Book Review: Invitation To A Murder by Gail Abbott Zimmerman (Mark Winger)

Donnah Winger was an outgoing, fun-loving, new mother when - on August 29, 1995 - she was beaten to death with a hammer in her own home as her newly adopted daughter lay in a bedroom just down the hall.
Who could commit such a vicious, cold-blooded killing in the middle of the afternoon?

According to her husband, Mark, it was the driver of an airport shuttle van service which Donnah had used just a few days before her death. A man known as Roger Harrington.

Mark Winger told a compelling, heart-wrenching story of hearing a thump and running to see what happened; only to be greeted by the gruesome attack on Donnah by Harrington.

And police believed him...for four years.

One detective, however, never bought what Mark was selling and tried to warn his fellow investigators. Unfortunately, the higher-ups of the Springfield, Illinois police department weren't listening.

Until Mark's mistress at the time of the murder stepped forward.

What ensues is a full scale investigation to bring Mark Winger to justice for killing not only his wife, but an innocent man; a man whose family, for years, had suffered the shame and humiliation as parents of an alleged murderer.

I first became interested in the Mark Winger case after watching CBS's 48 Hours episode on the subject (and the basis of this book).

This 336 page book is filled with more detail than could be crammed into an hour long television show. Even those who watched the documentary will be pleasantly surprised at the behind-the-scenes information contained within Invitation To A Murder.

More Resources On This Case:

• Donnah and Mark's Engagement Announcement in the New York Times
  
  
• 48 Hours correspondent Richard Schlesinger video on Winger case
  
  
• Donnah Winger Memorial Fund for Women In Distress of Broward County, Florida information

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I Don't Wanna Grow Up

Somewhere around my thirtieth birthday I began to have an awakening.

And I'm not sure I'm completely okay with it.

Some of it's okay. Actually, many of things I've "grown up" about are things I really wish I'd learned a long time ago. Such as:

• Learning not to judge others until you've walked a mile in their shoes; you never know what you would do if it were your issue/crisis/situation.
  
  
• Realizing that it's not about what you have in your life but who.
  
  
• Grasping that I will be leaving a world behind to my children and grandchildren and that I need to be a little "greener."
  
  
• Learning that debt is a burden and it's time to unload it.

While I'm happy to have to have a firm grasp of those very important life lessons, unfortunately there are some not-so-good realizations. For example:

• While my own home and community may be at peace, much of the rest of the world is not. All it takes is just a minute to change the security we all enjoy.
  
  
• Understanding the financial state of America has left me fearful of the inflation of tomorrow.
  
  
• Bad things can happen to you. It won't always be someone else.
  
  
• You can't live in the moment; what you do today will affect you tomorrow.
  
  
• While I always knew that someday I would die, I have come to really understand that any day could be your last; you don't have to be old to die.

Sometimes I find myself roaming around, paralyzed by fear, worry and frustration. I would give anything to return to my late teens/early 20's - a time when my head was in the sand.

In my mid to late 20's, I remember being frustrated with young people over their unrealistic views about life, debt, politics and death.

Now I envy them.

How did that happen?

Oh that's right...I grew up.

*sigh* Why me?

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Do You eBay?

Recently I've been cleaning up and shipping out....literally!

I first started eBay'ing in late 1996. I took a hiatus beginning in October 2008, while pregnant with my daughter.

eBay had made many changes over the years - some for better, much for worse (IMO) - but it amazes the changes that have taken place between October and now!

So many changes makes me glad that my selling stint this time will be short-lived and I will be a buyer only.

My Question: Do you buy or sell on eBay?

Aloha Friday is brought to you by Kailani at An Island Life.
To find out more, visit her blog at www.island808.com

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Jungle Jack Hanna's The Wackiest Wildest, Weirdest Animals In The World (Book Review)

God's creatures aren't just great and small. Many of them are also wacky, wild, and weird!

My animal loving (to an extreme!) 4 year old couldn't hardly contain himself as we pulled Jungle Jack Hanna's The Wackiest, Wildest, Weirdest Animals In The World from the box.

A brightly colored cover with clear, bold photographs inside appealed not only to him, but me as well. (And a 20 minute DVD with Jack Hanna full of bloopers and behind-the-scenes footage was icing on the cake!)

We immediately sat down and read this interesting and entertaining children's book.

Some of the things we learned included:

• A young hyena is called a whelp.
  
  
• Cape Buffalo can weigh up to 1,000 pounds
  
  
• The plate on each armadillo's head is unique just like human fingerprints
  
  
• An octopus has three hearts

Not only is this an attention-catching children's book, but an excellent learning tool; especially for the curious preschooler or early elementary student.

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