I am in Dallas to attend the Balfour Intensity Workshop with some of my yearbook editors at the Taylor/Balfour Publishing Plant. Balfour, our yearbook publisher, paid for myself and my students to fly down to attend this three-day workshop. Our goal: further develop the theme for our 2016 yearbook and work on the page and cover designs we started this summer. With two workshop days in the books, our designs are really taking shape. We brought along some magazines to use as inspiration (GQ, Sports Illustrated, and Wired) and have been pouring over hundreds of yearbooks for different layout ideas. Yesterday, we met with a graphic designer to discuss our preliminary cover ideas. She was quite impressed and didn't recommend any changes. This afternoon, we went on a plant tour. This being my third tour of a yearbook plant (Topeka, Nashville, and now Dallas), I was a little underwhelmed. If you've seen one, you've seen them all. My students, however, were thankfully more impressed. If nothing else it served as motivation to work harder while giving them a glimpse as to what happens to the pages once they are submitted.
The highlight of this Dallas trip, so far, has been the Texas State Fair. Known as being one of the largest state fairs in the country, it didn't disappoint. From turkey legs and corn dogs, to fried cheesecake and hand-squeezed lemonade, I was in a food heaven. To make it even better, the fair had some of the best rides short of Disney World I had been on in quite some time. Always seeking an adrenaline rush, I was buying ticket after ticket to ensure I hit almost every ride.
The fair wasn't the only "tourist" thing we did. A quite ride downtown led us to the exact place where JKF was shot. The museum had already closed, but thankfully, some locals were outside and gave us the rundown. They even suggest a great place for dinner, Ellen's, which feature "southern-style" cooking. (Now that I have gained 10 pounds this trip from eating, I think one of my next posts needs to involve a new exercise routine).
The downfall here, the bugs. While riding on the DART (Dallas' version of mass transit) my leg became a feeding ground for the mosquitos. Now, I can't stop itching. And it's hot, Texas hot.
It's getting late and tomorrow will be an early morning. I am enjoying my first trip to Texas and will be sad to leave.
Wishing everyone a great week. See you soon, Omaha.
Hi Mark! I graduated from Millard West a couple of years ago, and I had no idea so much work went into the yearbook designs. I mean, I knew they were always impressive, but I never really thought about the time and work that went behind them. I think it's really cool and a great opportunity for your students that you guys were able to visit Balfur and finalize your ideas even more. Personally though, I think the state fair would be the best part. All in all, sounds like an amazing trip
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