The Alibi (A John Chance Mystery) – Chapter 3

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The Alibi – Chapter 3

 
Cranston grabbed the railing as he jogged up the stairs to Precinct House 17. He may have been a linebacker in college, but that was thirty-five years ago and now he needed to pull himself up inclines when he jogged them.

He snapped his hand back as if the railing carried high-tension electricity and stared.

The railing was shaking?


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Peanuts for Her Pups

I’ve heard people say there’s nothing more beautiful than a woman carrying a child.

Strangely, I rarely hear women make that statement.

Especially when they’re dealing with changing hormone structures, changes in their bone density and joints, the physical bloating, cravings and purgings that’d do a bulimic proud, swelling breasts, …

Sorry for this – It almost seems as if the men are proud of what they’ve done.

Somehow men forget what they contribute is – quite literally – the starting gunshot. They then get to sit back and watch the race from the comfort of wherever.

Wow.

Some kind of male-directed hostility on my part, huh?

I suppose it comes from my time ferrying pregnant women to safe medical facilities.

Scan the protesters and the majority are men.

Except for the women.

Who shout something about they went through this hell, now it’s your turn!

Yeah.

So, upon reflection, my hostility isn’t at men or women, really.

It’s about bringing unwanted children into the world, children who will not be cared for, nurtured, who will not be loved.

Unwanted children. Children abandoned by parents who never leave home, who abuse their children to the point where the children think of dying as an escape.

Yeah.

That really makes me mad.

But such doesn’t happen in The Wild.

There parents sacrifice for their offspring.

How come Two-Leggers forgot that?

 

Zina-Vivianne Walker on That Th!nk You Do

A book that will draw you in and make you think.

It’s published!

That Th!nk You Do is available on Amazon! Yeeha!

I asked some folks if they’d mind reading an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) and letting me know what they thought of the book and am posting their comments (many of which appear as blurbs, comments, and endorsements in the book itself).

Today’s blurb is the last in this series and is courtesy Holistic Trauma & Mental Wellness Coach Zina-Vivianne Walker.

A book that will draw you in and make you think.

 

What can I say? A book that will draw you in and make you think.
To me, that is ideal.
Raw writing is the best. Writing that makes one pause….writing that makes you tilt your head and question. The best!!!

Thank you, Zina-Vivianne!

You can find That Th!nk You Do on Amazon and at other fine retailers.

Gail @GailMcDonald19 McDonald on That Th!nk You Do

A multifaceted and all-encompassing masterpiece for humanity.

It’s published!

That Th!nk You Do is available on Amazon! Yeeha!

I asked some folks if they’d mind reading an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) and letting me know what they thought of the book and am posting their comments (many of which appear as blurbs, comments, and endorsements in the book itself).

Today’s blurb is courtesy Gail McDonald, co-host with Susan Sneath of The Change Zone. You can also follow Gail on Twitter.

Joseph’s masterpiece connects science, data, and research with the practicality (and yes complexity) with our everyday lives and how we can begin to better understand what makes us tick (as opposed to being a ticking time bomb!) And all of this is delivered with a strategically delivered sense of humour!

 

I’m feeling challenged to put into words what That Th!nk You Do offered to my soul.
I did begin with this comment initially, so I’ll start here.
“Altruistic – written with a blend of personal stories, researched facts and a delightful mix of paradoxical phrases.”
The appeal for me personally was how the well laid out information flowed. Each piece masterfully woven with the piece before and the piece after. It catered to my insatiable curiosity on how the mind works and why it works the way it works.
I savoured the “time slice” piece – paying attention to how the brain optimally works. How to successfully serial task (new to me) and give myself permission to prioritize tasks as I see fit and being ok with not overfocusing (and then losing focus.) I no longer see it necessary to finish one thing before going on to another and understanding I can still be productive (and more so.) I allow myself to listen to my energy level and what needs to be prioritized, when and why.
Joseph’s explanation of psychoacoustics and archeopsychology were fascinating and to learn the “why” they are beneficial were even more so. As he states “every strength is a weakness and every weakness a strength” offers much to self reflect upon.
The chapter on “compensation guilt” strongly resonated with me and again, gave me cause to self reflect. (I didn’t realize compensation guilt was a thing.)
Joseph’s masterpiece connects science, data, and research with the practicality (and yes complexity) with our everyday lives and how we can begin to better understand what makes us tick (as opposed to being a ticking time bomb!) And all of this is delivered with a strategically delivered sense of humour!
I feel joyfully challenged by Joseph’s masterful subtleness to look deeper with clarity at my own habits and am grateful he has provided tools to support the process.
The “principles” at the end are a great compliment to a very practical, provocative, and sometimes edgy work of art. My favorite (or one of my favorites) – “Technology Is not how we make and keep relationships. We make and keep relationships because of who we are, not what tools we use to keep in touch.” To me, that is a game changer.

In summary – A multifaceted and all-encompassing masterpiece for humanity. Thank you, Joseph Carrabis, for the contribution to the betterment of all humankind!

Thank you, Gail!

You can find That Th!nk You Do on Amazon and at other fine retailers.

The Alibi (A John Chance Mystery) – Chapter 2

Previous entries in this novel:
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The Alibi – Chapter 2

 
Rexall Shaul stood quietly at the top of thirty flights of stairs. He held the door open for a moment and peered down the stairwell. The stairs descended from the art deco paneled hallway on AirCon’s corporate office floor to the garage underneath their building. There were many such buildings, some taller, some shorter, many shared, dotting Boston’s Incubation Center’s waterfront, and Shaul sometimes believed he could feel the waves rocking the building’s foundation pylons buried deep into the landfill supporting the Incubation Center’s population.

He let go of the door and waited, quietly, meditatively, listening to the pneumatic cylinder ease the door shut behind him. The click of the latch was his runner’s starting pistol.

He slowed his breathing and relaxed his still-lean body, techniques he learned as a USAA level competitive gymnast, and debated lifting his arm to check his Omega Dark Side of the Moon watch.

Lifting his arm would raise his pulse a beat, maybe two.

The hesitation alone raised his pulse a beat or two and he wondered if he was losing his edge.

The sound of the pneumatic piston slowly increased as it reached the last moments of its transit.

Quick glance at the Omega. The gun sounded.

Off.

He walked quickly but not hurriedly.

Steady pace. People wouldn’t think twice, let him pass. A burst of speed once in the garage if necessary and never necessary before.

Break a sweat and he revealed too much.

Keep it all inside. Maintained.

He opened the door to the garage, glanced at his watch.

Two-hundred-forty seconds. Eight seconds per flight. Not breathing hard. Didn’t break a sweat.

Good.

His best time made use of gravity and dropping down the stairwell, his hands working the railings like descending uneven bars.

He smiled and walked to his black Lotus Exige. Two parking spaces were assigned to him as part of his package. He parked over the center line of the two so the Exige had three feet on either side clear.

Footsteps. Running, flanking him.


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