I go here usually and I find a bunch of books, almost always used, as cheap as I can get 'em. Did you notice something about this stack? All by this guy. I discovered him just a few months ago, which is so strange because I think he has been writing these Alan Gregory novels for more than 15 years. I'm sure I've seen them before, but for whatever reason I just passed them by. They are right up my alley. Psychologist? Check. MDK (murder-death-kill)? Check. Set in Colorado?? SIGN ME UP! Reminds me of another series, much beloved since I was but a mere child of 19 or so. At least I was in on that one from nearly the beginning. That series reminds me of Delaware, not because the psychologist's name is Delaware but because that's where we lived when I came across the very first Alex Delaware novel. I used to rush home after work (I was an administrative assistant at a clerical training school for crazy and disadvantaged adults) and dive into stacks of books much like those in the photo above. We had a one bedroom apartment on the second floor of a tan stucco building and I always took the way home that led me under a canopy of fern-like tree branches along a little creek, because it made me feel like I was leaving my fake life behind and coming back to real life. The apartment was probably 500 square feet, if that, but man I loved it. It had its own stack washer and dryer in the kitchen and when the guy downstairs started terrorizing his wife/girlfriend/domestic partner, the sounds would travel up through the washer and come out like it was a stereo speaker. Then I would bang the stock of some shotgun that my fabulous husband had brought into the marriage on the floor until things calmed down. Probably not the smartest thing to do (the upstairs neighbors never did a thing to me, after all) and like they even knew it was a gun I was banging but I think it made me feel a little less powerless. Even called the police a few times, not that that did any good. I really did love that place except for the downstairs neighbors. I probably only even saw them 2 or 3 times. And you know what? It almost NEVER happened when my husband was home (he was in the Navy and gone a lot). I think he thought I was making it up until it finally happened when he was there. We had a fireplace and a little balcony that I never used that looked out onto the pool that I never used, and we had a dishwasher. Now that I used all the time! That and the fireplace. All for $385 a month. I think.
Anyway, the good thing about not being clued in to Dr. White until now is that he has an entire body of work for me to dive into, no waiting years between books. And that's not all. I believe there are at least 5 or 6 more on their way. I also ordered some other stuff. Since I discovered Amazon's free super saver shipping on used stuff, that's been my go-to spot to unload my meager monthly discretionary stipend. Now that I can go here to send them on their way and reload my arsenal, it's almost the same price as patronizing the library. Probably is the same price when I factor in the late fees we tend to rack up here at Chez What's-A-Due-Date? However, the library is definitely a much more worthy and noble destination than the couch and amazon.com. Apparently we are neither noble, nor worthy, at this time.
We go away sometime in the next month or so. What do you think the odds are that I will leave that stack alone? Not very good? Ah, you know me so well! That's why I ordered about a dozen. I probably won't even read 3 or 4 while we're gone but I have to know they are there in case I need them or I tend to get squirrely. When we went on our cruise I think I read about that many, 3 or 4. It might have been more had I not been in a narcotic-induced haze of pain and misery and general floatiness, though. I still wonder sometimes if my coworkers rolled their eyes when I returned from my fun jaunt to Mexico and Grand Cayman and then took almost another week off. Here's hoping that never happens again. Although I got all of Dexter Seasons 2 and 3 and the beginning of Season 4 watched while lying on the couch and waiting for the next pain pill, I can think of things I would rather do. Like...almost anything. Hey, have you noticed something about me from this post? It has to be some manifestation of OCD. Who orders a dozen novels by the same author, about the same character? Who spends days on the couch watching the same TV show and nothing but? I am not so far gone that I don't realize that is WEIRD, man. I am the perfect target consumer of boxed DVD television series. And guess what? I have quite a collection. I remember the summer of Six Feet Under. Glorious summer. Highly recommended. It's what led me to Dexter, actually. This summer is shaping up to be the summer of Mad Men. Also highly recommended. And free for me thanks to OnDemand from Charter. Yay! I am anxiously awaiting the Season 3 Dump that should occur sometime before Season 4 premieres in early August. It takes an episode or two to get over the time-warp, smoke-haze culture shock but once you do, what a fun ride.
I actually sat down to write the second installment of Life with the Neighbors, but this is what came out instead. I'll be back with part 2 of that story soon. Probably not until Friday, though. Possibly Saturday. I really wish I still had my emails from when I told this story a long time ago to a bunch of ladies on a yahoogroup. Back then, it was literally still going on. Then I got away from it and didn't really want to think about it for a while because it was so disturbing. I want to get it down now, if only so the children can refer others to it as they feel the need to explain...things about their childhood.
I'm off to do my part-time job and try to think of something productive that won't require sweating.