Randomly Happy - October-the longest month of the year

 

When I was teaching, I always called October "The Month that Never Ends."  Why, you ask?  Many reasons.  

1.First, we usually get our first real cold front during October.

2.In addition, there are no school holidays in October, at least not where I live.  

3.October is the month of Homecoming.

4.October is the end of baseball season and beginning of Basketball season.

5.In schools, we celebrate "Red Ribbon Week" during October.

6.Then, the piece de' resistance... Halloween.

7.It's 31 days long!!!!  And depending on what days my paydays fall on, I might         have to go way longer without a check .

Let me be more specific... (click on a photo to enlarge it)

1. Weather change -For about two days, maybe twice this month, it will be about 20 degrees cooler than we're used to.  When there is a weather change, kids do strange things.  This is backed up by scientists who say that windy weather tends to make students more energetic, and there is scientific evidence that students' negative behaviors peak up to two days prior to a full moon. These weather changes are when kids are "pushing buttons" according to the science experts. 

2. Teachers do not get Columbus Day/Indigenous People's Day off from school.  No holidays or extra days off the whole month. Every so often, students will have this day off, but teachers never do (around here).

3. Homecoming is a week long celebration in which  alumni are invited back.  It usually involves a parade where clubs build floats and have some friendly competition against other clubs, bands, dance teams, and whoever else wants to perform.  This is mainly for high school, but the energy trickles down to junior high, and even some of them participate in the festivities. 

Who will have the best float? Which grade will win the spirit stick? Will we win the homecoming football game?  Who will be crowned Homecoming King and Queen?  There is also a dance for the high schoolers. 

 And last... there is this "LITTLE" thing called a Homecoming mum started some time in the 1960's as a sweet token of affection for a young lady from her date. The idea of the homecoming mum no longer requires a date to give you the mum.  Girls and their moms make them at home, each one trying to outdo the previous one, and it's mostly for high school girls, but some junior high girls will have them. It has grown exponentially.

4. The World Series starts today, and games 1, 2, 6, and 7 (if needed) will be played right here in Houston.

  Basketball season started October 19th.  End of one, beginning of another, and THE WORLD SERIES! (Not to mention soccer, hockey, and other sports, too)  This makes for a "fun" October.

5. (I wrote a whole post about this last week.) Red Ribbon Week this year occurs from October 23 to October 31.  RRW is an attempt to encourage kids to be drug free.  Personally, I think we should do things every day to encourage students not to use drugs, particularly when there is no connection between the activities of RRW and a drug-free lifestyle.  Kids sign the pledge card and wear the red ribbon even when you KNOW they partake of drugs.   Schools sometimes have door decorating contests (which, with junior high is super chaotic).  They'll also have activities like wear crazy socks, crazy hair, and twin day.  It gets the kids riled up.  I'm not sure how well it works at deterring drug use.

6.Culminating Activity - Halloween.  Kids always ask if they can wear their costume to school (no).  But they sure do bring their candy, and this starts before actual Halloween night, but it lasts till at least early November.  The excitement lasts for days! And with Halloween landing on a Sunday, I am even more thankful I am retired.

So think of your child's or grandchildren's teachers during this month-that-never-ends!  Here come more funnies:

Now THIS is Texas!

Here's a punny Halloween costume:

This one is my style, and punny, too!

This is basically accurate!

And so is this...

Look at these adorable kiddoes!

And last, but not least, my favorite!

Neighborhood Cat Lady! (Me in the future! LOL)

I'm linking up at Stacy Uncorked and Comedy Plus.

Have a great week!