These twenty short stories and ten poems cover many situations and environments: "The Star Ruby." Precocious and nasty with reason, a young girl covets her grandma's ring. "The General's Darlings." A resourceful soldier starts a chorus and is amazed to discover it's become important to him. "High Ground." A boy rides from Chicago to Indiana to bring back Thanksgiving poultry with his brother-in-law and an African-American. "Uncommon Versatility." An artist of many styles who looks like Sasquatch. "Julie's Retirement." He retires and settles things after being feted by strangers. "His Secret Place." Seeking enlightenment in all the wrong places. "Skin Deep." She uniquely escapes abuse. "Family Traditions." A woman attends a reunion amid painful memories. "Reflections." Retribution and horror in an American town. "Shirley's Story." A lascivious man learns to curb his appetite. "A Two-Christmas Story." Will love conquer despair and stubborn ethical positions? "Lost and Found." What happens when a pet alligator is left in a taxicab? "Theodora's Mirage." A Death Valley trip and a new driver's terror in a bitter battle of wits. "Like Clockwork." A wealthy middle-aged woman marries an avaricious young man. "Genevieve's Maturity." Parents help their daughter choose to control over her own destiny. "Anna Are You Mine at Last?" He lost Anna to another, but can he win her back? "Ben and the Dragon." A clever young man perpetuates a fairy tale. "Missing Ariel." First the son, now the wife is missing, but will they find her before evil does? "The Sports Car Rally." He's unprepared for the surreal feeling of turning over in an open car, and its aftermath. "When Half-Spent Was the Night." A man learns his effect on peace after years of regret. The poetry, too, captures different moods. "Final Garden." A gardener's lament after starting from scratch too many times. "Conversation With My Cat." Admiration for a friend, and a curious desire. "Old Lion by the Riverbank." How he copes once past his prime. "Overlooked Crop." A serendipitous find. "Last Visitor." A mystic vision of a desirable end to things. "Old Songs" (SETI at Home). The wonder of celestial eavesdropping. "Solo Walk." Missing a lover who has gone. "Sanctuary." Rejoicing at home after braving the elements. "Revolution." About adoration and love. "Loss of the First Mate." About a loved one who has passed away.

This book is about criticism. It is a road of many interesting events, happenings, circumstances, and occurrences. We can see ourselves as we observe the contents of this writing. This book identifies many types of criticism. Perhaps some you have never considered. Take a look at this fat-bellied word. It is simple writing. It is not intended to be professional with every dot and comma placed at exact locations. It is rather a series of briefs randomly placed on paper just for the fun of it. I am positive we have all stood on both the good and bad sides of this word. Sometimes we are the inflictor. In other instances we are the receiver. Often it is delivered in private. Now and then it is issued by several people at the same time. This word is a part of every living person. Criticism occurs more often than we realize. It is often desired, rejected, considered, or stored for future use. It is a powerful word that can be deceptive. It can lead us into temptation or draw us out of harm's way. It can lay dormant for years or rapidly fly off a tongue. Criticism is always present. It never takes a break. It may withdraw for a period of time but it is just gathering more information to be utilized at the right time. This book looks in most of the nooks and crannies to uncover criticism in an enjoyable fashion. Criticism can be so deceptive that it is difficult to see what is really taking place at any given time. This book cannot wait for you to get into the contents it shares. It will make you giggle, laugh, sigh, and perhaps moan. This writing will grab your attention as you invest a little time taking a look at criticism. This book will relate to the reader in a way that is personal and at times intense.

Children are a gift from God to parents. We hold the precious memories of the earliest days of their lives and have prayed over them, hoped good things for them from the womb. We teach them all we can and pray they turn out to be God-fearing, good people. This book shares the memories, hopes, dreams and prayers of a Christian mother over her son to inspire parents to share similar stories with their children.

Completely updated to report the latest research in child development and learning, Positive Discipline for Preschoolers will teach you how to use methods to raise a child who is responsible, respectful, and resourceful. Caring for young children is one of the most challenging tasks an adult will ever face. No matter how much you love your child, there will be moments filled with frustration, anger, and even desperation. There will also be questions: Why does my four-year-old deliberately lie to me? Why won’t my three-year-old listen to me? Should I ever spank my preschooler when she is disobedient? Over the years, millions of parents just like you have come to trust the Positive Discipline series and its commonsense approach to child-rearing. This revised and updated third edition includes information from the latest research on neurobiology, diet and exercise, gender differences and behavior, the importance of early relationships and parenting, and new approaches to parenting in the age of mass media. In addition, this book offers new information on reducing anxiety and helping children feel safe in troubled times. You’ll also find practical solutions for how to: - Avoid the power struggles that often come with mastering sleeping, eating, and potty training - See misbehavior as an opportunity to teach nonpunitive discipline—not punishment - Instill valuable social skills and positive behavior inside and outside the home by using methods that teach important life skills - Employ family and class meetings to tackle behavorial challenges - And much, much more!

I was hanging out with Elizabeth when I saw the boy again. Not just a boy, but that boy, the one you sort-of notice, but only to think, hey, wasn't he here yesterday? He glided by Elizabeth's hedge on his bike once too often, giving that sliding sideways glance he hoped (I expect) looked casual, disinterested and, oh, there's that chick again, hanging out with her big sister...or is it her auntie? Too old to be a friend. Elizabeth is my great-great-great-great-great granny, for your information, Bike Boy, I thought-spoke to him on the fourth bypass of the week. He toed his pedal down and skimmed away before getting into some serious calf-work as he headed up the hill towards Caroline Court. Cat Mahal has an ordinary life in the suburbs. She is also an ethical witch

Completely updated with the latest research in child development and learning, Positive Discipline for Preschoolers will help parents understand their preschooler and provide early methods to raise a child who is responsible, respectful, and resourceful. Caring for young children is one of the most challenging tasks an adult will ever face. No matter how much you love your child, there will be moments filled with frustration, anger, and even desperation. There will also be questions: Why does my four-year-old deliberately lie to me? Why is everything a struggle with my three-year-old? Should I ever spank my preschooler when she is disobedient? Over the years, millions of parents have come to trust the Positive Discipline series and its common-sense approach to child-rearing. This revised and updated fourth edition includes a new chapter on the importance of play and outdoor experiences on child development, along with new information on school readiness, childhood brain growth, and social/emotional learning. You'll also find practical solutions for how to: - Teach appropriate social skills at an early age - Avoid the power struggles that often come with mastering sleeping, eating, and potty training - See misbehavior as an opportunity to teach nonpunitive discipline--not punishment

“Greg LeMond was Lance Armstrong before Lance Armstrong . . . the story of a true hero . . . This is a must read if you believe in miracles.”―John Feinstein, New York Times–bestselling author In July 1986, Greg LeMond stunned the sporting world by becoming the first American to win the Tour de France, the world’s pre-eminent bicycle race, defeating French cycling legend Bernard Hinault. Nine months later, LeMond lay in a hospital bed, his life in peril after a hunting accident, his career as a bicycle racer seemingly over. And yet, barely two years after this crisis, LeMond mounted a comeback almost without parallel in professional sports. In summer 1989, he again won the Tour—arguably the world’s most grueling athletic contest—by the almost impossibly narrow margin of 8 seconds over another French legend, Laurent Fignon. It remains the closest Tour de France in history. “[A] blend of chaos, kindness and cruelty typifies the scenes that journalist de Visé brings to life in this sympathetic-verging-on-reverential retelling of LeMond’s trailblazing career (first American to enter the tour, first to win it) . . . As an author in quest of his protagonist’s motivation, [de Visé] subjects it to extreme torque.”—The Washington Post “A great book . . . Well written and thoroughly researched . . . Engrossing and hard to put down. If you’re a Greg LeMond fan, The Comeback is a must read because it’s a detailed accounting of his career and―more importantly―his life and person off the bike. It’s also an important reminder that American cycling did not begin and end with Lance Armstrong.”—PEZ