Lions and Tigers and Blogs....oh my

It’s funny how people seem to be voyeuristic and love to see, hear or watch what is going on in the lives of others. I can say at one point in time, I am sure I was just as guilty…. that was until I decided to share my life and then I realized that it isn’t always so fun. You DON’T get to choose what you share….or do you?!?

I have gained and lost followers, family and friends over my choices but you know what, that’s ok? People misinterpret what you put out there and sometimes feelings get hurt or egos get inflated. I love my birds, butterflies, sunrises, walks on the beach and the amazing backyard gardens I am building. Some people enjoy those things and don’t realize that just as much as I love them, I also need them to keep the drama of my professional life as well as other things at bay.

That’s ok if you delete me because I am not true crime all of the time. If I was I would be a pretty damn boring person. So I can enjoy the learning and sharing of serial killers, even more so, telling you about the lives and loves of those we have lost to them and then go on to enjoy my shishito peppers and the smell of multiple types of lavender.

I would be boring if I only shared one part of me. So with that, I will keep this one really short:

I LOVE:

my students

the college I teach at, Indian River State College

learning about why I still remember the bunny I ran over when I was 18 while others hurt people without thought

I enjoy sunrises even though I am NOT the best morning person

I read books that most people would never even consider touching, philosophy, history of mankind and so on

I would go to college forever if my husband and friends would let me

Learning and homework come easy to me but understanding the horrors of life are a mystery

I am writing and will publish this year

I take more photographs than any one person should

But the best part of me…. don’t judge this book by the cover. You don’t know if it is the cover that truly belongs on this book. So follow me as I run, jump, stumble and enjoy my way through life. Who knows not only might you learn something real about me but also about yourself. Life is an adventure; enjoy it!

Dr. M

OK, I have Peace and my Creativity back so now what?!?!?

So now what? Well last night I am pretty sure I flipped my husband out when I told him as we had agreed upon last fall, that I truly wanted to go back to school. He was all in until I tossed out the cost of the two year Masters degree I want when I already have two plus my PhD…..that broken blood vessel in his eye that showed up late last night might, just might, be my fault BUT then again I am NOT the kind of doctor!

I have a million projects that I have either half completed or half designed within my head. I have been blessed with the love of learning, the gift of being able to accomplish goals and knowing when to stay in my own lane. Please oh please, why can’t people stay in their own lane? It really isn’t that difficult.

I was shown the effort of hard work at a young age. The importance of meeting the right people. How to speak and when, how to dress and when and thank God manners! So, I have taken some time off from using all of these skills, trying new things and redefining the shape of the “box” we are supposed to stay in. I am pretty sure my high school geometry teacher would fail me on my idea of the “box.”

So, here is what I think I am going to accomplish within the next six month and in no particular order, except for those things that have time restraints on them….. such as a national presentation. You know, those pesky little timeframe things. Wow, I just realized how much I don’t like boundaries and restrictions, no wonder I am not the best at setting or following them. Ah, but that is a new skill being worked on this year along with that self-care and making time for adventure.

1) National presentation - which still involves research, building the presentation, order new shirts and fun things to give away and lots of reading! This is a priority because of that pesky calendar.

2) Finishing the book that I started….well I have several but there is one that I am currently passionate about and that one I am setting my own timeframe on which is no later than the end of summer to see have it published. I have another one I was working with a publisher on but its a totally different type of book. You guys will get to see exactly have diverse I am or how much of a butterfly I am, which is what my husband and long term friends and family have always called me.

3) Organize the thousands of pictures I have taken. Another book? Another website? Or just share them as the urge hits me? We shall see.

4) An important friend just gave me a chat that going back to school is not beneficial for me and that research or working with a think tank is where I should be adding to my career now. My husband with love and thank her. And I must say I am intrigued to hear more of what she has to say.

5) And just for me and just for fun. Travel…. I have several locations on the table. Just kind of depends on what is going on in the world when I have the time to escape.

Well, that is all I have to say for now. Not really because we all know I talk and talk and talk….. so how about talk again soon!

Dr. M

Reclaiming my Creativity and Finding My Peace

Just as most people will tell you, this pandemic has changed them. It may have been for the better by causing them to slow down and take care of themselves (slightly guilty) or maybe for the worse (guilty until recently.) I am an extreme extrovert, love to be busy, I am outside exploring something everyday and meeting and talking with anyone who has a story to tell. That part of my life got cut WAY back with this pandemic and I fought it. Why fight it….. because of course I wanted what I wanted! Have you learned nothing about me yet over these years?

Covid and the ever changing rules not only made me take Wine and Crime Virtual, it stopped guest lectures, prevented travel and forced me to teach more “inside the box” than I like or am used to AND my students had to adjust to me NOT being me as well.

Well those days are in the rear view mirror. Whether people are getting shots, feeling more comfortable and less anxious or have found ways to cope with this new world. I am NOT going back to being the OLD me but am moving on to be a BETTER me.

If you knew the OLD me then you know that I was a very empathetic person, put others first, was quite often misunderstood for things I would so or do and was so sensitive. Except when it would come to dealing with criminals of the worst kind. That I owned.

I still care about others but I am know learning self-care comes first. I am working on being more sympathetic than empathetic and those feelings that got hurt so easily….. those days are gone. All of this seemed to have come full circle within the last week. Honestly, this past year has been part of the lesson but as educated as I am, this lesson took a little longer to learn.

Last week, I went on my first real NON-WORKING vacation in more than a decade. I told very few people about it because I have learned that sometimes or actually most of the time keeping things to yourself causes less issues and misunderstands. Look at me finally becoming a grown-up!

I went to Sedona, AZ. A place I have never been but has been on my bucket-list for years. I went on my own and then met an old and very dear college friend out there who pretty much felt the same way as I did. We hiked, ate amazing food that was local and fresh. Watched NO tv or real radio even. We just talked and explored.

Serial killer, ehhh but heights oh heck no and snakes uhhh no! But on this trip I asked myself why? Why be afraid of the unknown and hold myself back from the amazing things out in this giant world. My whole life changed on one climb where my friend and I took different paths in the same canyon. Why? Because we had different issues and things we wanted to accomplish.

This girl who loves to dress up, wear heels that are super high (I come from a very short family so trust me you would be as tall as possible too! lol!) I am sure I will hear about that one and maintains her manicure and pedicure chose to climb a mountain by going off of the trail. Honestly, I didn’t see one or maybe I wasn’t meant to see it but I was going up that damn mountain to prove something to myself and no one else.

The mountain is roughly 5900 ft in elevation and within less than 100 ft from the top and with no trail, I hit this completely smooth wall with no real way to continue and the rattle that I heard or imagined kept my common sense in check. I was able to sit on this little ledge and record a video to my boss, my students, my husband and of course my son and his family. The OLD me would have seen NOT making it to the top as a failure but the NEW me looked at where I was and was never more amazed and proud of myself in my life. In that moment, I realized that could stop chasing so many things and just enjoy life. Do those crazy things IF I WANT to but not because I NEEDED to prove something to someone or anyone. I found my PEACE.

With that I also FOUND a professor, speaker, podcaster, writer and general fun person who IS ready to get back on the horse and have more fun doing things with and for myself, my family and my students than ever before.

Message to my students: You are amazing. You make my job NOT a job but something I LOVE trying to push boundaries for both me and you. Thank you for letting me go on this journey with you and realize that you can do anything!!!!! Just ask me and I will tell you - unless we hear a rattle!

Good luck to you all. Thank you for choosing IRSC as your academic home and I can’t wait to watch you climb and conquer your own mountain.

Dr. M

January 2, 2021

I want to tell everyone how thankful I am for each and every one of you. Those of you who have complained about “nothing” but felt like making sure we heard you talk….. I am thankful you taught me to speak and complain less. Let’s rephrase that… my friends and family thank you and want to know how in the world you accomplished what they have never been able to do.

For those who were bummed that traditions were not kept, shopping did not get down and why we are hearing fireworks on Christmas instead of the 4th of July. WHO CARES…. thank you for making my dogs bark, having me hold them, hide them and drug them…. that was part of making my life normal!!! (In July anyway.)

There is absolutely no way I can thank everyone on Earth, ETHEREAL and in my heart for all that you do and did for me this past year. What have I have learned this year? Well (sort of) patience, not to expect people to text or call back, that I can free dive with sharks and not cry like a baby or get eaten like a wuss. OHhhhh, and you can stop worrying about how I have gotten in shape. I did the happy, healthy, doctor approved way and love the routine I will now continue for life. I will cycle race you up any mountain, anyone except Heather! I will NEVER cycle anywhere with Heather! lol

For those who needed or I wanted to know…. I got to ring the bell last week. Look out for when I am back at 100%… keep up and enjoy life. Every day and every thing is a gift. LAUGH…. don’t forget to laugh!

You want to laugh? I told my friend MaryAnn about ringing the bell and that I got a random email from a serial killer. She was thrilled about the bell and I was thrilled about the email?!?! One of us is nuts but we are both special!

Tomorrow I think I will record a single podcast episode and just have fun BEFORE we get down to the business of giving victims’ their due, looking for those who are missing, ripping into cold cases and trying to get the general public to be more aware of their surroundings.

I take my job seriously but nothing thrills me more than annoying my co-host P-Cubed and having him deny me or roll his eyes. And I definitely can’t wait to get Larry, my favorite unicorn back on the air. Larry, I miss you tons and hope to see you soon.

Keep your peepers open for a new show on Oxygen, probably in March, (I will give you the name later) that will have yours truly in six episodes. Talking with publishers about a book. Working with Katie to take a few years or a decade off of my face….you got this Katie! lol

My REAL job has the potential to be amazing this year, so cross your fingers.

Not going to say much more because my life is amazingly insane, challenging and absolutely a dream come true at this time. So I guess I will just have to keep you up to date on here. Love you and love me….

~Kimberlie

I AM Back!

Not sure that I told you guys that in addition to my teaching and all of the other professional stuff I am into, that I realized that I haven’t done much of the “cool” stuff in the world. So I have set out on a mission to do at least one thing a month that is outside of the box for me. By this, I mean getting over a fear, see or doing something that I have always wanted to do or just get out there to see what the world has to offer to entertain, teach or just blow my mind!

You will be happy to know that I survived yesterday’s adventure. My friend, Ashleigh and I went cage swimming with sharks…..cage free, I might add! Don’t ask me how many sharks or what kind I saw or anything like that because I plan on doing this trip again. Did you know that sharks migrate; therefore, you get the opportunity to see different one through out the year???

I have always and will always love the ocean but it looks and feels a lot different when you slide into the water, whether it be at 20 feet or 800 feet. Either way, you CAN NOT touch the bottom..lol or see what is between you and the ocean floor most of the time. BUT man is it the most beautiful and amazing experience. What was shocking to me was the I was the first one other than the pro’s to get into the water on the first drop. I felt NO fear, nothing but wonder and excitement. What an awesome experience.

I have a few other adventures planned that I may or may not share. I think part of the fun is knowing you do it. “Have fun, hurt and tell no one.” JM

Someone just asked me how I dealt with knowing there would be a bunch of sharks in the water with me. I said easy: I just imagine them to be a bunch of little serial killers and I know how to handle myself in that situation, so I’ve got this!

Have an awesome Sunday now get out and go find something fun or interesting to do!

Dr. M