If you've ever felt overworked, overwhelmed, or just plain unlucky, this book is for you. Through this collection of stories, wisdom, and practical advice, readers will meet four ordinary women who have faced extraordinary life challenges. Together, they have a history of six marriages, ten children, four stepchildren, six dogs, two miscarriages, two cats, a failed adoption, widowhood, and foster parenthood. They have built companies, lost companies, and sold companies. One of them was shot and left for dead on a tarmac in South America, and two lived through the deaths of spouses. Raising babies and teenagers together, they have known celebrity and success along with loneliness and self-doubt. This book started simply with four friends getting together at the kitchen table to talk about their lives. Week by week and story by story, they realized their support of each other could help other women struggling with life's myriad issues of work, family, and love, as well as the big questions of life and death. For over a decade, the power and strength of their collective friendship has enabled these women to not only survive but to thrive. The remarkable results are in this collection of lessons and stories and wisdom, which can help any woman turn any misfortunate event into a joy-filled opportunity. This Is Not the Life I Ordered is the culmination of weekly "kitchen table coaching" sessions that took place for more than a decade and were designed to support one another through life's ups and downs. The women realized their support of each other could help other women struggling with life's myriad issues of work, family, and love, as well as the big questions of life and death. The power and strength of their collective friendship has enabled these women to not only survive but to thrive and the remarkable results are in this collection of lessons and stories and wisdom, which can help any woman turn any misfortunate event into a joy-filled opportunity. * Features practical "Wit Kit" tips - exercises and actions for readers to become their own life coach and start their own kitchen-table cabinets.

On June 7, 1998, James Byrd Jr., a forty-nine-year-old black man, was walking home from a party when three white men in a pickup truck offered him a ride. They drove Byrd out to a lonely country road, tied him to a logging chain, and dragged him three miles to his death.

Joyce King, an award-winning journalist and native Texan, was assigned to cover the story, which drew international media headlines. In Hate Crime, she provides a chilling re-creation of the slaying and the subsequent trials. But she also moves beyond the details of the case to provide insight into the minds of the murderers, and to investigate the Texas prison system in which they developed their virulent racism. King also explores how the town of Jasper, Texas, endured a tragedy that threatened to divide its residents. A first-rate work of reportage, Hate Crime is also a searing look at how race continues to shape life in America.

After a century of wars, civil wars, internal division, political upheaval and the growing separation of Church and State, Irish society has emerged as a twenty-first-century hybrid, where the secular, liberal outlook is now, for the first time, the most common view. Ivana Bacik examines the shape and nature of the new Ireland, discussing such contentious topics as: the make-up of the modern family, organized religion, modern sexuality, reproductive rights, equality, racism, censorship and the environment, and the central role of the legal system in formulating a framework for our changing social mores. The book shows how Irish society has evolved to its current incarnation, and where it might go from here.

This is the true life story of Vince, the Dad, who takes his kids on a motorcycle racing adventure. The kids become a very young "pit crew" for an over-aged racer. Motorcycle racing was something Vince had to do but he wasn't going to leave his family behind to do it. This comedic adventure chronicles the unexpected highs and lows of taking kids to the race track. The story culminates in a win that wasn't and a surprise role reversal. Motorcycle racing was the avenue for a Dad to fully experience the loving bond of his wife and kids.

A book of original poetry, of life, hardship, experiences, love, disappointment and dreams. Seen through a lifetime of experience, observation and hope.

Poetry for those needing hope.

A book of original poetry, of life, hardship, experiences, love, disappointment and dreams. Seen through a lifetime of experience, observation and hope.

Poetry for those needing hope.

This is the true life story of Vince, the Dad, who takes his kids on a motorcycle racing adventure. The kids become a very young "pit crew" for an over-aged racer. Motorcycle racing was something Vince had to do but he wasn't going to leave his family behind to do it. This comedic adventure chronicles the unexpected highs and lows of taking kids to the race track. The story culminates in a win that wasn't and a surprise role reversal. Motorcycle racing was the avenue for a Dad to fully experience the loving bond of his wife and kids.

This is the true life story of Vince, the Dad, who takes his kids on a motorcycle racing adventure. The kids become a very young "pit crew" for an over-aged racer. Motorcycle racing was something Vince had to do but he wasn't going to leave his family behind to do it. This comedic adventure chronicles the unexpected highs and lows of taking kids to the race track. The story culminates in a win that wasn't and a surprise role reversal. Motorcycle racing was the avenue for a Dad to fully experience the loving bond of his wife and kids.