While I work on my continued interest in the mystery novels of Robert Parker (Spenser series, Jesse Stone series, Sunny Randall series, the various overlaps of the thre, and the 1840s western stories of Marshal Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch), I've now found a new ally in the 'finding things out about myself I never knew existed" in the writings of Craig Johnson and his fictitious character Absaroka County Sheriff Walt Longmire. You see, there are times for all of us when we want to do nothing but withdraw from the world. But we can't. I suppose some folk think that a small town in the middle of nowhere (like Durant, Wyoming) is a good place to get caught up in avoiding the pressures of life. For Walt Longmire, it was the death of his wife that nearly broke him. Walt didn't care much for the way things were run in Durant, so on a platform of integrity and honesty he wins the election to become Absaroka County Sheriff. But that's just the start of HIS adventure.

I got interested in the concept behind Walt Longmire when I watched the TV series last year on A&E. Later, I find the BOOKS! I'm all excited inside because the DVD for the 1st season comes out next month, and the next book in the series hits the store shelves in June. It's something to do before Burningman, after Interfuse, and before next fall and Sons of Anarchy season 6

I am, though, not at a loss for things to do and have a little fun with, both at home and at work. Work right now is incredible. First, they hit me up with a NEW SOIL SURVEY to do, and it's one that involves rock slope stability, is IN Jefferson City, and is really high profile. But that's not surprising in a state capital with legislators all skulking around like worms. But last Friday was the icing on the cake. I made my salary for the year. Route 63 had a vehicle-endangering rockfall on Thursday night. The planning and the contract were based on my say-so the next morning. I got a call at 9:00 a.m. to get out there. I was there by 9:30. By 10:30 the sketch and a damn good hypothesis was done. I went back to the Central District, where I'm helping out as the de facto District Geologist (though I'm the Central Office Geologist with additional responsibilities). The project manager said I had twenty minutes to boil it down into something he understood and could deal with on the plans. I gave it to him in nine. I've been sitting on this job all week as the face was scaled, and lots of good things are being sent my way in the e-mail internally. AS A TEAM, from the time of the rockfall to the time final plans were issued was a mere 12 hours. The Department Director signed off on it on Monday, and I got brownie points for my involvement. Today, the first explosives were used to bring rock down, and they're going with my final plans, and I get to do a Colorado Rockfall Simulation Program calibration test. FUN. Rolling rocks off the top of a 70 foot bluff is cool, and it gets me higher-management kudos.

At home.....gradually I'm even surprising myself with my cooking. But that's for another time. Being busy is like being on the mountaintop. But it's still cold in the mountains when you're alone. Thank goodness I have good friends. Otherwise, I'd never be able to face the cold winds again.

Life. Live and learn, live and learn.

Amateur sleuths can be funny, especially when it comes to the book titles that result.

I was poking around in the "Fiction" catalog that Hamilton Booksellers sent me, and ALL of these titles were under the subheading of 'amateur sleuths'. My comments follow each title. I cannot help but chuckle at all of these:


"Pies and Predjudice"

I HATE lemon meringue pie. I absolutely HATE lemon meringue.......

"Fatally Flaky"

Arsenic in the pie crust? The ex-wife?

"Fleece Navidad"

BAAAAAAAAA! Humbug.

"As the World Churns"

Amish soap-opera? Looking at the description, the lead amateur sleuth is named...Yoder. I rest my case.

"Killer Sudoku" and "Sinister Sudoku"

Somebody's got their number.

"Scones and Bones"

Imagine the Jolly Roger with a pastry on the front......

"The Wurst is yet to Come"

Oktoberfest with an attitude. Sure enough, the description of the book has the setting as a small-town's Oktoberfest.

Thanks, but I'll stick with my Robert Parker, Alastair MacLean, Robert Whitaker (Trevanian), Sax Rohmer, Eric Van Lustbader, and Mickey Spillane for my fictional reading. In my opinion, Jimmy Carter's historical fiction title, 'The Hornet's Nest' beats Jeff Shara's 'Shiloh' hands down. I snagged the photo for one of these off Amazon.com, and found out it has recipes......maybe a second look? Naaaaaaaaaaaa........