Lucille, thank you for cooking lunch for me today! I love being with you and I promise to read David McCullough, even though he does not write fiction (whimper). I’ll start with JOHN ADAMS and report back.

Then look what happened.

It started out innocently enough...

Down the ramp to Ocean Beach   6:17 p.m.

Spooky! From the Coastal Trail    6:36 p.m.

My Saturday

Purple and Blue

Clement Street

Fun at Park Life with Msmasmushly

On My Screen Today

Does anybody out there know how to draw an upside-down dog?

Archaeological Discovery

This evening we walked south toward Fort Funston. Look what we found embedded in the
rock wall. That bottle is labeled Lucas Gusano. I did a little research and discovered that
Lucas Gusano is tamarind flavored hot liquid candy. Who would have thought they would
have had something like that back in the Stone Age? What a great invention.

Wait! My new book SAY HELLO! came out last week. Here’s the story behind it: 

I was visiting a school, doing a workshop with kindergarteners and first graders. As each child wandered into the room, I walked up and introduced myself. Ninety percent of the children didn’t have any idea how to respond. Some would shake my hand and look down at my shoes. Some would look up at the ceiling or over their shoulder. One kid spit out his gum, stomped on it, then grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go.

This experience struck me as funny, sweet, and a little disturbing. I thought, “I’ll write a book about how to say hello!” The book isn't an instruction manual––it’s more of a collection of (sometimes silly) ways to say hi.

Just in time for lunch

The doorbell rang. "Don't go!" I cried. Tom was making lunch and I was absolutely starving.
But he went anyway and now I'm glad.

Walking Down the Great Highway

This isn't really my painting. I don't believe in painting outdoors (or eating outdoors). But
Monty Lumba does. He was working on this as I walked by. He also did the piece below.

My Assignment

At my first job in the bookstore, on my very first day, I met Katy. The bookstore was in a mall.
Today's mission, four decades later, is to map out the mall as I remember it using these great
colored pencils that Katy enclosed along with the assignment.

Katy, my homework is sealed in a stamped envelope ready to go in the mail back to you,
but I'm keeping the colored pencils.

Coming Soon: My SCBWI Los Angeles Adventure

Prelude

If you know me at all, you will know something very special was going on when I tell you this: I wore a dress every day for five days. Above: I've already spilled coffee on Dress Number One, and I haven't even left San Francisco.

SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) is the most rewarding organization I've ever joined, and that's coming from a rigorous non-joiner.

It's hard to describe how wonderful this conference is. Did I mention that this post is being written by a hard-core avoider of meetings?  There are so many things I'm dying to write about this gathering––but for now, here are some snapshots.

My amazing editor Allyn Johnston, and the mucho-talented Marla Frazee.

Me, Mem, and Meg  (Mem Fox, and Meg Fleming).

Fancy Nancy and Mimi  (Jane O'Connor and me). 

F.Y.I.  This is what an ash tray looks like outside a kids' book conference.

Feeling Groovy

After a hike on the Coastal Trail, walking home up 46th Avenue.

Anne's New Painting

Mother by Anne Herbst (the first of four canvases)

Another exhilerating sprint through Anne's studio this afternoon. This was her idea for a photo. Isn't it wonderful?