Thursday, December 31, 2009

ressollutions continued

Right now one thing that I would like to institute is to try and spend more time with my family.
I guess I would call this one of my priorities.
Not a ressollution.
So any new year's priorities for any of you?

ressollutions

Every year people make ressollutions. Usually, its to lose weight, or to be more organized.
I have stopped making those kinds of ressollutions. I prefer to make certain kinds of goals or achievements for myself.
It usually doesn't work. However, I feel good about taking a little time and thinking about certain things that I want and have not achieved. Then trying to change that.
This type of idea seems much better than the same old ressollutions like losing weight. It has more meaning to it for me.

2009 top reads

Not in any order. Just a list of my top reads for the year.
The vagina monologues

Blind rage
Half broke horses.
The latest installments of the in death series minus one.
life lines
critical
a thousand splendid sons
fiminism and disability
the color of water
when dreams trimble
sugar
a lesson before dying
south abroad
smoke screen
the vannished man
the reader
cross country
I alix cross
sundays at tiffany's
sail
riding lessons
grace
she ain't the one

the memory of water
the eighth confession
handle with care
the book of negroes
After the fire

women unbound reading challenge review

Blind rage
Nonfiction
Author Georgina Kleige
Review
This book is a compillation of letters to Helen Keller. The author is a blind woman. The letters are designed to illustrate her rage at Helen Keller. Throughout the book, her subsequent rage develops into a slight admiration of Ms. Keller.
As a woman who is toally blind, unlike Ms. Kliege, I couldn't relate to her rage against Helen Keller. I could relate to some of the points that she brought up. Like the fact that Helen Keller is viewed as the perfect blind person. This idea is maddening. I agree with the author. Society sees Helen Keller as perfect and the representative of what a blind person is, and should be. Especially whin it comes to blind women.
What I learned from this book is that there are many things about the life of Helen Keller that we do not know. I had know idea about the plagiarism trial. I also learned that even though Helen Keller is placed on a pedistal and will be for as long as forever lasts. This fact is something that we as blind women and as people who are blind in some way will have to deal with. I give this book 3 stars which is representative of liking it. After reading this book, I did wonder what was edited out of the final transcriptl. It just seemed that the Author's view changed abruptly. Thus, causing me to rate it as a 3 and not higher.
womenunbound.wordpress.com

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

family

Its that time of the year when we are supposed to spend time with family. This got me to thinking about family and how its defined and used in our society. We have been taught that family is people that are related to you by blood. We see this idea in both books and television.
Whin does this idea change? Is it up to us to define family?
My answer is yes, it is up to us to define family. I have many friends who are also my family. Does the fact that these people aren't blood related make them less of a member of my family?

Friday, December 18, 2009

reflecting and deciding.

Yesterday was my birthday. It was uneventful. But I am glad that I am able to see another year.
I now have to do some reflecting and make some decisions on my future endeavors.
I went through this at the ages of 20 and 23. I thought that at 25 I went crazy and did this. I did the same thing at 30. I guess its time to do it again. Hopefully its not as bad as when I was 20 and 22, or 25. I will think possitive that good things will happen from all of this. I am not the only one that went and still going through this. I hope not anyway.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

birthdaysBlog title...

I am not too big on my birthday. One thing that makes me happy is to be able to see another birthday. Even though this one isn't very good. They get interesting every year. They are ether good or bad. But I am always grateful that I am able to see anohter one.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

holiday readings

Here are a few reads that help me get into the spirit.
The christmas shoes
the cricket and the hearth
A christmas carol
the christmas box
The christmas promise
the christmas angel
Christmas hope
if christmas comes
skipping christmas
the christmas train

favorite reads that made an impact

In no certain order
The kite runner
To kill a mockingbird
Roots
The book of negroes
Queen
The biography of Malcolm X
A testament of hope the collective speeches and writings of Martin Luther King
Walking alone and marching together
The secret life of bees
Zami a new spelling of my name
Dreams of my father
A lesson before dying
The collective poems of Langston Hughes
Their eyes were watching god
The color purple
A thousand splendid suns
The first hour that I believed
Touching the rock
Jane eyre
Don't sweat the small stuff
The four loves
This much I know is true
After the fire
Possessing the secret of joy
A tree grows in brooklyn
David copperfield
The christmas hope series
The cape light series
The grapes of wrath
The center of everything
Women with disabilities

holidays

School is over for the holidays. Now we are expected to celebrate with family and friends. I love the holidays. I love them because I take the time to reflect on my various blessings, and on my future.
I was thinking about the holidays. There are so many ways to celebrate. Just like there are so many ways to worship. It just seems to me that many people get caught up in the symbols and not in the importance of holidays.
My sister Kim shared this note with me. I do believe that it could apply to any holiday. It makes some really good points. Even if it talks about Jesus and Christmas. Here it is, may be we can take something out of this note and apply it all year roung.



Dear Children,



It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.



How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.



Now, having said that let Me go on.. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.



Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.



If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:



1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.



2. Visit someone in a nursing home.. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.



3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.



4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here.. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.



5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.



6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.



7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families



8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.



9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.



10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.



Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember :
I LOVE YOU, JESUS

Monday, December 14, 2009

top 25 reads of 2009 so far

25. the vannished man
24. bones
23. the broken window
22. its a thin line
21. the playas handbook
20. dry ice
19. a thousand splendid suns
18. changing faces
17. the 8th confession
16. love and lies
15. the first lady
14. the road not taken
13. can I get a witness
12. the pastor's wife
11. The preacher's son
10. to good to be true
9. playa haters
8. life without summer
7. journey to a woman
6. left to die
5. South of Broad
4. the neighbor
3. the reader
2. the second opinion
1. after the fire

Sunday, December 13, 2009

life without summer

Life without summer By len Griffin
category psychological fiction
This book tells the story of Tessa Grey and her husban ethan.
The book begins after the greys have lost their daughter to an accident where she is hit by an unknown driver.
During the story Tessa begins therapy with cilia, and discovers that she is pregnant again.
The story is based on the connection between Cilia and Tessa.
Each woman is dealling with their own pain and loss.
This is a really good book it is also very emotional. I would rate it a 4.0 out of 5.
I would recommend this book for reading.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

thoughts

Well, school is over for the semester. I am very happy about this.
Even though I am happy about the semester ending. My future is a little bit up in the air right now. but I will be praying that this will all change and I will be seriously looking for a job next january.
Well, I can now get more reading done. My favorite pastimes.

current reads
life without summer
long lost
hiding in the shadows

reading list continued

Here are my reads for the year continued.
the second opinion
the first patient
south abroad
lethally blonde
over her dead body

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

unbound challenge.

Feminism and disability
By barbara Hillier
Nonfiction
This is my next read for our challenge.
I am looking forward to reading it. I think that it may be very interesting.