Just Because the Eldest Sister Was Initiated in the "Clean Up in Aisle Five" Scenario, I Wore My Cynderballz Socks to Work Yesterday

When I opened my social drawer, they immediately stood out...the Cynderballz pair with the sky-blue joy of merrier days. I wanted her close to me for the recovery...the initiation of showing total parental love and for adulting like a champion the entire way. She's always thinking on her toes, so I wanted her on my toes, too...brotherly love. It is part of the life-cycle narrative that inevitably gets discussed, even when the outcome is somewhat dreary. 

The sad part is the doctor's office doesn't have an entire row dedicated to paper towels, which worked to my advantage a couple of summers ago. 

I don't like aging...not one bit. I've love the energy of age 18-45 with tremendous might, and now know the hints of what's to come are with me every day as I ache, complain, lose sleep, and worry about what is coming next. 

Here's to all children who reverse course when their parents get older. Here's to Cynde who does it with little complaining...just a lot of rescuing. And many thanks to Dylan for donating a pair of sweatpants to the cause.

Yesterday, I walked Karal and failed to grab a pair of gloves because I had no idea winter arrived overnight. I also drove to work in crazy flurries which were beautiful, but a little premature in my opinion. I'm not ready for the bone-pain of whipping winds, but that is what we received yesterday. I should have known from the rustling leaves dancing down the street last night and the ones that blew against my window. I queue the opening of Rudolph and the tale of brutal winters ahead. I'm okay with it once the lights are up, but without them I am just grumpy at the quick, season change.

I had tickets for a show after class last night, but the temperatures pushed me to simply drive home, because I don't want to be so exhausted, I get sick, too (which comes with this time of year).

Here's to Mittwoch and garbage day. Cheers to the idea of being productive. 

Good Company is the Best Way to Start a New Week. Sporadic, Collegiate Lunches for the Rescue.

I missed Dr. Eileen O'Shea's Wall Award lecture last week, where she discussed her research on palliative care with children who have cancer. I met Eileen on Rank & Tenure, and quickly learned to appreciate her still waters, deep humor, brilliance, and faith in doing good for others, especially young people who are suffering. Quality of life is what she's always been after as a nurse. 

Since I had to miss Eileen's lecture, she suggested we get lunch at Sophies on the Brick Walk in Fairfield, which was a great choice because the lunch was amazing (and oddly inexpensive...foo foo for less than a drive-thru burger...crazy). I had mussels as an appetizer. Always love my mussels.

It was wonderful to catch up, to be inspired, to talk ideas, and to vent frustrations with a colleague I cherish, admire, respect, and need to counter the insanity in what we do. The fact that we also got great food on a Monday was a bonus. I could talk to her for hours.

The rest of the day was meetings...meetings...and meetings. And today it's teaching, so onward, Tuesday. Here we go again. 

Ah, but the skies are blue. There isn't snow like there is in Syracuse and Rochester, and for now I have no clean up in aisle 5. The cardiac doctor's office in upstate NY, however...that's a different story. Butch bursted onto the scene once again.

1st Birthday Parties Mean Delicious Cake. Welcome to the Age of Walking and Bringing Cuteness Wherever You Go, Ms. Maddie

Crazy how fast the clock moves, especially when the next generation is brought to the forefront. It seems Maddie was just born and last night we were celebrating her first birthday at Patrick and Stephanie's with her brother, Ethan, and all the Cuzzies. Girls running around for miles. They also had the celebration catered by Bin 100. So it was great food for a Sunday afternoon.

Always amazed what a family is supposed to do with all the presents, when the house is already wall-to-wall toys for the kids. The excitement is real, a the Winnie the Pooh theme was a hit. 

We all felt the darkness, cold, and rain in our bones, however. I spent most of the day on the porch catching up with grading. I really need about a week's time to catch up on all needing to be done, and this week is not cooperating with all the meetings and obligations.

I'm on three faculty searches this semester, academic council, and of course our own school's PRC, and all of them are meeting nonstop on Monday, making me wonder how I'll finish grading and get ready for my own classes this week (not to mention the conference the week after). 

It'll all get done. It always does. 

But I am feeling my age. I just want to get more sleep. My brain is not working at the speed it used to.

With Total Exhaustion Hitting at 5 p.m. Last Night, I Revved Up the Engines and Decided to Grill for the Week

There really was no excuse to sit still, which is why I think I wanted to sit still. Leo and I attended the Senior Day volleyball game with Noey, Patty-Ann, Marley, and Phil (they won in three) and then we stayed around for the family picnic, which took forever as the girls had to shower and do themselves up for their families. By the time we got home at 4, Leo returned to Milford to nap and I sat in my house thinking, "I really could go to bed." 

The temperatures were warm yesterday, and I know the cooling comes this morning (with the unlikelihood of it getting that warm again until spring). That, and the dark by 5 nights simply pulled my energy level to an all time low. I knew, however, that I needed to do something to kick myself in gear.

So I grilled for the week. I turned on the back porch lights like it was summer, played with Karal by throwing sticks and toys, and put sausage and chicken out for the week. If I have the meats cooked, then I can mix them with other veggie dishes throughout the week, including some Indian ones I've wanted to try, as well as some soups. 

Seriously, though...I hate when I get as tired as I was last night. I'm so used to go...go..go...that when my body does slow down...forces me to slow down...I get perplexed. I couldn't stop yawing. 

We had goals for going out to dinner then to a bar to hear a band, but I knew everyone would cancel, especially since they have me by ten years and are even more tired than I am. I've learned in the past, that if something isn't started during daylight, no one is likely to leave their house. And I get it...I didn't want to leave my house last night and didn't.

"I Knew I Was in the Right Place on the 1st Day of Class When We Were Greeted with Tangerines and a Bottle of Bubbles."

Yesterday was interesting location to stop, pause, reflect, and move on, as the day began with an interview on New Haven Radio by the Readman, Dr. Jesse Turner. He approached me a while back, and I was excited to get the official invite over the weekend. "Sure. I love talking bout what I do as a National Writing Project Director."

I jotted down a few notes but then thought, "Just with the flow, Crandall. Be informal." Listening back, I'm always somewhat shocked that the storytelling and argumentation being made comes across like I actually have something to say. I'm so afraid the Clown-dall will take over the Crandall, and I'll regret something out of my mouth. 

I will say, I much prefer listening than watching (I linked the radio version and will share the video one at the end). We Crandalls fidget a lot and do things with our eyes and hands and lips when we're thinking ahead of what we might want to say, which is a little weird. I do love the song Dr. Turner uses to open his show, though. I've known of him for some time because of his passionate advocacy for K-12 teachers throughout the state.

In the afternoon, I met with seniors for advising, and one young woman, Ciara, surprised me when she showed up. She was with me in her freshman year and I didn't have her down as a potential English major. I knew she was in the Honors program, but as a quiet, intimidated new student, she never expressed her goal to be an English teacher. Surprise. That's her goal and she told me, "I knew I was in the right place on the 1st day of class when you arrived with tangerines and bubbles." I have no memory of this, but it seems 100% plausible and likely because I'm always bringing in snacks and gadgets to keep the class going.

It's also back-to-back volleyball games as we head towards Senior Day tomorrow. Looking forward to the final home match of the regular season and will deliver the team my Kentucky cake, which has become a ritual in my celebrations of others.

Okay, Saturday. We have such to accomplish. Let's go. 

There Is Something Wonderful About College Students Writing 3rd-Grade Informative Essays (As If They're 3rd Graders).

I made it to campus by 7:15. The I-95 Gods looked out for me, so there was plenty of time to print materials for class. We will be hosting the 3rd-grade Franklin writers in a week and yesterday's class was a workshop on informative writing.

I shared my own writing about Wiffleball on Duncowing, and informed the class of my childhood memories. I tried to keep in age-appropriate and drew what I intended to be a Wiffleball and players. The students then informed me about their 'something' they know about. They developed their sentences to teach me about their something. 

We also looked at the calendar, with T-Day and a conference blooming more class time, and headed towards the pace they'll need to keep in order to complete their mini-projects.

When I drove to work in the morning, it was 60 degrees, but upon my return home, the winds were pushing 40 degrees on your neck and face. It got cold.

And finally, FINALLY, I made it to the grocery store to stock on items so I'm not eating crackers and cheese every night. 

Today, a sprint to get on top of many items. I need as much computer time as I can. 

Unfortunately, CT's Super Moon was Super Cloud-Covered, But I Felt Her Energy Nonetheless (I Am Mr. Moonbeam, After All)

Karal sat at my side grading all day. Well, and planning. Oh, and interviewing. I did have one on-campus student conference...a math major looking for help on her teaching statement as she applies back to schools in Philly (she was in my Philosophy course)(part of the hidden service educators do behind the scenes). I did get a walk in...thankfully...and I'm prepped for this morning's turbo, although I hate the a.m. traffic. What else is new?

I'm excited to read from my students that most high schools have special arrangements for seniors to work in elementary classrooms, so they get experience on guiding the learning of young people. It's a practice that most schools should take advantage of and it reminds me of the All-Stars/Moonbeams collaboration of Kentucky. I'm not sure all my students loved those gatherings, but it's wonderful to see as an adult who makes the arrangements. Phew. My last kindergarten crew must be around 24 now. Their Moonbeams, the class of 2007, about 38 (pushing 40). It's unbelievable to do the math. I wonder if they ever think about those times, but I cherish knowing that the tradition continues. 

I'll never forget the face of the little kid who wanted to know what I called my students if they were All-Stars. I said they were seniors and he said, No. They're the Moonbeams and you are Mr. Moonbeam. The rest was history. Wonder to carry forward the Gay Rapley and Sue McV Brown School traditions with Bonnie and Maria. Time is such a fickle creature.

I'm honestly looking forward to ending class today so I can get back to writing projects that really need my attention. Would be nice to have time to get groceries, too, and to have food to cook (I'm even desperate for breakfast this early morning...not even a slice of bread to toast). 

Okay, November 6th. Let's me keep the productivity going (and soon....soon...catch up on some rest wherever you can find it)