And Upon This Day, Last Day of November, Mt. Pleasant Shall Be Completely Decorated for the Holiday Season

When I was a kid, going to my Grannie Annie's was always a treat, because she always grabbed a branch that had fallen outside and decorated it with silver tinsel, and underneath this, the had all these figurines: ice skaters, woodland creatures, and winter shenanigans. Everything was so tiny, and we were into our presents, etc. but always loved looking at her creativity and silliness.

Fast forward to Kentucky when my Aunt Bobbie and Uncle Dick handed down their nativity set to me, a gift made by my mom in ceramics and the only holiday decorations I had. each year, I can't wait to set it up with the Snowman tree with its tiny ornaments because it reminds me of my grandmother's house.
I always like to add to the manger scene with special friends: frogs, a Buddha cat, Buddha, adult Jesus (hiding behind one of the Wise Men, and 3 lil' frog stones made for me by Kaitlyn (Abu, Lossine and Chitunga sitting on a log - Shut up, kids. Shut up, kids. Not tonight. Not tonight).

I put up the tree and lights yesterday, too, but will wait for Chitunga to decorate it, as that has been a ritual he's enjoyed for many years (although my ornaments are somewhat lame, as everyone has handed me back the ones I've made for them over the years with my sense of humor). Getting the ornaments out is always a special time, though, simply because so many of them have memories and document time and place.

There's something very calming to be on Mt. Pleasant with the television off, the lights off, and the house lit up with white lights. I still have to do the garage and back porch, and I figure I'll wait for Chitunga for those, too - he went out with friends to a comedy club last night, but promised most of Saturday to be on duty.

I did manage a super long run and a great walk, but then screwed everything up by having a plate of leftovers at 9 pm last night, making me feel lethargic and over-calories again. Ah, tis that season.

And I'm proud to say I didn't buy a single thing yesterday on Black Friday, simply because I hate shopping and hate crowds even more; instead, I uploaded proposals to the Consortium of Northeast Writing Projects Conference in the Bronx this spring.

How I survived yesterday without a nap to recover from Thursday is beyond me...

...but I did. Today, however, I think we might shop. Just kills us (or wish us luck...whatever you prefer)

Last Turkey Post for a Year. Not Eating Again Until December 24th. I Should Be Hungry By Then

The best part of being in the kitchen since 7:45 a.m.? There will be leftovers for a few days, and then some. We all outdid ourselves: Pam with the stuffing and sweet potatoes, Kaitlyn with the Bree and Brussel sprouts, Tunga with the Green Bean casserole (with bacon), Dominic with the homemade bread and Basil Hayden.

I did the turkey, carrots, asparagus and potatoes. And I kept thinking I'd get a chance to leave the kitchen, but didn't, having to take a shower as everyone else arrived.

It is amazing, too, how much alcohol can be consumed while entertaining a crowd. It wasn't just me; it was everyone. I made a cranberry, ginger beer, vodka drink to kick things off, and then we opened the Basil Hayden and practically traveled to "Daneland," as Kaitlyn called it.

The dogs did great, too, although butterlips Glamis got some of the turkey skin with her sleuth-like slithering when no one was looking.

Shopping today? Hmmm. I don't think so. I think I will run a 5K, walk the dog, and run another 5K just to burn off the calories I consumed. I kept saying, "We perfected this holiday meal and there wasn't a bad bit from anybody's plates.

We even had apple pie and ice cream for dessert.

All in all, a fantastic day, which we should cherish for a very long time. Happy Friday, all.

Let Them Run For Turkeys While I Cook One and Prepare for Mt. Pleasant Feast 2019

Chitunga and Kaitlyn signed up for a Thanksgiving 5K, and I opted to bypass so I can roast the turkey, peel the potatoes, bake the carrots and set the table for our 2 pm dinner. I think everything is set, and only time will tell - it doesn't happen until it happens the ways that it happens.

The house is clean only to be messed up again with guests, but that is okay because it's an occasion to give thanks, to appreciate one another and to think about the fortunes we have with one another and in the United States.

I had to go back to the grocery store again, and we opted for Paradise Pizza for dinner, so that made that easy (love their barbecue pizza pie).

Also began another writing project, but that was only because Chitunga showed up later than he anticipated so I had an unexpected batch of time in my day. This morning, however, I wish that I was running, too. I have a feeling there will be a lot of eating this afternoon (and sleepiness as a result)

We are ready to get into the routine of the weekend, a break between conferences and the academic life, but wanting more for our semesters to be over. Tis the time of year to simply be exhausted.

But with gravy on the horizon and stuffing, I'm not worried about any of that this morning. Instead, I'll monitor the Macy Day parade and see if a balloon or two will take down windows and a few pedestrians with the wind. At least it's not cold and we don't have snow. I'm ready to work with this and make it a memorable holiday.

Who Wants To Come Help Me Clean My House and Prep for the Turkey to Come? We Got This!

Started my Tuesday morning editing a paper with Liz Lewis and Kelly Chandler-Olcott on iterations of our summer programs to be more inclusive of students with learning disabilities, then traveled to campus to work on it some more, all while taking care of the CWP budgetary work I've been neglecting.

Also hit send on the 283 6th edition of Pow! Power of Words, our student and teacher anthology.

A 34-page paper and a 283 page book. I guess that is a reason to be thankful.

Actually, I also met with graduate students working on their final projects and when I was caught working on the LRA paper, one of them said, "Oh, you're writing with KCO?" - we've been reading her A Good Fit For All Kids: Collaborating to Teach Writing in Inclusive, Diverse Settings and it has been a tremendous hit - "She's getting rid of the highway lanes, fast tracking for all the disability roads."

When I asked for clarification, she shared her son has dysgraphia and she loves the way that KCO's book names writing practices that work for all students - so much so, she's thinking about sending her son to our literacy labs next summer (programs built from collaborating with Kelly in Syracuse).

It was such a great metaphor, I had to share it with Kelly, just like the video my mom posted on Facebook about the AWA dance troupe, Autism with Attitude. That was another metaphor for the work we're doing. Dancing is a form of writing, and when coached correctly, the performance of all youth can be amazing.

Okay, it's time to get the vacuum out, to terrorize Glamis, and to de-hair the entire house for Chitunga's return. Tonight, we'll prep the turkey and think about what dish he can contribute. This time tomorrow, the Macy's Day parade will be on, and I'll be peeling potatoes.

Feeling somewhat accomplished for the work that was done before basting the bird.

In The Care of Many: So Glad Glamis Has The Love of Ubuntu Academy, All These Years Later

Abonga and Omar have been my reliable dog sitters for several years now, and they are always reliable to take care of Glamis when I go on my November/December treks to literacy conferences. Last night, they came by with friends from yesteryear, as they were heading to a studio in Shelton to do some recordings of their music and song-making. They wanted to stop by.

I now realize why Glamis seems so attention-seeking when I return. They give her so much attention: walks, food, playfulness and conversation. She's become a heroine in their worlds.

Happy Tuesday before Turkey everyone. I'm heading to the office for more accounting work and to finalize next week's conference paper for LRA in Tampa. I also did a journey to Big Y and have a tremendous bird for another year of gathering on Mt. Pleasant. We are likely to have a smaller crowd this year, but the appreciation and thankfulness will be the same. It just occurred to me how late the holiday is and how quickly I'll need to be wrapping gifts and stuffing stockings. I need to tap ingenuity this year, because I've not been paced and strategic as years past.

As I told the bagger the grocery store, my male brain can't handle the need to buy for the holiday, and also the days before and after. I'm good for Thursday but today, Wednesday and following, I'm a little scarce on the preparation front.

It's all good. Everything evolves as it always should. This morning, I'm most excited about the stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy. That is what makes me mouth water.

And it will be here soon enough. 

Going Into Turkey Week Like a Turkey With Its Head Cut Off (But with An Incredible Sunset Over NYC via Amtrak - It Makes All the Difference)

I'm home.

I'm home and I have a 1,001 new writing projects I want to begin, but I need to finalize the ones that have due dates that are more pressing than my dreams (although I started two on Amtrak from Baltimore to Bridgeport). I told my mom last night, "I don't know why we choose airplanes when we can take advantage of rail transportation - so much more comfortable and utile. I get so much thinking and writing done."

As we pulled out of NYC, I looked up and the windows looked like they were being painted for artistic display in a museum. I quickly switched seats to take it all in, but I love the way the colors here bounce off all the grays).

I unpacked, started laundry, did laundry, and immediately went into editing mode, which will continue this morning with colleagues across NY and PA in preparation for LRA in Tampa the week after we give thanks on Mt. Pleasant.

That skyline, though. What a miraculous phenomena to witness, especially on a rail car that was pretty empty. It was a great way to depart NCTE and to transition back to the Stratford work this week.

My lord, the work that we do at this time of year. I love of every second of it, but I AM WIPED OUT.

Meanwhile, the kid turns 24 today, and sadly I can't be in Syracuse to celebrate with him (the package arrived last week). I'm sure he won't have much freedom to blowout candles or hear birthday songs as his academic and work life fill his Mondays. I'm very thankful that my mom made him a cake, despite the grumbles of my father who said, "Sue, not everyone likes cake."

He does.

It's crazy to think he's 24 already and I'm channeling where I was at the same age, with my long hippie-hair, work with the Beargrass Creek Task Force, and beginning life as a teacher in Louisville, Kentucky. I shake my head at moments like these and think, "Whoa. How does all of this fly by so fast?"

I'm simply thankful that he'll be home later this week and I hope I can make the space and time as tranquil as his life deserves.

He, like the sunset over NYC, brings joy to my world. Here's to the week ahead.

All Love to #NCTE19, @writingproject, @ncte, @cwpfairfield, and Literacy Educators Across the Nation (and Good Bye)

Always hard to choose a moment or second or theme from a day to write about in the morning, but I thought this would be best. I skipped out on NCTE functions simply because I had to stay in my hotel room to write and work on pressing projects. I did, however, wander through the convention center hall on the way to meet a friend of mine. I ran into William King, a right hand everything to work in CWP, who said he was waiting for a 1 o'clock session, but then we ran into Phoebe Yeh, VP / Editor and Random Penguin House extraordinaire. She's quickly become one of my favorite people in the work I do and we bonded over my love for Walter Dean Myers and the fact that she was his editor. She has a great eye for what kids will read and how books will become national sensations (cough cough, like Nic Stone).

Last night, I had dinner with Phoebe, Kristin Shultz, Nic Stone, Candace Fleming, Camryn Garrett, Scott Reintgen, Mae Respicio, Olugemsola Rhuday-Pekovich and Jeff Zenter. Rose Brock, Susan James, Jarred Amato and I were lucky to sit down in conversation with some of the superstars of the season.

I was lucky to sit with 19 year-old, Camryn, who is publishing Full Disclosure, while still in college. Her enthusiasm for books (and knowledge) simply floored me and I felt honored that The Great Whatever had her at my table (Nic Stone says Camryn's her baby prodigy - I can see why).

Meanwhile, in Syracuse, New York, my friend Sandy Bargainier is sending me photos of a refugee youth event she's attending where Abu and Ali are doing their thing - leading the way. Made me proud as the photos came in. Love knowing that the integrity, focus, responsibility and ubuntu are circulating in the Central, New York region, too.

I have one more presentation this morning, and then I need to pack up, head to Amtrak and start focusing on the Thanksgiving week ahead. I absolutely love every second of NCTE/Writing Project life, but it can be very exhausting, especially with so many minutes of the day accounted for with work, excitement, networking and possibilities.

I may need to take it easy Monday, as I aim to find rest and focus for the turkey and stuffing needing to be cooked.

Great job Baltimore planners. It was a phenomenal experience. I am very privileged to be a part of it all.

And all these free books from Random Penguin House. Love their editorial team.