Miscellaneous Missives

I finished off November by taking care of the Christmas cards.  It's a big deal to get Christmas cards ready to go by the beginning of December.  Although I'm not super happy with the card, it does look better than the screen shot.  Next year I will do better getting pictures of myself to use on the annual card, but I say this each and every year.  It doesn't matter; my cards are finished (well, as soon as I buy festive stamps and put them in the mail).  By the way, I think I did a good job holding up the brags in November if that isn't bragging too much.

"If I seem to boast more than is becoming, my excuse that I brag for humanity rather than for myself."                 ~Henry David Thoreau Today is Small Business Saturday, and most of the small businesses we entered were full of humanity.  It seems people understand the importance of supporting the neighborhood stores.  I love this day because I actually get the majority of my shopping completed.  Not only did I purchase gifts for others, I took care of myself.  Each year I buy myself an ornament for the tree.  This year I found the BEST ornament ever!  It is ADORABLE.  Once you saw the picture, I know you became a bit envious, and I apologize because I acquired the last one.  Better yet, I used my Chinook Book coupon which is something that also supports small businesses.  Did you see my cute reindeer ornament?

Sometimes I sit down to blog with no real purpose.  I merely hope something will come to my mind.  This bragging stuff is challenging (brag challenge... get it?... I'm good, and I'm not just bragging... get it?).  Anyway, when I thinking about the bragging stuff being challenging, it made me think, "It's not easy being green."  Since I've been negligent taking pictures for my blog, I googled Kermit Bragging... I don't recommend this because some are distasteful, but I thought this one was fitting. This morning I awoke  bit sore from the small stations from yesterday's walk.  Instead of getting down on myself, I decided I needed to attend some strength training classes.  I'll brag about this when it actually happens, but then it could be a new month and a new challenge. More importantly, I not only had a coffee engagement this morning, I also have a dinner engagement this evening which means I must be fairly special.  Actually, coffee this m...

"You have to give yourself credit, not too much because that would be bragging." ~Frank Mc Court, Teacher Man My dear friend and I took to the Mall of America this morning for the Thanksgiving Walk to End Hunger.  A fitness group (can't remember the name) had certain stops along the way for push-ups, burpees, squats, lunges, etc.  It made it a little more strenuous but not too strenuous.  More importantly, we were able to talk and catch up on anything and everything. Another one of my goals today was to decorate for Christmas, and I would like to say that it is finished.  I, however, was "one of those people" and shopped on Thanksgiving since one of my light strands did not work, and I wanted to get my tree up and decorated.  Sorry folks!  I am certainly not bragging and/or proud of this.  Did I mention I'm finished with my Christmas decorating?

I'm not sure what happened, but I've found it difficult to get to the gym (or do any physical exercise this month).  Today I worked my little butt off on school work trying to figure out and organize my fable/trickster story unit.  It seems insane since I'm doing much of the same stuff I did last year, but I'm also changing my Notebook Files to Google Presentations.  The truth is that it's tedious.  It's so tedious that when the alarm went off on my phone for spin class (as it has at least three times a week all month and for other classes too), I didn't delete it.  No, I actually put the computer away and went to get my spin clothes.  I'm serious.  I went to spin class today.  Plus, when I returned from class, I even swept all the leaves out of my garage before parking my car.  Is this amazing or what?  Should the garage have been cleaned out a week ago?  Yes.  Should I have been working out all of November?  Yes. ...

Chris Crutcher I adore him! Let's be honest people.  I had the best convention day ever.  My morning started bright and early with a 7am ALAN breakfast with Chris Crutcher .  When I returned from getting coffee (more), he was leaving the conference room.  I stopped him and thanked him for letting me laugh, cry, and listen to the F word all before 9:00... love this guy.  Next, I listened to a session on Hip Hop and LA which was amazing.  This was followed by a great connected learning session. Since my morning was going splendid, I went to the Hilton restaurant as I had for the last two days to enjoy a cup of wild rice soup and recharge my devices.  Jim Burke was sitting at the table next to me.  He had posted an article by Ta-Nehisi Coates earlier in the day.  I waited for him to finish eating and look like he was getting ready to leave, then stopped to tell him that he had cost me money over the years from his books to today's need t...

Last night I had the opportunity to show off my city of Minneapolis.  First thing in the morning, I ran into a guy I met while presenting at NWP (National Writing Project) in Birmingham.  We talked briefly about the sessions we planned to attend.  It seemed both of us were going to attend the Black Lives Matter presentation that included Linda Christensen .  Since he was from Oklahoma, I asked him if he was aware of what was happening in Minneapolis and mentioned that I planned on taking fire wood and blankets to the peaceful protest (emphasizing peaceful) at the 4th Precinct .  After a brief conversation, we decided to go together.  Although I was not proud of the police tactics and refusal to release the tapes, I was proud to show off Downtown and Uptown Minneapolis.  More importantly, I was also proud of our United States Congressman Keith Ellison for being part of the protest and speaking to the people and happy that my visitor to this great cit...