Betty Birney’s Blog

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.

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.

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!