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My Very Enormous Mouse Just Sat Under Neville's Plate
Sometimes I have absolutely no idea what to write so I just give my pen free reign and let it take control. It is often fun just to see where that leads as my pen has a mind of its own. There is no guarantee that my muse will be stirred into action and take over, but it doesn't hurt to try.
The worst that can happen is a few pages of meaningless babble, or in my case, a page half full of doodles. This often happens if I lack inspiration but my hand still needs to be active. My doodles are random and often meaningless drawings of cartoon-like faces, characters, or other silly subjects.
One of the most common tips for finding inspiration or ideas to write about is to look at your life and childhood and find prompts from among your myriad of experiences. Even if you think you have lead a dull and boring life as soon as you pause to think back over it, certain memories and events will rise to the surface. Well, I am no exception.
My Very Enormous Mouse Just Sat Under Neville's Plate
— Grade 6 Class, 1967, Maleny State SchoolMy Very Enormous Mouse Just Sat Under Neville's Plate. This sentence does has a meaning. Can you tell what that is, and what purpose it serves? Well, I think it was in about 6th Grade of Primary School (Elementary School for my US readers) during a science lesson that our teacher asked if anyone knew the order of the planets from the sun in our solar system. If I remember correctly, no one did.
The teacher then said the best way to remember the order of the planets, or any other sequence of things for that matter, was to create a sentence of words beginning with the first letters of the things you want to remember. He asked the class if we could come up with a sentence to represent the order of the planets in our solar system. Hence, we brainstormed for a few minutes and came up with, "My (Mercury) Very (Venus) Enormous (Earth) Mouse (Mars) Just (Jupiter) Sat (Saturn) Under (Uranus) Neville's (Neptune) Plate (Pluto)."
To this day I have never forgotten that sentence so have always been able to recite on call the order of the planets. Many of you have probably been taught a different sentence to remember the same thing, but that's mine.
A Free Verse Acrostic Poem (of sorts)
My only reason for this
Verse is to attempt to
Ensure that I can
Mentally embed, not
Just the planetary order from the
Sun, but also to
Understand how memory works,
Newton's theory of gravitation, or
Perhaps just reach a word count.
Do you have special verses for remembering the order of the planets?
No Internet!
As I write this my wife and I are spending the night at the home of some friends who don't have an Internet connection. Maybe it will actually do me good to go one night and day without the World Wide Web's controlling influence. It will actually be enjoyable to have some real live interaction without the distraction of smartphones or the computer (they don't have phone reception yet either). I am glad I am not younger and caught up in the current "Pokemon Go" craze.
Anyway, it is because I have no Internet and can't access HubPages, my other writing projects, or research anything that I am using pen and notebook to write these random ramblings. The final outcome will be that you, my unfortunate readers, have been lured, hook, line, and sinker into spending your precious time in the hope that Jodah has some important hidden message to convey that may change the world and make it a better and safer place.
Well, up until this point I really didn't have a message, but I feel a little guilty, so here is my message:
Jodah's Very Important Message!
Love your family, appreciate your friends, don't unfairly judge your fellow man, and show kindness to everyone (including animals).
Oh, and remember the order of the planets from the Sun (you never know when that knowledge will be important): "My Very Enormous Mouse Just Sat Under Neville's Plate."
Happy Hubbing!
Comments
I love your poem and the mnemonic device. I refuse to believe Pluto is not a planet. I learned it that way so that's the way Pluto will stay with me. Very cool!
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You were very fast in finding this hub, Flourish. I too refuse to believe that Pluto is not a planet. It was classed as one for the major part of my life, so a planet it will always be. Glad you enjoyed this.
What a delightful, light-hearted hub, John! It's refreshing on a day when the news is still depressing, both here and abroad.
My mnemonic is 'Read Out Your Green Book In Verse'. The colours of the rainbow were taught to me in this way, at infant school! I think we had one for the planets but I obviously didn't find it memorable!
Thanks for a cheery diversion this afternoon.
Ann
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Hello, Ann. Glad you found this to be an enjoyable diversion from the depressing daily news. Thank you for sharing your colours of the rainboe mnemonic. I will try to remember that because I can never remember the rainbow colours. Cheers, have a good afternoon and night.
Very cool ramblings. Some people's ramblings are worthy of listening to. What is just in your mind makes my mind think. I was born and raised in Flagstaff -- the home of the discovery of Pluto.
Not mine but to this day I remember it; Every good boy does fine.
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Thanks Eric. I can always rely on you to read whatever I write it seems. I wish I could be as loyal a reader as you. glad you found these ramblings worthy of listening to.
What a fun acronym for remembering the order of the planets.
I love a good free write. Sometimes there's nothing better to get the creative juices going. Some of my best writing has started that way.
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Thanks , Larry. I agree that the occasional free write is invigorating and sometimes produces great writing. Glad you enjoyed this.
I love your ramblings. I love your drawings too.
When I was taking electronics in High School, we had a mnemonic device for remembering the order of colors on resistors to determine their value. This was Bad (Black) Boys (Brown) Race (Red) Our (Orange) Young (Yellow) Girls (Green) Beyond (Blue) Victory (Violet) Garden (Gray) Walls (White).
When I got into the navy, being a bit more salty, this device was altered into Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls But Violet Gives Willingly. It goes to show you what the rough company of men un-tempered by the civilizing influence of women can do.
Just thought I'd share. Great work.
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Glad you liked my ramblings and my drawings Mel. Thank you for sharing those two mnemonic devices for the colors of resistors. It shows the company we keep affects our language and thoughts.
Wow, Mel. I don't think "salty" quite covers that. Anyway, here's mine from piano class, Jodah: Every good boy deserves a favor (for the lines of the treble clef, EGBDF).
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Aha, The Dirt Farmer...that would explain Eric's "Every good boy does fine." as well. Thanks for reading and your comment.
Haha, I love this hub, John! It is delightfully fun and creative. Your title does draw one in, as far as being curious as to the meaning behind it! Seems you've always been creative since a child to have come up with that phrase.
I've always been a doodler too of just faces and then geometric designs. I never know how the doodle face will turn out, and I am always surprised LOL.
We did have to learn the planets in order from the Sun, and I still remember them, but I believe I just memorized them in order. I think Pluto is still a planet though, being that is what I grew up being taught LOL. I will say it enough times to where it wears a memory path into my brain. Memory is a funny thing. Thank you for sharing of those years.
Sometimes these non-planned hubs turn out to be the most creative in my mind.
I think it is a good idea for us to take at least a few days break from all Internet access and just enjoy real conversation and real people! One time, right after a hurricane came through our state, it knocked out the power for days, and that turned out to be the best time ever spent with my family. We played board games together and such, and enjoyed real conservation! One of our pastors from when we lived in the City, did an experiment where they turned off the tv for a whole month, and they really did not miss it and grew even closer and enjoyed each other so much more. So, there you go.
Peace and blessings
How cute, Jodah, I thought this hub would be a cute little short-story and instead I received a history lesson, very tricky. I take the younger kids in the family and teach them their parent's telephone number by turning them into cute little rhyming songs. Their parent's weren't always happy about this but hey, you cannot rely on cell-phones. How many times have you lost or broke your cellphone and didn't have any of your important numbers.
Thanks Bro. The drawings struck me first. Not bad at all. We say Ride Your Green Bike in Coronary Care which helps us to make the ECG leads red, yellow, green and black. When I went to New Zealand things were a bit different in CCU.
The planets I use to say as The earth, mercury, venus, mars, jupiter, saturn, uranus, nepture and pluto. Don't remember why I learnt it that way. I simply started from where I live. (smile)
A great effort, although your acrostic poem is a little bit different. Don't they spell out a word? here's mines. You're seen this before although I did unpublish it:
H appy the sweet cave of your enchanter,
A pple of valour, surfing your desire.
P ain and joy torment your burning fire,
P ulsing out as innocence expire.
Y our sacred sanctum bared, forever missed,
V oicing a concern of lover’s anguish.
A ttempts to console ‘midst tinted red,
L ocked in embrace with tender kisses said.
E lysian is the flow on stain-filled sheets,
N o fear, a smile aglow, my virgin sweet.
T hus touched thy face, a shining bless´ed sight,
I n fullness now a heavenly delight.
N ow filled with love our bodies draped in white,
E loped into the silence of the night.
Manatita, theFlame-Weaver. ©Copyrighted 20th February, 2016.
Hey John, I really liked this. It was so unique that I have adopted it in case, I ever need it. :-)
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Thank you for sharing that, Theresa. Your comment adds value to this hub. I'd love to see a sample of your doodles sometime. You are right saying that it is a good idea to take a few days break from the Internet, TV and such, It does help you to appreciate people and things around nd you more. Glad you loved this quirky hub. Peace and blessings.
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Hi Dana, that is a great idea using cute rhyming songs to remember phone numbers. They are one thing I always have trouble remembering. So, I fooled ya, huh?
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Thank you, Manatita. I appreciate that you liked the drawings etc. Your "Happy Valentine" acrostic poem is good too (notice I titled mine "acrostic of sorts"?) I think a lot of people were taught to put Earth first as the centre of the universe :) The "we are more important than anything else" syndrome :)
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Hey Al, glad you liked this and adopted the mnemonic sentence. You never know maybe you will need to remember that one day.
My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us New Potatoes.
I'm not sure "new potatoes" was the original ... maybe it was "nut pie"? "Nice pecans?"
Also, HOMES for the names of the Great Lakes - Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior.
"Just writing" when you don't know what to write is great writer's wisdom. I think Anne Lamott would approve.
There's another sentence to remember the other set of notes between Every Good Boy Does Fine ... but I can't remember it. Anyone?
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Thanks for sharing those, Jennifer. I like 'em a lot. HOMES for the Great Lakes...good stuff. I do think we need to "just write" as often as possible...sometimes it may turn out sh*t, but other times can lead to something special.
Aww - so cute! So, so adorable! I loved your sketches, Jodah. Your poem is cute too. Everything in this hub is charming. So sweet :)
Aha! Now you are making me to grab my sketch-book. Lol. It has been a long time and I haven't visited my 'Art world' (smile). Anyway, it was a joy going through your hub. Keep it up!
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Hey, Surabhi. I am glad you like my sketches especially. This is something I have decided to do more often and use them in my hubs. I am glad I have inspired you to grab your sketch book also. You have to promise to show me the results :) Thank you for reading and enjoying.
Ha ha - alrighty, my Sweet! I will. Have a happy Sunday :)
Great subject, Jodah. I studied in the Netherlands, and I still remember the mnemonic for alkanes (parafins) in Dutch: "Met Het Propje Buiten Pendelen Heksen Hebben Ook Negen Dekens"
The completely free translations is something crazy like: "With The Wad Outside Commuting Witches Have Also Nine Blankets". But that's of course a useless mnemonic. I hope you enjoyed your WiFi free zone.
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Thanks buildreps. I am learning a lot of new mnemonic phrases in these comments that I wasn't aware of previously. Yes, the wi fi free zone was a welcome break for us.
Well, you certainly have a lot of comments considering this was just a random writing exercise based on a childhood memory. If anyone ever wants to glimpse the creative process, they need only to read this article. Great fun and of course, I love the message at the end.
Having No Internet drives me nuts! That is like torture for new age kids. Thoughtful hub
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Bill, I was surprised by the amount of comments too. Thanks for the heads up recommending this as an example of the creative process. Cheers.
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Clive, I go into withdrawal if I have to be without the Internet for more than a day and I am certainly no new age kid :)
This is very clever way to remember the solar planets. My children would go nuts going without the internet,lol.
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Thank you for stopping by to read this, Winter Rea. I hope you found it interesting.
Your title should hit the list of Best Titled Articles of 2016. How creative you were in writing this interesting post on the planet line-up. I have a different way of remembering them -- but right now I can't think of it.
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Hey, Dianna, glad you found my title worthy of that accolade. I thought it may pique some interest to say the least. If you can remember how you remember the order of the planets, I'd love to hear it. :)
Just love it! So creative, informative and fun as well!
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Thank you very much, Blossom. I appreciate you reading and your kind comment. Glad you enjoyed this.
Jodah, I have adopted your sentence as my reminder also. Look what a childhood memory can produce: an enjoyable read!
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Well, MsDora, I am honoured that you chose to adopt my sentence as well. Yes, it is surprising that a simple childhood memory could do so much. Thank you, and I am so glad that this hub was an enjoyable read for you.
John, I have to tell you, I do not ever remember one science class in school. Of, course, I was an outstanding student. Probably the best student in the whole wide world. (I should stop watching political TV also, that is clear.)
Great sentence, one Dr. Suess, would be proud of. It looks like the basis of a children's book to me. One that has all the ingredients right there for the mixing.
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And I thought I was the world's best science student, Mike..(not). At least I could remember the order of the planets from the sun. A children's book you say...hmm..well I have a catchy title, main picture, and the plot idea Don't I? I have ghost written stories for other people's children's books, just reluctant to do my own. Thanks for the encouragement.
Hi Jodah you have put together an interesting and a worthwhile read here. I like the way you used the photos.
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Hi Devika, thank you for reading another of my hubs. Glad you found it worthwhile. I try to use the photos to complement the text as much as possible.
This is a cute way to remember a subject. I have been out of the loop. I was in the process of downloading the new windows ten when my laptop crashed. I had to take it to the computer man and it took him all week to repair. I had no idea I would be so lost without it. Now I know, I'm hooked. Enjoyed reading about your school memory...
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Thanks for reading about my mouse, Ruby. Sorry to hear your computer crashed. I have heard some horror stories so am not game to download Windows 10 to mine. I am always lost without the Internet too.
Cutest mouse ever! And what a clever title. Who can resist reading this hub? I couldn't and from the looks of all the comments I'm not the only one. Is there no end to your talents John? Lucky for your readers, the answer is obviously no. Sharing.
Happy thoughts...
Audrey
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I couldn't hope for a better comment, Audrey. You are too kind. Have a great day.
This is a very nice hub as always. You are a very talented individual John Hansen. I love that little mouse sketch. :)
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Thank you for your constant support and kind words, Missy. Glad you like my mouse :)
How clever! I love your artwork, John. Have you thought of illustrating children's books for a living?
I don't remember being taught how to name off the planets. The only thing close to that is how my piano teacher taught me to know the piano keys. Treble clef: Every Good Boy Does Fine.
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Thanks Shauna. I have considered illustrating my own children's book. I have ghost written about ten now for others. But I lack the confidence to illustrate an entire book. Maybe one day.
You should seriously consider it, John. You've very talented!
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Cheers, Shauna :)
John
I don't have an 'acronym' for the planets, I just remember them because I'm fascinated by 'all things space'.
Loved some of the advice here. it's so easy for some things to just 'take over' and family gets unintentionally pushed to the side. Keep the family and loved ones where they should be, close to you.
Blessings
Lawrence
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Thank you for reading this Lawrence, and for that very sound advice. Cheers.
I think you did quite well for something off the cuff. After all everyone now knows the planets and their order from the sun.
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Thank you, Deb. This hub may be good for something then :)
Actually, I remember the planets easily. Good verses for this though. I might start using it. And like Flourish, I think Pluto is a planet, so...
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Galaxy, I thought my enormous mouse may appeal to you as it looks a lot like a rat. I agree with you about Pluto being a planet too. Thanks for reading.
John, I love your cartoons and your poem, and the way you remember things.
Just as I was reading "that may change the world and make it a better and safer" the host on the TV station said the exact same thing "change the world and make it a better and safer"
Blessings my friend.
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Hey, Shyron. Hank you for the kind comment. Glad you enjoyed this and we do need to make the world a better, safer place. What a coincidence.
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