July Book Blowout Completed!

So originally in this fantastic Book Blowout I made the goal of reading 4 new books plus 2 I've started (one professional book that has like 3 chapters left, the other is The Poisonwood Bible which I'm almost to pg. 200 of almost 500). So, my goal will be 5 1/2 books plus a couple chapters of another one ;) You can read more details here.

So, here is what I actually read this month:
1. Finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
2. Finished PostSecrets
3. Finished Three Cups of Tea
4. Read 3/4 of About the Authors by Katie Wood Ray
5. Still need to finish To Understand by Ellin Keene, but only have 2 chapters left now :)
6. Finished The Color Purple by Alice White
7. Finished Last Days of Summer by Steve Kluger (book for my book club)
8. Read 1/2 of a math teaching manual for Number Corner Math class I took.
9. Read pieces of Reading Essentials by Regie Routman.
10. Read about 1/3 of Everything You Need to Know to Teach First Grade.

The closing questions from the host of the book blowout had some ending questions:
1. Did you discover a new author?
no, not really, unless you count Steve Kluger
2. Where was the most unusual place you found yourself reading?
on my new swing
3. Did you read more than usual?
absolutely!
4. Did you give up anything to read more?
yes....television, something good to give up!
5. If you won the Amazon voucher what would you spend it on?
probably some songbooks for my first grade classroom...that area of my "kid library" is sorely lacking (please God, let me win!)
6. Would you like to see a 2009 Book Blowout?
oh sure, it was a fun challenge!

So I read 5 books (yeah, I know I had already started The Poisonwood Bible, but I'm counting it as 1). Plus I read parts of a few more. Looking at this list of many unfinished books I think...hmm....I really need to go finish them. We'll see. Tomorrow is August 1st. That means that I'm back to work before we know it.

I feel great about all the reading I did this month. I got to read a couple books I've really been wanting to read. I also took 2 classes. AND I have another class next week. I do love taking classes...I'm the "always learning professional" I guess.

Book Blowout Update

So, just to update everyone who may not be follower of my blog, I entered this little Book Blowout thingy. (maybe more like a challenge)

I guess my goal is to read 4 plus two that were already started. I finished one of the already started books, The Poisonwood Bible. You can read about it here.

I'm still reading Three Cups of Tea, but am almost finished. (thank god, or should I say thanks allah)

Last night I was not tired so I decided to read PostSecret: Extraordinary Confessions from Ordinary Lives by Frank Warren. I guess he's got a new book out too...A Lifetime of Secrets: A PostSecrets Book. So this guy started a community mail art project that blossomed into a hundred seventy thousand post cards...wow! I love getting mail. Maybe I should start something like this, but maybe it could be like write your secret on a $5.00 bill and then mail it to me?

Anyhow, the simple concept of the project was that completely anonymous people decorate a postcard and portray a secret that they had never previously revealed. No restrictions were (or are) made on the content of the secret; only that it must be completely truthful and must never have been spoken before. Entries range from admissions of sexual misconduct and criminal activity to confessions of secret desires, embarrassing habits (like eating boogers), hopes and dreams. There is also a Post Secret Blog...who knew?! I didn't really check it out, but feel free to peruse at your own free will. Really. Go. Now.

I couldn't stop reading. I LOVED THIS BOOK!!! Maybe I'll read it again, would that count for a second read? I love this book soooooo much (and think everyone else will too) that I'm including it in my Pay It Forward Giveaway!!! (seriously...get over there and enter!!!) Yeah, instead of logging it to giveaway at Bookmooch, which would earn me another 1/10 point so I could mooch something, I'm sharing the love. I know. Just send five dollar bills with your secrets :)

p.s. happy belated birthday to my brother who turned a number 7 years my senior yesterday!! hope you had a great day!!!

Growing Up

So I need to know....just when did this happen? When did my baby grow up into such a mature short person? I mean seriously...a few days ago she bonked her head whilst in bed. Mr. Tall Man and I were in bed and heard her cry out. We both pop up and she makes her way to our room after I call to her. She crawls in bed next to me and I cuddle her for like 10 seconds and then she's getting ready to leave. I ask her if she wants to snuggle next to me to sleep or go back to sleep in her bed. She quickly slides outta the bed and says, "No, I go back to my room, I'm ok now." (or something close to it)

Shock. Utter. Shock. I mean, really. What happened to my baby and who is this big girl?! Don't get me wrong. It makes my heart shine and shimmer and I feel kinda like the best mom on the block when she has these grown up moments. But she really is growing up and it's beginning to shock me on a daily basis. Now I truly get the term of, "wherever did the time go?". I see it in a whole new light.

And to make it all even more clear we pulled out the home movies from her baby days on Sunday. Mr. Tall Man decided to finally commit them to dvd form, for which I am greatly thankful. I don't wanna have to figure it all out. It was so weird watching her as a baby...I'm so glad we captured those moments on video because already I found myself saying, "I totally forgot that she used to do that".

On another note I must update the followers of my July Book Blowout. I finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. OMG! What an amazing book...I can't believe I almost didn't read it. Like really! I tried to start it a couple time a few years back and though, ick. Not gonna read it. I even sold my copy. Thank heavens my good friend Carolyn encouraged me to read it. AMAZING! Run to but it now. Don't walk. I was reviewed here and here and here.

A quote from the character Rachel that just makes me giggle and sometimes is my selfish mantra: "If you ask me, that's how it is and ever shall be. You stck out your elbows, and hold yourself up." This is in reference in how to save yourself if caught in a stampede of people. Rachel was a very selfish and wrapped up in self girl who never could see much past herself.

Another quote I really like near the end of the book was, "Every life is different because you passed this way and touched history." I thought...yeah...wow...It encourages me to be my best self I guess.

With that, I am off. Off to read a new book...not sure what is next, but I am think it'll be Three Cups of Tea (I think that is the title)