Beatboxing Babies and Bathing with Bears: The 2010 Photoblog
Last year, I ended my New Year's Eve blog saying we were going to kick 2010's behind. I entered the year swinging, ready for triumph. But on the last day of 2010, I'm exhausted. And I don't want to kick anything or anyone. I just want to rejoice and remember the best moments of MMX.
The year began with Kristin Walker's book launch of A Match Made in High School where she gave away bling like rings and matchbook notepads.
At the Anderson's Children's Literature Breakfast, Richard Peck brought down the house with his rhetorical brilliance. Later I gossiped with book bloggers, librarians, and authors about things that can never be repeated. Ever!
In March at the IRC, Cynthia and Greg Leitich Smith made me stay up late while we laughed with friends Michelle Duster, Cynthea Liu, and Jen Cullerton Johnson. All I can say is Emilio Estevez.
In June, I had the honor of teaching "Writing the Unseen" with Beth Finke and Hanni.
I met Fake Conan when Andy Richter treated Columbia College alumni to a night of funny.
I still wanna marry Reggie Watts and have beatboxing babies.
In July, I was privileged once again, this time as an instructor at the DePaul Summer Writing Conference, sharing the classroom with Barbara Binns and the newly e-published Karly Kirkpatrick.
At the end of the month, my heart and soul found healing at the SCBWI Summer Conference where we let our hair get all long and fluffy.
Rita Crayon Huang wore the dopest boots ever at the Heart and Soul Ball.
I also giggled with Nick Eliopulos of Scholastic, the only other person in the children's book industry with a dinosaur last name like mine (remember I'm secretly a Sotirakopulos).
Another conference connection proved dream-maker when I joined the McVeigh Agency with my "gonna go shopping one day" friend Mark McVeigh. You can catch him teaching at WriteOnCon.com.
In October, I battled sea monsters and moved to an island utopia with the boys, where we spend our days bathing in a jacuzzi tub with polar bears.
At Prairie Writer's Day, I stormed the urinals with Carmela Martino.
December was a month of triumphs: finishing the M.A., getting hired by three great colleges, holding on tight to friends and family.
[Me and my papa.]
Wishing you the happiest of New Year's celebrations! We'll be in our jammies, ringing in the New Year in a stress-free zone, dreaming of gliding through 2011 with the help of our friends. Thank you for being an important part of my life!