SO MUCH TO SAY.

So little coherence.

First, I will let you all know about the fate of my car, Molly. I will spare you the long version and just say that she has spent much more time with the people at Saturn of Birmingham lately than with me. Muchly much much more time. In fact, the longest I have driven my car since the start of the school year has been five days. The rest of the time she has been either sitting and waiting to go to the shop, or has indeed been in the shop. Twice she has inexplicably shut down on me in precarious situations, and that is the main reason for all of this. There was also a bad clutch repair gone wrong in there, but that is, seemingly, in the past. At this poin they have identified part of the probelm. I have a loner car right now, and have also been in contact with Saturn Coporate to talk about possible replacement of the car if they cannot nail down the problem. That is how all that is going. The loner car is nice, but is not my Molly. It has no CD player and has a considerable lack of "pizazz" and "zip" both of which I have grown accustomed to.

Second, FIDDLER'S WAS A BLAST, as always. But this year there were two things missing, in my mind at least: Will and Meghan, and Jenn. All had reasons no to be there, but all were missed. There were many people there, however, and we had a good time. I saw Jamie, Allie, David and his lady, Joey (ageless with inexplicably teenage Catlin and Adam pictures), and got to meet David's birth mother. I also saw David's parents, my parents, and Nick and Ashley. I had a nice cold that allowed me to sing like rumbly Johnny Cash Joe, and Mama sang beautifully as always. I also played dulcimer, which went as well as my current skill level will allow. Joey backed Mama and I up on everything, and a great time was had. At the traditional "Behind the White House Jam" the next day I lost my voice to the cold but gained the knowledge of how to play many Simon and Garfunkel songs thanks to Jamie. Before I left I bought Jenn a surprise, which I cannot reveal yet because she hasn't gotten it. I already miss evrybody I got to see and I look forward to next year when Will and Meghan will be back with a jammin' baby Liam and Jenn can again experience the grandness of ho apple cider and funnel cakes.

Third, I need your help in deciding if I am crazy. I am currently writing a grant with the idea of dually enrolling in a physical therapy program staring next summer while continuing to complete my PhD in conitive psych. If you think this is a bit crazy, please do let me know.

Fourth, if anyone knows a good cassarole recipe that includes chicken and cheese I would love to have it. A) I love cassarole, and B) the weather is starting to get cool enough to appriciate one coming out of the oven.

Fifth, I have a word for you: HOMOSCEDASTICITY. See, statistics can be fun.

Sixth, Julie chased her tail the other day for what must have been 15 minutes. She apparently did it once before in front of Nick and I didn't see it and so couldn't fully appreciate it. But I saw it today, and man, it was probably one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Even better than when a dog does it. The best is that she never caught it. She just got visibly tired and had to stop, scowling at her own tail while panting, obviously plotting her next move in eradicating her own appendage.

Seventh, THE END.

I hope everyone is well (to Peeg and Stacy: moshi moshi).
Peace,
Joe

My Ma has another Blog! After the first messed up some how, she re-established as the Liturgy Mouse 2. I have changed the link to the side accordingly. Go and read the many adventures of my Ma.

Do it.... faster!

In other news I am so tired. Film @ 11. Or not.

I hope everyone is well,
peace,
Joe

It is an uncomfortable thing when strangers wink at you.

Ok, don't say to yourself "no, it isn't Joe." Because it is. You know of what I speak.
I'm not talking about some nice old lady or corduroy-clad old man winking at you about the fact that they just gave you a nice piece of bubble gum (they have that right, you know). No, I am talking about one person winking at another person knowingly because they are both driving trucks.

You heard me.

While my car was being fixed, I was driving a full-sized Chevy Silverodo. Let me tell you, things are different up there, in the land of gas-guzzling-no-I-cannot-park-there SUVS. First off, you must master the art of not hitting others in a vehicle obviously designed to be driven on roads proportioned for some long-dead race of giants. Secondly, people in other trucks nod, wave, and yes, wink at you as if you were a member of the Masonic Order of Truck Owners. At first you think folks are just being friendly, but after awhile the pattern emerges too boldly to be ignored.

For example: I was driving said rental truck the last day I had it, when I came to a four way stop. A guy about my age was at the other stop. I motioned him on. He motioned me on. I motioned him again. He accepted. As he drove by, the guy clearly winked at me. I did not do what to do, so, with the windows down, I said "hey, thanks" to him. He winked again. This time I did not have time to respond, though I waved to no one in particular, not wanting to be rude.

Question to truck owners: does this happen to you too, or am I just a purty young man in the South? Please do tell.

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe

Hi.
In lieu of a long and witty post, I will summarize the last few weeks with a numbered outline with explanatory asterisks:

1) School started (newly decorated office!*)
2) I ate some food (mmmm, food**)
3) I saw Will (busy***) and Meghan (pregnant****)
4) I saw Peeg (moving*****) and Stacy (moving as well*****)
5) I saw Liz (Ha******) and Josh (comp "party" usa*******)
5) I started 3,789,456 research projects here at school (!)
6) Nick set some Corn on fire********
7) My car broke*********
8) I got my car back*********
9) It broke again*********
10) I visited Jenn (beautiful and busy**********)
11) I got a rental car (Chevy Silvarodo!*********)
12) I made this post.

*The Jennifer Compton Honorary Office (she gave me the stuff)
**How do you do your Dale's?
***Never EVER throw away your paper
****LIAM!
*****JAPAN. (sweet baby jesus)
******Where did this nickname come from?
*******Party on, Josh
(!) No, really
********We still ate it
*********How I miss her (Molly The Saturn)
**********How I miss her more (Jenn my girlfriend)

I hope everyone is well.
Peace,
Joe