I never want to get into a car ever again
Yesterday I drove to Rexburg and back. I don't recommend that anyone ever do that, unless it's for a real good reason. My reason was good (picking brother coolboy up at the airport and taking him to the BYU-Idaho) but that doesn't make the drive any nicer, or the crick in my neck any less real, or my beastly temper any sweeter.
So, BYU-Idaho.
That place is just strange, and takes the case for uptight. There was some orientation meeting entitled "Why you don't wear capris, shorts, or flip-flops, ever, and if you do you go straight to hell." I'm stunned those people still have the ability to poop. But hey, smart parents could use the shorts/flip-flops rule to their advantage. I know I would keep my grades up to avoid crap like that and get into a real school. (And for those of you who do attend/have attended Ricks College or BYU-Idaho and love absolutely everything about it and have a testimony of the power of not wearing capri pants and think I'm just a mean nasty person for even saying something so negative, keep it to yourself, friend. Deaf. Ears.)
Mom and I got coolboy settled in, kind of. We only got to spend a couple of hours with him, but Mom tried to make up for it by purchasing the entire contents of both Costco and Wal-Mart to put in his apartment. We met a couple of his new roommates and it turns out that 3 of them are from Alaska as well, and none of them brought coats. Is this some cousin to the "I'm from Southern California and so I dare anyone to make me wear long pants even if it is -30 outside" malady? My mom mentioned that she heard it gets pretty windy and cold in Rexburg, and one of the boys muttered, "Yeah well, it got pretty windy in Moose Bottom (or wherever). I can handle the wind." Sure thing, Skippy. They're going to find you huddled behind a dumpster this winter.
My mom told me privately that she's glad his roommates are from Alaska, because generally people from Alaska are nice. I teased her about it at the time, but I know what she means. My freshman year it was the obnoxious richie kids from San Diego who thought they were cooler than everyone else. (If you are from San Diego, but are not obnoxious and rich at the same time, then you would be silly to take offense at this, since obviously it doesn't apply to you. If it does apply to you, then that's your problem. I'm not taking it back, so you can go drive your Jetta to the beach and sulk.)
The drive back to Provo was okay for the first couple of hours. Only I got tired and started hallucinating that the construction cones were throwing themselves at my car. Turns out I was actually just driving straight for them, which is slightly different. So I asked my mom to please drive for me, which she did, because she is an angel. She drove the way up as well so I felt bad for bailing on her, but figured it was better than getting us both killed.
At one point, the freeway got a bit congested, and these idiot drivers started behaving as though they were at a barn dance or maypole or something, weaving in and out and switching lanes without signaling so they could move up a whole 15 feet. One Isuzu cut us off, and my mom got mad and turned on the brights and was keeping them on!
Me: Hey! Stop it! (smacking at her arm)
Mom: What? He cut me off!!
Me: Because you're gonna cause a wreck, and we're going to be in it!
Mom: Oh whatever, that guy's being a jerk.
Me: (all dramatically) My car is not a vehicle of road rage, Mom, and---
Mom:---okay, fine. Fine. (rolling her eyes)
Me: I'm telling the Internet what you just did.
Mom: Go right ahead. That guy had it coming.
There was probably more, but I don't remember it, because I was too tired and cranky and rabid at the time. Best of luck in school, my brother! Don't let The Man get to you!
I'm Steph, a librarian and mom of 3 (not sure how that happened). Let's chat books, food, Sumptuous Literary Adaptations, poop, knitting and maybe some crazy Mormon Feminism.
9 comments:
Award-winning post yet again. I hope you're over your crankiness so that you don't think that I meant that as some sarcastic jibe.
And maybe the BYUIdahites ARE constipated, and therefore cranky, and don't want anyone to be happy or well dressed because of it.
Bwa hahaha! Those boys are going to freeze. I am from a cold place that I will not mention because it's inappropriate and obnoxious to refer to where you come from. The point is that when it gets cold and people find me all bundled up (and they're freezing), they say to me, "Hey. Why are you wearing that big sweater, coat, scarf, hats, and mittens? I thought you were from [name place omitted]." The point is that being from [name place omitted] actually taught me how to dress for the cold, not necessarily withstand it better. So basically, they're going to freeze.
No worries, coop. I was very pleased and flattered by such a compliment! It actually made me start whistling and beaming fondly at my coworkers. I hope everything is going well w/your wife and new baby!
Cicada, thank you. I think we both know that living in cold places, if anything, is supposed to teach us to Respect the Elements. You'd think someone from AK, where people are found frozen to death in their cars, would show a bit more common sense. My brother, of course, brought all kinds of cold-weather gear.
No, no, no. You don't understand the young male mind.
I remember in high school having to unzip my coat no matter how cold because it was so uncool to have it zipped.
I knew I was freezing. Wasn't I expending all my energy into not shivering?
In other news, brilliant post. This is why everyone worships you, you know. And if you don't knock it off I suspect you will be a leading cause of idolaters getting burned at the Second Coming.
(To be held at BYU-I, of course.)
Are you perhaps speaking of a certain San Diegan of the my roommate persuasion? Because, if you are, TOTALLY agree with you about the Jettas and the better than you thing. I swear, I'm totally over it. Really.
My brother goes to BYU-I and I think your assessment of the lack of poop is quite accurate.
Okay, wait--I knew about the shorts, but no capris or flip-flops? You're kidding! Do they extol the virtues of bonnets as well?
Probably. They probably want everyone to wear denim jumpers, and won't be happy until the place looks like some polygamist colony.
Actually, I quite like it here. Very peaceful, and I'm already over the shorts and flip-flops thing, it was COLD this morning. And windy. I laughed at all teh kids who were too cool to wear/didn't bring a jacket. All i know is that it was cold today, and i wore a windproof fleece and was therefor, not cold.
And, from what can gather from evidence of my 5 roommates, people here can poop. fart too. but they can't seem to wash their own dishes after they use them. dang them.
Hi Mom!
How come your name isn't "Proud to be the Mother of Miss Nemesis" or something like that, huh? I am your first born, you know.
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