The worst storm of the season..

Huge Storm hit Chicago (and Cedar Rapids) today.  Dropping 10 inches of snow.  Blizzard from 2- midnight.  I went out into the storm anyway to get new books…

and see Levar Burton (from Reading Rainbow and Star Trek).  What an incredibly eloquent and inspirational speaker.  I was touched by his new book called “The Rhino who swallowed the storm.” 

We are now safely inside the hotel waiting out the storm.  I plan to hit the exhibits one last time tomorrow before we head home.

Kids are doing well at home.  Tyler made it home safely from a showchoir competition in Omaha.  The girls were busy helping with the décor in our home.  Look at the new pillows they got for the living room.  10 days until Marisa comes home!!

Chicago- Part 2

Met Mike Mullin (author of Ashfall) !!  I was 1st in line and when he found out I was the librarian from Anamosa, he talked to me for 15 minutes as well as agreed to come do an author visit!

Met Tom Angleberger! (Author of Origami Yoda)

Met Wylde Scott…

I can’t wait to count up all the free books I got.  I had to have Bob wait in the car down by the taxis- I would go fill 5 full bags of books, dump it in the trunk, and go do it again.  I couldn’t have done it without him!

Bruises on both arms and across my neck from the heavy bags

What a Fantastic Trip!

I had the wonderful privilege and opportunity to attend the ALA (American Library Association) in Chicago this weekend!  It was overwhelmingly awesome!  I felt very out of my element but loved it!

I was super luck y to have Bob agree to come with me.  We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and this is the view from our room…

The view at the restaurant

Interactive displays at the hotel

Stairs at the conference:

I was 1st in line for the exhibit hall and somehow made the paper…

Night view

When it rains, it pours…literally

I am not sure what we did to deserve a disastrous week, but all I can say is wow!  It all started last weekend when our heater broke.  Thank heavens it has been a warmer January so we didn’t freeze to death but it was still chilly!  The heater was fixed on Monday.

On Tuesday, I had a dr appt.  Most of you know I only run in survival mode, so having a couple of “extra” hours before that appt I went nuts on the house trying to get stuff done.  My tub was gross so I decided this would be a great time to bleach it.  So I did.  Then, I ran to Walmart and stopped back home really fast before the appt.  I heard a noise and asked Kayla what it was- as I realized I NEVER TURNED OFF THE WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We raced in there and I was relieved to see that the water didn’t overflow to my floor yet.  However…Kayla went downstairs and dangit if I could only turn back time…

The water went through the seal in the tub and down through the ceiling of the bottom floor: soaked the carpet, RUINED our flat screen TV, burst 2 tiles, ruined 8 tiles, and made me feel like a piece of crap

So we finally got it all cleaned up and then went to get a new TV.  Bob brought it home and as we unpacked, we found it was chipped and had to repack and take it back only to find out the TV we want is on backorder.  I know….#1stworldprobs!  I am extremely grateful the carpet wasn’t ruined and the Wii, PS3, and DVR all survived.  I am also grateful we can get a new TV.  But boy I would love for all of this to stop…

Other items:

1.  At my dr appt we found that my cortisol levels are too low.  I didn’t even know I had cortisol!  So I have to go for a STEM test where they will draw my blood, then give me a cortisol shot (to see what my body does), then 30 minutes later draw more blood, and then an hour later draw more.  I feel like they really aren't doing a test- just feeding a vampire!  So, I am torn.  I want them to find I have Addison’s disease so I can finally stay up past 6:30 and stop gaining weight, but yet I don’t want another disease to add to my pathetic list.  So keep me in your prayers.  I just need answers whatever they may be.

2.  I was asked to present twice at the conf this summer.  I feel honored and agreed.  The main lady wanted more people to hear me

Bob and I are heading to Chicago this weekend!!!  I am going to the American Library Association Conference.  I am excited to meet so many authors, get new books, and find out what's trending in the library world.  It will pretty much be heaven!!!

They grow up so fast…

We got to go see Tyler perform at the Friends & Family show this week.  He looked AMAZING and even made me cry.  He is definitely in his element up there and truly seems to love it!

Alayna had her very 1st show choir show at Supernova this Saturday.  We had to get up super early to do her hair and make up.  I heard she did great (we get to see her in a couple weeks).  She looks so grown up…

A teacher at the middle school felt I should be recognized for being asked to speak at a state conference.  No one from Anamosa has ever been asked to do so.  She turned the article into the newspaper and main website.

I am also twitterpated as Brian Boyle not only favorited my tweet, but he retweeted it and wrote me back!!  Now if I could only get him to come speak in Iowa!!!  Who is Brian Boyle?  One of my real life heroes.  He wrote “Ironheart” which if you havent read, you need to- right now!  He was in a horrific car accident but worked his way back (learning how to rewalk etc) and competed in the ironman triathalon and finished it!!!  Truly inspirational and I booktalked his story this week.

Also, I worked on my Shelfie.  Yes, there is such a thing.  I am holding a contest at both schools where everyone has to match the staff member with their shelfies.  Here are some shots of mine.  It was so funny because they all faced the same way and froze, like it was an official photo shoot!

24 days til Marisa gets home!!!!!

53 days til the cruise!

Foil dinners in the cold? Weirdos!

We got Marisa’s flight information and we are so excited she will be home a month from today!!!

Nothing else new…the weather was crazy this week with bitter cold temps below zero and lots of snow!  We didn’t even have a normal day of school this week.  One night temps dropped to –40 with 40 mile an hour winds.  Yikes!!

And a Happy New Year!

This break has been wonderful and so needed, especially for me.  I think I have become somewhat of a workaholic so it was good to force myself to relax with the family.  We played some fun new games on New Years Eve called “Telestrations” and “Wits and Wagers”.  I havent laughed that hard in a while and I can see our family did not inherit any artistic talent whatsoever….Can you guess what they are?

We got a tad bit of snow- the worst part has been the 20 below zero wind chill

Bob is doing a magnificent job on the new floor in the downstairs bathroom.  Is there anything this guy CANT do??

We hope all of you had a great break and are excited for the New Year!