Georgia...on my mind

Well, I've finally readjusted to returning home from my week in Atlanta and let me tell you...it was awesome! I was there for the International Reading Association convention which was held in the facilities that were built for the Olympics! I felt like I should have trained for them...with allllll of the walking we did. But it was good exercise and gave us all the wonderful excuse to eat without guilt - because we worked it all off!!

We arrived on Saturday and since the convention didn't begin until Monday, we just HAD to do something! And boy, did we! We rented a van and drove up the highway to the most amazing outlet mall I've seen! Outlet shops of every kind!! Pottery Barn, Le Creuset, Fossil, Williams-Sonoma, Yankee Candle....so many clothing shops, shoe shops.... and of course...
SCORE!! COACH! Now, I will admit it.. I'm a purse snob. (hangs head a bit) I almost talked myself into buying a new Coach for the trip...something I haven't done in years, ladies... years! And given my new place in life, hardly something I can afford to do. But... I tried all the other places...Target, Wal-Mart, Kohl's...and you know how a purse has to grab your heart...speak your name... scream at you... "I'M THE ONE!!!" Well, such wonderful encounters happened at this Coach outlet shop. I went twice. I bought thrice. I'm happy to report that I have almost made a complete recovery from the guilt that cloaked me for a while. What little remains fits nicely into my summer Coach purse! The van was loaded... I mean L O A D E D !! To the point that we had to drive across the road to Wal-Mart to purchase more luggage to hold all of our goodies. *Note: the above picture of me is not of my new purse! That's my 'old' Dooney & Burke.... um... told you I was a snob!)

Monday morning found me sitting in the most humongous hall with about 15,000 other educators listening to our keynote speaker, Jamie Lee Curtis! She was beautiful, eloquent, funny and simply charming.

Then it was on to the exhibits, the sessions, authors, free books and goodies and all the other wonders of this huge production. I was overwhelmed! But my buddy, Kelly, steered me straight and took good care of me with the in's and out's and tricks-of-the-trade tips for such an adventure!
We saw and met many wonderful children's authors and even got their autographs. Here's a favorite of my friend - author Carmen Agra Deedy - signing away! I met Jerry Spinelli and had such a wonderful time listening to about 18 different authors and illustrators talk about their profession, how they get their ideas, what motivates them and their lives. It was facinating and I was in awe of all of the talent before me day after day!









Let's talk food, shall we? We were fetted and fed and never were hungry - from a cocktail party at the Omni to a beautiful lunch at the Hilton to a yummy breakfast at the Ritz. But my all-time favorite meal was at Gladys Knight's 'Chicken and Waffles'! Now before you go all scrunching up your noses... trust me... oh honey... trust mama!! This meal was amazing! You have to get there early or you just flat-out don't make it in! So we hustled down at 4:00 pm and indulged in some good old fashioned southern cooking. (um...that's after the 6 of us were seated at the table in the back at the restaraunt by the kitchen!! What you say??? It's true!! )
Behold!!!! The dinner that makes you scream 'MAMA!!!!' Fried chicken breast on top of a malted waffle that melts in your mouth! Slather on the butter and pour on the maple syrup and get ready to ride that midnight train to Georgia!! It was fantastic! Add in some collared greens, sweet potatoes, fried macaroni and cheese, a tall glass of 'Uptown' tea (tea and lemonade) and a caboose of sweet potato cheesecake, and you'll be walking out of that place with the happiest smile on your face!


Of course, we had to take in a bit of the culture while in Atlanta, so we were able to score some great seats at the Braves game against San Diego. They 'tommyhawked' them! My buddy, Kelly, couldn't get over the chant we all yelled to help them win the game!! By the way... if you go to the games there, you really must try the funnel cake from 'Batter Up!' Oh my!





We also toured the studios of CNN. The tour is great and a fun experience! And no...we did not see hottie Anderson Cooper... darn!

We also visited the Coke museum - I had no idea how many things you can make and market with the 'Coke' logo on it... unbelievable!!








After walking for miles and lugging books, bags and brochures....we came home each night to the most fluffliest of comforters and beds in our hotel room. Our room was up on the 32nd floor - and no kidding - when riding the glass elevator up or down, our ears always popped! But we were treated each night to the most beautiful sight out our ceiling to floor windows! We slept with the curtains opened so that we could take it all in the whole time...and it was just beautiful!!

Atlanta was friendly and fun - my kind of town! I learned so much..about a new city, about my profession and even more importantly...about myself! A big 'THANK YOU' to those who made the trip for me possible and to those who took it with me! And to my Kelly Girl - thanks for being such a fantastic, fun roomy! They wanted us to sleep in king beds, but we said 'No, No, No!' : ))

A Beautiful Mother's Day Gift

It's Mother's Day...a day the comes with many mixed emotions for me. I made my way early this morning to 'visit' my mom and grandma at the cemetary. This is always hard, as I miss my mom terribly. Plain and simple. I miss her.

I did a bit of driving around afterwards...trying to let being home in the valley sink into my bones after being gone a week in Atlanta (more on that trip in a later post). I was picking up some goodies at Trader Joe's when my son called to firm up plans for he and my daughter to take me to lunch.

We hopped in the car and immediately, David told me that first, he had a surprise for me. He started driving south east of where we should have been heading, and neither he nor my daughter would say why...only 'It's a surprise....you'll see!' Before long, my daughter reached around me to cover my eyes so that I wouldn't get a clue. After a little bit, and some fancy driving by my son, we parked. Eyes still covered, he told me that he had bought himself a present, and then my daughter turned my head to the right and uncovered my eyes.

And this is what I saw....

The newly marked lot of a brand new home...

My son has bought his first home!!!

I sat dumbfounded and in tears....

this is such a wonderful, amazing thing and I am thrilled for him to make this step in his life! We quickly got out and he 'showed' me his kitchen, the living room, dining room, garage... AND IT'S GORGEOUS!!

Actually, we went over to the models and I am just in awe of what a beautiful home this is!! It's two-story, with a sit-in master bedroom, tons of storage, a beautiful kitchen!!...everything about it is amazing and wonderful! A home that I would be totally happy in!! I am so happy for him...so amazed and so excited for him! Move-in date will be in October and we are all excited for him. To the point that I took him and my daughter out for lunch - I had to treat my wonderful children and congratulate them for their successes and for making my Mother's Day such a beautiful one.

I hope this day found joy blessing you, as well. Happy Mother's Day!

As Lenny Kravitz says....

I want to get awayyyy! I want to flllllllllllllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyy awayy.... Yeah, yeah, yeah!!!

Saturday morning at 7:05 am I am rolling down runway 26 left (or right, depending on variables) towards Atlanta, Georgia! Five colleagues and I are attending the International Reading Association's annual conference - which is in Atlanta this year. It has been a grueling week of getting plans, notes (uh, 9 pages for the sub), materials and everything else ready so that I can be gone for the four school days. We also hosted our annual Curriculum Night and I worked the Book Fair for my dear pal, K (who is going with me on this trip and is my room mate! Woohoo!) My mind is pretty much mush at this point...

But do you know what I am so excited about??!!??? Those of you who know me doooooo -

Check out this plane, baby! It's a Boeing 767-300ER and I have never flown on a 'seven-six-seven' before!!

I

CAN'T

WAIT!!

I've been all over the internet checking out the stats for this beauty and I can hardly believe the luck of this being our aircraft for our flight tomorrow!! WWWHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Okay...I am punchy tired and need to go upstairs and iron and pack for 6 days of 'so-outside-my-box-I'm-not-even-worried!' fun!

I'll wave 'hi' to you as I fly overhead!! WOOOHOOOO!!!

Do It For Me As I Do It For You

A big day is coming up for this blue marble... Tuesday is Earth Day. Twenty years ago I probably couldn't have cared less. Ten years ago I took notice, but did nothing. This year, I can say that I do care. I am doing something.

As much as we like to live in a disposable world, our world is not disposable. Far from it. And, as much as we might like to think that it's the 'other guy's' problem, it isn't. It's my problem. And it's yours, too. So how do we correct this problem?

It starts at home. It's easier to do than you might think. Baby steps taken each day are easy, painless and culminate to a greater good. For me, we recycle. Our town gives each home a recycle bin, which we happily fill with all sorts of 'trash' that can be recycled. I turn off lights I don't need. I don't run my air conditioning or heat unless we absolutely have too. (One month, my electric bill was $65, and that's with a 2,330 sq. ft. home, people!) Probably my most enjoyable effort is my composting. Our town will give any homeowner a free composting bin (or a second one if you ask nicely!). I have my two next to my garden and every day I have something to toss in there - coffee grounds with the natural, unbleached filter, veggie peelings and trimmings, spent flower heads, grass clippings which my neighbor so sweetly gives me after mowing his lawn, lemon peels, lettuce gone past the point of edible, etc. Three or four times a week I grab my pitch fork and turn it over, giving it a good shower, too. What I end up with is 'gardener's gold'....black, rich, earthy soil that my gardens can't get enough of! All from 'trash'.

So, I ask you to think about how to fix our problem. It doesn't have to move the mountains that I love so very much, and hope that my grandchildren-to-be someday love as I do, but it could save a planet.

Here is a link that helps illustrate the importance of each of our efforts. I am a big fan of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and this song is one of theirs that few people know about; which is a pity, for the message is truly, universal. I hope you'll visit it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpeGS8gddDA&feature=related

Color Me Pink

Know what the name of tonight's full moon is?

The Pink Moon. It got its name from the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring.

Other names for April's celestial body include the Full Sprouting Grass Moon, the Egg Moon and among coastal tribes, the Full Fish Moon - because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.

Tonight...take a few moments and peek at her beauty. She won't be back for another year.