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#6 — CCCC Day Two Posted March 17, 2001, 10:48 PM Saturday afternoon. The boxes are packed and stored safely in Eric's room. Tomorrow morning, we'll load the van and head away from the horizon. Much has happened in the last 36 hours. The following epistles share some of the highlights... 7:15 am, Friday, Adam's Mark I awaken after sleeping too late and nightmaring about the dryer sheet incident. There was that one time, a dryer sheet got stuck in my pants, and I went to school, and it worked its way down the leg of my pants. While my mind struggles to deal with the meaning of this dream, I hear the phone ringing. Eric has called to say, Wherever you go, whatever you do, you're likely to wish you knew more about spam. What a compelling and true observation! 10:00, Exhibit Hall A Sales rep confesses to me that he'd be willing to strip in the middle of the exhibit hall for an adoption, but he'd prefer to be able to sue them rather than have them sue him. He settles for slyly popping a few balloons and "knocking" a few books in the trash. We learn that some Missouri scholars prepare for St. Patrick's Day with Patty O'Furniture and the half-price monk. Eric and I just plan to try to find something green. Eric says that if all else fails he'll duck tape pickles to his coat so that he won't be pinched. 12:00, Noon Eric hides behind the curtain and eats another cheese and pickle sandwich with massive quanities of water. Eventually, he has to visit the little poet's room. When he returns, he proudly explains that he issued forth a great stream of poesy during his absence. 1:32, Exhibit Hall I receive a vital and exciting email from my mother: A Yard Stick I know this is a yard stick 'cause I found it in my yard! You can use it to measure things -the depth of a mud puddle -amount of gas in your lawn mover You can play fetch with your dog You can even use it to build a fire! but, whatever you do..... DON'T PUT IT BACK IN MY YARD !!! (And people wonder where my keen wit comes from) 3:02 pm, Exhibit Hall Eric strikes up a conversation with nearby scholar and learns many important lessons: 1. Never wall up a kitty. Not even if it's a bad kitty. 2. Never follow anyone deep underground. Not even if he promises to give you great brews. 3. Do not buy a house if the soil is soggy. No matter how much of a bargain it seems to be. These lessons, Eric says, are an example of what is theoretically called poedification. 3:46 pm, Exhibit Hall...... Eric takes the microphone and expounds on his theory of play. He explains that play is an important learning tool. It allows engaged, student-centered learning that students enjoy. The more students enjoy what they do, the more they learn. And play, discovered learning, and such pedagogical activities are the one true way. 3:55 pm, Exhibit Hall Eric checks the Tamagotchi. It is unhappy. To raise its spirits, he needs to play a game with it. But the Tamagotchi doesn't want to play. Eric cackles, Arrr. Arrr. Time for discipline you little sum of a beech. I'll teach you to ignore my request to play. You'll play where I tell you, when I tell you, and how I tell you. Now play before you join the water-logged game boy. 7:00 pm, On the road to the Rocky Mountain Diner I learn that Eric is the kind of man who would leave $2.00 lying on the ground. 7:05, Rocky Mountain Diner Eric decides to order a little pre-dinner appetizer: a tasty Sam Adams and a pack of Fig Newtons. He proclaims his snack "a good, high quality culinary delight." We begin thinking of the trip home. I start singing, "It's fun to stay at the Y--M--C--A!" Eric looks me sternly in the face and says, no. We are not staying at the Y. End of discussion. Eric says, one thing is certain. I must place my hand in the hoof of the lobby horse for good luck before we can depart on this odyssey. Eric's evil disciplinary system erupts again. He yells at me and calls me "bad girl" and it's not cuz I'm dressed up like a trollop and singing old Donna Summer tunes. Eric says, bad girl. You didn't clean your plate. No dessert. :( I am very, very sad. I return, draggle-tailed to my room, wondering if I can work up the courage to go to the Rock and Roll Party. |
