I do realize I have absolutely no idea about the way the American (or any other) school system works. I can't really compare, since I don't have the basis for it. I only know that I was bitterly disappointed in school, before reaching the university.

I visited my cousin one day before her Literature final exam, and among other things talked about the book I happened to read then, "The Picture of Dorian Grey" (sp? I can't sp today. Hopefully, I can still spell). She never heard of it until then. The following day, on her exam, none of the books they got to read on their own fit any of the questions, but what I told her on "Dorian Grey" was perfect for one of them. She used the 5-minutes conversation in order to answer that question, and aced the exam. I'm not sure what my point was in telling this story, but something in the conversation reminded me of it. I can't remember now what it was. Silly brain. Oh, well. I typed all this paragraph, I might as well post it.

My English Lit O level essay about Great Expectations carefully got around me not having read past the first few chapters by explicitly detailing how important both of Pip's first meetings with the convict were. I mean, I knew how it ended, I just hadn't partaken of the words myself.

I don't know if semantic wriggling was in the curriculum, but I picked it up somewhere. I did end up with an A.

I only know that I was bitterly disappointed in school, before reaching the university.

I remember that my first year of college was eaiser than my last year of high school.

I believe Simon spelled it "Arabber", Nilly. Cool, Sarameg. I get a kosher toaster. Munch would plotz. Jesse, they have fruit wagons and they call out about their wares...they call 'em "arabbers" or "A-rabs" cause they're nomadic, I think. In the Simonverse, it is a dangerous gig.

Jesse, Araber [Edit: I've heard about it on H:LotS, that's how I Googled it]:

A person-- usually black and male-- who sells fruit and vegetables from a horse-drawn cart, calling out what he's selling in a sing-song voice. The advantage is the food is fresher than in a supermarket. Risley Tucker, the main suspect in the Adena Watson murder was one. (Three Men and Adena) "Araber" is pronounced differently, depending on the neighborhood. Crosetti pronounces it "ar-ab-er," Lewis- "a-rab."

Hec, the Roxie is in bad financial trouble.

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I don't know if semantic wriggling was in the curriculum, but I picked it up somewhere.

Semantic wriggling got me through my comps. It's a valuable life skill.

Pronounced, AY-rahb, there are these guys who have these horse drawn red carts with yellow trim that go into neighborhoods all over Baltimore to sell produce (mostly.) The horses are small ponies. They have been around longer than anyone seems to know.

I'll see if I can find a picture. They were sort of in danger of disappearing a few years back, but I still see them around.

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I feel like I can die now. Nilly nillied Homicide. I would track down Simon and tell him, I swear, if only he could get what Nillying is. I did get to teach him "HSQ".