Take a Moment to Give Thanks!

While the first Thanksgiving was not a successful nor a lasting peace, Abraham Lincoln's proposal of a day to celebrate the coming together of the Native Americans and the Pilgrim settlers for a common meal was truly a moment of inspiration. Thanksgiving is certainly one of my favorite holidays, simply for what it has come to represent. I'm not talking about watching football and stuffing yourself until you fall into a coma from all the calories consumed. What I love the most is the fellowship with friends and family. Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all of the good things that we have in our lives. It is also a day to slow down and really take stock of what blessings we have and what blessings we can bestow on others. Some people choose to volunteer to serve a meal to those who are less fortunate or to bring a ray of light and some comfort to those who are unable to visit family.
I myself am thankful for my family, friends, and co-workers. I am glad to have had the opportunities for education and career that have been placed before me. I am thankful to live in a country where, as a woman, I have the same opportunities as my male counterparts. I am thankful that my nieces and my nephew are happy and healthy and smart and funny. I am thankful for my mom, my dad, my sister, and even my brother who annoys me endlessly. All these things, as well as others I cannot mention, make me feel truly blessed.
For all those who are less fortunate, I pray they get the opportunities they need to succeed. I pray the homeless will find homes, that the hungry will find a bounty, that the cold will find warmth, and most importantly, I pray that the lonely and downtrodden will find friendship and comfort. For everyone else, I pray that you will take a moment to pull yourself from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, put down the cell phones, and turn off the computer and the t.v. Take a look around at all that you have and see all the things there are to be thankful for in your own lives.

Trapped For 69 Days Underground

In August of 2010, a mine collapse in Chile trapped a group of 33 miners.  Against all odds and expectations, all 33 were rescued sixty-nine days after the start of their ordeal.

Agreeing only to tell their story collectively, the group chose Hector Tobar, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and novelist, to be the one they told their story through.

The story covers a story never told before - the men's lives before the collapse, the initial seventeen days when no-one on the surface knew if there were any survivors, the long waiting period of waiting for an opening large enough to allow their release and finally the aftermath as they re-adjusted to life above ground.

In Deep Down Dark, Tobar has used personal interviews with the miners and their families, the diary of one of the miners (Victor Segovia), the cellphone videos from the phone of another miner (Jose Henriquez), video from the Chilean government and more and combined them into an intense story of endurance and ultimately, of survival.

What Are You Cooking?

With the holidays coming up, I thought it would be a good idea to highlight some of the wonderful cookbooks and cooking magazines here at the library. We even have holiday cookbooks in the children's department!
Some of our wonderful cookbooks include: Paula Deen Celebrates! by Paula Deen, Historical Thanksgiving Cookery by Robert W. Pelton, Thanksgiving 101 by Rick Rodgers, and Thanksgiving Entertaining and Thanksgiving & Christmas put out by Williams-Sonoma. These books offer recipes and tips for making your holiday special. For instance, in Thanksgiving 101, author Rick Rodgers offers step-by-step instructions for carving the turkey as well as the best way to deep fry you holiday bird. He also includes a section titled "Thanksgiving Menu Planner" to give you some ideas about what to serve for your meal. Historical Thanksgiving Cookery offers recipes from the Revolutionary War through the time of the Civil War. This small book also offers historical excerpts on famous historical figures who enjoyed the dishes featured. If you need any help finding these or other titles, feel free to ask the Reference Desk for help!

We also carry some of the most popular cooking magazines available. We have Better Homes & Gardens, Cooking Light, Country Living, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Food Network Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Martha Stewart Living, and Taste of Home. Some of these may be checked out for one week at a time, or, if you prefer, you may make copies of the recipes you think you would enjoy. Don't forget about our public access computers that allow our patrons and guests to pull up websites for these magazines as well as other recipe sites.

Taking the first steps to launching the career of your dreams.

According to Ben Arment, the author of 'Dream Year : Make the Leap from a Job You Hate to a Life You Love", there is no such thing as a 'dream job'.  A job is where you are working for someone else to fulfill their dreams, not your own.

In his coaching classes, he has worked with hundreds of people to help them identify their dream career, plan it out and launch it in one year.

His new book is full of insights and advice, but most captivating part is the stories of the people who have followed his step-by-step program to switch from the jobs that paid the bills to work that they are enthusiastic about and enjoy while still making a living.

The book covers the steps in individual chapters starting with finding and defining your dream career and follows through to growing and sustaining it.  One of his main points - never give up and he gives several examples of those who had to make multiple tries before they reached their own goals, including Abraham Lincoln.