Sassy A-N-T-E-G-R-O-P-E-L-O-S

Ok, ok, just so we can get this fun-fact outta the way: I won the fourth grade spelling bee.  The word was: EQUATION. I know, I know.

I remember my father and I practicing on spelling bee eve, spring of 1990- something.  The next day I stood bravely in the Charlotte Ave Library rockin in my boat shoes, donning my teal, hand-knit sweater.  Equation. E-Q-U-A-T-I-O-N!  Yeah buddy!  I won a prize and the only thing I remember is that I wish I had come in second because that prize was waaaaaaay cooler.

My husband to this day laments his elementary school spelling bee experience. Apparently, his principal had an extremely thick Boston accent therefore my husband, asked him to repeat the word: C-A-R-N-A-G-E several times, use it in a sentence and tell him the language of origin.  He then proceeded to spell it according to his principal’s accent. For those who are not familiar with a Boston accent it would be: K-A-H----N-I-G-E. Ding.

In sixth grade, I was in the spelling bee as well, however I was eliminated because I misspelled the word P-E-R-S-E-C-U-T-E.  I remember several of my classmates spelling things incorrectly on purpose.(Gasp.Shock.Horror.Not)  I thought that was weird, but I get it now. We were on the crest of middle school and the cool kids were realizing they were cool, and well, …I was still wearing my teal, hand-knit sweater.

This past Thursday, the Scripps National Spelling Bee ended in a tie for the first time in several decades! I love it! Even though I am a science teacher, I love words and I am kinda obsessed with the fact that big words come from little words.   I geek out every time I get to explain a word like: P-H-O-T-O-S-Y-N-T-H-E-S-I-S. 

Two young boys:  14 year old Sriram Hathwar and 13 year old Ansun Sujoe were announced as Co-Champions of the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee! Congratulations gentlemen!

They are Co-Champions because both boys misspelled a word and then both did exceedingly well after their individual blunders. 

Corpsbruders?  Ansun (left), Sriram (right)
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Sriram misspelled C-O-R-P-S-B-R-U-D-E-R (a close comrade).

Ansun misspelled the word A-N-T-E-G-R-O-P-E-L-O-S (which means water proof leggings).

Ansun honey, this is unfortunate because if you had spent more time being a middle schooler and less time spelling words you would know that the barely-there-(probably waterproof)- leggings aka antegropelos are totally trending right now in middle schools and its an act of God that I do not see vag and/or ass crack on a daily basis.

Enjoy your swag gentlemen.  But please, go back to middle school, chat with your corpsbruders and check out that chica wearin’ antegropelos.  Oh yeah and take some time to watch Akeelah and the Bee. Best. Movie. Ev-aaaah.