Poll #1602988 Types of Books
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 3

What is your favorite genre of book?

If I didn't list your favorite type of book, then add it in the comments.

Why is it I have to work and miss the London Premiere of Half-Blood Prince.  I'm following @Leaky looking for news of the premiere.  Unfortunately I have to work today so I'm sneaking looks here and there when I can.

I wonder how many people are watching the premiere news, or news of MJ's memorial service and slacking off at work?

Hope you are all having a great day, working or watching at home, I'm sure HP fans are focused on the premiere.

Doris

 Before I joined Leaky I didn't know the word "fandom" exists.  Now it's something that is a daily part of my life.  One of the greatest things in the Harry Potter fandom is The Harry Potter Alliance.  (HPA) I mean, a group of Harry Potter fans dedicated to serving others, what could be better?

Recently, HPA has started their "What Would Dumbledore Do" (WWDD) Campaign.  As a literature teacher, I worked for years trying to teach children to make a "text to real world" connection.  In other words, what moral have you learned from this story that you can take away from the story and apply to your life.  

For example, I've always been the kind of person who is very goal oriented.  I'm constantly trying to complete the next project.  The final product is my goal.  Reading the Harry Potter books taught me that the jounrney is equally important.  Dumbledore, even with the knowledge of what Harry must do, still enjoyed his life and taught others to do the same.

If you have time to pop into HPA's Common Room and blog please do. Also take part in the WWDD Twitter challenge, or just add #dumbeldore to all of your "Tweets."

New Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince trailer now online, will show before Twilight in theaters everywhere!

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Hey too all my friends -

I normally post on Banned Book Week in my Education blog, but this week I've been updating my Leaky Blog as we lead up to Banned Book Week.  So far I've suggested three of my favorite Challenged books, The Chocolate War, Tango Makes Three and Huck Finn. (I sat on the book committee for Huck Finn when I taught high school)  

Don't forget to celebrate your right to read and check out my updates on my Leaky blog.  I'll be recommending a few more books, then I'll talk about ways you can celebrate Banned Book Week.

Banned Books Week
Celebrating the Freedom to Read
September 27–October 4, 2008

They are putting in new sheetrock to replace the wet soggy stuff Ike left in my house.   The smell is yuk, and without the flow of fresh air it makes it smell stale. You also have to bleach everything.  YUK!   I look forward to the day when my house smells like wet dog and dirty teenagers. 

The gym reopened yesterday.  What a wonderful thing!  It makes like seem closer to normal.  I'm hoping the schools open next week as planned.  The kids need normalcy - and even though they would not admit it - going to school is a good thing.

So I've been playing around with my Ipod content.  I'm learning to love using a playlist.  I have lists and lists to reflect my mood.  No more random songs for me.  I've got several playlists for working out, a few for general reading and one for cleaning.  I really enjoy my WizardRock playlist.

Finished Brinsgr.  He has one book left in his series.  If I had to choose a "One-Word-Theme" (I hear my former students growning) the theme of this novel would be choices.  It's well written, Paolini's improved his craft and the series is better because of it.

Generally speaking I love where I live. Living 15 minutes from the beach and the bay means I have ample opportunities for surfing and boating. There are just a few days here and there that I realize it's not all fun and games.

Large parts of Galveston are now covered in water, homes already destroyed. Right now, the storm is still about 10 hours away and we have major flooding. We're flooded in where I am right now. The creeks and bayous surrounding the house have trapped us in the dry island that is our home.

(Flood waters covering boat dock pre-storm landfall)

We are not in a mandatory evacuation area and along with most of our neighbors we stayed. We have weeks of water available, canned food and our tanks are gassed and ready to go if we need it.

I hate hurricanes.

I had the coolest thing happen to me today and I just had to share this with as many people as possible.

Today started out like a normal day. I woke up, got kid#2 up and ready for work, I walked the dog then I worked out. This is where the day deviated...

I came home, got ready for my morning cup of inspiration and found that I didn't have Equal. Now, I LOVES me some coffee, but I'm not ready for coffee without a little sweetness in it. I was disgusted with myself for not buying Equal at the store, so I decided to run to Starbucks for a Venti cup of happiness.

I sat in my line, music blaring and thinking of nothing but the caffeine fix to come. Oh I hope they make the coffee strong enough, mix in the right amount of cream and don't forget that I like Equal, but not sweet-n-low.

I pulled up to the window, and my favorite Barrista leans her head out...

"Beautiful day isn't it?" she smiles.

"Yes, now while I love you, give me my coffee so I can be nice!"

"I have something funny to tell you...."

"If there is not coffee soon I'm going to explode!" (OK I didn't say that, but I did think it)

"The person in front of you bought your coffee!" She smiled and handed me the sacred cup - the Holy Grail of the morning.

I took a sip, thought about it and then realized I just got a FREE cup of coffee.

"Wait, like I don't know that person. Who was it, how can I thank then?" I was still confused.

"Funny thing," she smiled. "About 20 minutes ago this guy bought coffee for the person in the car behind them, and from then on everyone has just bought coffee for someone else!"

"Wow!" I took a second to mull this over in my little foggy head. "What an incredibly nice thing to do and what a great way to start the morning!"

I pulled off, after buying coffee for the person behind me with a smile and warm heart. People are good, life is wonderful and today I gave and received a random act of kindness that brought a smile to my face and warmth to my heart.

So - if you are the dude who started the random act of kindness coffee share at the drive through Starbucks in Friendswood Texas this morning - thanks! I'm sure I'm not the only one who you helped to make smile this morning.

If you are the person who bought me my coffee, it's the best coffee I've ever had. Perfect in every way. Thanks!

Random acts of kindness rock - try it, you'll like it!

I am working on my soon to be published Leaky Blog on reluctant readers, and I ran across a young adult (YA) book I'd not read. (That is totally rare as I read tons of books)

The book The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod: Eighth Grade Bites is a great book for boys who don't like to read. It's interesting, has great ties to the Twilight series and it's a bout a boy in middle school. The book is also on the ALA Quick Picks for reluctant readers. (This list is a great resource if you are looking for a YA book.)

It's a great book - ok cookies dipped in blood is gross - but the book itself is fun. I just bought the book that follows which has Vlad in 9th grade! If you like vampire stories - try it!