If I came there would you let me call you home?

Do other people trick their animals? This most recent trick wasn't mean, just to let you know. For that we'd have to dig deep into my past to what I like to call the "sock incident." And by deep in my past, I mean a year or so ago. And by incident, I mean when someone convinced me it would be hysterical to put a sock over my dog's head and then call her to see how well she adapted to her new blindness. In case you're interested, the correct answer to how hysterical it was: freaking. Freaking hysterical.

Back to the most recent. My cat does not enjoy it when I go out of town. I'd probably be more sympathetic to this if I didn't live in Pullman and have to leave whenever possible. And by have to, I literally mean that. Pullman slowly kills people. Or something less melodramatic.

Anyways, when my cat sees me packing, she gets a bit sad. And a bit creepy. And a bit loud. No animal howls like mine when she is less than pleased. So I have to resort to tricking her. Meaning, for my trip tomorrow, I had to get my suitcase out yesterday. After eying the bag with suspicion all day yesterday, she figured out that it was just for show. Clearly, since I wasn't putting anything into it.

When she goes outside later today, I'll quickly pack. Yes, I spend time thinking of these things. This is how I occupy time.

I take off for New Mexico tomorrow morning. I'd be more excited since I'm going to Santa Fe, but the professor I'm going with probably won't get any of my Santa Fe-themed Newsies jokes. Of which there will be a lot. But who knows? Maybe he will get them, and we can bond over our shared love of Jack. Actually, that might creep me out to levels unthinkable. Maybe I'll just have to learn to not to make my super-funny references to one of the best movies of all time. I should be on good behavior anyways, considering I'm an am-bastard of my department. I have $20 that says very few of you get why that is so funny. But it is. It really, really is.

So, Santa Fe. What are the odds I'll get some sun? Slim to none, since I have to be inside most of the time during the day. Maybe I should pack my clubs just in case I can escape for the conference. Tigress Woods goes to the Southwest type of thing. Oh, and I'm allergic to jalapenos, but I'm guessing that won't stop me from partaking of the delicious local cuisine. I do so loves me some spicy food. How quickly do we all think I'll get sick when I "forget" that they make me sick and convince myself that just a bite won't hurt me? Or two? Or three? Or that if maybe I mix some jalapenos with some margaritas, the two will cancel each other out?

Hmm. Maybe in lieu of the golf clubs I should pack some Pepto.