Playing catch-up

OK, OK, OK…. I am here and trying to catch up again.

The first news of the day is very sad: Lloyd Alexander died yesterday. School Library Journal and the Washington Post have obituaries. I wish someone in Philadelphia would kick the Inquirer (Lloyd’s hometown paper) because they don’t seem to have noticed the event yet.

On a happier note (which I think Lloyd would appreciate) the apple trees and lilacs up here are just about to explode into goodness and the hummingbirds are back. My daffodils have started to roll up their flags and go to sleep for another year. I find myself dreaming about fresh tomatoes, but it is still a little early to plant them.

Let’s roll the tape on my totally excellent adventures of the past week.

First, the booksigning at Moravian Bookshop in Bethlehem, PA. This was the last TWISTED event on my calendar for a while and it was a delightful one because so many old friends came out.

Buddies from my old writer’s group came: (from the left) Pat Brisson, Sally Keehn, me, Elvira Woodruff, and Joyce McDonald.

So did Ashley, who has been my best fans for the last decade, ever since I met her when she was in second grade. David Lubar and Joelle, who has got to be one of the most patient author spouses I know, made it to the store, as did Ted, Amy, and many, many more. Thank you everyone. (David’s LiveJournal is very funny, BTW.)

The booksigning was fun, but I was really in Bethlehem for the graduation on Number One Daughter, Stephanie, from Moravian College (which is a great school that everyone should look at.)

The graduation pics are the kind of thing I would rather keep for myself, but here is my kid at her job. That’s right – the woman has a real job, one that pays money and gives her health benefits ::dancing mommy:: Steph worked at Moravian Bookshop as a bookseller the whole time she was in college, and started to work in the office the last six months. Now she is officially The Assistant Book Buyer, a title for which her degree in East Asian Studies might not seem to fit, but really it does because college is all about growing your mind and that first job is your first step on the Big Adventure. We could not be more proud. Yay Steffie!!!!!

After a lovely Mother’s Day split between two states, I left Monday for Toronto, home of this year’s International Reading Association annual convention. It sounds cool “going to Toronto”, but the truth is you don’t get to see much of the city on these trips, because your time is pretty much taken up with work-stuff.

However, on a walk from the hotel to the convention center, I saw some neat things. Like this, the CN Tower.

I love public art.

This woodpecker sculpture is right outside the convention center.

My nickname in high school was “Moose.” For real. So here I am with a homie, before I head down to the convention floor to hang out with human folks.

PROM won another award!! It is officially a 2007 IRA Young Adults’ Choice. Thank you, IRA!!

Here I am with an old friend on the left Phil Bildner (aka philbilder) and his illustrator and co-writer for the exciting Barnstormers series (and my new friend) Loren Long.

One last convention pic: Jon Scieszka, and my editress of the flowing locks and cool necklace, Sharyn November (aka sdn), and me.

I do not have photos of the monsoon that trapped me in Toronto. I was too cranky and wet to find my camera.

If you don’t have plans for this Saturday, come out to the New York State Fairgrounds tomorrow morning and join BH and me as we run in the Susan G. Komen 5K Race for the Cure!!!!! We have three women in our family who survived breast cancer, so this one hits close to home. Any event that combines running, raising money for cancer research, and a decent reason to eat pizza afterwards (must replenish those calories) is one where you’ll find me.