Betty Birney’s Blog

I just figured out that n the last 3 1/2 years, I’ve traveled to 18 states (some multiple times), 2 foreign countries and spoken at about 128 schools.

Even when I’m home, I always seem to be on the road! On Friday, I got up bright and early to drive to Ekstrand Elementary School in San Dimas, about 38 miles from my house according to MapQuest. I allowed LOTS of ample time, leaving the house at 6:15. My start time was 8:15, and my goal was to arrive between 7:30 and 7:45, allowing way more than enough time to get set up. The set-up is the only thing I stress about. Once the projector and laptop and screen and lights and mike are all set, I can enjoy myself.

I was making such good time going east on the 210, I probably would have arrived at 7:00 – traffic was really sailing. But not too far before I reached the San Dimas exit, I hit a massive backup due to an accident with multiple fatalities. I called my contact at Ekstrand, Lydia Molloy, to alert her and we both pretended to be calm. I sat in traffic for 40 minutes, inching along and eventually, the four lanes were reduced to one lane.

It was the worst accident I’ve ever seen and from the newspaper account yesterday, it seems they still haven’t figured out what happened. (There were actually several accidents involving several cars, a bus, two trucks.) My inconvenience was inconsequential in comparison to the lives that were ended and other lives changed irrevocably.

As it happens, I got to school at about 10 to 8 and the set-up was smooth and effortless. The kids were GREAT-GREAT-GREAT. After signing books, I was ready to hit the road again. But even going back in the opposite direction, traffic was at a crawl as I passed the site again. By that time, the eastbound lanes were totally closed – I believe they were closed for 10 hours. So it was actually an amazingly lucky break that the freeway was open when I was headed to San Dimas and that I made it on time.

But it wasn’t a fun drive.

The next day – Saturday – Frank and I headed down to Laguna Niguel to visit my Aunt Katie and Uncle Cy, who live there, and my Aunt Mil and Uncle Bob, were were visiting from St. Louis. Going to Orange County from L.A. and vice-versa is always tricky and you just have to expect heavy traffic. Too many people! It’s 66 miles from door to door, but it took 2 hours, 20 minutes to get there. It was worth it to have a great visit with my family and a drive to Dana Point Marina for a walk.  After dinner, we headed back to L.A., leaving around 8 and getting home at 9:10 – a much more reasonable drive!

So I’m more than happy to be sitting at my desk today, proofreading the U.K. version of The Princess and the Peabodys, which comes out in June, and the U.S. version of Summer According to Humphrey, which comes out next February.

No driving today!

Chugging along in Houston

That’s me … and I’m back from travels and deadlines (though I will be hitting the road again soon).

It’s hard to find the balance between writing and everything else, including school visits and travel. I’ll be hitting road again in April and in May but will be cutting back on cross-country school visits in 2010, due to increased deadlines and the need to be home a little more.

So far, 2009 has been quite a trip, starting with my trip to Second Baptist School in Houston back in January. The amazing train is just part of a preschool play area in the Second Baptist complex, which includes the church, school, coffee shop, bookstore – you name it. Best of all was the warm welcome by one and all and I especially thank librarian Amy Parker and parent volunteer Liz Pipkin who made my visit so completely comfortable.

with Amy Parker at Second Baptist School, Houston

February was a busy month with school visits with the super students at  Monterey Hills Elementary School in South Pasadena, two days with the remarkable readers at Miller Elementary in Burbank, a rollicking morning at Vista del Valle school in Claremont as well as the California Young Readers luncheon.

March brought me to Charlotte, N.C. and a memorable and busy three days at Rea View Elementary – a school with special friends such as Assistant Principal Lynn Cole (good friend of good friends from Providence, Philip Senecal and David Ehrlich – whom I got to see, along with their new furry friends, Mac and Lady), and a too-quick chance to see my husband’s old pal Abby Schoff, her daughter and grandsons, Alexander and Andrew.

Rea View was already a special school to me because of its enthusiastic participation in last year’s Humphrey drawing contest. The school’s entries scored an award, honorable mentions and quite frankly, there were a number more that were in the final group selected. It was a BIG-BIG-BIG day. The next day I was at Sandy Ridge, followed by half days at McAlpine and Polo Ridge Elementary Schools.

with Lynn Cole at Rea View

I am absolutely indebted to the parent volunteers who worked harder than any group I’ve ever seen – most especially Lisa Richardson (Rea View), who really put things together, as well as Janet Cummings (Sandy Ridge), Joudy Brady (Polo Ridge) and Amy Kahn (McAlpine).

Really fun dinner with Lisa Richardson, me, Joudy Brady and Janet Cummings in Charlotte, N.C. – hey Janet got her master’s from Boston College, where my son went!

I only wish I’d gotten to see more of Charlotte, but I signed 1,000 books and I’ll just have to make another trip to that lovely city and check it out.

This Friday, I’ll be at Ekstrand Elementary school in San Dimas, CA – and in April, it’s on the road again to Omaha, DePere (Wisconsin) and in May, Jacksonville, FL. Gotta stay on track!