pieces

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/columns/story?columnist=hays_graham&id=3372631&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab6pos1

I’m currently taking classes “just for fun” at UT. You know, in all my spare time. But it has been fun - I’ve managed to take two years of Portuguese (anyone want to send me to Brazil?), and a couple of business classes.

I was taking the last exam in my business class this morning. The conversation behind me right before it started was a little… disturbing. And all together ridiculous.

A little background. In this class, 25% of your grade is basically given to you (homework quizzes that can be retaken until you get 100%, and attendance quizzes, for which you have to show up to 5 of the 6 classes that she randomly hands them out). The last 75% of your grade is made up of three exams and a final. Only your three highest grades count, so if you do well enough on the three exams you can skip the final. Oh, and if you participate in 2 studies throughout the semester, you get two extra points. On your final grade.

Anyway, the girl behind me was saying that she calculated that you need an 86 average on the exams to get an A (I haven’t verified that, but it sounds about right).

“I just can’t believe you need an 86 average on the tests to get an A. I mean, that is just so not fair.” No indeed, having to get a B in order to be given an A is just completely ridiculous.

what my husband has to say, here’s his first sermon:

Parable of the Sower, Matthew 13:1-9

Caroline’s mom finally identified this plant. It is all over the backyard, in both purple and white. And its roots run deep. I know, because I’ve pulled up two of them. The rest can stay.

I love the roses in our garden. They are especially wonderful because they were obviously chosen for their scent, rather than their beauty.
There are five different colors, all completely different varieties.

Here are the pink roses:

And the white:

Here are more pictures from our New Year’s Eve party (hey, I’m almost to 2008, and it’s only April…)

We hosted a Vegas-themed murder mystery, and it was lots of fun. The mystery was not particularly scripted, a format I would definitely use again.

A little blackjack:

A dead body:

Who did it?

Elvis doesn’t seem to care:

I promised to post these pictures a long time ago. To those not in attendance, yes, Jack really was Elvis at our New Years Eve party.

We had lots of fun.