The Keene Family

I think I just set a new personal record for the quickest work trip! I left home at 8:15 AM after I put the kids on the bus, got the airport and parked by 9:30, bought a lunch for later, was on the plane by 9:50, and landed in Las Vegas at 12:50 PM. I had a work video call at 1:00 PM (which I joined while walking to the Uber pickup lot) and a 30-minute drive to the school. I ate my lunch in the car en route because my school meeting started at 1:30 PM. I presented until 3:45 and then a colleague drove me back to the airport. We were there by 4:30. I walked through security, bought some snacks, and was to my gate (and boarding) by 4:45. I flew back to Seattle, landed at 8 PM, and was parked in my garage at home by 9 PM. Phew! I literally could not have timed the entire day any tighter... and I only used the bathroom on the plane there and back because I didn't have time otherwise. Ha! This is a photo of me with my Microsoft colleague who arranged the meeting, Kevin. What I th...

We headed to north Seattle for Walter's birthday party this past weekend. He makes an awfully cute four year old! Then we headed over to the Pacific Science Center to see Apollo 11 on IMAX. It was amazing! On the way, we saw some fun sights...

While Becky was flying home from New Zealand, the rest of the Keene family attended the 2019 Buddy Walk at Woodland Park Zoo! Aren't they adorable? Then they picked me up from the airport, which was wonderful. ❤

I was invited back to New Zealand for a second trip to speak at the 2019 Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Hui. It's all the MIEExperts from New Zealand who can make it, plus some Aussies too. It is a great group and such an honor to be invited - back! I flew down on October 1 and landed on October 3. Once I got settled into my studio apartment overlooking city center (!), I went out for breakfast. Then I walked to St Patrick's Cathedral... And to Albert Park... And to the Auckland Art Gallery. I spent the afternoon at Takepuna Beach, got caught in the rain, and saw a rainbow! Then I met up with four of the six MIE Fellows for dinner: Nikkie, Carmen, and Rachel. These are the ladies I work with to do this trip, who arrange my travel and pay me to be there. They are an awesome bunch. I've seen them in Seattle, Toronto, Budapest, and Singapore! Friday morning I woke up to this lovely view of the Sky Tower out my balcony. I...

I had a pretty full last week of September in the Puget Sound area. First, my mom and sister in law and I went to see the Downton Abbey movie! We loved it. It was a great continuation of the tv shows. Then I visited two schools in the area to interview people for my book. Cherokee Middle School in Clyde Hill is doing amazing things with Microsoft Translator at its parent nights. Tesla STEM High School has a class called entrepreneurialism in which students learn to design, create, and sell products for an audience. I also went to the gaming exhibit at the Museum of Pop Culture for a work team field trip. And finally, I had a meeting at Foundry 10 on Lake Union - an amazing company that does education action research, on a beautiful sunny day!