I Never Get Invited to the Good Parties (By That I Mean the Parties Where the Beautiful People are Talking to Me in Front of Large Crowds

I always seem to miss it - the great shout of yesteryear with Nic Stone and the one that happened yesterday at the ELATE lunch with Mahogany Brown. My phone was blowing up with friends saying, "You just got the greatest shout-out ever on stage." 

I should of guessed...Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz. She was interviewing author Brown on stage and apparently there was a love fest that followed where my name was spit into the air. 

I later clarified with Yolie when I ran into in the hallway and finally got to meet Mahogany Brown in person. These conferences can be quite a lot and yesterday was a celebration of more NWP work, a celebration of Chris Goering's new book cheering on joy in secondary English classrooms, and then there was the Derrick Brown, Phoebe Yeh, Matt de la Peña love fest in the exhibit hall after Susan James and I had lunch.

This morning is a little rough (as is the day) while I try to find my life in a series of different sessions. I go all day long and I don't have much time to think/rethink between presentations so I have to figure out a game plan before I leave my hotel room. 

Always a great time. Always overstimulating. Always promising. And Always ready for it all to end. I think I'm growing more and more comfortable with my reclusive side. I'm ready to hide. 

Walking Home from the Rangers Game at NCTE, I Saw a Building Decorated Like Christmas Oz and I Was Like, Whoa! It's Right Around the Corner

First full day of NCTE work, mostly with NWP, has me exhausted and I didn't even have to present. Best part of the day was hearing Percieval Everett speak about his award-winning James, one of the best books I've ever read. Well, guess who was an opening, Keynote speaker? BOOM. Not much gets me excited in my later years, but this was one I could find decent fingersnaps for.

Dave also got us tickets for the Rangers/Avalanche game and he went all out on our seats. We were up front and ready to see everything. The Rangers lost, but the crowd excitement was worth every second of it, even it it made me miss NWP evening events. Also had a great gourmet BLT, so I'm okay with my decisions.

Today begins the presentations and I need to find time to do University work. Friday and Saturday are about impossible, but I will make it through all the sessions. I always do.

I need to head back to the convention center so will keep this short. All is well, safe, and going accordingly. I did, however, neglect to back clothes for two days. Not sure what I was thinking in my arrangement of outfits. We shall see what funky displays I come up with over the next day. Phew.

Sleep! Okay. The Travel Wore Me Out! I Was Grabbed by Dave, We Got Dinner, and Then I Was Out

Great Shroom burger, though, to follow a very expensive road trip to the wrong hotel thanks to the world of taxis, which are definitely overcharging in response to Uber. I was like, "You think you're selling me an air ticket back home?" Phew. I now know I need to be more upfront in my planning from airport to sleeping location. I'm glad I was finally delivered by an Uber drive to the right location, as the vicinity is much nicer than where I was originally dropped off.

The four hour flight was a breeze, because I watched the 4 hour documentary on Paul Reuben, aka Pee Wee Herman, and was intrigued by the back story and how his character came to be. What a story and phenomenal documentary, even if it was hard to see the back story to the way his life played out.

This morning, I need to pick up my registration, check out the National Writing Project rooms, and get a feel for what is about to go down over the next few days. The hotel room is nice, but there's no reason for so much heat. I like to sleep cold, so turned those temperatures down.

There's an hour difference and I know I will need to adjust my inner clock. Last night was a good shower and a wonderful pillow...then I was out. I'll be more adjusted after today, but for now I'm groggy, acclimating, and able to say that I've made it to my destination in one place. 

Ate bad on night one, and will need to adjust from this point forward. My stomach can't do the burger and fries like it used to. 

Okay, NCTE...let's kicks things off.

Orange I'm Glad It's Humpday. Ready or Not, Denver, Here I Come & I'm Sporting New Sneakers for the Journey

I've been telling everyone that my midlife crisis isn't an extra-marital affair, or a sports car, or outrageous spending on something I can't afford, but simply giving in to my Saucony-sneaker-fetish to maintain comfort, color, funk, and utility. I love these sneakers and this pair, bought to replace my five-mile hiking treks, are in Syracuse orange and blue. I'm 100% cool with that. I also got a cranberry color, which I'll use more as dress shoes than for long journeys, because they aren't designed as well for the bounce in my step, but they do look good with a suit. 

I've had the sneakers in my house for a few weeks, but only took them out of their boxes this week because I'm taking off for Denver, Colorado for the National Council of Teachers of English conference and a return to the National Writing Project family. I'm sliding into this travel after a week of total insanity, tremendous obstacles, and another crown. One day, I know someone can cut out my jaw and show others that my entire income went to my never-ending problematic teeth. My mouth is worth more than I am.

The weirdest thing about this year's event is I have nothing scheduled for the first day of the conference which I don't believe has ever happened. Yes, there are gatherings, but there's not the back-to-back, running around marathon I'm used to. I think Dave and I are going to see a Rangers hockey game. 

And then in takes off in typical style. I'm actually excited to look for presentations to be a catalyst for my own thinking.

I ended class late last night...the students are in end-of-the-semester mode with their projects, and I know that the conference for English teachers gets in the way of the routine for normal coursework. This is why I plan backwards and set them up for success, even while I'm away. Of course, this requires them to be on top of their game and productive all semester. 

I really don't want to fly, but what can I do. I will start flapping my wings soon, and I'm reflecting on all the years I did NCTE, then the turkey, then LRA. How the heck I do that with NCTEAR around the corner after the New Year. I love the gatherings, but with the cost of travel, the lack of financial support to do such professional travel, and the reprioritizing of goals, I've made the executive decision to do only what I can and not to stress over the grind like I usually do. 

Here's hoping for a successful conference. We're operating in a different environment these days, nationally, so I'm interested to learn what the pulse is from colleagues across the nation. I know that I'm in the barely surviving mode. Phew. Here's to the network we love. 

The Best Part of Out-of-Town Guests (or any Company) Are the Left-Overs that Carry Over for the Rest of the Week

Of course I'd be summoned for taker of the minutes on a Monday Academic Council meeting, because it is the book of Job. It's the same reason I'd be summon for jury duty over winter break, even after reluctantly agreeing to teach two session of a winter course when  no one else would step up. The students would lose out and I couldn't live with this. So, I postponed jury duty.

I did not, however, postpone my AC minutes, as I like to type notes like I was trained to do as a qualitative researcher. I like to capture time and conversation to the best of my ability. Censoring myself from speaking, however, is a little trickier, but I did my part. 

All of this is to say that it's all good, because I had leftover bagels with cream cheese for breakfast yesterday and I will have it again tomorrow, which is why I love entertaining and having people stop by. I end up winning with more food in my house. It's nice not to only eat cereal.

Today is a marathon for teaching and tomorrow is the travel day to NCTE in Denver (which I'm also excited about, as emails and text messages have begun to arrive). Last night, I was thinking about how impossible the level of work really is, but I see that National conferences are a spot to stop, reflect, reconvene, and rethink. If I wasn't heading out of town, it'd be more of the impossible same: empty that ocean with a fork, Crandall.

Nope. I didn't eat all these bagels, but I had three left over which I will pace this week before I depart...the fruit, too. All, with a cup of coffee, make for a much more enjoyable morning.

I like to choose joy, but there are times in the profession where you can't find a second without work to actually appreciate what the world has to offer. I'm hoping the Denver trip will restore some of the joy that has been lost this past year. If not, at least I got the bagels to appreciate. 

Papa Wooley and I Will be Presenting in Denver this Upcoming Weekend, But So Great Having Some of the Crew with Me this Weekend, Too

And the food festivities were a preview of the time to come (I really do hate the excess of teaching that comes with the holiday season. I just carry a bag of carrots and say, "Sorry. Let me be a rabbit." I did practice this weekend with popcorn evening snacks, bagel breakfast feasts (with cinnamon rolls), and pesto chicken with fries. I wish I had more will power. I do not. 

The Connecticut winds were whacky, so much that it pushed a tree over onto I-95 in Milford. I walked Karal after everyone departed and we got hit with a mini-hail storm which pegged at my face. Didn't know they were calling for any of it.

The out-of-town guests, did cause me to do bedroom laundry and linens in preparation of Chitunga and Lys's arrival when I return from NCTE.

Dockside was decked out with holiday decorations: I said it looked like Christmas threw up inside the restaurant. It was excessive, overbearing, and a tad bit obnoxious. I get it, though...it is a people's bar and the inhabitants of the area reserve many spaces for their holiday parties. I also laughed that the wait staff all look like they are 12. It's probably because I'm so far from the new generation of young people who frequent such a place. 

I cherished my evening of multiple sports channels, as it makes the colder months that much more enjoyable. My soul is warmed by watching others sweat.

Long day of meetings today and more preparation. Looks like the temperatures are remaining miserable. And that, of course, is what November is supposed to bring. 

My Bourbon Sipping Friends Are in Town from State College and For a Night Anyways, Everything Feels Back to Normal

Kris, Dave, and Ish had a party to attend, but also were in need of a space to crash. Mt. Pleasant is the perfect location, and we have our routine, which includes dealing with the overly excited Karallyne Karma Cupcake, who can never get enough of her ol' neighbors when they return to Stratford. 

I worked on NCTE presentations awaiting their arrival, and also made a pretty decent stir fry with mushrooms, peppers, chicken, and broccoli. They were being fed at the party, but I wanted to be prepared nonetheless. 

I also got all my ESPN channels back up and running, so I was able to see the Fairfield/Iona game, and see the Women's Volleyball clench the MAAC regular season. I also caught the Women's basketball game against UNC and although Fairfield lost, they looked very good playing against a powerhouse team. Wonderful to see Nellie Brown back on the court.

Today, we'll do breakfast and Val is coming to meet us for lunch, but then they need to drive all the way back to Penn State, making their rendezvous a short-lived one. Always love having company and the house loves having the crazy crowd, as well. No one is more excited than Karal, however, when overnight guests are stopping by.

Here's to this Sunday. I'm simply excited to have sport channels again in my house. This streaming generation is something to get used to, and getting the right fit takes a little bit of time.