The beauty of Guilderland

1. Guilderland is a cool word to repeat many times over. Guilderlandguilderlandguilderland – try it. It sounds faintly Ozish and makes me think of chocolate.

2. Guilderland is where my gr-gr-grandmother grew up. Her name was Maria Margaret Fredendall and she married a guy name John Halse. If she hadn’t, I would not be typing this. Thanks, dead ancestors.

3. Guilderland has a high school filled with very cool students and English teachers and a couple of amazing librarians. The public library has a YA librarian named Trevor who is one of my heroes for defending YA literature and is a crazy NASCAR fan.

Those are the reasons I like it here.

I battled this stupid cold all day and still the Guilderlanders were nice to me. Most of the time I felt like I was trying to talk through a large marshmallow taped to my face. This was not a bad hair day. It was a bad face day – my eyes looked like something from an icky Halloween costume and my sinuses were filled with concrete. But nobody ran away screaming at the sight of me because they raise their kids right in fair Guilderland.

The fact that I am obsessing with the name of a small town outside Schenectady proves that I need to go to bed right now, even if it is only 6:24pm. I am the lamest weenie in the world. The lamest weenie with a stuffed nose.

36 Replies to “The beauty of Guilderland”

  1. Bad Timing

    Aw crud! You were in Guilderland? *sigh* that was only minutes away from where I lived when I was in Clifton Park! I coulda seen you! Oh well! glad to hear you had a great time! 🙂

  2. Bad Timing

    Aw crud! You were in Guilderland? *sigh* that was only minutes away from where I lived when I was in Clifton Park! I coulda seen you! Oh well! glad to hear you had a great time! 🙂

  3. Bad Timing

    Aw crud! You were in Guilderland? *sigh* that was only minutes away from where I lived when I was in Clifton Park! I coulda seen you! Oh well! glad to hear you had a great time! 🙂

  4. You may be the lamest weenie (in your eyes), but don’t forget — you’re the only weenie with a fanbase. =)

    (If that made any sense whatsoever, I’m proud.)

  5. You may be the lamest weenie (in your eyes), but don’t forget — you’re the only weenie with a fanbase. =)

    (If that made any sense whatsoever, I’m proud.)

  6. You may be the lamest weenie (in your eyes), but don’t forget — you’re the only weenie with a fanbase. =)

    (If that made any sense whatsoever, I’m proud.)

  7. I would like to take this moment to gush….

    OH!! I live in Guilderland!!! Wish our paths had crossed!
    SPEAK is one of my favorite books!!

  8. I would like to take this moment to gush….

    OH!! I live in Guilderland!!! Wish our paths had crossed!
    SPEAK is one of my favorite books!!

  9. I would like to take this moment to gush….

    OH!! I live in Guilderland!!! Wish our paths had crossed!
    SPEAK is one of my favorite books!!

  10. Re: I would like to take this moment to gush….

    ……not in a creepy stalker-ish way,
    but in a more writer/illustrator/ visiting cool bookstores/ drinking hot coffee kind of way!

    If we don’t get to meet, a visit to Hodge Podge books in Albany would be worth the visit!
    You could email me through my website, if you want to meet.. : 0 )
    Laura

    ps. loved Prom also.

  11. Re: I would like to take this moment to gush….

    ……not in a creepy stalker-ish way,
    but in a more writer/illustrator/ visiting cool bookstores/ drinking hot coffee kind of way!

    If we don’t get to meet, a visit to Hodge Podge books in Albany would be worth the visit!
    You could email me through my website, if you want to meet.. : 0 )
    Laura

    ps. loved Prom also.

  12. Re: I would like to take this moment to gush….

    ……not in a creepy stalker-ish way,
    but in a more writer/illustrator/ visiting cool bookstores/ drinking hot coffee kind of way!

    If we don’t get to meet, a visit to Hodge Podge books in Albany would be worth the visit!
    You could email me through my website, if you want to meet.. : 0 )
    Laura

    ps. loved Prom also.

  13. hey. i hope you’re feeling better. i think a lot of people are getting sick now (including me–i have a bit of a sore throat). i’m glad you had fun in guilderland. guilderland does sound like an oz name:-). “that’s guilderland with a ‘guil’!” LOL. just in a wicked mood. anyway i’d better get going b/c i have english homework to do (my ap english teacher is nuts). like i said i hope you feel better:-)! -ash 🙂

  14. hey. i hope you’re feeling better. i think a lot of people are getting sick now (including me–i have a bit of a sore throat). i’m glad you had fun in guilderland. guilderland does sound like an oz name:-). “that’s guilderland with a ‘guil’!” LOL. just in a wicked mood. anyway i’d better get going b/c i have english homework to do (my ap english teacher is nuts). like i said i hope you feel better:-)! -ash 🙂

  15. hey. i hope you’re feeling better. i think a lot of people are getting sick now (including me–i have a bit of a sore throat). i’m glad you had fun in guilderland. guilderland does sound like an oz name:-). “that’s guilderland with a ‘guil’!” LOL. just in a wicked mood. anyway i’d better get going b/c i have english homework to do (my ap english teacher is nuts). like i said i hope you feel better:-)! -ash 🙂

  16. Thanks so much!

    Just a quick note to thank you for a wonderful visit here in Guilderland (guess the name is quite Ozish) So many odd names around here – too many to mention – that I never quite thought of it. Glad you are feeling better and I wish you a wonderful time at the NCTE conference. I love conferences – any room in your luggage?! Good luck with Twisted – already have had some requests (like I’m not going to purchase it! 🙂 ) Thanks again – Know that you made a definite impact on our students @ GHS. Ok – done being hokey – take care – M. Gergen

  17. Thanks so much!

    Just a quick note to thank you for a wonderful visit here in Guilderland (guess the name is quite Ozish) So many odd names around here – too many to mention – that I never quite thought of it. Glad you are feeling better and I wish you a wonderful time at the NCTE conference. I love conferences – any room in your luggage?! Good luck with Twisted – already have had some requests (like I’m not going to purchase it! 🙂 ) Thanks again – Know that you made a definite impact on our students @ GHS. Ok – done being hokey – take care – M. Gergen

  18. Thanks so much!

    Just a quick note to thank you for a wonderful visit here in Guilderland (guess the name is quite Ozish) So many odd names around here – too many to mention – that I never quite thought of it. Glad you are feeling better and I wish you a wonderful time at the NCTE conference. I love conferences – any room in your luggage?! Good luck with Twisted – already have had some requests (like I’m not going to purchase it! 🙂 ) Thanks again – Know that you made a definite impact on our students @ GHS. Ok – done being hokey – take care – M. Gergen

  19. Guilderland

    Mrs.Anderson,

    This is the first time I am visiting your website since you visited my loely school Schenectady High School. If you can remember I was the one who you first asked to do the projector “JOB” for your Fever 1793 book presentation. If u can’t thats ok, but i think ur journal is very funny and humorous to look at, and I’m not saying this just to make you feel great, but I’m saying this because it’s true. Many authors to me are very boring at times but SPEAK was a phenomonal(hoped i spelled that right) book. Your book SPEAK made me actually understand what most girls in America are going through these days. But, all I wanted to say is that i think your a pretty good writer and i find your books interesting. Well, thanks for looking at my comment..i hope you enjoyed it.
    Olivia

  20. Guilderland

    Mrs.Anderson,

    This is the first time I am visiting your website since you visited my loely school Schenectady High School. If you can remember I was the one who you first asked to do the projector “JOB” for your Fever 1793 book presentation. If u can’t thats ok, but i think ur journal is very funny and humorous to look at, and I’m not saying this just to make you feel great, but I’m saying this because it’s true. Many authors to me are very boring at times but SPEAK was a phenomonal(hoped i spelled that right) book. Your book SPEAK made me actually understand what most girls in America are going through these days. But, all I wanted to say is that i think your a pretty good writer and i find your books interesting. Well, thanks for looking at my comment..i hope you enjoyed it.
    Olivia

  21. Guilderland

    Mrs.Anderson,

    This is the first time I am visiting your website since you visited my loely school Schenectady High School. If you can remember I was the one who you first asked to do the projector “JOB” for your Fever 1793 book presentation. If u can’t thats ok, but i think ur journal is very funny and humorous to look at, and I’m not saying this just to make you feel great, but I’m saying this because it’s true. Many authors to me are very boring at times but SPEAK was a phenomonal(hoped i spelled that right) book. Your book SPEAK made me actually understand what most girls in America are going through these days. But, all I wanted to say is that i think your a pretty good writer and i find your books interesting. Well, thanks for looking at my comment..i hope you enjoyed it.
    Olivia

  22. Guilderland visit

    I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit @ GHS, it seemed as if you did – it was just good to see it in writing! I’ve seen many more children’s authors than YA, but you were by far the most impressive. At the risk of sounding like a suck-up, you were among the best author’s I’ve seen interact with students – very real, very informative. I read Speak, Catalyst, Fever 1793, and Prom, enjoyed them all, and was glad that a student wanted to know how you came up with Prom. It wasn’t at all what I expected, but the scene in the living room with the aunts and the dresses rang so true! (long story shortened: a geeky guy from summer camp who may or may not have been a 5th cousin as date, older sister by 7 years wiith tons of friends with prom gowns, and the difference between styles in 1964 and 1971 – none of it good! Needless to say my daughters have gotten whatever they want for prom even if Niagara Mohawk goes unpaid!)Fever was my favorite and I got all my questions answered in the article in the link you provide in this journal. I also appreciate your recogniton of our librarians, Melissa is the best thing that has ever happened at the GHS library. She would probaby not ever tell you, but Friday she achieved National Board Certification, an especially huge deal for a librarian (not that it’s easy for a classroom teacher). I didn’t mean to ramble, I just meant to say hello and hope you’re doing well! Keep writing – Deb McKee (dmckee@nycap.rr.com)

  23. Guilderland visit

    I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit @ GHS, it seemed as if you did – it was just good to see it in writing! I’ve seen many more children’s authors than YA, but you were by far the most impressive. At the risk of sounding like a suck-up, you were among the best author’s I’ve seen interact with students – very real, very informative. I read Speak, Catalyst, Fever 1793, and Prom, enjoyed them all, and was glad that a student wanted to know how you came up with Prom. It wasn’t at all what I expected, but the scene in the living room with the aunts and the dresses rang so true! (long story shortened: a geeky guy from summer camp who may or may not have been a 5th cousin as date, older sister by 7 years wiith tons of friends with prom gowns, and the difference between styles in 1964 and 1971 – none of it good! Needless to say my daughters have gotten whatever they want for prom even if Niagara Mohawk goes unpaid!)Fever was my favorite and I got all my questions answered in the article in the link you provide in this journal. I also appreciate your recogniton of our librarians, Melissa is the best thing that has ever happened at the GHS library. She would probaby not ever tell you, but Friday she achieved National Board Certification, an especially huge deal for a librarian (not that it’s easy for a classroom teacher). I didn’t mean to ramble, I just meant to say hello and hope you’re doing well! Keep writing – Deb McKee (dmckee@nycap.rr.com)

  24. Guilderland visit

    I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit @ GHS, it seemed as if you did – it was just good to see it in writing! I’ve seen many more children’s authors than YA, but you were by far the most impressive. At the risk of sounding like a suck-up, you were among the best author’s I’ve seen interact with students – very real, very informative. I read Speak, Catalyst, Fever 1793, and Prom, enjoyed them all, and was glad that a student wanted to know how you came up with Prom. It wasn’t at all what I expected, but the scene in the living room with the aunts and the dresses rang so true! (long story shortened: a geeky guy from summer camp who may or may not have been a 5th cousin as date, older sister by 7 years wiith tons of friends with prom gowns, and the difference between styles in 1964 and 1971 – none of it good! Needless to say my daughters have gotten whatever they want for prom even if Niagara Mohawk goes unpaid!)Fever was my favorite and I got all my questions answered in the article in the link you provide in this journal. I also appreciate your recogniton of our librarians, Melissa is the best thing that has ever happened at the GHS library. She would probaby not ever tell you, but Friday she achieved National Board Certification, an especially huge deal for a librarian (not that it’s easy for a classroom teacher). I didn’t mean to ramble, I just meant to say hello and hope you’re doing well! Keep writing – Deb McKee (dmckee@nycap.rr.com)

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