since I can’t concentrate, oddly enough…

And for once I’m NOT being sarcastic. I’m not used to the inability to concentrate here in my shiny new job where it’s usually so quiet and peaceful. Today, however, they are coming out of the woodwork. I think it’s because the registrar’s office has finally decided to start registration for spring semester. Usually this is something that is scheduled well in advance, but since our new computer system is (repeat after me!!) all screwed up, they seem to be doing everything by the seat of their pants this semester. Or the skin of their teeth. Or both. They’re like, "lalalalala… OH!! Early registration!!!! Okay, start that NOW!!!!"

So ten thousand gazillion students are pouring in wanting a grad audit right now so they’ll know what to register for, and ten thousand gazillion more are calling/coming by wanting to know where the one they requested a week ago is, even though they were told when they requested it that it would be months. Because we have to get the seniors who are up for graduation cleared first. And we are running ridiculously late on THAT, because of… yes!!! The all-screwed-up-computer-system!!! So I’m getting to talk to people like the one who just called and was quite testy with me because someone told him he could have his grad audit in a week (the same somebody who told him fairies will leave him money under his pillow in exchange for his teeth, I’m sure) and he expected it to be ready by now, and just how is he supposed to know what to register for without an audit??? I was tempted to tell him to try taking a look at his CHECKSHEET, which tells him EXACTLY what to take, but settled for suggesting nicely that he meet with his adviser. Because that’s kind of what advisers are FOR, dude. Of course, his adviser is the one who told him to get a grad audit. Because, as I am finding, the advisers would way rather have us do their work for them than do it themselves. Kind of like the students would.

ANYHOW, I’m getting a teeny bit testy.  However, it’s STILL not the College of Ed!! Hooray!!!!

Since I can’t concentrate I’ll just spend my time between the calls and the walk-ins doing this weird random survey I found somewhere- stolen from a stranger, I’m pretty certain.

Aside from Driver’s Ed, who really taught you how to drive?
My mother taught me to drive an automatic. My father tried to teach me how to drive a manual. It was horrible – he had this ancient green Ford truck, and he was still drinking at the time so wasn’t real patient teacher. The truck was also hard to shift, being several centuries old. Mostly I remember him yelling at me and me yelling back and lots of crying. Good times, good times! I also tried to take the truck out myself once and practice alone, and ended up rolling down our very steep driveway, into the neighbor’s yard and very very nearly right on into the neighbor’s house. Then in college my boyfriend/first husband tried to teach me to drive his manual, and it was a similar situation. Lots of yelling, lots of tears. Upon reflection, I am stunned that I EVER learned to drive a manual, let alone ended up greatly preferring them.

What’s the one thing you love/miss about your mom’s cooking? My mother was an excellent cook. I miss quite a lot of things about her cooking, not the least of which is having someone who can cook so well making me meals. She made fantastic spaghetti sauce, and the best fried chicken ever. And really good mac and cheese. And BBQ chicken, which she just poured BBQ sauce over and baked, but it was SO good. She was actually a very healthy cook, although my fond memories don’t sound like very healthy food.

As a kid, who was the first famous death you remember hearing about? I could swear that I remember hearing about Martin Luther King’s assassination. I remember very clearly being in our elementary school library, sitting at one of the little tables, and hearing the announcement over the loudspeaker. I would have been in first grade, so I guess it’s possible.

What kind of music did your parents listen to while you were growing up? They listened to the lovely WNCW, which was a country station. My brother and I would make fun of Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton and Conway Twitty and all those guys. I still remember wailing, "I beg your PAAAAAAAAARRRRDON, I naaaaver prommmmmished you a ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARDEN!!!" in our best southern yowls.
 
Would you rather be blind or dead? Well, I certainly hope this is a typo – I should think anybody would pick blind over DEAD.
 
Who are you going to vote for in 2008? I’m seriously hoping that Stephen Colbert will be running, as both a Republican AND a Democrat. I’m dying to see him debate himself, and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have in the White House. Failing that, I’m guessing it will end up being Hillary. It will be another election where my family and I are polar opposites! Well, actually, that would be EVERY election. Good thing we don’t talk politics.

You go, Stephen!!!
 
Favorite element? I think they are the ugliest cars ever – I have no favorite! Well, maybe the one Baker B and I were making fun of in Highlands once, as we walked along a very crowded tourist-laden street. We were saying very silly things like, "I think I’d MUCH rather have a Phosphorus! Or maybe a Hydrogen! OOooOOOooo, how about a atom or a neutron!!" Then these women right in front of us turned around and glared, and said, "Would you like to go AROUND us???" Apparently not everyone thinks we’re as funny as we think we are.

Who has your heart? Well last time I checked, I was still in possession of it myself – if it’s gone, I want it back. RIGHT NOW. I’m kind of using it.

How did you wake up this morning? The same way as I always do during the week – right before the buzzer starts buzzing. I have to say that I no longer lay there trying seriously to think of ways to get out of going to work, which is wonderful. I don’t leap right out of bed – that’s never going to happen – but I don’t feel like I’m being tortured. Yay!

Which is more romantic: sunrise or sunset? Sunrise? What’s that?? If I’m forced to be up at that hour, I’m going to be whining about how I’m sleeeeeepy and it’s too early to be up and I’m tiiiiiiired and I NEED COFFEE NOW. So, I think I’m going to have to go with sunset.

Are you wearing any non clothing items? I foundthat a little confusing, but I am wearing a watch. And earrings. And reading glasses on top of my head. So I guess that would be a yes.

What did you do last night?  Hmmmmm….. what DID I do??  Oh, watched an episode of House. Yes, I like House now. I’ve learned how to avert my eyes when it gets too gross.

Do you still talk to the last person you kissed? Well, yes. I talk to him quite often. He just came to my office to use my cellphone to call his mother. I wouldn’t let  him take it with him. It’s raining and he’s careless and the new hasn’t worn off my cool RAZR yet.
 
Have you ever been on the radio? No, but years ago one of my cousins was. She was working for a non-profit organization that was investigating the chicken plant fire in Hamlet, where a number of people died because the owner of the plant had made them lock the back doors. It was really neat hearing her on the radio – she didn’t sound like herself at all.

What did you drink today? Coffee, of course. And water.
 
What book did you read last? Digging To America, Anne Tyler’s latest. I really liked it, too. I’ve been kind of disappointed in her last books, but this was more like the early stuff I loved so much.

What do you think of Fergie? I always think of Diana’s ex-sister-in-law. That other Fergie has never quite hit my radar.

Do you read Rolling Stone? No, but I used to. I had a subscription in college.

Oh, that’s it – how random!