One Insane Week

This has been one of the weirdest, most enlightening, fun yet challenging weeks, I think I have ever experienced in my life. First last Friday evening, (9-11-) I ran into a man that I speak to almost weekly when I go out to dinner. I knew he was a firefighter who worked the Towers on 9-11. He told me some very passionate, sad and heroic tales. Well this past Friday he came in and he looked really tired and I asked him what was up. I was not prepared for him to tell me that he had just gotten back home from NYC, where he had attended THE 9-11 Memorial Tribute. I was shocked and wasn’t sure what to say to this hero before me that I have known as “just a regular” guy. So, I hugged him. Said I was sorry for what he went through and then thanked him. What a humbling experience.

I managed to make it in time to see the sun rise TWICE this week. I used to make it much more often but somehow I let everyday life get so busy that I have missed out on this most precious gift of the start of the day. I have; however, made it to the second most amazing part to the start of the workday. I get to hear revelry and see the raising of colors. I consider this an honor and wish more people had this opportunity.

The most exciting thing, a podcast I did was released this week. The pilot episode of Anything You Say, turned out to the point I was very very happy with. I also received an email from the Executive Producer who forwarded and email from the investigators of the Chris Watts case and thanked me for my analyzation and interpretation of their behavior. They may reach out to me and I hope they do. I want to thank them for validating me and what I do…..my first thought? How can I get them to Zoom with my Spring Semester students for Criminal Investigations….lol Always thinking…..love my professor job and the tweaks I can bring to it that add to my students’ educational experience.

Went out for date night last night and realized that I would rather be locked up, on my own with a prison full of inmates than hang out with a couple of girls. Geez, now they can reek much more havoc than inmates. You may be able to wear that dress but aren’t you a little old for it?!?! LOL like seriously?!? At first I was hurt. Then I was annoyed, followed by mad and then I found it funny. Jealousy doesn’t look good on anyone.

ICCI, my cold case institute made a lot of progress this week. I am beyond excited with them.

This was one roller coaster of a week and I am looking forward to the next one.

Dr. M

Podcast Antics with my College Bestie

This week’s episode is more like a long chat with an old friend you haven’t seen in forever. If you have participated in any of our True Crime and a Glass of Wine virtual events, then you have already met Kerri Lynne Black. If you haven’t met her yet just imagine a tall, red-headed Irish New Yorker…. she will make you laugh till you cry and then be just as quick to tell you what she thinks of you. She can kill you either way…. that’s why I love her. Not to mention when I go to visit, she takes me on tours on iconic crime scenes and vineyards!

PCubed created this concept for the podcast that lets the listener control the topic. People think things don’t happen in “my backyard.” Well we gave you the challenge to look and see what HAS happened in your own backyard and you guys are delivering.

Did I say Kerri lives on Long Island? She definitely had her pick of topics for our crazy fun but informative discussion. So who did she choose? The guy just down the street, Joel Rifkin!

Thanks PCubed for this weird way to host this series! Just so everyone knows PCubed will be back on air soon and he at some point will be hosting his own “Hometown Murder.” His episode topic is famous and changed everything…..

Dr. M

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

Heading Back to Class Tomorrow

So today is my last and ONLY day I have available to squeeze in everything that I haven’t been able to do to get ready for going back to teaching. Laugh away but the students aren’t the only ones who need clothes, supplies, and a million other things….like an attitude adjustment as a result of being home (even though I taught the whole time) for FIVE months.

As I am typing this I am watching the Discovery Channel because it is Shark Week. This may not be one of my brighter ideas since a friend and I are free diving with sharks in less than two weeks. I updated my Will/Trust and Living Will and Power of Attorney…. not that I am worried or anything. Let’s just say I am starting this school year off SUPER prepared!

I am teaching both face to face as well as online. I can’t wait because I am going to have so much fun relating criminal justice to the real world…outside of the box. So if you haven’t side up for one of my classes yet…. you are sooo going to miss out!!!!

By the way we dropped a new episode of our #MurderandMysterieswithMassnick yesterday. This will be a very fun and interesting season as we are using stories of our listeners as well. So get caught up. Email on the FB webpage your story and who knows you may get a call from me or PCubed to record and episode.

So much going on that my head is spinning but I am super excited to get started. Let’s jump in together….I have missed everyone!

Dr. M

Personal Update

I have so much on my mind that I do not even know where to begin. Classes ending, classes beginning, trying to figure out how I am going to schedule everything that I want to accomplish before the end of the year. ENOUGH of the economy has re-opened that I am back on track for living life month by month. I already have my super, terrifying but suck it up adventure planned for the month of August. Not telling till its done!

I love my job. I am happy with new home and my lifestyle. Eat right. Drink right. Work out and avoid anything that is bad for me and my health. Not always easy…lol I sure hope snails and oysters are good for you because I am totally addicted and eat them both at least once a week. Those and lots of other yummy things that I would never have considered before are delicious.

I research and study the most heinous of individuals so I make sure I try to balance my personal time with things that I love. I have my own personal Garden of Eden in my backyard. A hideaway that no one can see. I have a huge variety of plants, trees and flowers. On any given day you can find twenty or more varieties of butterflies. I would say the beauty and wonder balance the tragedy and depravity I see professionally.

Why this look into my personal life? Because I received an email asking what I was up to these days and how I was handling our current situation. Here is how I am handling it….. responsibly but living and loving life. By flowing down the river and seeing where it takes me or what it brings me.

Enjoy your life.

Dr. M

Nothing Surprises Me Anymore

This week when PCubed and I recorded our most recent episode of our Murder and Mysteries with Massnick podcast we talked about another local case and of course he was a serial killer. I am beginning to think these guys grow on trees!!! Eugene McWatters, Jr. raped and strangled three women in Port Salerno, Florida.

We chose this case because it was just ANOTHER example to those who think these things could “never happen here.” The McWatters case isn’t that old. These murders occurred in 2004. At the end of the episode PCubed posed an interesting challenge/assignment or whatever you want to call it. He asked each listener to look at their original hometowns and see what they could find that happened there. What secrets are buried in your backyard that you don’t know about? A serial killer, maybe two or three…. something heinous in it’s history.

We will be posting this question on the Murder and Mysteries with Massnick Facebook page so that we might talk about them on the next episode. Be prepared, you might just get a private message from either myself or PCubed to see if you want to discuss your town’s history on air.

I just looked up what has happened in and around my hometown…. my actual town was on an episode of Snapped! What?!? I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with.

Dr. M