Saints blew out the Pats! 38-17. Bless u boys! 11-0. Winning was a Brees!

Signed books at IRA. Met Brod Bagert who serenaded me with Spanish poetry. Sweet!

Signing books @ SE Reg. IRA conf at Hilton Riverside in New Orleans. Pelican Publishing Booth #502. 9-11am w Marita Gentry & 1-2pm

Finished signing bks @ IRA, Hilton NOLA. Met Michael Shoulders, Rick Anderson & Chuck Galey. Fun day!

On way to SE International Reading Assn conf to sign books this morn & afternoon.

At Cafe du Monde eating beignets n hot cocoa w company. Book signing in Algiers Pt earlier.

Cook tonite: Bacon Cheddar Cornbread, Sopapilla Cheesecake Bites, Roasted Garlic Gouda Smashed Potatoes, stuffing 4 Asiago Mushroom Purses.

Saw orthopedist. Torn anterior ligament in lft ankle. Also severe carpal tunnel in both wrists. Anti-inflam meds & braces on ankle & hands!

Pumpkin Butterscotch Bundt Cake, Sweet Potato Eggnog Pie & Pineapple Pumpkin Pie done! Making Scotch eggs & sweet pot. pancakes for brkfst.

Rec'd a box of fan mail fr students @ Hillsboro Elem in TN. Look forward to reading 300+ ltrs. Thx!

Thanksgiving menu planned for party of 50. Off to shop & cook. Ankle still hurts - glad Chef Eliana is helping. Orthopedist appt. Wed.

Finished 2 book signings at Sam's Clubs. Books sold VERY well (Madame Poulet sold out). Saints won & they're now 10-0! Great day! :)

Finished book signings at Sam's Club & Maple Street Book Store. A little rest before nxt show & book signing at B&N, Harvey, LA at 7pm

Executed a book contract & wrote thank you notes. 5 book signings this weekend - 3 on Sat & 2 on Sun! Tonight, it's time to relax!

Created "Gobble Up A Turkey Treat" candy board for Eliana's class. So cute! Directions found here: http://tinyurl.com/ykne8zo

Bought cutest SPARKLY ballet FLATS & bandage color of my skin. Can hardly tell my ankle is sprained (cept for my limp). LOL

Good to be home after a fabulous author visit at Southfield School in Shreveport, LA. Now to catch up on wk & plan Thanksgiving!

Got in to hotel @ midnight! School visit all day, dinner w bookfair organizers then invited to hostess' house. Full, happy day!

When I arrived in my hotel rm, I was greeted w a gift! The librarian gv me Edible Arrangements! So sweet!

On my way to Shreveport, LA to do an author visit at Southfield School. Not fond of the 6 hr drive... Ugh!

Any author/illustrator friends offer signed books for sale on websites? Making recommendations for holidays in my newsltr - circ. 12,000/mo.

Christmas tree up, presents wrapped & placed, & the Saints won! 9-0!! Ho! Ho! Ho!

Book performance & signing @ Cherry Books grt! Then went to Thibodauxville Fest. Delish food!

In Thibodaux, LA? Pls join me & Marita Gentry for storytelling, live illustration & book signing at Cherry Books! Sat 11-14-09 11am

Happy Friday the 13th!

Did 2 school shows today & kids gv me standing O. Them they rushed me like I was Hannah Montana! Wow!

Went bk to theater where I fell down stairs & hurt ankle. Finally saw MJ movie. Crutched up ramp & sat in handicap seats. Luved music!

Madame Poulet rec'd grt review in Acadiana LifeStyles magazine as book editor's pick for a book to give for the holidays. Yay!

9 yr old daughter's note to Dad: "IRON my shirt ASAP!" I don't know where she gets that diva attitude... Cracking up! hahaha

So excited to finally mt Toni Buzzeo @ #aasl2009. We'd been emailing for yrs. But then I forgot to take pic! Injury fuzzes brain. LOL

Slept in today. Anti-inflammatory knocks me out! Foot feeling so much better. Big school show on Thurs... HEAL HEEL! :)

Christmas presents all wrapped! Luv being ahead of the game! Now house is screaming for attn. That's what happens when ur gone...

No school cuz of TS Ida so Eliana & nieces at house helping me wrap Christmas presents. Almost done w holiday shopping!

Home sweet home preparing for a possible hit fr Hurricane Ida. Schools closed but no evacuation needed so far.

Saints rocked and beat Panthers 30-20! Who dat!

Touchdown Saints! Now Saints n Panthers tied. Woo hoo!

In bar watching game

Hurricane a day away. Biggest worry now is the Panthers storming over the Saints!

LA Governor declared state of emergency due to Cat 2 Hurricane Ida. Hope doesnt interfere w trvl home!

AASL is over. Time to fly home. Hilton in downtown Charlotte treated me like royalty, catering to my every need. Just wonderful!

Finished Story Fest presentation. Great success! Thx to Bridget Kratt & Nancy Dickinson for wheeling me! I'm lucky girl to hv good frenz!

Getting ready to present Story Fest at AASL on crutches. Should be interesting...

Getting around on crutches is exhausting. Note to self: No more big trips on crutches!

Hilton loaned me wheelchair & brought me to conv cntr. Signed books. Now in rm elevating & icing foot. :)

Finally in my hotel rm in Charlotte. Wheelchair servc awesome & airline so nice to me. Hilton grt too. Mgr helped me in rm. Yay!

Packed 1 bag cuz of my disability & Delta charged me $90 for it.

Everything done & ready for my trip. Now praying for traveling mercies & the kindness of strangers...

Hilton in Charlotte giving me handicap room w walk-in shower & seat. Awesome!! Now just need AASL to work w me on accom. for my Sat wkshp.

After coming home fr hosp, stayed up til 3am proofing final MS for Mama's Bayou on narcotic pain meds! Thx for all well wishes!! Hugs!

Getting ready to watch Michael Jackson's This Is It.

Texas Library Association has announced the Texas Bluebonnet Awards. Congrats to all winners! http://ping.fm/oeYVi

Somewhere, I lost a day. I thought today was Nov 1st! Ugh. Anyway, it is All Souls Day & NO Saints play ATL Falcons tonite. Go Saints!