He calls me every Tuesday night as he’s walking back from his on-campus job. He finishes at 10, heads over to get a late night snack from one of the places near his dorm and phones to fill me in on his classes and what drunk co-eds he’s escorted around (he works for the campus security department and makes sure that no one walks alone at night). Tonight was no different.

I got a 99% on my last Music Appreciation paper.

I got a B on my Sociology paper.

I had to escort a blind girl today and carry her Braille typewriter between Building A and Building B – it weighed a ton!

Inevitably, the conversation turns as he hears me yawn. (Figuring he’ll catch me in a moment of weakness.)

I need you to fix my Mudhens jacket. The elastic at the bottom is broken.

Can you approve my housing application for next year? I need to put down a $200 deposit and they won’t take it out of my student account.

Tonight, though, it was the question that I’ve been dreading.

So, about this summer? I’m going to take math and philosophy, but since I’m going to be living at GrammandGrampa’s house, I’ll need a car.

He knows, I’m sure, by the silence that I’m digesting this info. Not that we haven’t talked about it, but I’m very sure that MY view of the kind of car he “needs” is different than his view.

Don’t you think the Magnum we had was safe and reliable?

It was, I agree. It was also a gas guzzler. And far bigger, faster, and more expensive than I had envisioned getting for him to make his way the 8 miles back and forth from MomandDad’s to campus. I had my sights set on something like a Honda. Used. And slow. Sigh.

—- I have a feeling this won’t be the last Tuesday evening I fall asleep dreaming of cars. —-

I don’t think there are any memes left on this site. Back in November-ish, (if you haven’t noticed), I removed everything. It was a personal decision – one that I only slightly regret – but all of my memes are gone, too. So, like, I’m sure you know nothing about me, right?

Annnywayyyyy, when Kerri over at Six Until Me posted this one, I decided I’d grab it.

Because stealing memes is one of the things I do.

40 Things

1. Do you like bleu cheese?
   No. Blech. Gorgonzola, yes. Bleu? Uh-uh.
2. Have you ever smoked?
   Yes. Still do, from time to time. Shush. I know. No, really. SHUSH.
3. Do you own a gun?
   A glue gun? Yes. Although I’m scared of it so I rarely use it.
4. Favorite type of food?
   Middle eastern. Wait. No, Mexican. Wait. Fuck. Sushi. Damn. No, wait. Italian. Sigh. Food. Yea, I like food.
5. Favorite type of music?
   Guitar blues. Think Eric Clapton. Chris Duarte. Mick Taylor. Muddy Waters. I’m also a HUGE Liz Phair fan. Go figure.
6. What do you think of hot dogs?
   As long as they have mustard and relish (hold the ketchup and other Chicago-style crap), then I think they’re the perfect accompaniment to a summer baseball game.
7. Favorite Christmas movie?
   A Christmas Carol. This one. No other will do.
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
   I hate tomato juice, so Bloody Marys are not on the list. Do I have to go to work? Coffee. No? I’ll take a mimosa, please.
9. Can you do push ups?
   Yep. Real ones, even.
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?
    My wedding rings (Hand-me-downs from Mom and Gramma). Then the rings I bought for myself – one from India (garnet) and one from Amsterdam (moonstone, pearl and amethyst).
11. Favorite hobby?
    Seriously? ONE? ReadingKnittingCrochetingWritingPhotography. Snort.
12. Do you have A. D. D.?
    No, but I have a D.A.D.
13. Do you wear glasses/contacts?
    Several pair. Not all at once, though.
14. Middle name?
    Jean. Same as my Mom’s.
15. Name three thoughts at this exact moment:
    – Good to have Shortman home for the weekend.
    – Wow, we just signed the contract to plant the For Sale sign in the front yard.
    – My drink needs to be refilled.
16. Name three drinks you regularly drink:
    Water, coffee and tea. Yes. I drink those way more than vodka/limeade OR wine. I just don’t tell you all about it. Snirk.
17. Current worry?
    Puh-leeze don’t let there be any holdups on our condo closing.
18. Current hate right now?
    My white pasty legs. Shorts weather is right around the corner!
19. Favorite place to be?
    Bed.
20. How did you bring in the new year?
    Asleep? Yea, probably.
21. Someplace you’d like to go?
    I want to do this.
22. Name three people who will complete this.
    You. and You. and YOU.
23. Do you own slippers?
    Wearing them right now.
24. What color shirt are you wearing?
    Purple.
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets?
    Meh. I like high-count cotton. Or flannel.
26. Can you whistle?
    Kinda. Poorly.
27. Where are you now?
    Sitting on my couch listening to Shortman and Mr. Hot watch Wrestlemania. Yes, I know. It’s been a tradition in this house for the last 14 years.
28. Would you be a pirate?
    Do I get to have a parrot? Hell, yeah.
29. What songs do you sing in the shower?
    I don’t sing in the shower – I get soap in my mouth.
30. Favorite Girl’s Name?
    Emma.
31. Favorite boy’s name?
    Michael.
32. What is in your pocket right now?
    Lint.
33. Last thing that made you laugh?
    Shortman – talking about the time that Brett Hart high-fived him when we went to see wrestling – live and in person. He was 6. (Shortman, not Brett Hart.)
34. What vehicle do you drive?
    A black Dodge Avenger. On the really rare occasions that I drive anymore.
35. Worst injury you’ve ever had?
    That time I got a soccer cleat shoved into my shin. Then, five minutes later, the SAME PLAYER kicked me in the same spot. And yes, I was wearing shinguards.
36. Do you love where you live?
    Now, yes. In a few weeks? Yes. I love anywhere my family is.
37. How many TVs do you have in your house?
    Three. There were four, but Shortman has one in the dorm. They’re always tuned into some sporting event.
38. How many computers do you have in your house
    Seven. Four are functional.
39. If you changed your job, what would it be?
    High School math teacher. (Gawd, please don’t let me lose my job.)
40. If you were granted three wishes, what would they be??
    To sell this house soon so Mr. Hot can move to Chicago. For Shortman to do well in school. Whiter teeth.

—- And world peace. Of course, I would wish for world peace. —-

Look! – up there – I have to blog for at least 300 more Sundays! Snirk.

• Chicken noodle soup on a wet, dreary day.
• Hearing the dog snore.
• Saying, repeatedly, “in 5 more weeks, we’ll be in the new place.”
• Mid-70s by the end of the week.
• A clean and organized linen closet.

—- Although that closet is only going to get cleaned if I get my ass up there to do it. —-

Wage a battle against embitterment and take part in Grace in Small Things. Thanks to Schmutzie, as always.

• Meet with mason who will fix more stuff on this house.
• Take dog to vet.
• Take Shortman to bank to close out an old account.
• Help The Diva pack his stuff that is still in the basement.
• Visit sister and kids.
• Pick up molding to repair columns on front porch. (Better than replacing the freakin’ columns like the inspector wanted.)
• Drink.
• Page through photos of the new place for the 16,283th time.

—- So Krissa will stop begging. —-

It seems like most of my animated film favorites, (to AB’s utter horror, I’m sure), are the Disney ones. I blame Shortman. Hours upon hours of watching the things -mean that now, every time I run across one, I flash back to the days of laying around on our bed, hitting rewind to watch his favorite scenes. Remembering how he used to lay engrossed, with his head on my lap; I can feel his silky little-boy hair in my hand.

Of course, the fact that I grew up (shush, I did grow up…kinda) watching Mork & Mindy and spent most of my young adulthood laughing hysterically at Robin Williams may have something to do with the reason that this is my favorite animated film. And this scene? Just listen to the voice – and tell me you don’t see the man behind it.

—- Nanoo nanoo. —-

To participate in Movie Clip Wednesday, post your favorite movie clip that matches the weekly theme and go to Anonymous Boxer to let her know. Write only the title of your movie in the comments, but on your blog it would be fun to know why you picked it.