Jennifer Anne Kogler

I couldn’t have picked a nicer school to finish out the OC week today.  I was at Las Flores, located in, you’ll never guess, Las Flores, CA.  Mrs. Annette was more than hospitable as was Dept. Chair Ms. Cummings.  Beverley, Blake, Adam and Parker were all courageous enough to brave the stage, but no dice.  I’m getting frustrated – I can’t seem to post pictures correctly.  Is there an award for Worst Blogger of the Year?  Sort of like the Razzies for the internet?  I hope not.  Because I’m certainly making a case for myself.  

Um, so now I’ve managed to make the picture smaller, but still not right-side-up.  I’m a work in progress, what can I say?

And!  It’s the end of the week, which means it’s time to update my totals.  I know, I know.  You can barely wait.  Well, you don’t have to.  Here goes . . .

Number of Schools visited: 27

Number of Students that Have Suffered Through My Presentation: 14,370

Number of Sideways Pictures Posted on my Blog: 4

Cities Visited: 21

See you all next week!

I was at scenic Ensign Intermediate in Newport Beach on Thursday.  And, my, what a welcome I got!  Mrs. Shaeffer offered me everything and anything a visiting author could want.  I also got a pretty awesome parting gift — a Suess hat, worthy of the master himself.  I should have taken a photo of me in it, but we all know I would have turned out sideways anyway.  And the teachers were all so wonderfully nice.  It was a really great day.  And Max broke the all time Vampire-Naming-Game record.  By a lot.  He completely shattered it.  Here’s a picture of the school, which is a couple blocks from the beach.

Yes!  I correctly situated picture!  

I was in Irvine for the first time on the tour.  Ashley, Alex and Nick were excellent sports after being pulled up from the audience.  Thanks to Dominic for hosting and getting everything organized.  Also, I have to say, that I think South Lake made the most artistically impressive sign I’ve seen to date.  Check it out (let’s hope this doesn’t turn out sideways)

Oh.  Man.  I.  Stink.  I really need to search the Internet to see if I can’t figure out how to work this photo thing.  Anyway, the sign says “Welcome Jennifer, You’re out of this Worldlie.”   Well thanks.  Awful nice of you to say.

At Santiago, I said the pledge of allegiance for the first time in a long time.  It was surreal.  Anyhow, huge thanks to Susan Huber, who fed me and also gave me about five water bottles so that my voice didn’t give out on me.  I think we squeezed more people into a theater than we’ve ever squeezed before.  And Mujo (I’m probably spelling that — if I am, email me and I’ll fix it) was one of the most entertaining teleporters of all time.  Even though he prefers French Onion to Original Sun Chips, I can forgive him that because he made me actually think I might pull it off.  And on to the next . . . 

So, I’ve been getting some guff about the sideways photos I’ve been posting.  Apparently, I’m an embarrassment to the blogging community.  I’m going to try to try, but I can’t make any promises that I’m going to get any better.  Anyway, I was back in the OC got the warmest bulldog welcome from CT.  It was great to be so close to home and nice to be back in Tustin.  Everyone got in the welcome act . . . Mr. Christensen, Mrs. Henry and, of course, Mrs. Fiduk.  You’re probably also to expecting me to tell you that no one teleported.  Well, your expectations have been met, because no one did.  We got close with Sammie, but no cigar.  I had a special treat at CT.  My brother Jordan and his girlfriend Lydia came to hear me speak.  I know, I know, I look like a total shrimp next to them but that’s because they’re both over the six foot mark.   But it was a real pleasure to be back in Tustin, especially considering all the nice folks at CT!

Before I get to my report on Julian Middle School, I have an odd request.  A girl from Sandburg Middle School emailed me and I can’t seem to write her back because I think her email address is wrong, so you’re reading this, Girl-from-Sandburg whose name starts with a “J”, email me again!  I don’t want you to think I’m ignoring you. I  keep getting these bounce back messages, which is frustrating. 

Librarian Lilli Savage had the whole auditorium reserved for me – and Julian has about the nicest auditorium I’ve seen – very state of the art.  The students were enthusiastic and though I don’t know his name, one of the teachers made the best grab of an eyeball I’ve ever witnessed.  No really . . . it was Sports Center worthy.  I only wished I had videotaped it.  Julian was a great way to end the day and my stay in Chicago!

Wow.  That’s a lot of blogs for a two day period.  Are you ready for some totals?  Because I am!

The updated count for those of you keeping score at home.

Total Students who’ve had to Sit Through My Spiel:  11,130

Number of times a student as said they’d like to go to Candyland:  2

Total Presentations: 67

Cities: 16

Schools: 22

67 Presentations?  Am I sick of myself yet?  Maybe.  TTYL.  

-Jennie

Finally, another president-themed school name!  I keep waiting for an invitation to speak at van Buren Middle School, but I’m not sure it exists.  Thanks so much to Flo Shultes for fitting me in and the drama/arts teacher for giving up her theater for a period.  Ellie bore my magic-less trick with a smile!

Mr. Villanueva (though I noticed that most of the students were just calling him “Mr. V”) was a delight and actually prepared a goodie bag of sorts for me.  It was awfully nice of him.  C-Mack (I’m not sure if I’m spelling that correctly) didn’t believe that I could make him teleport and you know what?  He was right.  Elliott and Jon were a little nicer about it, but they, too, did not go anywhere either. 

Wilmette Junior High School was probably the quickest I’ve ever been in and out of a school (I apologize to the students there if I was talking so fast that no one could understand me).  Mrs. Hennessy got those kids in and out in no time – so thanks to her!  Wilmette was especially fun for me, because along with teleporter Adam, I brought along my own entourage, Kristy Cole and Leigh Meredith, two friends from college.

Kristy as a habit of laughing too loud at all of my jokes and Leigh has a habit of making unusual fashion choices like the vest you see below.  I think they make excellent book models, no?  

Wow.  Another sideways picture.

I was very happy with Madison Jr. High to get another president in the mix.  Between Kennedy, Eisenhower and now Madison, we almost have enough to play Bridge.  Madison was my first library-in-the-round experience.  The whole school was centered around the library . . . which was very cool, although there weren’t many places to hide, that’s for sure.  Brendan, Matt, Ellie and Kevin didn’t go anywhere (surprise, surprise), but it wasn’t for lack of trying on their part.  One of them actually closed his or her eyes and looked to be concentrating more than I’ve ever seen before.