Judy Crider, R.I.P.

     I'm saddened to report that Judy Crider has finally succumbed to the cancer she fought courageously for eight years. Here she is with husband Bill in 1980 at the Washington, D.C. Bouchercon. I'll always remember her for her serene presence and lovely smile.

photo: Arthur Charles Scott

Thanksbuddy

     I hope you all have a happy and gluttonous Thanksbuddy. Go Seahawks.

Sofia Is Four

     At El Toro for the baby's birthday dinner. Here, she wears the sombrero as the waiters sing "Happy Birthday."

Throwback Thursday

     Christmas, 1991. As you can see, I'm displaying my usual good cheer. That's Linda at the piano and the little head in the foreground belongs to her nephew, I think.

Throwback Thursday

     I'm only going back about four years today. Here's a very young Sofia, soon to be a birthday girl.

Veteran's Day

To all my fellow vets, stand as tall and proud today as you did when you took your oath.

Throwback Thursday

I am especially fond of this photo, taken about 22 years ago, of the girls enjoying a game on the couch. The exuberance and joy of childhood really shines through.

Throwback Thursday

1992. Taking Stephanie for a bike ride. Hard to believe she has a baby who will turn four next month.

Happy Birthday, Stephanie

     How can it be that my baby girl is 25 today?

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: Arthur Charles Scott, EOTU


Bouchercon, 1982, San Francisco, California. The man on the left is rock star Tough Jim Gaston. That's me on the right when I wore contact lenses.

Throwback Thursday

Photo Credit: Arthur Charles Scott


That's me on the left at the Milwaukee Bouchercon in 1981. I think the chap on the right is Bob Randisi. This was one of my favorite conventions, and my second mystery con.

Throwback Thursday

     Arizona, 1985, a post-Bouchercon visit. Left to right: sister Denise, Mother Gloria, sister Wendy, and me. I don't know the names of the dogs.

Throwback Thursday

     

     With the vote today that will decide whether Scotland becomes an independent nation or remains a part of Great Britain, I thought it appropriate to throw back however many centuries it was when this became the coat of arms for the Napier clan. The motto means "without stain."

     Do any of you have a family coat of arms?

Kit of the Week Revisited

     Remember when I showed the box for the Heller ladybug model kit? Well, I bought it and earlier this week I completed the assembly.

     The finished bug measures about 3 3/4 inches (110 mm). Right now she's guarding a shelf of my Western paperbacks.

Throwback Thursday

     This looks to be about 20 years old. I don't know why I bought those porthole glasses but they must have been the height of fashion at the time. My girls are Kristine (left) and Stephanie. You probably recognize the milieu as a photo booth. The first time I saw one you got four poses for a quarter. I think I paid $1.50 for this, and now they're about five bucks, but are in color. Ain't progress grand?

On this day in 1989.

Happy 25th anniversary to me and Linda. Someone needs an award for endurance.

Throwback Thursday

     Talk about skinny, that's Our Hero in cousin George's room and that's George's dog Penny enduring my guitar work. I'm guessing this was taken in 1968, after I got back from Nam.

Throwback Thursday

     I think this was taken in 1982. The place was Art Scott's house and the occasion was an apres Bouchercon party. The man with the camera is the late, great John Nieminski, seated on the chair is Walter Albert and the shaggy character in the foreground is Steve Stilwell. That's me on the right without glasses or breadbasket. I wore contact lenses for a few years but a severe eye infection while trying extended-wear contacts put me off them for good.

Instead of my ugly mug, how about a snapshot of my beautiful girls? This is from Easter circa 1995.

Throwback Thursday

     Summer of 1994 at The Horse Farm in Yelm, WA, which went out of business many years ago. I am astride Baby Huey, an equine of 17 hands. I felt like I was sitting in a second story window, but he was a friendly steed.