Busy day or three, so let me catch you up.  Thursday morning I visited Nibley Park School in Salt Lake, and I wanted to give plenty of thanks for that opportunity.  It was definitely one of the best school visits I’ve ever done.  Largely, that was due to Librarian Susan Grotegut, who ran everything beginning to end like a machine.  A lovely machine that never pinches or severs fingers or belches smoke or other similar unpleasant things.  She was just great.  Also, Principal McLennan was eager, welcoming, and even attended both assemblies.  And, of course, the kids were awesome, as always.  We told a story about superpowered heroes fighting zombies on an airplane in flight.  When the zombies were defeated, they went in the direction of a robot zombie.  Nibley Park kids like zombies. 

This visit was a bit different for a few reasons, the biggest being that it was the launch for a new assembly I’ve developed.  Previous to this, I’ve only done assemblies in elementary schools from 3rd to 6th grade.  Thursday, for the first time, I did an assembly for 7th and 8th graders.  Thinking these kids might want more of a challenge and less silliness than the elementary kids (but certainly not no silliness), I came up with my game show on literature.  Turns out the assembly went off about as well as it could go.  So now I’m surprisingly eager to get into more middle schools and work with the older kids as well.

Later that day I learned that I’d been recommended as chair of the 2011 LDStorymakers’ Bootcamp, where attendees get two mornings of intense critiquing led by published authors.  After learning a little bit more about what the position would entail—and making it quite clear that I’m a man of, shall we say, strong and somewhat set opinions on how things should be done—I accepted.  So here’s first notice that all blame for next year’s bootcamp shall go to yours truly.  Don’t bother trying to sign up or anything quite yet.  The conference isn’t for another eleven months.  But go ahead and circle December 1, 2010 on your calendar and write “Register for 2011 LDStorymakers Conference and Bootcamp for greatest experience in the history of experiences throughout history.” 

Then, yesterday I drove to my sister Lisa’s graduation in Manila, up near the Utah/Wyoming boarder.  (We drove back that same night.)  My brother Kent and I both managed to attend (he got of work and I passed on CONduit this year), which was a nice surprise for her, I like to think.  Congrats, Lisa.  I’m proud of you.

Things learned for this mini road trip include the realization that unhealthy food like burgers and road snacks taste really good, but that my stomach really doesn’t like them.  Detests may be a better term.  Am I the only one who finds that messed up?  You’d think the tongue and stomach would get together and hash out their differences given their very interdependent jobs, but no such luck.

So I now add a line to the traditional curse: “May you live in interesting times; may you come to the attention of those in authority; may you find what you are looking for;” and may your taste buds and bowls both savor what they demand.