WMJ gets a workout

Now that the final "What is it?" item has been more or less identified, it's time to move on to more exciting blog entries. But for now, here are photos of Dad/Paco in his Working Man's Jacket, after his final motorcycle ride of the season last weekend. The cycle is winterized and in the shed, safely sheltered for the winter.

Today Dad is at the Gustie-Carleton game, at least until it starts to rain or the wind gets too wild. I point this out because he wore the Working Man's Jacket to the game, demonstrating its versatility. While Dad is cheering on the Gusties, all toasty in his WMJ, I'm going out to use the leaf blower. I plan to use it arrange the leaves to spell out "Hurry Up, Baby G" in the back yard...

Close-up of Dad in WMJ

Final Mystery Item

The photo may possibly be upside down, but I don't think it will interfere with your identification of this item found at 823 Church Street. Now is your chance to use creative thinking. It's the last Mystery Item of the series -- the competition has been cancelled but may be replaced later in the season. It's tough to be in the running during Sweeps Month.

#4 What is it?

Game nearly over

I'm disheartened by the lack of enthusiasm and participation in the "What is it?" game. Dad wants to identify the last object, as if it's fair for him to do so, since he has the advantage of looking around the house for the object in question. Annie, you're back in. I'm going to post the final contest picture later today. That will be the end. El fin. It will be over, Grover. And don't think I'm not going to remember this when one of you has a contest on your blog. I can ignore your attempts to provide some interactive fun just as easily as you can ignore mine. You betcha I can.

Mysterious Item #3: Annie, step off

#3 What is it?
This one may present more of a challenge, even to Annie-the-Champ

Mysterious Item #2, for your guessing pleasure

#2 What is it?
[Hint: toilet paper is not involved]

Now it's time to play a game

It's that time of the semester when the work I have to do at school is increasing geometrically (even though I don't teach math methods). Since that isn't a good blog topic, but given I'm not doing much else lately, I have a time-waster idea to take up blog space. Humor me while I do some minor procrastinating and also divert my thinking away from (a) my eager anticipation of the impending birth of Baby G, and (b) missing Hannah D.

This is a contest of sorts, so follow along closely. Let's call this game, "What is it?" for lack of a really snappy title. To play, look at the picture below, which is an object in our house, and identify it. I expect a great deal of excitement about this game. Here is a trial run, so to speak.

What is it?

Yes, it is the toilet paper holder and a roll of toilet paper in the green bathroom. This was a give-away, but you get the idea.
Time to get started--I can tell you are barely containing your excitement to play.

#1 What is it?

Submit your answers in English, please.

It's almost Hannahween!

Here's a poem/song about Halloween from childhood--"Everything is Black and Gold" written by Nancy Byrd Turner (I wonder what kinds of byrds she turns...crows?). I thought about it today when I was in class with my methods students, and now I wonder if they learned it in kindergarten or first grade, too. Did you?

Everything is black and gold,
Black and gold, tonight;
Yellow pumpkins, yellow moon,
Yellow candlelight;
Jet-black cat with golden eyes,
Shadows black as ink,
Firelight blinking in the dark
With a yellow blink.

Black and gold, black and gold,
Nothing in between -
When the world turns black and gold,
Then it’s Halloween!

Recently Evan and Elisabeth sent pictures of a Hannah Halloween costume fashion show, so here's the Hannah-version of Turner's poem...

Hannah Rachel is pink and sweet,
Pink and sweet and soft;
She’s a peapod, next a cow,
poofy princess, scarecrow now.

Balding head and deep blue eyes,
Diapers filled with poo,
Smiling and posing for us all
With an occasional drool.

Pink and sweet, pink and sweet,
She smells so baby-clean.
Because she's a special treat,
It’s always Hannahween!