The Mojito Coast by Richard Helms

I just finished reading The Mojito Coast by Richard Helms. The book was published in 2013.  It is a fast read, some 235 pages. The book is about a Miami private eye who travels to Havana in 1958 to find a 14 year old girl who was taken from her gangster father in Miami by an underling of the father.  I liked the plot and I also liked that it was set among real events in Cuba in 1958 when Castro and the communists were bringing the Cuban revolution to the people.   The book was a crime story, a love story and a history book.  Ernest Hemingway showed up in the book.

I liked the book and will look for other books by Richard Helms

Pre-History and other Things I Wonder About

I have been booked for a couple of weeks and I have not had time to post in this blog.  Today, Memorial Day 2014, will be quiet day.  The Lovely Sharon is out of town and I am on my own.  I plan to spend a couple of hours doing yard work. I need to buy a hose from Home Depot.  I hope to go for a walk and I need to do a load of wash.   With that said, or should I say, written, I intend to post a few pictures and I intend to wonder out loud about  a few things.  None of this has any importance to your life, but that has not stopped me before so here goes:

1.  A couple of weeks ago, the Lovely Sharon and I played golf on the North Course at Ironwood Country Club in Palm Desert.  As we pulled up to the ladies tee box I looked around at the adjacent rocks hoping to see critters.  I actually wanted to see a snake, but I cannot write about snakes on this blog or mention the word because of the Lovely Sharon's overwhelming fear and distaste of snakes.  So forget the snakes.  We did see a rather large lizard maybe 50 or 60 feet from where we were standing so I took a couple of photos.  It appeared that the lizard was shedding its skin around its tail.

Thank goodness I have a good zoom on my camera

2.  Last night I was reading something about "pre-history".  History basically means something before the present time.  How can there be pre-history?   It may be really old history or early history but how can something be pre-history.  I think historians and scientists should get together and come up with a new definition for what they now call pre-history. I am pretty certain I would sleep better at night if they did this.

3.  I have read  a  half a dozen books or so in the last three weeks but none were worth listing above. I have 6 or 7 books in my current stack.  I hope I enjoy at least a couple of them.  I am currently reading a short novel by Richards Helms that takes place in 1958 Havana Cuba.  This Richard Helms is a novelist, he is not the Richard Helms that was the Director of the CIA. In the first part of the book, the lead character is thinking about buying a brand new 1958 Buick Roadmaster.  Here is a photo of such a car I found on the internet.  Very cool.  I like cars from the 1950's.

 4.  I have absolutely no interest in this years NBA playoff's and will be glad when its over.  The NBA season is way too long.

5.  The last time I was in Palm Desert, one of our cactus' was blooming.  It was beautiful.

6.  I always like to post a photo or two of my beloved, the Lovely Sharon. Here she is on the the North Course 17th tee box at Ironwood Country Club a couple of weeks ago.

7.  You know these videos we see where a soldier surprises a spouse or child at the ballgame or at school?  I love watching them.  The surprise and love always makes me feel good.

8.  Finally, Memorial Day. I appreciate our military, present and past including my dear father.  Thank each of you for what you have done for our country and for each of us.

Here are a couple of photos of my father from the 1940's.  I have posted these before, but I love them:

I think this one was taken in Cuba

Have a nice Memorial Day.  Give thanks to those who serve or who have served.

Black and White Photos

 Here are some more black and white photos from the internet.

In love

More in love in Paris

 What could be nicer than a woman getting her ducks in a row

I always like to post  a girlie photo

One day I will take the Lovely Sharon back to Paris

 Here is one I took- The Lovely Sharon, Windblown in France