Mike Roche Author

Valentines Day is what I always called amateur night. I remember being out of town and walking into the grocery store for a sandwich. I may as well have entered the shopping mall on Black Friday. Flowers, chocolates, strawberries and cards going fast. Full contact sport! Don’t get in the way of these desperate men seeking to save their souls and relationships. The express checkout line was longer than Space Mountain at Disney World. Restaurants and babysitters are booked years in advance. Even a healthy bribe and a wink won’t grease the skids to get a table for you and your honey.

What do I do? Nothing. They even made a chocolate figure of me. The Perfect Man. I don’t say that out of arrogance. I’m a keeper. Living with me is Valentine’s Day every day. Ask my wife. Ha! I adore my wife and treat her as my number one priority. My goal is to make her happy everyday. I am devoted to her happiness. I struck gold over four decades ago, and I assure you that I have been reaping the treasured life since. This is no solo adventure. I enjoy cooking, grocery shopping and housework, minus folding clothes. I do have my limits.

When I was traveling for my day job, I would save my meal allowance. When I arrived home, I would use that saved money on a babysitter and a date night to give her a break from managing the household and the children. It showed my respect to her and how much I valued her as my teammate. Not one day but everyday. Anyone I gave this advice to normally scoffed. It’s a trap! Love can be a perilous journey. I will admit that many times, we would go to a restaurant the weekend before or after so as to let the dust settle. Happy Valentines and a new beginning for a year long loving friendship.

This photo popped up today in my memories. In 2016, while living in Tampa, I spotted this deer across the pond. My neighbor, Eva had a much better camera to capture this rare sight. At first I thought it was an albino but upon further research, we discovered it is piebald coloration that stems from genetic mutations, which affects the pigment during embryonic development. It is a recessive genetic trait inherited from both parents. These rarities make up less than 1% of deer population, while some estimates put the rate at .002%. We never saw the deer again.

Native Americans hold the piebald deer with reverence as guides for their spirituality. These deer also hold symbolic meanings to many cultures and mythologies.

For a few brief minutes, I was able to admire a rare and beautiful sight.

Two masters having a chat.

Michael Connelly...Part TWO! The stories keep getting better and better...Find more exclusive interviews at jamespatterson.substack.com.

This is the Riverwalk in Tampa. A favorite running route for Detective Kate Alexander alongside the picturesque Hillsborough River. The 2.6 mile trail follows the river and provides a pedestrian friendly path for walkers, runners, strollers and bikers. The 31 floor circular building ahead is known locally as the Beer Can Building and is a setting for a scene in “The Blue Monster.” The Rivergate Tower building is the headquarters of Sykes Enterprises, a multinational business process outsourcing provider. In 2021, Sykes was acquired by the Sitel Group and now known as Foundever.

“Before you react, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you criticize, wait. Before you quit, try.” - Ernest Hemingway

Advice that I try to follow but at times have failed. Holding my tongue is sometimes difficult. I try to stand in the other person’s flip-flops and look at their perspective and life situation before making judgments.

This is the Hemingway House in Key West. From 1931 - 1939 the home was occupied by Ernest and his second of four wives Pauline. In 1922, his first wife, Hadley lost a suitcase containing all his fiction and short stories. (Perhaps why they did not remain married.) He did not give up.

Since I posted a dog picture yesterday, it’s only fare that I post a cat picture today. The grounds are occupied by a plethora of cats, of which about half have polydactyl trait with extra toes.

Louie, has made an appearance in my last two crime novels, “Murder Shot” and “Dead Cadillac.” I thought I would share a couple of photos of Louie. In “Murder Shot,” Detectives Kate Alexander and Cody Danko arrive at Kate’s home. “As she opened up the front door and yelled out to her mother, Louie was the unofficial greeting party. His tail wagged ferociously with excitement not just with Kate but with a new friend as well. He quickly flopped over on his back, inviting the unexpected visitor to join in on a good belly rub. Louie was in dog paradise.”

This was the iconic Four Green Fields Irish Pub in Tampa, Florida. I lost count of the music, meals and beverages I shared under the thatched roof. Yes, a thatched roof! I attended many going away and retirement parties, including mine. It is now gone along with the many fond memories. They have three newer locations including at the Tampa International Airport. I’ve used the OG location several times in my novels. In “Murder Shot,” I wrote this dialogue scene between Detective Kate Alexander and Sergeant Benny Thompson.

Kate sauntered into Benny ‘s office as he motioned for her to have a seat. She pushed the tub of pork rinds to the side as he leaned forward, and he spoke in a conspiratorial tone, not quite a whisper. “Did I tell you that my wife in a previous life worked for the Slimes and before that, Mother Trib?”

“Not that I recall.”

“Sure did. Back when newspapers were printed, and you could hold them in your hand and get ink on your fingers. The next day you lined the bird cage or wrapped the fish with the day-old news. Genuine news when journalists knew how to chase a story. Now they’ve become mostly keyboard hacks. Hell, back in the day if you wanted to go to the original Four Green Fields, half the bar stools were occupied by reporters buying cops drinks and looking for scoop. Now they get their foo foo latte creamed milk frosting caffeinated drinks. They wouldn’t know a story if it hit them like a crowbar across the face. Anyway, she might still know someone that thinks they still chase leads on the crime beat. I think this Mountbatten fella sounds like someone who needs a manscaping. You tried to help him out, but some folks are just not very appreciative. If you catch my drift?”

I’ve ready every book Robert Crais has written. He never disappoints.