Better than the Movie

It is no secret in Hollywood that Roald Dahl books make great movies. That was my initial appeal to the author. Who was this man who's words have been turned into many amazing classics. I just finished reading three of his most well known children's books that have also been turned into movies: James and the Giant Peach, The Witches and of course, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. No matter how old you are these books are wonderful pieces of fantasy.

Here is where I am with finishing all of Roald Dahl's Children's Books:

The Gremlins 

James and the Giant Peach

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

The Magic Finger 

Fantastic Mr. Fox

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Danny, the Champion of the World

The Enormous Crocodile 

The Twits

Georges's Marvelous Medicine 
Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes 

The BFG

Dirty Beast

The Witches

The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me 

Matilda

Rhyme Stew 

Esio Trot

The Victar of Nibbleswick

The Minpins 

July Goals

Starting off the month right with an idea for what goals I want to accomplish

• Finish Roald Dahl Books
• Do Something Festive for 4th of July 
• Get a Tattoo
• Do Spanish Lessons
• Learn to Read Music 
• Start on Quilt 

Fantastic Mr Fox and Esio Trot

Crossed off two more Roald Dahl books off my goal of reading all of his children's literature. Should have 6/20 read by the time my library books are due!  Up next are The Witches, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. So far, the books that I read are amazing and I have so much respect for Dahl. Even more so as I think about another list item...writing my own children's book!

"You Have to Live a Mission Driven Life"

" When you say what you want to do or be in your life, you focus on a position. That's not a life calling. When that becomes your life calling, I think that's when it becomes dangerous. But when you say 'I want to serve children'...now that's a vision...There has to be a mission. You have to live a mission driven life".

Read Tom Brokaw's Boom!: Voices of the Sixties

"We choose to go to the moon in this decade, and do...other things, not because they are easy but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win".- JFK, 1962

Finished reading Tom Brokaw's Boom!: Voices of the Sixties. My hope is that I am walking away with a little bit more strength to live my life with meaning. To me, that is what the sixties were all about: living for a cause, using your voice, and not being afraid of the consequences.

2011 Goal Revisit: Go to Coachella

Another 2011 goal revisited and crossed off! I am so lucky to have been able to have the experience of going to Coachella. Just like a dream, it is nearly impossible to put the weekend into words that would adequacy describe it. So instead of making the attempt, I'll just say that I am so thankful that I was able to attend, for my boyfriend that put up with my nonsense and for all the great memories we now have. Coachella 2013 here we come! 

Let Us Dedicate Ourselves to That

"let's dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world".

As I read Tom Brokaw's Boom!, there is much to learn from those who paved the way in the 1960's. Many fought for the life that we are able to live today, and have left many opportunities for us to improve tomorrow. As I read Bobby Kennedy's speech that followed the death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I am reminded of these people. The people who humbly stood up, not for praise, or fame, but for what they knew was right.