It's a Tradition. Sleeplessness the Night Before Programs Kick Off Means a Positive First Day. I Couldn't Be Happier - What Amazing Kids and Teachers.

I woke up around 3 a.m. with the anxiety closet wide open. There are so many moving parts when administrating a summer with 100s of kids and teachers. The first is emails and text messages. They come all throughout the date and night. Then, there's the worry that kids won't get along, they won't jive with the program, or something will go wrong with rooms, technology, or materials.

Ah, they started arriving at 8 a.m. and the day when very smooth...very, very smooth. I am counting my blessings to be in the Dolan School of Business, as it is a teacher's dream. The walls in the hallway even have whiteboard spaces to think, plan, create, and design. And as the only people on our floor, we're having a great time. 

In one day, both the little labs and the novelists filled pages and pages, and even had a first-day open mic. I'm like, "What?" It's amazing. 

The truth is, however, the teachers rock. They are simply amazing and they are masters at their professions - the best of the best. There's nothing like a National Writing Project teacher.

But the space. Ah, man. I feel like I should have site directors from across the nation visiting so they can see the opportunities to instruct. It truly is amazing.

Ooops. Time to get back to work!

Now This is a Throwback That Takes Me Back - 1st Years of Summer Programming with CWP-Fairfield. Can't Wait to Begin Playing Again Today

The kids are arriving! The kids are arriving! And we're writing. Just small cohorts this year, but we're super-excited to get going! 

And yesterday, Justine posted this throw-back photo from several years ago when I first met her. I brought my magnet letters with me from Kentucky (stored during my Syracuse days) and greeted each room with something funny for the teachers. Often I drew pictures and added the letters so that when they arrived they could begin their day with a smile. I often (with nervous energy) arrived several hours before them (which is likely to happen again this morning, too). 

I'm also unsure if people have humor any more of if something like this would just crash into misery. But a decade ago, this was part of the fun. Teachers looked forward to their morning messages.

Ah, but I have to wear my administrator hat because the work we do needs to be serious. We want each kid published by the end of the summer, which will happen! It always does.

Tunga is safely home from South Carolina, Karal officially had ice cream cups with her buddy Bucky, and I'm simply praying for a smooth four weeks...it's the least I can ask for.

I didn't make it back to the ocean today, which I wanted to do because I'm being called by the paddleboard, but there was much work needing to be done on campus. I feel like I'm 90% on top of the game (and I've also finished more than half of the journal articles that needed to be reviewing - it's like editing a book, I believe...so many moving parts collaborating with fellow authors). 

Here's to your workweek. It all begins in 3...2...1

Of Blooms & Birthdays. Celebrating Karal's 2nd Birthday Today. She's Already a Teenager and This is a Good Thing...It's Much Better After Two

Karal wants you to know it's her birthday. It's also been over a year since she's been on Mt. Pleasant and I can't complain too much. She's a dog, but also she's very smart. Yesterday, she fell asleep on her back and, stretching, rolled over her squeaky toy and scared herself out of a stupor. It was hilarious and it serves her right for getting my up at 5 a.m. just because she wanted to eat. 

I also am celebrating that I was able to stand on the paddleboard yesterday and made great progress. I now have to work on turning, and also maneuvering my feet should I want to...some things are easier with feet in different positions. Every time I try something new I fall back in (which also feels great). News flash, though: you use lots of interesting muscles while trying to stay balanced. Who would of thunk so?

I'm also thrilled to see the first bloom of the Kaitlin & Dominic wedding waving in the winds of the lamppost out front. There are many more still to go, but I am loving the bright pop of color. Cosmos are good flowers for this time of year.

Congratulations to the twins, Alana and Mila, who graduated from Masuk High School and are heading to college next year. It was a great afternoon eating graduation party food with Jessica & Luis, parents to the twins. Also wonderful to meet so many relatives.

Tomorrow kicks of four weeks of CWP-crazy, and it's been interesting to look at record to see the boom in 2019 right before Covid and recognizing where we are now as we rework and rethink what we're able to accomplish. In 2019, we served over 221 young people and 20 teachers over 6 weeks. That was insane. It's cut back this year with only 121 youth and just 4 weeks. We didn't advertise, and I'm glad. I don't trust the pace that we achieved several years ago. When I think about it, I don't know how I did it. Oh, that's right...I had a graduate student and definitely more University support. Perhaps this is why I'm in my office on weekends...just trying to keep the good work going.

The research continues.

Okay, Sunday, let's see where it takes us. Chitunga returns from South Carolina at 2 pm and I have to get him from the airport. I look forward to hearing how his trip went.

Here's to your summer blooms!

To Carry Forward Frank the Horsefly to Another Day, I Also Met Christopher the Connecticut Swallowtail While Taking a Walk with Karal.

Yesterday morning, while sweeping the driveway (I had it sealed), I saw my first monarch. She was settling on the annuals out front, wishing the Cosmos wildflowers would just pop (they were from Kaitlyn & Dominiks' wedding). I said, "Hey, grandma," and drove to my office for the day, only to find Frank the Horsefly upside and on his back on my desk. I blew on him slightly and his wings moved, so I got him into a glass and brought him outside. I will miss my colleague. It was nice having company. Actually, Tracey showed up to pack her retirement from her office, too - so that was exceptionally nice. Definitely will miss her in the years to come.

At 7 pm, when I walked Karal, I found a black swallowtail lying limp on the sidewalk. He seemed to be in good shape, but wasn't moving. I picked him up moved him onto some grass. He seemed a bit exhausted. Then I moved him to a flower and he began feeding. I think he was just dehydrated and needed some juice. I named him Christopher and wished him all the best. It was hot out there. We all need to hydrate.

Then Karal decided to poop not once, but twice on this walk and threw all my karma to the wind. I only had one bag on me and already used it, so when she went number 2 for the number 2 time, poo!, I didn't have a bag. I had to leave it. So much for human civility. I meant well. I always feel guilty. I'll bring an extra bag today and likely scoop the extra poop from yesterday - it's the right thing to do.

Vet appointment and graduation parties today. And I need to do something about the postnasal drip that is killing my throat and giving me a dry cough. Time for the Neti pot to get to work. 

Happy Saturday, all. Be good to your bugs.

For the First Time in Four Weeks, I Had a Visitor in My Office. I've Named Him Frank, and We Will Get Coffee Every Thursday and Collaborate on Tremendous Goals

You know things are odd, when you come to your office, see a bug, and declare, "Holy cow! I've got somebody to talk to. How are you friend? What do you teach? What's your research? What do you hope to accomplish?"

It's been several weeks since I've seen anyone on campus and I play this game of trying a new parking space every day. Granted, faculty get summers off, but I didn't realize administration did, too. I've been in every day trying to stay afloat with what I have to accomplish, so I was thrilled to have someone to talk with at the water cooler. I asked Frank the fly to let me know when he needed a copier, and that I'd lie low. 

I unpacked more books, paid off another series of vendors, put more teachers into the system, registered 14 more kids, met with a doctoral student from University of Illinois on digital literacies, download articles that need my review, and wrote. I told Frank that, perhaps, we might find him an office when the Fall semester returns and we see if anyone comes back to the physical space. 

Interestingly, I talked with staff in other buildings and their responsibilities have already realigned. They are being promoted to a new role, and the rumor is that they're going to push faculty to have more in-office seat-time. I welcome to see where that takes them. I wish them luck.

Part of me wished for a bug zapper to kill the fly, but the larger part of me was just thankful to have someone to work with for a change. I was on the phone with K-12 teachers across the state anxious about what's next in their careers, mentoring on them on whether or not they wanted to jump into the arena of higher education. I told them, "Talk to Frank. He works harder than the rest of us."

Sometimes I wish I had a magic wand to restructure the entire universe. Again, I keep channeling the three fingers of Grogu and Yoda, and the hand gestures of Umbrella Academy members and Stranger Things. I just want to correct the galaxy....to make it make more sense.

But it doesn't. 

Meanwhile, what a great conversation from the doctoral student from University of Illinois. He's mentored by the best and I hope I was of some minimal support. 

Back to work. They let everyone go on half days (because it's summer). Not me. CWP is in full force.

Even With Empty Hallways, There's Enough Noise Via Email to Say "Nope, Nada, Never, You Can't, Impossible, Who Told You That" - Ah, The Joys of What I Do

The parking lot is empty. The rooms are empty. My hallway is empty. But I was in and I unpacked hundreds of new books for summer programs, assembled writer's notebooks, and set things in place for next week. Then at 8 p.m. last night I receive an email from someone I've never heard of with a position I've never heard of, declaring all these rules and regulations that never existed in the time since I've been here, including the fact that if youth are on campus in the summer, they must eat in the dining hall. 

Since when? Huh? 

It became too costly to eat in the dining hall, because they charge $14 a meal and the kids won't eat it. They served tater tots and chicken nuggets every day, and to deal with complaining parents, we went to a bring-your-own lunch initiative that made everyone happy. There haven't been complaints since. Now, 8 years later, there's a policy. And there's also a policy for having people clean up after us each day. Um...we've always done that ourselves. I hired teachers. We're used to the work that it takes to keep a classroom moving. Sometimes I can't believe my eyes and ears. Huh?

The writers' notebooks look good, though, and the kids and families are excited about the programs. Now, I know that there are people hired to bring revenue to campus during the summer, but CWP-Fairfield is not the right program. We scholarship a kid for every paying customer so we can break even. Any profit goes to pay for teachers to present at national conferences and to put books in the hands of kids. We are a low-maintenance, self-sustaining program dedicated to the literate lives of young people and their teachers. We serve the public and, well, it's been award-winning work. 

We shall see what comes of all this. I mean, it might make sense if I also received support for the programs in return: administrative assistants, graduate students, summer stipends for the work I do for CWP. And I had dinner with faculty from the College of Arts & Sciences tonight to learn they get summer stipends for 3 times the amount I get paid, only to do 'curricular' work, but not have to work with a single student. I'm like, 'Hmmmm. I have 100s of kids and teachers I work with each summer and, on lucky years, only get an adjunct stipend."

Ah, the world we live in.

I've Been Waving Three Fingers at the Universe All The Time Lately (Could be STRANGER THINGS or UMBRELLA ACADEMY), Yet Still I Have No Powers Whatsover.

Yesterday, I was up at 5 a.m. - I needed to get Edem to the hospital for ankle surgery and Chitunga to Tweed Airport for a trip to South Carolina. Proximity worked out and I was able to help each to reach their destination. Then I waited six hours to be called to pick Edem back up. He had ligaments in his ankle realigned and apparently the anasthesia affected him different than most. He slept most of the day. Even when I picked him up he was out of it.

Are you hungry.

Yes.

Do you want McDonald's?

Yes.

What do you want to order?

No.

You don't want McDonald's 

Yes. 

You Do?

No. 

I took him home and made him avocado toast and an omelet. It knocked him out and he slept for five more hours. He awoke later and I made glazed carrots, rice, and pulled chicken. I also went to find baby aspirin (as per the doctor) but found none after five stores. You'd think I was looking for formula or something. 

I also wrote, contacted parents, weed whacked, mowed the lawn, did CWP financial work, and cleaned. this was all nervous energy as we adjust to an injured species in the home. And Karal is impossible. She wants to carry the crutches for Edem. And sleep on his head when he's on the couch. Karal has always thought Edem was her play thing - but it's a little difficult with him limp and all. In time...in time. 

Today, another day. 

And I Did Achieve a 4th Like I Wanted. A Day of Kayaking, R&R, Horrible Paddle-Boarding, and Looking Grayer & More Like My Father Every Day (Well, Grandpa Spence)

The wind on the sound was cool, so being out in the sun all day wasn't a problem. High tide was choppy, though, as a result. Definitely wasn't standing on the paddle board. I tried. I failed. I had much better luck in the kayak, and was able to take it out a couple of times. I didn't go out to Charles Island, though, because I didn't know how rough it would be to paddle that far. Better safe than sorry.

This photo is somewhat deceiving, as there weren't to many spots on the beach open. It was definitely a perfect summer day - no humidity, warm temperature and cool winds from the southwest (which is odd in itself).

I'm up and at it early this morning, however, as Edem needs to be dropped off for surgery and Chitunga needs to be taken to the airport to visit a friend in Charleston. I begin my day as an Uber driver.

Next week kicks off summer programs, so I need to be in the office organizing all the crazy to come - probably should do more ordering, too. But we should be all set.

Also watched a guy para-surfing and was thinking, 'Hmmmm. I wonder if I might be able to do that.' NOT. Happy back to work week, America!

And yes, I completed Stranger Things. I'm a bit OCD when it comes to binge watching.

When In Massachusetts, Never, Ever Do a Cartwheel. It Is a Sign of Devil Worship, Especially If You Choose to Wear Coffee Filters On Your Head.

When I was in 4th grade, two of the classes from Cicero Elementary when to Boston and to Salem. The other two stayed home and visited Cooperstown. I'm not sure what the politics were behind those decisions, and why only 50% of the school went, but I do know that I got a miniature baseball bat souvenir from my trip. I don't remember being resentful; only that I didn't go to this place called Boston. 

Now, I've been to Boston several times professionally since and I love it, but I never made the connection to how close by it is to Portsmouth and Salem, so when Tunga woke up yesterday and had a day planned in Salem, I thought, "Oh. Okay. Let my 4th grade self get a romp around town."

In all seriousness, I couldn't help but have my SNL lens on and seriously want to write a skit on the performers and wax mannequins that were placed in basements of buildings. It was hilarious, not because it was supposed to be funny, but that the script-writing, acting, and mannequins were outrageous. The crowd, too, was very different. Tunga said, "hmmm. I don't think we're in Portsmouth any longer."

And I took way too many pictures - ones I'm unsure what I'll ever do with. Why? The wax storytelling got to my funny bone and I couldn't stop. As usual, I chose to caboose the line, so by the time I saw the images others were seeing during the storytelling, I only had fragments of what was said. Then the images simply cracked me up. "The witches would frolic in the woods, relishing in evil spirts and getting the Puritans all upset." 

Um, a girl was doing a cartwheel. "Hey, is that your mom's D-cup on your noggin?" "No, it's your daddy's Covid-mask."

Bitches I mean witches. Not too sure how far we've come as a society, but definitely can tell who the storytellers have been. 

What a day!

When You Do a Day Trip to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Run Into the @_silvergal and Michael (Well, They Pick You Up at the Hotel)

Here's hoping Karal does well with an overnight by herself. She has the couch, the bed, was fed, and should be fine, as Edem will be home in the morning, but Chitunga and I traveled north to Portsmouth, New Hampshire just to say we did. We actually stopped in Mystic, CT, for lunch, then came to our hotel and walked across the bridge to Badger's Island, so now I can say I've been to Maine. It's not the Maine I've wanted to go to, but it is still in the same state. Just needed to walk the overhead that connected New Hampshire to the Island in Maine.

It turns out Kathy's mom and dad live 14 miles outside of Portsmouth and they were here, too, so they picked us up at the hotel and we all went to dinner. This is a romper room playground for Kathy. She knows the area much better than we do. 

Although the storms didn't hit, and the temperatures were extremely high, I can attest that the cloud formations and sunset were remarkable, although I didn't take any pictures. 

Tacos, rice bowls, tequila, and some beers. We're all good. 

Tomorrow, we'll swing back to Boston and hopefully see some friends from my high school years. I look forward to that. It's a really beautiful city to know. Glad we made the road trip. 

On a Good Note, I Am Able to Stand up for Around 5 Seconds Before Falling Off, But Definitely Made Progress in One Day.

That's me lying on my stomach. I don't mind the paddle board work from my stomach, sitting, or even kneeling. The issue for instability is when I stand up. Sorry I can't post video of my multiple wipe-outs which Pam caught on her phone. I would get upright, start to paddle, then fall to the left, right, or backwards. Need to work on that some. 

Okay, Tunga's on his way to Stratford and we're road tripping so he can stay in another state - a goal of sleeping in at least five new states this year. We're thinking about Portstmouth, New Hampshire, so we then can swing back to Boston, see Weston, and get a lunch with Julie Burke who is visiting Weston from Cortland. We shall see. He leaves for Charleston, North Carolina early this week, and Edem is having surgery, so I'm Mr. Uber driver and care-taker for six weeks. 

I didn't see any whales or sharks on my water voyage yesterday, but wonder how people paddle board by such creatures when they arrive. I've watched the videos. Impossible. There's no way you could stay standing up with whales making waves. I don't believe it. Fake news. Fake news.

I must say, though, that the 72-degree water with the 87-degree air made for a perfect mix. I didn't mind wiping out because it was extremely refreshing, and I'm already dark enough...I don't need much more sunlight. 

Ah, but now we'll see what sort of mischief the lil' kid and I will get into on this spur-of-the-moment foolishness. 

More to come. 

Impulse Purchase, But I Went for It. Actually, I Didn't, but Several Hours Later WE Went For It. Collaborative Pick-Up for Our Favorite Beach.

Sometimes I think the Danes were on to something. I love the families that lived on communes that shared cars, appliances, kitchens, horses, tools, and even clothes. Why does every family need to purchase things individually, when as a collective you can go in on what the community might share. I've thought about this often when I think about my snowblower, lawnmower, leaf blower, and hedge clippers being useless until I need them. Same is true for my kayak, but if the collective goes together, then it is fair use for those wishing to use.

That's how it went down. Our beach gang now has a paddle board, which we plan to put to use in the morning. If we love the beach, and we love the shore, and we love the moon, and we love the water, why not add to a love of toys. We now have an ability to glide along the water in an upright position. Now, I have visions of me doing handstands and practicing yoga as I do, but I know I will simply end up in the water. 

Last weekend, we watched a kid with a backpack gliding across the water in work clothes and I said, "He trusts his skills, but what a way to get on the way. I want that." 

We shall see what fools we make of ourselves, but for the time being, this weekend means we have two kayaks, an Island for 12, Pam's unicorn float for 8, and this Paddle board. Prayers up we do as we do without any incidences. 

My goal is to float, ride, and glide for days. It's JULY!!!!! and the heat is here. Be safe everyone.