Do You Know Jean-Jacques Rousseau?

This morning around 10:45 I will take another test towards teacher certification. (My social studies emphasis test) I feel somewhat confident...there is just A LOT of information to know. Basically all of American History, World History, Economics, and Geography. Overall, it is a lot of random facts because it is not like math where you just have to know how to do something. Usually you remember how to do something once you do it multiple times, but reading that Nicolaus Copernicus began the Scientific revolution and argued that the Sun, not the Eath, was the center of the solar system....etc. is not always fresh in my mind. One name is easy but then you mix it in with Tycho Brahe, Galileo Galilei, and Issac Newtwon and suddenly you have no idea what made Copernicus so special. Perhaps writing about it here will help cement it into my mind with the other jumble of information. I think I will do well, I hope I do well. Done Deal? ha I hope so. I will end this post with an Enlightenment quote, "I Think, therefore I am". Thank you Rene Descartes for that wisdom.

A long week of History...

Two history tests in one week is a lot to cram into my head. I covered the death of Constantine through Justinian which is a good couple hundred years in case you wanted to know. ( Justinian is pictured on the left here) He is considered to be the last of the Roman emperors. Those that came after him most likely considered themselves Roman, but from our viewpoint they seem more inclined to the Eastern Constantinople than they do with Rome. And then there is his wife Theodora, whose father was a bear trainer at the Hippodrome. Her whole family came from the circus actually. It was love at first sight they say. Hmm....on to the next one. I'm ready for Christmas to be here. I bought some new ornaments at Walmart. I rationalized them by telling myself I would use them next year and next year and the next year, etc. Good purchase right? ha hopefully. I'm also thinking about Christmas gifts for everyone. So far I have no good leads, but each person's gift will fall into place. I do have a good month and a half before Christmas anyway. Ok well off to bed now. Goodnight.

"Istanbul not Constantinople"

Studying for Byzantium test still....was a mildly productive day. Worked 7:30 to 6....and then had a nice dinner with a friend. I attempted to study at Bekah and Ellie's tonight but that didn't go so well. Way too many distractions, but entertaining always. "Homework Parties" are my weakness.

Ane now a little inspiration for my test tomorrow.... and just in case you didn't know it...BEFORE Constantinople it was Byzantium. Constantine felt a need to create a new Rome with his name included.

Get up and go.

Today was a great day....

I even managed to work out today without Ben. Usually one of us has to motivate the other one to go...but today he worked right after class. So it was up to me. It took me awhile. First I came home and ate lunch. Then I watched a little TV...I think the only things on were Reba and Tyra, haha. What a selection. Then I took my time on the computer until I realized I needed to just get up and go. So I changed and grabbed my shoes and waterbottle. I saw one girl make her way into the gym room before I got there and to be honest I did consider having to not work out if the machines were filled. But unfortunately, and luckily there was an elipitical open. I did my usual routine and as the sweat beaded on my forehead I felt accomplished that I managed to work out even though I was tired from class all day. After stretching and showering I was almost prepared for my next battle of self motivation...studying for my Byzantium history test. After watching funniest home videos with the roommates however, I shut the TV off and began to study. Right now I am taking a little break from studying. The test isn't until thursday, and I don't want to overload on Constantine too early on. My inner nerd finds his life very interesting however.