Banned books continued

This list comes from the forbidden library. I should take all 3 of my banned books lists and make them one.....then create a new reading list LOL. I seem to have read quite a bit more from this list....go figure

1984 . George Orwell. Harcourt. Challenged in the Jackson County, Fla. (1981) because the novel is "pro-communist and contained explicit sexual matter." Big Brother doesn't want people reading such things.


The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain [Samuel L. Clemens]. Airmont; And/Or Press; Bantam; Grosset; Longman; NAL; Pocket Bks. Excluded from the childrens' room in the Brooklyn, N.Y. Public Library (1876) and the Denver, Colo. Public Library (1876). Confiscated at the USSR border (1930). Removed from the seventh grade curriculum in the West Chester, Pa. schools (1994) after parents complained that it is too full of racially charged language.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll. Ace; Bantam; Crown; Delacorte; Dover; NAL; Norton; Penguin; Random; St. Martin. Banned in China (1931) for portraying animals and humans on the same level, "Animals should not use human language."

Analects. Confucius. Dover; Random. The first ruler of the Chin Dynasty ordered all books relating to the teachings of Confucius burned. Oh, and he had hundreds of followers of Confucius buried alive (250 BC).

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl. Anne Frank. Modern Library. Challenged in Wise County, Va. (1982) due to "sexually offensive" passages. Four members of the Alabama State Textbook Committee (1983) called for the rejection of this book because it is a "real downer."

Arabian Nights or The Thousand and One Nights. Anonymous. U.S. Customs held up 500 sets of the translation by the French scholar Mardrus, which were imported from England (1927-31). It was confiscated in Cairo, Egypt (1985), on the grounds that it contained obscene passages which posed a threat to the country's moral fabric. It was judged inappropriate for Jewish pupils by the Israeli director of the British Consul Library in Jerusalem, Israel (1985).

Beloved. Toni Morrison. Knopf; NAL. Challenged at the St. Johns County Schools in St. Augustine, Fla. (1995). Challenged by a member of the Madawaska, Maine School Committee (1997) because of the book's language. This 1987 Pulitzer Prize winning novel has been required reading for the advanced placement English class for six years.

The Bible. William Tyndale, who partially completed translating the Bible into English, was captured, strangled, and burned at the stake (1536) by opponents of the movement to translate the bible into the vernacular. Beginning around 1830, "family friendly" bibles, including Noah Webster's version (1833) began to appear which had excised passages considered to be indelicate.

Brave New World. Aldous Huxley. Harper. Banned in Ireland (1932). Removed from classroom in Miller, Mo. (1980). Challenged at the Yukon, Okla. High School (1988); challenged as required reading in the Corona-Norco, Calif. Unified School District (1993) because the book "centered around negative activity."

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Dee Brown. Holt. Removed in Wild Rose, Wis. (1974) by a district administrator for being "slanted." The administrator also said "if there's a possibility that something might be controversial, then why not eliminate it."


The Call of the Wild. Jack London. Ace; Bantam; Grosset; Macmillan; NAL; Penguin; Pocket Bks.; Raintree; Tempo. Banned in Italy (1929), Yugoslavia (1929), and burned in Nazi bonfires (1932).

Canterbury Tales. Geoffrey Chaucer. Bantam; Bobbs-Merrill; Doubleday; Penguin; Raintree Pubs.; NAL; Univ. of Okla. Pr. People have long been squeamish with this one...It was subjected to revisions as 1928, and editions today tend to avoid four letter words. It was removed from a senior college preparatory literature course at the Eureka, Ill. High School (1995) for sexual content.

Catcher in the Rye. J.D. Salinger. Published in 1951, this immediate best seller almost simultaneously became a popular target of censorship. A 1991-92 study by the People for the American Way found that the novel was among those most likely to be censored based on the fact that it is "anti-Christian." Challenged by Concerned Citizens of Florida who wanted the book removed from a high school library (1991) in Leesburg, Florida due to "profanity, reference to suicide, vulgarity, disrespect, and anti-Christian sentiments." They were unsucessful: a review committee voted unanimously to retain the book.

The Celluloid Closet: Homosexuality in the Movies. Vito Russo. Harper. Challenged at the Deschutes County Library in Bend, Oreg. (1993) because it "encourages and condones" homosexuality.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl. Bantam; Knopf; Penguin. Removed from a locked reference collection at the Boulder, Colo. Public Library (1988), where it had been placed because the librarian thought the book espoused a poor philosophy of life.

Clan of the Cave Bear. Jean Auel. Coronet. Challenged at the Berrien Springs, Mich. High School for its use in classrooms and libraries (1988), Banned from the Cascade Middle School library in Eugene, Oreg. (1992), Challenged, but retained on the Moorpark High School recommended reading list in Simi Valley, Calif. (1993), despite objections that it contains "hardcore graphic sexual content."

The Color Purple. Alice Walker. Harcourt. Challenged as appropriate reading material for an Oakland, Calif. High School honors class (1984) due to the work's "sexual and social explicitness" and its "troubling ideas about race relations, man's relationship to God, African history, and human sexuality." This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was finally approved for use by the Oakland Board of Education after nine months of debate. Banned in the Souderton, Pa. Area School District (1992) as appropriate reading for tenth graders because it is "smut."Removed from the Jackson County, W.Va. school libraries (1997) along with sixteen other titles.

The Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm. Jacob and Wilhelm K. Grimm. Translated by Jack Zipes. Bantam. Restricted to sixth through eighth grade classrooms at the Kyrene, Ariz. elementary schools (1994) due to its excessive violence, negative protrayals of female characters, and anti-Semitic references.

Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. Galilei Galileo. Univ. of California Pr. Banned by Pope Urban VIII for heresy and breach of good faith (1633).

Different Seasons. Stephen King. NAL. Removed from the West Lyon Community School library in Larchwood, Iowa (1987) because "it does not meet the standards of the community." Removed from the Washington Middle School library in Meriden, Conn. (1989) after a parental complaint. Challenged at the Eagan High School in Burnsville, Minn. (1992).

A Doll's House. Henrik Ibsen. Penguin. Four members of the Alabama State Textbook Committe (1983)called for the rejection of this work because it propagates feminist views.

Don Quixote. Saavedra Miguel de Cervantes. Methuen; NAL; Norton; Random. Placed on the Index in Madrid for the sentence, "Works of charity negligently performed are of no worth."


Earth Science. American Book. Challenged at the Plymouth-Canton school system in Canton, Mich. (1987) because it "teaches the theory of evolution exclusively. It completely avoids any mention of Creationism...The evolutionary propaganda also underminds {sic} the parental guidance and teaching the children are receiving at home and from the pulpits."

The Egypt Game. Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Dell; Macmillan. This award-winning novel was challenged in the Richardson, Tex. schools (1995) because it shows children in dangerous situations, condones tresspassing and lying to parents and ostensibly teaches about the occult. The school board declined to ban this book, but did decide that parents should be notified when it is used in class.


Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury. Ballentine. Ironically, students at the Venado Middle School in Irvine, Calif. received copies of the book with scores of words--mostly "hells" and "damns"--blacked out. The novel is about book burning and censorship. Thankfully, after receiving complaints from parents and being contacted by reporters, school officials said the censored copies would no longer be used (1992).

The Figure in the Shadows. John Bellairs. Dell. Restricted at the Dysart Unified School District libraries in El Mirage, Ariz. (1990) because of two uses of profanity and because of its link to magic.

Gone with the Wind. Margaret Mitchell. Avon; Macmillan. This Pulitzer Prize winning novel was banned from the Anaheim, Calif. Union High School District English classrooms (1978). The novel was challenged in the Waukegan, Ill. School District (1984) because it uses the word "nigger."

Grapes of Wrath. John Steinbeck. Penguin; Viking. Burned by the St. Louis, Mo. Public Library (1939) on the grounds that "vulgar words" were used. Banned in Kansas City, Mo. (1939); Kern County, Calif., the scene of Steinbeck's novel, (1939); Ireland (1953); Kanawha, Iowa High School classes (1980); and Morris, Manitoba (1982). Challenged in the Greenville, S.C. schools (1991) because the book uses the name of God and Jesus in a "vain and profane manner along with inappropriate sexual references."

The Graphic Work of M.C. Escher. M.C. Escher. Pan/Ballentine. Retained after being challenged at Maldonado Elementary School in Tucson, Ariz. (1994) for "pornographic", "perverted", and "morbid" themes.

Grendel. John C. Gardner. Knopf. This book has been challenged quite a lot, Most recently challenged, but retained, on high school reading lists in Douglas, Colo. (1997).

Gulliver's Travels. Jonathan Swift. Airmont; Bantam; Bobbs-Merrill; Dell; Grosset; Houghton; NAL; Norton; Oxford Univ. Pr.; Pocket Bks. Denounced as wicked and obscene in Ireland (1726),


Hamlet. William Shakespeare. Airmont; Cambridge Univ. Pr.; NAL; Norton; Penguin; Methuen. Banned in Ethiopia (1978).

The Happy Prince and Other Stories. Oscar Wilde. Penguin. Challenged at the Springfield, Oreg. Public Library (1988) because the stories were "distressing and morbid."

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Maya Angelou. Bantam. This book gets challenged quite often, due to the poet's descriptions of being raped as a young girl.

It. Stephen King. Viking. Challenged at the Lincoln, Nebr. school libraries (1987); placed on a "closed shelf" at the Franklinville, N.Y. Central High School library (1992).


James and the Giant Peach. Roald Dahl. ABC-Clio; Knopf. Challenged at the Deep Creek Elementary School in Charlotte Harbor, Fla. (1991) because it is "not appropriate reading material for young children." Challenged at the Pederson Elementary School in Altoona, Wis. (1991) and at the Morton Elementary School library in Brooksville, Fla. (1992) because the book contains the word "ass" and "promotes" the use of drugs (tobacco, snuff) and whiskey. Removed from classrooms in Stafford County, Va. Schools (1995) and placed in restricted access in the library because the story contains crude language and encourages children to disobey their parents and other adults.


King Lear. William Shakespeare. Airmont; Methuen;NAL; Penguin; Pocket Bks. Now considered to be among Shakespeare's greatest works, Lear was performed in drastically adapted form--Nahum Tate's Restoration version eliminated characters and boasted a happy ending in which Lear is restored to the throne and Cordelia survives. The play was subject to political censorship when it was banned from the English stage from 1788 to 1820, out of respect to King George III's alleged insanity. The tragic ending of King Lear was not restored until 1823, and the character of the fool was finally reintroduced in 1838. (

The Koran. Penguin; Tahrike Tarsil; Quran. Ban lifted by the Spanish Index in 1790. Restricted to students of history in the USSR (1926).

Le Morte D'Arthur. Sir Thomas Malory. Scribner; Collier; Penguin. Challenged as required reading at the Pulaski County High School in Somerset, Ky. (1997) because it is "junk." Granted, Malory has problems with his narrative,

The Life and Times of Renoir. Janice Anderson. Shooting Star Pr. Restricted at the Pulaski, Pa. Elementary School Library (1997) because of nude paintings in the book.

A Light in the Attic. Shel Silverstein. Harper. Challenged at the Cunningham Elementary School in Beloit, Wis. (1985) because the book "enourages children to break dishes so they won't have to dry them." Removed from Minot, N.Dak. Public School libraries when the superintendent found "suggestive illustrations." Challenged at the Big Bend Elementary School library in Mukwonago, Wis. (1986) because some of Silverstein's poems "glorified Satan, suicide and cannibalism, and also encouraged children to be disobedient."

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. C.S. Lewis. Macmillan. Challenged in the Howard County, Md. school system (1990) because it depicts "graphic violence, mysticism, and gore."

Little House in the Big Woods. Laura Ingalls Wilder. Buccaneer; harper; Transaction. Removed from the classrooms, but later reinstated, for third-graders at the Lincoln Unified School District in Stockton, Calif. (1996). Complainants also want the book removed from the library because it "promotes racial epithets and is fueling the fire of racism." (Purchase)

Little House on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder. Buccaneer; Harper; Transaction. Challenged at the Lafourche Parish elementary school libraries in Thibodaux, La. (1993) because the book is "offensive to Indians." Banned in the Sturgis, S. Dak. elementary school classrooms (1993) due to statements considered derogatory to Native Americans.

The Lorax. Dr. Seuss. Random. Challenged in the Laytonville, Calif. Unified School District (1989) because it "criminalizes the foresting industry."

The Lords of Discipline. Pat Conroy. Bantam. Challenged in the Cobb County, Ga. schools (1992) for profanity and descriptions of sadomasochistic acts. Removed from and elective English course by the WestonKa, Minn. School Board (1992) due to parental complaints about language and sex in the book.

The Martian Chronicles. Ray Bradbury. Bantam. Challenged at the Haines City, Fla. High School (1982) for profanity and the use of God's name in vain. Challenged at the Newton-Conover, N.C. High School (1987) as supplemental reading due to profanity. Challenged at the Gatlinburg-Pittman, Tenn. High School (1993) due to profanity.

My Friend Flicka. Mary O'Hara. Harper; Lippincott. Removed from fifth and sixth grade optional reading lists in Clay County, Fla. schools (1990) because the book uses the word "bitch" to refer to a female dog, as well as the word "damn."


The Odyssey. Homer. Airmont; Doubleday; Harper; Macmillan; MAL; Oxford Univ. Pr.; Penguin. Plato suggested expurgating it for immature readers (387 B.C.) and Caligula tried to suppress it because it expressed Greek ideals of freedom.

On the Origin of Species. Charles B. Darwin. Harvard Univ. Pr.; Macmillan; Modern Library; NAL; Morton; Penguin; Rowman; Ungar. Banned from Trinity College in Cambridge, UK (1859); Yugoslavia (1935); Greece (1937). The teaching of evolution was prohibited in Tennessee from 1925-1967. (


Paradise Lost. John Milton. Airmont; Holt; Modern Library/Random; NAL; Norton. Listed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum in Rome (1758).


Raisin in the Sun. Lorraine Hansberry. Random. The Ogden, Utah School District (1979) restricted circulation of Hansberry's play in response to criticism from an anti-pornography organization.

The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll. Jim Miller, ed. Random. Challenged in Jefferson, Ky. (1982) because it "will cause our children to become immoral and indecent."

The Satanic Verses. Salman Rushdie. Viking. Banned in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Somalia, Sudan, Malaysia, Qatar, Indonesia, South Africa, and India due to its criticism of Islam. Burned in West Yorkshire, England (1989) and temporarily withdrawn from two bookstores on the advice of police. Five people died in riots against the book in Pakistan. Another man died a day later in Kashmir. Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa, or religious edict, stating, "I inform the proud Muslim people of the world that the author of the Satanic Verses, which is against Islam, the prophet, and the Koran, and all those involved in its publication who were aware of its content, have been sentenced to death." Challenged at the Wichita, Kans. Public Library (1989) because it is "blasphemous to the prophet Mohammed."

Slaughterhouse-Five. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Dell; Dial. Burned in Drake, N. Dak. (1973). Banned in Rochester Mich. because the novel "contains and makes references to religious matters" and thus fell within the ban of the establishment clause. Challenged at the Owensboro, Ky. high School library (1985) because of "foul language, a reference to 'Magic Fingers' attached to the protagonist's bed to help him sleep, and the sentence: 'The gun made a ripping sound like the opening of the fly of God Almighty.' " Challenged, but retained on the Round Rock, Tex. Independent High School reading list (1996) after a challenge that the book was too violent. )

Song of Solomon. Toni Morrison. Knopf; NAL. Challenged, but retained in the Columbus, Ohio schools (1993). The complainant believed that the book contains language degrading to blacks, and is sexually explicit. Removed from required reading lists and library shelves in the Richmond County, Ga. School District (1994). Challenged at the St. Johns County Schools in St. Augustine, Fla. (1995). Removed from the St. Mary's County, Md. schools' approved text list (1998) by the school superintendant over the objections of the faculty.

The Stand. Stephen King. Doubleday; NAL. Restricted at the Whitford Intermediate School in Beaverton, Oreg. (1989) because of "sexual language, casual sex, and violence."


The Talmud. Soncino Pr. Burned in Cairo, Egypt (1190); Paris, France (1244); and Salamanca, Spain (1490). The Catholic Church in the Middle Ages tried to suppress this work. Pope Gregory IX ordered it burned (1239); Pope Innocent IV ordered King Louis IX of france to burn all copies (1248 and 1254); Pope Benedict XIII ordered the bishops of the Italian dioceses to confiscate all copies (1415); Pope Julius III ordered that Christians reading the Talmud be excommunicated; Pope Clement VIII forbade both "Christians and Jews from owning, reading, buying or circulating Talmudic or Cabbalistic books or other godless writing." (1592)

To Kill a Mockingbird. Harper Lee. Lippincott/Harper; Popular Library. This novel has been challenged quite a lot due to its racial themes. Challenged--and temporarily banned--in Eden Valley, Minn.(1977); Challenged at the Warren, Ind. Township schools (1981), because the book "represents institutionalized racism under the guise of 'good literature'." After unsuccessfully banning the novel, three black parents resigned from the township human relations advisory council. Banned from the Lindale, Tex. advanced placement English reading list (1996) because the book "conflicted with the values of the community."

Tom Jones. Henry Fielding. NAL; Norton; Penguin. Banned in France (1749).

Twelfth Night. William Shakespeare. Airmont; Cambridge Univ. Pr.; Methuen; NAL; Penguin; Pocket Bks.; Washington Square. Removed from a Merrimack, N.H. high school English class (1996) because of a policy that bans instruction which has "the effect of encouraging or supporting homosexuality as a positive lifestyle alternative."


Uncle Tom's Cabin. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Airmont; Bantam; Harper; Houghton; Macmillan; NAL. Challenged in the Waukegan, Ill. School District (1984) because the novel contains the word "nigger."

Vasilissa the Beautiful: Russian Fairy Tales. Progress Pubns. Challenged at the Mena, Ark. schools (1990) because the book contains "violence, voodoo, and cannibalism."


Welcome to the Monkey House. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. Delacorte; Dell. A teacher was dismissed for assigning this collection of short stories to her eleventh grade English class because the book promoted "the killing off of elderly people and free sex." The teacher brought suit and won in Parducci v. Rutland, 316 F.Supp.352, (M.D.Ala 1970).

Where the Sidewalk Ends. Shel Silverstein. Harper. Challenged at the West Allis-West Milwaukee, Wis. school libraries (1986) because the book "suggests drug use, the occult, suicide, death, violence, disrespect for truth, disrespect for legitimate authority, rebellion against parents." Challenged at the Central Columbia School District in Bloomsburg, Pa. (1993) because a poem titled "Dreadful" talks about how "someone ate the baby."

Where's Waldo? Martin Handford. Little. Challenged at the Public Libraries of Saginaw, Mich. (1989), Removed from the Springs Public School library in East Hampton, N.Y. (1993) because there is a tiny drawing of a woman lying on the beach wearing a bikini bottom but no top.

The Witches of Worm. Zilpha Keatley Snyder. Atheneum. Challenged at the Hays, Kans. Public Library (1989) because it "could lead young readers to embrace satanism." The Newbery Award-winning book was retained on the approved reading list at Matthew Henson Middle School in Waldorf, Md. (1991) despite objections to its references to the occult.

A Wrinkle In Time. Madeleine L'Engle. Dell. Challenged at the Polk City, Fla. Elementary School (1985) by a parent who believed that the story promotes witchcraft, crystal balls, and demons. Challenged in the Anniston Ala. schools (1990). The complainant objected to the book's listing the name of Jesus Christ together with the names of great artists, philosophers, scientists, and religious leaders when referring to those who defend earth against evil.

Zen Buddhism: Selected Writings. D.T. Suzuki. Doubleday. Challenged at the Plymouth-Canton school system in Canton, Mich. (1987) because "this book details the teachings of the religion of Buddhism in such a way that the reader could very likely embrace its teachings and choose this as his religion."

A few NEW banned/challenged book lists

there will be two posts with two newly discovered by me banned book lilsts.
I always find them amusing.....and am usually shocked at how many I have actually read. Guess I must like trash . This list is courtesy of wikipedia. Some of the listed reasons are just stupid. Bold will be the ones I read.

The Age of Reason Thomas Paine Philosophical Treatise Banned in UK for blasphemy in the 18th Century

All Quiet on the Western Front Erich Maria Remarque Anti-war Novel Banned in Nazi Germany for demoralizing and insulting the Wehrmacht.

The Anarchist Cookbook William Powell (author) Guide Book Banned outside of the US[citation needed] because of security reasons. Sale of the book is prohibited to any one under 21 in some areas.

Animal Farm George Orwell Political Novella Publication delayed in UK because of anti-Stalin theme. Confiscated in Germany by Allied troops. Banned in Malaysia for religious reasons. Banned in 1946 in Yugoslavia

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain Novel Banned in some US schools for use of racial slurs.


Bible Various Authors Religious Text Many translations of The Bible were banned by the Index Librorum Prohibitorum in the Catholic Church. Banned in Communist countries that support atheism. Banned in Saudi Arabia for not being of the Muslim faith.

Biko Donald Woods Biography Banned in South Africa for its criticism of the apartheid system and white government.

Black Beauty Anna Sewell Novel Was banned in South Africa because of the use of the word 'black' in the title.

Beautiful Retard Matthew Hansen Novel Banned in some US states because of its offensive title.

The Blue Lotus Hergé Graphic Novel Banned in China for its pro Kuomintang view and support.

The Book of One Thousand and One Nights Collection Banned in many primarily Muslim countries.

Candide Voltaire Novel Seized by US Customs in 1930 for obscenity.

Catcher in the Rye J.D. Salinger Novel Banned in various US public schools and libraries for sexual situations, immorality and other themes of impropriety

Civil Disobedience Henry David Thoreau Essay Removed from US libraries during McCarthyism. Banned in South Africa

The Communist Manifesto Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels Economic Treatise Banned in anti-Communist countries and the US during the Red Scare. Challenged in libraries for political reasons.

Call of the Wild Jack London Novel Banned in Yugoslavia, Italy, and burned in Nazi bonfires.

Doctor Zhivago Boris Pasternak Novel Banned within the USSR until 1988 for its criticism of the Bolshevik Party.


Eve's Diary Mark Twain Novel Banned by a library in Charlton, Massachusetts for its illustrations of an unclothed Eve.

Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes Novel Banned in the school boards of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada as well as Calgary, Alberta, Canada for situations involving sex and alcohol consumption.

For Whom the Bell Tolls Ernest Hemingway Novel Banned in Spain during Francisco Franco's rule for its pro-Republican views.

The Housekeepers Diary Wendy Berry Memoir Not published in Britain due to its violation of confidentiality agreements signed by the author.

Harry Potter J.K. Rowling Novel Banned in some school libraries in the US for use of witchcraft and supposedly Satanic views.


ISLAM - A Concept of Political World Invasion by Muslims RV Bhasin Political Novel Banned by the Govt. of Maharashtra, India, in view that the book antagonizes Islamists. The author currently (2007) has sought the Court's intervention in this matter.

Journal of Current Pictorial Chinese Alliance Manhua Banned by China's Qing government for spreading anti-Qing propaganda.


The King Never Smiles Paul M. Handley Biography Banned in Thailand for its criticism of King Bhumibol Adulyadej

The Kingdom of God Is Within You Leo Tolstoy Religious Treatise Banned in Czarist Russia for its Christian anarchist content.


Lady Chatterley's Lover D. H. Lawrence Novel Temporarily banned in the United States and UK for violation of obscenity laws. Banned in Australia.

A Light in the Attic Shel Silverstein Poetry Collection Banned from libraries for encouraging children to misbehave.

Lolita Vladimir Nabokov Novel Banned in Iran and Saudi Arabia for its content of pedophilia.

The Lorax Dr. Seuss Children's Book Banned in parts of the US for being an allegorical political commentary.

The Malay Dilemma Mahathir bin Mohamad Political ideology Banned in Malaysia for its criticism of UMNO and the May 13th Incident.

The Manchurian Candidate Richard Condon Political Novel Banned in Communist states] for political reason. Condemned by the American Legion.

Mein Kampf Adolf Hitler Political ideology Possession and sale for historical reasons is legal in Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. Only reproduction is forbidden due to copyrights (held by Bavarian state).

Mephisto Klaus Mann Political Novel / Satire In 1968, Gustaf Gründgens' adopted son Peter Gorski sued Nymphenburger Verlagsbuchhandlung, then the publisher of Mephisto in West Germany. The Federal Constitutional Court of Germany ruled that Gründgens' personal freedom (Article 2 of the Basic Law) was more important than the freedom of art (Article 5).

The Mountain Wreath Petar II Petrović Njegoš Drama in verse Banned in Bosnia schools by Carlos Westendorp


Nineteen Eighty-Four George Orwell Sci-Fi Novel Banned in the USSR for political reasons. Accused of anti-semitism. Challenged in Florida for pro communist and sexual theme.

Notre ami le roi Gilles Perrault Biography of Hassan II of Morocco Banned in Morocco for political reasons.


One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn Novel Banned in the USSR for political reasons. Author was sent into exile.

Of Mice and Men John Steinbeck Novel Banned by some schools and libraries in the United states for promoting "euthanasia" and use of profanity from May 1983 to May 1984, and also in 1993 and 1994. This book is no longer banned.


The Peaceful Pill Handbook Philip Nitschke and Fiona Stewart Instructional manual on euthanasia Banned in Australia for political reasons.


Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong Mao Zedong Collection Banned in South Vietnam and anti-Communist nations in Asia.


Rights of Man Thomas Paine Poltical Banned in the UK and Author charged with treason for supporting the French Revolution.[6]. Banned in Czarist Russia after the Decembrist revolt.


The Satanic Verses Salman Rushdie Novel Banned in India and Muslim nations for blasphemy. Book stores refuse to sell it out of fear. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for the death of Rushdie.

Speak Laurie Halse Anderson Novel Banned in many middle schools and high schools because of the rape of the protagonist, Melinda Sordino and some mention of self-harm.


The Turner Diaries William Luther Pierce Novel Book stores and libraries refuse to distribute it because of its racist theme. Banned in Germany for its Nazi ideolgy theme and Pierce leadership in the American Nazi Party. Blamed for a number of hate crimes inspired by the novel including the Oklahoma City bombing.

The Tropic of Cancer Henry Miller Novel (fictionalized memoir) Banned in the US in the 1930's and partially through the 80's, seized by US customs for sexually explicit content and vulgarity. The rest of Miller's work was also banned by the United States.

Ulysses James Joyce Novel Challenged and temporarily banned in the US for its sexual content. Ban overturned in United States v. One Book Called Ulysses.

Uncle Tom's Cabin Harriet Beecher Stowe Novel Banned in the Southern States and Czarist Russia. Challenged by the NAACP for its racist portrayal of African Americans and the use of the word "Nigger".

Understanding Islam through Hadis Ram Swarup Philosophical Treatise Banned in India under 153A and 295A of the Indian Penal Code.


We Yevgeny Zamyatin Sci-Fi Novel Banned in the USSR for political reasons.
The Wealth of Nations Adam Smith Economic Treatise Banned in the UK and France for criticizing Mercantilism. Banned in communist nations for its capitalist content.

The Well of Loneliness Radclyffe Hall Novel Banned in the UK in 1928 for its lesbian theme, republished in 1949.

Winds of Change Reza Pahlavi Political Science Banned in Iran for political reasons.


Zweites Buch Adolf Hitler Transcript Possession and sale is illegal in Germany and Austria because of Nazi content.

As heard from Rebekah

Just a few minutes ago, she asked me a question.....
"mom are you allowed to talk to strangers in your dreams?"

Musical Mondays

Phil Vasser
"Just another day in Paradise"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yakW10rgKX0
embedding disabled so you will have to click on the link......

For those that are lazy, here is another version.....shot live, not such good quality and first minute is another song



Artist/Band: Vassar Phil
Lyrics for Song: Just Another Day in Paradise
Lyrics for Album: Phil Vassar
The kids screaming, phone ringing
Dog barking at the mailman bringing
That stack of bills - overdue
Good morning baby, how are you?
Got a half hour, quick shower
Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour
My funny face makes you laugh
Twist the top on and I put it back
There goes the washing machine
Baby, don't kick it.
I promise I'll fix it
Long about a million other things

Well, it's ok. It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Friday, you're late
Guess we'll never make our dinner date
At the restaurant you start to cry
Baby, we'll just improvise
Well, plan B looks like
Dominoes' pizza in the candle light
Then we'll tippy toe to our room
Make a little love that's overdue
But somebody had a bad dream
Mama and daddy
Can meand my teddy
Come in to sleep in between?

Yeah it's ok. It's so nice.
It's just another day in paradise.
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Well, it's ok. It's so nice.
It's just another day in paradise.
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the lord every night
For just another day in paradise

For just another day in paradise
Well, it's the kids screaming. The phone ringing
Just another day
Well, it's Friday. You're late
Oh yeah, it's just another day in paradise

Books-Updated

Been awhile since I updated my list and I have read one on the list and bought a few more, which I have read.....so I need to cross some off and add a few more. As usual, changes are in bold. I need to read #15, #16, #17 before the Picnic on the 3rd.....


1)"My Ox is Broken" by adam-troy Castro
2) "Republic" by Plato (suggestion courtesy of will smith)
3) "The heart's Code" by Paul Pearsall
4) "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham
5) "Green River, Running Red" by Ann Rule
6) "My Michael" by Amos Oz
7) "At First Sight" by Nicolas sparks
8) "Japanese woman dont Get Old or Fat" by Naomi MOyarama
9) "flight from Heaven" by Jan Karon
10) "The Pursuit of Happyness" by Chris Gardner
11) "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" by David Brownstone and company
12) "Ellis Island Interviews" by Peter Mortan Coan
13) "Flood" by Andrew Vacchs
14) "How Children Raise Parents" by Dan B Allender
15) "its My Heart" by The Childrens Heart Foundation so the next time I am asked at a picnic I can give a "real response"
16) "The parents guide to children's Congenital Heart Defect" by Kramer and Mauer...same reason as above
17) "Partners fo the Heart" by Vivien Thomas, autobiography
18) "God, Guns, and rock n roll" by Ted Nugent
19) " 100 People who are screwing Up America (and al Franken is #37) by Bernard Goldberg
20) "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards" by Kathy Hirsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
21) "Every Second Counts, The Race to Transplant the First Human Heart" by Donald McRae
22) "Freedom Writers Diary" by The freedom writers with Erin Gruwell
23) "DaVinci for Dummies"
24) "In This Sign" by Joanne Greenberg
25) "Mayada: Daughter of Iraq" by Jean Sasson
26) "Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited" by Aldous Huxley
27) "Night" by Elie Wiesel
28) "Stolen Lives: 20 years in a Desert Jail" by Malika Oufkir
29) "Sinister Shorts" by Perri O'Shaughnessy
30) "Fingernail Moon" by Janie Webster
31)"One For the Money" by Janet Evanovich
32) "A Thomas Jefferson Education" by Oliver Van DeMile
33) "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
34) "Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha's Vineyard" by Nora Ellen Groce
35)Paula Deen: A Memoir It aint all about the Cookin' by Paula Deen
36) The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
37) Dawn by Elie Wiesel
38) 10 Conversations you need to Have With Your Children by Shmuley Boteach

Musical Mondays a day late

I thought about it and didnt come up with anything good, then my day got busy and I never got around to it.
Today, I decided I needed a Weird Al song but, what song? AH HA I have it....but no computer access.....
Here I sit finally at the computer and I cant remember what song it was. So you will have to take this one....

Musical Mondays

OK here we go lol
I love this song. This song was what drove me to buy my first Reba tape...yes I said tape.
But today I present you with the original....followed by Reba's version for comparison purposes.
The original is by Vicki Lawrence...yes Mama from Mama's Family. I love her....she was actually a customer in my parents pet store oh so many years ago. She fed her dogs science diet Canine maintence way back then.
I have read that when she does stand up acts, she still performs this song which, was originally written by her husband at the time....
For some reason the 2 you tubes with this song are sound delayed....you see her put the mic down well before she stops a verse and pick it back up well before she starts.....but you get the point.
"The Night The Lights Went Down in Georgia"



Version #2 the one everyone knows by Reba.....(but remember mama did it first!)





THE WORDS:
He was on his way home from Candletop,
Been two weeks gone and he thought he'd stop
At Webb's and have him a drink 'fore he went home to her
Andy Wollo said hello,
And he said, "Hi, what's doin', Wo?"
Said, "Sit down. I got some bad news; it's gonna hurt."

Said, "I'm your best friend and you know that's right.
But your young bride ain't home tonight.
Since you been gone, she's been seein' that Amos boy Seth."
Well, he got mad 'n he saw red,
And Andy said, "Boy, don'tcha lose your head
'Cause to tell ya the truth, I been with her myself."

Chorus:
That's the night that the lights went out in Georgia
That's the night that they hung an innocent man
Well, don't trust your soul to no backwoods Southern lawyer
'Cause the judge in the town's got bloodstains on his hands

Well, Andy got scared and left the bar,
Walkin' on home 'cause he didn't live far
See, Andy didn't have many friends and he'd just lost him one
Brother thought his wife musta left town
So, he went home and finally found
The only thing Papa had left him 'n that was a gun

And he went off to Andy's house,
A-skippin' through the backwoods quiet as a mouse,
Came upon some tracks too small for Andy to make
He looked through the screen at the back-porch door
And he saw Andy lyin' on the floor
In a puddle of blood and he started to shake

Well, the Georgia Patrol was a-makin' their rounds
So, he fired a shot just to flag 'em down,
And a big-bellied sheriff grabbed his gun and said, "Why'd ya do it?"
And the judge said, "Guilty!" in a make-believe trial,
Slapped the sheriff on the back with a smile,
Said, "Supper's waitin' at home and I gotta get to it."

Chorus

Well, they hung my brother before I could say
The tracks he saw while on his way
To Andy's house and back that night were mine
And his cheatin' wife had never left town
And that's one body that'll never be found
See, little sister don't miss when she aims her gun

Chorus

I think I will blog----2nd half turned into a rant

DH is at a meeting, Christine is at Disney (surprise, surprise)
Around 1 or so today, I found out Rebekah will attend camp del corazon's Malibu camp. I applied for both with Malibu being the preference....
About 2hrs ago, Rebekah asked me if she was going to camp....Like a dummy I said "yes"
Well, I think she is about half way packed or at least has it planned. Its not til Memorial day weekend, and we havent received the to bring list....but she is on it already....(and giving me a headache).
She also asked why she wasn't going where Christine had previously gone. So, I told her it is a camp for those with different hearts like you (not wanting to use defect or problem, because she WILL dwell on that) so we went to the covepoint site and looked at a normal heart vs her heart.. http://http://www.pted.org/htms/transpositionl1.php

page 2 is better....not completely her heart but a good idea....(hers is also in the wrong place, dextrocardia,amoung other things)
she asked if they all had hearts in the wrong place, I said no, some might but most will not and then I mentioned the picnic that is held every year....and it dawned on her that her friends there ALL had a different heart...so we had to search for pictures of one local little boys heart...how it was when he was born vs how it is now, 3 surgeries later.
I will let you know in a few days how she processes that information :)
meanwhile she is still planning her packing....

Ok and my real reason for blogging :)

My thoughts on the whole concealed carry blah blah blah forget the term in California.
For those that know me real well, my family shoots. My DH, Christine, my FIL, my BIL, neices and nephews,my dad(I remember the gun on the living room floor during the LA Riots), My moms husband, list goes on and on. Ivan and Christine also do archery (That sounds odd....do archery....you would do bow hunting but not sure if you Do archery...whatever)
I Dont
no desire at all. Been with them once. Didnt shoot, enjoyed the company but, no desire what-so-ever.
Ivan has mentioned in the past a CCW, I Am opposed to HIM having one. I Would feel akward not to mention, he doesnt even wear things where concealment would even be possible....he rarely wears a jacket...never has a fanny pack or other purse like object....so where would he put it?
HOWEVER, should I ever be in a situation like what happened in VErmont, I would be damn glad for every single person who was carrying concealed. I Encourage those that can to do so. Or at least pretend you are.

Gun free zones don't work. Anyone notice those are where the shootings happen? Why? because the shooter knows he is safe and no one else has a gun! Law abiding gun owners dont commit these crimes. Because they like their guns and enjoy the sport(yes, sport...check the olympics). And committing these crimes could ruin all of that. Its the illegally obtained guns you need to worry about. And no amount of laws will change that....OH you think it will? because we have no drug problem here right? OF COURSE we dont, drugs are illegal. See my point?

ON a board DH posts on, there is a guy there who asked Vermont Tech to lift the gun ban for those with concealed permits, there is also a sheriff (?) who was predominantly featured in the video constantly shown on the tv, and the poor guy the internet convicted of the crime is also a member.

Oddly, this comes on the heals of reading Ted Nugents book.

If you read all of this, you must be bored
:)

Musical Monday

I love this song.....heard it a few hours ago on the radio....dedicated to the families and loved ones at Virginia Tech




The Dance by Garth Brooks

Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared 'neath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Holding you I held everything
For a moment wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say you know I might have changed it all


And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain but I'd of had to miss the dance

The books I have read

In order they appear....
"My ox is broken"
an overview of the seasons of The Amazing Race. Also contains a few interview with past contestants and some little "things you didnt know" facts. Easy to read, enjoyed the authors writing style. I did hope for a bit more revealing stuff but hey, it was the amazing race and I was happy.

"My Michael"
This was someone book club selection, Oprah perhaps. I bought it awhile ago because I generally like her choices. I started reading it, set it down and didnt care. This time I finished it....I didnt hate it, I didnt like it, I just didnt care. It was so non descript to me that thinking back, I dont really recall what it was really about...

"The Pursuit of Happyness"
Eh....had potential, well written. Good for the inner city inspiration. Seemed, to me, really focused on the whole poor me because I am black this happened mentality. I hate that. Glad he pulled himself up, glad he succeeded but could have done with out the blacktude.

"Flood"
I liked. Really dark. Was recommended to me and the person said the same thing, I didnt get it then. I get it now but cant explain. A bit mystery type, detectiv-ey but all dealing with dark, illegal things. I would prob read more by this author....

"God, Guns and Rock n Roll"
oh Ted, ya ruined a good thing. Great book, Great read.....I think any enviromentalist could get alot out of this book, even if anti gun. BUT, if you dont like to listen to ted, you would have a hard time with this book. He goes off on Ted Rants....and it is just like when you hear him interviewed or on one of his shows. You can "hear" him saying it. I wish he would have edited himself a bit more. I think he could have reached ALOT more people if he had done so. Good, good points about family and respecting the world around you.

"Every Second counts....."
Good book. Hard read because fact filled and following the 3 main pioneers in the race to transplant at the same time....took me a minute every time he changed men to lay the facts out in the right time span. Learned alot about the men involved and the process leading up to it. Also mentioned Christiaan Barnards brother is writing a book from his perspective (he was his brothers assistant surgeon....I had no idea). I will be looking for that book for sure.

"In this Sign"
written by an author who's stories I have enjoyed before but, oh so long ago. As I began this I recalled that I liked the stories but not necessarily her telling. She has a bit different writing style. But once again, I enjoyed her story. A story of a deaf couple in the hearing world. Who dont quite understand alot of what is going on around them and not long after their marriage get really screwed because of it....and it affects their lives forever.

"Mayada"
I have read Jean Sassoon before. I like her. This is the story of a well respect woman from an influential family in Iraq who is wrongly jailed. And her time in jail.

"Night"
True story by a holocaust survivor. His story of his time in captivity. You really feel his pain. It is a brutally honest story of what happened to him in his time in two of the most well known camps.

"Stolen Lives"
Story of a family's who father planned to overthrow the government of Morocco. The author lived many years in the kings palace. It was after her return to her family, that her father (who was high ranking) made the attempt. His was executed and the family was jailed. Treated nicer then most prisoners but still horribly. Great tale of a family sticking together and surviving. But I didnt care for how she wrote. It was an odd proper writing style, perhaps the beauty of the words were lost in translation. She has written a follow up book and despite not liking her writing style, I am a tad bit curious and will prob read it eventuatlly (watch for it to appear on my list lol. I want to see how as an adult she dealt with loosing her prime of life (In arab culture, that is) to a jail.

"fingernail moon"
mom on the run. Reminded me of not without my daughter. I loved the tale. Divorced mom, child is being sexually abused by the dad, most of the reason for the divorce but, the courts still grant him unsupervised visits, important detail (to me at least)is that Dad also has AIDS....so off she goes on a journey thru the world. Luckily her parents had some funds to help her. Anymore might ruin the story. Took me no time to read this book.....I craved the ending of the story.

And there ya' have it. I think I got them all.
Off to read another book!

Updated book list

Going to update it now, then the next post will have short opinion of the books that I have read.

1)"My Ox is Broken" by adam-troy Castro
2) "Republic" by Plato (suggestion courtesy of will smith)
3) "The heart's Code" by Paul Pearsall
4) "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham
5) "Green River, Running Red" by Ann Rule
6) "My Michael" by Amos Oz
7) "At First Sight" by Nicolas sparks
8) "Japanese woman dont Get Old or Fat" by Naomi MOyarama
9) "flight from Heaven" by Jan Karon
10) "The Pursuit of Happyness" by Chris Gardner
11) "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" by David Brownstone and company
12) "Ellis Island Interviews" by Peter Mortan Coan
13) "Flood" by Andrew Vacchs
14) "How Children Raise Parents" by Dan B Allender
15) "its My Heart" by The Childrens Heart Foundation so the next time I am asked at a picnic I can give a "real response"
16) "The parents guide to children's Congenital Heart Defect" by Kramer and Mauer...same reason as above
17) "Partners fo the Heart" by Vivien Thomas, autobiography
18) "God, Guns, and rock n roll" by Ted Nugent
19) " 100 People who are screwing Up America (and al Franken is #37) by Bernard Goldberg
20) "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards" by Kathy HIrsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
21) "Every Second Counts, The Race to Transplant the First Human Heart" by Donald McRae
22) "Freedom Writers Diary" by The freedom writers with Erin Gruwell
23) "DaVinci for Dummies"
24) "In This Sign" by Joanne Greenberg
25) "Mayada: Daughter of Iraq" by Jean Sasson
26) "Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited" by Aldous Huxley
27) "Night" by Elie Wiesel
28) "Stolen Lives: 20 years in a Desert Jail" by Malika Oufkir
29) "Sinister Shorts" by Perri O'Shaughnessy
30) "Fingernail Moon" by Janie Webster
31)"One For the Money" by Janet Evanovich
32) "A Thomas Jefferson Education" by Oliver Van DeMile
33) "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
34) "Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha's Vineyard" by Nora Ellen Groce

Draft from christine

I have no explanation why this is a draft not a tag or whatever but here goes


How tall are you barefoot? a hair shy of 5'5"

Have you ever flown first-class? yes, wasnt supposed to but ticket screw up got us teenagers first class....

One of your favorite books when you were a child? wow I read sooo much as a kid....Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, The little house series....not sure I could pick just one....although Super Fudge and Tales of a 4th grade nothing do stick out

A good restaurant in your city? In my city? Ate at The Melting Pot a few weeks back, that was pretty good. All my first thoughts are not in my city.....

What is your favorite small appliance? Coffee Maker....duh!

One person who never fails to make you laugh?

What was the first music that you ever bought? Tears for Fears maybe, or David Lee Roth

Do you do push-ups? no way, Jose

What was one of your favorite games as a child? Board game or other game? We always played hide n seek at twilight as a kid, we also played Marco Polo in the pool in the backyard all summer. Board game would be tripoly, monopoly or scrabble. Although I did own the Happy Days game, that I remember playing quite often

When you were twelve years old, what did you want to be when you grew up? Prob a teacher

Your favorite Soup of the Day? Clam Chowder, Boston if I can find it....

Have you ever met someone famous? Not that I can recall....Oh wait, many,many moons ago (i was maybe 6 or so) I met Donny Most and Adrianne Barberi (?) at a racquet ball tournament at my parents raquet club. OH and Vicky Lawrence was a regular customer at my parents pet store...

From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news? Internet! Our news on television here isn't that good.

Current worry? None

Current hate? None

Favorite place to be?

Least favorite place to be?

Do you consider yourself well organized? Not particularly

Do you believe in an afterlife? Yes

Where do you think you will be in 10 years?

Do you burn or tan? neither, I am so white I think I reflect the sun

Are you more optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Optimistic

What did you fear was going to get you at night as a kid? A man outside my window (a good wind would have the big pine tree brushing on the window)

What's in your pockets right now? No pockets

Last thing that made you laugh? That David Blane spoof

Worst injury you've ever had? hmm a few broken toes

How many TVs do you own? 3

Best compliment received? I dont really recall

What leaves you speechless? Stupid People

What is your favorite book? I like books too much to pick a single favorite. Although I used to re-read "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

Last meal you cooked for the opposite sex? dinner last night, although I didnt cook the chicken....

Musical Mondays, a day late

Got busy yesterday and didnt even have the time to think of a song.
So, started off this morning by trying to think of a song....needed to get this done BEFORE Christine noticed I hadnt done my musical monday and decided to do it again for me.....
I am reading Ted Nugents book so I thought maybe a nuge song....nope couldnt find anything I felt really attached to (although I do like cat scratch fever)
Then it hit me....
My youngest 2 sing this song, and I have heard DH and oldest practicing it on the bass for a few days now....
and then to top it off, I found a cool claymation with the song!
I present
BORIS THE SPIDER

Muscial Mondays

I love this original song......and in honor of sundown this evening

Books: an Update PLUS a bonus question for those reading it

Less then a week later, here I am making a change....I read #13....pretty good, dark novel....the underworld type of thing, would prob read the author again
I will add a few of the ones I have found roaming my desk, not on the list . I need to figure out what is up next....my deadline on #15 and #16 is looming....but I still have 2 more months....nothing like a bit of procrastination.....I need something that will make me think and is somewhat inspirational....
I hear #18 is good for that....believe it or not....the old rocker and hunter....gets angry that no one does family meals anymore....
Ok so I am narrowing it down, #18, #17, #32 and #34 is almost taunting me.....I went to a "Deaf Culture" workshop that mentioned the culture formed on Martha's Vineyard so it makes that one very tempting.

SOO....Just curious A question for those reading this......is my list really strange? Have you read anything on it? Have you at least HEARD of some one these books?

Bold indicates changes

1)"My Ox is Broken" by adam-troy Castro
2) "Republic" by Plato (suggestion courtesy of will smith)
3) "The heart's Code" by Paul Pearsall
4) "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham
5) "Green River, Running Red" by Ann Rule
6) "My Michael" by Amos Oz
7) "At First Sight" by Nicolas sparks
8) "Japanese woman dont Get Old or Fat" by Naomi MOyarama
9) "flight from Heaven" by Jan Karon
10) "The Pursuit of Happyness" by Chris Gardner
11) "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" by David Brownstone and company
12) "Ellis Island Interviews" by Peter Mortan Coan
13) "Flood" by Andrew Vacchs
14) "How Children Raise Parents" by Dan B Allender
15) "its My Heart" by The Childrens Heart Foundation so the next time I am asked at a picnic I can give a "real response"
16) "The parents guide to children's Congenital Heart Defect" by Kramer and Mauer...same reason as above
17) "Partners fo the Heart" by Vivien Thomas, autobiography
18) "God, Guns, and rock n roll" by Ted Nugent
19) " 100 People who are screwing Up America (and al Franken is #37) by Bernard Goldberg
20) "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards" by Kathy HIrsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
21) "Every Second Counts, The Race to Transplant the First Human Heart" by Donald McRae
22) "Freedom Writers Diary" by The freedom writers with Erin Gruwell
23) "DaVinci for Dummies"
24) "In This Sign" by Joanne Greenberg
25) "Mayada: Daughter of Iraq" by Jean Sasson
26) "Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited" by Aldous Huxley
27) "Night" by Elie Wiesel
28) "Stolen Lives: 20 years in a Desert Jail" by Malika Oufkir
29) "Sinister Shorts" by Perri O'Shaughnessy
30) "Fingernail Moon" by Janie Webster
31)"One For the Money" by Janet Evanovich
32) "A Thomas Jefferson Education" by Oliver Van DeMile
33) "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
34) "Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha's Vineyard" by Nora Ellen Groce


if you want to purchase any of these, do me a favor go to www.caheartconnection.org and click on the amazon link on the left and then buy them.....
SOOOO what are you reading????besides this post....

a book tag

I saw this in a friends blog this morning and thought I will have to do this one.....as I love books....
then Christine read the same blog, did it herself and tagged me.

Hardback or trade paperback or mass market paperback? Paper back is my preferred version of a book

Amazon or brick and mortar? for me that is TOUGH!....I love to browse the book store but I love the amazon recommendation feature....I have found more interesting books that way.

Bookmark or dogear? I dogear....I must confess....it bothers my daughter....but I currently have a postcard I am using as a book mark (Have I mentioned postcrossing.com lately? maybe that needs a blog entry) I like the old bookmarks with the yarn at the top....not the new fancy clip on things that cost as much as the book.

Alphabetize by author or alphabetize by title or random? randomn order....seriously normally by catergory and then by size so they look neat

Keep, throw away, or sell? Keep....most often I keep.....I dont normally loan....because I am afraid of not getting it back(I love my books). If I wont read again, I tend to give away before I will sell.....I dont normally donate because I like to know who I am sharing a book with.....however my box of give away is getting full and I havent had an recent takers....so donate might be around the corner....I hear I could try paperback swap but I am not sure I have that energy :)

Keep dust jacket or toss it? Keep and use the flaps as the book mark

Read with dust jacket or remove it? see above

Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? Potter since I havent read lemony snicket...maybe I should

“It was a dark and stormy night” or “Once upon a time”? Dark and stormy night...not a fantasy person...

Buy or Borrow? I wish I could borrow....but then if I like it, I want to own it....so I normally buy....

New or used? Used but my kids loose patience with me at the used book stores so I generally end up with new

Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation or browse?All three

Tidy ending or cliffhanger? tidy ending unless it is a series

Morning reading, afternoon reading or nighttime reading? Anytime...there is almost always a book in my car (shoot have to clean that out going to body shop tomorrow) and they often accompany me to all sorts of places

Favorite series? gosh that is tough....I havent really read any series recently except the Nina Oreilly series by perri o shaughnessy. I have received recommendations for 2 series books....the number or counting series from Janet Evanovich and the Burke series by ANdrew Vacchs. I have begun the first in the Burke series and it isnt too bad. As a child I read the Little house series and the boxcar childrens series as often as I could...OH Yeah duh, I read the Harry Potter Series...

Favorite children's book? Shel Silversteins poems, Little house(did you know that the publisher of the extra books...the rose years, caroline years etc....is no longer publishing the complete books only abridged editions?), Boxcar Children, Amelia Bedelia

Favorite book of which nobody else has heard? hmm people look at me funny when I say I like "the Bell Jar" by sylvia Plath

Favorite books read last year? Not a clue....days run together.....there is no way I can remember last years books

Favorite books of all time? oh I cant pick a favorite....I dont think....I like to read sooo much that that is way too hard to do...and there are sooo many genres to choose from......nope cant list a favorite

Least favorite book you finished last year? If I dont like it I usually dont finish it.....

What are you reading right now? Flood by Andrew Vachss....I usually read one book at a time....but along with that being hauled around is A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Van DeMille...after that....see other posts in the Books catergory for my current list

What are you reading next? A Thomas Jefferson Education is prob next....although I have a few others calling my name, including "Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary deafness on Martha's Vineyard" and a few planned read alouds with Rebekah....

Tag from nancy

Oh so silly but what the hey.....
Pick the month you were born.
Pick the day (number) you were born.
Pick the color of shirt you are wearing.
Now type out the sentence you made using the answers below:Pick the month you were born:
January----------I kicked
February--------I loved
March------------I punched
April---------------I swam with
May---------------I choked on
June---------------I murdered
July----------------I did the Macarena with
August-----------I had lunch with
September------I danced with
October----------I sang to
November-------I yelled at
December-------I ran over

Pick the day ( number) you were born on:
1----- --a birdbath
2-------a monster
3-------a phone
4-------a fork
5-------a Mexican
6-------a flamingo
7-------my cell phone
8-------my dog
9-------my best friends' boyfriend
10------my neighbor
11------my science teacher
12------a banana
13------a fireman
14------a stuffed animal
15------a goat
16------a pickle
17------a squirrel
18------a spoon
19------myself
20------a baseball bat
21------a ninja
22------a snowman
23------a noodle
24-- ----your mom
25------a football player
26------my sister
27------my brother
28------an ipod
29------a permanent marker
30------a llama
31------a zombie
Pick the color of shirt you are wearing:
White----------because I'm very pretty.
Black----------because that's how I play.
Pink------------because I'm cool like that.
Red-------------because the voices told me to.
Blue------------because I can see the future.
Green----------because I love to boogie.
Purple----------because your mom's cool.
Gray------------because the voices in my head told me to.
Yellow---------because someone offered me 1,000,000 dollars
Orange---------because I tripped over my house
Brown----------because I love my pillow.
Other-----------because I'm a ninja.
None-----------because I can't control myself

Now, please post your sentences in the comments area. Some of these can be really funny...
Mine was: "I had lunch witha flamingo because the voices told me too"

Musical Monday - The Corrs

Seeing as the last Musical Monday selection I picked for you was too hardcore for your taste, I figured I'd pick something softer but not soft and sissy, ala James Blunt.

This song was originally done by Ryan Adams, but covered by The Corrs.

Here's an acoustic version:



This is my favorite version (I think you can see why!) live in Dublin.

Enjoy!

Geocaching

We have been geocaching alot this week. I think we logged 11 new caches since last sunday night. Its all about the hunt.....and finding it but, not so much about the actual object you find. We have seen caches that look like bottle caps, security cameras, tree leaves and all sorts of other this week alone. Some contain nothing more then a log, some contain silly toys, or awarenss bracelets or the occasional travel bug.
We went to my moms and showed them a few local caches yesterday. One they had just passed 2 days ago at the drive thru at walgreens. Another was a box in a field for exchanging books. I know there is one for exchanging movies in Temecula.
There are over 20 local (under 2miles) away from our home. Its a fun family adventure and most can be done at all hours of the day.
All you need is a gps device.
Check out www.geocaching.com
or if you understand asl you can watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMS9Zim973Q

The Amazing race

Is on tonight....
I let myself sit down and actually watch this show....occasionally I will make a blanket or fold socks while watching but, I really enjoy this show so, I dont hop around trying to do other things while it is on.
And also on TV today is a spring training angels game. That doesnt happen too often....I think todays is coming from Tucson.....
OOPPS nope, from mesa....For some reason I thought the Cubs shared the park in Tucson with the diamondbacks....maybe that is the Rockies? Hmm, I dont know....dont terribly care either lol

Books, updated again

Its been awhile and 2 more books off the list.
I can clearly see some books are not on the list.....I think I will make those changes next time.....
What should I read next? Number 3? Number 5? 12? 13? 14? I dont really know....perhaps one of the new ones not on the list?
I can't currently read number 18, because Christine has posession of it, number 19 is being read by Ivan currently.....

Bold indicates changes

1)"My Ox is Broken" by adam-troy Castro
2) "Republic" by Plato (suggestion courtesy of will smith)
3) "The heart's Code" by Paul Pearsall
4) "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham
5) "Green River, Running Red" by Ann Rule
6) "My Michael" by Amos Oz
7) "At First Sight" by Nicolas sparks
8) "Japanese woman dont Get Old or Fat" by Naomi MOyarama
9) "flight from Heaven" by Jan Karon
10) "The Pursuit of Happyness" by Chris Gardner
11) "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" by David Brownstone and company
12) "Ellis Island Interviews" by Peter Mortan Coan
13) "Flood" by Andrew Vacchs
14) "How Children Raise Parents" by Dan B Allender
15) "its My Heart" by The Childrens Heart Foundation so the next time I am asked at a picnic I can give a "real response"
16) "The parents guide to children's Congenital Heart Defect" by Kramer and Mauer...same reason as above
17) "Partners fo the Heart" by Vivien Thomas, autobiography
18) "God, Guns, and rock n roll" by Ted Nugent
19) " 100 People who are screwing Up America (and al Franken is #37) by Bernard Goldberg
20) "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards" by Kathy HIrsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
21) "Every Second Counts, The Race to Transplant the First Human Heart" by Donald McRae
22) "Freedom Writers Diary" by The freedom writers with Erin Gruwell
23) "DaVinci for Dummies"
24) "In This Sign" by Joanne Greenberg
25) "Mayada: Daughter of Iraq" by Jean Sasson
26) "Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited" by Aldous Huxley
27) "Night" by Elie Wiesel
28) "Stolen Lives: 20 years in a Desert Jail" by Malika Oufkir
29) "Sinister Shorts" by Perri O'Shaughnessy

30) "Fingernail Moon" by Janie Webster

if you want to purchase any of these, do me a favor go to www.caheartconnection.org and click on the amazon link on the left and then buy them.....
SOOOO what are you reading????besides this post....

Musical Monday - Strong Bad

I am doing my mom's Musical Monday post again. She had no song set in mind, so I picked one out just for her! I hope she'll be happy.

This is played on Guitar Hero, since there is no official video for it, but it is featured in Guitar Hero 2.

Trogdor by Strong Bad
The original Trogdor cartoon can be found HERE.

Musical Monday----attempted all on my own

Hope this works.

Didnt really have a specific song stuck in my head.....

I generally choose country music to listen to, although I do like many types. And since we just got a country station back...I decided you all needed some country. So off searching youtube for something to post, I found a shania twain doing ac/dc....and ac/dc song I love....didnt like her doing it....which is odd because I normally like shania....

Kept searching and found this video. It is 2 songs being done as a duet between shania and Elton John, who I also love. I like the first song, the best of the two.




Ok so here is another....LOL
I love this song.....I think it is really pretty....once again more country...but I am not a huge Randy travis fan


and in honor of how I spent my Sunday.....I actually saw these guys perform

Quote of the week

From Rebekah

My body is a disaster inside, I'm serious. With all those bones and stuff -- DISASTER!

I speak greek

or perhaps it it Latin...
whatever it is, I had no idea I spoke it

At least I assume that is why "stay out of the Game closet" isnt understood.

We have games, we have alot of games, we dont play them nearly enough but we have lots......which means while on shelves, they are stacked. I have no problem with my kids playing games. But, they need to #1 ask, #2 let someone get them out, & #3 play only one at a time.

Nope couldnt do it....for what seems like the 3rd time this week, we have had a child in the game closet. Mostly child #2.

Today, the dug out Battle ship. Which was on a shelf higher then she is tall. Which meant a mess......but this time, it was a huge mess......at least 7 games are still sitting on my bed in pieces.....

I have placed them on a high shelf in my closet. well not all, the ones still on my bed sit there.
Stratego is missiong on piece...yes ONE, sorry is missing, I think, a green player, aggravation (HEY THAT ME RIGHT NOW) is missing 2 green pegs, payday and lifes money is everywhere....
And candyland will be the game that never ends.....because it has one board and 2 cards....yep 2....and come to think of it.....no players.....
Payday is also missing a few "players" and I didnt count life.....but I found a car on the floor.....
I didnt actually check scrabble....I put the tile I found on the floor in the box and shoved it away.

My husband said "I'll take care of it" when I called to whine to him. I dont think he grasped the mess. I think he will still think I didnt pick up any of it when he sees our bed.

oh and the lunch that she didnt finish that kept her home, still not finished.

I dont think I need coffee at the block tonight......I think I need a drink....but I wont because I am driving.

This week in my life....

and if I dont get bored you might hear about next.

As I type this my youngest daughter is SOBBING in between beating her brother up. She wont eat her lunch and thus did not get to go fishing with dad.....
And I am listening to a spring training game on the radio. I think one is on tv this weekend.

Lets work backwards first.
Today
Christine is took and SIGN1 midterm. Rebekah did not go. She thinks it is because she did not behave last week, and while that is true, she did not go mostly because of the midterm. After the midterm, I picked her up and delivered her at Disneyland with her friends, a group of homeschooling teens. She also ran into one of her and DH's shooting buddies (who DH is now fishing with). Tonight is the montly sign/deaf meetup at the block.

Thursday
Rebekah went to Grandmas in the AM to work on writing, reading, math. Rebekahs version says it was all writing(printing) practice. While she was there, I took the other 2 to some thrift stores. Christine was looking for a pair of brightly colored pants, as her friend deemed Friday, Brightly colored pants day.
After the thrift store adventure, it was time for girlscouts.....


hmmm
ya know what, this style of blogging isnt me.....detailing events as opposed to my normal ramblings which may or may not include what i have done over the week.
so the post will end now....

Books: an updated list

Well, last time I said I would read something cheery and easy....I didnt....my last book took me forever....it was good but meaty and lots to think about. It looks like my current read, one I just grabbed off my desk, wasnt even on my last list so, I have added it. Bold indicates changes



1)"My Ox is Broken" by adam-troy Castro
2) "Republic" by Plato (suggestion courtesy of will smith)
3) "The heart's Code" by Paul Pearsall
4) "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham
5) "Green River, Running Red" by Ann Rule
6) "My Michael" by Amos Oz
7) "At First Sight" by Nicolas sparks
8) "Japanese woman dont Get Old or Fat" by Naomi MOyarama
9) "flight from Heaven" by Jan Karon
10) "The Pursuit of Happyness" by Chris Gardner
11) "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" by David Brownstone and company
12) "Ellis Island Interviews" by Peter Mortan Coan
13) "Flood" by Andrew Vacchs
14) "How Children Raise Parents" by Dan B Allender
15) "its My Heart" by The Childrens Heart Foundation so the next time I am asked at a picnic I can give a "real response"
16) "The parents guide to children's Congenital Heart Defect" by Kramer and Mauer...same reason as above
17) "Partners fo the Heart" by Vivien Thomas, autobiography
18) "God, Guns, and rock n roll" by Ted Nugent
19) " 100 People who are screwing Up America (and al Franken is #37) by Bernard Goldberg
20) "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards" by Kathy HIrsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
21) "Every Second Counts, The Race to Transplant the First Human Heart" by Donald McRae
22) "Freedom Writers Diary" by The freedom writers with Erin Gruwell
23) "DaVinci for Dummies"
24) "In This Sign" by Joanne Greenberg
25) "Mayada: Daughter of Iraq" by Jean Sasson
26) "Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited" by Aldous Huxley
27) "Night" by Elie Wiesel
28) "Stolen Lives: 20 years in a Desert Jail" by Malika Oufkir
29) "Sinister Shorts" by Perri O'Shaughnessy
30) "Fingernail Moon" by Janie Webster

if you want to purchase any of these, do me a favor go to www.caheartconnection.org and click on the amazon link on the left and then buy them.....

SOOOO what are you reading????
besides this post....

a challenge for dan

ha ha
going to update my book list in a few......
so when he does his weekly round up, he will be forced to choose between my really exciting book list or teasing me on the fact that my musical mondays was done by my daughter because I couldnt figure it out. (or actually my brain was too taxed to wrap it around the concepts)

Maybe I will blog more later.....

maybe my own what we did this week and what is on the schedule for the upcoming days.

Musical Monday: Paul Simon

Despite the directions being right at Dan's blog, my mom relies on me to do her "Musical Monday" post. She said the thought of choosing a song was scary, so I volunteered to choose one for her... That was shot down, so here you have it:

"You Can Call Me Al" by Paul Simon [live]



You can check MY musical Monday post here, which is surely much better.


PS by blog owner
I originally picked this because not only do I like the song, I like the original video which of course was not on youtube

for a cause.....

Tis the season, I suppose....

I have received a few emails about walk athon, jog a thon etc type of things....I thought I would share them here for anyone interested.


For Diabetes, a bikeathon

For Breast Cancer


I am sure to get more, I usually get a March of Dimes one too.....

Also I have 2 "up-trade" sites:
Money for old rope
He currently has a football/soccer jersey up for trade...He started with a piece of rope

next is
Special zipper
Currently the item up for trade is a set of Dennis Lillee prints
Tim started with a zipper.

But, here is a really simple one for ya'...all you have to do is your normal grocery shopping, if you have an Albertsons card....AND if you already have your albertsons card linked to some organization, you can actually split the donations between up to 3 groups and determine which percentage each one gets.

Albertson's Community Partners
Just link your Albertson's Savings Card to California Heart Connection and you will help us every time you shop! Just call 1-877-932-7948 to link your Albertson's card to us - or do it online:
1. Go to Albertsons Community Partners.
2. Log In - enter your Albertsons number and your phone number
3. Click on 'Find A Partner" and search for "California Heart Connection"
4. Choose California Heart Connection - that's it!



Ok enough worthy cause for awhile from me ......
unless you shop at amazon, then I will add one more....
go to www.caheartconnection.org
scroll down to the amazon link, click on it and shop.....as long as you click thru that link, amazon gives California Heart Connection a bit of the profit.

If anyone else has something I missed, leave a comment and let me know, unless it is an AHA walk....then to quote dan "bugger off"

ITS HERE! ITS HERE

Yah my daughter will have some smart ass comment to make about this post but

ITS HERE! ITS HERE!
Baseball season has begun.....I sit here listening to The Angels vs the royals spring training game.

I love baseball.

Ervin Santana is pitching.....the angels are at home at Tempe Diablo Stadium. They havent come up to bat yet....still the top of the first but, still the season has begun!

Totally bored

for the moment. So, I will blog....I have no idea about what...
Waiting for Ivan and christine to return. Christine is at dance and then they are picking up chinese food....my tongue is not metallic but I will still use chopsticks....at least until I am bored with them.
(If that makes no sense, read my profile)
Not enough time to really read, they should be here soon.
Yesterday....
the chili came out pretty good. Good enough that some was even eaten as leftovers....
and I felt like crap....I feel better today....my ear hurt....to go with my lovely (insert sarcasm) seasonal sinus ca ca....my ear hurt....I couldnt touch it hurt. I warned christine last night that I might have a dr appt today but when I woke up it felt much better.....
What else is new?
hmm oh yah it looks like child number 3 has decided to use the potty......he is double tamsyn age (shut up dan) and it took serious bribbery (everytime you pee I will give you candy) but he now wears underware all day long. He figured out on his own what the hole in the front of the underware is for lol...well hey this is a better topic then the current pdheart conversation.

OH goody I hear Rebekah and Nathan hollering about a mess upstairs.....that never works out well.

I can't believe I am trying to plan something for summer already. Rebekah wants to go to camp del corozan this summer....christine is interested in Catalina Sea Adventure and she is doing a "silent weekend" in July. I actually got a brochure today from a local marine museum for their camps.

Girl Scout cookies are in.....I missed yesterday's pick up....next available saturday early evening. I will prob end up waiting til next week's meeting.....Saturday is going to be tough. Then I have to ship them out.....

TAR
That would be The Amazing Race
I am a total addict. I was bummed that Kevin and Drew were last but, Drew was just not ready for it. According to the insider videos, he is in pretty bad physical health and that just led to misery for him. I watched their arrival to the sequester area and he seemed more like the drew I remembered from the first season. I am still hoping Rob and Amber go home soon. While they really do make a good racing team, I am sick of them.

OH I think dinner might be here

What's for dinner?

So, what are you making? I am always looking for something new.
Todays is a recipe from a friends Live journal....I could save myself alot of time and link you there but, I believe the entry is a private one....so you would see nothing.
Its a crockpot recipe, which generally means easy which fits my first requirement for a new recipe...
It is originally called Brett Favre chili but, her son renamed it 49er chili.


1 1/2 lb ground beef
2 med green and/or red sweet peppers, chopped
2 stalks of celery chopped
1 sm onion, chopped
1/2 cup sliced green onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 15-16oz can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes, undrained
1 14oz can diced tomatoes with garlic, undrained
1 140z can diced tomatoes with green chilis, undrained
1 10oz can cream of mush soup
1 1.25 oz pkg chili seasoning mix
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/2 tsp creole seasoning or 1/4 cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground black pepper

In large skillet, cook ground beef until no longer pink, drain off fat. In crockpot,stir together all ingredients including ground beef. Cover and cook on low for 7-8hrs or high for 3-4.

I skipped the creole/cayenn pepper as I am serving it to small children.
So far my house smells pretty good.
I think I will serve corn muffins with it....

SOOOOO what are you having....
(Hmm i think my favorite word, at least to type, might be so)

A tag from my daughter

I think she should fill this out for me.....she hears me talk, she knows what my favorite words are.....


What is your favorite word?

What is your least favorite word?

What turns you on [creatively, spiritually or emotionally]? reading....rather a book, a story or even a blog

What turns you off?

What is your favorite curse word? I think I like them all the same....although I bet I use shit alot

What sound or noise do you love? I dunno....the waves crashing on an otherwise silent beach in the dark, or the silent but yet noisey sound you discover when camping out in the woods

What sound or noise do you hate? finger nails on a chalk board, that annoying beep on the atm waiting for your deposit envelop....crashes coming from upstairs....because I just know that means a mess

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? hmm I kinda like being a mom....can I be a mom with more time?...otherwise I dont feel much like attempting anything right now....

What profession would you not like to do? executioner....(although I do find something morbidly fascinating with the death penalty)

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "Welcome, you did a fine job."

Today

Today it has been 2 years since a dear friends daughter died. She was a beautiful, spirited little girl...so much like my own middle child also afflicted with a congenital heart defect that try and she might, she just couldn't overcome.
I met her dad, her mom and her before she was even born. I consider them dear friends who will certainly get a visit from me if I ever make it to England(better move now and leave no forwarding address, Dan). And her passing is prob one of the ones that affects me the most. I saved most of the emails received during her final stay in the hospital. And even re-reading them brings a tear to my eye. I wanted so much for this not to happen to my friend. I have seen it happen to many, I have attended funerals for some but none have ever hit me so hard. I remember my phone ringing in the very very early morning hours, bringing me the horrible news. I remember it like it was yesterday, not 2 yrs ago. I couldn't tell you what was said but, gosh do I remember it. Phone calls in the middle of the night never bring good news. I remember when our upstairs phone broke and I insisted on replacing it because you cant hear the other phone in our bedroom and I would never want to miss one of those calls.
I know my grief pales in comparision to her mum and dads. I just can't imagine what they feel. I would like to be able to say, that she obviously had a purpose here and without her I would have never have met her parents but, it is so hard to say...she was just an innocent and beautiful little girl.
I would insert a picture here but I don't know how.
I encourage anyone who might read my blog (I don't think their are many that don't already read Dan's)to visit Dans blog....it is at the side and is called "0ddness". Read his beautiful tribute to a beautiful girl and take a look at some of her photos.

I hate CHDs....but sadly they have brought me some of my dearest friends. Friends I am glad to have but I wish I had never met.

The amazing race

Ok so who watched?
I felt jipped.....spent so much time on what the teams have learned since their first race or worse yet, what do they think of Rob and amber....that we didnt get to see alot of the scenery and the place they were.....
For a more thorough review including links to places they went visit the blog listed at the side called "The Show must go on"

New Update to book list

Have read a few more books....
Took one I read and set it free in the wild.....via bookcrossing.com......seems a little silly but was kinda fun and I dont feel like I am throwing it away....

Wonder what I will read next.....need something cheery...and easy....


1) "My Ox is Broken" by adam-troy Castro
2) "Republic" by Plato (suggestion courtesy of will smith)
3) "The heart's Code" by Paul Pearsall
4) "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham
5) "Green River, Running Red" by Ann Rule
6) "My Michael" by Amos Oz
7) "At First Sight" by Nicolas sparks
8) "Japanese woman dont Get Old or Fat" by Naomi MOyarama
9) "flight from Heaven" by Jan Karon
10) "The Pursuit of Happyness" by Chris Gardner
11) "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" by David Brownstone and company
12) "Ellis Island Interviews" by Peter Mortan Coan
13) "Flood" by Andrew Vacchs
14) "How Children Raise Parents" by Dan B Allender
15) "its My Heart" by The Childrens Heart Foundation so the next time I am asked at a picnic I can give a "real response"
16) "The parents guide to children's Congenital Heart Defect" by Kramer and Mauer...same reason as above
17) "Partners fo the Heart" by Vivien Thomas, autobiography
18) "God, Guns, and rock n roll" by Ted Nugent
19) " 100 People who are screwing Up America (and al Franken is #37) by Bernard Goldberg
20) "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards" by Kathy HIrsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
21) "Every Second Counts, The Race to Transplant the First Human Heart" by Donald McRae
22) "Freedom Writers Diary" by The freedom writers with Erin Gruwell
23) "DaVinci for Dummies"
24) "In This Sign" by Joanne Greenberg
25) "Mayada: Daughter of Iraq" by Jean Sasson
26) "Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited" by Aldous Huxley
27) "Night" by Elie Wiesel
28) "Stolen Lives: 20 years in a Desert Jail" by Malika Oufkir
29) "Sinister Shorts" by Perri O'Shaughnessy

Public Service announcement

The Amazing Race starts tomorrow, sunday feb 18 at 8pm PST on your local CBS station.

Ignore the fact that it is an all stars addition and that rob and amber need no more air time.....just tune in for the locations!

Links at the side UPDATED

Going to draw a bit of attention to my sidebar.

First under blogs I read....
Congrats are in order for one of them. He is a shooting buddy of Ivan's and Christines. And while, quiet in person, quite amusing online. Good guy, spent some time with him and his girlfriend fiance.

Also, I have added another link...CHDA, inc...friend of mine on the east coast's CHD support group.
look around, its a treasure hut....find Rebekahs picture on that website.

Nance---you are now listed :)

Along with Little Lincoln Carter's blog.....guy has been waiting quite some time for a heart and he got one a few days ago....follow his progress.

I will be adding more links to my sidebar eventually, it takes me some time to get to it.....

Book list updated

I finished "Night" by Elie Wiesel. I enjoyed the book....good non fiction read about WW2, specifically the Nazis and life in a concentration camp. I, however, wish he has written a bit more....I would have loved to know what he did after liberation.....did he go dig up what his father buried?
Anyhow, I hope to update the list again in a few days, I am in the middle of another book on my list.
I have recently run across lists of what are considered classics for adults and young adults. I am surprised at how few I have actually read. I always read ALOT as a kid....and it was hard to ever find me without a book. I think I will be adding some of what I missed to this list.....the list really made be feel inadequate lol.....
Christine and some friends have joined a local Homeschool book club with the focus being classics. I think I will "read along" with them. This month's book is "The Phantom Tollbooth" while, not an adult classic, it is definitely considered a youth classic and I have never read it.



1) "My Ox is Broken" by adam-troy Castro
2) "Republic" by Plato (suggestion courtesy of will smith)
3) "The heart's Code" by Paul Pearsall
4) "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham
5) "Green River, Running Red" by Ann Rule
6) "My Michael" by Amos Oz
7) "At First Sight" by Nicolas sparks
8) "Japanese woman dont Get Old or Fat" by Naomi MOyarama
9) "flight from Heaven" by Jan Karon
10) "The Pursuit of Happyness" by Chris Gardner
11) "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" by David Brownstone and company
12) "Ellis Island Interviews" by Peter Mortan Coan
13) "Flood" by Andrew Vacchs
14) "How Children Raise Parents" by Dan B Allender
15) "its My Heart" by The Childrens Heart Foundation so the next time I am asked at a picnic I can give a "real response"
16) "The parents guide to children's Congenital Heart Defect" by Kramer and Mauer...same reason as above
17) "Partners fo the Heart" by Vivien Thomas, autobiography
18) "God, Guns, and rock n roll" by Ted Nugent
19) " 100 People who are screwing Up America (and al Franken is #37) by Bernard Goldberg
20) "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards" by Kathy HIrsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
21) "Every Second Counts, The Race to Transplant the First Human Heart" by Donald McRae
22) "Freedom Writers Diary" by The freedom writers with Erin Gruwell
23) "DaVinci for Dummies"
24) "In This Sign" by Joanne Greenberg
25) "Mayada: Daughter of Iraq" by Jean Sasson
26) "Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited" by Aldous Huxley
27) "Night" by Elie Wiesel
28) "Stolen Lives: 20 years in a Desert Jail" by Malika Oufkir
29) "Sinister Shorts" by Perri O'Shaughnessy

American Heart Association & CHD's

Please read the following post....it is as close as I get to a CHD awareness week post, should you be moved to do something, or give something, visit the links in the side bar for how you can. California Heart Connection is a local support group I co-founded.....
CHIN, I also belong to, it is a nationwide support group.

****this is stolen from a friend, with her permission****


Why donate to an organization that does little for CHD Research, Support,
Awareness and Education,
when you can donate to CHIN or CHF which is only about CHD??


The same conversation every year... It doesn't change at all.

The AHA in general (as there are a very few good offices) does not promote
CHD at all. This year they have changed CHD to CCD and mentions it on many
of their press releases:

Excerpt from an AHA email :

PS- In honor of Day of Hearts- Congenital Heart Defect Day- on February
14th, invite a friend to join the _You're the Cure_
(http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure/index.aspx) network.

Yet, when you go to You're the Cure, it is only about acquired heart
disease, strokes and Go Red.

Excerpt from their site:
Heart Disease and Stroke Research
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), America’s premier medical research
facility, supports research dedicated to “acquiring new knowledge to help
prevent, detect, diagnose and treat disease and disability.”
Heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases remain America’s
leading cause of death. They affect more than 71 million Americans and cost this
nation more than any other disease. Despite the enormous burden these
diseases place on our nation, NIH heart and stroke research remains
disproportionately under funded, especially in light of the many promising scientific
opportunities that could advance the fight against these diseases.
The NIH invests only 7 percent of its budget on heart research and a mere 1
percent on stroke research. Please help us dramatically increase funding for
NIH heart and stroke research.


The AHA has added Congenital Cardiovascular Disease (notice name change) to
most of their documents including the national proclamation. Though it is
added, there is nothing mentioned regarding it. I believe and again this is
my opinion, that there is not a cure for CHD and their whole
concept is be the cure!



_http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/02/20070201-2.html_
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/02/20070201-2.html)


American Heart Month, 2007
A Proclamation By the President of the United States of America
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming
hundreds of thousands of lives each year. During American Heart Month, we renew
our commitment to fighting cardiovascular disease by increasing public
awareness of this deadly disease and understanding of how it can be prevented.

(http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/02/images/20070201-2_d-0245-6-700v.html) Today, millions of Americans live with some form of cardiovascular
disease, including congenital heart disease, coronary heart disease, and
high blood pressure. Individuals can reduce their chance of developing these and
other types of heart disease by exercising regularly, maintaining healthy
eating habits and weight, avoiding tobacco use, and monitoring cholesterol and
blood pressure levels. All Americans should speak with their doctors about
the dangers of this disease and get regular preventive screenings.
Where does the underlined benefit CHD??

and trust me, it took us years to get CHD added by writing the White House
consistently every year.. I am not sure what year they started, I believe
2005. and that was due to my many conversations with the staff and the letters
each one of us wrote.


C.H.I.N. is a national organization that provides reliable information,
support services, financial assistance and resources to families of children with
congenital heart defects and acquired heart disease, adults with congenital
heart defects, and the professionals who work with them.


CHF's Role in the Fight Against Congenital Heart Defects

We believe that research is the best way to win the battle against
congenital heart defects – research that will impact children now and in the future
and ultimately save lives. To date, The Children's Heart Foundation has funded
_30 research projects_
(http://childrensheartfoundation.org/research_funded.htm) with $2.5 million. Each year, we fund the most promising congenital heart
defect research under the direction of our Medical Advisory Board – 31
leading doctors in the fields of cardiology, pediatrics and cardio-thoracic
surgery.


The most bothersome is they rent their membership lists!

_http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=10000046&title=Reques
t to Rent Membership Lists_
(http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=10000046&title=Request%20to%20Rent%20Membership%20Lists)


Being a member of CHIN, I need not worry about confidentiality!


So I ask again, why donate to an organization that does little for CHD
Research, Support, Awareness and Education, when you can donate to CHIN or CHF
which is only about CHD??

AHA!

That A-HA
not AHA like american Heart Association....

Rebekahs sleep had been really bad....really light if she did but mostly insominac like....just different....hence the previous entry about her foot....

Listening to her "spaz" on Sunday night, a thought occurred to me as I lay in bed....they upped her flonase dose, the same day that she began to have REAL problems....

Quick google revealed, while sleep issues are not an official flonase side effect, many user report sleep issues....sleepless ness or easily awaken/disturbed.....

Decided we would back the dose back down.....then monday she has a wound care follow up and I mentioned it....the NP said dont lower the dose right now....switch to morning dosing as opposed to night....

Monday night and tonight....she is being her old self....refusing to sleep of course but totally on purpose as opposed to that nervous, I cant sit still one from a few days ago....

Banned Books

I found the following list....
"Most frequently Challenged books from 1990-2000
I will hightlight those I have read.... or at least those I know I have read, a few I think I might have but, not 100% sure...
How about you? which ones have you read? Should I tag everyone with this? I think I should......

Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
Daddy's Roommate by Michael Willhoite
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
Forever by Judy Blume
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
The Giver by Lois Lowry
It's Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris
Goosebumps (Series) by R.L. Stine
A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Sex by Madonna
Earth's Children (Series) by Jean M. Auel
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Go Ask Alice by Anonymous
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak
The Stupids (Series) by Harry Allard
The Witches by Roald Dahl
The New Joy of Gay Sex by Charles Silverstein
Anastasia Krupnik (Series) by Lois Lowry
The Goats by Brock Cole
Kaffir Boy by Mark Mathabane
Blubber by Judy Blume
Killing Mr. Griffin by Lois Duncan
Halloween ABC by Eve Merriam
We All Fall Down by Robert Cormier
Final Exit by Derek Humphry
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters by Lynda Madaras
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Beloved by Toni Morrison
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Pigman by Paul Zindel
Bumps in the Night by Harry Allard
Deenie by Judy Blume
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Annie on my Mind by Nancy Garden
The Boy Who Lost His Face by Louis Sachar
Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat by Alvin Schwartz
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (currently on my to read list lol)
Sleeping Beauty Trilogy by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)
Asking About Sex and Growing Up by Joanna Cole
Cujo by Stephen King
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
The Anarchist Cookbook by William Powell
Boys and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
Ordinary People by Judith Guest
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons by Lynda Madaras
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Crazy Lady by Jane Conly
Athletic Shorts by Chris Crutcher
Fade by Robert Cormier
Guess What? by Mem Fox
The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende
The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Native Son by Richard Wright
Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies by Nancy Friday
Curses, Hexes and Spells by Daniel Cohen
Jack by A.M. Homes
Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo A. Anaya
Where Did I Come From? by Peter Mayle
Carrie by Stephen King
Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume
On My Honor by Marion Dane Bauer
Arizona Kid by Ron Koertge
Family Secrets by Norma Klein
Mommy Laid An Egg by Babette Cole
The Dead Zone by Stephen King
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain
Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
Always Running by Luis Rodriguez
Private Parts by Howard Stern
Where's Waldo? by Martin Hanford
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene
Little Black Sambo by Helen Bannerman
Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Running Loose by Chris Crutcher
Sex Education by Jenny Davis
The Drowning of Stephen Jones by Bette Greene
Girls and Sex by Wardell Pomeroy
How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell
View from the Cherry Tree by Willo Davis Roberts
The Headless Cupid by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
The Terrorist by Caroline Cooney
Jump Ship to Freedom by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier


****I know I read a toni morrison book but I cant recall which...she has a few that have made the list******

Why can't they listen?

ok mostly SHE....why can't she listen.
This story actually begins, I believe wednesday night.....no wednesday morning at her therapists office. We discussed her bedtime and how she doesnt like to sleep and is proud of her non sleeping. She talked with Rebekah about it, gave suggestions blah blah blah....all pretty much what we had been doing with some success.....One new, good suggestion.....close the house down too....as it is time to go to bed for her, begin to turn off lights and lock doors....Ok far enough.

One suggestion stunk.....Rebekah generally settles down easier on nights her and Christine read a book together....(Rebekah listens, Christine reads). On nights when Rebekah does not settle down and does not go to bed after reading, Christine does not read to her the next night, she must earn her book for the next night. I mentioned how many times the reading settles rebekah down. The therapist thought maybe I should read to her on the nights Christine wont....well doesnt that defeat the purpose of Christine NOT reading?
Eh whatever.
Ok, so Wednesday night we put her to bed. We all settle down....and about 11pm I hear a thumping....I find Rebekah rolling up (Like a reverse summersault) and then rolling back down and KICKING the wall by her bed....now this is a common wall....on the other side is our neighbors bed room.....UGH....

She finally falls asleep.

Thursday night, we send her to bed as usual.....and as usual, she goofs off. In her goofing off, she breaks off a wood slat from the upper bunk.....wood slat falls on the floor....screw remains attached to the wood slat....and fallen wood slat exposes staples in bottom of the upper bunk.

All of this we are oblivious to.

About 15 minutes or so later (grand total of time so far since put in bed is less then 30 minutes)I hear a scream....I figure christine has forcibly put Rebekah in bed again or prevented her from leaving the room. I ignore it.

A minute or 2 passes....Christine appears to get the first aid kit. She says she cut her foot. No biggie, I think, she prob stepped on a car or caught her toenail on something....

Then I hear Nathan come down....he walks over taps Ivan on the shoulder and says "rebekah is Bleeding" So, Ivan goes upstairs, also expecting to find nothing because Rebekah loves drama.

TO his surprise he finds blood....lots of it....thru 2 bandaids....turns out Rebekah was standing on the edge of the bottom bunk, holding on to the top and swinging around. Then she dropped off and landed on the above mentioned slat.....
Of course it is now 10min passed the time Urgent care closes. So we call the advice nurse who decides she should have it examined....

So off to the ER.....where we spend the next 90min or so....they were rather quick that evening. It is deemed "almost stitch worthy". THey soak her foot in benadine, trim up the skin....it was a puncture and a tear....dress the wound....and send us on our way.....(we go back for a recheck monday)

We arrive home about 1245.....and Rebekah procedes to stay awake until 2am.

Had she have listened and gone to bed when we said go to bed.....at least I would have been asleep earlier....she might not have been but she certainly wouldnt have gotten hurt.

We have the slat on my desk....we keep referring to it as "her friend"

Updated book list

1) "My Ox is Broken" by adam-troy Castro
2) "Republic" by Plato (suggestion courtesy of will smith)
3) "The heart's Code" by Paul Pearsall
4) "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham
5) "Green River, Running Red" by Ann Rule
6) "My Michael" by Amos Oz
7) "At First Sight" by Nicolas sparks
8) "Japanese woman dont Get Old or Fat" by Naomi MOyarama
9) "flight from Heaven" by Jan Karon
10) "The Pursuit of Hapiness" by Chris Gardner
11) "Island of Hope, Island of Tears" by David Brownstone and company
12) "Ellis Island Interviews" by Peter Mortan Coan
13) "Flood" by Andrew Vacchs
14) "How Children Raise Parents" by Dan B Allender
15) "its My Heart" by The Childrens Heart Foundation so the next time I am asked at a picnic I can give a "real response"
16) "The parents guide to children's Congenital Heart Defect" by Kramer and Mauer...same reason as above
17) "Partners fo the Heart" by Vivien Thomas, autobiography
18) "God, Guns, and rock n roll" by Ted Nugent
19) " 100 People who are screwing Up America (and al Franken is #37) by Bernard Goldberg
20) "Einstein Never Used Flash Cards" by Kathy HIrsh-Pasek and Roberta Michnick Golinkoff
21) "Every Second Counts, The Race to Transplant the First Human Heart" by Donald McRae
22) "Freedom Writers Diary" by The freedom writers with Erin Gruwell
23) "DaVinci for Dummies"
24) "In This Sign" by Joanne Greenberg
25) "Mayada: Daughter of Iraq" by Jean Sasson
26) "Brave New World & Brave New World Revisited" by Aldous Huxley
27) "Night" by Elie Wiesel
28) "Stolen Lives: 20 years in a Desert Jail" by Malika Oufkir
29) "Sinister Shorts" by Perri O'Shaughnessy


You will notice, I have read 3 of the books so far. 2 were good, one was ok....2 of those will be given away as I read them and they really arent ones I will save to re-read or refer to later. Actually one of them is already gone.
As said before, I will not be doing book reviews....I might make an occasional comment on the books but reviews just arent my thing.
I have added a few books and found the name of another and made the changes.
Should you choose to read any of these books and wish to perhaps purchase them thru amazon.com.....do me a favor, and go to www.caheartconnection.org and click on the amazon link on the left before you make your purchase.

A tag from my daughter---UGH

1. When is the last time you held hands with someone? prob recently.....with 2 small children, you have a tendacy to do that with them often
2. You wake up as the opposite gender, what's the one thing you would do? scratch my balls
3. Have you ever crawled through a window? Yes.
4. Where is your mum? prob at her house
5. Morning or night person? Neither....what ever I need to be although my daughter and husband would say morning...but that is out of necessity
6. What was the last movie you watched? eeek...I dont really do movies....first thought was memoirs of a geisha but, then I remembered we took the little ones to see "Flushed away" not long ago
7. Favorite number? dont have one....
8. Any cool scars? nope
9. Things about the opposite sex you notice first? uh....
10. What do you do when no one is watching? nothing, there is always someone watching it seems....I cant even pee in peace.
11. Ever been in love? Yes
12. What's something your friends make fun of you for? I dont know....I used to get teased for always having a book.
13. What is your curfew? when I am ready for bed.
14. Do you talk a lot? I used to....always in trouble in school...now I prefer to observe but have a tendancy to ramble on when nervous.
15. You + alcohol = I dont remember?
17. Would you marry for money? Absolutely not, life is far to short to do something stupid like that.
18. Could you live without a computer? Yes, I have my books....of course I would have to buy them somewhere besides amazon....
19. If you could live in any past time period, where would it be? 1800's on a prarie prob....childhood "Little house" fan
20. Do you drink enough water? no
21. Do you wear shoes in the house or take 'em off? Take them off
22. What is your favorite fruit? Strawberries
23. What is your favorite place to visit? I dont know....havent been to alot of places....and where I want to re-visit depends on my mood
24. Are you photogenic? not usually, IMO
25. Do you dream in colour or black and white? Color
26. Why do you take surveys? Purely entertainment value.
27. Do you drink alcohol? no opposed to it and do consume occasionally
28. What is the most beautiful language? not one I am speaking.
29. Do you like being kissed when you are asleep? just curious, if I am asleep how would I know? but actually that is a bit creepy
30. What do you like most; sunrise or sunset? Sunset
31. Do you want to live till 100 yrs? live if I am able to still enjoy life....not if I have no clue what is going on around me
32. Is a flat stomach important to you? could care less either way
33. When you watch movies at home, do you like the lights on or off? depends on the movie....
34. Do you believe in magic? believe? isnt it all slight of hand stuff? or do you mean mix up a potion and turn a prince into a frog stuff?
35. Do you like to watch cartoons? old ones, the new ones disgust me...all seem really gross, or really sexual
36. At what age did you find out that Santa Clause wasn't real? I dont recall
37. Do you write poems? no
38. Do you snort? No
39. You sleep more on your back, front, or sides? sides mostly
40. Would you rather have a poodle or a rottweiler? Rottweiler
41. Are you basically a happy person? yes
42. Are you tired? A little
43. Did you drink anything with caffeine today? coffee and surely sweet tea in a bit
44. How many landline/cellular phones do you have in your home? 3 landline, 3 cellphones
45. Do you get along with your parents? Yes
46. Do you like/love anyone now? Yes
47. What do you do when you're sad? put on a happy face....
48. What do you need most now? energy...need to empty washer
49. What song are you listening to now? nothing but I think I will turn something on
50. What are you craving for now? a pepsi