Les Jones

Home Life > Hand Jive

I was trying to remember if August had 30 or 31 days, so I used a trick my Latin teacher showed us, which I think most people know*.

Melissa showed me a trick she uses when she forgets which is her left and which is her right. (No, really. She has a degree in computer science, or I'd worry about the girl.) Put your hands out in front of you as if you're pushing against a wall. Make fists with both hands, then extend your thumbs and index fingers. The hand that makes an "L" is your left hand.

* Knuckles represent months with 31 days. The valleys between knuckles represent months with less than 31 days. Don't use your thumb. Starting with an outisde knuckle, it goes

January - knuckle - 31 days
February - valley - less than 31 days

Etc. The only trick is that when you get to the last knuckle you count it twice. Once for July and once for August. Then you go backwards to the valley for September.