Skyping with Barbara O'Connor today was thrilling. The kids came prepared with questions and were excited. We focused on "The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester" which is nominated for our district's Young Readers Award.

Our fourth- and fifth-graders are beholden to Barbara O'Connor's generosity. 

Some Skype visuals:

Okay, tomorrow is the big Skype Visit with Barbara O'Connor:

 1. Email tech to make sure Skype software is working. Check.
 2. Reassure self. It will work. No problem. Check.
 3. Scoff at reports about snow (more snow?). As long as it starts after 10:30, we       don't have to care.
 4. Book trailer for "The Fantastic Secret of Owen Jester" viewed.  Check.
 5. Readers Theaters scripts performed. Check.
 6. Ordered more book copies. Check
 7. Students excited. Check.
 8. Teachers excited. Check.
 9. Oops. Late in confirming visit. Check.
10. We are ready. Check.

Have you ever thought "Wouldn't it be awesome if…." and never imagining it would happen?

Well, the awesome is happening. Our fourth and fifth graders will be skyping with Barbara O'Connor. The Barbara O'Connor. The author of so many fabulous books including: How to Steal A Dog, Greetings from Nowhere,  and The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis.

Our upper-grade students are reading twelve titles nominated for a Young Readers Award. One of the titles is O'Connor's The Amazing Secret of Owen Jester. 

I told the librarian about the possibility of  trying to arrange a Skype visit with O'Connor.  We agreed that it was short notice, her schedule was probably jam-packed, it was totally unrealistic but….wouldn't it be cool? 

And, wow. Barbara O'Connor responded within days. She is graciously squeezing us in. The librarian and I jumped up and down. There is a waiting list for Owen Jester. 

We can't wait!

* Snow on the weekend
* A sister bearing salt and sand for the driveway
* Downloaded songs
* Reading the last of a trilogy that does not disappoint
* Family
* Sunday papers bearing book reviews

Such a long, tough week. The kind that makes you yearn to stay in bed with the covers over your head. And decide that maybe all those horrible jobs you had before education were not so bad after all. 

Despite the onset of December craziness (and a soon approaching Full Moon),  there are moments  that ground you and make you grateful:

 ❄ making snowflakes as part of a spontaneous school-wide challenge to decorate our windows. Paper and scissors. Sitting and cutting. Cool.

❄  watching the snow transform the school playground and knowing there was insufficient accumulation to cause parking lot problems.

❄  realizing an afternoon meeting was canceled.

❄  writing just to write.

❄  being welcomed home with a smile.

Arrggh! My plan to make walking everyday somewhat palatable proved foolhardy.

I reasoned that listening to audio books addressed the boring aspect of walking. Time would just fly by. As a bonus, I could catch up on reading.

But…I underestimated my book addiction. Once I start listening, I can't stop. I cannot let go of the story. Wait another day? Not possible. I am now committed to finishing the book. Errands are ignored. Work at home gets set aside. I find myself sitting in my car in the parking lot, just listening. Just one more minute. If I have to, going to bed is ruled out.

When reading print, I somehow accomplish more. I have more control. Not so with audio.

Once I am done listening, I now struggle.  Should I download another book? Or should I stop walking?

I am faux brave. In school, with students, I talk about the importance of being brave all the time.  I advise my first graders to take risks and figure out those tricky words. With the older students, I urge them to be brave in their thinking. Outside my door, a "Be Brave" sign is posted. I wrote about being brave. I talk the talk.

Yet, I know. Starting a blog terrified me. I still struggle and worry about what to write and what type of blog it should be. I find it easy to get caught up with teaching and everything else and forget (and ignore)  this anxiety-inducing, wishy-washy blog.

After months of reading about twitter and its benefits to educators, I decided to stop my endless lurking and sign up. Within seconds of creating an account, I shut my laptop down, my introvert heart pounding. I remember feeling exposed and convinced that something was going to fall out of the sky and hit me. I only knew one person on Twitter and was too afraid to reach out. I wanted a slow roll out…and for weeks had zero followers.

I mastered retweeting. The retweets were all interesting resources, thoughts and links about teaching and books. I pretended I was my own follower -- "Oh, retweet that! She would like it."  

And then, I answered an invitation from a person I did not know…Niki Ohs Barnes (@daydreamreader). I woke up the next day and had all these followers. Amazing. I will always remember her generosity in reaching out. 

I still resort to retweeting and lurking but, once in a while, I step up and jump in.

 Oh, and nothing has fallen on me yet.

It is only Day Three* and commitment wavers. My will power, also known as the weak link, surrendered without resistance. Procrastination swept in with its alluring sway.

Walk and write, I said. I could manage it. I conceded fifty days might be a struggle. So, here we are only three days and I am questioning such a foolhardy claim. What was I thinking? 

What was I thinking?

(#nerdlution -- a twitter movement started by Colby Sharp -- an opportunity to challenge yourself with the goal of creating a habit -- all within  a supportive community. For 50 WHOLE days. Did I forget to say that?