What it is, is a collection of different stories, from children's points of view, on their lives in Africa.
I got interested in this because of the attention it drew from both Anderson Cooper from CNN, and Oprah; but then with finals, and starting a new job, I didn't finish it until recently. But, it was well worth the wait, I would definitely recommend it.
So, at least that adds to my 50 books in 2009-2010 list, eh? Only 25 more to go.
Jack Gray that is. I think you're awesome. I truly do. I hadn't ever really realized just how cool you were until about a month ago. That was when my favorite newsboy Anderson Cooper tweeted a recommendation to follow you, Jack Gray, on Twitter {click here to do just that}. So I did. Because, let's just say that I have a lot of trust in Anderson. A LOT. Some would say it could be unhealthy, but I {not surprisingly} disagree.
I then realized, that I had been laughing at you for years {yes, I said years!} now, on the AC360Blog. Without even realizing who I was laughing at, I mean, I just read the AC360 Writer /Producer note under your name, took it as just that, and then mosied down the list of blog posts to find Mr. Cooper's posts. But I still laughed at you.. and now that I get your hilarious tweets, I am laughing even harder.
Click here for a funny recent AC360 Blog Post by Jack. I love it.
These tweets are a few of my favorites:
Beautiful, cheerful day in NYC. So cheerful, in fact, that I almost gave those tourists the correct directions to Magnolia Bakery. Almost.
Bummed I missed Gossip Girl...will have to wait til the episode is on iTunes. Don't tell me what happened or I'll have to break up with you.
I'm excited to read Larry King's new book.I hope he included a chapter about the time I saved his life in a make-up room fracas w/ Dr. Phil.
The cashier at CVS did not seem to enjoy me singing Rhianna's Take a Bow.
Greenwich Village is alive with the Sound of Music. Except Sound=Smell and Music=Hashish. And the Von Trapps look like drag queens.
Apparently, if you want to survive and make your name come up in blogger lights, you're not supposed to blog on the weekends. Why? Because most people have better things to do. Well, as you can see, not me. I have today off from work, which never happens - since I work in the fabulous world of retail, where Saturday is the biggest day of the week. I have next Saturday off too. Not sure how that happened, but we'll just revel in the beauty.
I am so excited that this semester of school is over! I really enjoyed some of my classes.. and really didn't enjoy others. I guess its a good sign that I enjoyed my French class, and my Social Work class. Since those are the subjects, and careers I will be continuing on in. At least I didn't hate my social work class and have to rethink this whole major, life plan, purpose thing! {again?}
At work, I am now the bra specialist -- well, this has been true for a few weeks, I just haven't published it on the blogosphere. Bra. Specialist. Ha. I wasn't even sure what to say when my manager asked me to be that. But I like it. I like the responsibility of keeping up with one whole side of our accessories department, keeping it filled in, straightened, and shopable. It makes the never ending closing nights seem just a little bit better. Always bras and panties to put back in size order. Not really sure why people can never put the bras back where they found them. That IS the purpose of the little size rings, to show were the 36A's are divided from the 36B's. Hard concept. I know.
It feels strange though, at work, because not everyone is a "specialist" and so it feels like there are some people that have been left out in the cold, so to speak. We all knew this would happen, it just feels awkward now that it has. We all started working in the department together, so I think we developed a really good healthy, comradery, that we now have to kind of build back up. We also are going to start getting "ranked" on the schedule after our 45 day reviews, which are on May 15th. So we'll see how that goes. I understand the concept, it just makes me feel bad sometimes. BUT at the same time, not everyone works as hard as everyone else, which is just how it is in life, SO I'm glad that my work is recognizing those that work harder. I just definitely want to be ranked high.
I signed up to do this blog improvement in 30 days thing-a-ma-jig, about 2 weeks ago. I haven't done even ONE of the things that it told me to do! Perhaps I should try it again. The tasks just seemed so lame. - sigh -
Last, I will leave you with a few of my favorite things. I love Anderson Cooper.. and I love BONO and George Clooney, so what was better than last night's Time 100 Interviews on AC 360?! Well, its on again tonight, and tomorrow, so if you missed it.. {Man, I should be getting paid for being a CNN promo!} BONO interviews George Clooney, and they discussed life and choices, but mostly their two awesome organizations (George's and BONO's) how they've evolved and everything. Love it.
And.. for the very end, I think this video is awesome. Its pretty cool the way our technology now serves as a political and social issue debate system. Who'd a thunk? {psst.. they're trying to push down an awful, prejudice video that was made, called the Gathering Storm, I refuse to link to it.. but if you want to see it, search you tube}
*The post title is from a the song, The Best is yet to Come by Tony Bennett.. they play this song ALL the time at my work, and it always gets in my head.
I love taking pictures of the sky.. especially funky clouds. I wish I could afford to buy a new camera. I really want this one here, the Sony Cybershot W170 10.1 MP in red. It makes my mouth water.
Anderson Cooper.. Did anyone see his attempt at chopping onions when he filled in for Regis on Regis and Kelly on Thursday? It. was. hilarious. I tried to find a video of it, but haven't found one yet. Darn. It was good though. He obviously doesn't cook. But why would he need to?
I am obsessed with Anderson though. It might be considered sad by some people. Although I do have a fellow blogger friend that loves Brian Williams, so maybe it isn't all that odd and unusual. Right?? haha. I like being well-informed, and listening to the news.. and I would just much rather get my news from a place I trust: CNN.. and it just helps that a nice, smart, fun-to-look-at man is on TV doing just that every night. ;)
I am also obsessed with playing Wii. I have taken my wii fitness test every day all of February, minus 2 days. Today I am 25, and 29. I have two "miis" one named Nicole, the other named Nikki. Haha. Not that I feel I am two different people or anything like that, even though I am equally known by both names. I just like to be able to take two fitness tests each day. haha. Oh man. I am getting much better at it though. A few weeks ago my age was 80! * for crazies that don't know about the wii sports fitness test, it tests your abilities by having you do 3 different training activities, and then gives you an age. The lowest being 20, the highest being 80. The lower your age, the better you are. You can only do it once a day, and it charts your progress*
3 Days until U2s' No Line on the Horizon Album!! Read more...
As I talked about in this post: I love to Read I have decided to do the 50 book challenge this year. I have never done any of the book challenges I have seen other bloggers do, so this is a new experience for me. Here is the beginnings of my list..I will be adding to it periodically, as I finish the books and reach for the goal, to read 50 Books in the year 2009. Any suggestions for books are welcomed. ;)
Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay: LOVED it! Very educational, and an altogether really good book.
Veil of Roses, by Laura Fitzgerald: very good book, interesting view of the United States and Iran.
The Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kid . I loved this story of Southern Life. I also really enjoyed the movie. However, as it usually goes, the book tops the movie.
1984, by George Orwell. I still am not sure how I feel about this book. I can see how it has influenced many other things I love, i.e.: The Matrix, V for Vendetta. (V for Vendetta the book is on my to read list!) But yeah. Not so sure I'd read it ever again.
Holly Would Dream, by Karen Quinn. Anyone that loves Audrey Hepburn will enjoy. :)
In Her Shoes, by Jennifer Weiner: Awesome book! See blog post here.
Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot: I'm really loving these girly books.. what does that say about me? There are 2 more in this series, I am going to get them next week! Yay!
3 Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortensen. Good guy, good idea, but was really hard for me to stay interested..
Aya, by Margarite Abouet ~ I read both Cote D'Ivoire, and Aya for my Cote D'Ivoire presentation for my French class. I actually liked Aya's graphic novel-esque setup. Never really read a graphic novel all the way before.
I loved this book. Loved it.
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