Debbie Miller....

She came to our school today... that's right, she came to the Academy of Learning and Leadership... she talked to me... she signed my book... I got to spend 8 hours with her... observing and talking and having lunch with her and listening... that's right, the one... the only... Debbie Miller was at our school today!

Debbie Miller is to teaching reading and thinking... what Bret Farve is to the Green Bay Packers... she is my idol... I follow her ideas in her book almost word for word some days... actually... I put quotes from her in my lesson plans... what an awesome opportunity! Did I mention she signed my book? yeah... it will be worth big bucks some day!

Dad came to visit A.L.L. yesterday! The kids did a great job 'interviewing' him with really great questions like, "what would you do if you were in 3rd grade" and "what's your favorite sport" and "did you bring cupcakes or anything?" and "how do you put together computers" and "when you say you were a wrestler, you mean WWF... right?" Dad got the full tour of the school... with all of the introductions to our colleagues and good friends.... quite a bit to take in I'm sure...

Then we had a great dinner and trip to the casino... Jason won $300! With a little help from dad's big wins in roulette... he couldn't lose in the beginning! The first 10 'spins' of roulette were big winners for dad.... oh, how we love to gamble!

I just heard on the news that 7-9 inches of snow is in the forecast for tomorrow! I can't even begin to share how excited I would be for a 'snow day'. When I first started teaching in Milwaukee... word had it that there hadn't been a snow day in 10 years... that's right... ten years.... and there was a morning last year where 7.5 inches fell... and WE STILL HAD SCHOOL! So, cross your fingers for 8 or more inches of snow by 7am in the city of Milwaukee!