Day 338: Home again

I went home on Tuesday. After I woke up, I walked over to campus to meet mom, so we could buy books and pay bills and stuff. And stuff. Books were cheap this semester. I did buy a massive Riverside Shakespeare, so now I have one to go with my equally massive Riverside Milton. I bought seven novels for the Dickens class. Some of them are huge. I wondered again why I was doing this to myself. It seems I'll have two weeks on each of them, regardless of length. Criminal Justice looks as boring as ever as far as the book is concerned. I already had one of the Dickens novels. Great Expectations. I read it for Harris's brit lit class my second year, and it looks like I'll have to read it again. Oooh joy. I read it in high school too. I sort of feel like a traitor whenever I confess to disliking a famous author, as if it's a shameful thing for a lit major to harbor. Oh well. Tuesday night, Sid had scored tickets to the Zion Canyon indoor theatre, where we went to this awesome 1950's show thing called Twist the Night Away. Despite being a dedicated X Japan fan, I grew up with doo wop and my mom's old music, so I absolutely loved it. It was lively and funny. Shaz, Sid, and I sat at the front and cheered loudly.

Then there was Gizmo. A six-week-old chihuahua puppy. Adorable. Crippled, because his left forepaw didn't grow properly, so he limped and sort of walked crookedly, when I could convince him to walk at all. He fit in the palm of my hand, and was just the cutest thing I'd ever seen. He was a gift for Mom. Shaz got him from a breeder for free (a non-crippled puppy cost $800, apparently) and gave him to Mom since she didn't want to breed Audi. Mom liked him, but knew he would cause problems once Dad got home from his business trip. Mom was right, so Shaz is keeping Gizmo. Audi was very jealous and out of sorts with the puppy around, partially because he got so much attention and also because his smell was invading her territory. She's been the alpha dog for two years, and was very displeased at the invasion. On Wednesday me, Shaz, and Sid, went to see Barnyard. Like most of the CGI movies that have come out in recent years, it was funny and bright and entertaining enough for children, but still full of double-entendres and jokes that only adults would understand. The plot moved too quickly to be plausible, in my general opinion. I wondered why mice tend to sound Mexican, and donkeys are black, or rather, are voiced by people of those ethinicities. I know the word "mulatto" comes from the Spanish word for mule. Anyone remember the Speedy Gonzales cartoon mouse? Huh. I decided not to think about it too much. We played Chinese checkers after dinner, which Mom won, mostly because I was a bit slow getting my pieces across the board and Shaz was trying to thwart her, badly. We also played some Uno. Sid and I won most of those games, followed by mom. I think Shaz only won once. Mom and I also went to Jo Ann's to buy me material and a pattern for a Halloween costume. I picked an outfit that I can also wear other times. I love the white Ren dress, but probably won't be able to wear it till winter anyway.

Thursday Shaz and I went shopping at the mall, where I bought Megan a birthday present, and randomly picked up a volume of manga. Dad came home. We talked some, me, him, and mom, some about what I'm going to do about grad school and all, and some about me and him, and our relationship. I think we came out of it okay. I also convinced mom to watch "V for Vendetta" with me, and she actually liked it, what bits she saw. After dinner I cleaned my car out, and waxed it too. Now it's all pretty and shiny,

Today I slept in really late, so I'd be all good and rested for work. Mom was nice and went to get my car oil changed for me. She also worked hard on the costume, and had it all basted together for fitting purposes so we could make sure it went all right. The non-fitting costume fiasco of last year brought on some bad memories. The costume looks great. Mom has some seriously awesome skills. As it turns out, I am officially a pattern size ten. Nevermind that half the time I can fit into kids clothes at the department store.

Now I'm at work. As it turns out, Logan quit, so I'm posted with Joey. I'm a good fast typist, but it still took me till 3 AM to get all my paperwork done. Pat and her stupid staff notes that she pins to the progress notes. Oh well. It was good to go home. I got back to the apartment and realized that I'd left all my binders in my room, so I need to go buy new binders before classes on Monday, get them filled with paper and all.

And I read the essay for my Writing Center orientation. I think I enjoy critical theory a little too much, but then I also seemed to have an abnormal enjoyment of philosophy as well, so there you go.