After leaving St. Louis, I headed back into IL and North on I-55 for Springfield, where I am staying for the rest of the week. I arrived around dinnertime at the Baymont Inn on Toronto Rd., where I turned around and found...a Cracker Barrel Restaurant staring me in the face! All of the sudden, I was hungry...and proceeded to have the some of the best baked chicken I have ever had.
Tuesday I had nothing scheduled, and took the time to just be lazy. I actually hung out in the room most of the day- it was nice to just not do much!
Wednesday it was back in the saddle, with a nice, relaxed day- and my first stop was Waverly High School in Waverly IL. This is a small town with a population of around 1000- my audience at the HS was 118 as I made a presentation of "The Truth of Lies". I then headed back to the hotel for a change of clothes and lunch before heading North and West to Pleasant Plains Middle School. This was a nice drive out into the country (as most of the schools I will be visiting the rest of the week). PPMS is a little bigger with 430 students, but had a great group of 7th graders helping setup, and had some of the girls B-ball team helping takedown. Both of these showings were sponsored by Pepsi. Thanks Pepsi! Afterwords, I went back and enjoyed a quick dinner, some pool time and TV before hitting the sheets.
On Thursday, I headed for Blue Mound IL, pop. 1200 where I was presenting at Meridian Middle School. Blue Mound is about 45 Minutes W/SE of Springfield, and 30 minutes S/SW of Decatur. This school has 255 students, and I had a great group of guys helping me unload and setup, including 2 'veterans' from last year! But the best was yet to come...
Turns out Meridian Middle School has a State Champion! Before we started the assembly, Principal Andy Pygott took a moment to surprise Brock Snarski, who last year won 1st place in state for 7th grade 800 & 1600 meter events. They presented him with a banner that was hung in the gym, as well as road signs to be place at the town limits announcing his accomplishments. It was nest to be a witness to this, and to meet a great young man!
After a great assembly, I asked about restaurants in town and was directed to Linda's Diner, where I had the best Italian Beef I've had in awhile. It was followed up by an Apple Crisp a la mode, upon which I waddled back to the van and headed back to Springfield. All in all, a great day. Tomorrow, I'll finish up with shows in Pleasant Plains again (this time at the High School) and in Pawnee. Then, back home!
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