I recently had the pleasure of meeting the author, Sandra Benitez, at the writers conference at Augusta State University.  And I had the additional pleasure of purchasing her novel, Night of the Radishes.

I finished it in about 3 days and thoroughly enjoyed it.  As the Library Journal said:  "A moving story about loss, guilt, anger, and forgiveness, set against the colorful mingling of North American and Latin cultures."

The writing was superb, the characters very well developed and the story was both enjoyable and emotional.  I'm now reading Sandra's first novel, A Place Where the Sea Remembers.  It's also very well written and having been to Mexico a few times, I'm enjoying the cultural aspect of it.  So I'd highly recommend both books.

I'm waiting for Philip Roths, "The Plot Against America" to arrive and that'll be the next one I'll be reading.  So....what are you reading?  Do you have any recommendations for me to add to my reading list?  As you know, I always have a book going....actually, sometimes 2 and 3.

Today has started as one of those little annoying days......We lost NBC on our cable last Friday.  And yes, that means I can't watch my Today Show this morning.  NOT a good way for me to start the day.  I've called, they'll look into it, etc.  We shall see.  And those of you who follow me regularly might recall that back in January, Ray and I went to the monument company to have the stone done for our cemetery plot.  I was told we'd have it in 3 weeks.....well, here we are almost 3 months later and still no stone.  I called them a week ago today, they said they were coming to the island last week as they had other stones to deliver and still.... nothing. I can see now my fatal mistake was paying for it in full in January.....so I've called them this morning and left a not-very-pleasant message on their recorder.  Again....we shall see.

But despite the little aggravating nuances, today is another picture-perfect day here on Cedar Key.  A little cloudy and I'm really hoping for rain, because it's been ages and we really need it.  It's mild and going into the high 70's, the birds are chirping and like my dad used to say, "Every day's a holiday" so guess I'll forget about the minor annoyances and go enjoy mine.

You do the same and I'll see you tomorrow.......PS......as I finished typing this, the monument company called....can they come today around 11?  Ah nope, they can't.  We're going to visit my aunt in the nursing home, and "I" am finally going to get my license.  He'll call me tomorrow morning about coming on Wednesday..........to be continued!