@ SCBWI conf in NYC. Making great connections & seeing old friends!

Snow flurries this morn. Lunch @ Grand Central Station. Went to Central Pk. Now @ Museum of Nat History.

Last nite had fab dinner @ 21 Club! Mamma Mia rocked! Havin the time of our lives! Today is Museum of Nat History & Empire St Bldg Love NYC!

Eating dim sum @ Shanghai Joe's in Chinatown! Yum dim sum!

Fe, my BFF fr HS, arrived in NYC! Woo hoo! Today is Chinatown, dinner & Mamma Mia! We are totally gonna be dancing queens!

On my way to airport for my NYC flight. Rainy in New Orleans.

Today is my last day for Tangram Tales residency. Gr. 3-5 students perform for lower grades. Hope it goes well!

Tomrw last day of Tangram Tales residency. Student performance day - prepping goody bags, certificates, autographing tons postcards.

Big wk day. So much to do before NYC trip Wed! All-in-one printer died - installing new one.

Dr. fixed me up - shots of antibiotic & steroids plus that in pill form & all kinds of asthma meds. Feelin bit better. Voice returning.

At urging of my cousin, I am going to see doc today at Urgent Care. I need to get better!

Have absolutely no voice. Complete voice rest today. NYC on Wednesday & I have to get better! My BFF fr HS, Fe Rey, is mtg me there. Yay!

Challenging day @ school - hoarse voice & difficult 4th gr students. Then car wouldn't start - needed jump. Home now & voice mending. TGIF!!

Just finished an interview w Laura Backes of Children's Book Insider. She is such a sweetie. Thank you, Laura!

Watched the inauguration of our 44th president w a fantastic 3rd grade class. What a moment in our history!

On my way to Strehle... Day 5 of my Tangram Tales Residency on such a historic day! Hopes and dreams do prosper...

Fighting a massive cold that has me coughing, sneezing & wheezing (asthma). What a way to spend a 3 day weekend! :(

Performed Jump, Jiggle & Jam for 350 students. Great show w lots of fun audience participation.

Uh oh! My driver's license expired on bday 1/15. Gotta renew today or I can't fly to NYC wk after next!

Soleil, my 18 yr old college freshman, made the Chancellor's List with straight As her first semester. Woo hoo! Way to go, Soleil!

My BFF called me @ midnite exactly to wish me a Happy Bday! We talked for 3 hrs. OMG! But what a great bday present! Luv u, Fe!

Another great day @ Strehle Elem. Students & teachers really luv Tangram Tales. I am so enthusiastically rec'd in classrooms. Yay!

Day 2 of Tangram Tales Residency. The teachers enjoy having me in the classroom as much as the students do. Love working at this school!

Blogging at 12:45am abt Tangram Tales residency. Great classes but wore me out! Need to drink tea in morn for voice...

Away we go! Going to Strehle Elem for 2 wk Tangram Tales residency. Will be blogging every day. Have a great day!

Need to turn a doc into a .PDF? Use PDF Redirect - it's EZ & best of all, a free download!

Working on Story Connection Express newsletter. Preparing for Tangram Tales residency @ elem. school - starts tomorrow.

Finished Educator's Guide for The Cajun Cornbread Boy. Turned out so well. Now working on Story Connection Express newsletter.

Working on Cajun Cornbread Boy Educator's Guide. Scheduled another booksigning. Telecons w 2 diff illustrators on current & future projects.

Fab revw of Cajun Cornbread Boy fr Menasha Lib KidLit blog: "spicy twist on the Gingerbread Boy is a lot of fun ...filled w nice LA touches"

Meeting w client to drop off materials for Tangram Tales residency starting Mon. I get to work w 500 kids - Gr. PK-5 for two wks! Fun!

Read/hear Jan's Story of Month "Boy Who Drew Cats," tale fr Japan abt imagination & achieving one's dreams. http://ping.fm/t1okz

Scheduled book signings for The Cajun Cornbread Boy. Still glowing over the review in Kirkus.

Kirkus Reviews gave The Cajun Cornbread Boy a good review: "De Las Casas dresses up a classic story with some fun regional flair." Yay!

Wrote 2 new scripts, order form & postcard copy; sent website updates incl story of month; set 2009 themes for newsletter; sent invoices

Making Asian dinner w girls- sushi rolls (philadelphia & veggie) & crisp baked eggrolls on a bed of spring mix w mandarin oranges & almonds.

Great interview w Suzanne Lieurance of Book Bites for Kids podcast re Cajun Cornbread Boy. Listen @ http://ping.fm/fTpdR

Productive fun mtg w Marita Gentry, illustrator of Cajun Cornbread Boy. Outlined plans for promo & mktg & direction for future books.

Decorations are down & tree is put up, marking the end of one year & the beginning of a new one.

Put together new Chase Media Cntr fr World Market & set up 50 in plasma. Wow!

Recorded 2009 career & personal goals in new leather journal, my Jan 1 tradition for many yrs. Visualize & write down a plan for success!

Hosted 15 ppl 4 brkfst of scotch eggs, Cajun potatoes, sausage, banana cream puff pastries & champagne pomegranate cocktails.