ISTE 2015 Fri. Jun 26th the fun before the fun...Because of the DEN

Today got off to an early start as I was due to be a widget volunteer as a bag stuffer so that all the conference materials could be ready for the awesome attendees! This job is really important and if you are around the Friday before and ISTE starts, please consider being a bag stuffer. This year I was promoted the leadership role of Table Captain and I got the ultimate compliment from someone who said "you are so patient." When I finished writing this post, I realized it was because of the DEN (Discovery Educators Network) that my day was so awesome!!! I have not had time to caption people's names under their pictures but hope to go back and do that tomorrow maybe.

Next, dear sweet Kathy Schrock snuck up on me. Can you imagine, she chose to wander around the bag stuffing area since it was too early to check into a room. This was an interesting choice of places but I am glad she showed up!

Soon after meeting up with Kathy I rounded up a couple of other DEN Stars- Sheila & Robin, so it was necessary to take another picture!

This is the second time I have seen this fellow so I took a picture with the Dean Shareski doppelganger!

When we left for lunch, we found another DEN Star Dacia Penley Jones on 12th street so we took another picture!

After lunch we went to the convention center to get oriented to the space. We have all been here before but the place is soooo big it is really good to get reoriented!  We ran into Hall Davidson and Mark J Perlman. Also we found Sheryl Nussbaum and Aussie Tina P. Best of all we saw the amazing, big hearted Kecia Ray and managed to get a quick hug in!

After we finished walking around the convention center, I looped back with Tina and we went to the Reading Terminal market to pick up food items since our hotel as a kitchen. As I was writing this, I found a picture Tina took of me that I did not know about! She also took a nice picture of a young man making us almond butter!

After a full day, I went to my room and took a nap from 430-730 pm! When I woke up, I went around the city hunting for bottled water. I met a disabled woman in the 711 who kept asking how much the orange was and when she heard it was $1.00, she left it so I gave her a $1.00. She said thank you and left with the money but did not buy the fruit. It's ok. Coming back to the hotel, I stumbled on several of my Discovery Educator Network (DEN) family members so it was quite the reunion and of course we had to take a few pictures! These gals are so awesome! I love them!

These guys went out late to dinner because Katie's shuttle was held up but I went back to my room to try and re-charge and get ready for Hack Ed and Mega Mobile Share tomorrow!!!! Because of the DEN, I had an awesome day! Thank you!!! #DENLOVE