[A few weeks ago= we asked for Little rhymes used when you say good-bye to family or friends= =2E  Like “See you Later, Alligator” or “After While= , Crocodile”.  More suggestions have flooded (or trickled) in]On The Bus, Octopus   In a Few, Kangaroo   Ti= me To Scoot, Little…

CONTINENTAL QUIZ= !  What basic facts of physical geography do you know about each of th= e seven continents?  This is a short (only 28 questions), simple (if y= ou paid attention in 7th grade geography class), and fun (if you= get cheap thrills about stumbling on a correct answer…

[Overheard at my= house lately. Not saying who, but it doesn’t sound like me.]   I’m not retired. I’m now a professional grandmother.=   This apron is just my cape on backwards.   I came. I sa= w. I forgot what I came for.   My favorite verse? “I&#8217= ;m…

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote “What the hear= t of the young man said to the psal= mist” . . . . Tell me not, in mournful numbers,Life&= nbsp;is but an empty dream!For the soul&n= bsp;is dead that slumbers,And things are = not what they seem. &nbs= p; Life is real! Life is&nbsp= ;earnest!And the grave is not its goal;Dust thou art, to dust returnest,Was no= t spoken of the soul.   Not enjoyment, and not&n= bsp;sorrow,Is our destined end or way;But&= nbsp;to act, that each to-morrowFind us f= arther than to-day.   Art is long, and Time is&n= bsp;fleeting,And our hearts, though stout and&= nbsp;brave,Still, like muffled drums, are beat= ingFuneral marches to the grave.   In the world= ’s broad field of battle,In the biv= ouac of Life,Be not like dumb, driven&nbs= p;cattle!Be a hero in the strife!   Trust no&nbsp= ;Future, howe’er pleasant!Let the dead P= ast bury its dead!Act,— act in the&= nbsp;living Present!Heart within, and God o&#8= 217;erhead!   Lives of great men all remind usWe&= nbsp;can make our lives sublime,And, departing= , leave behind usFootprints on the sands&= nbsp;of time;   Footprints, that perhaps another,Sailing&nb= sp;o’er life’s solemn main,A forlorn&nb= sp;and shipwrecked brother,Seeing, shall take =…

Smiling as I think of these evaluations and summaries of our li= ves . . .   “Dogs are the leaders on our planet. If you see two lifeforms, o= ne of them making poop and the other carrying it for him, whom would you as= sume is in charge?”…

You all know the Bible story of Jesus as He commanded the de= mons to come out of the man called Legion. The demons begged Jesus to cast = them into the swine herd nearby. Jesus did, and the pigs ran over the cliff= and into the Sea of Galilee.…

I was asked what I thought the favorite pies in all of Ameri= ca were.=A0 I joked “Pizza pie” and got a dirty look. Evidently= , they were thinking “dessert”. Then I suggested 3.1415= 9 and again they found my humor underwhelming.   So, I will ask you AND give…

Dear God, I read that Thomas Edison made light, but in Sunday s= chool they say that You did. I bet he stole your idea.~Amanda, age 9Dear God, thank you for the baby brother, but what I prayed for was a = puppy.~Jared, age 5 Dear God, I bet it…

One evening during a violent thund= erstorm a mother was tucking her son into bed. She was about to turn of= f the light when he asked with a tremor in his voice, "Mommy, will you= sleep with me tonight?" His mother smiled and gave him a reass= uring hug.…

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost   Whose woods these are I think I know.His house is in th= e village though;He will not see me stopping hereTo watch his woods= fill up with snow.   My little horse must think it queerTo stop without a…

[Thes= e purport to be REAL answers given by children in the classroom. Does sound= like my 4th grade classroom, as I recall. And I should know: I = was there for 3 years.] Q: Name the four seasons.A: Salt, pepper= , mustard, and vinegar. Q: Explain one of the…

[New Semester Begins! Here are a few phrases that as a Profe= ssor I’ve found useful over my four-year stints teaching in college/grad sc= hool (1984-1988 & 1996-2000) evaluating students, fellow professors, de= ans, and staff]   I see you’ve set aside this special time to humiliate yours= elf in…

What do you know about deer and deer-hunting/harvesting?  = I know I’ve had run-ins with deer that landed my car in the body shop= =2E  I know that Wyoming deer are wild and gamey tasting and Wisconsin= deer are corn-fed and wonderful to eat.  Here is a TOUGH quiz.  =…