Giants, Wizards, and Dwarfs

This is a game I never played as a child, and have a hard time understanding how to play as an adult. However, that doesn't diminish the power of this little story by Robert Fulghum (author of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten). It's one of my favorites as a teacher!

Giants, Wizards, and Dwarfs was the game to play. Being left in charge of about eighty children seven to ten years old, while their parents were off doing parenty things, I mustered my troops in the church social hall and explained the game. It's a large scale version of Rock, Paper, Scissors, and involves some intellectual decision making. But the real purpose of the game is to make a lot of noise and run around chasing people until nobody knows which side you are on or who won.

Organizing a roomful of wired-up gradeschoolers into two teams, explaining the rudiments of the game, achieving consensus on group identity-all this is no mean accomplishment, but we did it with a right good will and were ready to go.

The excitement of the chase had reached a critical mass. I yelled out: "You have to decide now which you are--a GIANT, a WIZARD, or a DWARF!" While the groups huddled in frenzied, whispered consultation, a tug came at my pants leg. A small child stands there looking up and asks in a small, concerned voice, "Where do the Mermaids stand?"

Where do the Mermaids stand?

A long pause. A very long pause. "Where do the Mermaids stand?" says I.

"Yes. You see, I am a Mermaid."

"There are no such things as Mermaids."

"Oh, yes, I am one!"

She did not relate to being a Giant, a Wizard, or a Dwarf. She knew her category. Mermaid. And was not about to leave the game and go over and stand against the wall where a loser would stand. She intended to participate, wherever Mermaids fit into our scheme of things. Without giving up dignity or identity. She took it for granted that there was a place for Mermaids and that I would know just where.

Well, where DO the Mermaids stand? All the "Mermaids"--all those who are different, who do not fit the norm and who do not accept the available boxes and pigeonholes? Answer that question and you can build a school, a nation, or a world on it. What was my answer at the moment? Every once in a while I say the right thing.

"The Mermaid stands right here by the King of the Sea!" says I. (Yes, right here by the King's Fool, I thought to myself.)

So we stood there hand in hand, reviewing the troops of Wizards and Giants and Dwarfs as they rolled by in wild disarray. It is not true, by the way, that mermaids do not exist. I know at lease one personally. I have held her hand.

Say it ain't so

We all know that I love baseball and everything surrounding it...the smell of the fresh cut grass, the sound of the ball popping into the catcher's mitt, those Pronto Pups, and, of course, the terrible in-game entertainment. The Famous Chicken is a huge part of this for me. I found him to be the most hilarious mascot in existence when I was around age 5 and he came to a Memphis Chicks game. Now, with the news that he may retire, I'm a bit saddened. It's like a bit of Americana (and my childhood) won't be around any more. Sad day.

In case you're not familiar with him, here's a clip to give you a little taste.

Shame on me

I have been absolutely terrible about updating lately. Since the last post, I have moved, painted, attended a two-week long math institute, celebrated a birthday, celebrated a bachelorette, attended many a baseball game, and had a great start to summer. Highlights:

SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover, AL. We decided to go on a whim, and ended up having a great time! Vandy was the last team to qualify for the tournament (and the lowest seed), but we ended up making it to the championship game. Love it!

This was my room painting crew. It was supposed to be painted a grey color called "Winter Calm". Apparently wintertime occurs in lavender, though. My room has a slightly purple tint...

Move crew. We were strong and able to move a queen size mattress on our own. I'm pretty proud of that accomplishment. Take note of the giant alien on the side of the truck.

More fun at Lonnie's to celebrate our birthdays! Kels and I are officially a year older now :(

Then I attended an amazing night at the Opry with Lorrie Morgan, Little Big Town, Charlie Daniels, Ricky Skaggs, Carrie Underwood, and (of course) Little Jimmie Dickens. We sat in the last row of the top balcony (literally), but it all sounds the same!

This week I get to finally enjoy some summertime. I slept in today and have only a few errands on the list. I'm predicting I'll have some time to sit on the porch and finish reading To Kill a Mockingbird!

Bohemian Rhapsody

You know, I have never quite understood the obsession some people exhibit concerning Bohemian Rhapsody. However, when my dad sent me this link of the Cal Men's Octet singing the classic, I came a little closer to understanding. It is enough to make Andy Bernard jealous!

And we think they look "good"?

This morning, I was just browsing the web reading some quality People.com when I ran across this slideshow of celebrity mug shots. Some of them are downright disturbing, but others are more respectable. Please be sure you look at #60 (Akon).

Ugh.

I'm supposed to be moving on Friday, and I just can't seem to get myself motivated to pack. I have always said that there's only one thing I hate more than packing: unpacking. But, I can't even get to that first stage right now. Part of this is that I'm not sure what I'll be needing to use over the next couple of days, particularly in the kitchen. I certainly don't want to be eating fast food for the next three days!

Christine is supposed to come over tomorrow, and hopefully I will find some motivation when there is someone watching to hold me accountable.

In short, my apartment is an official disaster, but I seem to have no desire to fix it. Perhaps moving during my first official week of summer was a poor decision...

Why so SMART?

Lately, I've noticed a new trend in products. Okay, maybe it's not completely "new", but it is an interesting phenomenon. Everything seems to be "SMART" these days. Here is a listing of just a few items I could think of off the top of my head...I'm sure the list is considerably longer!

1. The Smart Car. These miniature-sized cars are hugely popular in Europe due to their small size. The small size allows for better fuel economy and more convenience when maneuvering into tiny parking spaces or down narrow roads. Smart cars are supposed to be better for the environment, but they are NOT hybrid vehicles. They simply get better mileage and use less gasoline than traditional sedans. They've recently become available for sale in the US, but I'm still a little unsure of the safety issue here....

2. The "SmartPhone". It can do everything--in phone form. You can keep your calendar, organize your address book, surf the web, navigate to unknown places, play games, take pictures, take videos, write and send emails, text message, compose and edit word processing documents, and play music. Oh, and make a phone call.

3. Smart Water. This is one that I completely don't understand. After a bit of research, I have discovered that it is supposedly more pure than filtered spring water. It seems that the company has recreated the natural process that produces water, and they use this process to "make" water that has had no contact with possible contaminates. Then, they add some electrolytes to it (electrolytes are the important part of Gatorade that help keep you hydrated). Smart Water is an option, but I'm still a firm believer that "there ain't no water like Memphis water".


4. SMARTBoard. One of my favorite educational products, and I want one so bad I can taste it. These are interactive whiteboards, which allow teachers and students to touch the board to write and move things around with their fingertips. Okay, you can do that on a chalkboard, right? Well, yes. But you CAN'T save that chalkboard "end product" and use it tomorrow, or create that chalkboard setup ahead of time and flash it up there, or create an interactive slide show, or type something and see it on the board, or show an animated 3-D model of a molecule that students can manipulate on the board. These things will run you about $1,200, but studies show that they can increase student engagement and help increase test scores. And someday I intend to work at a school where I can use one full-time.

5. The Mac "Genius". Mac took it a step further when they started calling their in-store repair people "Geniuses". That's so much better than the name I would propose: "Smart People Who May or May Not Be Able To Fix Your Computer" (or SPWMMNBATFYC for short). Now, I am a life long Mac user who will use a Mac until they either no longer exist or I can no longer type on a keyboard. However, I will be the first to admit that these so called "Geniuses" have failed me on a couple of occasions. I'll still go to them because they have helped me too.
6. Smarties. One of my childhood favorites, this "smart" product has been around much longer than all the rest. I would like to think this whole fad began with this sugary delicacy.