Straight Into Darkness by Faye Kellerman

I just finished a new mystery/historical novel by Faye Kellerman. It is a mystery novel that takes place between World War I and World War II in Munich, Germany. The book is about an Inspector who is trying to solve a murder but each time he gets closer to finding the murderer, another murder occurs. I have read all of the Peter Decker/Rina Lazarus mystery novels by Faye Kellerman and I knew she wrote other types of mystery and historical novels but I did not think I would like them. However, this book was really interesting to me because I know all about World War II and how it started and I have read many books on the holocause but I have never read a fiction novel that takes place between World War I and II.

Straight Into Darkness puts a different spin on Germany and World War I and the development of World War II. I kept wanting to read the book more and more because I wanted to know the new developments Inspector Axel Berg discovered. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery with a historical twist.

Hair Today Gone Tommorow

Yesterday, I got a haircut but not just any haircut. I got a haircut in order to donate my hair to Pantene Pro V. Pantene Pro V is a shampoo company but they are also an organization that accepts hair donations. The donated hair is then made into wigs and given to people with cancer or other diseases that cause people to lose their hair.

I have wanted to donate my hair for a long time because my mother had lung cancer and I remember what it was like for her when she was loosing her hair from chemotherapy. I remember when she went shopping for wigs and how hard it was for her to loose her hair. I really admired her courage, bravery and positive attitude throughout it all and I wanted to do something personal to honor her memory. After I got my haircut, I felt so happy and satisfied that I was giving back to the community in this way. One thing I learned from watching my mother go through cancer is to appreciate the little things in life because life is very precious. Another thing I realized is you have to figure out what you believe in and what you want out of life and you cannot be afraid to follow your dreams.

Rosh Hashana 2008

This past week I celebrated Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year, with my family. Rosh Hashana is a time for prayer and reflection. It is a time where Jews from all over the world go to synagogue and pray to God to have a year of health and happiness. It is also a time where Jews reflect on their actions and figure out how to improve themselves overall. Many Jews think back to anyone they have wronged in the past year such as their friends, family and coworkers and ask them personally for forgiveness.

To me, Rosh Hashana is an opportunity to reflect on the past year and find ways to be a better person for yourself and for others. This year I decided to really look within myself and I decided to make a resolution to be a more positive, upbeat, patient, less angry and more sensitive. I sat in synagogue over Rosh Hashana and prayed to God to forgive me for anything I have done wrong. I also really tried to connect personally with the prayers and for the first time I felt as if I was talking one on one with God.

After Rosh Hashana, I felt like a new person and I am really making a concerted effort each day to be a more positive and sensitive person. I am also making an effort to appreciate the great life that I have been given and to make each day count.