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Refreshed from a good night’s sleep, we continued on our way. It was Day 2 of the 3-day trip. From Missouri we drove through Oklahoma and Texas and as you can see from the pictures, the landscape becomes increasingly dry and desert-like. The second to last state before Arizona was New Mexico.

The next state after Texas was New Mexico with its amazing rock formations and orange and red colored rocks.

Again, trying to take pictures of the landscape through the car window just doesn’t do it justice. Here is an example I found online of the awesome rock formations of New Mexico.

After another long day, we arrived at the motel in New Mexico where we spent the second night. Relaxing in the pool was just what we needed.

The second day came to a satisfying conclusion. The next day will be the homestretch!

Now, people and pups are finally ready for the awesome road trip from Ohio to Arizona. We will be driving through nine states: Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.

AAA Triptic Cincinnati to Arizona

Good luck to all. Have a safe journey, no flat tires, no sick pups (or humans). May the Force be with you!

Goodbye old house.

And off we are. Goodbye Ohio. Welcome Kentucky.

It didn’t take long until a very insistent Gulliver declared in no uncertain doggy terms that he didn’t want to sit in the back but insisted on a premium front seat!

Now, that’s much better, isn’t it! His brother in the back is of course jealous.

Fortunately, Gulliver settled down quite nicely on the floor, which is much safer, and slept through much of the journey.

At the eastern and middle part of the journey, the landscape was lush but the farther west we got, it became more savanna and eventually desert-like. Here are a few pics from Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. We missed some of the welcome signs and in some cases there weren’t any. So I have to depend on my memory. Well forget that!

Lots of wide-open space and windmills everywhere.

Not to forget! The famous Highway 66!

Taking pictures through the car window is of course not ideal. With limited time and five pups in the back, we couldn’t do any sightseeing. Bathroom and rest stops at gas stations don’t make for beautiful imagery. Oh, well. I tried my best to at least capture the changing scenery.

And here is our first pet-friendly motel in Missouri. Time to relax after a long day. The first day went without a hitch. Two more to go!

More later!

As I mentioned in my last post, I didn’t know Cincinnati before. I was pleasantly surprised  find out what an interesting and beautiful city it was. Here is a link to an article about the city on the Britannica website. What alerted me to it was the statement that “in 1842 Cincinnati was one of the few American cities admired by the British author Charles Dickens.”

Cincinnati | Ohio, United States | Britannica

Since I was in the city for a couple of days, we didn’t have too much time to explore it. My friend Barb Piatt with whom I stayed drove me through the different parts of the city. One of the high points was the visit to Krohn Conservatory with its beautiful botanical gardens and its Butterflies of Bali exhibit. In an enclosed part of the gardens, thousands of butterflies in all colors were flying around and, if you were lucky, even landed on you. Barb was one of the lucky ones. Obviously a butterfly loved her reddish hair!

The butterfly exhibit as well as the botanical gardens were very special and a real treat. Here are a few more pictures.

Outside the conservatory we had a great view of the Ohio River.

All this sightseeing made us hungry. The next stop therefore was at a restaurant, called Skyline, where they serve some of the most typical “Cincy” meals: “Cheese-Coneys” and “3-Ways.” They are based on a recipe from the Lambinides family, which originated in their hometown of Kastoria, Greece, and was handed down through generations. Here is some background: Skyline Chili – Local Restaurants Near Me | Skyline.

Of course, I had to try the somewhat unusual meal (unusual for me at least). I’ve never had anything like it. I wouldn’t eat it every day, but it was indeed very tasty.

Our visit to Skyline was the perfect ending to the interesting and very pleasant sightseeing drive through Cincinnati. Thank you Barb! More later!

A couple of weeks ago I flew from Los Angeles to Cincinnati, Ohio, to meet my friend Diane and accompany her (and her five little Chihuahuas–all rescue dogs!) on her move to Sun City, Arizona. The furniture was being transported with a U-haul truck, driven by her friend Mike. Diane and I drove her SUV (with her precious “cargo” on the backseat.)

Here are three of the pups! The one in front is Griffith.

It took us three days and we spent two nights at a pet-friendly motel. But before our trek through the country, I spent a few days sightseeing in Cincinnati, a city I didn’t know. Since Diane was finishing up her packing, trying not to go completely crazy, I stayed at her friend Barb’s gorgeous house and let myself be spoiled with yummy food and tours through the city.

Cincinnati is a very beautiful and interesting place. Many German immigrants made the city their home and a few of the historical parts of the city have a German feeling about them.

When I arrived at Cincinnati airport (which is actually located in neighboring state of Kentucky), I was surprised how attractive and easy to navigate it was (compared to LAX, the Los Angeles airport). I flew overnight and at 5 am on Friday, Starbucks in the airport was open to welcome sleepy travelers and I was greeted by a sculpture of a mammoth.

Diane picked me up at the airport and drove me to her home which was, of course, full of boxes and five very excited and confused dogs who didn’t understand what all this commotion was about. The best thing to do was to take them on a walk to the park to wear them out and calm them down! The littlest and oldest one stayed home, sleeping. Maddy is a somewhat grouchy grandma. Here are the other four. The two black ones from left to right: Hope and Echo. The brown ones, the one on the right is Gulliver and the one showing his butt is Griffith.

After our walk in the park, it was time for the pups to relax at home and for us to have a leisurely breakfast/brunch at a great coffee shop in Cincinnati, called First Watch. The first thing I noticed, aside from the delicious breakfast choice, was the much lower prices than I was used to in California. The Golden State, as we all know, is not cheap!

The next few days I spent with Diane’s friend, Barb, who had invited me to stay at her gorgeous house.

And here is Mimsy, Barb’s little sweetheart.

The following few days, Barb drove me around Cincinnati where we visited a few interesting places. More about that in the next post.

Dear Fellow Bookworms,

I started to blog about some of my favorite books during the 2020 lock-downs and upheavals. Now that we, at least we in California and many parts of the US, are opening up our shops, restaurants, museums, and, ultimately, our lives, reading is still one of my favorite past times. Let’s hope that soon everyone here and abroad will be able to live a more normal life again. My heart goes out to those who still suffer great losses.

I’m always looking for new books and authors and there is nothing more enjoyable than diving into the imaginary lives of fascinating characters!

Here is another author whose books I really enjoy and my brief review:

Braxton Campus Mysteries by James J Cudney – Fun and suspenseful!

I’m in the process of reading this mystery series that takes place in the town and academia of Braxton. I thoroughly enjoy the quirky characters, the well-thought-out plot, the twists and turns, and the humor. Kellan Ayrwick, or “Little Ayrwick” as the obnoxious town detective calls him, professor and amateur sleuth, has his work cut out for him. All he wants to do is be a respectable teacher and devoted father to his little girl, Emma, but destiny seems to have other plans for him. Aside from having to deal with his mob in-laws and other calamities, he has the propensity of stumbling upon dead bodies. Together with his annoying but good-hearted Nana, he tries to catch the murderer before he or she strikes again.

These are fun and fascinating mysteries, real page turners!

Interested? Check out the series page on Amazon by clicking on the book cover above or click on the link to the Author Page on Amazon.

If you would like to receive updates on my writing, you can subscribe to my mailing list by clicking on the Mailing List link below and filling out this short form or by clicking on the Mail Chimp icon in the right panel. I can assure you I won’t flood your inbox with mail. I know how aggravating it is having to scroll through tons of unsolicited messages.

Mailing List

Stay safe and have a wonderful day!

Dear Fellow Bookworms,

I started to blog about some of my favorite books during the 2020 lock-downs and upheavals. Now that we, at least we in California and many parts of the US, are opening up our shops, restaurants, museums, and, ultimately, our lives, reading is still one of my favorite past times. Let’s hope that soon everyone here and abroad will be able to live a more normal life again. My heart goes out to those who still suffer great losses.

I’m always looking for new books and authors and there is nothing more enjoyable than diving into the imaginary lives of fascinating characters!

Here is a brief review of one of my favorite books and authors:

Where The Story Starts by Imogen Clark

Fascinating, full of surprises, and deeply moving!

Two families in Whitley Bay, England, are unknowingly linked through acts of deceit and lies. Over the years, the lies are uncovered, peeled away, and discarded. Now the question is, will the family members be able to deal with the truth and move on?

Like many of the other novels by this author, this fascinating story is intriguing, heart-breaking, and at the same time hopeful. It is beautifully told, without sentimentality. The characters are psychologically interesting and genuine. Excellent work!

Interested? Check out the author page on Amazon by clicking on the book title above or on the book cover or click on the author’s website: https://imogenclark.com/

If you would like to receive updates on my writing, you can subscribe to my mailing list by clicking on the Mailing List link below and filling out this short form or by clicking on the Mail Chimp icon in the right panel. I can assure you I won’t flood your inbox with mail. I know how aggravating it is having to scroll through tons of unsolicited messages.

Mailing List

The Seamless Web by Joe Eliseon

I came across this legal comedy by accident and I’m glad I did. It totally cured me of the faulty notion that lawyers couldn’t possible have a sense of humor and that they didn’t know how to write. I mean, really, have you ever read  legal texts? They don’t make any sense at all. Well, the author Joe Eliseon, is a lawyer, or was, before he began to write fiction and he darn well knows how to write and on top of it he creates quirky and humorous characters! Here is my review of one of his novels.

The Seamless Web – fun and thought-provoking

No matter what your opinion about lawyers, whether you think of them as saviors of the unjustly accused or as greedy, manipulative liars, who rob you blind if they get a chance, you will greatly enjoy this rambunctious, funny, and thought-provoking comedy.

Pete Roselli, a young lawyer fresh out of law school, wants to do things right. He believes in the law and wants to stick to it. This honest attitude, however, gets him into trouble with his law firm and his ugly, demanding, and ill-tempered boss. Not the law is important but the satisfaction of the client. The client has to win no matter what. Desperately searching for a solution in order to keep his job, Pete stumbles upon a tool that solves his problem and makes him one of the most sought after lawyers. However, in the process he gets trapped in a web of lies and manipulations that threatens both his professional and personal life.

A hilarious and insightful book in four parts by an author with plenty of experience in the legal field. A page-turner with colorful, quirky characters. Definitely worth reading!

If you need a good laugh and a fascinating read, here is the link to Joe Eliseon’s author page on Amazon, where you find his other novels as well:

Joe Eliseon – Author Page

Saving Red by Sonya Sones

I became familiar with Sonya Sones, the author, through her husband, Bennett Tramer, another famous writer (remember Saved by the Bell?) who happens to frequent the same coffee shop in Santa Monica that my friends and I go to on Sunday mornings. Cafe Zella, like many other businesses in California was in lockdown but is now open again with restrictions of course.

The action in Saving Red takes place in large part in Santa Monica, my home town, and Cafe Zella is mentioned in the book.

Here is my review:

I read this novel in one sitting, couldn’t put it down. It’s a touching but unsentimental tale of a young girl, trying to complete her community service school project by counting the homeless people in Santa Monica, CA. Before she knows it, she becomes involved in a series of turbulent adventures, trying to reunite a troubled, homeless girl with her family before Christmas. Her passion to help this girl is fueled by her genuine good heart but also by feelings of guilt about that terrible thing that happened in her own family and which she feels responsible for.

Saving Red, written in verse that captures the emotions and thoughts of these young protagonists perfectly, is a real gem. It’s the first book I read by the author, but it won’t be my last. It’s written for young adults and those older ones who are still young at heart! Highly recommended.

Check it out on Sonya Sones’ website: https://www.sonyasones.com/ or on Amazon.

More books to follow. Have a great and entertaining reading weekend!

A Fractured Winter by Alison Baillie

Although lock-downs have eased somewhat, it’s still advisable to stay home as much as possible. And there is no better way to entertain ourselves than discovering new books! One of the authors and books I want to introduce is A Fractured Winter by Alison Baillie. Alison Baillie, originally from the UK, lives and works in Switzerland and is one of the authors I met personally in Zurich, where a group of writers and I took a walk through the city, shared a meal, a glass of Prosecco, and an enjoyable chat.

Here is my review of her psychological thriller A Fractured Winter.

Dark, profound, and fascinating

Olivia is a single mother from Scotland who moved to Switzerland to put her past behind her and start a new life with her young son. Married to her dependable and kind Swiss husband, she lives with him and her three children in a lovely mountain village in the Swiss Alps. Life seems perfect, until the day she finds an anonymous and threatening note in her mailbox. A few days later, the best friend of her seven year old daughter Lara disappears without trace and a person Olivia tried to forget from the past appears on the scene. Suddenly, Olivia’s peaceful and content existence is shattered. Added to this, memories of her painful childhood, her troubled young adulthood surface, leaving her confused and scared. Her logical and sensible husband isn’t much help. The only people who seem to understand and care for her are a woman and a man who are running a spiritual community in a renovated old hotel. But who are they really and what is going on behind the walls of the Grand Wildenbach Hotel?

A Fractured Winter is a dark, psychologically profound story about a woman who struggles with an unresolved past. Fascinating read!

More to come. Wishing you an enjoyable and healthy weekend!

The Attic Room by Linda Huber – Riveting!

Linda Huber, originally from Scotland, lives in Switzerland. I got to know here through her books and on social media but had the pleasure of meeting her in person on my visits to Switzerland, my home country. We had a lot of fun exploring Zurich, eating, and enjoying a glass (or two) of Prosecco!

Linda writes psychological thrillers that you can’t put down once you start reading them! Here is my review of The Attic Room.

When Nina’s mother dies after a horrible car accident, the small family consisting of three generations: Claire, her mother, Nina, and Naomi, Nina’s daughter, is ripped apart. Nina buries herself in her work and the care of her daughter, trying to go on with her life. A phone call from a man who claims to be the lawyer of her father throws her existence into even more turmoil. Nina’s father had died when Nina was three years old; at least that is what Claire, her mother, had told her. The man who claims to be her father, however, is still alive and lives in a retirement home. So who is he? Was it a misunderstanding? Was he an uncle, some other relative? Was he an impostor? After the mysterious relative dies unexpectedly and she is named in his will, Nina leaves her peaceful island and flies to Bedfordshire to find an answer to this unsettling matter. When she gets there, she is forced to unravel a deeply troubling and highly dangerous family secret that throws her completely off kilter. One nightmare follows another to the point where even Naomi’s life is in danger.

The Attic Room is fascinating story and a real page-turner. I couldn’t put it down. It deals with difficult issues, but there is enough love and hope to counter the darkness of this family’s history.

Check it out. Here is the link: The Attic Room

More to come. Stay tuned and stay safe!