Thursday, October 22, 2009

Thursday Thinking--Think, Think, Think




I love when Winnie-the-Pooh taps the side of his fluffy head and says, “Think, think, think.” Right now even when I tap hard on the side of my head, nothing shakes loose. It’s all used up.

When I heard that men speak 12,000 words a day and women speak 25,000, I didn’t hesitate to use mine—after all I had a quota to fill. Poor Calvin. I don’t think there was anyone more relieved than he when I got a job that required lots of talking. From then on when we came together in the evenings we could match each other word for word, I didn’t have two for every one of his, or beg him to use more than he had.

Tonight Calvin’s going to get the silent treatment, for not only did I use up 12,000 words on the job, I had to take the final for my World History to 1500 AD class. Do you know how much history that covers? Yes, yes, I’m sure you do since you learned world history when you were supposed to, but well . . . the professor thought we should know everything from the Classical Age to the Hans Dynasty and back to the Sumer and over yonder to Euroasia civilizations. He said something about "ecumene." It was a three-hour, 2 essay-question test and I wrote as many words as I could possibly think of (including that the Chinese invented paper and the compass in a noble effort to fact-drop), for even though I read the entire textbook it all just landed in a heap in my pile of fluff. Tapping into it didn't necessarily mean it came out in the right order.

Between my morning job, the test, and this post, well . . . every last word of mine is

11 comments:

Kathy’s Korner said...

Jane, you are positively eloquent!!!!! I know what you mean about all those facts landing in a heap. There was a period of time that I was memorizing a scripture a day and quoting the previous ones to myself. They were mostly scriptures that I had learned in my youth plus a few new ones. Literally, one day all the words fell in a heap in the middle of my brain and that was that, there was no unscrambling them...ever!

Derek-Jenny-Kaitlynd-Ethan-Dylan said...

Oh, man! I would hate to be tested on all that happened before 1500 AD. WOW!
It is all so interesting, however when forced you have so much less time to contemplate it all!
Good luck....I am sure you did a fantastic job!

Deidra said...

Ewww. That's why I don't like history classes.

Chris goes to work and talks in front of an audience almost all day. I stay home and only talk to myself every once and a while. :) Sometimes when he gets home and I just can't stop talking, I have to remind him, "I have lots of words left in me!"

Unknown said...

Oh Jane, what I wouldn't give to be the one to grade one of your papers. I would give you an A+ every time, I just know it :)

SANDERSON / MCCONKIE FAMILY said...

I soooo know what you are "not saying"!!! Kim works with scientific equations and complicated situations daily. I love to hear him explain the issues of the day! Sometimes he has to explain them more than once. I love learning...especially if I can choose the subject matter! He was lecturing on time efficency and work load simplification this week...I learned a lot...the theory of TOAST!

Cali said...

My favorite part about you taking this class was when you said (please don't be mad or embarrassed I'm saying this) "Ande, did you know Julius Caesar was a REAL person; not just a character in Shakespeare’s play?"
World History did you good. I'm SO proud of you mom.
Also, Kudos for knowing about Shakespeare's play... so cultured.

Cali

ps. As I reread this, it sounds like I'm making fun of you... but I'm not. I'm hugging you, and teasing you, and feeling SO proud of you (MY MOM). You do HARD things.

Neighbor Jane Payne said...

Oh ho, Cali. I had considered mentioning that bit of trivia that was stuck in my fluff, but had run out of words. Thank you for telling it. It makes me laugh to think of my ignorance.

I completely feel loved and hugged. Thank you!

Marie said...

I just love you!

Emma J said...

Ecumene? Oh, boy. I knew I was falling behind.

This was such a funny post. Congrats on finishing your course.

Barb said...

Clever last line, Jane. (I enjoyed the whole post.)

michelle said...

Oh dear. I would be so much trouble if I was in that class!

I'm positive that Marc speaks 25,000 words to my 12,000...