Ok, Ok! But!! You Asked for It!


Book Description

Adventure, mystery, imagination, immaturity, and sometimes just plain ignorance....that's what you'll find in this compilation of sixty-two short memoirs. The stories will take you from the innocent childhood of the author in the 1940s and 50s, through the turbulence of school, marriage and child-rearing in the 60s through the 90s, and eventual spiritual maturity of the author in these current days. Each memoir, though short in words, is long in substance, usually funny, and a life lesson. Ten of the stories are in fact near-death experiences, and examples of how the author lived his life without recognizing the signs that his Lord placed before him. Each story stands alone without reference to the others. However, in whole, the stories relate to a complete life change in the author from childhood to adulthood. Many people do not pass beyond their first encounter with death; some do, but are left with scars and memories of their near miss. Some people call it luck; some call it coincidence, and some a guardian angel's protection. The author believes that the Lord placed signs before him, and still does for everyone. These signs are placed so that all will open their hearts and minds to the wondrous power of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The author is in no way proud of most of his memoirs, as most of them occurred due to naivety, an over-active imagination, or stupidity. But he is thankful that Jesus has been patient with him through the journey. Jesus can save all of us through our journey, but it is up to us to accept Him and save our soul. David R. Patterson, born, raised, and a life time resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been employed at Murray Equipment Inc. since 1968. Dave is a self-taught Systems Engineer and Inventor who owes every thing to his Creator, who has been very patient with Dave throughout the years. All his thoughts and ideas have come from the Lord who allowed him to grow up at a time when he could use his imagination, which became his foundation for a tiny spot that he could create and fulfill a need. The Lord also introduced Dave to Steve Murray, who later became the owner and risk taker of Murray Equipment, which Steve built into what it is today, a leader in its field of expertise. Steve showed confidence in Dave, and Dave took it as a challenge to fill this void. Cynthia L. Patterson, Dave's beautiful wife of over forty five years, is truly a wife that Dave will tell you he is not worthy of, and a mother who has no equal. Cindi and Dave have four wonderful children, all of whom are Christians and are very successful. Craig and his wife Rhonda have two wonderful children a girl Paige and a boy Caleb. Randy and his wife Dawn have twin boys Jacob and Foster. Shawn and his wife Kimberly have three children, a boy Cole, a girl Madalyn and a boy Cade. Brooke is Dave and Cindi's daughter of the family, and is everything they could ever ask for, but currently lives in Chicago. Dave has no experience at writing, but he has always wanted to tell of his life time adventures, be it good but mostly bad. He also wants you to know, it's not where you were spiritually, but where you are now. Romans 12:6




Since You Asked--


Book Description

Fifteen-year-old Holly Kim, the copyeditor for her San Diego high school's newspaper, accidentally submits a piece ripping everyone to shreds and suddenly finds herself the center of unwanted attention--but when the teacher in charge of the paper asks her to write a regular column her troubles really start.




Doesn't Hurt to Ask


Book Description

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Former congressman and prosecutor Trey Gowdy teaches you how to effectively communicate and persuade on the issues that matter most to you, drawing on his experience in the courtroom and the halls of Congress. “A must-read for people who want to learn how best to succeed.”—Dana Perino, Fox News host and bestselling author of Everything Will Be Okay You do not need to be in a courtroom to advocate for others. You do not need to be in Congress to champion a cause. From the boardroom to the kitchen table, opportunities to make your case abound, and Doesn’t Hurt to Ask shows you how to seize them. By blending gripping case studies from nearly two decades in a courtroom and four terms in national politics with personal stories and practical advice, Trey Gowdy walks you through the tools and the mindset needed to effectively communicate your message. Along the way, Gowdy reflects on the moments in his life when he learned the most about how to argue and convince. He recounts his missteps during his first murder trial, the conversation that changed his view on criminal justice reform, and what he learned while questioning James Comey and Secretary Hillary Clinton. Sharing the techniques he perfected advocating in law and politics, Gowdy helps you identify your objective, understand your personal jury, and engage in the art of questioning so you can be heard, be understood, and, ultimately, move others. Whether it’s getting a boss to take a chance on your idea, convincing someone to support your cause, or urging a child to invest more effort in an important task, movement requires persuasion. Doesn’t Hurt to Ask shows you how to persuade, no matter the jury and no matter the cause.




You Asked for Perfect


Book Description

"Wise‚ romantic‚ and painfully relatable."—Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda From acclaimed author Laura Silverman comes a timely novel about a bisexual teen's struggle when academic success and romantic happiness pull him in opposite directions, perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Tamara Ireland Stone. Ariel Stone has spent his life cultivating the perfect college résumé: first chair violinist, dedicated volunteer, active synagogue congregant, and expected valedictorian. He barely has time to think about a social life, let alone a relationship...until a failed calculus quiz puts his future on the line, forcing Ariel to enlist his classmate, Amir, as a tutor. As the two spend more time together, Ariel discovers he may not like calculus, but he does like Amir. When he's with Amir, the crushing academic pressure fades away on, and a fuller and brighter world comes into focus. But college deadlines are still looming. And adding a new relationship to his long list of commitments may just push Ariel past his limit. In a time where academic pressure on stressed teens couldn't be higher, You Asked for Perfect is a story full of empathy, honesty and heart for anyone who has ever questioned the price of perfection. The perfect present for readers who want: Books featuring anxiety for teens Queer romance Gay young adult fiction Jewish representation Praise for You Asked for Perfect: An ALA Rainbow List Pick 2019 Books All Georgians Should Read List 2020 Georgia Author of the Year Awards Nominee Chicago Public Library's Best Fiction for Older Readers List "Who can resist a heartfelt romance?"—Booklist "Silverman's novel hit me straight in the heart... It was powerful enough to make me want to be a better—yet still imperfect—person."—Bill Konigsberg, author of The Music of What Happens "A coming-of-age novel that will charm readers with its relatable and diverse characters, quirky storyline, and interweaving of faith, queerness, and the everyday lives of seniors navigating the pressures of college applications, grades, and relationships. Heartwarming and engaging."—Kirkus




I'm Glad You Asked


Book Description

How does one effectively deal with the tough questions which arise when one is asked to defend Christianity? How do we learn to speak the truth effectively? This bestselling book, published in 1982, will not only help believers understand the strength of their position, but will ultimately help those who are searching to discover Christ.




Asking For It


Book Description

Emma O'Donovan is eighteen, beautiful, and fearless. It's the beginning of summer in a quiet Irish town and tonight she and her friends have dressed to impress. Everyone is at the party, and all eyes are on Emma. The next morning Emma's parents discover her collapsed on the doorstop of their home, unconscious. She is disheveled, bleeding, and disoriented, looking as if she had been dumped there. To her distress, Emma can't remember what happened the night before. All she knows is that none of her friends will respond to her texts. At school, people turn away from her and whisper under their breath. Her mind may be a blank as far as the events of the previous evening, but someone has posted photos of it on Facebook under a fake account, "Easy Emma"--photos she will never be able to forget. As the photos go viral and a criminal investigation is launched, the community is thrown into tumult. The media descends, neighbors chose sides, and people from all over the world want to talk about her story. Everyone has something to say about Emma. Asking For It is a powerful story about the devastating effects of rape and public shaming, told through the awful experience of a young woman whose life is changed forever by an act of violence.




(Not That You Asked)


Book Description

In (Not that You Asked), Steve Almond documents a life spent brawling with the idiot kings of modern culture. He squares off against Sean Hannity on national TV, takes on Oprah Winfrey, nearly gets kidnapped by a reality TV crew, and winds up in Boston, where he quickly enrages the entire population of Red Sox Nation. Amid the carnage, he finds time to celebrate his literary hero, the late Kurt Vonnegut. These are essays the Los Angeles Times has called “rich, fearless [and] cutting.” Praise for (Not that You Asked) “Refreshingly irreverent . . . absurdly funny.” –The Boston Globe “[Almond] scores big in every chapter of this must-have collection. Biting humor, honesty, smarts and heart: Vonnegut himself would have been proud.” –Kirkus Reviews (starred review) “Taunting, revealing, irreverent, and earnest.” –The New York Times “Steve Almond has created a distinctive voice and literary persona. Pleasure-obsessed, self-deprecating, horny, hilarious and always dedicated to parsing the messy terrain of the human heart.” –Forward.com




The Art of Asking


Book Description

Rock star, crowdfunding pioneer, and TED speaker Amanda Palmer knows all about asking. Performing as a living statue in a wedding dress, she wordlessly asked thousands of passersby for their dollars. When she became a singer, songwriter, and musician, she was not afraid to ask her audience to support her as she surfed the crowd (and slept on their couches while touring). And when she left her record label to strike out on her own, she asked her fans to support her in making an album, leading to the world's most successful music Kickstarter. Even while Amanda is both celebrated and attacked for her fearlessness in asking for help, she finds that there are important things she cannot ask for-as a musician, as a friend, and as a wife. She learns that she isn't alone in this, that so many people are afraid to ask for help, and it paralyzes their lives and relationships. In this groundbreaking book, she explores these barriers in her own life and in the lives of those around her, and discovers the emotional, philosophical, and practical aspects of The Art of Asking. Part manifesto, part revelation, this is the story of an artist struggling with the new rules of exchange in the twenty-first century, both on and off the Internet. The Art of Asking will inspire readers to rethink their own ideas about asking, giving, art, and love.




Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book)


Book Description

Snappsy the alligator is having a normal day when a pesky narrator steps in to spice up the story. Is Snappsy reading a book ... or is he making CRAFTY plans? Is Snappsy on his way to the grocery store ... or is he PROWLING the forest for defenseless birds and fuzzy bunnies? Is Snappsy innocently shopping for a party ... or is he OBSESSED with snack foods that start with the letter P? What's the truth? Snappsy the Alligator (Did Not Ask to Be in This Book) is an irreverent look at storytelling, friendship, and creative differences, perfect for fans of Mo Willems.




If You Ask Me


Book Description

The New York Times bestseller from the beloved actress and Hollywood icon who's made us laugh on shows from The Mary Tyler Moore Show to Golden Girls to Saturday Night Live! In this candid take on everything from the unglamorous reality behind red-carpet affairs to her beauty regimen (“I have no idea what color my hair is, and I never intend to find out”), Betty White shares her observations about life, celebrity, and love (for humans and animals). Filled with photos, If You Ask Me is funny, sweet, and straight to the point—just like Betty.