Books I'm Reading...

In telling you the books I'm reading, I am giving you great insight into my life as it stands today. Some things in my life have changed incredibly and others I continue to hold steadfast to for my and my children's sake.

First up is the incredible second edition of It's My Life Now: Starting Over After an Abusive Relationship or Domestic Violence by Meg Kennedy Dugan & Roger R. Hock (2006). I am not going to explain myself here, just know that I am now separated from the father of my children for the very reason this book is about. This is a very, very difficult situation for me emotionally at this point, though I am doing well now and am feeling stronger. I am thankful for my family, friends and my counselor who have been so supportive through it all.

Second is Electrical Code Simplified: Residential Wiring, Alberta Book 1 by P.S. Knight (2002). In preparation for the future, I am helping my sister finish her basement in case I may need a place to live with the kids. Her and her husband have very graciously offered their basement (1400 sq ft) for us to live in for as long as we need, though it is currently only framed out. Having finished three prior basements (of our three homes we have owned over the years) I know well the work and can do it well. However, its always nice to brush up on the codes to ensure their inspection passes with flying colors. One more day and I will be finished all the electrical so we can have the inspector in and start drywalling. Lots of work, but manual work is good right now, I am feeling invigorated.

Third is Homeschooling the Teen Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 13- to 18- Year- Old by Cafi Cohen (2000). I continue to be committed to homeschooling our children as my boys strongly want to learn at home (my daughter is three and not yet homeschooled). It is an exciting and diverse challenge with my oldest in Grade Ten and third in Grade One. We are having an awesome year thus far and I pray I am able to balance homeschooling again for this term. Which brings me to...

The forth and final book is FrontPage 2003 (The Missing Manual) by Jessica Mantaro (2005). To 'bring in the viable income' I referred to above, I am venturing formally into website design. I have been doing it for years already, having built 8 full sites, both for businesses and non-profit organizations. In the past I have turned down many who have asked me to design, build or improve their sites because of my time constraints and other priorities. Now the income potential of this career is far to lucrative for me to overlook... I may need to support my family as a single mother. I will be leaning on Microsoft FrontPage until I can afford and learn Adobe Dreamweaver... the ultimate website building software (and I love Adobe's other products which I lean on heavily for other applications).

With these great books in hand and my goals clear, the future is bright indeed!

A bit about moi...

The Basics

Month of birth: July

Any Siblings?: 2

Parents still married?: yes, 40 years this year!

Occupation: College Director/Instructor

Do you like your job?: love it!

Any pets?: no, but would love one

Hair color: dirty blonde

Eye color: blue

Shoe size: 8 1/2

Any Tattoos?: not yet

Any Piercings?: just ears

Current mood: peaceful, happy

Current wardobe choice: my fav jeans, layered white t and sweater

What are you listening to?: Nickelback's The Long Road cd

Who did you last speak with on the phone?: Cory

Last....

Movie you watched: Take the Lead

Magazine you looked at: Oprah

Thing you ate: Sushi

Book you read: Million Dollar Habits by Brian Tracy

T.V. show you watched: Ummm... Dora? lol

Time you cried: today

Took a shower: 8:00 this morning before class

Got a real letter (a.k.a Snail Mail): can't remember

Ate at a restaurant (not fast food): two weeks ago at Olive Garden

CD you bought: Nickelback

What is/was....

The best thing to happen to you today?: teaching my students (they rock!)

Your most prized possession: my fav jeans

Your first vehicle: Chevy truck

Your current vehicle: black Suburban

Your favorite quote: "What doesn't kill you will only make you stronger"

You bedtime (on average): far too late....

Your best trait/characteristic: compassion

Your worst trait/characteristic: impatience

Do You....

Store things under your bed: only extra blankets

Daydream: always

Have a computer at home: yes

Live in the city, suburbs or country: city

Live in a home, apartment, duplex or mobile home: home

Own a cell phone: yes

Have a good luck charm: nope

Collect anything: nope, hate dusting

Attend high school or college: high school and college

Make good grades: scholar

Have You Ever....

Had a surgery?: 3 c/s's, cholecystectomy

Had teeth pulled?: all of my #7's

Broke the law intentionally: does speeding count?

Ran away from home?: nope never

Broke a bone?: does cracked ribs count?

Cheated on a test/exam: hasn't everyone?

Had a friend pass away: not for a long time

Been issued a citation/traffic ticket: umm for speeding!

Been in an auto accident: several, none my fault

Lied to someone: to avoid hurting their feelings

Been lied to: don't know, don't want to know

Your Favourite....

Place to be: beach on a glacier lake in the Rocky's

Place to visit: Ville du Quebec

Place to chill: curled up with a soft blanket on my couch

Hero: My grandfathers, both of whom I miss dearly

Non-Alcoholic drink: cafe mocha

Alcoholic drink: Bacardi Breezers, Baja Tango on the rocks

Type of food: Chinese, Mexican & Italian

Meal/Food dish: a great steak and a baked potato

Dessert: anything lemon or chocolate

Shampoo & Conditioner: Pantene Pro V

Toothpaste: J.A.S.O.N.'s Seafresh

Salad dressing: Italian

Ice cream: hazelnut

Fast food establishment: yuck

Color: burgundy

Season: summer

Holiday: Christmas

Perfume/Cologne: Adrenaline

Video Game: don't have time

T.V. show: again with the no time

Smells: newborn babies, the wind after a lightening storm

Article of clothing: favourite jeans

Book: Roots is still my all time favourite

Children's Book: Dora, my daughter's favourites are my favourites

Candy: Aero

Car: 1997 Grand Prix GTP S