A Funny Thing Happened . . .

What in the world could have happened in the eighteen hours or so since that last post? I am glad you asked.

My afternoon office hours are the only official on-campus responsibility I have on Thursdays this semester. Several students stopped by my office with questions today, which is out of the ordinary, but that was not the highlight of my afternoon. Since I share the third floor of my building with the chemistry department, I am accustomed to labs taking place while I am doing my mathematical thing. However, I do not typically hear the familiar notes of John Williams introducing the arrival of Darth Vader. Sure enough, I look up to see the Sith Lord heading into a classroom, conspicuously garbed in doctoral regalia (do you plan to ask if he has the sheepskin?). Lord Vader evidently administers the second organic chemistry test of every academic year. I asked a few bystanders if he found anyone's lack of faith in the Grignard synthesis disturbing. A couple of brave souls challenged him with lightsabers, but they fell victim to a mighty Force choke. I have no idea how I missed this occurrence last year.

While not quite as outrageous as this, the occasion made for quite a few laughs.