I would very much like to get some reading in before school starts again. In the past, I was not much of a reader but I have recently regained an intrest. The problem is, I don't know where to start.
I like things that are more real, more dramatic even. I am not much into Sci-Fi or Fantasy and I really don't like sappy love stories and cheap romantic paperbacks. I am interested in biographies and standards, you know, the type everyone should have at least a brief knowledge of.
Though I have only read a little, my favourites are The Hiding Place by Corrie  Ten Boom, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald(my copy is an old paper back and in pieces. hint hint, birthday, christmas).

Knowing a few english and literature people are on here, I thought some of you might be able to suggest something.

Tonight, I read a blog written by a friend of mine. He wrote how we give children a false sense of success. He believes (and I know this because I have heard him talk on the subject, not just write about it) that to tell a child he or she can do and be whatever he or she wants to is rediculous and wrong. He used an analogy of a young boy who wants to be "the next Lebron." This boy is of course 5'1" and runs really slow. How dare we tell him he can be whatever he wants to be, the American Dream and all of that mess. By our giving him this sort of encouragement, we are giving him a false sense of success; a sense that success is measured in fame and money. My friend assures us he is not pessimistic, but rather realistic. 
I disagree with this friend of mine and in fact, it makes me a little angry. While it is true success should not be measured by fame or money, I don't believe this is the principal of our, so called, "American Dream" nor is it wrong to tell this boy he can be what he wants. The American Dream is about working hard and bettering his circumstances by beating the things which might have held him back. But I don't believe we are even talking about the american dream here.
All my life I have wanted, and still want, to do big, great things. So maybe I am biased, looking from a "dreamer's" perspective(or maybe I'm alittle too hyped for the underdog after just watching Rocky Balboa). I believe the kind of success our children are looking for, is the success that comes from making huge goals(or dreams) and working hard to persevere and reach what they truly desire to do or be.

I am really bored. I am house sitting since yesterday and until tomorrow. I did six hours straight of office work today.  Then I made dinner for myself which consisted of a sliced roast beef and cheese sandwich washed down with apple juice and chased with doritos. I've all three dogs, the cat, and six horses. I sat and stared at the television for a about three hours watching Rocky Balboa in Bluray and had planned on watching Transformers after this. But now, the thought of sitting and staring at the TV for another three hours sounds like murder. So, I thought I might conquer the less brain melting task of reading the memiors of The Rocket Boys, by Homer Hickam.

I believe I've called your attention to this before. but let me just say, this is one of those days...

os·trich [aw-strich, os-trich]
–noun

I'd like to point out the third definition in particular. No, I did not make this up.

Somehow it makes me feel a hint better just to express the fact that I am tired. I know, you have heard it all day and for weeks, but I need to say it. Today is one of those days... I feel like I am at the end of my strength. It's like at the rock wall, when you get to a certain point and though you are two feet from the top, you haven't the strength in you to make it the rest of the way. I am tired. I have worked hard and stretched myself farther than ever this semester. Which, is not really saying much considering how incredibly lazy I have been most my life, yet still...  I have worked hard and pushed just a bit further. I am a good student and I try to be involved. With about three weeks left, I am finding the end of my strength. I do not know how much longer, if any longer, I can keep pushing myself. I don't want to study, I don't want to go to class, I don't want to wear clothes, and I don't want to be nice. I am tired.

I will be very glad to see my parents this evening. They are my rest.