Umm...aaah...uhh

***UPDATE - A FEW NEW PRIZE OPTIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED***
***ALSO, PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR GUESS INCLUDES THE ENTIRE MONTH OF FEBRUARY, INCLUDING THE NUMBER I GAVE YOU!!!****

My spring semester of school started a couple of weeks ago. I'm taking two classes. One class is online, the other is on campus. Campus? No big deal, right? After all, Statistics was in the big new Advanced Technology Center. It had a fancy coffee bar, big rolling office chairs, large desks...what's not to love? Well, ok, the statistics. But the surroundings were posh.

My other class this semester is History. History 107 to be exact. Post modern European history. A freshman class that I had brushed off for a while, knowing that it would be there when I decided to take it.

First day of class: I walk into my assigned building. A building, at best, that could be characterized as a fine example of 1960's prison modern architecture. Ugly as sin. Is it hoagie day or something? No, that would just be body odor and stagnant air.

It can't be that bad, right? I fight my way through the teenage crowd and find my room. What a room, indeed. No rolling desk chairs. Tiny, one piece chairs with a teeny tiny desk attached. A room full of people that look catatonic. I'll be fine, I tell myself. I sit down.

My professor walks in. He proceeds to sit down in the front of the class and finish his lunch. Crumbs are coming out of his mouth when he chews. A staff member walks into the room to ask him a question, but he can't answer it due to the large number of pepperoni slices, cheese, and crackers that have been crammed into his mouth. I answer the question.

Finally, class begins. The first 10 minutes of class, he explains that this is not high school, but it is college. He tells us why college is so much better than high school. I am 20 years out of high school, but who is counting? He then proceeds to take role. You know, where they call out your name, and you have to say "here". This isn't going well.

Finally we begin. Within the first minute, I know we have a problem. An "umm" problem. This guy says umm more than anyone I have ever heard. Really. Don't believe me?

IN ONE HOUR, HE SAYS UMM 312 TIMES. YES, I COUNTED.

Maybe it is just a fluke. I go back the next class. 263 times. I am now hooked. I am a counting fiend. The last day of January, I go again. 270.

See a pattern here? It is now February.

Feb 3rd - 275

Feb 5th - 270

Get where I'm going with this? Yep. A contest.

How many times in the month of February will Deb's professor say ummm? (remember to include the two days I told you about)

I've given you the first 2 days of February as a guide. I go to this class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Here is how many classes left this month...

Feb 10

Feb 12

Feb 17

Feb 19

Feb 24

Feb 26

The person who guesses the closest, without going over wins. What do you win? Glad you asked. You will win:

• A $25.00 gift card to your choice of:
• Starbucks
• Bath and Body
• Kohl's
• Macy's
• Home Depot
• HomeGoods
• Dunkin Donuts
• Barnes and Noble
• Amazon.com
• Trader Joes

and a custom designed

• Debland t shirt!!!

So, let's see some bets cast here...even my lurkers...you know who you are...

Just to umm, well umm, make sure we're umm clear here, here are the rules again.

1. You must be the closest without going over.

2. You must post a comment in the comment section on the blog, not by a private email.

3. One vote per person. Once you vote, you cannot change it.

4. I will accept entries until this Friday, February, umm...13th.

Tell your friends, tell your family...umm, tell, umm...whoever. Let the games umm.. well...umm begin.