Debate Team Trip: Alabama (Tuesday)

The students once again headed to the debate rounds and speech rounds. They decided to spend the day watching the competitions and supporting Chelsea.

Mr. Conant. Cody, Ms. Edwards and I went to a Waffle House. Can you believe that they don't have any pancakes there.....The waitresses at the restaurant were extremely friendly. They greeted us all as we walked through the door and gave us some southern hospitality.

After the Waffle House we headed over to the Arlington Antebellum House in Birmingham. The house was built between 1845-1850. Inside the house is an art museum which features a collection of 19th-century furniture, textiles, silver, and paintings.

The house was originally built by William S. Mudd. He helped to establish the city of Birmingham. At the time he built the house the area was called Elyton (second county seat of Jefferson County).

The house was used by Union troops while planning the burning of the University of Alabama. Below are some of the pictures that Ms. Edwards took of the outside of the house and the kitchen. We weren't able to take any pictures inside the house.

Here is a front view of the House....check out the columns.

Back view of the house

Side view of the house......check out the double chimneys.

A picture of the garden

Here is a view of the kitchen. The kitchen was located in a separate building outside of the main house.

Here is another view of the kitchen...How would you like to have to cook over that fire during the summer months in Alabama.

Here is a view of from the parking lot...check out the double chimney's again and the double porch on back....there are two doors on the second level which made for a great breeze way.

After going to the house, Ms. Edwards, Coty and I went to the mall. Coty wanted to build herself a bear and Ms. Edwards wanted to pick up a few items.....After Coty made herself a new bear she discovered that she could go for a little ride. Below is a picture of Coty hanging out.

After going to the Mall, Ms. Edwards, Coty and I went to Target and picked up some groceries for the students to have dinner. Ms. Edwards then headed back to the hotel and Coty went to the tournament because she had to judge a round. Ms. Edwards and I worked on catching up on my blogs and she waited for the group to return....the Internet speed at the hotel is horrible.

The group returned to the hotel and the decision was made that the group would make sandwiches in the hotel instead of going on a picnic and then would head over to the Science Museum. The Museum was closed to the public and was opened only to those individuals who were a part of the Debate and Speech tournament. The museum was unreal...It was full of so many hands on activities. There was something there for everyone. Below are pictures that Ms. Edwards took at the museum.

Here is a picture of Coty's new Bear and myself...we are hanging out in the dinosaur exhibit.

Do you remember those contractions that you put your hands on and your hand appears on the other side....Well they have four big ones.......Here is the results of putting Coty's bear on the contraction.

The museum also had some animals from the Birmingham area. Here is a picture of a turtle that was hanging out with some fish.

Here is one of the exhibits that appeared in the museum...The balls are floating on water.

There was an exhibit where you were able to give a weather report and then watch yourself on the television. Here is Coty giving the weather report...guess she needs to wear a different colored shirt...she blends in a little.

One of the exhibits was over an in the air. The students each took turns on this ride...the exhibit was demonstrating pendulums. The students had to peddle backwards and swing back and forth to get enough momentum to reach the end.

Here is a picture of the bones of an ancient animal....Looks like one that swims in the water.

The museum also had a memorial to the two space crafts that went down. The first one is the Challenger and the second is the Colombia.

One of the students decided to stick their face through the exhibit....they don't look like this normally.

What do you see first the word or the person? Can you figure out what the word is?

One last hands on exhibit.

From the museum of science we headed home and relaxed a little before bed...tomorrow we are driving to Montgomery, Alabama.