Here are some preliminary pictures from the Microsoft Tour America, Ready for a New Day.

 We left Kirksville MO at 3:50 A.M. and arrived in Des Moines, IA at 7:05 A.M., just in time for Ashley and Zach to be 4th and 5th on the standby list.  Driving was a little crazy (I almost got a new hood ornament named bambi).  There was a lot of snow and ice on the roads.  But, we made it. 

Finding the Polk County Convention Center was a task, because Microsoft had the wrong address on their registration confirmation.  Jonathan and I dropped Zach and Ashley off at the "incorrect location" while we parked so that could get in standby (which they did).  They were lucky to find somebody kind enough to drive them to the correct location.  If not, they probably wouldn't have gotten in.  More than that, though, they might have frozen to death, since it was like -50 F outside.

 Best of all, though, was the new software!  I'm very excited to get it.  I have already gotten 5 members of my family to sign up for these events all across the country.  What a great event!