Picking Cotton

In my search for the perfect common read book for our students, I came across a book called Picking Cotton by Jennifer Thompson & Ronald Cotton that seemed so interesting. This is on my short list of recommendations, but I highly doubt it will be the book of choice. However, with a description like this I had to read it -- so I requested it from the library and it just came in. Can't wait to start it! 

Jennifer Thompson was raped at knifepoint by a man who broke into her apartment while she slept. She was able to escape, and eventually positively identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken-- but Jennifer's positive identification was the compelling evidence that put him behind bars. After eleven years, Ronald was allowed to take a DNA test that proved his innocence. He was released, after serving more than a decade in prison for a crime he never committed. Two years later, Jennifer and Ronald met face to face-- and forged an unlikely friendship that changed both of their lives.

In their own words, Jennifer and Ronald unfold the harrowing details of their tragedy, and challenge our ideas of memory and judgment while demonstrating the profound nature of human grace and the healing power of forgiveness.

xoxo

Why I still love Taylor Swift!!

such an amazing heart ... 

"You have to be ok with it. If you're the girl that needs a boyfriend and once she loses that boyfriend needs to replace it with a different boyfriend....It's just this constant stream of boyfriends all the time."


Continued the Grammy winner, who has famously written about her exes and their bitter break up in one song after another: "I don't feel like I ever want to be that girl. I want to be the girl that when she falls in love, it's a big deal and it's a rare thing."


oh and she is dressing up as a toddlers and tiara girl for Halloween! Who doesn't love that?!?! 


have you smelled Wonderstruck? It smells yummy in the magazine page, so I can only imagine real life! 


love.her.xoxo.

California Trip!

one week until ....

ok well maybe not Hollywood, but La Verne! It is time for my annual trip to California and since I have no weddings or bachelorette parties to attend this year, Vickie and I decided La Verne Homecoming was calling our names! And seriously, why in the world would I miss such an amazing event.

(don't worry Katie Creekmur ... 2012 CA trip has your name all over it!!!)

Looking forward to the action packed weekend of Long Beach airport, in-n-out, the Oaks, W. Covina, San Diego, and ULV football. Can't get better then that!!

xoxo

Nationals.

No Nationals, THANK YOU!!



That's all.

Bachelor Pad, America & The Economy!

I did not watch Bachelor Pad Season One and really should not have watched Season two, but lack of Monday night TV got me hooked on the season. Good thing it was a short season!!

So, here is the skinny...I used to watch Bachelorette Beatdown, but they had some serious speaker issues and could never get the sound right -- David Good was always so loud and the others were so quiet and you had to keep adjusting your sound to hear anything or not be blown out by Dave Good! -- so I had to stop watching and resort to Jesse Csincsak's blog. I think they have fixed some of the issues for Bachelor Pad Beatdown, but nothing can be perfect. One thing we have learned from the beat downs ... don't mess with the Bachelor Family.

So, according to Jesse's blog Blake and Holly were paid $25,000 to get engaged, and I assume the Neil Lane engagement ring is on top of that. From reading the blog, it sounds like Graham and Michelle (could it have been Kasey and Vienna?!?! -- good couple/in love?!?!?) turned this deal down. So, I think Obama should jump on the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise tactic and start paying people to get engaged on TV.

Let's go America! Get on board.

I give Holly and Blake 4 weeks.

<3 Michael Stagliano <3 should have kept the money!

XOXO

9.11.11

Normally I am glued to 9.11 coverage ... the stories. the families. the men, women and children that were lost ... the men, women and children that were saved. the heros from that day.

I have visited Ground Zero and the Pentagon Memorial. I saw United 93 in the theaters.

Like I said, normally, I can't turn the TV off. For some reason this year I have not been able to watch anything. I start crying a minute in and can't breath and have to change the channel. I don't make it through the stories I read because I am crying so hard.

I'm not really sure what is different about this year. But it's been a rough week.

This commercial came on during the Redskins game and I lost it. Remembering in my own way this year. In my heart and on my mind.

Never forgotten, always remembered, forever loved! God Bless the USA! 9.11.01

9.11.11

Humble Abode

So, I have finally made a decision about my future. Well, at least a year. I will be moving into a new apartment! I figured I couldn't find a better deal then this, so I just needed to break down and make a commitment.

So, here it is! So, cute! The highlights are:

1. COVERED PARKING!!! Yes, snow days.

2. washer and dryer!!!

3. A Pantry in the kitchen!!

4. I went through rent.com so I get a $100 Thank YOU Visa Card, so Pier One here I come!!

So, unfortunately, the current housing market did not want to make me a home owner, and I am totally fine with that. Actually somewhat relieved. Who wants to try to sell a tiny little thing in 5-8 years anyway. I will just throw my money into a black hole and not have to worry about fixing crap myself.

I love the floor plan and am already figuring out where I want my furniture.

ideas?!?!