the money market stuff, transferred a bunch into a new bank, and opened up a new trading account too. Got lots of new perks too, very happy.

TV - Rebus: Mortal Causes

Pretty good episode, except the thought of "rednecks visiting the homeland" is revolting, since I watch these shows to get something other than American fare. Still better than most of the crap on TV.

Wow, Cafferty was exactly like I pictured him. Freaking scary. The notable departure from the book on the way he leaves prison is ok too.

Book - The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax

Dorothy Gilman book. Held up really well for 1966 or thereabouts! Very cute, fast read, but not the cotton candy crap. The character's a heck of a tough lady. Talk about shades of Gitmo here. Wow. Would definitely consider reading others in the series when I have time.

First in the series. Pollifax is getting up in years and wants to be useful and get a little excitement too, so she walks into the CIA trying to get hired. Luckily, she's in the right place, right time, when the agency head needed someone brand new who really would look like a tourist in Mexico. Tourist to pick up vital info smuggled on by another agent. Pollifax fits the bill. Gets captured with another spy, imprisoned, tortured, injured, and dumped in another country. Escapes with spy and another prisoner, floats around for a while seeking Yugoslavia before finally getting picked up by a friendly boat.

Book - The Art of Detection

What a freaking waste of time!

Laurie King. Usually don't mind her books; after all, tried both the Martinelli series (A Grave Talent), and Russell series (Beekeeper's Apprentice). Should have been good - a combo of contemporary setting and Holmes hook. But this book was boring as hell. It starts out engagingly enough for a couple chapters, then slogs and slogs and SLOGS thru the rest of the way in what should have been a seriously SHORT story.

Holmes fanatic gets killed and put in same place as a rediscovered Doyle 'manuscript'. Who did it?

TV - Maigret se Trompe

Wasn't paying attention much, so missed a bit. Still, didn't get this episode at all. Saved it, probably watch again.

TV - La Omicidi: L'Uomo dei Colombi

Interesting show. First episode. Hmmm, not warmed up to it yet, kinda not digging anyone in the cast.

Spoilers: Contained episodes within a continuing storyline - psycho who blames detective for his wife's death is stalking him and killing those around him. Psycho almost chokes the guy to death, then he steals his daughter. The contained story was a missing boy from an orphanage who turned out to be the son of a rich guy, and the half-sibling lawyer got rid of him cause he didn't want to share the inheritance.

Museo del Prado, Madrid

This was a fantastic museum! Visited 9/9, since it was closed on Mondays. Free evenings 6-8pm, couldn't take advantage. At least it was opened, despite the regional Madrid fiesta day of the Virgen de la Cabeza or some other crap holiday, which the idiot tourist chick neglected to mention to us the day before, when we were asking about bank hours. !?! Anyway.

Like I said, fantastic. It's the friendliest touring museum I've visited so far. Surprising considering the residents. Beats out the Louvre and the London museums (gasp). No, not for treasures. €6 admission. Great map (must ask for it from the desk) that has thumbnails of their masterpieces. Plotted the most efficient way thru the museum, and got one of the audio things for €3, which wasn't really necessary. Beautiful building, airy, elegant, but full of character. I could have spent months there, but we only spent about 4 hrs. We caught works from Fra Angelico's Annunciation to Goya's Periodo Negro (Hubby really loved). We missed Durer's pieces (gallery closed) and Sorolla's Children on the Beach.

Grabbed a quick bite in the cafeteria, which had a very wide (somewhat decent) selection of cold and hot food. LOL, I was unhappy with a Gran Via vendor selling canned Cokes for €1.8 (found a great side alley guy selling for €.80), when we had to buy them for €2.65 ea!!!! That, 1 tortilla and 1 empanada was €13.70. Even funnier was the couple in front of us who got so surprised at their bill of €50. Not very good gift shop, finally found decent mug & saucer for €24.

Can't describe how happy I was to visit it. I wish I could go back again and again.

Valencia trip slideshow. Madrid trip slideshow.

Book - Worst Fears Realized

Stuart Woods. Oh, this was a FANTASTIC airplane read!! Just like Fresh Disasters. The Barrington character is a hoot. No real thinking or concentration needed, silly as could be, the writing is fun, entertaining, but not stupid or florid. Easy pickup between the constant interruptions, boardings, announcements, deplaning, etc. Very excellent. Will remember to get his other books for other trips.

Guy starts killing women around Stone, looks awfully like a guy he put away a long time ago.

Madrid Slideshow

Some select shots from our trip, including the Hotel Catalonia Las Cortes we stayed in.

Valencia Slideshow

Some select pics from our trip, including shots of the Hotel Abba Acteon that we stayed in.

Back from Spain

Had a fantastic time in Valencia (slideshow), everyone's so warm and friendly, and the city is just gorgeous. Madrid (slideshow), typical big nasty city. Dirty, gritty, loud (pointless constant honking!), nasty people, and pretty much what you'd expect. Vibe like NYC, incredibly dirty air like LA. But, it has the Prado, which gives them a half-pass.

Still damned tired. Missed the kitties so much, looked liked they missed us too. Great to be home.