I shoulda stayed in bed

Very fine day today. Not. A migraine lurked in the shadows this morning, and instead of the usual throbbing pain and nausea, it eventually took the form of an aura; lights flashing in my eyes, a ring of kaleidoscope shapes twirling around the edges. I was observing two practicum students in a busy first grade classroom when the light show began, adding an extra-terrestrial feel. The aura entertained me for nearly an hour before disappearing.

Around 3:00 I'd had my fill of work and took a quick trip to Mankato for groceries. Cub Foods wasn't busy, so I moved along efficiently until I got to the produce section. A lethargic shopper parked himself and his cart in the lettuce section directly in front of the bags of mixed baby greens, which I was headed for. How anyone can take ten minutes to choose a bag of lettuce is beyond me, but that's what he did. He finally meandered off so I snatched the mixed greens and moved on. This is getting long, not to mention duller with each passing sentence, so I'll hurry it up. The big event of the shopping trip came when I turned to move my cart to clear a path for the Coca Cola guy, who was moving a flat of 24-packs into place. As I reached for the cart, I caught my foot on something, lost my balance, and gracelessly landed on the floor, whacking my head on a display bin. The ten or so people in the area looked at me like I was an idiot (for good reason), so I scrambled to my feet, grabbed my cart, and hurried toward the pickle and olive aisle, feeling humiliated. If I hadn't been wearing a bright red jacket, it would have been easier to blend in with the canned goods.

This is as accurate a visual aid as I could find on Google images.
Use your imagination to recreate the slip-and-fall.

On a cheerier note, Grandpa Charlie turned 84 today. Two of his friends took him to the Branding Iron in Preston for a birthday lunch, and he spent the rest of the day answering phone calls from well-wishers.

Grandpa Charlie

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.