Year in Review...2014

Wow. We are at the end of another year and I find that while, overall, the year has been good, I have not done a lot of blogging. It's something I enjoy and hope to do more of next year. There is news though.

 Once again, I have moved. Back to Texas. For a job. I always keep an eye on job postings and when I saw this job, I knew I had to give it a go. I didn't really think I'd get it, but I did! Everything just fell in to place as if this is what I was supposed to do.  I do miss the people I worked with and, surprisingly, I miss Savannah.  Job wise, though, it's been one of the best transitions I have had in a long time. A well run organization and welcoming people. The only drawback for me is it's a large organization. Probably the largest in which I've ever worked. Also, my job is not attached to any one department, which makes it a bit weird, but not a bad weird. It does mean, though, that I've not yet found a "work buddy," which I've usually had at other jobs. I figure that will come in time.

In the meantime, in an effort to get more exercise and meet people, I joined a walking group and have met some wonderful people. It's at 7:30 Saturday mornings, which is a challenge for me, but a good challenge. Right now the weather is windy and cool, but I know if an few months that will change to unbearably hot and I'll be glad for the early morning walk time.

With this move, comes my other piece of news. I am tired of moving. This is a college town, so rentals would be expensive, not too mention no desire to repeat the pitiful renting experience that I had in Georgia.  Plus, I was just ready.  So, I took the plunge (with a little help from a small inheritance) and bought a house. It's a little bigger than I set out to get, but I knew when I walked into it that it was supposed to be mine. It's an almost brand new house in an established neighborhood, but it did need some work. Mainly on the outside - landscaping for the front and some type of porch and patio on the back. The house has a covered porch, but there were no steps down to the yard (and it was about a two foot drop) and no patio. I've done both of those and screened the back porch, something which has been on my wish list for years. The yard is huge and backs up to a wooded area. Fortunately it self maintains itself for the back part and I found a good yard service.

Between the tiny Georgia condo (though the peace and quite was wonderful) and the move and hurting my foot, my exercise routine flew out the window. And, along with it my weight maintenance. My big disappointment in all of this is the weight I gained back after keeping it off for years. I know with some structure and routine I can re-lose it, but my focus has been sporadic. That's one of my goals for the new year - get back to a routine that will allow me to lose the weight and maintain the loss.

I wish everyone nothing but the best in the coming year.

Book Review: Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. Boyer

Lowcountry Bombshell by Susan M. Boyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the Liz Talbot Mystery series. I enjoyed the first book, Low Country Boil, and this one does not disappoint. In fact, it’s better. It’s an all around fun read.

Liz Talbot has recently returned to the island Stella Maris, where she grew up, from Greenville, SC, where she and her partner Nate run a Private Investigation business. With her return to Stella Maris, they’ve opened a branch on the island (currently out of Liz’s house, which she inherited from her grandmother). Her most recent customer Calista McQueen, a doppleganger for Marilyn Monroe. Her life has eerily mirrored that of Marilyn and she is convinced that within 10 days her fate will mimic that of Marilyn and she will be dead. She asks Liz to investigate, providing several strange incidents that have led her to her belief that she will die. There is nothing routine about this story or mystery.

We see more of Liz’s family - her brother, Blake, the sheriff, her very quirky parents, and a little of her sister, Merry. As with the first book, humor is very much present, but it doesn’t detract from the story.

There are several twists and turns. You know that one of the people that Calista trusts, and there aren’t many, are involved, but I didn’t see the end coming. There’s a little side mystery around the housekeeper and it’s resolved as well and does factor into Calista’s story.

There is also a romance of sorts with Nate that starts at the beginning and while I thought there might be an attraction between the two in the first book, I almost thought this hot and heavy romance came out of the blue - from 0-60 in the blink of eye, no in between. It didn’t detract from the story, but it almost seemed misplaced, walking a very fine line between a romance and a mystery. Still, I’d highly recommend this book, though read the Low Country Boil first if possible. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

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