Day 20 - Back Home Again

3196 miles....phase one of the summer ends....left Houston at 6:30 (their time), and with 3 gas stops (and a record $2.99 a gallon in Alabama), a short 30 minute oulet break, made it back home by 11PM (real time). Finished Hunger games Trilogy...loved book 2, liked book one, and, like J.K.Rowling she messed up Book three. What a wimpy ending....

Now on to the next great adventure.....lots of pictures tomorrow!

Day 19 - The Long Way Home

2258.7 miles - Started the day with excellent closing speaker who preached "living on the fringe", which, as a teaching professional, is where I reside on a daily basis. Dick, from the Planting Science and Earthquake Engineering groups set up a Facebook group on the Next Gen Science Standards and the response has been incredible...like 10 hits in the first hour! I feel like a celebrity, and God knows my ego could use the boost! (Yeah, like the Pacific needs a water infusion...)

Lunch was the best of the week...Texas Brisket, bread pudding, a corn-black bean vegetable medley..outstanding. Made the trip to Houston Hobby Airport in less than 3 hours and am ready for departure from Texas....

By 10 AM I should be gone from the Lone Star State for the first time since June 10. I will miss her...she's a good state to visit!

Day 18 - Dinner is Served

After a thrilling day of learning how the plan will work for assessing the New Science Standards we were whisked away (the first time I was out of the hotel in 3 days) to a dinner sponsored by the Helios Foundation (the fine folks that paid my way here). Now lets talk about the food for a minute. The Foundation paid for breakfast and lunch daily...breakfasts were so-so with things like egg quesadillas and bacon, egg, sausage things on some kinda bread...but lunch was heavenly! Huge salad bar, 2-3 entrees, bread pudding, cherry cobbler, turtle cheesecake, mango iced tea....it was to die for.

And I get one more tomorrow.

Dinner this evening wasn't bad (but it wasn't lunch!) with the after dinner speech by the nation's foremost expert on string theory, Sylvester James Gates.

And a big speech by Larry Plank, which was, of course, exciting. Also we all lined up and took a picture of the group with Dr. Gates for the school district banner. Keep an eye out....it will be coming to an SDHC home page real soon.

The group flies out around 10 tomorrow, so I will be the lone district representative during the final 2 hours of the sessions.

Ultimate power is mine!!!!

Day 16 - Fire and Ice

Started the day with breakfast at the McDonalds with the biggest steer in all of Texas...and that ain't no bull! Included a few pics of the area around the hotel (the hotel itself) and the state capitol building.

Our first speaker was a movie stunt coordinator who did some cute things with fire and pulleys but I will be honest...I expected a lot more in the way of flash bang presentations. It was OK, but I have seen better, more pizzazy (Is that a word?) programs in science museums. Attended the social (without real food) and had nice conversations with teachers from Alaska (Anchorage, Cheryl), Arizona, Massachusetts, Austin, and Oklahoma. Met John Feiler's (my old Progress Village buddy) siste this evening and am ready to pack it in for the night.

To be honest, this stuff all seems way over my head, but I am grateful for a week in Texas and a chance to talk education.

Day 15 - Outlets and Austin

total miles to date - 2060.8 miles - Visited what has to be the world's largest outlet where 2 complete centers totaling over 270 stores lay side by side....you name it...it was there including a Jones New York where it was just wall to wall racks like the Coldwater Creek center in Orlando, Wedgwood (with an entire case of jewelry), hot topic, and I could have spent a BUNDLE!!!

But I would rather eat...

Am not impressed with the UT campus section I have seen...looks cramped, crowded, and not very green (as the hotel claims to be) Nice room, and the view from the window is included in today's upload as is the reception area.

Found out that Traci, from Oklahoma, whom I met at Planting Science at Texas A&M the first summer, will be here tomorrow for the festivities as well. It will be nice to see her again. Also my leadership strand will pull me out a few sessions with the group every day...I am excited about that!

So as long as I can afford to eat, my only real issue will be....how do I pay for the hotel room I will need on Thursday night after all of my money will be gone. (I don't get paid until Friday). Maybe I could eat in an all night buffet for 12 or 13 hours? I could do that you know...I could eat for 12 hours....if its not calamari....

Day 14 - Books, Music, Toys, and Schnitzel

Decided it was time to stop the touristing and get serious, so I headed out to explore 3 of the Half Price Books locations in the area, finding, as a jackpot, a CD Warehouse and a huge collectable toy shop called "Alien Worlds". On the way back I stopped at the Hofhaus, which was billed as a authentic German beer house...well they got the beer part right, with 7 German brews on tap, but schnitzel was the only German food on the menu, although I will admit the 3 cheese mac and cheese and bacon was terrific, as was the raspberry cheesecake (14 days - 3 desserts).

Now the packing has begun and I will take Miss Saturn (1934 miles thus far) back on the road tomorrow to Austin by way of not 1, not 2, but 3 outlet centers. My gosh I hope one of these workshops pays me before its all over....I have yet to buy a single pair of shoes!!!!

By the way...100 degree temps start tomorrow and are expected for the next 7-10 days...and I saved long sleeved shirts for the conference. Guess I am eating in house and charging all meals to the room!

Day 13 - Tourist Day

I started out walking over to the Alamo....I cannot, for the life of me, figure out how these guys held out against a force of thousands for 13 days. Santa Anna must be rated among the most incompetent military leaders EVER!!! Its an 8 foot wall around most of the compound that a good athlete could jump over, let alone need to scale. And the area they defended was spread out enough that 200 defenders could easily have been picked off by a few good sharpshooters without much trouble. Included are lots of pictures but only about 15-20% of the Alamo is the Alamo of the legend...the rest is a reconstruction. Nice gardens though.

Took a ride to the top of the Tower of the Americas (owned now by Landry's Restaurant Group) which was the cornerstone of the World's Fair in 1968. Spent a good 10 minutes at the top (I am a slow study) and headed to Riverwalk.

Loved the crafts village, LaVillita, right next to the Hilton...lots of really cool things to buy for astronomical prices. I will come back after the second Powerball win...I don't think one will handle it...Dinner at a little TexMex pub in the village that had the world's best nachos EVER!!! And for desert, I stopped in an ice cram store for a waffle cone with Blueberry cobbler ice cream. Outstanding!!!

By the way I did stop in the Mall along RiverWalk and saw a new pair of sneakers, just like my first day Asics from last year only in an orange scheme and were wicked cool. If only one of these workshops had paid me....

Tomorrow dinner at a German Bauhaus...I am excited!

Day 12 - A Day of Infamy

I just don't know where to start....On the trip from College Station I talked with the fine folks at Terrace Community Charter School and turned down their offer to teach 7th grade science next year. Really, I still want to teach at Orange Grove Performing Arts Magnet and am content to hold out for that. Then, on getting to San Antonio early I located a nearby Half Price Books and spent 2 hours in heaven....I only bought 2 Alex Rider books for my classroom.

Met Sam and Kenny at noon, but I was really disappointed that we did not head out to lunch. We sat and talked about all those sports, youth services, and AFNer's who have come and gone, but I am really sad we didn't go out at least for one meal. Oh well...

Great hotel...less than 10 minute walk from River Walk which I will explore at length tomorrow as well as the Alamo and diner atop the space needle. Should be a good day. Hey dearest loving wife...interested in a cute puggle? Kate and Mike have a line on one....

Day 11 - Back in the heart o'Texas

1586.5 miles - A wonderful couple of days visiting high (and grade) school chum Mike Heller and his wife in Marshall, TX...reminiscing about male cheerleaders, slot car racing, class reunions, life choices, and beer. (Not necessarily in that order). It was good to see Mike and revisit the good days long gone....I hope I will run into him again. Its not everyday you get to discuss Shakespeare as heard in the original Klingonese with someone....

Traveling to San Antonio tomorrow for lunch with Sam and Ken from AFN days gone by....stop over tonight in College Station one last time and dinner again at Fish Daddy's.

Am going to have to make a decision about Terrace Community offer....have to sleep on this one....

Day 9 - Galveston Bay

1315.0 miles - Spent a lovely day in Galveston. The city itself looks old and worn on the Bay side. Old houses, some, like the first photos, not even standing straight...but some lovely homes like the Moody Mansion, home of the cotton magnate, and other palatial homes that withstood the flood line Broadway. Those that survived are marked with a metal sign recognizing their feat. Next I visited the Strand, what was the main hub of the pre-hurricane Galveston. Now its a collection of specialty shops. One store, note the black cabinet, still has the water lines (see the close up and the back of the cabinet) from the flooding that lasted almost a week. Note how high from the floor the cabinet was, and the street was 3 steps below the entrance.

Visit the refurbished schooner Elissa which travelled the world in the 1800's, saw the Great Flood movie, roamed the shops and bookstores, and had a great meal on the Wharf before heading back. Tomorrow I am off to Mike Heller's in Texas for 2 days of high school reminiscing.

NOTE: Its relaxing being able to wear only the same wild pair of shoes each day, since no one sees them twice!

Day 8 - The Big Goodbye

One more concept map....and one last look at University Drive...and for the third year I walked back to the Traditions thinking this may be the last time I ever visit College Station or Texas A&M....and if I had the money (and the masters), I would love to do my doctorate here with this terrific group of people. I hope that I can come back next year. Seeing Kurt and Dick for the third year was fantastic, as always. Newcomers, like Abby, Cheryl, and Angela made the week special.

I am already looking forward to next year.

However, tomorrow I take a side trip to Galveston, O Galveston. I can feel your sea winds blowin...I will play Glen Campbell in the car tomorrow (if I can find it on my iPod).

One last bad joke...Do you know why there are no sea gulls in Tampa Bay? If there were any they would be bagels.....

I know you want to laugh...go ahead...it's allright...

Day 7 - Grilled Cheese!

Many highlights today....First, I think my team did an exceptional job preparing a multi-layered lesson with high order analysis and an opinion driven research paper despite constant playing around, laughing, bad songs, worse jokes, and insane laughing. No, seriously, it was THEM...not me! I was sitting, quietly, minding my own business, doing my work diligently and they just kept clowning around...

But then the important stuff happened...went to lunch at the restaurant that had the world's best three cheese grilled cheese sandwich for lunch....Organized and pulled off two terrific gag gifts for Abby (She was almost in tears!), and a great night at Dr. Carol's by the pool. What a great way to end the week....Tomorrow its off to Houston and Galveston on the second leg of the journey!

And no...I never did take part in any of those conversations about body parts.

Honest!

Day 6 - LOL

Very unusual day.....most of the time spent with our workshop project, which at times disintegrated into fits of uncontrollable laughter. It was all their fault. I'm completely innocent. Honest. No, really, it wasn't my fault. They were doing it. I was only in the room, heroically trying to stop it. Some people claim that there's a woman to blame, but I know.....it's their own damn fault.

Lunch with Stephen and dinner with Laura, two ghosts of workshops past...and it was great to see and chat with both of them. Started to pack...tomorrow night is the cookout at Carol's house and then out of Dodge on Saturday. It is always great to be a part of these workshops...but so sad when they are over. One thing I can say...a finer bunch of people (and teachers) I have yet to find!

Day 5 A Whole Lotta Shakin

Today they rolled out the big guns....the infamous jello and broccoli demo as well as the shake table! Ooooooooooo!!!! The broccoli simulated the foundation of a building into a soil surface (the jello). After attaching accelerometers we were able to record and analyze the movement and stability of a structure attached to the stalks. By varying the heights we could see how the height of the structure affected its stability during an earthquake (or when someone bumps the table). We also had a shake table that allowed us to witness the effects of resonance on a structure in an earthquake. Wicked cool!

On another note...visited my old favorite book store in the world, which had relocated a year ago and I thought was forever gone....but its not and I picked up a few reminders to show you. By the way I have worn 4 pairs of shoes in 4 days and they have been the talk of the morning session. Alas, the other 56 pair did not join me on the trip and I will need to start repeating....after tomorrow.

And finally, take a close look at the pictures of the staircase. How does that thing stay up as there is no support under the heavy concrete stairs?

Day 3

Lots of changes in College Station, but the BIGGEST NEWS of the week....I found the old used book store that I spent hours and hours and hours in on my first trip here! Road trip tomorrow night! Nothing I need more than a few dozen books....

Anyway, this was a day for new changes and old friends. The streets around the Corner Pub and our path to Harrison are marked by massive construction, as the pictures above show. Got to chat with Stephen, DOCTOR Cheryl, and it is always great to spend time and draw from the wisdom of Dr. S. The afternoon was spent playing an Earthquake game that was so engrossing the afternoon just flew by. I love when you get paid to play games. Lunch at Freebird Burritos and Dinner as a group (mostly) at Fish Daddy just down the road....great conversation, a GREAT meal, and less than $20! What more can a struggling workshop teacher ask? Tomorrow - the Texas A&M Bookstore and (finally, after 3 years) an A&M shirt for my wife, and a trip to half price book heaven!

Day 2 total 1048.7 miles through Louisiana and Texas, with an extended stop at the Houston Premium Outlets. My how this place has changed in a year. The hotel that marked my turn into the street adjourning the University used to have a multi-story hotel at the corner. Gone. The street we walk into campus on is closed. Construction. All new buildings being constructed across from Dixie Chicken and Fitzwillys. The corner book and shirt store - gone. Starbucks, Pita Pit, the Corner all still here. Kurt has his superman bed...but he has been banished to the dark side of the hall. Abby (this year's Tori) seems super nice and made everyone's bed except for Dick and I. We feel hurt. (Not!). I am gone one day and my darling, loving, resourceful wife is already lost have texted me 3 times concerning the blue tarp in the garage.

It is good to be loved. Above is the picture of the Traditions, where we are staying. More pix tomorrow.

Day 1

583 miles...Tampa through Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, to Slidell, Louisiana. Rain slowed the trip to an average 30 m.p.h. all the way through Alabama...but I did almost finish the Hunger Games (only 4 tributes left), although she is no J.K.Rowling....dinner at the Big Easy Diner in Slidell...I love old diners.... see the pix.

Day of Preparation

Final 2 days of packing. As of tomorrow, my ear should be unpacked and ready to rock...the Itinerary:
Sat, June 9 - Megan's Birthday and Tampa to Slidell, LA (my nesting spot on these annual migrations).
Sun, June 10-16 - Texas A&M, College Station , TX
Sat, June 16 - spend the day at NASA (Houston)
Sun, June 17 - Galveston reliving the hurricane of 1900 (figuratively, not literally)
Mon, June 18 - 19 - visit with Mike Heller an old (well no older than me) grade and high school buddy in Marshall, TX
Wed, June 20 - lunch with Sam Sakorafis and Ken Polk from AFN and MWR days in Germany
Wed, June 20 - 22 - San Antonio, River Walk, Fort Sam Houston, and the Alamo
Sat, June 23 - 28 - Austin, National Science Educators Leadership Institute adjacent to University of Texas (Guess I will not be wearing any of my A&M wardrobe this week)
Thurs, June 28 - start the long trek home - There are outlets to climb, shoes to buy, and the Hunger Games trilogy audiobooks to complete
Sometime in July - home.

Phase 1 completed. Stay tuned for Phase 2 to begin July 15!

And so we end the prep week heading into exams. I have to admit, I am really excited about heading back into a carefully selected classroom this fall. I realize how much I missed all of the projects I would have worked on with my students at Martinez....and even though we did Crime Lab, and the Skype with Arjan and Edith in the Netherlands agin this year....they weren't my students and I miss the opportunity to have taken then places they would always remember. I really want a home...a school, a principal, an environment where I can work with the students who need my type of classroom, and we can drive to the moon and back. I want to take them to the top of Everest, the bottom of the Mariana Trench, through the chemistry and physics of magic, engineering for earthquakes, sharing science ideas with other counties, learning the mechanisms of Florida weather, learning cause and effect relationships and discovering how things work....all this in a place as friendly, as challenging, as rewarding as Progress Village was under Walt Shaffner. I hope I find it.

As for now, it is 5:30 Saturday morning and I am packing, getting ready for departure in less than 168 hours with thoughts of the excitement and joy of being on the road and back in a classroom again! Seeing old friends, new places...the only regret is that Mary Anne cannot join me on the journey. Oh, the outlets we would find....