I just finished catching up on last night’s Keith & Rachel. My thoughts on that are as follows:

Holy freakin’ massacre of a press conference, W. There not being WMDs was “a disappointment”?! Really? That’s what they’re calling it these days? Can the inauguration be over…now…please?!

The dumbass that tried to rob the bank – KO’s #1 in Best Persons is from Ohio. The attempted robbery took place somewhere right outside of Stow. Stow, Ohio is right outside of Kent, Ohio…which is where I did my undergraduate work. WHY am I constantly surrounded by idiots?!  …it does crack me up, however, that Keith mentioned the cartoon in the New Yorker in 1947…is he unaware that SPONGEBOB attempted to rob a bank in much the same way in much more recent times?

I love Jonathan Turley re: Obama’s position on prosecuting Bush and friends for war crimes. …but I *hate* that waterboarding demonstration they keep showing on Countdown. It makes me uncomfortable just WATCHING it.

I also love Roland Burris…and not just for his repeated willingness to appear on babygirl’s show. He’s just adorable. Slightly psychotic, but definitely adorable. He sounds like he’s got a good focus as to what he wants to work for as a Senator. I’m glad he’s getting his seat…at least at this point. We’ll have to see how things go.

Babygirl mentioning that George Voinovich is retiring filled me with glee. I’d heard it already, but it’s just as exciting in repeats. Ohio liberals have been trying to free themselves of this monster for as long as I can remember…and having recently gone blue in the Presidential election, I’m hopeful that we might not fuck this one up. …I’ll never forget the time Voinovich came to my high school. He absolutely refused to engage in any meaningful discussion even after he asked for questions. He has been completely useless to me from that point on.

It also makes me happy to hear that Rachel’s father was/is an Air Force Captain. My Father was a Master Sergeant/First Shirt. Though he never had to go to war {came very close during Desert Storm}, the military meant a great deal to him. He wanted me to join. He thinks everyone should serve at least a few years. My life would have been completely different if I hadn’t had scoliosis and needed metal rods placed in my back. I’d probably have gone Navy and done their nursing program. Now my only real interaction with the military {aside from my friends that are serving, of course – kudos to Heidi & Colleen!} is attempting to convince my Father that I can full out hate the war(s) without being ungrateful to the troops that are serving. He usually sees my point…but not always.

To be honest, I feel sort of relieved that neither Keith nor Rachel spent any time dwelling on the SNL skit. What could they have said, really?

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In other news, Lauren called me yesterday, crying. Her car was in the shop and she didn’t know if she’d have it back in time to go to class. She asked me if I’d take her. Anyone that knows me well knows that my OCD like behavior can be found mostly in my driving. I’m not a bad driver – but I sort of panic when it comes to heavy traffic, big roads, and places I’ve never been before. But this was Lauren, right? Of course I’d help her out. And I told her not to be upset, it was no big deal – it was only later that I would find out what she was really upset about – the boyfriend that had broken up with her over Christmas break had told her that he needed time/space because his parents were getting a divorce. Apparently he’s already dating someone else. He and Lauren had been together for 4 years – a lot longer than I had previously thought. She says she wants him to burn in hell. I find that reasonable. Also, her Grandmother is in the hospital. She’s having a really shitty month.

She called me back a little while before I left for school and said that another friend would drop her off at school if I could take her home. Even better. Later taking her home would turn into taking her to the Toyota garage on SHELBYVILLE road…which is 6 lanes and the home of the Mall at St. Mathews…that part wasn’t so nice.

At school we met up with Pam and Bethany and had our first class with Dr. Potter. HELLO excessive paper assignments. It was my goal to stay away from 20 page minimum papers this semester. I have failed.  Also, Dr. Potter is insane…but we already knew that.

After class Lauren and I rode the shuttle back to the stadium to get my car {it actually does run until 9:30 M-TH…good to know}. During that time she told me more about the parking garage and how things work there…so hopefully I’ll be able to figure it out on Friday. We got to my car and she laughed at my refusal to drive on the highway. I set up Lucy the GPS with Lauren’s apartment address – she said it was near the dealership…and off we went…hilariously onto the backest of back streets possible. We had to be there by 8:00 – or, she threatened me, I was going to have to spend the night at her place and take her to work the next morning. I made some flippant remark and she responded with “What? It wouldn’t be that bad staying at my place would it?” *Sigh* She also asked me if I thought a 30 year old was too old for her – she’s 22. I tried to give the same answer to her that I would give to anyone – ya know, anyone I didn’t want to date myself. When I’m being realistic I’m just glad she thinks enough of my opinion to ask me for it. I know our relationship will never be more than that and I’ve accepted it for what it is…IN MY MIND. My heart is a little slow catching up, though.

We drove around and around and finally ended up on SHELBYVILLE road. SO INSANE…but I was determined not to panic while she was in the car. Talking to her kept me calm…though I did tell her that if she told me to get into a lane from which I ended up on the highway I was going to kill her. She laughed and promised that wouldn’t happen. It didn’t. You can tell because I’m still alive.

We arrived at the Toyota dealership at 10 till 8:00 she had me come in with her to make sure she was going to be able to get her car back. She did - $801 later. Ouch. It took me a hilariously long time to get home. I kept getting into turning lanes at the wrong intersections because, apparently, I don’t know the difference between TURN HERE, MORON and TURN IN 0.1 miles. Oh well. After I got off of SHELBYVILLE it was back through residential neighborhoods with unmarked streets that I had to guess my way through…but finally I came upon Bardstown road…and I was never happier to see it in my life.

Emily had e-mailed me back when I got home. Apparently the school of Social Work starts classes THIS week and not LAST week like everyone else…which explains why our class was missing last Friday. Sarah Jane says the books for the class are over $200 – which is more than I paid for Hanson and Potter’s classes COMBINED. I don’t know where she gets her info though, because the Belknap bookstore says there IS NO text for that class. Guess we’ll find out Friday.