It's Going to be a Long Semester

On Monday, during a class discussion about thesis statements, a student raised her hand and asked a pressing question:

"Um. Could we, like, take a break now 'cause I need to take my birth control?"

Tuesday's Trivia: CORN

Naysayers aside, we grew corn this year! While we delight in our ten corn plants, here's a little corn trivia for you:

*One bushel of corn will sweeten more than 400 cans of pop.
*A bushel of corn fed to livestock produces 5.6 pounds of retail beef, 13 pounds of retail pork, 32 pounds of chicken, or 28 pounds of catfish.
*Farmers grow corn on every continent except Antarctica.
*The main ingredient in most dry pet food is corn.
*The corn cob (ear) is actually part of the corn plant’s flower.
*Each tassel on a corn plant releases as many as 5 million grains of pollen.
*There are about 600 kernels on each ear of corn.
*Pioneers planted 4 corn kernels for every plant they hoped to harvest: "1 for the maggot, 1 for the crow, 1 for the cutworm, and 1 to grow".
*The corn plant has both male and female parts. The silk is the female part while the tassel is the male part.

Source: http://www.cyberspaceag.com/kansascrops/corn/corntrivia.htm

S is for Sweet

I really need to carry a camera more often. If I did that, I wouldn't be reduced to blatantly copying my friends' Facebook pix to use here. Oh well. If you're my FB friend, lock your profile pix down tightly lest you be the focus of this blog some day. And those of you who aren't yet my FB friends? Keep your real names well-hidden from me. It's your only hope.

While you're no doubt rendered speechless at the quality of my introduction to today's post, I will risk impressing you even further by reminding you that today is A-Z or Z-A Mondays hosted by Jen.

And now, since I seem to be majoring in abrupt and awkward transitions, it's time to discuss how the letter S is for sweet. Do you see the afore-mentioned picture? It's my friend whose job it was on Friday to be MOB/mother of the bride. The wedding was beautiful with a bride and groom uncontainably in serious love. I was able to fit into a dress, so I was clothed, and all was well.

What an unexpected friendship the MOB and I have had since that year a century ago when I was her son's Sunday school teacher. I was an about-to-be mother; she was a seasoned veteran. And one Sunday, in a crowded restroom, we began to talk. Amazingly enough, that conversation is still going on though we have finally moved out of the restroom.

Since the beginning, she has always created enough time to listen, to counsel, to pray with and for me and my family, and to laugh. I think she's a wonderful mom, a great wife, and a friend. Now, wait. I forgot to add an adjective before friend, so here's a few. Just take your pick knowing that each one is the truth:

smart friend

humorous friend

dear friend

my friend.

Oh yes, S Sertainly Stands for Sweet.

FF: I Thought I Was Empty

Amazingly enough, I am nearly fragment-free this week, but I shall give it a good college-try. What that means is a mystery to me really, but I've never let not understanding stop me before.

Okay, Mrs. 4's and Sara and all you who participate in:

Here we go!

*Took my high-schooler to get her schedule and was thrilled when she was put in a homeroom with my new friend's son. That family is very controlled and conservative and the kids are soooo polite. I thought the boy would be a nice "friend" for my daughter. The very first thing the boy did when they got to their homerooms? Loudly rated the girls' chests.

*Pepper the dog graduates next week. By virtue of having only 2 dogs in class, she is assured the valedictory or salutatory spot. Can't wait for her speech.

*Went back to work this week. Haven't taught during the day for many centuries, but think I shall adapt to it.

*I often wonder if I would still teach even if I did NOT get paid. The answer: almost yes.

*Why, on the first day of school for me, when it was raining in a Noah's Ark-type manner and my shoes got wet, did one shoe start to emit soap bubbles?

*Did you know you can change the size of your font by pressing and holding ctrl and turning the wheel on your mouse?

*Kim-d's post made me laugh and laugh and laugh yesterday. Thanks, girlie.

Not My People

I suppose if I were filled with more spit and vinegar, I might look for some old family pictures to post here, but since I am kindness personified, I won't. (See how much I love you, Dad and Mom?) (And were we the only family that had trouble keeping every eye open when we tried for a family picture?) Since I won't be adding any family images from my youth, you must click over to this site and view some of the most interesting family pictures OTHER families have taken.


http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

Before you click, here are some recent pix of my kids:

Oscars: Here I Come

Thank-you, Sue the mermaid, for introducing me to One True Media!! And now, my first video!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Tuesday's Trivia: Things Are Getting Hairy!

Because you've been wondering,

Because you're the curious sort,

Because it's Tuesday,

Because I have nothing else to post:

It's time for ...

Here we go with a nod to http://www.blurtit.com/!

1. The total number of potential beard hairs on a man's face is said to average around 30,000.

2. Beards grow about 5 inches a year.

3. Men without beards spend about 800-3000 hours of their lives shaving (10-15 hours a year)

4. Caution and Checkered's boys still swear by shaving with cake frosting. Says it leaves their skin soft and smooth.

And now your Tuesday is better for this knowledge.