Hosted the Young Adult Literature Class at the Center for Social Impact as they Brought an Artolution Exhibit to Their Location

A day in schools turned to a day with meetings turned into a day of celebrations turned into an evening course held in collaboration with the Center of Social Impact (and I'm off to campus this morning to participate in another day of obligations). Phew. Thankful, but also perplexed by the volume of it all. 

Good news is that POW! '25 is in print. I'm months ahead of myself on that, as it is summer work that I always want off my plate, but there's not much time to edit and get it to print. It's the 12th publication and this year we're using it to celebrate 40 years of success at Fairfield University. The National Writing Project Way. 

The Artolution project is collaborative public art in relation to refugee camps around the world, with an intent to use the arts to bring healing, expression, opportunities, and visual narrative to communities whose stores need to be told. My students read young adult novels with immigrant and refugee stories, so it was a natural fit to host class alongside the exhibit's launch and lecture. Was thrilled to see my colleague, Dr. John Kiweewa (Go, Cuse!) also on the panel.

The displays around the center featuring the collaborative artwork was wonderful and it was great to see the University roll out red carpets of the Center's vision. Dr. Mark Frieder brought an overwhelming passion with him and modeled the numerous ways such work relies on tremendous sponsorship of many. My students, some of them who worked in Ubuntu Academy during the summer, had many questions about the ways such programs work. I watch with awe, too, as the exhibit was brilliant, my students had so much to add (we were in a side room having class alongside and with the exhibit), and finally attended the panel.

But I'm off today to record the first ever Center of Climate, Coastal, and Marine Studies podcast - another new project of our campus community. Excited to be asked to be part of the first recording and to bring five years of Write Time expertise. 

Focusing On the Better Part of Yesterday and Trying Not to Let Mathematics and Labor Laws Plague My Brain Too Much

There isn't a school in the United States where teachers haven't wondered, "Do OSHA standards not apply to teachers?" I've always wondered about that question, too, especially after mowing the lawn late last night where I was calculating I've been working 72-98 hours a week for several years now. Shouldn't there be a location to report such insanity? I'm sure I'd be told, "You have to give up some of your projects," but if I did, I don't think they'd appreciate my response. I'd give up their meetings and their extra demands and focus on the work I'm really hired to do. 

Anyways, I spent most of the day at a local elementary school yesterday where the K-3 kids were working on classroom charters and discussing their needs as writers and learners. It was beautiful, especially the kindergarten kids who welcome me to their school but couldn't pronounce all the letters yet! 

I'm excited for the collaboration because it is with a woman who was in one of my first cohorts of students at Fairfield. She's trained as a bilingual elementary teacher, but has since moved into administration and is now a Principal at her own school. Her love for the teachers and young people is truly remarkable to witness. I am in awe of her dedication, organization, and passion for pushing them all to achieve gratification things.

This semester, a core of 20 undergraduate students will be coming with me to the school as tutors and collaborators...part of their exploratory course. Although I'd also like to have middle/secondary placements, too, there is only so much time in a semester and we are already jam packed.

I also hit send on two major writing projects yesterday, so we'll sit back and wait. 

And what is this, "Oh, you need to eat dinner reminder at 9 p.m.?" I think it's because I've been trying to mow the lawn for two weeks and haven't had a second because of, well, the first paragraph of this blog. 

Later, off to campus I go.

Shouting Out to a Beautiful Sunday Evening, Where the Sky Reinstated What is Most Important and Put a Reminder Back in My Head

I don't like working all weekend. I have to, however (like most teachers), because there's no way to get all the work done required of us during the week. I was telling our University Provost on Saturday night that it is rare I can get out to a social event (like a play) because there's too much to stay on top of...it was a rare Crandall sighting. I also said, however, that I've been paying attention to the skies lately and they are more important than the expectations placed on us as faculty on campus. We need to remind ourselves that there's much larger EVERYTHING behind the ever day grind of academic life.

The trees are lungs. They remain stunning to me, especially in the evening where there outlines are more vivid. 

Alas, I worked all day Sunday but I did take a break at 4 to grill steaks, feed friends, and happen upon the Devon Bridge at sunset. The sky was stunning and I hopped to get a photo to capture how mesmerizing it really was. I tried. Sort of captured the essence of it all. Just beautiful. 

I came home from dinner to have five new essays turned in a week later (Ah, FRESHMAN! You'll get used to the fact that you can't do that in college). Sometimes I wonder what they are thinking - I mean, it's the first assignment of the semester, not a difficult one, and they biff on it. One even said, "I didn't know there was anything due, even though it was central to the first week's class, email reminders were sent, and (ready for this), IT'S ON THE SYLLABUS. 

God Bless. And I think the Great Whatever does, as that was the reminder on the way home. Beautiful September sky....a reminder of what is more important and matters most. 

Yet, here is another Monday. Let me get back to the list of what to accomplish next (because I didn't get to everything this weekend...there wasn't enough time)

Thrilled to See the Academy of Players @FairfieldU Back on Stage with GOD OF CARNAGE by Yasmina Rez in the Wien Experimental Theater

You have to give it up to Dr. Michelle Farrell who is one of the few that can get me out to a social event and convince me to attend an experience rather than sitting at home writing, reading, or planning. Last night, I had the joy of seeing colleagues Drs. Dennis Keenan, Nels Pearson, Jerelyn Johnson, and Sonya Huber bringing marital/parental angst to the stage as they brought forth the 2009 play, God of Carnage. It's fantastic to see the  scholars and writers take on new personas as they depict individuals very unlike themselves. 

Vomit. Hamsters. Tulips. What brings forth humanity any better?

And kids. They ruin everything. Why would anyone have them, especially when they knock out one another's two teeth over 12-year old playground war? Behind every layered youth-gang shenanigan are parents covering up their own shortcomings, pretentiousness, masks, and layered personality traits. 

The script (and the acting) -- absolutely brilliant. The staging superb. Keeping up appearances is the act of adulthood and marriage, at times, is a sham, especially after rum is served. Workaholics, vain wives, and the competitive nature of careers with Western jobs in a world of barbaric civil wars of 3rd world culture and the one-upmanship of art, decorations, fashion, and morality.

The result? The facade is only a veil to cover true intentions. It's a complicated game...these stories we tell ourselves. 

Kudos to all on stage and behind the scenes for bringing a brilliant script to the Fairfield University campus and giving so many of us the opportunity for theatrical play and questioning. What does it all mean in the end...these illusions we let ourselves believe?

The Academy of Players is a tradition I cherish and I hope one that continues. 

Ah, but's it's Sunday and time for my own cover-up of having it all together. More work needs to be done and a night off, means a scramble to get back on track.

Congratulations to the performers and stage crew. All involved should be proud their hard work and dedication. It paid off. 

Cheers to a Good Neighbor, Off-the-Tree Asian Pears, Kindness, and a "Crisp" Recipe That Never Fails.

While Abu was visiting last weekend, I thought about the bag of Asian pears that Paowl, the son of a neighbor who recently passed, dropped off at my house. I've never been one to eat pears nor cook with them, but know that, at times, I've had them at fancier occasions like weddings and foo-foo restaurants. I wasn't sure how they bake down, but I have an apple crisp recipe I love so while we were watching football, I peeled the fruit, soaked them in honey and maple syrup, then baked them with oats, flour, and a sprinkling of butter. 

Although I had a lil' taste, I haven't jumped into them, but have packaged the desert to friends who have reported how incredible it was. 

I brought the dish to a gathering last night and, one by one, I was hearing how delicious and unbelievable it was, so I took a big bite with one of the larger pieces of fruit.

Oh, My Glorious Tastebuds. Wow. What a flavoring! I'm already for my neighbor to pick from their tree next year. I want to take all they'll give me and gift the bite for others. So thankful he thought of me. I miss his mother, who passed in Poland last year, and hope he and his partner keeps the house so their harvest is shared with the rest of us. 

I want to try other recipes, too, and to bring the same joy. Maybe I also need to plant a tree. I love when I try something new (and in this case, I made it myself). YUMMY.

Sometimes You Simply Need to Stop the World, Inhale, and Take a Therapeutic Break Just for Yourself to Realign

I suppose the 14-hour days were destined to burn me out. Class went well, although the emails poured in causing massive frustration of addressing the impossible, so after the joy of teaching, I needed emotional eating (an Italian Chicken Club from Sorrento's Import...to die for) and then a return home to put the backpack to the side, the laptop on the charger, and get the dog for one of the better Stratford hikes. 

I didn't sleep at all Thursday night. Running on empty, I drove Karal to Short Beach, laced her up, and trekked a five mile loop along the ocean. Aging means that it feels that there's a mini-rodent drilling its teeth into your hip bones, but when the weather man said, "It's one of the last summer-like afternoons," I knew I needed to go for the adventure. No radio. No technology. Just me and the dog.

I am grateful and thankful that I'm disciplined enough to know what I need when I need it. 

Tanya and I recorded the first of Write Out guest of this year's event, Awaken the Senses, or National Writing Project's The Write Out. It's always exciting to launch the two-week October event with the network, another series of days I thoroughly enjoy. I also am trying to embrace the metamorphosis of the adult male dad bod, wondering what to do now that I can't run like I used to. I look at food and pack on the pounds. I feel like I eat less in adult life, but it doesn't matter. Movement was always my way to counter it all, but I can't push the way I used to, and psychologically it perplexes me that I'm not my younger self, when I wasn't even award pain could exist.

Varian Johnson, the incredible writer, posted a photo of himself icing a knee and wrote his daughter wondered how he hurt himself. He simply responded, "I got old." I get it, Varian. I get it. 

And I hear it gets worse. All prayers for those older than me already contending with the cramps, aches, stomach issues, and muscle collapse. 

That's why I needed a long walk. They say it's the best we can do midlife, so it's what I did. 

I needed it more mentally than physically, however, but wish it didn't come with ankle throbbing and hip brutality. 

It is what it is and today is Friday. I am thanking God. Adding that 'o' - what can we do put keep good in our view. 

Wonderful to Spend an Evening with Joseph Albert, a Teacher from Tanzania, to Cheer on @StagsVB & the Win Over Yale

Day 4 of 14-hour days with an 8 a.m. teaching time. You got this, Crandall. What else are you gonna do?

Last night, I had the great honor of hosting Joseph Albert, from our partner high school in Tanzania, who is here with the Center of Social Impact for creative thinking about future partnerships and possibilities. Grateful to Dr. Melissa Quan and all she does for outreach, international friendships, and opportunities for our campus, and even better to hear from Joseph about students who attended CWP's summer programs and, upon entering college, decided that writing and literacy is the way they hope to go. I didn't know our summer work had such an impact. 

Joseph and I attended the first home game with the Women's Volleyball team and they looked really good on the floor (and I know how the game is a mental one). Their athleticism is looking solid and the teamwork was demonstrated to pull off the 3-0 victory. 

I also enjoyed a brief dinner with Joseph and catching up on his world and mission of working with young people. He wanted seafood and that is what we got. Again, thankful for the Center of Social Impact for their community-engaged work. 

Now it's time to hit morning traffic in hopes I can make it in time for the 8 a.m. turbo. Meeting an ol' friend, however, was worth the evening hours and now it's up to me to find the energy for a course with 20 undergraduates. I didn't leave campus until 10 p.m. so I could get the materials ready.

Alarm clocks, don't fail me. 

I also accomplished much headway on first week grading and a few external reviews for tenure cases that are due this weekend for other universities. 

I know tonight I have a recording of The Write Time, and then I'm likely to crash because my middle-aged body is definitely feeling this academic pace.

Sometimes a shining moment, however....this was one of them. Okay, traffic. Be kind to Crandall. I need you to be good and easy.