I'll be working this Labour Day...guess where!

Hey, everyone! Sorry for being late with the blog, but I was up late watching Frankenstein—because of course, today is FRANKENSTEIN DAY, in celebration of the author of the book's birthday. Happy birthday, Mary!

It's no secret I'm stoked about school starting Tuesday, but I'm actually pretty excited for this weekend. Not only will I be reading Frankenstein again and making cupcakes with my mom, we also will spend time at Grandma and Grandpa's canola farm. Labour Day is harvest time—well, if the fields aren't too wet with all this rain we've had.

I help out with chores, too. But while Grandpa is harvesting, and Grandma is baking, I’m going to get in my last couple of running practices outside by racing around the canola field. Maybe I’ll even hit my personal best—under 9 minutes! Well, unless I sink in the soft ground....

It’s tradition for me to help out around the farm so in addition to helping Grandpa, I’ll be out in the garden helping Grandma harvest her vegetables. I can't wait to see what's left to pick!

Sounds like a perfect weekend to me. What do you have planned for Labour Day Monday?

Gotta jet. Whatever you're doing, I hope you enjoy your last long weekend of the summer before school starts!

~ Superman Chase Duffy

P.S.  Speaking of school, did you know that your school can get the entire set of the Superman Duffy comics—free? Contact www.learncanola.com to find out more!

The most wonderful time of the year...

Is that Staples commercial running anymore? I haven't seen it lately, but I remember it very clearly—it's funny. But maybe it's only funny to me—and to most parents—because I don't dread going back to school. I can't wait to get back in the classroom.

Don't get me wrong, I love lazing around binge watching TV shows, or power reading a new book, or even (sigh) crafting with my sister. But it hasn't been the greatest summer weather-wise, and I'm starting to get a bit...bored? Plus, I don't really have a routine, and I like routine. I need routine.

So, I'm extra excited to get back into the classroom. And in the gym with my track and field coach. And this year, I hope, in writing club. (I'm going to ask if we can have one, and if I can "lead" it—wouldn't that be fun?)

I've been working hard for the past few years on getting better Math grades, and my Language Arts grade is always good. But I guess I should focus a bit on science this year.

Speaking of science, my friend told me about this pumpkin science project she did at her old school, and I'm hoping we can do this year at my school. That's another reason I like going back to school—it means that fall—and of course, Halloween—is right around the corner. And yes, I'll be doing my famous Halloween countdown again—31 days of spooktacular fun. I'm going to start researching soon!

This weekend, Mom and I are going back to school shopping. That's another great thing about this time of year...all the pens and pencils and paper and binders and MUCH MORE.

How are you getting ready for back to school? Share your ideas in the comments section below!

Gotta jet! Have a great weekend.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Less than two weeks!

No, not for Back to School—though I admit, I'm pretty excited about that since I've been crushing my summer goals this year.

But that's not what I'm counting down today. Nope. Today marks 14 days until one of my favourite times of the year: FRANKENSTEIN DAY. 

I'm not kidding! Superman is my favourite superhero—still—but the monster that I love the most? Obviously Frankenstein. I even dressed up like him on Halloween once. And I'm pretty excited that there's an entire day devoted to him.

Well actually, it's devoted to Mary Shelley, the author of the original Frankenstein novel—August 30 is her birthday. Which means it's time to celebrate, starting this weekend by roping my sister into a Frankenstein movie marathon. Don't worry, she won't be scared...Amelia is starting to love scary books as much as I do. She doesn't get creeped out easily, not even by GIANT bigs, like the ones in the Superman Duffy graphic novel, AMELIA XERCES DUFFY.

Next week, I'll start re-reading the original Frankenstein book. And on the 30th, Mom says she'll help me make green cupcakes.

Gotta jet! Do you celebrate Frankenstein Day? I'd love to hear your celebration ideas.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

P.S. ~ If you want to order the AMELIA educational graphic novel for your school, you can get it free from the Alberta Canola Producers Commission here. 

Playing Around With Characters

If you've followed my blog long enough, you know that the author of the Superman Duffy series of graphic novels—Dawn Ius—sometimes goes to schools to talk about being an author. She does this fun workshop called "Molding Characters"—which is basically about sculpting things out of play dough. I've made a few characters before...

But with the weird weather this summer—can you believe all of the storms?!—I've been looking at things to do inside and since I'm making great progress on my reading goals, I thought it might be time to focus on my writing. The trouble is, I don't have a good character yet.

I've done all of the usual things—looked for inspiration in magazines and on TV show, thought about how I could use some of the traits from people in my family, and even tried to model a character after a dog I met at the park. But it hasn't inspired me to start writing.

So this weekend, I'm making some modelling dough, and I'm going to create a character. Mom even bought me some extra drink crystals so I can make a bunch of different colours. Anyone want to see my neon green sea monster? Just kidding...I haven't made one yet.

Want to make your own?

I've got JUST the recipe.
(Remember, though, play dough is for playing with, not to eat!)

Easy Dough
1 cup flour (250 mL)

1 cup salt (250 mL)

1 Tbsp. canola oil (15 mL)
drink crystals or food colouring for colouring
enough water to form the dough.

Mix flour and salt. Add canola oil. Add drink crystals or food colouring to a couple of teaspoons of water. Then, slowly add water until mixture is pliable (spongy and claylike).

Store in a used margarine tub plastic container. Make more colours.

Easy peasy, right?

Gotta jet! I'm starting to make my colours right now.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Setting SMART school goals

I know, I know, it's only the beginning of August. But we've already started to see "back to school" commercials (though not that funny Staples one yet) and so of course I'm thinking about everything I need to accomplish before the summer ends, and when I head back to class.

My longtime readers—thanks, everyone!—will know that I always set goals. I wish I could say I always hit the mark, but that wouldn't be quite true...though I have improve my Math marks in the past two days. What I do know is that making goals keeps me focussed. At least somewhat.

So I'm going back to making SMART goals.

Not SMART in the “intelligence” way. S.M.A.R.T is an acronym for goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-based. Get it? SMART.

I tend—accidentally, of course—to set goals that are too vague (ie: write this summer), or not achievable (ie: get 100% in Math)—and that's not SMART. So I need to think...SMARTer.

So here are my S.M.A.R.T. goals for school this year:

1. I will increase my Math mark by 5%. (Specific, right? Also…measurable!)
2. I will read 10 books by the end of the school year. (Last year, I tried for 15, and 25 the year before. Clearly not achievable.)
3. I will go for an afternoon run five days a week, no matter how busy I am. (Definitely relevant since I want to make the Track and Field team again.)
4. I will volunteer for one school committee. I have NO idea which one yet, but it will be something meaningful. (This is obviously measurable—and achievable!)
5. I will use my ENTIRE notebook before starting a new one. Okay, this sounds easy, but I LOVE starting a new notebook. There’s something exciting about the first page. I can do this — I just might need to write MORE to fill up the pages. Which, ironically, is another of my school goals this year.

These are my Top 5. What are some of your school goals this year? Are you being SMART?

Gotta jet! Have a super long weekend.

~ Chase Superman Duffy