Wow. It’s been an uphill battle with edublogs today. They apparently were doing database maintenance, and I am only just now able to get into my blog.  On with the update…

It was (apparently) a fairly late night last night for many of the Virginia Beach attendees. Rich K. and I finally got back to our hotel just before midnight. I hear that Rich was a horse last night at Casino Night and actually won for the Virginia Beach district during one of the horse races.  WAY TO GO, RICH!

We managed to drag ourselves and our luggage out to the parking lot this morning, just as the bus was pulling up.  We grabbed breakfast (waffles and fruit and, of course, coffee), then headed over to the merchandise booth to hawk t-shirts, stress balls, flash drive wrist bracelet (work as ankle bracelets, too – kin-kay), and the other stuff Dan Arkin, the executive director of VSTE, doesn’t want to store in his basement until next year. I probably have spent more that I should at the booth (OOoooo-a sweatshirt in my size, and isn’t that stress ball ADORABLE?)  Personally, I think I look terrific in volunteer orange. Skinny Rich looks like a carrot. (Rich K. approved that comment.)  Katie and Kristie stopped by, then Janene, who proceeded to question just WHY we weren’t wearing our ETAN buttons. Taking the hint, we both hustled to the ETAN kiosk and let our voices be heard. I already got an email back from Thelma Drake

Wrapping up time served (er), helping to offset the cost of the conference, Rich and I departed ways for our individual sessions. I ran into Hall Davidson and Matt from Discovery Education, who had just wrapped up a session. We had a few laughs about last night’s dinner, exchanged cards, then I finally found my way to the ITRT Road Show session.  It was a very interesting look at the traveling “road show”, where a group of ITRTs go to different schools to assist and document how technology is being used throughout the school.

Today’s VSTE provided lunch consisted of a variety of wraps, salad cups, fruit and dessert.  Rich and I ran into each other at the little lounge area off the Cyber Cafe. And here I sit, blogging and eating my roast beef wrap.

Only a couple of sessions left before the final conference session at 3:45.   I’ll try to check in a little later.  See ya!