It has been forever and a day since my last blog post. The reason?
The Group Project.
Allow me to explain.
I am taking 6 credits online through our local college. For reasons yet to be determined, the instructor of one of my courses assigned us with a group project. Are you confused on what a group project is?
Allow me to explain.
Basically, you shove five people who know nothing about each other into a “group” and you give them an assignment with a three week deadline. Nobody does anything until there is one week remaining. Finally, the two anal people in the group attempt to light a fire under everyone else’s behinds. The anal people, of course, being myself and one other gal. We’ll call her Gladys, simply for the fact that Gladys is a fantastic name.
Gladys is a bit more efficient than I am and starts throwing out jobs. The other three people are not chiming in, so Gladys instructs me to do two of the people’s jobs and she will cover the third persons.
Fine. Great. Whatever.
I end up writing everything, except maybe one paragraph. Like 6 pages. I felt it was unjust and almost as if I did about 70% of the work for 5 people.
But I am not bitter. Nor am I complaining. I think group projects are swell and I thoroughly enjoy them.
So THAT is why I have not been blogging. In case you noticed. And you probably did not.
Oh, and fun fact! I don’t have anything to talk about. So, be glad you stopped by!
David was showing me his text-versation with his brother, Alex, last night. Alex had texted David a picture of a herd of elk. Of course, this makes David salivate, but what else is new? David replied in his text-versation that he, too, had recently seen an elk herd. And no, I am sure this is not at all brotherly-male-competition regarding who has seen the most big game in the past week.
Alex asks David to send him a picture of the aforementioned elk herd.
David tells him he doesn’t take pictures because, and I quote, “nobody here cares.”
Dear readers. This is a dig on me, the wife.
And, hello?! I care. See?
Not only do I permit this beauty of a deer mount to be displayed in my humble abode, I even took the time to adorn it with pink winter gear.
And we all know that every manly-man hunter desires for his trophy buck to be decorated with a pink scarf.
So, in the spirit of showing my husband that I care about the things he cares about, I snapped a photo of the view out my kitchen window while I was feeding the hooligans breakfast.
I told him it was so exciting that I nearly wet myself. It wasn’t entirely true, but at least he knows I care.
100 (meaningless) points to whomever can tell me how many deer are in the picture.
***
The other day I made brownies.
Handsome Dude: Mom, I love brownies! I hope my mom makes them for me!
Me: Um, I am your mom.
Handsome Dude: No! I mean my new mom! You know. When I am older!
Me: I will always be your mom.
Handsome Dude: No! You know. When I am a big boy. Like a man! That new mom I will get.
Me: Your wife?
Handsome Dude: Yeah! Her! I hope she makes me brownies, too!
I would like everyone to applaud my interpretation skills on that doozie of a conversation.
Thank you.
***
Alright. I best be off. I need to feed the pigs (joyous!) AND do my homework AND get to Handsome Dude’s basketball game.
Handsome Dude is playing quite well. Last game, he was the top scorer for both teams! We are ever so proud.
I, for one, missed you. And I am so glad you posted today. The pink-adorned deer is perfect. How can he say you don’t care?! I love HD. He makes my day.
I think the scarf seals the deal. How in the name of everything that’s manly can he assume that you care not? As for the picture, I see 4 deer, but there may be more. Mayhaps if they were to adorn themselves with beautiful pink winter gear they’d be easier to spot….though that may not be such a fabulous idea if your hubby or his brother were around. 😉
You fed the pigs? Does this mean they did not meet their doom and then take a ride in a tarp in your van??! ( I missed your posts too and also…I can only see 3 deer so I don’t think I won the 100 amazing valuable points)
I missed you, thanks for checking in!
I missed you! I can totes relate to the group project thing. Nobody was doing anything in my learning styles class g.p. Nothing was getting done. We were wasting enormous amounts of time doing nothing. I was the youngest in our group, so I was laying low, letting them lead. But.nothing.happened.for.hours. Finally I spoke up and got all bossy-like and told everyone what to do. They were so relieved and happy to be bossed around it was hilarious. And to think these fine people are out in classrooms today teaching folks.
My guess is 3 deer.
My friend Cassie butchered her pig this week and posted about it on FB. She now has 250 lbs of pork in her freezer. Made me think of you…
The hubs and I like the “Mom who makes brownies” story the best.
I missed you!!
I hope you clear up the whole future mom thing someday, otherwise we’ll know who his wife will blame for his inability to pick up his towels. Ahem.
Geesh, the thought of someday being a mother in law gives me the pee pee shivers 🙂
Also, I would write “I WROTE ALL OF THIS” on the paper. Because I’m old and bitter like that.
I missed you! Thanks for the update and for proving, once again, that socialism does not work! Two people did the work for five and the remaining three will get the same grade as those who actually did the work, ticking off the ones who worked hard and making them less likely to work as hard next go-round.
I see 3 deer.
You are very wise, sandy!
That Handsome Dude is one clever fella. About the time a guy gets old enough to have to do things for himself, he gets a new mom! Brilliant! She’ll even make brownies. 🙂
ROFL!
I think there are 3 deer.
Hooray for a boy who doesn’t care which team he is playing for as long as he is getting the ball through the hoop!
Group projects are the number one reason that I never, ever want to go back to school.
I missed you! But, I always just assume a prolonged absence means your husband snuck in some more animals for you all to chase after or something.
My son insists that he will NOT be getting married. He plans to live with his cousin L who is planning to marry. Then Wes will be able to share the joy of children without actually owning any. And the domestic benefits. I guess.
Most certainly, we missed you!!
I do not envy you this group project. I did not care for them when I was younger, no, not one bit.
Excellent interpretation skills!
And the basketball scoring made me laugh out loud! 🙂
I’ve been wondering where you’ve been! Group projects and co-operative learning are ridiculous. They DO NOT prepare anyone for the REAL world.
I see six. Am I nuts? Yep, I missed you too. Was feeling bereft. Forlorn even. Bordering on abandoned shunned neglected.
Top scorer for BOTH teams?!! LOL!
I see three deer. And I think it’s awesome you have them in your GARDEN. The most exotic animals we get are squirrels, usually missing assorted limbs and with chewed tails, courtesy of Psycho the Cat. You’re welcome.
Hate group projects. They are the worst. And they do not simulate a working environment no matter what the professors like to think.
Both teams? Impressive! 😉
HATE group projects. I was always the one trying to salvage my GPA and ended up doing the work. The single time I decided to not take it over and do it all and let each group member truly contribute what they could, we got an F and the professor pulled me aside after the presentation with this look of horror on her face and said “That was… awful.” So I took the project materials away from the other members and spent the next 2 days re-vamping the whole stinkin’ thing so that our written part of the project was good even though the presentation part had sunk to the depths of stinkdom. We managed to get an overall “C” for it. Never again.
Missed you!
I hate group projects as well. Everyone used to pick me cause the knew I was anal and wouldn’t risk my grade …thus doing all the work. One of the many reasons I let my teaching certificate expire…that, and after 6 years in the classroom, I’d rather be a Walmart greeter…
I missed you too.
I too hate group projects and I’m a teacher. We are “encouraged” to require “cooperative learning” assignments but I hate them for the very reasons that you mention. I am constantly rearranging groups to try to prevent that from happening but it is far too common and very hard to prevent. I liked hearing from your comment-ers that it is not real-world-like.
I loved the growing up to get a new mom story, but it makes me think maybe you’re doing a little too much “Mom work” for David?
I only see 3 deer, even after enlarging the photo quite a bit.
And great job on being the high scorer no matter which team he’s scoring for.
Nobody likes group projects. I’m sure I’d act like a 7th grade girl and find a way to let it be known I did all that work. I’m sometimes petty like that, plus group projects should not be assigned to anyone not in Jr High.
Go Handsome Dude!
This new mom/wife best get some tips on how to interpret conversations from you, I’d say. You are a good wifey to snap a picture of 3 deer (bucks? does?) for your husband to show you care. I thought the pink hat and gloves were plenty.