Sold by Patricia McCormick

I was in the school's book room with two other ladies who just happen to love books, and we were literally like kids in a candy store; we were touching the books and excitedly and loving talking about them. Well, one of the ladies picked up Sold and stated "I love this book," and you know that I had to read it.

Well, I went on this lady's words, and I read this book without finding out what it was about like I normally do.....

I started reading this book, and my heart was instantly with the main character Lakshmi.

Laskhmi lives with her family in a small village in Nepal:

Laskhim has a strong compassion for her family and is willing to do almost anything to help her family to live in some level of comfort.

Laskhim's village has rain for a very long time, and it wipes out all of their crops and Laskhim was told that "your stepfather has said that you must go to the city and earn your keep as a maid." Laskhim's agrees to go, thinking about the things that she can provide for her family.

Laskhim is thirteen at this time.

However, instead of going to the city to work as a maid, Laskhim is actually taken to India and sold into prostitution.

Laskhim is thirteen at this time.

My heart went out to Laskhim and all of the other girls in this book. McCormick tells their stories very plainly but in a manner that made me feel extreme compassion for these girls.

In the middle of this book, I finally did a goggle search and learned that this book is based on research of how "every year, 12,000 Nepali girls who are sold by their families, intentionally or unwittingly, into a life of sexual slavery in the brothels of India" as stated by the author.

After reading this book, I thought about the idea that there are people who consistently, unnecessarily complain or play the victim...."somebody did me wrong, I hate my job" etc, and I thought about these young girls and many other people who believe and live by the idea that "simply to endure is to triumph." My people, many of us have a lot to be grateful for even while going through "IT!"

This is an awesome read that I highly recommend..

Patricia McCormick

My next read is Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Duman!

Oh, How I Hate To See You Go.....

September is coming to an end, and I really hate to see it go.....

I have so many things to look forward to: my birthday, a 12K Race, a Century and Great Pumpkin bike ride, Tuskegee's homecoming, Thanksgiving, Christmas...., BUT I really hate to see September go; It was soooo good to me!

School started back, and I feel highly favored to be able to talk about books and authors all day and get paid to do it. This year, I am teaching a new grade, 10th grade, and 10th grade's focus is world literature. So, I get to teach almost any book under the sun, and I feel so blessed to work in a school that has a book room that is full of some of the most awesome books, and I also have parents who are willing to buy books for their children. (I feel overwhelmingly blessed when I think about this, and I never take this blessing for granted.)

Also, the DC area has great weather and is always flooded with lots of activities in September: there was this traveling party that is called Grit and Biscuits, and it was a party where I left wet from sweating. We danced and laughed and had a darn good time; there was the Morehouse/Howard football game that attracts tons of people; there was the Adams Morgan day festival that is such a diverse event... I love it; there was this awesome play about Mahalia Jackson and Dr. King at the National Poetry Gallery. The woman who played Mahalia Jackson could sing her butt off; there was The Congressional Black Caucus which ain't nothing but a good time; there was the 'H' street festival that is starting to be a very huge festival and a whole lot of fun; there was The National Book Festival that completely set my heart on fire; there was The Clarendon Day 10K race, and Beth, my running partner, and I did the d@#m thing; also, a few museum that usually charge, were free one day this month, and I went to a few museums that I've been wanting to visit.

However, the highlight of September was a group, cycling ride that was put on by the biking group, the Potomac Peddlers. This ride was complete with food, a band, great rest stops, good people, and breath taking views. The scenery was a reminder that God is EVERYWHERE.

Also, ain't nothing like riding with people whom you call friend, and a few friends who I invited, showed up, and this made me soooo glad. Once, I knew that they were all there, I knew that everything was going to be ALL RIGHT.....

My People, I really hate to see September go, but there is so much to look forward to....

Happy Sunday!!

I think I'm Getting Stronger

A co-worker and I were talking back and forth through email. I was telling him that the hill ride that we do quite often never seems to get easier, and he wrote something like this: "THE HILLS ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO GET EASIER; YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO GET STRONGER!" 

What an aha moment!!!!

Man, I have thought about this statement every since he stated it......

You know how we may do something that is difficult over and over, and we may tend to think that the task is getting easier, BUT we are ACTUALLY getting stronger...I LOVE THIS!!!

Sometimes, we can't change people, things, or our situations, but we can change OURSELVES!

I will never approach those hills, and a lot of other things, the same way again...

I work with some smart people!

One Of The Many Things That Can Make A Teacher Really Happy....

Mini Whiteboard

I have really been wanting some of those mini whiteboards.....

Another teacher told me that she uses mini-whiteboards to review for test. She will ask a question and the students will write their answers on the mini whiteboard. She can quickly check for understanding and add a bit of friendly competition to the classroom. So, you know that I borrowed her mini whiteboards and gave this idea a try, and I fell in love with the mini whiteboard.

Oh, the instructional possibilities with the mini whiteboard!

Well, today I was in Staples to get a battery for my odometer, I have a lot of long bike rides coming up and I need my odometer, and I actually thought about the mini whiteboard.

The mini whiteboard was sitting in the middle of the floor, in the sales bin, being sold for a WHOLE dollar. I joyfully bought as many as I needed, and the bonus is that I work in a school that will reimburse me for this purchase. (Grateful!)

Oh, the joy of stumbling upon a needed school bargain...

A school supply bargain is definitely one of the many things that can make a teacher really happy.

It's Monday, and I am happy; I got my mini whiteboards!

If You Love Books and Authors....

then you may want to consider making it your business to attend the annual National Book Festival in DC!

The National Book Festival is always held in September on the National Mall. Upon arriving on the mall, there are sooooo many tents. Under the tents, there are authors talking about books, there are children coloring and talking about books, there are books that are for sale, and there are LOTS of authors signing their books... This wonderful festival is all about books and authors.

My love for books and authors is strong, and every time that I attend this festival, I can't contain my joy... I run, and laugh, and talk. Today, my coworker and friend, Rosa, who loves books and authors as much as I do, and I had a complete ball. We patiently waited in an extremely long line to get our books signed by none other than Khaled Hosseini, the author of The Kite Runner. Then we hurried along to another tent to hear Hosseini talk about his books and his life... Oh how fascinating.

Of course while Rosa held our place in the autograph line, I scurried around to get autographs from other authors and to take as many picture as I could....

Joyce Carol Oates

Khalid Hosseini

William P. Jones

Juan Felipe Herrera

Alfredo Corchado

As I was walking to my car feeling completely happy and satisfied, I heard music, and I had to follow it RIGHT? Well, on Pennsylvania Avenue, a huge festival was going on to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, and you know that I had to partake....

I LOVE where I live!!

Ok, back to the Book Festival.....

It is like the Grammy's or the Oscar's...All of the major writers are in attendance.

If you love books and authors, then you must put The National Book Festival on your calender!

Fly......

Fly, Little Birdies, FLY!!!!!!

Walking is some Bull@SW@... Just Playing!

My Garmin, but the time was wrong; It was actually 5:58

So, yesterday I worked out with the greatest trainer in the world at 2pm. After the workout, I went home to cook, write a blog, and to do other things that I needed to do. Around 5:30, I sent a text to a friend to see if she wanted to go for a walk; why not do something for my health? Well, my friend was catching the train home from work and would not get home in time to walk before the sun went down. So, I got my music and headed out the door.

Normally, when I go for a walk, I don't take my Garmin watch that keeps up with my time, distance, calories etc, but since it was charged and ready, I thought why not.

I walked, sang, danced, and really enjoyed the weather and my neighborhood. When I got back to my house, I was not sweating, and I do not remember my heart rate going up at all. When I looked at my watch, I had walked 2.75 miles in 55 minutes, and I had only burned a measly 251 calories. (251 calories?? What the heck??)

My brain started to think that in 55 minutes, I could have run for about 5 miles and burned over 600 calories. I sent my sister a text that stated "walking is some bull#$#@."

Now, I don't believe that walking is some bull#@$# shit AT ALL. Listen when I say that I believe in the value of walking. I felt mentally clear when I got back home and my body was tired, but when I workout, I want to burn more than 251 calories...

My people, I got issues!!!

What are your thoughts about walking, and burning calories, and time to think.....

Happy Hump Day....