Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy (Book Club 1)
This book irritated me so much… I hardly even want to talk about it right now. It took me 2 months to get through (and even then I was only 450 pages in…) I actually stopped reading it for a bit, and read a different book just to make sure that I still loved reading. It dampened my soul that much. And as it turned out, I still love reading, just not Anna Karenina.

The Art of Racing in the Rain, Garth Stein
When Ninja died someone told us that it was alright because dogs don’t really have souls anyway… I would like to recommend this book to that person. Although it is impossible to know what dogs are thinking, and why they do the things they do, this book warms my heart by giving a dog’s perspective of what it is like to live a life of loyalty, love and unconditional compassion. That’s all I can say without crying (again…).

The Reliable Wife, Robert Goolrick
I read a bunch of really good reviews about this book and was curious to see what all the hype was about. The Reliable Wife takes place in the early 1900’s in Wisconsin and is based on a woman who answers a “want ad” for a wife. It takes a ton of dark, twisted turns and was quite a bit more racy than I expected. I don’t think this was the best book I have ever read, but it definitely wasn’t the worst. There were a few times that I felt like the author had some references that would not have been appropriate for the early 1900’s, but other than that I have no complaints.

Half Broke Horses, Jeannette Walls
This book is the life story of Walls’s grandmother, Lily Casey. I first fell in love with the Walls when I read The Glass Castle. I love the way that she tells stories and makes every situation (good or bad) turn into a life lesson. The life of her grandmother, Lily is incredible. She was a hard working rancher, an independent woman, a passionate teacher, a loyal wife and a realistic mother. I love stories about family, and the different dynamics that make a family function and this book was no exception.

March is finally here… warmer weather and spring break! Woohoo! More reading hopefully this month!

So here is the month of January….

The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
I heard little bits and pieces about this book before I read it, but really did not know what to expect. I was especially intrigued that it is considered a young adult novel. Let me tell you… if I would have read this book when I was a teenager, I would have been so in love with it. Because, as an adult I thought it was incredible. The story takes place in Nazi Germany and is told by Death. That’s right, Death tells the story. What an amazing spin! The story follows a young girl, Liesel, who moves in with an interesting foster family after her brother dies and her mother is no longer able to care for her. The foster family keeps a Jew in hiding in the basement, which shapes the young girl’s mind about current events. For being a book centered around such a dark time; the compassion, curious and defiant nature of Liesel make you question how young adults would think/behave in such crisis. I know that as a young adult I would have admired, felt empathy and heartache for young Liesel because as an adult I was proud with her, related to her and cried when she did… It’s so good, this book is so good.

The Necklace, Cheryl Jarvis (Book Club 1)
Ehh… this story is about a group of 11 (or is it 13?) women that go together to buy an expensive diamond necklace. They decide to share the necklace by allowing each woman to have the necklace during her birthday month. As the story goes on, the women come to deal with rules of sharing, media attention and ultimately find themselves in a “sisterhood” of sorts. I didn’t put this book on my book shelf, as I don’t plan to read it again… but, I really don’t want to recommend it to anyone either… probably a candidate for Half-Price Books.

Push, Sapphire (Book Club 2)
An interesting thing happened to me when I was reading Push. I was about 20 pages in, and thought, “Wow this is really familiar. Who told me about this book?” Well, about 3 pages later I was really intrigued, so I checked my bookshelf. I already have it. I have already read it. (All signs point to a better book inventory…) Once the mystery was solved, I quickly re-read the book. It’s heart wrenching, and down right horrifying. And it feels weird to say that a book written about such horrific things can lead to a reader to find a sense of hope at the end… so I won’t say that. Because it didn’t do that for me. It just made me realize that some young people really do live terrible lives, and even with ambition, hope and determination their life might still just be manageable.

The Lovely Bones, Alice Sebold (Book Club 2)
I originally read this book when I was practicum teaching a 5th grade classroom in college… one of the 5th grade girls was reading it for a book report. Yep, you read that right… a 5th grade girl, reading a book about a 14 year old girl who is brutally raped and murdered. Sick. I had a hard time reading it then, and could hardly get through it again. I skipped some scary parts, couldn’t read it anywhere near bed time (or a time it was getting dark) and there was no way I could have read it without Derek home as well. In fact, I don’t even want to talk about it anymore.

The Blind Side, Michael Lewis
I can’t lie, this book was a huge let down for me. I had heard a million good things about the movie, and I am a big believer that the books are always better than the movies, so I read them first. Eh. I don’t even care if I see this movie. The story had so much hypocracisy (about religion, education, morals…) that I just spent most of the time being pissed while reading this book. This might be the one time a movie is better than the book. But, I won’t see the movie, I will just take your word for it.

Letters to a Young Teacher, Jonathan Kozol
I love Jonathan Kozol, and his stories. I have read quite a few books by Kozol, all which deal with his experiences teaching and spending time in many schools (all over the nation) but mostly in the Bronx. What I love best about his writing is that he doesn’t try to paint a picture of inner city teaching that is unrealistic, but it is never a negative picture either. Being a teacher in an inner city school I have always believed that parents, students, the community are doing the best that they know how. I would like to think that is what Kozol thinks as well. I love the stories he tells, not out of sympathy, but of a real life.

Day After Night, Anita Diamant
This book tells the story of four women and their friendship while living as Jewish refugees in a British detention camp. I was expecting it to be much more depressing and dark. But, the friendship creates a sense of hope and optimism while (continuing to) live in depressing situations. I really enjoy the way that Diamant writes, especially how she creates her female characters… without pity or apologies. This book is not as near to my heart as The Red Tent, but I am glad I read it.

The Road, Cormac McCarthy
I heard mixed reviews about this book before reading it. (Generally I like when I hear that someone doesn’t like a book, so that way I can love it…) But, honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. After reading the 1st page I was completely hooked, and didn’t stop until I was done, 2 hours later. I loved it. I am still not sure if it is because of the way it’s written, the mystery and suspense of survival… or if it’s because of the immense courage of such a young boy… or if it’s the unselfish love between a father and his son, the unsacrificed love from a father to his son… or the basic survival of humans. Whatever it is, I loved this book. I can’t wait to read it again.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
This book is written as a series of letters in 1946, from an author, her publisher, closest friend and a new group of friends, “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.” The society was formed during the German occupation, and the author becomes so intrigued that she goes to visit the new friends. I loved the way this book was written (in letter form), it made the characters seem so real and the story seem so personable.

The Friday Night Knitting Club, Kate Jacobs (Book Club 2)
Ehh… this book describes itself as “steel magnolias of Manhattan.” So I am sure you can imagine how I felt about that… don’t get me wrong, although it is out of my character, I do love the movie Steel Magnolias, but I am not so in love with a book proclaiming to be a comparison. I mean really there is only one Truvy.

And with all that…. here’s to February reading.

It’s hard for me to to ever admit feeling down, blue, upset –
but as it turns out, feeling sad isn’t just for the Betty Fords.
(Or maybe it is and I am now one of them… and by “them” I mean my mother.)

My dog died… and even though it happened 2 months ago, I am still sad.

Just like a parent thinks their kids is the smartest, cutest or brightest –
Ninja, my dog, was obviously the best.
He was my dog and had the loyalty to me that a son has to his mother. A fierce protector with the gentlest of hearts; Ninja was a lover and a watch dog all in one. He was a 90 pound lap dog that never left my side.
Having Ninja made me a little less afraid of the dark. He made me not want to be gone from home for too long. Ninja made me love snow days with him curled on my feet while reading a book. He made the alarm clock seem not so bad. He gave me companionship on sunny days outside (especially while mowing the lawn). Ninja made coming home from vacation something to look forward to. He made my bed a little more cozy. He made my house a little less quiet and my life a little more routine. Ninja made stories (and photos) for naughty kids to love. He made watering the lawn seem like less of a chore, and taking a car ride more like finding gold. He made old dogs find their youth, and young dogs find their obedience. Ninja made my husband a bit jealous at times, but never held a grudge for the accusations. He made my heart melt with his wildly beating tail. Ninja made my life a lot more comfortable and a little less sad.

I miss my dog terribly. He made getting through life’s blocks a little easier.

And for this morning’s delay… I took a nap. Yep. A nap. 15 minutes after I woke up. From a 7 hour, restful sleep.

It’s not the first time that has happened, and I am not particularly embarrassed about it.
Just annoyed that I didn’t wake up earlier so that my nap would have felt a little more fulfilling.

The end of the school year is tomorrow, and as always, this becomes such a hard time for me. I don’t know if it is because I have such a small amount of kids that I work with. Or if it is because I get to work with my kids for 2 years instead of just 1. Or if it is because I get to be a part of their families, becoming friends with parents/guardians, taking the kids out after school, visiting them at home, or calling moms everyday. Or maybe it’s because the relationship becomes more of a family type one rather than a teacher-student one; complete with celebrations, meltdowns, arguments and an unconditional loyalty and love.
There are days that my job is just plain draining.
Days that I don’t sit down once until 3:45. Days that I can’t even pee without C. screaming my name in the bathroom door. Days where I don’t have lunch, planning or a single moment without the buzz of little boys. Days where I have been head butted, kicked and told that I am a “stupid ass.” Days where I spend hours under a desk trying to comfort little hearts. Days where I explain that H makes the “hhh-Hattie Horse” sound 527 times. Days that end in tears because I have spent all my energy fighting for kids that I know have the most amazing potential. Days that I call a mom 6 times to tell her about problems we are having… and 1 more call before I leave to let her know tomorrow is a new day, therefore it will be a better one.
But this year… it’s been good. Draining days and all. It has been, by far, the best. Those draining days are nothing in comparison to the days that we celebrate.
Days that we “shake what your momma gave ya!” because my math group wrote all their numbers to 100. Days that I pulled C. across the table just kiss his little forehead because he wrote 3 sentences on his own. Days that the C.’s bring me chocolate roses. Days that I get to take kids out to McDonald’s or the park after school. Days that we get to brag because we are on grade level. Days that A. uses coping skills and doesn’t have to spend time in the calming room. Days that another teacher says, “I can’t believe the progress that C. has made!” Days that we are known as “Brooks and her boys.” Days that I get to call a mom and tell her that I am so grateful that I have been able to work with her boys for the past 2 years, and I am so excited for their future.

And at the end of each year… the whole experience becomes a story to share with others. A collection of stories to tell about my kids. Only at this time of year, it should be a story told with glass of bubbly champagne, lots of laughs and Auld Lang Syne playing in the background.

ha! you all are so behind times.
but, who i am to turn down making a list? (see number 42 on aforementioned list… sad, but true.) so i have twisted the game little, and made seven lists.

seven things i can not live without in one day:
1. carmex
2. diet dewski
3. msnbc.com
4. vegetables (specifically green beans and tomatoes)
5. a book
6. my sunglasses
7. weather.com

seven of the best books i have read:
1. the red tent
2. atonement
3. birth of venus
4. educating esme
5. the story of edgar sawtelle
6. othello
7. pride and prejudice

seven talents i wish i had:
1. singing
2. speaking a foreign language fluently (preferably spanish)
3. drawing
4. skateboarding
5. cooking/baking
6. driving a stick shift car
7. high level mathematical skills

seven things to do before i die:
1. see mount rushmore
2. be involved with some sort of educational policy making process
3. ride a camel in the desert
5. get my PhD
6. ride in a helicopter
7. write/publish my own book

seven things i have learned from being a special education teacher:
1. one breakthrough is worth months of failed attempts.
2. my students are not my children.
3. kids really do hurt the ones they love the most.
4. kids are the most resilient human beings.
5. the most exhausting days are often the most rewarding.
6. you are never to professional to hug your students and tell them you love them.
7. no day is ever the same.

seven things i would do with crazy amounts of lottery won money:
1. pay off student debt (well… all debt!)
2. buy derek a fancy car
3. get my parents all situated with a nice home, no debt and a true retirement lifestyle
4. visit the seven wonders of the world
5. build a school (and fund the educational processes) in a third world country
6. donate money to autism research
7. visit all the baseball stadiums in the united states

seven things i love:
1. snuggling with ninja
2. traveling with derek
3. visiting family
4. club dancing
5. birthdays, weddings… big celebrations
6. working with naughty kids
7. being in school

so there you have it. 49 more things to know about me.
i bet your day is complete now.

and for the people i pick to make a list… nicole, tara, tia, drea, and becky. and if you don’t have a blog to write the list on, maybe you could just write a letter and mail it to me! make it really like a chain letter. who loved those? i did!
or you could just start a blog.

“For crying out loud, you had better pick up the Bible. You are so out there lost you have no idea. You are so into yourself, you should talk to people that have understanding regarding Jesus Christ as their only way to have a ever lasting life and believe even tho it is hard, sometimes to have faith, that this is the only way to live with your family, ever after. You, we love you, it is up to YOU. I will always be here for you and so will Grand Dad and Mom, Kent ant Janice…..It is the truth….I am not a SAINT, Kari, and no one else is. You have got to let it go, ask God, not me.
love you mom”

but for the kari this was intended to: look out sister! mom is pissed!

5 things to change if i were in charge of the world:

5. no men will wear sweat pants in public. barf.
4. there will be no more birthstone rings created. seriously? why?
3. babies on a plane? almost like snakes on a plane… not allowed unless samuel l. jackson is there to take care of business.
2. syrup is banned from all eating establishments. ranch dressing is as well. also, add jelly to that banned list. sick, sick and sick.
1. public restrooms will always have some sort of waterfall sound playing to make peeing with all sorts of strangers seem less awkward.

here’s hoping for a new balance of the two.