Alcoa TN

Easy to stay at Hilton Garden at airport and have them take me to Alcoa Elementary.  The hotel is pretty basic with old carpet but the buffet in the a.m. is decent.  Going to stay downtown Knoxville in August as I'll be there for 3 nights.  Always nice restaurants there.  Alcoa Elementary is so on board.  They are doing FUN K-3, JW and not sure about Wilson.  We're getting there.

St. Louis/Hazelwood, MO

Stay by the Galleria.  There were 4 of us there and we ate at Nordstroms one night and Maggianos the next.  Delicious both times.  The district is pretty challenging, but Mona is going back to save the day.  Not much pretty to see here.  Going to meet up with Barbara in August as I'll be here 2 more days to finish up the workshop.

Dyersburg TN

So the highlight was stopping in Memphis to have dinner at Grisante's with Ellen and Frank.  What great hosts and it was wonderful seeing them and the food was delicious.  Dyersburg is about an hour and a half north.
So Dyersburg is very lean on good places to eat.  I ate at a Japanese restaurant tonight and that may be my place as I'm here for 4 nights.  The Hampton Inn is very yuck.  My door was banged on or messed with a crow bar.  Carpet is old and smell hmmmm.  The teachers invited me to eat at Mom's restaurant for lunch.  It was a buffet of fried chicken, corn, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn bread etc.  Ya.

New Orleans

Here for one night July 2015.  Stayed right downtown in Marriott Courtyard.  Very nice and nice upgrade for room, but it is a little crowded down there.  Might try staying closer to river and away from all the people.  A bitty sleazy and tacky and being here by myself was not the most fun.  Did a Level 2 workshop for Renew Schools.  Very young and nice folks.
Late lunch at Deannie's Seafood right across from the hotel.  Very yum.  They brought me boiled spicy new potatoes.  Amazing.  Butter too.  ha ha

This is really just a test blog to see if I am doing this right :)

I am in Blacksburg, VA on the campus of the lovely Virginia Tech.  Staying in the good ole Hilton Garden Inn.  If I don't look out the window -- I could be anywhere because every room looks the same -- everywhere :)

Jean will be here tomorrow night as we are both doing workshops this week.

My next travel plans will be June 23 and 24 when I travel to North Haven CT to do a JW workshop.

See you all soon and safe travels!

Bonnie O

Collins, OH (near Cleveland)

Staying downtown in a beautiful, historic building was fun, but too long of a drive to Collins (Wakeman).  There are closer spots and Shari stays by the airport which is about 15 minutes closer.  Great restaurants in Cleveland but parking $$$ and small underneath hotel (Marriott).  I ate at Chinato on 4th St.  It was delicious but there were panhandlers so I would eat inside next time.  It was also the end of May but chilly outside.  Blue Point Grille is excellent as I ate there on another visit.  The drive to Wakeman/Collins is really a pretty one and I was able to snap a few barns for my collage future!  Shari has trained the Level 1 folks.  I just did the Adv. Strate Workshop.  Sigh.

Culpeper, VA

Close to Charlottesville.  Holiday Inn is the best I could do in Culpeper.  Sweet little school, Sycamore Park Elem.  Monica Weaver knows what's happening and they are doing JW and FUN.  Diane H. also coached here.  I'm only doing K.

Eating out.  Lucios the last time and going there again tonight.  In square.  Pepperberries cute store to have time and a good breakfast place right across the street.  More on Lucios tonight. Lucas excellent service and food.  Sat outside.  I didn't lose my phone this trip.  No coaching next year so this is it.