The Trial of Dr. Kate, Michael E. Glasscock III

Synopsis:

In the summer of 1952, Lillian Johnson was found dead in her home, slumped in the wheelchair that had become her cage due to multiple sclerosis. An overdose of barbiturate had triggered a heart attack, but the scene was not quite right. It looked as though someone other than Lillian herself had injected the fatal dose.

Dr. Kate Marlow, Lillian’s physician and best friend, now sits in the Round Rock city jail. The only country doctor for miles, Kate cannot remember her whereabouts at the time of Lillian’s death.

As Dr. Kate’s trial approaches, another woman is determined to uncover the truth about the night of Lillian’s death. Memphis reporter Shenandoah Coleman grew up in Round Rock on the wrong side of the tracks, but unlike the rest of her unsavory clan, escaped her destiny. Now, back in the town she grew up in, she’ll have to turn every stone to keep Kate from a guilty verdict.

Although the plot line was a bit predictable, I still enjoyed the journey.  Interesting characters, well developed, held my interest yet still had questions at the end.  A sequel maybe????

Cross Country on Amtrak

I must apologize for not posting in awhile but I've been soooooo busy since I retired in July!  Don't know how I had time to work before!  

In August we made a quick decision to take a 7day cruise to Bermuda.  My husband's niece was getting married on the cruise.  I had never been on a cruise before, I get motion sickness real easy so was very leary on sailing.  However, I got the "patch" from my Dr. and no worries, sailing was great.  We loved the cruise, lots of activities kept us busy.  We will definitely cruise again.

In September we embarked on our cross country journey via Amtrak.  We left Boston, overnight on the train and arrived in Chicago the next morning.  We had what they call a bedroom.  Well that's a stretch.  It was functional and served us well but so tiny we had to coordinate our movements.  Kept banging my elbows during the night, no room to toss and turn.  The train was not smooth as I expected.  It jostled side to side and stopped at different stations.  So much movement that it was difficult eating in the dining car. 

We spent two days in Chicago, great city, great food.  Stayed at the Silversmith Hotel, a small boutique hotel that was so charming.  Within easy walking distance of attractions.  We loved it.  Spent an entire day at the Museum of Industry.  Took in a show at Comedy Central.  and off to Denver, another overnight on the train.

Denver is another great city. So clean and new, then again, coming from the East coast everything is new to us!  Had a great tour of the city, the mountains are beautiful.  Gorgeous state capitol building.  They were hosting a quilt show when we were there.  Unbelievably beautiful quilts on display.  The city has a walking mall on 14th street.  There is a trolley that runs up and down the street.  It's free and you can hop on and off.  Lots of shops and restaurants. Off to Salt Lake City.

We were concerned about the altitude but had no problem with it other than being extremely dry!  It was hard to swallow at times! Sipping water solved that problem.  Had a tour of the city that included a free organ recital at the Morman Tabernacle.  What a beautiful place and the acoustics are unbelievable.  We had lunch at the Beehive Restaurant run by the Church of the Latter Day Saints and it was scrumptious.  Outside the area was full of gorgeous blooming flowers of all sorts and colors.  So pretty.  Next day we were off to Yellowstone.

It took us most of the day on a tour bus to get to West Yellowstone.  Scenery was unbelievable.  We saw the Salt Lake!  Potatoes being harvested in Idaho.  Went through Wyoming and Montana.  Landscape is so open and the Rockies off in the distance.  We arrived in West Yellowstone and stayed at the Holiday Inn.  We were tired and hungry and decided to eat at the hotel restaurant (we don't usually do that).  Well I'm glad we did, it was this wonderful gourmet restaurant in the middle of nowhere!  And our waiter came from Massachusetts!!  Who knew?

Next day we left early for a guided bus tour of Yellowstone.  I cannot even describe the beauty of Yellowstone.  Breathtaking.  We weren't in the park 10 minutes and we saw Elk on the side of the road.  We saw lots of buffalo, they sort of meander around. Huge animals.  We stopped at what they call the Yellowstone Grand Canyon.  Unbelievably beautiful, the colors, waterfall, cliffs all in shades of orange and red, just beautiful.  We had lunch at the lodge in Yellowstone and ate outside waiting for Old Faithful to erupt.  Sure enough she was right on time and off she went.  Amazing.  We were lucky enough to see another geiser nearby erupt too!  Then we went to the hot springs.  Wow, again I was amazed with the colors, little geisers go off here and there.  Smells like sulfur though.  On our way out of the park we saw a coyote and another herd of buffalo.  I would have liked to see a bear but maybe next time.

Back to Salt Lake City to board the train for San Francisco.  Scenery was something else, flat, tons and tons of sagebrush, and everything was brown.  Felt like I was in the old west with tumbleweed rolling by.  Next day we arrived in San Francisco.

Another great city, we stayed at a Sheraton right near Pier 39 the hot tourist area.  We had been there about 30 years ago and couldn't believe how much it built up.  Lots of people around, two cruise ships, a huge conference and the America's Cup Race!  We were fortunate enough to see the final race.  The boats are so sleek and graceful.  We took a tour to the Muir Woods and Sausalito. Next day we took a boat tour of the bay, road under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz. (we had been to Alcatraz before).  We ended our stay with a dinner at a restaurant on Pier 39 with a beautiful view of the bay.  It was quite a trip, well worth it.  What a beautiful country we live in and there is still more to see......another trip????