Powdersville Middle School invited me to speak with several hundred students across grades 6, 7, and 8, throughout the day today. Even though junior high was by far the least favorite chapter of all my school years, I love speaking to middle schoolers at least as much as kids of any other age. Wanting to spice up my speeches and make them more effective, I watched some on-line comedy for inspiration, and sharpened my statistics on cancer deaths, so I could tell them just how many lives would be lost by the time I was to finish any given time frame of speech to the kids–making the healthy living message all-the-more urgent.

Ms. Julie Richard, my current host, teaches art at Powdersville Middle School (PMS, by the abbreviation you’ll see above their stage). Ms. Richard organized all of the speaking appearances to the school, including a subsequent appearance to the elementary school, next door.

Though a bit exhausting by the end, today was one of the funnest days of 2012 .

Anderson County Sheriff's Deputy Officer Simpson made sure I was legit before allowing me to proceed.

Officer Simpson is awesome! We exchanged contact info, and she plans to help seek meal assistance for me down the road . I really enjoyed chatting with her!

Hello, Powdersville Middle School!

Great kids here!

Great coach too!

During one of the breaks, some of the students want to try some of the foods I eat on the road. They liked my wholesome treats!!

Ms. Julie Richard, art teacher here, continues work on another of her mesmerizing masterpieces during our lunchtime chat.

After the middle school let out for the day, I went next door to the elementary school, where a handful of the kids helped me show the small size of my tent. Time to get more involved with actual items I'm using on the road, I see...

At the end of the day, we all walked a lap around the school grounds. Fun Stuff!!!

Tomorrow: On to Greenville itself!