C.R. Richards's Blog, page 10

MURDER, She Read

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Footsteps echo against the crumbling walls of a deserted alley. Heart pounding, I take tentative steps into the suffocating passage. Then I see blood spreading across the cold stone before me. Sucking in deep gulps of frigid air, I’m pulled toward the lifeless mass. Dead fingers reach out into the dark unknown. What happened? I won’t stop reading until I find out.

I’m obsessed with murder mysteries. My book shelves are lined with dog eared copies of detective stories. This fascination doesn’t stop at the written word.  My Netflix, Amazon Prime, Britbox and AcornTV queues are filled with brilliant mystery series.

Why am I and others like me so enamored with this genre? Our brains love puzzles. We put on our deer stalker caps and pit our intelligence against the author’s seasoned detective. Sharing the main character’s anxiety to solve the case, we also compete with the clock.

Warning Dear Author! While I love competing with your detective, woe be it for you if I solve the mystery before they do. This is an unforgivable sin to a mystery lover. I’ve thrown books in the used book bin a time or two and vowed never to read anything by the offending author again. Stump me and I’ll be your loyal fan forever.

All Hail the Queen of Murder

Prolific author and master of the mystery genre, Agatha Christie tops the charts of my all-time favorite. In researching this week’s blog, I discovered discrepancies in the number of books she’s credited as having written in her lifetime. It’s definitely over seventy. Here are my top three:

Murder on The Orient Express
And Then There Were None
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

More Top Puzzlers

Scanning my book shelves, I tend to favor classic British Mysteries like the Sherlock Holmes Adventures by Arthur Conan Doyle or the Father Brown series by G. K. Chesterton. In this post, I’d like to focus on some of my favorite American Authors.

Patricia Cornwell – Dr. Kay Scarpetta mysteries
Raymond Chandler – Farewell, My Lovely featuring Phillip Marlowe
Dashiell Hammett – The Maltese Falcon featuring Sam Spade

Mysterious Links

Have I missed your favorite mystery? Share the name below in the comments section. Stuck for good Mysteries? Check out the links below for suggested reads:

Goodreads Mystery Book Lists

Mystery Writers of America

Happy Reading!

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

February Is for Book Lovers

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It’s almost Valentine’s Day. Chocolate hearts, cupids and plush stuffed animals are everywhere. If you want to capture a book lover’s heart, however, you can skip the flowers. Nothing stirs their soul like engrossing tales told by powerful storytellers.

So Many Book Genres, So Little Time

I’m dedicating DTJ’s February posts to Book Lovers. Highlighting a different genre each week, I’ll discuss my favorite books and provide links to more great stories. Join me for the book chats!

Feeding the Addiction

I grew up in a family of avid readers. No stranger to the library, I rush to their “New Books” and “Recommended Reading” sections. Technology offers Book Lovers additional ways to discover their next great read. Here are a few suggestions:

Goodreads.com– Essential source to discover, track and discuss your favorite books

Bookbub.com– Sign up for the genres you enjoy. Bookbub sends daily emails with suggested reads on sale at Amazon or Barnes and Noble

Rifflebooks.com– Similar to Bookbub, but may carry different books in each genre

Happy Reading!

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

Blizzard Days

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Blizzards. The very word conjures up images of white out skies and blustery winds. We try to stay safe in our fortress, preferring to avoid the tempest. Sometimes we peek through the glass. Our greatest fears are realized. The world outside our window is utter chaos. Cold and harsh, we withdraw from it and hide beneath warm blankets until the storm passes.

Growing up at the feet of the Rocky Mountains, I’ve experienced a great many blizzard days. They can be frightening. You are literally isolated from the rest of the world. These brutal storms, however, can usher in a time of rest. They force you to stay inside with books, movies, hobbies and whatever else keeps you distracted from the chaos.

Everyone needs a Blizzard Day no matter your local climate. Life is managed chaos. Even the healthiest of people need a day to relax and recuperate. Grab the book you’ve been dying to read. Curl up under your blanket and let the world rage outside.

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

Are You Struggling with the Effects of Overwhelming Negativity?

Hostile negativity is everywhere. You turn on the news to check your local weather only to be bombarded by stories of embattled governments or acts of unsettling violence. Browse your favorite social media platform and there it is again. Negative comments. Trolls. Neighbors turning against neighbors.

Hope Can Come from Unlikely Sources

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Do you remember a certain animated movie about monsters working in a factory collecting screams from children? A happy accident helps them discover gathering laughter fuels their energy containers much faster than the old methods of scaring. Positivity, laughter and love are more powerful than fear, hate and anger.

 

Arm Yourself with Affirmations

A tsunami of negativity seems to have flooded our world lately, but you don’t have to drown in its murky waters. Here are some affirmations to help you stay positive and empowered:

“I have the power to turn off my TV or social media platform.”

“It is my choice whether to be positive or negative today.”

“I choose my own reality.”

Do you notice a reoccurring theme to the affirmations? Choice. We are in control of our own lives and destinies. Choose health and wellbeing.

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

Sometimes You Have to Start in The Middle

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Zodiac Horoscope Puzzle by In GooooD

Jigsaw puzzles are a bit of an obsession for me. Nothing stimulates the old noggin like the smell of freshly cut cardboard. The satisfying sound of glossy pieces spilling through my fingers as I search for the perfect shape. Then the ultimate victory of the final reveal when each piece has found its proper place to expose the original picture.

Unfortunately, my precocious kitty enjoys puzzles as much as I do. Unable to set up the pieces undisturbed on our kitchen table, I had to go digital. It’s not the same. Needless to say, I was delighted to receive a round jigsaw puzzle for Christmas. It fit perfectly on my Lazy Susan. Kitty proof!

I eagerly started the puzzle as I usually do by digging out the exterior boarder pieces. After two days of frustration, I was getting nowhere fast. I started over at least three times, but still couldn’t figure out how the pieces fit together. Close to giving up, I decided to try assembling the sun and moon image located at the puzzle’s center. It worked! I began to understand how different circular puzzles were from the traditional square or rectangle ones. Sometimes you have to start in the middle.

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Completed puzzle! Hooray!

Is there something in your life you are struggling with right now? Are you approaching it as you’ve always done? Stand back and look at your puzzle as a whole. Is there another way to approach it? Good luck! I know you can solve it!

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

From Me and Mine
To You and Yours!
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Have a wonderful Holiday Season. I’ll return in January with more blogs of encouragement!

Last Minute Gift Idea for Creatives

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You’ve hit the malls more than once and the long list of “To Buy” gifts is almost complete. Hmm. One name left. It’s for the Creative in your life. This special soul doesn’t seem interested in the latest gadget or fashion trend. Rather they are obsessed with books, music or art (all kinds). Sure, you could give them the standard gift card and let them indulge their introverted desires. Or you could try something else.

A Special Kind of Coupon Book

Make a “Just for You”coupon book – Fill it with items your Creative will truly appreciate. As a Creative, I’ve listed examples I would love:

Inspiration Coupon – Good for 1 trip to the museum, symphony, author workshop, etc.
Listen Coupon – Good for 1 very long dinner at a quiet restaurant where we exclusively discuss your latest book idea, painting, etc.
Opinion Coupon – Good for 1 honest, but kind opinion about your talent and path
Support Coupon – Unlimited and does not expire. I promise to support you and your art unconditionally. I will be your biggest cheerleader.

Creatives bring special insight to the world. Sometimes their truth can be beautiful. Other times it isn’t easy to share or hear. Your gift of love and support will give them the strength to continue making their art.

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

Summoning the Spirit

I love this time of year. Stroll along the sidewalks and you’ll notice folks have an extra spring about their step. Hearts are more generous. Smiles are wider. Eyes sparkle with the promise of joy and happiness during this season of friendly fun.

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Not feeling it? I understand. Lots of worries and strife in the world lately. Let me share with you what I told the nice young man behind the counter of my favorite noodle shop when he told me he was overwhelmed by the negativity.

“Holidays – much like life – are what you make of them,” I told him.

“Yeah!” His eyes gleamed during the sudden light bulb moment. “I just need to be more positive.”

I hope you’ll have the same light bulb moment too. Take a break from the negative and allow your heart to welcome the positive spirit of the season. How? I’ve made a list of things I use to jump start my Holiday Happy:

Catch a Holiday themed play– Every year, I hop the light rail and head to The Denver Center for Performing Arts. My Holiday choices are “A Christmas Carol” and “White Christmas.” Seeing talented artists perform my favorite stories is an incredible boost.
Look for the Light– If your city is anything like mine, there will be several venues displaying beautiful decorations and lights.
Share the Spirit – Wrangle your friends and family out for an evening of dinner and holiday events. Spending time with those you care about will fuel the spirit.
Speaking of Spirits – Eggnog. Yep. It’s the miracle cure for the Holiday Blues especially when you share it with someone special.
New in Town – Maybe you’re experiencing a time in your life when you’re alone over the holidays. Don’t despair! Get off the couch and join some fun groups like Meetup.com. You may find new friends to help you feel right at home.

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well. AND BE MERRY!

Can You Spot the Optimistic Takeaways from A Christmas Carol?

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The first Sunday after Thanksgiving, I hop on the light rail and travel to the Denver Center for Performing Arts to see A Christmas Carolby Charles Dickens. For two glorious hours, me and a hundred or so other avid theatre goers put our gadgets away, sit in the dark and allow ourselves to be transported to the streets of Victorian London. We marvel at the tale written over two centuries ago by a master storyteller. We are transfixed by our fellow human beings who act out the classic story just as our ancestors have done for generations.

Two little girls – I would guess nine or ten years old – sat in back of me. They were appropriately shocked and appalled during the scene in which two business men come to ask Scrooge to donate to the poor. He refuses to give any money stating that those badly off must go to London’s horrible workhouses and prisons.

“Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.”

“if they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”

 My Three Optimistic Takeaways from A Christmas Carol

The First– It gives me great encouragement we can still be appalled by dreadful behavior in this age of internet trolls and ugly politics. Or, at least, our youth can be.

The Second– Scrooge’s transformation from a selfish old curmudgeon into a loving and giving person is proof positive anyone can have a change of heart. It is never too late to be a better person

The Third– Dickens reminds us no matter how hard change is or how much they are ridiculed, people of courage will still work toward a greater good. These positive changes benefit each and every one of us.

“Some people laughed to see the alterations in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset…”

If you are working toward change, I hope this post has been a gift of encouragement to you. Stay the course. Never give up. You are worth the effort.

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.

Are You Investing in The Right Things?

A few weeks ago, I treated my tootsies to a pedicure at my local salon. Sharing the pampering experience were two sisters and a toddler. Suddenly Grandma came in with a stack of lottery scratch cards. She divided them up between their family. The toddler – wisest among us all – was asleep. Fun right? Her daughters didn’t think so. They begrudgingly took the cards and started to scratch. I was left with the impression they’d done this game way too much in the past.

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Grandma assured everyone in the salon buying the lottery scratch cards was worth it. After all, she’d won $61 once. Nodding with what I hoped would be taken as polite congratulations, I began to do the math in my head. Now I’m not a lottery player, but I believe those scratch cards are five dollars a pop. The stack was about an inch thick. Her money. Her decision. The practical cynic in me, however, can’t help thinking a better use of her money would be a family trip to Disney World. Everyone would have a better time. And memories don’t end up in the trash can at an indifferent salon.

The experience made me think. What resources have I been throwing away by investing in the wrong things? We all have precious resources. Time. Energy. Hope. Love. And yes – Money. Most of these are finite. Invest your time, energy and money wisely. Spend your hope and love extravagantly.

Be Positive. Be Happy. Be Well.