Book 2012: Cupcake

Cupcake: A Modern Love-Story with a Bigger-Than-Average Waistline by Mariah Jones

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is simply a quick, quirky, sweet read about a heavy-set bakery owner who works through her insecurities with the assitance of an attractive male who is genuinely enamored by her beauty, as is.
The main character, the bakery owner, is also the narrator and has a lot of personality that shines through in the writing. She's snarky, sarcastic, real and unsure of herself and her image.
It was the perfect quick read to break up a string of more serious and heavy topics I'd been reading and for that, it was perfect.
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A few other things: I primarily read this book while lounging on the couch at home or while eating my lunch at school. It was super short and quick, so I only spent one day reading through the story - hence the relaxing settings I enjoyed with this story.  I really did enjoy the writing style and there were so many funny moments and moments when the main character was about to be crushed, but then had the great experience of confidence boosting by a man described as the ultimate in attractiveness.  Additionally, I just read this article this morning which coincides nicely with this book, especially Darcy's experience at the health club, I'm sure she would have loved having some fat girl support that day.

(Typed while sipping from a silver travel mug filled with instant Maxim coffee, sugar and cream while sitting all alone in a large, ridiculous English classroom)

Book 2012: There is No Me Without You

There Is No Me Without You: One Woman's Odyssey to Rescue Africa's Children by Melissa Fay Greene

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Powerfully written, There is No Me Without You, presents solid research, incomprehensible statistics and the more powerful prose of personal narratives and stories out of Ethiopia giving a face and depth the the HIV/AIDS crisis.

I cannot adequately express how moving and powerful this story was for me. The HIV/AIDS crisis, the cause of orphans and widows are all completely overwhelming and more often than not leave me feeling powerless and hopeless. Greene presents these overwhelming factors alongside the stories that exemplify hope and power in the lives of ordinary women and children. I cannot solve this crisis. But I don't need to sit back passively and watch it play out either.


A powerful read for any American, those well versed in the AIDS pandemic and those who have forgotten that is a pandemic. It reads easy, presents a number of views and a wealth of information and heart regarding our world.

"Adoption is good, but children, naturally, would prefer not to see their parents die." (page 25)


(I'm in full support of adoption, as is the author, she just makes the point that it's not THE answer and we, as a globabl community, ought to be seeking solutions which allow for more parents to live WITH their children, rather than solutions which only allow a few children to live.)


"She could see the nice young man he was born to be, but he was headed for an early grave. If powerlessness made vulnerable the girls of Ethiopia, hopelessness made vulnerable the boys." (page 105)


"You don't have to be a saint to rescure other people from suffering and death. You can just be an everyday, decent enough sort of regular person, nothing extraordinary, and yet turn lives around." (Location 7832 - Q&A with the author)


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This story is powerful on it's own.  This story is increasingly powerful when your heart and mind can see not only the picture and story of the children and lives depicted by author Greene, but when your own life has introduced you to a child with a similar, but oh-so-unique-story. (Look for the One Year Ago stories, September 2010).

This story then takes on a unique face. Something personal.

Not a chapter went by that my heart and my head weren't swimming with images of my best friend, her husband and their precious boy. 

A boy who calls me Auntie.
A boy who is more than a 'nephew'.
A boy who is indescribable in what he means in my life,
                               the lives of others and of course in his parents lives.
A boy who loves two places with his whole heart.
A boy who loves two families without hesitation.
A boy who lives with great passion and intentionality.
                               all at the brink of five years of age.
A boy who continues to captivate my heart from thousands of miles away.

There is No Me Without You is powerful.
As a story.
As a life.

If you read this, I hope you have a face to put on it.
Or that your future gives you a face to put on it.
Because the more real a story like this is to you, the more powerfully it will stay with you.

(Typed having recently finished a paper cup of instant coffee mix)

On this day, January 16th I will...

Exhale. Let go. Move forward.

Today marks the end of a journey I never expected to take.

Twelve courses.

Thirty-six credits.

Fourteen months.

One hundred and forty papers.

Countless textbook pages.

Numerous discussion posts.

Twice as many discussion responses.

Thousands of words.
and Zero debt later.

I've always "done school" well. And this master's program was no exception.

I read. I posted on time. I finished assignments. I poured my heart and soul into research and the crafting of words onto pages and within presentations.

But being a "good student" has always stressed me out.

I don't always know how to find that perfect balance of not becoming so engrossed by studies that I forget to take time for things that I love and the re-juvinate me. And although I believe I grew a lot in that respect specifically while simultaneously growing in professional knowledge, passion and ability present myself as an educator, I'm indescribably anxious to move forward.

to let go of this season.

to exhale that experience.

and to  inhale the next.

The end couldn't have come at a better time.

Less than a week from now, I'll be exploring foreign lands with the man who continues to capture my heart. And that is indescribably re-juvenating. I'm anxious to breathe it all in, to live it up and to never, not even once, think about reading a chapter, writing a discussion or finishing an assignment before going to explore one new thing.

This feels good.

(Typed having still coursing through my veins the rich flavor of a coffee latte made by the sweet barista of Joony Pie Cafe who unkowningly assisted my celebration by offering the most delectable homemade cheesecake free of charge on this day of celebration!)

Book 2012: Ludoliteracy

Ludoliteracy by Jose P. Zagal

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


What I enjoyed was learning more about videogame knowledge and getting a feel for how videogames are being addressed not just by 'gamers'/'fans' but gaining impressive insight regarding the newness of the field of game studies. J.P. Zagal presents a strong case for interactive, intentional and legitimate ways for students of game studies to contribute to the field as well asl numerous other aspects of games studies. His research seems solid, although I am the least game fluent 20-something year old on Goodreads, I'm sure.

One of the most distracting things for me was the formatting on the Kindle. There weretimeswhenIhadtoreadhugepassageswithoutanyspace <-- (not enjoyable.)


The primary reason I give this 2 stars is simply because it doesn't really fit with any of my actual interests. It was insightful and well written. It seemed like a well presented disertation and definitely offered me a few things to think abour in regard to my own academic writing, but I woulnd't necessarily want to read other material of a similar subject (so should prevent Goodreads from recommending such things by rating it low ^.^)


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A few other things: I read a lot of this on the bus. It never really captivated me. I kind of thought it'd be more about how games can be an effective or ineffective teaching tool, but that was not the case. Korea is a big gaming culture and I know a lot more gamers now, in more intimate friendships, than I had previously, so in that sense, this was good for gaining some understanding into that world and increasing my terminology for such things which prior was nearly non-existant. Other than that, I finished this book on a Monday of deskwarming while out on my lunch break where I enjoyed an incredibly large bowl or Korean pumpkin porridge.

(Typed having just finished a Jeonju mug of water in anticipation of that coffee mix I mentioned earlier!)

Book 2012: Blue Like Jazz

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I can't remember exactly when I read Blue Like Jazz the first time, but as an end/beginning to 2011/2012 it has been absolutely perfect.


Donald Miller finds himself living amongst the people and students of Reed college, living missionaly and intentionally and without all the 'normal' fellowship aspects the church and ministry groups generally prescribe. And he learns so much. And he shares so much. And nothing else could have offered me the depth and sincerity of insight as I currently live in a land where most of my friends, my community doesn't ascribe to the 'normal' fellowship aspects church community requires, affords, etc. And I love that. And I needed to work through it in the way Don Miller makes possible. (And I wrote about it a few weeks ago here, if your're interested)


(I highlighted over 40 passages in the book - I'm not going to pretend that these are my favorites, just some that I want to share)


"Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way." Location 63


"Many of the students hated the very idea of God, and yet they cared about people more than I did." Location 621


"My belief in Jesus did not seem rational or scientific, and yet there was nothing I could do to separate myself from this belief." Location 807


"Self-discipline will never make us feel righteous or clean; accepting God's love will. The ability to accept God's unconditional grace and ferocious love is all the fuel we need to obey Him in return." Location 1083

"I want my spirituality to rid me of hate, not to give me reason for it." Location 1704


"It was the affection of Christ, not the brutality of a town, that healed Zaccheaus." Location 2261


"I was tired of biblical ethic being used as a tool with which to judge people rather than heal them." Location 2716
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A few other notes: I bought a set of three Donald Miller books on my Kindle knowing that I desired deeply to feel closer to Christ, to feel like I was 'doing' spiritual and truly like I was challenging my soul to think about what I believe and be encouraged to act on those beliefs.  Blue Like Jazz served that purpose well.  I most often read through these pages while lying in bed, hoping for prayer motivation and a restful nights sleep to follow. It definitely fueled prayer. It's hard to usher in sleep when at least one person in bed is sick or neighbors decide the garage below our apartment is ideal location for throwing back a few beers.  Nonetheless, an enjoyable and timely read.

If you've read Blue Like Jazz, what are your thoughts? When did you read it and how did it affect you at that time? What do you remember most?

(Typed while trying to decide where to go for lunch...cafe for small sandwich and coffee or cheaper, quicker meal followed by instant coffee upon my return to this desk which requires my warming...)

Goals: January 2012

In light of my recent post regarding resolutions and my system of setting monthly goals I've decided to play around with a calendar feature as a way to hopefully increase my personal motivation and incorporate a sense of accountability. A bit of Google-searching lead to me to this tutorial on how to imebed Google Calendars into your blog space.
I'm anxious to see if and how it will update as I daily/regularly update my progress on January's Goals.

And since my most recent post centered on brainstorming and didn't set much in stone, here are my goals for January:

Daily:

• Drink one glass of water when I wake up and before I go to bed
• Stretch at least once a day
• Do a minimum of 12 push-ups and 12 sit-ups everyday
• (These goals are from the 30 day challenge I set up in September, so they're nearly habits now, although sickness and holidays kind of threw me off)

• Floss daily (or at minimum 3 days a week)
• Daily journal about 5 things for which I am grateful

Within the Month:

• Finish my MAED (that's a given, but I want to mark it anyway)
• Write about a minimum of 10 days in the travel journal I started for our world tour in 2010
• Finish at least 6 books toward my 2012 reading goal of 50 books in a year
• Update my food blog within 3 days of preparing a meal
• Make the most of a week in Taiwan (that includes making plans and being prepared to soak in as much culture and experiences as possible!)

So, as you can see from the calendar below, I'm doing fairly well - 2 books down, gratitude journal is on the up-and-up and I've flossed more regularly this year than any year previous ^.^  I'd love to hear about your goals for the year or the month...I know I share some goals with a few friends!

(Calendar and blog post typed while sipping from a Brown Bong China mug filled with sweet milky Earl Grey Tea)

Books 2012: The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Agnes Sparrow is a morbidly obese woman (700 pounds) with a secret. A secret she keeps for years. A secret which causes her deep guilt and a desire to 'redeem' herself...so she prays. She prays everyday for everyone who asks and/or anyone living or passing through her town of Bright's Pond. The community of Bright's Pond loves Agnes for the miracles they have received through her prayers and are constantly working toward honoring her through billboards and statues. Griselda, the narrator and sister of Agnes, faithfully cares for her sister everyday while also running the towns library. Unfortunately, miracles start to come in less appealing 'packaging' and the community of Bright's Pond begin to claim Agnes has lost her powers and/or is an agent of the devil when great tragedy strikes the town.

Personally, I thought the story was simple but a bit longer than necessary. However, the author gives a lot to building the community as viewed by Griselda which helps place the reader in the community in an authentic way - knowing some characters intimately and some simply through gossip and rumor.

The most intriguing aspects of this story were the idolization of Agnes and the perception of miracles that the townsfolk had...which may be the reality of the way miracles are viewed.

"People were always thinking of miracles in terms of really, really good things happening. Why couldn't an ulcer or cancer or any other affliction be just as miraculous if it served God's purpose?" page 128/Location 2595

I think this is so interesting and so true. I think we are so quick to decide what is good and what is bad and assume that only that which is 'good' is capable of being a miracle. However, I know and have experienced things that for all evaluative purposes seem 'bad' but have brought forth the greatest fruit and opportunity to serve God and love people more genuinely and authentically.

"A smile as wide as Wyoming burst across Mildred's otherwise poker face." page 235/Location 4855 (Wyoming PRIDE!!!)

Seriously, Wyoming pride...that's all.

"Tell me, Miss God-fearing Griselda, would you have been able to find any Christian charity, any mercy, any forgiveness in your heart and let me stay?" Page 283/Location 5921

Said by a man behind prison bars who just confessed to bringing about one of the towns most painful, earth-shattering events.  Although the book paints the picture that his being caught and put in prison was the serving of justice (which I agree, although his previous crimes aren't well painted so I still kind of liked him and wanted more redemption to be served to his character), these lines stuck out because they are convicting. He had a history which he hid from the people because he wanted to receive charity, mercy and forgiveness.  I spend a portion of my time thinking about people I love doing heinous things and trying to work out in my heart and mind the process of forgiveness...I think it's such an easy process to fail in...and to justify our failures.

"Get ready and the second you hear that horn, you start screaming and see if you can scream louder than the train and the whistle. I don't believe it can be done. I tried every night for a year after Bubba died and many a night after." Page 343/Location 7189

I hope SaraJane, Erin and Annalise are reading this post because this section of the book reminded me of each of them...the process of being angry and not being scared to be visibly angry (with some caution and control of the anger).  Whether it's throwing eggs at rocks, breaking plates or screaming louder than trains finding outlets for anger and facing that emotion is something each of these women have taught me and this book brought forth that memory.


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A few other notes: I read this book primarily en route to work on the bus and cuddled up at 519 Galma home on the couch or big comfy chair.  It has been a post-Christmas, entering the new year, semi-vacation, English winter camp season book. I'm feeling generally hopeful and motivated as the New Year begins and I'm committed to rocking through a ton of books this year, especially as the end of my Master's is so near to being completed.

(Typed while working through my morning glass of water as per '30 Day Challenge' regulation...although my glass is a light brown mug...go figure)