Tuesday, February 10, 2009

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.

25 comments:

Unknown said...

awwwww college life I only went one semester before becoming a beauty school drop out...

my guess will be 350

Unknown said...

oh I sorry deb meant to ask how is your dad?

Unknown said...

I was a History major in college and did not plan to become a teacher because I refused to take the required course in Pennsylvania history because of the professor. History is cool but the professor makes the difference

My guess is 1675

Emily said...

OK, Deb, I cannot resist this contest! I'm assuming you wanted a total number for the month of Feb. So, being the daughter of mathematicians (it's OK, I've made peace with it), I have based my guess on the average sum of umms. My official guess is . . . 2,156! Let's hope he doesn't suddenly, umm, break his, umm, established, umm, pattern, or, umm, you know.

Megan said...

Ummm, I'll go with: 2120

Unknown said...

Oh man! Is that what I have to look forward to when I am back in school to finish up my nursing degree? Hoagie smelling students??? Yuck!

Okay, my guess is 2312. Hey may be on a role when he's lecturing.

You're funny! I love it!!

J'Ollie Primitives said...

Emmm Errr I'm guessin' 2,276.

My last prof cleared her throat 70 jillion times. I counted. A-HEM.

Tenakim said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
k e r r y said...

ummm I am guessing your prof will say um 2,139 during the month of Feb.

Disclaimer: if I accidentally posted twice it was most certainly a mistake and I blame blogger.

Anonymous said...

I will guess 2180 for the entire month of February.. .. Don't snore in class either... you have some serious counting to do!

Di
The Blue Ridge Gal

Anonymous said...

P.S. Nope, no cherry trees on our property.... We had one when we lived in Maryland, but it was so rotten that we HAD to take it down or it would have fallen on the house...

I think that George would have thought that was okay... maybe would have even let me borrow his hatchet... lol

Di

MommyC said...

My guess is: 2222 Are you learning anything in class or having too much fun counting?

Miz Q said...

well pooh lol
This lurker was gonna guess all 2's also.
But since you live up north and it IS February and therefore there is a chance class COULD be canceled one night and it's important NOT to go over, ummmmm, lol I'll guess 1954 :o)

The Dental Maven said...

Okay. I'm goin' with 2160.

dcr said...

i really enjoy your blog and can't resist guessing. i'll go with 2015.

bernthis said...

okay, here is my guess based on a very good theory which I will not share right now. I'm going with 1900 for the total eight days.

3carnations said...

Great contest! My guess: 2,692

Mariah said...

Good for you for taking the classes. Hope your dad is doing well. My gues is 1313

Marinka said...

2009. And now I'm exhausted from all the math. What's your next contest going to be--to prove the theory of relativity? Because that's totally where I see this going.

Unknown said...

1,561 no more no less

kristin said...

My guess is 1840 total for the month of February.

Tenakim said...

I'm going 2225

Anonymous said...

2280

tbj said...

For my first official comment, I guess 2,668!

Unknown said...

now that i read everyones guesses i am thinking i didnt understand which is nuttin new for me....i rarely understand anything LOL

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