Let's CUT! To The Chase...

Someone famous once said, "there are no original stories." Every tale is just a version of one of a handful that has been told time and time again.

That sounds deep, I know, but in school this week, we've been talking about re-tellings, fables, and specifically, Aesop's Fables, and it got me thinking about the Superman Duffy graphic novel, CUT! TO THE CHASE...

The book is a modern version of the famous Aesop story, The Tortoise and the Hare. Even if you're not learning about it in school, you probably know the story—a slow turtle, a fast rabbit, and a race that ends with an unexpected lesson.

The lesson in the Superman Duffy book is centred on nutrition, but of course there's a great story around it—in which "comic me" gets to flex his school theatre muscles. If you've read the book, you know who ends up being the tortoise (hint: it's either me or my nemesis Gordon Lightning Smith). And if you haven't read it, you can order CUT! TO THE CHASE... (and the entire set of Superman Duffy educational graphic novels) from the Alberta Canola Producers' Commission.

By the way, did you know that quite a few of the expressions we use everyday are inspired by Aesop's fables? “Slow and steady wins the race” is obviously from The Tortoise and the Hare. But, did you know that “Honesty is the best policy” is from Aesop’s tale Mercury and the Woodsman or that “Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill” is from the story, The Mountain in Labor?

My mom always tells me not to “count my chickens before they hatch” — she probably doesn’t even realize that expression comes from Aesop’s fable, The Milkmaid and her Pail. And sometimes, I forget to “look before you leap” which is, you guessed it, another expression from an Aesop story, The Fox and the Goat.

“Birds of a feather flock together” comes from the Farmer and the Stork and to have “sour grapes” was first used in Aesop’s tale, The Fox and the Grapes. Who knew?

Wow. Aesop really did write a lot about animals! I guess it comes down to “quality, not quantity” — <grin> see what I did there? That saying is from Aesop’s tale, The Lioness and the Vixen.

Gotta jet! Hope your first week at school was fantastic!

— Chase Superman Duffy

Back To School? I'm Ready! (Almost)

Summer is over.

Not technically, I know, but you can feel the shift in the air, right? The cooler temperatures, the slow change of colour. I actually raked leaves yesterday!

The truth is, fall is my favourite season—Halloween!—but the end of summer means that school is right around the corner, and even though I’m always excited about getting back to class (and setting my yearly goals), that first day can sometimes be a bit challenging.

I’m not used to waking up at 7 a.m. Or getting out of my PJs before noon. Or making my own lunch. I can’t even think about what I’m supposed to take on my first day. (Except the new pens my mom bought me when we went supply shopping this week!)

I don’t want to forget anything on Tuesday though, so I’m preparing this weekend. Here are some ways I am going to get ready for class:

1.    Organize my supplies — put paper in my binder, sharpen pencils, double check that pens are working, etc.
2.    Pre-pack a lunch. This year I am focussing on nutrition, and all the things that will help me be a better, stronger, and faster athlete.
3.    Get a good night’s sleep the night before. That’s a tricky one because I’m always so excited that I CAN’T sleep. But maybe if I spend the whole day before reading… <grin>
4.    Make sure my bike is ready to go. I plan on taking advantage of the warm-ish weather while we still have it. There’s nothing worse than a flat tire on your first day, though.

OK, I think that’s it! Can you think of anything I’ve missed?

Gotta jet! If you’re going back to school on Tuesday, good luck! I hope you have a great long weekend—the last one of the summer!

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Setting SMART goals for the school year

If you’ve read my blog long enough — * waves to long time readers * — then you know I like to set school goals every year. I don’t always hit the mark (I’m really terrible at Math!), but I think making goals keeps me a little bit more focused.

That said, I had a GIANT Summer To-Do and I didn’t quite finish everything on it. (Maybe it's because I wasn’t 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 know it sounds complex, but let’s take a look at my summer list. Sure I had some specific goals, and most of them were relevant (it was about having fun, right?) but I fell apart at time-based. There’s NO WAY I could have crammed everything I wanted to do into two months.

Just like, getting 100% in Math is NOT achievable for me.

That doesn’t mean I’ve failed though. It just means I have to think…SMARTer.

Keeping that in mind, here are my S.M.A.R.T. goals for school this year:

1. I will increase my Math mark by 10%. (Specific, right? Also…measurable!)
2. I will read 8 books by the end of the school year.
3. I will go for an afternoon run five days a week, no matter how busy I am.
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 great weekend.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Do You Know What My Favourite August Holiday Is?

It's no secret that I love comics—especially SUPERMAN (who was created by a Canadian, in case you didn't already know)—but I have another favourite that you probably know about if you've followed my blog for a while—FRANKENSTEIN. 

I love all things Frankenstein—the books, the movies, the costumes... The picture on this blog is me dressed up as Frankenstein's monster (obviously) a couple of Halloweens ago. 

Aside from Halloween, there are actually TWO days specifically devoted to celebrating Frankenstein, and one of them is less than two weeks away! 

August 30 is International Frankenstein Day, a celebration of Mary Shelley's birthday. In case you don't know, Shelley is the author of the original Frankenstein book—the story that started it all. And believe me, there have been many re-tellings. I even wrote a Frankenstein story for Language Arts class last year. 

In honour of International Frankenstein Day this year, I'm digging up that story and giving it a fresh polish—I might even re-write the end, which is a good way to get back into the habit of writing, since school starts soon. My Language Arts teacher—Mrs. Kratky—always asks what I wrote over the summer break. She won't be surprised it's a monster story (I love monsters) but I hope she remembers my last Frankenstein tale, and thinks this one is even better. 

Gotta jet—it's time to start writing! 

Hey, do you celebrate Frankenstein Day? If so, let me know—I would love to talk about the movies and books you've enjoyed featuring that loveable creature. <heh> 

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Read All Day — For Your Health

It's true—according to research, reading is a more effective stress reliever than listening to music, going for a walk, or even spending time in the outdoors.

Not that I'm stressed (not even about it almost being Back To School time) but August 9 is National Book Lover's Day and August 10 is International Lazy Day—so I'm combining them for a double day of reading. All. Day. Long.

The timing couldn't be better. I admit I'm a little behind on my reading goals this summer. Maybe it's the heat distracting me. Or the fact that my sister and I have been spending more time at my grandparents's canola farm—me running, her baking with Grandma, and then both of us eating that baking.

Do you have the Superman Duffy graphic novel Tasting My Story? If you do, check out the recipe for MONSTER COOKIES. They're my favourite—and Grandma makes them every summer. And spring. And...come to think of it...every season. <heh>

Bet I could convince Grandma to make me a batch for my two days of reading! Gotta jet—calling her right now!

~ Chase "Superman" Duffy

P.S. How are YOU spending National Book Lover's Day?

Can You Believe It? Summer Is Half Over!

I have a love / dislike relationship with the end of July. On the one hand, it means summer is half over. On the other hand, it means summer is half over and school starts soon.

Either way, it's a good time for me to check in on my Summer Goals and see what I've accomplished—and what I need to cram in before September.

So far, I've gone to the Calgary Stampede, watched the K-Days Parade, and checked out Taste of Edmonton—three of our annual family traditions. Plus, I've read four books this summer, which is one a week. Not bad!

The weather has been a little all over the map—wind, rain, hail! But I've managed to do some running, and even though I haven't cracked my personal best yet, there's still time. I'll be at my grandparents's farm all weekend helping with chores...and practicing for track. Wish me luck that I reach Superman speeds! (It's supposed to be really hot this weekend, so I also need to drink lots of water...)

Mom and I are going to the comic book store this afternoon, so I'll add a few Supermans to my growing collection. And maybe we'll head to the library so I can start on my fifth book. At the end of the day, Grandma and I like to sit on the porch and read. Sometimes Grandpa joins us, but he's always tinkering in his garage with something. One year, we made Soap Box Race Cars. That was fun! Hmmm...I wonder if he'd want to do that again?

I've also written a few pages of a new short story. I can't wait to show Mrs. Kratky what I've done so far. It might be my best story yet!

We're still planning a family vacation in August, plus, my sister and I are going to try kayaking. Dad and I are going to fish a couple nights next week, and of course, I'll be dragging my camera with me everywhere we go.

How about you? What are you planning for the rest of your summer? What was the best thing you've done so far?

Gotta jet! Have a great weekend...whatever you're doing.

~ Chase Superman Duffy

Taking Pictures Of Canola Fields? One Rule You Need To Follow!

Based on all of the pictures taken of my "cartoon Grandpa" at the Calgary Stampede earlier this month, it's clear you all like to take pictures—and what's more picturesque (aside my cartoon family, of course) than the beautiful canola fields that have started to bloom?

You can take a short trip across the province and find hundreds of picture-worthy fields—some with gnarly trees in the middle (like the one at my grandparents's farm), or old barns, or if you're lucky, spooky skies...anyone take any pics of last night's storm? Of course, safety first!

I'm lucky because I can go on Grandpa's field any time I want. I spend most of the summer training for track by running AROUND the crop—this year, I've even hit a personal best. But I realize not everyone has a canola farmer in the family, and so I thought this would be a great time to remind you that as amazing as those fields look...you can't just go IN them to take a picture. At least, not without permission.

Traipsing through those fields can ruin the crop, plus, it's trespassing. You wouldn't want someone rummaging through your bedroom just to take a picture of your prized Star Wars Lego, or something, right?

Anyway, I can't wait to strap on my camera bag and head out with my dad to take some canola field pictures—we always give Grandpa one that he can frame for the house. An entire wall in the living room is dedicated to pictures of the canola farm over the years. It's pretty cool to see how much its grown.

Have you taken a good picture of a canola field? Put it on Instagram and tag @SupermanDuffy — or email it to me at chase.superman.duffy@gmail.com. Maybe I’ll publish it on my blog!

Gotta jet! Have a great weekend—and stay safe!

~ Chase Superman Duffy