Saturday, August 16, 2008

My Mother is Laughing at Me

On the way back from getting more parts for marshmallow blasters, Klenda was asking about Octember. There is a Dr. Suess book in which all good things are promised to happen on the first of Octember.

A teachable moment. I decided to explain how and why a writer would write about something impossible. I unfortunately chose as an example the phrase "when pigs fly."

I started with the question: Can pigs fly?

Answer from the back of the van: Yes.

If you put a pig in an airplane it can fly.
If you have a large enough eagle (or small enough pig) it can fly.

Me: No, no, can a pig fly by itself?

If it has a rocket booster, or jet pack it can fly.

Me: No, I mean all by its piggy self without help.

Zoomlian pigs fly all the time.

Me: Can an EARTH pig fly ALL BY ITS PIGGY SELF?

If its on Zoom it can.
If its a really smart Earth pig it can make its own jet pack.
If it climbs a tree and jumps it can fly (although not for very long and only in one direction).

Me: Never. Mind.

Oooh! Ask us more impossible questions!