I had lost sight of Peter Tremayne’s Fidelma of Cashel (a mystery series set in 600’s A.D. Ireland).  However, I just read the newest in the series Dancing With Demons.  In it the High King of Ireland is murdered. Fidelma is called in to investigate the crime since the Assembly believes she can be objective (not ruled by clan loyalties).  This book is “painless history” at its best !  I find it fascinating to see the different customs of Ireland- they had rules for everything ! Only when a crime was truly henious (and it seems that murdering the king did not qualify), was the criminal killed (or as near as made no nevermind: they were given very short rations and sent out on a rowboat on the tide moving away from the west of Ireland).  Most criminals , and their families, were expected to work and pay the family of the wronged person for the damage caused by the crime.    The tensions between the Catholic and Pagan religions; and those between the Irish and Roman Church are once again explored in this fascinating novel.

While on a trip to Yuma this weekend, I listened to _Buyology:  Truth and Lies about What We Buy_ by Martin Lindstrom.  In it he explains why traditional surveys and focus groups are not helpful in determining what and why people will buy.  Rather, he says neuro-marketing – a science that looks at how the brain reacts when exposed to a new product or concept indicates the true feelings of people as they consider purchasing or not purchasing a new product.  For example one indicator was  somatic markers (sensory rememberances lodged in the body and often remembered in the non-conscious mind). These will  often make or break how a person views a product.  An example- while most people cannot recall the ”brand” or logo of Johnson and Johnson- they remember vividly (and with pleasure) the smell of Johnson and Johnson’s baby powder.  When exposed to this smell in a baby product aisle, they are more likely to purchase not only powder but other baby products.  I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed this movie which opened this weekend.  It  had action, great special effects, and little romance. Even more fantastic it is a  fantasy about reading and the power of words !  What’s not to like?

I have been following the reviews on the Internet Movie Database . What I particularly like about this site is that I can look at the gender and age of the people who are reviewing it.  In this instance it is scoring very high with the audience for which it was made – TEENS.   This definetly is NOT a movie for very young children- but 12+ will probably enjoy- and adults will probably enjoy it, too.

For Christmas my brother sent me a copy of The Shack by William P. Young. I am surprised by how much I enjoyed it.  I could tell that it was engaging me when I found myself slowing down as I read it.  When I don’t want a book to end that is what I do.  I won’t ruin the story for those of you who haven’t read it.  Basically it involves a husband and father who,  three years after a very traumatic event, is invited to spend the weekend with God.  Lots of food for thought with this one- and I imagine it drives many a “churchy” Christian nuts.

On the second to the last day of our trip,  Ryan and I enjoyed visiting was Mount Vernon. We went via public transportation- which was very easy to do.  We spent five hour on the estate which is owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union who paid over $200,000 for the house and part of the property in 1858. According to Wikipedia- the estate was neutral ground during the Civil War.  We spent 4 1/2 hours doing a self guided tour of the grounds and taking the formal tour of the house.  We paid our respects and the tomb of George and Martha Washington.  Ryan spoke to some archaeologists in the garden who are trying to determine what plans were growing there in Washington’s time.  they are employees of the MVL Association.  This beautiful estate is open every day of the year.  If ever you are in the area on Christmas Day- this is a place you can visit and enjoy!

When Ryan and I visited the National Archives in Washington, D.C. the item that gave me the chills. was the log book of the USS Nevada. A sign near the display indicated that ever since early sailing days, ships logs are kept every four hours and indicate what has gone on for that period and any important information. This log was open to the page being kept while the ship was being bombed at Pearl Harbor.  It gave me chills ! To think that there was an officer whose job it was to record history as it was happening!

In Arizona, of course, we have a memorial to the USS Arizona which was sunk during the attack.

At Christmas my nephew, Ryan, and I paid a six day visit to Washington, D. C. We saw so many wonderful places. However, we were both surprised by our interest in the Julia Child display at the Smithsonian American History Museum. Ryan, after watching her in action on a black and white TV, turned to me and asked, “Who is this woman.” I wasn’t quick enough to think and say, “She is the reason we have decent food in America.”  What I really think he was getting at though, was the incredible fascination she had for those watching the progam.  Unlike most displays we saw, people  lingered a long time to watch her (5-10 minutes rather than 1-2 minutes).  Later, discussing it, we decided that when she cooked Julia was in “the zone”.  By this we mean totally herself and totally focused on the task at hand.  If you have never seen her, look at the omlette program on youtube.com. Bon appetite !

Shelby gave me a list of three things she wants to do the next time she visits Phoenix:

1).  Eat a BIG Bowl of spumoni ice cream at Mary Coyles.

2).  By a bell at the Consanti Foundation.

3).  Go camping in the Chiricahua National Monument.

I endorse all three of these plans !

While vacationing with my niece is SE Arizona, I found time to read.

New original mass market mystery paperback: Through a Glass, Deadly by Sarah Atwell.  Takes place in the Tucson warehouse area ( a growing artist colony).  The mystery features a female glass artist and one learns a lot about the art of glass blowing. 

Amimee & David Thurlo feature Navajo Police officer Ellah Clah’s mother- Rose in Plant Them Deep.   Rose is a “traditional” Navajo who also loves herbology and plant lore.  She becomes involved with a mystery surrounding the theft of medicinal plants from the reservation.  This book is interesting on many levels and I highly recommend it.

Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen features a “minor” royal character in 1930 London.  Cameo appearances by Queen Mary, The Prince of Wales and Mrs. Simpson make this an anglo-phile’s delight !

Another reader recommended a delightful series (only two volumes so far) featuring the Spellman detective agency (a family business run out of a Victorian home in present day San Francisco). The narrator is  a daughter and an investigator. She is the wild rebellious sibling (unlike her perfect older brother and scarily precocious younger sister). Full of fun characters, I highly recommend The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz as a perfect summer read.

Similar in feel and style to this book are Joe Gore’s classic “repo” mysteries my favorite of which was 32 Cadillacs. These stories center around a car repossession business and as zany a crew of characters as you could want! In this tale two gypsies vie to be the new leader of the gypsy families -one of them steals 32 cadies !