My Town Monday: Ann Arbor, MI

I'm still in Ann Arbor. In fact, I won't be back home until late tomorrow night. DH (Darling Husband) somehow thinks I'm ready to come home. However, I'm definitely enjoying hotel and restaurant life!

The water polo is going really really well. Child #3 is playing superbly. I don't want to jinx us, so all I'll say is that our two last games are tomorrow.

I'm going to do wimp out and mostly do a pictorial visit to Ann Arbor. It's late here and I have to get up early to watch the first game and I'm on the east coast, but still on west coast time. Or some time zone in between...

From the book signing...

Robin Agnew, me, Jamie Agnew, lovely and gracious owners Aunt Agatha's Mystery Bookstore

Clair of Bo Fexler, PI and our My Town Monday host. Clair has this terrific wry sense of humor. It was wonderful sitting and chatting with her.

Stacy of The Cat's Meow. Stacy is just as interesting and insightful as I'd imagined. I'm so happy we got to meet IRL.

From the streets...

a street near the University of Michigan

You have to really watch out for pedestrians in this town; they'll dart out into traffic anywhere, anytime.

an overly friendly squirrel

Squirrel is DH's favorite meat. And I'm not even kidding. This little guy is lucky he didn't go back to California as a souvenir.

a brick street.

Very cute and full of character, but the bricks are way uneven. You do not want to be dashing across this street.


a poster for the card game of Euchre, which I spent hours and hours playing as a tween/teen.

All in all, I'm having buckets of fun! There's something about a college town...

Click here for links to more My Town Monday posts. (Thanks Clair for hosting) Also, if you're even mariginally thinking about writing a My-Town-Monday post, please do! Fair warning, though, it's addictive! Write your post, then leave a comment here and we'll link to you.

A Book Signing and A Birthday

I will be at Aunt Agatha's Mystery Bookstore in Ann Arbor, Michigan on this coming Saturday, November 14 @ 1:30!!!



Ann Arbor, Michigan? Yes! Child #3's very talented water polo team will be competing in the Speedo Cup (top 12 8th grade and under boys' teams IN THE NATION. And the top 12 girls teams will be there as well). The games take place at the University of Michigan's pool. That would be Michael Phelps' home pool!

When I was in Ann Arbor for this competition last year (did I mention how talented Child #3's team is??!), I wandered into Aunt Agatha's, had a great chat with co-owner Jamie about mysteries and Nancy Drew and I forget what else.

And this year, I'm doing a signing there! The paperback of I So Don't Do Mysteries was released TWO DAYS AGO!

So, at the signing, I'm doing a short, fun presentation. There will also be free bookmarks, pencils and chocolate.

I'm really hoping to see Stacy of The Cat's Meow , Clair of Bo Fexler, PI and our My Town Monday host, and Patti of Pattinase. (Patti probably can't make it, but I can still hope.)

Thank you, Stacy for this My Town Monday post about Ann Arbor restaurants. I'll definitely be wanting to eat while there. Several times.

So....if you're anywhere near Ann Arbor, I'd love to see you! Aunt Agatha's is at 213 South Fourth Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104 (phone: 734.769.1114)

And birthday wishes to Neil Young, whom I have loved for many years. I have worn t-shirts and pajamas proclaiming this love. Neil, my birthday is in August. Any chance you could write a song for me? xo

My Town Monday: Ann Arbor, Michigan

Before starting with our regularly-scheduled My Town Monday post, I'd like to send you over to Larramie at Seize a Daisy.

Why? Because she wrote a big beautiful brought-tears-to-my-eyes post for I So Don't Do Mysteries. Larramie is one of those bloggers who puts a ton of effort into each post. I can't tell you how it feels to be on the receiving end of all that energy. Incredible. So, please pop on over to see what Larramie is saying about Sherry.

And now, without further ado, onto My Town Monday. And Ann Arbor, MI.

Yes, I know I live in San Diego. Yes, I know Ann Arbor is, like, many many miles away. Believe me, I know. I was squished up like an uncomfortable bug for the entire plane ride at the beginning of November when Child #3 and I ventured to Ann Arbor for water polo. For him, not me.

But pretty please indulge me for just one more Ann Arbor post. Then it'll be back to this side of the country. Pinky promise.



So....if you're ever in Ann Arbor, you absolutely must go to Zingerman's. Everybody knows the joint. Everybody goes there. Everybody loves it. It opened in 1982 and has been growing in popularity ever since.

With good reason. The food is GREAT! The service is FANTASTIC! Even the MENU is fun to read!



I ordered the #2, the MOST popular sandwich: Zingerman's Reuben--Zingerman's corned beef, Switzerland Swiss cheese, sauerkraut & Russian dressing on grilled, hand-sliced Jewish rye bread.

It was like I'd died and gone to corned beef heaven. Of course, I couldn't finish the monster sandwich. (I'm expecting a comment on this from Travis Erwin). I requested a to-go box. The waitress goes to wrap my leftovers. She picks up the pickle.

"This is too soft," she says. And promptly orders me a new one.

Seriously? My standards are obviously too low.

A member of our party ordered the wrong sandwich. His mistake. No biggie. When the waitress found out, she brought the sandwich he thought he'd ordered. Free of charge.

You can try out Zingerman's Deli, 422 Detroit St., Ann Arbor, MI

Or Zingerman's Roadhouse (a sit-down restaurant): 2501 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI

That's it. You'll thank me if you're ever up that way and get a chance to test out Zingerman's.

Please visit to Travis Erwin's blog. He's our Fearless Leader for My Town Mondays. Along with his own MTM, he'll have a list of participants.

And, uh, just in case you've forgotten...

EXACTLY NINE DAYS UNTIL THE RELEASE OF I SO DON'T DO MYSTERIES!