Wednesday, May 20, 2009

A sigh of relief...

I just finished grading the third of four finals, and it looks like everyone will pass this year. Tomorrow in celebration I am going to bring root beer floats.

Monday, May 18, 2009



Last weekend, we got the day off on Friday. So instead of using my time and packing and getting ready for a week in the car, I decided to go and see Santa. And as you can tell I did. I even went in his Christmas village.



Okay so truth be told, I did not just go to see Santa, it just happened and well any time I can get a word in with him before Christmas, things just seem to happen. In reality I went to hang out with George, Tom, Teddy, and Abe.



Yep, I went to Mt. Rushmore. It was awesome.



They had a rock tunnel that you could go into to get the picture above, and well I almost didn't leave it was really incredible.





This was my first ever view of what they call a mountain sculpture. Who grows up thinking that is what they would like to be when they grow up? I also learned that Rushmore was named after a lawyer who happened to be passing through at the right time. He asked the sculptor what the mountain was called. The reply was that it was not yet named, but would now be known as Rushmore. It kind of makes me want to ask questions.

Anyway Rushmore was a cool mountain, but on the recomendation of some friends, I also went to see Crazy Horse. It was even larger. But maybe not as impressive yet cause it is not done.



The story behind this monument is almost as impressive as how Rushmore was named. This one was commissioned by the Lakota chiefs. After finding the scultpor to do the work, it has been worked on for like 50 years. As you can see it is not done. That is because this is not a national park and all the funds come from dontaions and the door admission. The mountain will some day look just like the white statue, but since they will not take federal money, I do not know when it will finally be done.



Just to give you some prespective on size, the hole that you can see that looks like a tunnel is large enough to fit a 10 story building. Yeah, I was shocked too.

So my words of advice to all who have a long weekend...go and see something that you have never before seen. And for all that are wondering, yes this was definitly worth the 6.5 hour drive.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

The updated countdown

Today there are 14 days left. Tomorrow, only 13...which means on Monday I can change the countdown to 12...