Exciting narwhal discovery!

I haven't written anything here in ages, but I felt so compelled to let you all know about the recent discovery made about the narwhal tusk. Aren't you excited????? Scientists discovered that the tusk (a large protruding spiraling tooth) has nerves that run from the core all the way to the surface. This is feature is unique to narwhals and allows them to use their tusk to "feel" the water and their environment. Since narwhals live in freezing Arctic water, they can probably feel the cold water. "Imagine the ice cream headache that narwhals must live with ALL THE TIME," as the author who e-mailed me this article wrote.

Enjoy the article and increasing your knowledge about the mysterious narwhal. What other narwhal secrets will be found out in the next century?

In other news, in case you thought I fell off the planet because I've been a lame-o and haven't updated this dang thing in months, I'm still here. I was in Pittsburgh for a conference just before Thanksgiving. It was an English teacher conference. I got to meet and/or hang out with authors such as Yann Martel (The Life of Pi), Robert MacNeil (formerly of the MacNeil/Leher News Hour on PBS), M. T. Anderson (YA author extraordinaire), Andy Auseon (super-talented debut YA author), Lynne Cox (Swimming to Antarctica), Nina Crews (amazing illustrator), Brian Collier (one of my favorite illustrators), Kathi Appelt (a popular Aggie author), and Han Nolan (award-winning YA author). I also heard Laurie Halse Anderson, Paul Fleischman, Chris Lynch, and Nancy Garden speak during the post-conference YA workshop I attended as a publisher observer and author escort. Yes, I'm name dropping, but it's the best part of my job and I like it. There were plenty of other fantastic authors there that I ran into or listened to, but it was weeks ago and now I can't remember. Duh.

After getting back from Pittsburgh (where it was 17 degrees one night!), I worked like mad to get ready for taking time off for Christmas. I am officially on vacation now and I won't be going back until the 27th. Woo-hoo! Mom, Dad, and I are headed to Atlanta to visit David & Allison at their pad. We'll celebrate early and then the three of us will fly back and be in LA for the 25th.

And that's what I've been up to the past couple months. Let me know that you're still alive and functioning, too. Have a Merry Christmas (or other seasonal holiday of your choice), Happy New Year, and look forward to more narwhal facts!