The frog fair has been on edge since the frogs left for their Croak Quorum. It’s very loud.  The nurse’s office is providing earplugs for students who can’t sleep. 

“More bugs?” asks @Mina Doughbreath.

“What?? I can't hear you over the frogs!”

“MORE BUGS?”

“NO, THANK YOU.”

But the fair goes on, with new food carts selling unrecognizable but strangely aromatic delights, wrapped in ferns, squirming. 

And new players -- mummers? Mimes on the midway! Performing peculiar acts in hideous masks, epic tales of an inscrutable nature.

I've won a handful of leaves in a ring toss game. What can I trade them for?

And so it all came down to that one final face off, a grand tête-à-tête. Single handed combat. Person vs nature.

Big Molly and me. Eight seconds in the ring.

After hearing all the points of view in their Imperial Choir -- including @dirtpicnic's beautiful serenade -- the frogs were still divided, and the only way to solve it was one wild frog bucking ride.

If you were there in the grandstands, you know it didn't last long.

Just five seconds till I was bucked off. There was no taming Big Molly. And I accept my defeat fair and square.

As a result, I've agreed on behalf of the school that we will no longer attempt to train and break the giant frogs of lower campus, and will allow them free range status. We will share the grounds and the woods with the giant frogs, and learn to get along as equal stewards of this beautiful part of campus.

I will admit I am still a little miffed that -- prancing around the corral in her victory lap -- Big Molly went and swallowed up my trusty rodeo clown @dirtpicnic! That seemed a bit mean spirited. But it is was a noble sacrifice that will do doubt help ensure this hard won peace with our gigantic amphibian friends for some time to come.

Happy trails!

School's been awfully quiet since summer started...

Ever since getting swallowed by that giant frog Big Molly, @dirtpicnic's been a little bit... different.

Big Molly sure did hop funny for awhile after swallowing my #1 frog-fightin' rodeo clown, but then she disappeared into the woods, and eventually @dirtpicnic came hoppin' out, just like nothing had ever happened.

Since then, @dirtpicnic's been spending their summer down by the reflecting pool, staring at the lilypads. Watching the gnats.

I figure it's best just to give a little space. Maybe it's all part of this ascension business.