Old State Capitol II - Springfield, IL

Fractions

I have never been a big fan of math. Math scares me. I was the person in math class that hated being asked a question in front of the class. My face would turn instantly red and I would start to sweat. All eyes were on me and I didn't like it.

I can add, subtract, multiply and divide, but not as fast as everyone else. It was torture to have the entire class and the teacher looking at me. As an example, in Algebra I in my high school freshman year, I was asked a simple question of "What is 13 minus 7?" Que my red face and sweat. It felt like I took a year to answer "6". When I did answer, my teacher said "Duh". That made me feel real good.

My fear of math started in fourth grade when we started the section on fractions. There was something about fractions I couldn't grasp. I didn't understand when the teacher explained it. I never raised my hand, so the class kept moving on. Eventually, I was pulled out of class during math time to go see a special math teacher with a few of my classmates. All of us were having issues with math. We all worked on math in that room together. I don't remember anything specific, but apparently we all passed and were allowed to rejoin our regular class starting the next school year.

Another school year, another year of fractions. Still not understanding and still not asking for help from the teacher. In fifth and sixth grade, we sat at large tables, four at a table. We were all able to work together on our math homework. That is how I was able to pass. When it came to tests, I was able to do the other problems, but when it came to fractions, I obviously got those questions wrong. I was thankful when the fraction section ended and we moved on to other material.

In seventh grade, I wasn't so lucky. In math class, we had to go to the chalkboard and do problems on the board in front of the class. Image me holding chalk, sweating and my face beat red. Knowing that everything I was doing wrong, I put numbers up on the board. Once I finished, the teacher would say it was wrong and explain why it was a wrong answer. Taking fractions tests were a nightmare for me. A front page and back page of fractions and not knowing how to work any of them. It is no surprise that on my next report card I that I received my first E. My first and last E ever on my report card. Devastated that I failed, I still never asked for help or told anyone that I couldn't do fractions.

In high school, I wanted to get my math credits over as fast as possible. In my freshman year, my math choice was Algebra I. My sophomore year it was a class called Applied Math. My algebra class was filled with the smarter students of my class. They were able to breeze through. It wasn't too difficult for them. In spots it was difficult for me. But I did pass the class with a B or C. Applied Math was for the people not continuing on with the more difficult math classes. I did pretty good in that class. I think I ended up with a B average. I was thrilled that fractions were not part of the class.

My major in college was art. To fulfill the requirements for my degree, I only needed one math class. I took a algebra class. I was struggling in that class. I wanted to pass the class and be done with math forever, so I worked with a tutor. My tutor was great. She explained everything to me and would show me how to do problems on the graphing calculator. I passed the class with a B.

Flash forward to 2013 and I still didn't know how to do fractions until this week. I needed to take an assessment test and I looked up a sample test online. The sample test had fractions. My nemesis was back. Instead of being afraid, I was determined to actually learn them. I bought a few math books to help me learn. When I opened the book, all of my fears came rushing back. I was sitting my dining room table and my husband sat down. I was asking him to explain it to me. After he did, I did a problem. I looked in the back of the book and it was wrong. My husband asked me to multiply two numbers together, cue the red face. He was looking at me and after a couple of seconds I replied. Eventually, with his help, I was able to work out the problem.

I made him sit with me while I worked on a section. I would do a problem, show it to him and he would say if it was correct or not. When he kept saying it was right, I was thrilled. He had to leave for work, but I continued working on my problems. I couldn't believe I was finally doing fractions on my own and I was getting it.

I took the assessment test two days after buying the math books. I was ready for fractions. I was so disappointed when no fractions were on the test. This test was the whole reason I learned how to do fractions. But the unknown of this test helped me finally conquer something that I have been afraid of for 24 years. As a 34 year old, I finally know how to do fractions. It just proves, you're never to old to learn.

Old State Capitol I - Springfield, IL

Springfield Union Station II - Springfield, IL

Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham
The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie Nicholl 
Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Eade
The Black Box, Michael Connelly
The Painted Girls, Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Drowning House, Elizabeth Black
Killing Kennedy, Bill O'Reilly
Argo, Antonio Mendez & Matt Baglio
Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond, Jane Maas
Marilyn Monroe: A Case for Murder, Jay Margolis 
Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, Mike Campbell
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, Stephen Rebello
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, Susannah Cahalan
Detroit: An American Autopsy, Charlie LeDuff
Top of the Morning, Brian Stelter
A Private Disgrace: Lizze Borden by Daylight, Victoria Lincoln
Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen and the Greatest Race Ever Run, Matt Fitzgerald
Waiting to be Heard, Amanda Knox
Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace, Scott Thorson & Alex Thorleifson
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder, Charles Graeber
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story, Lily Koppel
The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America, Christian Wolmar
Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall, Will Ellsworth-Jones 
Detroit City Is the Place to Be, Mark Binelli 
Wreck of the Wabash, Laurie C. Dickens  
Hidden History of Detroit, Amy Elliott Bragg
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
Kate: The Biography, Marcia Moody
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison, Piper Kerman
Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City, Gordon Young
This Town, Mark Leibovich
City of Scoundrels, Gary Krist
Grand Central: How a Train Station Transformed America, Sam Roberts
The Princess Diana Conspiracy, Alan Power  
The Shadow King; The Bizarre Afterlife of King Tut's Mummy, Jo Marchant
Seabiscuit: An American Legend, Laura Hillenbrand
Where Snowflakes Dance and Swear, Stephen Manes
 

Currently Reading: Reclaiming Parkland, Jame DiEugenio

Chicago Marathon

Associated Press/Andrew Nelles

A new course record was set Sunday by Dennis Kimetto of Kenya at the Chicago Marathon. Kimetto won the marathon with the time of 2:03:45, which broke last year's course record of 2:04:38. Finishing behind Kimetto were two more Kenyans, in second place was Geoffrey Mutai (2:03:52) and Sammy Kitwara was third (2:05:16). The top American men finishers were Dathan Ritzenhein in fifth with a time of 2:09:45, Matt Tegenkamp was 10th in 2:12:28 and Leon Craig was 13th in 2:13:53.

Associated Press/Andrew Nelles

On the women's side Kenya's Rita Jeptoo won in 2:19:57. Jemima Sumgong of Kenya was second in 2:20:48 and Maria Konovalova of Russia was third (2:22:46). Clara Santucci was the top American woman in ninth place (2:31:41) and right behind her in 10th was fellow American Melissa White in 2:32:39.

Kimetto and Jeptoo earned $100,000 for winning the marathon. Kimetto was given an additional $75,000 for setting a course record and Jeptoo received another $40,000 for running under 2:20:00

WNBA finals - Game 3

Associated Press/John Bazemore

The Minnesota Lynx held off the Atlanta Dream 86-77 in Game 3 to win the WNBA championship Thursday. The Lynx won their second WNBA title in three years.

Leading the way for Minnesota was Maya Moore with 23 points. Rebekkah Brunson and Lindsay Whalen also added 15 points. Moore was named the MVP of the finals.

Tiffany Hayes was the leading scorer for the Dream with 20 and Alex Bentley had 18 points.

The Lynx finished the season with a 26-8 record and Atlanta Dream finished 17-17.

Read the ESPN story.

Springfield Union Station I - Springfield, IL

WNBA finals - Game 2

USA Today/Marilyn Indah 

Minnesota Lynx hosted Atlanta Dream Tuesday for Game 2 of the WNBA finals. The Lynx defeated the Dream 88-63. The Lynx are now 2-0 in the best of five series.

Seimone Augustus lead Minnesota with 20 points. Lindsay Whalen and Maya Moore where the second leading scorers with 14 points a piece. The series will now head to Atlanta, where the Dream will host Minnesota on Thursday. The Lynx can win the WNBA title if they can beat Atlanta Thursday.

Read the ESPN game story.

Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association Region Ten III - Adrian, MI

Michigan Interscholastic Horsemanship Association

Region 10 Equestrian competition

Adrian, MI - Lenawee County Fair and Event Grounds
September 8, 2013

WNBA finals - Game 1

Getty Images/Hanna Foslien

The Minnesota Lynx hosted the Atlanta Dream Sunday in Game 1 of the WNBA finals. The Lynx defeated the Dream 84-59 and lead the series 1-0.

Maya Moore led the Lynx with 23 points and
Monica Wright added 20 points.Read ESPN's game story.

Game 2 will be played on Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Minnesota. 

Books read in 2013

Between Here and April, Deborah Copaken Kogan
Bleed for Me, Michael Robotham
The Making of a Royal Romance, Katie Nicholl 
Prince Philip: The Turbulent Early Life of the Man Who Married Queen Elizabeth II, Philip Eade
The Black Box, Michael Connelly
The Painted Girls, Cathy Marie Buchanan
The Drowning House, Elizabeth Black
Killing Kennedy, Bill O'Reilly
Argo, Antonio Mendez & Matt Baglio
Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the '60s and Beyond, Jane Maas
Marilyn Monroe: A Case for Murder, Jay Margolis 
Amelia Earhart: The Truth at Last, Mike Campbell
Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of Psycho, Stephen Rebello
Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, Susannah Cahalan
Detroit: An American Autopsy, Charlie LeDuff
Top of the Morning, Brian Stelter
A Private Disgrace: Lizze Borden by Daylight, Victoria Lincoln
Iron War: Dave Scott, Mark Allen and the Greatest Race Ever Run, Matt Fitzgerald
Waiting to be Heard, Amanda Knox
Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace, Scott Thorson & Alex Thorleifson
The Good Nurse: A True Story of Medicine, Madness and Murder, Charles Graeber
The Astronaut Wives Club: A True Story, Lily Koppel
The Great Railroad Revolution: The History of Trains in America, Christian Wolmar
Banksy: The Man Behind the Wall, Will Ellsworth-Jones
Detroit City Is the Place to Be, Mark Binelli 
Wreck of the Wabash, Laurie C. Dickens  
Hidden History of Detroit, Amy Elliott Bragg
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
Kate: The Biography, Marcia Moody
Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison, Piper Kerman
Teardown: Memoir of a Vanishing City, Gordon Young
This Town, Mark Leibovich
City of Scoundrels, Gary Krist
Grand Central: How a Train Station Transformed America, Sam Roberts
The Princess Diana Conspiracy, Alan Power 
The Shadow King; The Bizarre Afterlife of King Tut's Mummy, Jo Marchant
Seabiscuit: An American Legend, Laura Hillenbrand

Currently Reading: Where Snowflakes Dance and Swear, Stephen Manes