To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

This book has been on my to-read list for years. I had thought that it would be boring, I am not sure where I got that from.

For reasons that would take too long to explain, I needed something to read and this was the only book available at the time. So, I started reading it and I immediately loved it.

First of all, Harper Lee starts the book with a plea to never put an introduction on her book. I hate introductions! I always skip them because by the time I am half-way through, I am disinterested in the book. So, thanks Harper Lee.

I didn't know the book was told from the point of view of a 9 year old girl, Scout. I knew the basic premise of the book but that was it apparently it. The book is set in a county in Alabama during the 1930s. It tells the story of a girl and her older brother and their journeys together throughout school and summer vacation. Their father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer. His main case throughout the book is defending a black man who was accused of raping a white woman.

For the most part, his children don't know much about their father's trials. But this one is dividing the town apart and his children feel the effects of it.

The book is also full of mini-lessons, which I suppose is what has made it great.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...Until you climb inside his skin and walk around in it."

"I like to think there's just one kind of folks. Folks."

"Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I'd have the facts."

“Before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience.”  

Like I said, I absolutely loved it. It was a book I was sad to see end. And it is the only book Harper Lee ever wrote. If anyone else hasn't read the book, do it now. 

A Busy Summer

I have had amazing summers every year that I have been teaching. The first year I went to the east coast, the second year I went to California and a geology trip through Texas, Colorado and New Mexico. This summer is no difference.

I would be going to New York and Boston (for free) but another opportunity came up that was too good to pass up.

I applied and was accepted to the iSmart program at the University of Houston. It is a Master's program and is completely free. No joke here. I have to attend a session at the University of Houston in June, the same week as the free New York and Boston trip. Well, free master's outweighs free trip. This is an online program that I will be able to do while still teaching. In fact, I have to keep teaching to participate. This is the last year they are running the program.

But no worries. Because I was also accepted into an Exxonmobil week long teacher academy in New Jersey this summer. Also paid for. While I will be in sessions all day long, I will be done at 4:30 everyday. The hotel is directly across the Hudson River from New York. And I don't have to share a hotel room. So Chris and I are going up their early, we'll explore the city, and then when the academy he starts, he will keep himself occupied in New York until I'm done. If anyone can keep themselves occupied in New York, it is Chris. 

We were already planning on going somewhere big this summer. This was number two on the list. (Europe is number one.) So this is an awesome way to do it and save some money at the same time.

All this, a prepping for a baby. It will be a busy summer.

A Baby!

I am finally ready to type out my pregnancy so far. I have been exhausted everyday and have not felt like doing anything... even type.

This is our little coconut at 10 weeks.  I am currently at 16 weeks and in the second trimester.

We have heard the heartbeat twice. And it is amazing every time. I still have a hard time believing I have something growing inside of me so hearing it shocked me both times.

We had been trying for 3 1/2 years. I have posted about it before. I knew that we would be parents someday; we just weren't sure when one day was going to happen. It didn't seem like it would be happening anytime soon.

At the beginning of February, we went to see a specialist to discuss our options. One thing we were told might help was surgery. Since it was an optional surgery, insurance wouldn't cover much. We were trying to figure out how to pay for it, when to take time off work for recovery etc.

At the end of February, I realized I was about 5 days late which doesn't happen. I have trained myself over the last 3 years to not freak out every month and just let things happen. I went and taught Saturday School and then as soon as it was over I got a pregnancy test. Chris was at a debate tournament and I wasn't planning on telling him anything just in case it was negative.

I took it and walked away for about 5 minutes. I wanted to make sure it had time to tell me the truth.

A faint line is still a line! I broke down in the bathroom crying of joy. I couldn't believe after years of trying I was finally seeing this. But since I have read a pregnancy test wrong before, I immediately called Chris. Who didn't answer his phone. When he finally did, I told him I was sending him a picture that I needed him to look at.

He still took forever to get back to me. But he finally called me back and we decided that I should buy a more expensive test just to make sure. Which I did and got the word "pregnant" to flash.

And 12 weeks later, I am still pregnant. I have taken some belly shots, but they are far away in a camera somewhere. And I am not showing yet anyways. I can tell there is a difference, but not too many other people can.

We find out on June 11 what we are having. Chris says boy (because he is scared of girls) and I don't care. I just want a healthy baby.

We still have 26 weeks ahead to get through. As soon as school gets out (in 9 school days) I am going to start crafting and cleaning organizing our second bedroom. I've got all summer to get it done.

GRE

I finally took the GRE. Something for which I have been "studying" for 3 years. But really studying for the last 2 months.

I found a masters program I really want to get into and it requires the GRE so I finally took the plunge.

It was the worst 4 hours of my life, or it felt like it.

Since Christmas break I feel like I have neglected almost everything and now grades are due on Monday so the rest of the week will be spent grading.

I did a little better than I expected, a few points more, so I am happy with it. Now on with the rest of the application.

Favorite Books of 2012

I tried to narrow my lit down to 10, but I could only get it to 12. These are just in the order that I read them. I don't know if I can say I had one favorite this year, but these are all books I would recommend to anyone. There's two from my favorite author, Jasper Fforde. Two from my new favorite discovery this year, John Connolly. But all of these books were "I need to go to sleep after one last chapter" type of books. 

Ella Minnow Pea, Mark Dunn

The Revisionists, Thomas Mullen

The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

A Million Suns, Beth Revis

The Rook, Daniel O'Malley

I've Got Your Number, Sophie Kinsella

11/22/63, Stephen King

The Gates, John Connolly

The Devil in the White City,Eric Larson

The Woman Who Died a Lot, Jasper Fforde

The Last Dragonslayer,Jasper Fforde

The last ones on the list, were after I stopped blogging for 6 months, so no link to them. Possibly later. 

2012 Books Read

Yea, it really has been almost 6 months. Life has been busy. I started my third year of teaching and picked up some new hobbies and didn't think any of it was post worthy. I can't promise I'll post more this year.

But this year I read 54 books, for a total of 18,300 pages. Goodreads keeps track of how many pages I read.

Here is all of them before I delete my list on the side and start 2013 books read.

This year I read 3 nonfiction books and 1 classic. Two types of books that are so difficult for me to read.

This next year, I made my goal based on pages and not books. This way I might be more willing to read longer books and not worry about making it into my count. The goal is 20,000 pages.

I don't know how long I will be able to keep up reading 40+ books a year. One day, I'll probably have to cut back, but I'll get as much out of it as I can.

I'll list my favorites from the year a different day.

The Thirteen Hallows, Scott and Freedman

Crossed, Ally Condie

Gathering Blue, Lois Lowry

Prized, Caragh M. O'Brien

Ella Minnow Pea, Mark Dunn

Damned Lies and Statistics, Joel Best

The Revisionists, Thomas Mullen
The Language of Flowers, Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Genesis, Bernard Beckett
Dawn of the Dreadfuls,Steve Hockensmith

The Case of the Missing Books, Ian Sansom

Veracity, Laura Bynum

When She Woke, Hillary Jordan

Overbite, Meg Cabot

The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly

A Long, Long, Sleep, Anna Sheehan

The Leftovers, Tom Perrotta

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins

Build A Man, Talli Roland

The Last Town on Earth, Thomas Mullen

Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins

A Million Suns, Beth Revis

Wtiches of East End, Melissa de la Cruz

The Rook, Daniel O'Malley

MWF Seeking BFF by Rachel Bertsche

Epitaph Road, David Patneaude

The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers, Thomas Mullen

Pandemonium, Lauren Oliver

How to Get a Literary Agent in Two Murders or Less, Ellie Burmeister

I've Got Your Number, Sophie Kinsella

Death of a Dreamer, M.C. Beaton

The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennett

The Postmortal, Drew Magary

The Hangman's Daughter, Oliver Potzsch

11/22/63, Stephen King

Twenties Girl, Sophie Kinsella

The Gates, John Connolly

The Infernals, John Connolly

12.21: A Novel, Dustin Thomason

The Devil in the White City,Eric Larson

The Woman Who Died a Lot, Jasper Fforde

Size 12 and Ready to Rock,Meg Cabot

The Woman in Black, Susan Hill

Getting Rid of Bradley,Jennifer Crusie

The Scorch Trials, James Dashner

The Death Cure, James Dashner

The Last Dragonslayer,Jasper Fforde

666 Park Avenue, Gabriella Pierce

Pottermore

Everyone has heard of it, but does everyone know what it is really about?

It isn't just a place to play games, make potions, and duel. What I love about it the most is the new content. J.K. Rowling has written new content to go along with the books. The only one that is done is The Sorcerer's Stone. But by exploring, you learn about Professor McGonagall's background. You learn more about Lily and James Potter and much more.

You can also explore each books and there are very cool graphics to go with each chapter.

And you get sorted. But I am not particularly happy where I got put. Hufflepuff. Although I am loyal. And Cedric Diggory was Hufflepuff, so I guess I'll survive.

So if you can't get enough of Harry Potter, I suggest checking it out.

I am PotionAuror26731.

Books to Read

There are a couple of sequels coming out soon for books I have read. I would recommend reading all of these series. (Obviously.)

1. First on the list (not a sequel), The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling. Duh. Sept 27, 2012

It sounds like an completely different from Harry Potter. But some of my favorite authors happen to be British and I just love most of the stuff they write.

2. The Woman Who Died Alot, by Jasper Ffrode Another British Author

Another Thursday Next novel. I absolutely love these books. They are smart and funny. Seriously, if you like books, you should like these books. All of them. Plus there are now 7 in the series, isn't that exciting to find a good series with so many books already out?

3. Size 12 and Ready to Rock by Meg Cabot

This is the 4th book in the Size 12 is Not Fat book series. It is definitely chick-lit, but fun. I read one of the books one night after work. Fast and fun.

The problem with all of these, is being patient while on the waiting list. Except for The Casual Vacancy, which I will buy.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

This has been on my list for a while. The waiting list was so long last time I checked the library a few months ago. Then I finally looked last week and it was there! It is my first Stephen King novel and it is classified as Sci-Fi. Although it is light sci-fi.

Jake Epping is a recently divorced high school English teacher. One day towards the end of the school year, the owner of the diner he frequents, Al,  invites him over. Al shows Jake a "rabbit-hole." When a person walks through it, they enter September 9, 1958. The same day and same time, every time. When the person returns to the present day, only 2 minutes has passed. No matter how much time was spent in the past.

Al had been on a mission to stop the assassination of JFK, but finds he is unable to complete his task. He now implores Jake to take over the task.

Stephen King did a great job of making me understand the key differences between 1958 and 2011. I also was connected to the characters. Jake goes back in time as George. He is supposed to blend in, but not form relationships. However, he forms those relationships anyways. I loved the characters he bonded with.

At 851 pages, it seemed like no easy task to read this before I left, but I couldn't put it down. It was a fabulous story. And while I don't think I'll read any of Stephen King's horror books, I would love to read one similar to this in the future.

5 on Fri

1. I leave for G-camp tomorrow and Chris leaves for debate camp tomorrow. Thus begins our 17 days apart from each other. I know that by day 5 I will be homesick and Chris-sick. I will blog some, but most it of will probably be on my new teaching blog, since it is a teaching oriented trip.

2. I bought a cheap ring so I didn't have to take my real wedding rings on the trip with me. I usually don't where them running or hiking because I am afraid I'll lose them.

3. I think most people have heard of Spotify. But downloaded about two months ago, and I listen to it almost everyday. I love finding new music on it.

4. I have read 41 books this year, which is exactly how many books I read last year. I only have 9 more to go to reach my goal.

5. That last one is a lie. I have actually re-read some of the Harry Potter books but didn't put it in my final count. I read them at least once a year, so it just doesn't go into the totals.