These mild mid-November temperatures are quite delightful. When I can grab a few minutes to blow the leaves, it is nice to do so still wearing shorts and not bundled up in long pants, a coat, and gloves. MamaKay’s tree has shed a lot of its leaves but still has a long way to go.

Tonight begins the touring company run of HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS: THE MUSICAL. I shall work five of the eight performances at The Schuster Center. I still have mixed feelings about the musical – but I have not yet seen it nor have I heard any of the music.

On this date in history:  2014: American politician Jane Byrne, who was the first woman to serve as mayor of Chicago (1979–83), died at age 81.  1969: Apollo 12 was launched, carrying a crew of Charles Conrad, Jr., Richard F. Gordon, Jr., and Alan L. Bean, and five days later the mission made the second landing on the Moon.  1960: Six-year-old Ruby Bridges began attending William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, becoming the youngest of a group of African American students to integrate schools in the American South.  1948: Prince Charles—heir apparent to the British throne, the eldest child of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, duke of Edinburgh—was born.  1915: Educator, reformer, and first president and principal developer of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute (now Tuskegee University) Booker T. Washington, the most influential spokesman for African Americans in the late 19th and the early 20th century, died at age 59.  1889: American journalist Nellie Bly began her around-the-world race against the record of Phileas Fogg, hero of Jules Verne‘s Around the World in Eighty Days; she completed the journey in slightly more than 72 days.

The past two days’ lessons were the result of students working very hard and I got to meet two new students who are very eager! I love it.

Make it a great day!