T.G.I.F.

Okay, I have really nothing to “T.G.I.F.” or “T.F.I.F” about now, do I?
I mean, every day for me is Friday. :-)
I just couldn’t think of a good blog title due to driving overload!

Nathan has been in Long Island for the last week and a half with his cousin.
I could tell he was having a good time there, because whenever I called, the conversations were short.
“Hi, Nathan. How are you? Are you having fun? What’s going on?”
“Good. Yes. Not much.”
“K, well, I love you and miss you.”
-pause-
He’s probably playing X-box with one of Eric’s cats in his lap.
“Um, yeah, love you. –pause- Miss you, too.”
"Okay, well, call you tomorrow, k?"
-pause- "Yeah, okay, bye, Mom."
-click-
Funny, most parents might be disturbed by the lack of conversation, but I'd rather have a 2-minute conversation with him than a 20-minute conversation, because at least I know he's having fun when it's short. :-)

The surprising thing was when he called me twice within two hours on Thursday.
When I finally got in touch with him, he immediately started out the conversation with “Mom, you don’t have to say yes…”***
Parental Light Bulb: 1) He wants a BIG favor, and 2) I am under total pressure to say “yes”! :-)
So, I said, “Nathan, what do you need me to do?”
I knew he was either asking to stay longer or for me to fetch him from the ferry (1 ½ hours away in New London, CT).
His Dad could pick him up at 7am, meaning Nathan would have to take the 5:30am ferry, or I could drive down and fetch him at a more convenient time (i.e., later in the afternoon, so Nathan could spend his last night with his cousin playing X-box with gray cat in his lap ‘til the wee hours of the morning!).
Since I didn’t have anything else to do, I agreed.
And, thus, I spent about 4 hours in the car this afternoon going from here to New London, CT and back again.

***It was ironic that Nathan posed his question to me the way he did, because he’s a big believer in the MPQ.
What’s MPQ you ask?
Ah, all you parents know it. It’s just never been defined for you before.
I think I was the first lucky parent to be let in on this bit of teen angst!
It’s the Mandatory Parent Question.
That is, if I ask Nathan, “Will you please take the dog for a walk?”, Nathan responds by asking "Is that a question or a MPQ?"
So, I’m asking him a question to which he can answer “yes” or “no”, but the response I'm looking for is “yes”.
Nathan’s thinking is that I should just say, “Nathan, take the dog for a walk, please.”
But, you know, I’ve tried that tact before, and either way, the eyes roll heavenward, a huge sigh is heaved, and then minutes later, I hear, “Ooooooooooooooooooooooooookay.” :-)

Interesting Sign on the Way Home I’ve Never Seen Before: “Don’t stop. State Correctional Facility.”
I guess if you see a hitchhiker in the vicinity, it would be a pretty bad idea to give the dude a lift. :-)

Soundtrack for the Road Trip:

“Where are All the Nice Girls” by Any Trouble

http://www.amazon.com/Where-Are-All-Nice-Girls/dp/B000KZRKNA

“Details” by Frou Frou
http://www.amazon.com/Details-Frou/dp/B00006EXLQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247271799&sr=8-1

“Time Being” by Ron Sexsmith
http://www.amazon.com/Time-Being-Ron-Sexsmith/dp/B000GW8PZ4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247271972&sr=1-2

Oh, as promised, one of my favorite scenes from “The Accidental Tourist”, BUT as we all know, your doggie should be in a harness and seat belted in.
Um, Monty usually rides in the hatch of the Rav, but I felt I needed to say that in case my pet sitter ever reads my blog.
I think her quote was, “If you don’t strap him in and then get in an accident, well, he’s just a 35 pound projectile!”

I absolutely LOVE Geena Davis' character in this movie, um, well, yeah, big surprise. :-)