The beginning of the year - continued

The 1st blog entry for the year was messed up / not publishing correctly, so had to break it up.

Here is "Columbus, continued!"   sorry - just too stunning not to share!!

The downtown had some beautiful buildings - a block up (parallel) to the river.

This building was across from our hotel. I believe it's a Columbus State University arts building now.

When we went to visit colleges last year, Columbus State (the campus we visited was on the outskirts of town) it was "meh" - just regular campus / older buildings / nothing too spectacular.

We only stayed on the main campus. We left mid-tour because Mercer had an appointment at a small school nearby that he was interested in. Columbus State was too big for him (but - because of the rock-climbing wall and the service animal program, this is the college that Isabella says she wants to go to!)

When we left at the end of the main campus tour -- they said are you sure that you don't want to get on the bus and go to the downtown / arts campus? You'll really like it. (Little did we know!)

Yes - I would have liked it a lot! :)  

If Izzy ends up going, I would enjoy hanging out downtown for parent weekends and such -- even through she'd be on the main campus haha!

Todd needs to come see this downtown. He'd like it a lot as well!

The conference center is historic as well -- it had a great renovation done to it. It's made up of several old warehouse buildings - but remnants of machinery was incorporate throughout the furnishings and decorations.

The 2nd day held a building tour that was close to downtown, but a little further afield....

The "Opera House" was really a theater that started out as a residence and grocery store!

It boasts residences on site still -- which is a benefit to the actors and apparently a big selling point to productions wanting to bring their show to an area. (learned something new - that a percentage of theaters have residences on site, but most do not.)

This place had gone through extensive renovations over the years.

They just got new seating a week before we arrived.

The tour guide told us that every 3rd light was original and the rest are infill. Um.... that's a LOT of lighting. (a bit of overkill? or maybe that's how many were there originally?)

There were beautiful hand-painted details on the walls and ceilings.

And there is a full-blown wood shop / workshop on site...

And a brand new black-box / outdoor theater....

So, they have lots going on!

We also took a drive through the historic residential area before going to a community college for meetings.

The conference was just “OK” but the town was fantastic. I was so happy to check it out!

It was nice to get away - but it was a lot of work to get there (creating sub lesson plans / juggling personal things).... and, sadly.... I missed an event with Todd's company.

He and everyone at his office + significant others spent Friday evening at the ceremony for the St. Lawrence Catholic Church Chapel addition.

I am sure it was nice for team bonding and great for the interns to see a completed project.

I breezed back into town Friday afternoon around the same time they were headed across Atlanta to a building dedication.

These are some photos of the interior from his company's website.

Todd got an award presented to him for his hard work and dedication to their church.

Speaking of Todd's work...

I forgot to post this last month, but here is an image of his company's Christmas cards sent to clients and vendors....

.....which is a computer generated image of this building seen here that is now "under construction."

Good stuff -- both of these projects!!

Sadly, there were two Americans in Minneapolis who were killed by ICE agents (from the immigration organization) that made lots of headlines.

One was a mom who had just dropped her kids off at school / and the agents (supposedly) thought she was trying to run over them with her mini-van....

... and the other was an ER nurse who ran over to help a woman who was pushed down. He did have a gun on his back (from open carry law) but he was not reaching for it or threatening the agent(s). It caused major riots there and in other parts of the country.

Amanda Gorman - the Poet Laurette wrote about both. :(

Here's a funny picture of our dog....

and our daughter.....to end January on....