Fish are friends. Not food.

[Underdog]

Wow, Trish, I really don't have much to report. Well, I guess I could log the 2 conversations I've had with Mr. MLC. So here goes:

Yesterday afternoon, he rang my cell phone on the way to the airport. I was pretty surprised. Actually, at first when it rang, I was annoyed. I was just really rocking with Michael McDonald (his Motown CD rocks), but I quickly overcame my annoyance.

He was very chipper and on his way to turning in his old job stuff (read: secret military crap that I'd have to die for if he told me).

Going to digress here because I want to take a minute to log something that is now very obvious. He initiates calls when he makes them from his car. I conclude that he does think about me when he's not got distractions in front of him. And the thought of me makes him happy ( could this be so?) because he's always happy and cheerful when he calls. Note: WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

He asked me if I had my cousin in my car and I told him no, that I was still on my way. He wanted to go over the schedule for today (Friday) and get on the same page. He got to the base and had to turn off the phone, so we hung up.

Today, he also called me from his car. I answered the phone the way I always do at work and he speaks up, "HEY, Betsey!" Wow, this is a little enthusiastic, even for me!

He wants to remind me (but he never told me, so how could this be a reminder?) that D6 has physical therapy this afternoon and wanted to know what D9 wanted to do--go with me and D or spend the night with him? I told him either way, it did not matter to me.

He said he would give her first right of refusal and would be happy either way. I said, "Fine, just let me know what I'm doing so I can make sure everything is covered." He said, almost obnoxiously optimistic, "Of course! I always do!"

Has the alien imposter returned the real Mr. Wonderful back and done a memory erasure on him? For one year, he hasn't always been forthcoming with his plans. Who is he kidding?

So he then said, "Oh, Bets, before you hang up (I guess he noticed that I'm doing it first now), I need to tell you my travel plans next week. I'm leaving Monday night and coming back Tuesday night. I figured since D is with you, that he can help out on Tuesday. Is this okay?" I said yes.

Then he told me, laughing, "Wow, I'm going to miss bowling Tuesday night." I'm thinking, "Oh, yes, the middle aged renditions of high school boys are going to miss your drinking, farting and burping and your excellent bowling skills. What a pity."

Instead, I was nice and said, "Oh, that's too bad. Did you get a sub?" He said, "No. Gary is going to get one. After all, I've been covering for those guys for 3 years now and never taken off. They can figure this out."

What? Miss bowling and not get a sub? Where did the alien go?

And before I hung up, he asked me for one more favor: to make time to drive him to my work to pick up the traveling homeless shelter so he can bring it back to the apartment complex. I asked, "How are you going to get back to get your car?" I should have known: "Oh, Gary and I are spending the day together tomorrow after I get this stuff done. He can follow me to the house."

OH, yes. Gary. The love of his life. Spending the day together? What's up with that? He never uses terminology like that. All guys say stuff like, "Oh, Gary might come over for a beer and we can watch the game..."

I have no idea what this means, but I figure it will all play out if I just keep the channel on the same station and be patient.

D9 gets home from school in about 15 minutes, so I'm sure someone will call and tell me what is happening tonight. This is just too weird.

Does this satisfy the Mr. Wonderful update requirement, Trish?

Now, the question is: How can I get him to move into his car? It sounds like that's the happening place--he thinks of me there, is happy about that fact and does it predictably.

Any ideas? I wonder if the motor home would count?

Betsey