Mysterious Blogging: Why I Suck at Twitter

Have you ever been caught short of funds at the grocery store and then someone behind you said "here - I've got it"? That was me. Have you been at the bookstore and found yourself stumped over which book to choose and then had someone say "try this"? That was me, too. Have you stood in line for a movie and found yourself in discussion with a total stranger who seemed genuinely interested in your thoughts and opinions? That was most likely me, as well.

I'm one of "those" people who seem to wander the world and want to befriend those who seem in genuine need at some moment in time. We come in, help, and then walk away with no expectations (ok, some of "those" people are way too needy...but that's not me). I love to distract kids while standing in line at Disneyland. I've nudged fellow customers with spare change to help them pay their bills. I've straightened many a messy display at various department stores simply because I know what it feels like.

That's the key to "those" people: we've been there, done that, know the feeling. We've been short at the register a time or two. We've been lost or confused in various stores or in various locations. We know what it's like to be on a tight budget and can only choose one or two of something and worry about the right choice. We've stood in line, lonely and bored, hoping for a conversation or a time killer. We've been where you are and want to make your life a bit better.

Unfortunately, you may not want help and that's why I suck at Twitter.

Twitter, that lovely social network, enables people to reach out to one another. It also allows those who feel the need for expression to do so. I can't tell the difference. I have a few people I follow who reach out and then reach back. I've mis-stepped a time or two, though and that's where I get in trouble. Which just ruins my day...

I still love Twitter...but it's a social minefield for people like me. Sigh.

Mysterious Wanderings: The Little Road Trip Handbook

I love Twitter. I meet interesting people, I have great chats, and I get free books from time-to-time.

Being a lover of road trips, I delightedly responded to author's Erin McHugh's offer for a free copy of her newest Sterling Publishing release, The Road Trip Handbook. 

Not necessarily for the faint of heart, road trips can bring a family closer to the US of A while driving them farther apart. After two years of marriage, hubby and I went for a three-week tootle around the country. While I tend to run to the plan-it-out, David really yearned for the the "let's just go where the road takes us". We ended up compromising and did a bit of both.

Erin recommends - and I concur - planning your trip as far as getting the car checked out, stocking it with essentials (hadn't thought of packing my own TP, thanks Erin for that tip!), and leaving certain things behind: like emotional baggage (Yes!). However, we disagree on one thing: she says leave a camera behind and I say "bring it on!" we took over a thousand digital photos on our trip and I confess I still get misty eyed when I see my photos of Laura Ingalls Wilder's home (my heroine!). 

She's also correct in suggesting that you watch a few road trip movies prior to leaving as a way of getting "into the mood". I'd even go so far as to suggest that you pick a few American-made films and plan a hunt for the shooting locations. 

There are practical chapters: speed limits, suggested radio stations, silly laws (no musical horns in Kansas!), and even some classic road trip suggestions for those new to the "sport". 

I'd like to take another car trip this summer: traditionally we pack a variety of tour books to keep us amused along the way as well as suggestions for possible stops. Erin McHugh's Little Road Trip Handbook is one we'll pull out earlier and definitely pack in the car.  

Mysterious Reasons for Blogging

I guess 95% of all blogs go unread and yet new ones pop up every day. Why do so many start to blog? Why do something no one will read? Less than 1% actually achieve "blog stardom", so the answer doesn't involve fame. Less than 1% actually make money of any kind...so it can't be the dough, either. So, why?

The answers lies within the human need to call out into the abyss. Put a group on the edge of a canyon and some, if not all, will shout "hello" to see if answer will return. So thousands of people sit in front of their computers and type out their "hellos" and then sit back to see if anyone returns them. The odds appear stacked against them. 

"Mysterious Brew" represents my third attempt at blogging. My first attempt, "Confessions of a Bored Housewife", depicted my need to vent my unemployment frustrations. I really didn't want anyone to read it and I don't believe anyone did. My second attempt, the name escapes me, centered on a hope that publishers would discover my pithy book reviews and send me free books - a bad reason for a blog. This attempt? I don't need anyone to read it. Don't care if anyone does. The blog centers on the hope of focusing myself and my reading habits.

I started reading way back before kindergarten thanks to my brother's comic book collection. Through the years, I've always possessed a gigantic reading pile with tastes all over the place. In '77, I careened between Star Wars (a book I picked up in a grocery store never having heard of the movie), Louisa Mae Alcott, and books on old Hollywood: a blissful summer of non-stop reading and discovery. Since then, I pinball consistently all over the reading spectrum with Young Adult, Mysteries, Sci Fi, History, and everything in-between serving as bumpers. 

I want to focus entirely on Mystery for awhile. I need to discover what encompasses mystery and why some publishers push certain titles as mystery and why they pull certain titles out and into other sections. What makes a good mystery story? Where else in life do elements of mystery lie? 

Do I care if anyone reads this blog? Nope. I feel contentment in my place in the crowd. Within the herd, I can explore, journal, and stumble without anyone feeling the need to point out my humanity. 

If anyone does read it, please respond and let me know...especially if you possess knowledge of a path I must travel down. 

CSI with Laurence Fishburne

Can Dr. Raymond Langston adequately fill the shoes of Dr. Gil Grissom? 

I sure hope so. In the weeks opening Season 9 of the popular criminal procedure show, Grissom's dry humor was MIA and in its place appeared a morose and depressed character. The show, which in Season 7 & 8 seemed standing on shaky legs, looked even shakier. 

Then CBS announced that the oh-so-serious actor, Laurance don't-call-me-Larry Fishburne was replacing the happy-to-go William Peterson. Fishburne, who sometimes comes off as taking himself far to seriously, seemed an odd choice. After all he'd been aiming for an Oscar for years and now he was taking a TV show? Oh, please. 

However, in his first appearance in the ninth episode, Fishburne seemed the same uptight performer as always. That continued into Episode 10. Then his first real starring role in Episode 11 occurred. Fishburne plays the role of a professor who appears to live his fantasy. Fishburne brings a real sense of humanity to his character and makes the role his own.

I've been a spotty watcher of CSI for some time now. Fishburne, with only one episode under his belt, may bring with him a breath of fresh air that brings new life to a almost-dead series.

The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Alice Kimberly

While perusing my local B&N, I randomly pulled a book off the shelf and found myself holding The Ghost and Mrs. McClure. 

A mystery that's part Sam Spade and part Ghost and Mrs. Muir (loved that movie), it takes place in a bookstore haunted by a ghost who's bound to the store thanks to his murder over 60 years previously.

Penelope Thornton-McClure escaped her deceased husband's family and moved in with her aunt in a small town on the east coast. When she's not deflecting her former in-laws, she's enduring the town's hyperactive councilwoman, and trying to make a dying bookstore live again. On her first big author appearance, the obnoxious Timothy Brennan falls over dead during his presentation bringing instant fame to the bookstore and Pen's first murder mystery. 

Years earlier, Jack Shepherd entered the store while on a case and was murdered. The murder remains unsolved and Jack's spirit remains within the store. 

Well, guess what? Brennan was Jack Shepherd's nemesis in real life and used Shepherd's notoriety to build his writing career. So, I'm guessing, this is the reason why Jack is able to communicate with Pen and assist her in solving the mystery behind Brennan's death.

The romantic tension between Jack and Pen works well and it's interesting that while Jack communicates in Pen's mind, Pen can visit Jack in his time through her dreams. The interaction of the two characters bring to mind the interaction of the Captain and Mrs. Muir (which obviously served as the inspiration of the novel).

The book is light and an American version of the cozy. It won't change anyone's life, but it will make a lovely diversion on a rainy afternoon.

A perfect day for murder

Tea, weather, and a mystery book: all lead to a great day for murder.

I never intended to read mysteries and all started doing so at the bequest of my store manager while I worked at Barnes & Noble. At the time, I read Sci Fi, YA, young readers, and history (lots of history). However, my New Years Resolution that year centered on trying new things. So, Pam (the store manager) convinced me to start a mystery book reading group for our store.

Five years later, I teach instead of sell, but I still love a good mystery. Since I work with kids all day long, I see this blog as an outlet for adult creativity. I intend to review mystery books that come my way as well as any other mysterious happenings I should learn of.