The Lame Game

So today was my first Latin class of 2009 and wow, my prof's cooooooool.  He's a Scottish Roman expert who handles the class very well and has a great sense of humour.  There's also a spectacular keener in the class; one of those middle-aged, feels-compelled-to-answer-every-question type guys.  I'm not saying he's mean or anything, just that his classroom demeanor is more Breakfast Club than introductory university course.  The keener sat in the direct front and centre of the class, my usual spot, except that this guy got there before me, therefore he's an awful person.  Anyway, here's my favourite keener anecdote of the day:

Prof: "Around the fourth and fifth century AD Latin disintegrated.  It didn't completely disappear, but it fell apart and, when it next appeared in the eight century, was much closer to French than it is to classical Latin.  Does anyone know why this happened?"

*short pause*

Prof: "Because of the fall of the Roman empire, which was a very messy business."
Keener: "Yeah, that was messy."

*awkward silence which my prof quickly filled because he's awesome*


I also learned that my old friend and past babysitter is coming to visit with her husband.  I think the visit is a bit of a check up on my brother and I after what my father did this year but, hopefully, it won't be an overcast visit.