August Books 2010

1. Choke 327

Author: Obert Skye. Second book in the Pillage series. Irresponsible teenagers. Dragons. Need I say more?? I really like Obert Skye books.

2. Shiver 392
3. Linger 362

Author: Maggie Stiefvater. Love. Werewolves. The struggle to stay together against all odds. Yup, I loved this one too. I had to reread the first in the series to remember how it had ended, the second made me cry. Of course, it doesn't take me much to cry over a book.

4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 309
5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 341
6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 435
7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 734

Author: J.K. Rowling. So I decided to reread Harry since the final movie is coming out soon. I can't pick up just one book in a series, somehow it doesn't feel like I actually read the whole book that way, so I always have to start from the beginning. To me, a series is one whole living organism. Take it all or don't take it at all. I enjoy these books every time I read them.

8. A Thousand Never Evers 301

Author: Shana Burg. This is a book I had to read for my Children's Library Materials class. You'll start seeing more and more of these on here. I won't include my textbooks and the massive amount of article reading in my count, but I will write up any fiction or nonfiction books I have to read. This book deals with the social injustices in Mississippi during the time of the Civil Rights Movement. The heroine is a twelve year old, African-American girl. It was a really wonderful book. When I read books like this, it really hits home to me, just how little has changed. Perhaps not for color, but our attitudes in this country haven't really changed, we just direct our hate elsewhere. Not that there aren't still people who have prejudices against those of color, but I think I see it most nowadays with Religion. The hate that spreads like wildfire over someones personal beliefs is mind boggling to me. This country indeed has Freedom OF religion, I wonder if and when we will ever have the right to have Freedom FROM religion if that is our choice?

9. Mockingjay 390

Author: Suzanne Collins. Dystopian novel. If you don't know the Hunger Games series, I don't know if I can help you. This one, I balled the entire book. I cried at the end of both the others, but this one tore me apart on practically every page. I wonder, are we really that far away from that world? I really don't think we are. Even now I struggle with the idea that I brought children into this world. There is good, but mostly we are surrounded by hate and prejudices and war. I can only hope to prepare them for what they will have to deal with in their lives, protect them without sheltering them. In the end, I have hope. . .

Total for August 2010 -- 3591
Total for 2010 -- 35,326

As always I welcome questions. If you want to know more about any book, just ask. Happy Reading!!

The First Week of School

I tell you the first week of school is always interesting but when you add in that mom started Graduate School two days before the kids actually went back to school, let's just say it's been INTERESTING!! We've really had some challenges. When I applied to the program at the University of Missouri the graduate department really led me to believe that the program was online. Well, yes all classes use the internet, but not all of them are online. Joe and I had discussed it and we didn't see any other option so I chose to stick with it. Then some babysitting issues arose with a few of my weekends that I would have to drive all the way out to Omaha for class and so I had to completely rearrange my schedule. I was able to get into three classes that are completely online this semester. The problem is that to continue with this program means driving to Omaha ALOT. I racked my brains with what to do. This is my dream, and I knew I couldn't put it off any longer. So finally I went to the ALA website and did a search. Well wouldn't you know it a couple more schools have moved to online programming. One in particular is entirely online, and even when there is "class", it's digital. I was so excited, even more so when I inspected their program and saw they had everything I was hoping for and in state tuition for online students!!! So with the start of school, I also had to scramble around and get my application together for another school. I had to notify everyone that had given me a recommendation and ask them to help me again (and since they are such wonderful women, they of course were willing to help). Now I sit back and try to get down to work, all the while stressing and hoping that I get into this other program so that I can continue with my education.

Now the kids, they've had a great couple of days. Actually they only started yesterday, but if they come home even half as happy as they were yesterday, it will be wonderful. I ran from morning to night yesterday, but it's so worth it to see those big smiles on their faces.

Emma all ready for school. My little first grader.
Together. Dan was so mad because Emma's backpack was blocking him.
And my big third grader.

I totally forgot my camera yesterday, largely in part because I was so worried about making it on time. The stupid city thought it would be intelligent to rip up the entire road that their school was on right before school started. We have to sit anywhere from 5-10 minutes waiting for our turn just to turn into the school parking lot, because the road becomes a one lane road. I really feel bad for the masses of school buses who are trying to get to another elementary school only a block away. I mean it will be wonderful when it's done, but you would think they could have removed their heads from their backsides and done it as soon as school got out last school year instead of right before it started up again. Here's hoping it doesn't take several years to finish. And here's to surviving the rest of the year!!

Porter's Surgery

I know I have been out of commission lately. My computer chose to up and die on me and I lost EVERYTHING!!! Including every picture I've ever taken of my kids. Alot of which hadn't been back up recently. (So, if you have any pictures of me or my kids, I would love you to send those along).

However, today I was blessed with my new computer's arrival and as a result, can attempt to catch up with things that have happened recently.

Our most recent adventure was that Porter had to go on up to Primary Children's Hospital and have his tonsils and adenoids removed. He was suffering from sleep apnea. Surgery was quick, and he did wonderfully!! Seriously, while we were in the hospital, he never even cried. Ate his root beer slushy quickly, kept it down and we were out of there. He was very tired the first day, and slept through most of it and then all night long.
To get him more comfortable with surgery he got to draw up his own friend, Bob. Then he got to play doctor!!
Oh my goodness!! He LOVED this!!! He was in heaven playing doctor with real doctor toys. And on a side note, he really loved those "jammies." They were super comfy apparently.
Can you tell how much he's smiling??

Seriously, he's really been doing wonderfully. Last couple of days he's had some bad moments of grumpies, but I think that is primarily because he really hates taking his pain medication. We really force it on him in the morning and at night, but even if he's hurting during the day, he will not take it. But he's really been amazing. He wants to eat everything he really shouldn't but today he upgraded to getting a corndog, which put him in hog heaven!!

July 2010 Reading List

I know this is really late, but I've been having SERIOUS computer problems. Lost everything on the laptop and still can't get it to hook up to the internet. The main house computer won't let me fix the wireless, so I've pretty much had it with computers!!

Anyway. . .July I didn't get to read as much as I would have liked, largely in part because of the big projects I undertook to make my house more me.

But this is what I was able to accomplish. . .

Silvertongue 464

Charlie Fletcher. This was the third book in the Ironhand Trilogy. It really was a great ending to the series.

Hush, Hush 391

Becca Fitzpatrick. Fallen angles, gardian angels, and what happens when love gets in the way. This really was a great book.

The Palace of Impossible Dreams 461

Jennifer Fallon. Third book in the Tide Lord series. I love Jennifer Fallon so this was a fun book. The only frustrating thing is that it is a series in progress, so I totally cannot wait until the next book comes out--and that won't be for a couple of years probably. Oh well. Fallon is an excellent story teller. She really pulls you in.

The Abhoresen Chronicles 1224

Garth Nix. I read the other books by him and was told these were worth the read. They most definitely are. Nix is a GREAT storyteller. It's actually a trilogy; I just have it all contained within one volume.

Pillage 312

Obert Skye. I love this author, and the second book in the series finally came out, so since it had been a while since I read the first book, I needed to reread it to remember how it ended. Quick read, and always fun.


**As always, this log is mainly for me. I don't offer much so that a book isn't "spoiled" for anyone. However, if you have any questions, just ask!!!

Total for July 2852
Total for 2010 31,735