Arrived Home Safely

      It has been a busy and fun 11 days.  Jeff has driven us 2,679.6 miles!  We had a wonderful time on our road trip and learned so much about our country by driving to Texas.  We have met some wonderful people, reconnected with special friends,  continued my knowledge of integration of technology, and had hours of time to talk and be together.  We are so grateful to have been about to share this trip.  We are so thankful for arriving home safely.

Heading Home

We have left Jackson and are on our way home.

 

Good friends and New Orleans

      It is wonderful visiting John and Cynthia.  We decide to drive 3 hours and go to New.
New Orleans.  Jeff and I have not been there in 40 years!  What fun we had.

 

                                              Jeff and Me                    Cynthia and John  in New Orleans

Made It To Jackson, Mississippi

     We left Longview and headed for Jackson.  We stopped at the Louisiana and Mississippi welcome stations.  Then on to Vicksburg.  We ate at the Tomato Place which was awesome.  I had a vegetable plate and the corn was so fresh!
    Next on to John and Cynthia in Clinton.  We are going to have so much fun!

 

On The Road Again

    We are continuing our road trip today and heading home.  This trip we are going to Austin, Fort Worth.- Dallas, Jackson, Mississippi, and Marietta.
  Today we went to Austin and saw the University of Texas campus and Jeff purchased a long horn hat.  Then it was on to Taylor, Texas and eating delicious barbeque at Louis Mueller.  It was so much fun and the brisket was fantastic and I usually don't like brisket.
     Then on to Fort Worth where we met up with my friend, Jullia  Balukin.  She looked wonderful and is adjusting to the Texas heat.    We had a great visit.  I am so glad we got to spend some time together.

  Then it was back on the road heading to Jackson.  It was too far to go all the way so we are staying in Longview, Texas for the night. Tomorrow we will get to Jackson in about 4 1/2 hours. We will be staying with our dear friends, John and Cynthia.   We have not seen them in a very long time.  I can hardly wait!

 

Last Day of ISTE

     I began the day in a terrific workshop called " Powerful Centers for Elementary Students" led by Nancy Blair Black. I got so many wonderful resources and ideas.  The final keynote speaker was Adam Hall who was a very inspirational and powerful.  It was a great ending to an exceptional four days.  My  brain is so full; it feels like it is going to explode!  I can't wait till I get home and can sit down and go through all my notes and resources.  I am still trying to sort it all in my mind.  I have so much to share.
     For our final night, Jeff and I went back go El Beto for dinner.  It was so good.  I really enjoyed their empanada!
    Tomorrow we head home a different way then the way we  came.  We will head to Austin and visit the University of Texas,  (Jeff collects college sweatshirts!) Then on to Taylor, Texas to continue the  quest for the  best   barbecue.  We are going to Louie Mueller's.  I'll let you what we think.
    Next we will head to Fort Worth to meet up with Jullia  Baulkin for a couple of hours.  Then it is on through Dallas and then drive for a couple of hours and stop for the night.  Our goal is to get to Jackson, Mississippi on Friday and stay with our dear friends, John and Cynthia.  

The closing session

Second Full Day of ISTE

       Today was a full day beginning with the Keynote speaker, Steven Johnson, at 8:30 AM.  I had several sessions and spent several hours in the Expo Hall.  I am getting some great information ad resources.  Tomorrow is the last day.  I will begin with a 2 1/2 hour workshop at 8:30 AM.  The last session will be the third Keynote speaker, You Are  Invited to Change the World.
      Today is Jeff and my 41st wedding anniversary .  After my last session Jeff met me downtown  On Tuesday the city of San Antonio offers free parking on Tuesdays.   They  re trying to make Tuesday like a Friday night.   We had dinner at a local German Restaurant, Schiolz, that has been there since the 1920s.  The sausage was delicious and they make their own refreshing root beer.  We took a tour boat through the River Walk area.  It was very informative and fun.

Happy Anniversary to us!

Busy Learning Day

   Today was full with four different sessions and a visit to the Expo Hall. I am learning so much and it does get you excited and motivated.  Tomorrow will be just as busy beginning with one of the Keynote speakers at 8:30 AM.  I hope to spend some more time in the Expo Hall to see what is available in technology,
     While I am at the conference, Jeff is out trying and comparing Texas barbecue. He is having a great time. Tomorrow he is going on the tour of  Missions in the area.
   Tonight we continued our not chains and ate at another Diner, Drive-in, and Dive.  Beto's was the best one yet.  They specialize in empanadas.  We had the chicken poblano is was terrific. We also tried their fish taco which was also tasty.  At the end we tried their Banana with Leche Quemada and Pecan empanada.  A perfect ending to a delicious meal.

Seeing San Antonoio

    Today, Jeff and I did some sight seeing. We parked downtown and headed to see the Alamo.  It was very moving to be in a place where history took place.  It was about 95 degrees today so it was hot!  We had lunch on the River Walk at Casca Rio which was very good and  very reasonable.  Then we walked on the River Walk which was lovely. 
   I went to the convention  center for several activities and met some nice people.  I had planned to visit some of the vendors, but they don't open until tomorrow.  I planned to attend the opening keynote speaker, but I was  not feeling well.  I guess all the walking in the heat did me in.  I have a hard time going from  very hot to very cold in the air-conditioning.  We came back to our room and took a 2 1/2 hour nap.  I have a very busy three days coming up so I wanted to get some rest.
  Tomorrow promises to be a packed down with several sessions and beginning to visit the vast vendor area which should  take several days to go through.

Jeff at the Alamo

The River Walk

We Made It!

    It has been a very busy day.  We crossed into Texas the first thing this morning.  Then on through Houston which is a very big city!  We stopped in Luling, Texas for some awesome barbeque.  Texas serves their barbeque very different then anywhere I have been in  the South. We really enjoyed the experience.
  Then it was on to San Antonio and the Convention Center.  I registered for the conference and then went to get the new Microsoft Surface.  It is really a nice tablet.  In fact, I am typing this entry on it right now.  It is the size of the regular iPad and you have a visual keyboard as well as a keyboard you can attach.  So far I can see lots of possibilities for it in the classroom.
  Our hotel is not downtown near the Convention Center.  It is about ten  miles south of the downtown area.  ( I got  a good deal on HotWire)  We came and checked it and the took a two hour nap! 
  Our rule for this trip is we can not eat at any chain restaurants or fast food restaurants.  We have to eat at local establishments.   We found a great one tonight.  It was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.  El Bohio featured pulled pork and beef.  I really liked the empanada. Everything was so good.
   Tomorrow begins the conference.  The opening Keynote is by Jane McGonigal .  I am excited to hear her speak.  She is a leading speaker on games and the application  of game design to education ,

 The Lone Star State-Texas

At El Bohio with Jeff.

End of the First Travel Day

     We drove 615 miles today and are spending the night in Sulphur, La.  It is the last town before we head into Texas tomorrow.  We have traveled through three states today, seen Mike the Tiger at LSU, and had a great seafood meal at Mike Anderson's Restaurant in Baton Rouge, LA.  Thank you, Jeff, for all the driving today. You deserve to have a peaceful night of rest.

After Alabama came Mississippi

After Mississippi came Louisiana.

The real Mike the Tiger was too far away in the picture so here is his statue!

The Journey Begins

    It is Friday and we will be leaving soon to begin  the first leg of our two day trip to San Antonio and the ISTE conference. It has been fun visiting with my daughter and her family.  The eight month old is so cute!  More information as we hit the road. 

Will be on the road soon

   We are packed and Jeff is taking the dog to the Vet.  As soon as he gets back, we will load the car and head to Auburn to stay with our daughter and her family.  We hope to get away by 8:00 AM tomorrow morning and begin the journey to San Antonio.  I am so excited!!!

                                                         Our first state on the trip.

How does a dream begin?

     Someone once told me if you can dream it, it can happen.  Thus began my journey to the ISTE conference in San Antonio, Texas.     The dream began the day I picked up my daughter at the airport. She was returning after attending the National Science Conference.  She was so alive and had so much to share about what she had learned.  I remembered feeling the same way.  It was then the dream began to form.     I wanted to feel that excitement again.  I needed to go to a technology conference!  So I began the search which would lead me to a conference on technology integration in San Antonio, Texas.    Well, I found the conference but this was still a dream. So many factors to consider was this even close to a reality?   With the economy being in the state it is, I knew there would be no money available for travel expenses from my school or the county.  I would need to get there on my own and pay for my own expenses.  My hope would be my school would pay for my registration.     My next step was to talk with my husband, Jeff.   I approached Jeff with the idea of an adventure.  Our anniversary is June 25^th and the conference begins June 22 – June 26^th.  My idea was a road trip for our anniversary to San Antonio.  I would go to the conference during the day and he would go sightseeing.  In the evening, we would go  and see some of the area.  To my delight, Jeff was interested.  He knew I really wanted to continue learning and keeping up with technology. Jeff was on board.  Right away he got in touch with friend, Ron, who gave him names of places with great barbecue.     My next step was to meet with my principal.  I gave her my reasons for wanting to attend the conference and how I could use what I learned in my classroom and with our staff. She was supportive, but not sure there was money.  I was honest and said I could not afford to go if they could not pay my registration.  The early bird registration had passed so you had to pay the regular amount. So the dream was put on hold.  I could not book a room or make any plans so the waiting began.     I waited and waited, but heard nothing.  I was feeling this was just a dream.     It would be the last day of post-planning when the new bookkeeper would introduce herself and tell me to come to her office to register for the ISTE 2013 Conference.  Wow!  I was blown away.  The dream was becoming a reality.  My next step was to text, Jeff, and let him know the trip was on!     The last few weeks have been finding a reasonable hotel (HotWire.com), planning my sessions, planning the two day trip (AAA.com) going and coming back a different way, researching the area, and just beginning to get things together for the trip.  We leave Thursday for Auburn to spend the night with my youngest daughter and her family. (cuts two hours off the trip)  We leave Friday and plan to drive to Lafayette, Louisiana.  The next day we will make it to San Antonio.  We hope to get there in time to register and pick up my Microsoft “Surface”.  Microsoft is giving everyone who is registered one.  I am so excited!