Blogged, did a ton of ofc wk & even cleaned out emails, all after teaching 7 classes today. Yay!

At Strehle Elem in Avondale for Story Fest residency. Saints spirit reigns!

Never seen City of New Orleans like this. Bumper to bumper, horns blowing, ppl EVERYWHERE. Celebrating!

Who Dat, who dat, who dat say they gonna beat dem Saints?! WE ARE HEADED FOR THE SUPER BOWL!

Going to Fr Qtr to celebrate historical moment (tho I hv school residency in morn). SAINTS ARE GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!

Colts won. Now Saints play Vikings. If we win,will meet Manning in Maimi. Who Dat!

Nice day w Eliana. Brunch in Fr Qtr. Shopping in Fr Mkt. Princess & Frog movie. Total NOLA day!

Saw lots sports celebs @ Harrahs in town for Saints game incl Michael Strahan & Curt Menefee fr Fox Sports.

Going out w friends fr Gulfport, Mississippi to celebrate my bday (again)! Woo hoo!

Wkshop for MS Arts Comm, Taming Technology: Using the Internet for Biz Success, went well ystrday. Lots new friends! Now in ofc catching up!

On way hm fr Jackson, MS. Grt feedbk fr wkshop attendees. Yay!

At MS Arts Commission wkshop teaching the coolest artists in MS!

Busy day at Quitman Upper Elem. 3 story theater sessions w gr 3, 4 & 5. PD for tchrs. On way to Jacsson, MS. Tech wkshop for MS Arts Comm. Artists.

Great day at Quitman Lower Elem in MS! Assemblies & prof devel. Said I was best they ever had. Woo hoo! :)

At Quitman Lower Elementary in MS getting ready for school shows & pro devel for the teachers.

Driving to Meridien, MS for school visits. Late trip.

9 yr old Chef Eliana & I invited to participate in a photo exhibit, cookbook & cooking demo at South Food & Beverage Museum. Woo hoo!

On way to Excalibur Mardi Gras Ball. My bday wkend, SAINTS won playoff game & I gotta feeling that tonight's gonna be a good nite!

Go Saints all the way! Saints go all the way! Oh I believe... Oh I believe! Saints take Cardinals 45-14. One game away fr THE BOWL!

Hubby in Superdome, kids at party, me alone. Will wk, watch Saints game & indulge in choc covered fruit delivered for my bday yesterday. :)

Party was grt! Then I checked email & had 358 bday wishes. Wow! Thx to my family & friends who make my life FABULOUS. 40 is just beginning!

40 is Fabulous! Recd jewelry, flowers, choc covered strawberries, grt book rvw & lots of hugs, kisses & wishes on my special bday! Thk u!

It's here! I am officially 40 years old! 4 decades in this wonderful world. Celebrate good times, come on!

My sweet friend, Ellen Hopkins sent me a signed copy of her book, Identical, for my bday. Cards & wishes abound. Thx! I feel so loved! :)

My big party tmrw! Menu: brisket, mojo pork, coco chikn, pancit, pesto pasta, haricot vert, bacon Gouda potatoes, lumpia, choc fount + more!

Evals fr AASL came in. I recd 3.8 out of 4.0 for my Story Fest wkshop w comments like "Excellent" & "Best session I went to at AASL." :)

Just went to Walgreens & found hb children's books by E. Spinelli, Wendell Minor & Daniel Kirk for $5

Just saw my new book cover for Stories on Board! Creating Board Games fr Favorite Tales. Gorgeous!

My little chef, Eliana, cooked up some good grades on her report card - straight As! Way to go, Eliana!

My website http://ping.fm/P89Rx had 4.9 million+ hits in 2009! Incredible! Special thx to my fab web design co, Hafner Designs.

Ahead of to do list this week. Yay! Think I'll start on my next book after some extra snuggle time under my fuzzy blankie!

19 degrees in New Orleans. Ice covering lawn & cars. Brrr. Can't imagine living in subzero climate! Warm thoughts to my Northern friends!

New Orleans Saints play AZ Cardinals this Sat. Go Who Dat Nation!

Fanmail fr 5th gr: "I lick [sic] you so much. I hope you lick me back! You are the best author ever but can u sell ur books for $1?" ROFL

Fanmail fr 4th grder: "Ur the greatest author in the world! When I was helping u, I felt like I was going to faint! I love you!" Smiling BIG

Fanmail fr TN 3rd grd: "Ur the best author I hv ever met! U need to go to every school! They would luv to see u perform! U rock!" Adorable!

My book, The Story Biz Handbook, won a 2010 Storytelling World Award in the Special Resources category. Woo hoo! :)

Madame Poulet book rec'd grt review on NewOrleans.com "folktale really well done w wonderful rhyming & repetition" http://bit.ly/7TBPtu

Book trailer for Mama's Bayou is done. Check it out! http://ping.fm/MN9Rd

Working on new book activities w Holly Stone-Barker for Mama's Bayou: color shts, hidden pics, puppets, bookmks, word search & more!

Working on a new book trailer for Mama's Bayou, on shelves this Spring from Pelican Publishing.

Amazing New Orleans women, the late Children's Author & Storytlr Coleen Salley & Chef Leah Chase, credited in Disney's Princess & the Frog

On the way to a wake of a friend. Dennis, you were loved. May the next life be joyous...

Burned the midnight oil and then some... My to do list is soooo long! One item at a time...

News: Katherine Paterson named new U.S. Nat'l Ambassador for Young People's Literature, succeeding Jon Scieszka. http://bit.ly/8g0KmP

Change of dinner plans. Croquettas laborious! So now it's Croquettas over Bed of Mixed Greens w blood orange & lime vinaigrette. Steak tmrw!

Turning huge ham into small tasty Cuban croquettas. Steak & pommes frites salad for dinner. Eliana making dulce de leche dessert pizza.

It's cold outside - in the 30s. But it's my brain that needs thawing, to get back into the "work" mode... Yup, vacay is over!

My 9 yr old daughter, Chef Eliana, posted a new video cooking tutorial: Old Fashioned Waffles. http://ping.fm/lFIiV

My friend, Liz Mosier, inspired me with a new book idea! Creative sparks are flying... Thanks, Liz!

Wow. I have so many FB friends that 113 of them were on chat at the same time! Whoa...

Having a big party on Jan 15 to celebrate my milestone birthday. Theme: 40 and Fabulous! :)

Love our new 802.11N wireless router. Now hv Internet in every part of the house w multiple devices - 5 laptops, 2 TVs, & 2 iPod Touches!

Heading to a friend's bday party tonite. Ready to let loose and start 2010 with a bang! Woo hoo!

Decided not to go to SCBWI conf in NYC cuz ankle still not healed & NY hard to traverse w handicap!

I turn 40 yrs old on Jan 15. I hv decided to make 2010 a yr long celebration of my 4 decades in this world! Woo hoo!