Well, it is May and for the Marks’ house that means spring cleaning time. It’s always fun for me to tidy things up, because it’s almost a break from the writing game for a few hours. Plus for the budding detective it’s a way to learn a bit more about the occupants of a house, which is amazingly something that I’m writing about in my WIP, At Close Range, the overly long awaited sequel to The Scent of Murder.
Right now, I’m cleaning smudge prints off the inside of all the windows. To our intrepid sleuth, that could only mean we have a new puppy in the house who is extremely inquisitive.
On my desk, I have 3 new sources of information for my latest biography project, photos of Anthony Boucher that I need to file, 3 issues of The Third Degree which I need to file, some tax information, and a paint sample and estimates on the square footage for carpet in the condo (that’s my addiction to HGTV showing.) My MP3 player which holds a host of 80s music on it, perfect for walking the dog.
There’s the phone number of a friend I’m meaning to call, registration information for 3 conferences that I need to fill out and send in, along with information on Bouchercon2009 which I’m helping to promote (does this count??)
Right now, there’s a big mug of tea on my desk, which tells that I never picked up the coffee habit, but I love my caffeine. It dates back to when I was young and my mother would keep me up and give me steaming mugs of tea and just the two of us would talk. It’s always a comfort drink for me.
So don’t think of spring cleaning this year as a chore, but as an undercover operation to find out more about you and your family by what they own and what they leave out. It’s a fascinating look into a world few others get to see.
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Jeff,
Just be careful and not throw out what I apparently threw out a couple of weeks ago — our income tax refund check.
by C.R.
on May 9th, 2008 at 6:13 am
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What a great idea, Jeff! I wonder what it means about us that we have tools and pieces of drywall and trim everywhere…
BTW, when are we going to hear exactly WHO the new biography subject is????
by Judy
on May 9th, 2008 at 6:43 am
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Tea is our main source of caffeine. For me, I always thought it would be coffe. I do drink it on occation, but tea is our main vise.
I’ll take mine with a splash of milk and a little sugar…how much sugar you ask?…..just enough to take the edge off my personality.
Zz
by Zorro
on May 9th, 2008 at 7:29 am
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Judy: I’d say the tools, drywall and pieces of trim mean that a remodeling project is in progress. Or it could mean that you live in a Home Depot. Are there a lot of clueless people walking around in orange vests?
Zorro: I’m a coffee drinker. Hot and black. In large quanities. Carol and my daughters do drink tea, however. Hmmmm. I guess that means only one thing — tea is for girls!!!
by C.R.
on May 9th, 2008 at 7:42 am
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My sister….a die hard coffee freek says tea is for sissies!
My grandfather on my mom side was a NY Central train engineer….he was cool.
Casey and I used to go visit with him many decades ago. He always has a themos near his recliner with coffee in it. It was the same thermos he brought to our wedding…..with a couple of peanut butter&jelly sandwiches. When we showed up, he’s ask if we wanted some coffee….Casey would say no thanks, we drink tea. He’d get this fun look on his face and would eventually say “tea?? tea?? why tea is for sissies! Then he would burst into laughter…..everytime we visited!
I eventually advised him that real he-men drink tea….the old fashioned Enlish way.
Zz
by Zorro
on May 9th, 2008 at 9:01 am
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Judy…..I’d say you hired me to do some of your work……and I was getting around to it.
Zz
by Zorro
on May 9th, 2008 at 9:03 am
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You must have different Home Depot people, CR. Ours are always really helpful. On the other hand, our Home Depots are all going out of business, so maybe the helpful part doesn’t really work…
by Judy
on May 9th, 2008 at 9:33 am
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Judy, if your Home Depot goes out business, where are you going to live?
by C.R.
on May 9th, 2008 at 9:39 am
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Sigh, I’ve often heard that tea is for effettes, but I make a pot of black tea that will grow hair on steel. It’s strong enough to make you understand the meaning of “wired.”
Green tea is on its own though!
by Jeff
on May 9th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
