I am more than willing to agree with any critic who points out that the cozy or traditional mystery sub-genre is unrealistic. Especially the sub-sub-genre I write in: the amateur sleuth. Good heavens, what is this person with no training, no badge, no official status doing meddling in murder investigations?  She should stick to her knitting. On the other hand, reality is at least equally stupid and even, uh, “unrealistic.” I offer as evidence the following collection of actual misbehavior by law-breakers: http://www.collegehumor.com/post/7040496/some-lawyer-is-posting-hilarious-tips-on-facebook. I could not use any of these in a plot, any editor would turn it down as unbelievable.

Yesterday – Monday afternoon – in a light snowfall, I was driving home on Louisiana Avenue, through a neighborhood of small, well-kept houses. and to my astonishment saw a bald eagle on someone’s front lawn. His wings were moving, he was obviously standing on something struggling. There was already snow on the ground, several inches of it, so I couldn’t see what he had hold of. I drove a block farther, then turned into a driveway and changed direction to take another look, but when I got back, he had flown off, probably with his early supper. It is remarkable how these magnificent birds have become almost common. I’ve seen them in the area, flying and roosting in trees, but this is the first time I’ve seen one on the ground. Though now I think about it, maybe it’s the same bird, or one of a mated pair I’m seeing; my sightings have all been within a few miles of one another. How big is an eagle’s territory?