Random Tid Bits

1. I decided to email Isaak's Councilor at school, in regards to his Math teacher not being there. The change of substitute teachers everyday has been having a toll on him.
   
   She called me back. Of course I was in class, and didn't get the call. We managed to connect a call right before I started afternoon lecture.
   
   She couldn't answer me in regards to when his teacher would be back. She's on Administrative Leave. She of course couldn't tell me what caused the leave. I don't know that it matters. Her suggestion: Let Isaak switch classes.
   
   There are three problems with this: 1. The other classes are full. That's why Isaak's Math teacher had a sixth grade class, when she has always taught seventh grade. 2. The teacher he switches to may be in a different spot in Math. Currently all the substitute teachers are going off his previous teacher's lesson plans. 3. A few of Isaak's friends were in that Math class.
   
   I agreed to talk it over with Isaak. Isaak said really fast that he wanted to switch classes! I brought up all the cons, and he didn't seem to care. He still wanted to switch. 



2. Isaak's councilor also told me that she was so excited Isaak won an award for his Piano class, two quarters ago. She said his face just lit up!
   
   Once a week Isaak goes to Piano lessons. Everything is going well, except that Isaak lost one of his Piano books. We have no clue what happened to it. We're going to check to see if he left it at the house, he takes lessons at before I buy it again.
   
   
   Their dog always lays there, and listens to Isaak pound away on the piano. He probably does that because allergic me doesn't give it any attention. Sorry doggie!
   
   
   
   
   
3. I have a class on Monday and Friday in first year. I hate teaching both those days. One of those days is totally fine. It's just that the students slack in showing up Mondays and Fridays.
   
   
4. I called a student out, for not being in class, and relying on others to help her through things. All handouts, videos of lectures, and PowerPoints are on the server. She'll listen to someone else talk about the assignment wrong, do it wrong, and blame them. Now I'm the bad guy, for calling her out. She's been complaining to other instructors and students about me.
   
   
5. In my other class students were talking about what was on the TV the night before (Trump). I reminded them that there are two sides, but that it was good they were discussing current events. A girl went to administration said they were pissed there was a heated discussion about politics in the classroom. It's not elementary, middle or high school. I was not sharing my opinion(s). Regardless I'm typically in the middle. One person may have over reacted by tearing someone's speech up, one other person runs at the mouth way too much. I am not a happy camper about that. What is something that has upset you lately?

#MNStateCapitol

We've gotten in this habit of going to state capitols on trips - if time allows, for it. 

We thought it would be cool to stop by the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Why Go to a State Capitol?

The architecture is always amazing!

Even if you don't get into politics, it's still a place where big important decisions are made.

It's free! Minus the parking. We did pay for that. Speaking of which we had no clue what a pay box was. Do you know what one is? We parked and a sign said, "Pay at pay box." Something like that. Anyhow we had to ask someone, and they pointed out a box up the street. That's where you put your money, for parking.

  

I have to mention that the sky was so beautiful that day! Big puffy clouds stood out. I could have taken 1,000 pictures of the outside of the building. I'm not kidding.

Details:

The Lobby: 

In any Capitol the lobby area is amazing! This one had highlights of gold in spots all over.

Tour:

We didn't plan on taking a tour. We weren't against a tour, but hadn't set one up. All the sudden when we went up the steps a tour came through. The tour guide said we could join.

In we went with the tour to the House of Representatives. There's more women on the Supreme Court than there ever have been. Kind of interesting. 

Gold lined the ceiling in many spots.

Golden Horses:

We would not of been able to see the Golden Horses, had we not been on the tour. She took us up on the roof, where we could see for miles.

Then what we could only see from a distance before, we were close enough to touch it! 

 My favorite shot:

 

  

Cathedral of Saint Paul:

There was a great view of a cathedral from above, and we later walked to it down below.

Back in the State Capitol Staircase:

 

Peek a Boo Spot:

I saw this little spot, peeked through it and saw an amazing view.

 

Everything was so pretty! I think we could have stayed there all day!

How many state capitols have you been too?

Disclaimer: This is not a paid review. I got no compensation, for writing this post. All opinions are my own. 

Finally Something I Think Most of Us Can Agree On

I'm really sick of the fact that our political system revolves around money.

Sure anyone can run to be the president of the United States, but only those who have backers will win.

I don't usually post anything political, or controversial, but this is pretty important to watch. It's not on one side, or the  other. To be honest I'm not on one side or the other. I wish I was deeply moved by one party.

Random Tid Bits

1. Lately every shirt Mica puts on is too short in the sleeves and the torso. I had him try on all of his shirts just when it started getting cool. 

This is the last time he wore the shirt below. It fits Isaak perfectly. I may stop by Old Navy to pick up some shirts this weekend. Mica's closet is looking bare.





2. I've been feeling down in the dumps lately.
   
   Maybe it's the lack of sunlight. I forget to take Vitamin D3.
   
   Months ago I got a cold, it went into asthma. All day I feel pretty good, but at night it kicks in. I just can't seem to kick it! I imagine I'm not doing well on sleep.
   
   Government everything has me nervous. CREATE JOBS and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. All I see is jobs going away: The National Endowment for the Arts funding and other art program funding is going bye bye. It may not effect you. It certainly effects my family and friends. I went to art openings, and it's like a cloud of sadness in the crowd. What happened to the government supporting the arts? In the Great Depression they hired artists to stimulate the economy. Artists and acting jobs are being cut. Journalism is degraded, not trusted and cut. Three main stations are slanted one way, and another station is slanted the other way. Science isn't trusted it seems. Parks funds are getting striped down, and freedom of speech taken away. Teachers are bashed, and not respected. Health insurance was a mess, now it's in major limbo. Many health care workers will loose their jobs. Don't try being a freelancer, or work in a small business like my husband and I do. If you are in the military, dig for oil, build walls, work in the food industry, or work on cars you're ok. Good for you!

I'm beginning to hate the terms, "Left Wing" and "Right Wing" because they are used so negatively. It's like a title when you want to slam someone, "That ghetto person", or "That left wing freak over there." We're people! The only time I use race is to describe a person in a good way. I said just last weekend, "I just love that really dark skin that person has. It's so neat looking." I've referred to Albinos being really interesting too.


3. My kids have a lot of Muslims that go to school with them. Guess what? Many of them are nicer than others. The ones that come from Africa have a real sense of family. They do things together. I respect them for that. Think what you want, but we've had more white so called Christians attack people than we have Muslims. It's really hard when my kids see the news and ask questions about what's going on. Quite frankly I was nice and quiet. Now I feel like shouting from the roof tops. 




4. Around Christmas a really nice guy called a fire in that was at a local plant nursery in town. He got a $1,000 gift card from them. He proceeded to donate the money to nonprofits because he was that kind of a person.
   
   Two weeks later he was working at his job at a gas station. A guy came in when he was closing. The guy wanted to buy chewing tobacco. The nice worker said, "Sorry man I already have the cash register closed for the night. You'll have to go somewhere else to buy it." The not so nice guy waited out back for the cashier to leave. He ran him over with his truck, and killed him. The nice man has a young daughter he left behind. :(
   
   The punk left the scene. He went on to sell houses - a real estate agent. Well the prick was found! His truck had specific markings on it that were caught on film. Way to go Omaha Police Department. The police have gotten such a bad wrap; understandably so. I thought I'd give them credit where credit is due.  


5. I told my kids this weekend, "I want you both to know that no matter what your views are when you are older, no matter what religion you are or aren't we'll love you regardless. You need to be able to back up what you feel. Sources certainly help. The US was and should be about freedom of speech and thought. Please feel free to share your thoughts with us." 

WW: Missouri State Capitol {Linky}

We visited the Nebraska State Capitol, and the boys loved it. I decided to visit the Missouri State Capitol as well. I'm not even into government. I just like their buildings.

Mica trying to look like he's part of the battle. 

 

The artwork is pretty!

Us

 I want a ceiling like that!

Doors that you know you can't go in, and doors you peek in even though they are shut.

A green ceiling and hallways that just seem to go on and on.

We asked a lady how to get to the top of the capitol. She said that we couldn't go up there. She let us be a part of their tour though. We stayed until we knew our parking meter was just about up.

This is where they vote on things - Democrats on one side and Republicans on the other. They all have a laptop to vote. I want more parties. A party that people do not laugh at because they are different.

The ceiling in that room.

The outside again.

Have you been to your state capitol?