Monday, October 19, 2026

More Like Scandall, but I Can Take 'Crandle' Any Day...Gift a Cranberry Candle Out of the Blue. Love It

I met with teachers on Sunday that are debuting solo presentations at their first teacher conferences (the teacher leadership way through National Writing Project traditions). We went out to Open House Tea in Stratford, and I wasn't expecting a gift. "Oh, you've probably received many of these."

To be honest, it is my first. I do have a birthday card I've kept for decades that has a family of four with flames coming out of their head, reading, "It's your birthday. Don't forget to blow out the Crandalls." I'll take a pun any day of the week. I'm team dad-jokes for life. 

Both teachers presentations are amazing and I'm proud of them. 

I spent the rest of the day recording Tuesday night classes, while trying to be in numerous spaces at once. Yes, I know how to summon Hermione's Time Traveler. I'm also thinking about how many weekend hours went to work (hint hint: almost all of them) and how I still feel behind.

Work smarter. Mmmm. Okay. Worker harder. Yeah, about that. 

There has to be an efficiency I'm missing, or maybe it's simply the secret of how people get the work done. They don't stop, because they know how much more still needs to be done. 

I'm excited it's more Write Out - Write Where We Stand this week, because I get to see, first-hand, the National Writing Project at work.  Tuesday will be the day of all days, but I am really excited about what will transpire. Grant Snider on The Write Time. Thrilled to see the greatness come together. 

And, yes. We're back to great sleeping weather. It is snappy out there and snuggly indoors. Here's to the good rest ahead. 

Once Again, It is the Little Things That Matter the Most. The Noticings. The Human Connections. The Power of Looking Out for One Another.

I wasn't able to make either of the home games this weekend for the Women's Volleyball team. They, fortunately, won both matches and...