i got an A+

My first class in Project management ended last Monday and I have been anxiously waiting for my final grade. Really I knew what it would be as the instructor gives out a weekly grade each of the five weeks and it's not too hard to figure out the trend. And yet I checked every day to see if the instructor had posted it.
I always claim to have a liaise faire approach to formal education. I was lackadaisical in my attendance way back when in my undergrad years. At the MBA I took attendance more seriously but viewed the reading assignments as more recommendations than requirements. And yet, I always fretted about that final grade, checking daily to see if it was posted.
I am pretty good at the whole school thing. I view learning as a separate activity from school - you can learn without formal schooling and not learn in formal schooling. The goal of school is to make the grade. And I am very good at figuring out what must be done to earn the points that add up to that final letter. Sometimes it's class participation, sometimes it's homework, most of the time it's taking exams. Fortunately I have the God given talent that enables me to read the entire text the night before the exam and synthesize it enough to ace the test the next day. Whether or not I retain the information is another matter, after all, schooling and learning are not the same thing. And so far, in my project management program I am making the grade.

mowing the lawn

The quintessential American suburban white noise of lawnmowers has returned to the sound scape in my neighborhood. And this year I am joining the ranks of homeowners in the weekly summertime ritual of mowing, edging, blowing and general lawn tending. Rather than paying someone else to do the work I am stepping into the breach. I don't own a lawn mower, nor a weed whacker, although my wife did buy a leaf blower a couple years back.
So where to buy the requisite equipment? The major home improvement chain stores have entire mile-long isles of gleaming lawn mowers. Judging by the sticker prices these behemoths should not only mow my lawn effortlessly but BBQ my hamburger at the same time while keeping my beer cold all the while. I think I'll go the used route at the thrift store. My lawn is small and I don't think it warrants a second mortgage.
I'm thinking a nice little electric job would be just the ticket. Al Gore will be proud of me. No doubt he'll nominate me for some kind of statuesque award... I can picture it in my mind's eye. Walking down the red carpet pushing my gently humming lawn mower in my jet black tux. Have to go with the bow tie, keep it understated, none of this wild color stuff for me. Maybe a subtle pinstripe of black velvet. My beautiful wife on my arm in a flowing cream, backless gown, a string of pearls around her neck. Yes, I can see it now.
"Excuse me sir, do you sell used extension cords, really long ones?"<