March 17, 2010 - Lists, including France

Sixth Grade Journal – February 22, 1995

1) Paris 2) La Marseillaise¹ 3) Napoleon 4) Eiffel Tower 5) Louvre 6) Notre Dame Cathedral 7) Bastille² 8) Arc De Triomph 9) Siene River 10) Wheat³ 11) Cars⁴ 12) Perfumes 13) Wines 14) Grapes⁵ 15) Pureness⁶ 16) Mont Blanc 17) Francs 18) Mitterand⁷ 19) Tri-Color 20) Tennis 21) Corsica 22) Juin⁸ 23) Avril 24) Août 25) Mai

¹ – Apparently this is the name for the French National Anthem. Since I realize how difficult it is to figure out the theme for this list, I’m pretty sure that it’s something like, “List apparently random things that can be associated with France.” This is sure to be a classic.

² – I love the combinations of things so far on this list: city, song, tyrant/leader, landmark, art gallery, chuch, prison… Either France is a weird place or I was a weird kid. Maybe both.

³ – Ah, I knew it was only a matter of time before things got interesting. If you’re anything like me, however, the first thing you think of when someone says “France” is “wheat.” Also, the first thing you think of when someone says “wheat” is “France.” Pretty obvious.

⁴ – I would consider this accurate if it said bad cars instead of just cars. Cars are pretty much everywhere these days, but in France the cars are bad. Really bad. Renault Twingo = lose.

⁵ – Here’s a secret I learned a long time ago: where you find wine, you usually find grapes. Not always, but most of the time. You’re welcome.

⁶ – I’m…not really sure what this means. Maybe I was going for “Pyrenees?” Sometimes it’s tough to know.

⁷ – François Mitterand, really? How random is that? I wouldn’t really consider him the go-to modern French leader (over, say, Charles de Gaulle) since all I know about Mitterand is his name and that he is French. He probably likes wheat, (bad) cars, perfumes, wines, grapes, and pureness, but I can only assume.

⁸ – Ah yes, the old standby: when in doubt, start listing months. Bilingual, yo!

Sixth Grade Journal – February 23, 1995

Today in school I have gym (P.E.) and computer class⁹.

⁹ – This must have been a pretty exciting day, because I don’t remember having two “special” classes like this on the same day in elementary school. Usually we did library, music, PE, computer, and Spanish, each on its own day. Quit breaking the rules, Mrs Robertson!

Sixth Grade Journal – February 28, 1995

1) Turn off T.V. & Lights when leaving a room¹⁰.

2) Don’t turn on the lights in daytime¹¹.

3) Insolate your house¹²

4) Only turn on heater in winter¹³

5) Only turn on air conditioner in spring & summer.

6) Don’t watch a lot of T.V.

7) Recycle

8) Make fires, candles, or flashlights¹⁴

9) Play outside a lot¹⁵

10) Don’t use the microwave so much.

¹⁰ – I don’t really know that this is good energy-saving advice as much as it is common sense. This should be second nature unless you’re one of those people who likes to leave the TV on for their pets. If you are, I’m not sure that you are my target audience.

¹¹ – As I’ve gotten older, I’ve turned into one of those people who prefers closing the blinds and using inside lights even during the day. Maybe it’s my way of showing appreciation for the miracle of electricity and light. Maybe I just love artificial light. Or maybe I’m just not that responsible when it comes to using power.

¹² – Next to this entry, Mrs Robertson wrote, “Good one!” That’s all I do is produce good ones, lady.

¹³ – Turning on the heater is for chumps. Even if you love the heater, why would you turn it on any time but the winter?

¹⁴ – Make a flashlight? I have no idea how to make a flashlight. Hopefully I was just confusing the words “make” and “use,” although that hardly makes things better.

¹⁵ – Wrong! Playing outside turns potential into kinetic energy, which is released from your body into the atmosphere, thus creating global warming. Next time you see a group of kids “playing” during recess, know that they are destroying our planet. Rotten, short-sighted kids.

Sixth Grade Journal – March 1, 1995

In kindergarten I remember snack time and nap time¹⁶. In 1^st grade I remember Mrs. Maxwell¹⁷.

¹⁶ – Who doesn’t remember snack time and nap time? Snacks and naps are the only thing keeping a five-year-old alive.

¹⁷ – Mrs Maxwell was awesome. She left Hager Elementary after I finished first grade, and when I found out that I was going to have Mrs Wheeler (the other first grade teacher) in third grade, I threatened to never go back to school again (Note: I know it sounds weird that I would have a first grade teacher for third grade, but thus is the weirdness of primary schooling). Wherever you are, Mrs Maxwell, I still think you rock.

Sixth Grade Journal – March 8, 1995

My feelings about the science fair are that there are many great exhibits and it will very hard to place this year but I think I can¹⁸.

¹⁸ – Wow, how politicized and pampered does that comment sound? It’s like I was reading a prepared response to a reporter asking me how I felt about being nominated for an Oscar. “Oh, there are so many great nominees, it will be hard to win but I think I can.” To let you know, my science fair involved testing various water supplies for C0₂ content and cleanliness, and I won in both fifth and sixth grade. Booyah.