I couldn’t believe it when Jolly woke me this morning and told me it is Monday!  What … again already???  Sheesh … I think one Monday per month would be enough, don’t you?  Please forgive me if I’m not all here this morning … I had a wild weekend, y’know!  Writing, reading, playing Animal Crossing with the girls (it’s a video game, not anything to do with funky genetics), doing laundry, feeding the squirrels and the birdies, etc.  So how was your weekend?  Do anything exciting?  Well, Joyful has been in the kitchen for a while now, so let’s go see what treats she has concocted for us, then we’ll find some things to start this week out right!

Boy Wonder

Mike Wimmer of Salisbury, North Carolina, is 12 years old, and at the end of this month he will hold both a high school diploma and an Associates Degree from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.  Wimmer has a 4.0 GPA at the college and a 5.45 GPA in high school, earning him the role of his class valedictorian.

Wimmer was always a bit ahead of the other kids his age in school, for he was a sophomore in high school when other kids are only finishing up primary school.  And then came the pandemic.  Mike apparently got a bit bored and decided to kick things up a notch, so he took “a few” extra classes, enrolled in the community college, and completed his final two years of high school plus 2 years of college, all in one year.  He will graduate from the college on May 21^st, and from Concord Academy High School on May 28^th.

Despite being several years younger than his classmates, Wimmer said he gets along well with them — and was even nominated to Homecoming Court last year.  Wimmer, who has an interest in robotics, told CNN that he’s “the math and science guy.” He’s always had an affinity for technology — he got his first iPad when he was 18 months old.

He learned almost all of his programming and robotic knowledge through trial and error and online videos, according to his website, Next Era Innovations.  He also created his own startup, called Reflect Social, which “combines popular social media platforms with Internet of Things (IoT) devices, providing a new dynamic social experience,” according to its website.

But lest you think he is just a math & science nerd, he has a conscience, too, for he says …

“My entrepreneurial goal is to build technology that enables people to live better lives.”

Okay, well, I wish him the best in his future … I suddenly don’t feel so smart anymore since it took me until my 30s to earn my college degrees!

Could I interest you in a few cute pictures to bring smiles to your faces?

And … the moment I know you all like best about Jolly Monday … ‘TOONS!

Phil over at Phil’s Phun where I get most of my ‘toons, was on a coffee thing this week …

And of course I’d never be forgiven if I didn’t have a cute, funny animal video … today we got raccoons!

For Hugh, just a bit of Maxine to hopefully bring a smile to his face …

I hope you all found something to start your week with a smile, and I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!  Share those smiles, ‘k?  I see too many people out there wearing frowns or scowls and I bet you can make them smile by sharing just one or two of your own.  Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa, Jolly, and Joyful!