Thankful. Simply Thankful. Chitunga is Running a 5K, the Turkey is Brined, and the Tables are Set. Dinner at Two. We Gonna Eat.

I love that the Thanksgiving tradition has fallen onto Mount Pleasant, and I'm more happy that Chitunga returned home for it. Lys will arrive on Friday, but it's all good. We have additional plans for Friday night with Kris, Dave, Isaiah, Ish, and Val. Bring on the games. But for today, I'm simply calmed by knowing that I, once again, can feed family and friends. The turkey has been brined by urban accents once again, and now it's time for pealing the carrots and potatoes. We have our blueberry and apple pies, enough booze to throw a weeklong party, and many more dishes still to arrive. 

I enjoy this ritual. I have it quiet in the morning to prep the turkey, scent the house with its brilliance, turn on the Macy's Day Parade, and simply roll into the arrivals. 

I am thankful, I am thankful, I am thankful.

Yesterday, the 10th edition of POW! The Power of Words arrived, the proof that is, and I did my last read through to be it's all set to deliver to homes this Holiday seasons. The kids and teachers were as brilliant as always this summer.

I'm thankful that I've made it to this point still able to tap passion and find direction without giving up, despite the tremendous obstacles I face with an institution of higher education and the road blocks they put in front of us all (it's about the youth...about the educators...about communities beyond the privileged spaces of campuses and college. 

I love my daily walks, and still dream they will be runs again, but for now, I will walk and enjoy the outdoors as much as I can. 

I appreciate my niece, Nikki, who is hosting the Barnwell, Isgar, Crandall crew while I do the same in Connecticut, unable to get up north until the holidays.

And I'm thankful that yesterday, while putting the final touches in preparation for today, I looked up and saw the last letter that Maureen Polacci wrote me, thanking me for years of support, love, and always being there to make her laugh and smile. It was a letter asking me to look over Laura if she should pass before me....a note I sent to Laura with words, "Every time that cardinal flies by, or the butterfly flutters, or the leaves swing with summer light warming their hope, or the waves lap, or the moon shines, it's simply a reminder of your mother's smile. All the beautiful is a kiss from her."

Happy Thanks and Giving day. I'm not sure I celebrate it within the traditions of the narratives we're told as children, but I do love the time to reflect on what matters most and what love truly is.

It's family. It's friends. It's human together. 

Ubuntu.

I Can Get Used to the Holidays, But I Think Tunga Looks Forward to Having Space...Karal Smothers Him with Love (Like He Deserves)

The last class was taught and now for an extended weekend of getting ready, turkey, and food fest '23. Tunga finished work and, coming home late, we settled into a night of Ted Lass (joined by Karal) who made watching a little hard for him. It's one thing to watch Ted Lasso; it's another thing to watch Ted Lasso with Chitunga's genuine laughter. 

Now I want shortbread cookies. I forgot those early seasons. They're so good and Hannah Waddingham...Wowsa.

I got much accomplished yesterday because I was without the car again. Just me and the laptop equals a day of accomplishments.

Also made the bourbon ginger chicken again. That will be a staple in this house for a while.

But now the transition to turkey dreams. Need to brine the chicken, rearrange the furniture, get all the items lined up, fill the liquor cabinet and get the timing down for a successful food fest. 

And I'm hoping I get my car back today. Would be nice if I have to run an errand, ha-ha. This is the new way of being, as flying in comes without his own car.

So, here we go.

Thanks, Aunt Shirls! You Delivered Me Home Just in Time to Greet Chitunga and It Was Absolutely Wonderful to Have Spa Treatment in Your Home

And the Savior Award goes to Shirley who took Karal in while I ventured into NCTE/Writing Project Conference Land. She was cared for, cuddled, played with, and entertained and that makes all the difference. 

Poor Tunga waited up for my return and then did a 14 hour day at EY. I'm not sure I've been a good role model for stepping back and giving myself boundaries with work. I've heard that accounting is brutal to its workers and I'm sad he has a professional life to daily demands, too. It seems to be the American way and it is a total shame.

Also shout out to Dave who picked me up on his own grocery shopping excursion while Chitunga had my car. It's always difficult to do holiday weeks, because you need to buy in preparation of the day, but also ask, "What the hell will I cook until then? We still have to eat!" I was also amused that we're in a generation of constant contact so people shopping were on their phones airing all the dirty laundry while they picked up stuffing. He'd better not bring that bitch. If she comes, all gloves are off. I'm telling you, I already have an ulcer thinking about the political fight that is going to go down. Oh, Oh. I bet you they don't show. I get all this extra food for them and they stiff us every year. Everyone was in fantastic cheer at the Big Y.

Poor Dave, too, had to teach all day and run the school's newspaper after school. I sure hope he has an early bed time tonight. He, more than anyone I know, deserves amazing rest.

Last class will be taught tonight, then I can concentrate on preparation...and not the kind with an H. 

Happy Tuesday, World. Time to get the work done. I was thrilled to see this mini-interview in a Center for Academic Excellence newsletters. Scroll down to where my ugly mug shows up.

And 12 Hours Later, @NCTE, the CWP-Three Arrived Home to CT (with an Additional Oberlin Kick Picked Up for the Turkey Festivities.

And bonus, I came home to Chitunga, who stayed up but needs to be in Stamford by 9 a.m. (taking my car). I will be working from home today, which is okay, but the last four days have been work. Congrats to all who successful led a wonderful conference and kept the spirit of English teaching alive and well in Columbus.

I was excited to drive to Oberlin to pick up Isaiah, although the campus wasn't nearly as foo-foo as I imagined. I have sent some of the brightest and creative minds there, so I imagined glitz and glamor. It was, however, a college campus in the Midwest. We did see an Amish horse and buggy on the way in so this was part of the charm. We also returned through Pennsylvania. Although the speed limit is 70 mph, it is total hell. What a long drive. I was better this time and let Dave and Rich split up part of the labor, but sitting in the back seat of your own car as a passenger just feels weird. Falling asleep is impossible. So I stared off into space and, at times, played cellphone games with the college kid returning home to family for a week. 

We also stopped for dinner which as friend food festival which I knew was a horrible idea, but I ate anyway. Traveling with all that grease is simply dumb. Should have been wiser about that, but we went where we could find food when the time presented itself to eat and get gas. 

The Hulk put on some miles this week. 

This morning it is about catching up on the million and one emails I ignored for 4 days...and I need to think about cooking later this week. 

For now, however, it feels good to be home and to have Chitunga home. Happy Monday, laborers...at least it's a short week. 

Well, @NCTE and @WritingProject '23...That's a Wrap and I'll Take the @AAKnopf @randomhousekids Dinner with Dave Eggers as a Bonus

Anyone who knows me know my story with Valentino Deng, several men from Sudan named in the West as "Lost Boys" and my love for What is the What? This past spring, I received an advanced copy of The Eyes & the Impossible and loved it so much I ordered it for teachers in the summer institute and kids I love to work with. A few weeks ago I received an invitation for dinner to meet the author, but figured it would be an assembly hall. I didn't imagine it would be a sit down dinner and talk. Wow. I will be pinching myself for several years now, but also hoping he will agree to be on The Write Time. 

What a day, NCTE and National Writing Project. A special shout out to Kristen Turner who put together a phenomenal round table session of NWP dreamers. Also, all love to Jennifer Dail who is just cool and let me attend her session on navigating the academics of higher education. 

Alas, I need to depart. I have many miles to drive all day today and I hope I'm in my bed by midnight. It feels like I just arrived, but it's time to go. 

No more leafy walls and dragon-lined ceilings. Good-bye swords, video games, and Winterfell castles. It's time to say goodbye to Columbus. 

Yesterday was a fantastic time and I'm looking forward to Boston '24. But for now, I need to concentrate not the precious cargo I'm transporting across country. 

To all satay for ALAN, enjoy. I wish I could stay. 

For Me, It's Hard to Top. This @NCTE @WritingProject Conference Has Been About Reunions and Connections with Literacy Families

Even with the ridiculousness of little to no WiFi in the conference (holy insane for anyone needing digital tools to present), we found a way to do good work. Phew. It took hours to get online, and then I was immediately booted off. I felt like I was back in the 2000s when hotels were first starting to figure out Internet services. The most horrible thing is it made email impossible, too. In fact, I replied to an extremely important email only to find out that -because of the horrible internet service - it didn't go through. I didn't learn this until I got to the house I'm renting.

The result? It was a timely, immediately ask and, well, I lost the opportunity - one that will never come my way again. They needed for an immediate response but had to make a quick decision. "Sorry, Bryan. We love you, but we had to go with someone else because we needed an immediate commitment.

Whomp Whomp Whomp. NCTE '23, it is. 

I also think I ripped Harvey, hernia #3, too, as a result of running from one end of the complex to the other to get to my next presentations. I was carrying a ton of books to give out for free. It's all my fault. I have this weird balancing thing on escalators lately and escalators it is in Columbus.

With these complaints over, I have to say that the truest joy came from a miraculous pairing. In the spring of 2007, I met with LWP director, Jean Wolph, to share that I received a massive award to do my Ph.D at Syracuse University. I accepted, but didn't tell anyone: my students, my friends, not even my family. I went to talk with Jean to have her process what this might mean for me - always with a vision to one day have my own National Writing Project site. The PD model and support was THE network that kept me in the profession, because they actually treated teachers AS professionals. I'm so thankful to her, my time in the teacher institute, and the leadership she always modeled. The photographer said make a funny face and I did...Jean must of missed that message. 

Then, later, I presented with Liz Lewis and Tanya Baker who I was able to make the connection we all are connected to Kelly Chandler Olcott. Kelly advised both Liz and me in our doctoral studies, while Tanya opened up her classroom for Kelly's dissertation research back in the day. Now, Liz, Kelly, and I write about our work with youth from the NWP's influence. Yesterday we had a session on our varying youth programs. 

These are the moments that are saving me from the insanity of having no internet to do the work we do. Two more days of commitments, then a 11 hour drive home...which is extra special this year because Chitunga returns for Thanksgiving - I'm not a fan of him growing up and moving across country (which I did to my family once upon a time...so it's revenge). I can't wait to have my intellectual buddy on Mt. Pleasant for a week.

Okay, time to get back to the conference, but first, a post. National Writing Project all the way...the labor of love is what matters most. 

When All the @NCTE Hotels Are Booked, We Get Clever and Go with AirBnB. Found the Perfect Space for @CwpFairfield...Winterfell 3-Bedroom Estate

We have dragons, swords, arcade games, knights and a wide variety of painted winter scenes that you'd find in the man-caves of 70 year old men. Each room is bannered with a t..v. and arcade games (board games) along the house. The backyard has a 10 foot skeleton with body parts strewn about the yard...the decor is leaved ceilings and walls and electric guitars with disco lights.

A man empire indeed, and it's all our for the next three days.

The road trip was boring. Pennsylvania is the biggest buzz kill in the universe.....driving and driving along nothingness, although when we were detoured of the highway for a while it grew more exciting. We stopped twice, making the entire trip 11 hours, which was two hours longer than I expected. I was a jerk and insisted on driving the entire way (just to say I did it). On the way back, I may not be as selfish. 

We walked around THE Ohio State University looking for a place to eat, but mostly found bars filled with frat boys and sorority girls. We finally found a Brazilian tapas place which was delicious but skimpy. We got pizza slices when we walked back hom.

This morning, I'm waking up ready for the adventure to come. I have back to back sessions beginning at 12:30, and am free after 5. Woot Woot. I haven't planned out Saturday yet, except for my presentations and dinner with Penguin Random House. 

Alright...need to keep it short because we have to find a breakfast place and get our butts moving to the Conventions Center. 

I already know that our abode will definitely be the highlight of the trip. How can it not be? Who the hell decorated this place.

And if you want to smell Pinesol for the rest of your life, we have your location!