The following transcript is the most recent email to my Dad. It pretty much says stuff, and gets the general attitude:

hey dad! the new terry pratchett book came in the mail today! thanks! i can't wait to start reading it. i'm more than halfway through with memoirs of a geisha, so that will be tbe next one i start. AND, i have exciting news! i don't know if you recall me telling you about a proposal for paper on terry p's maurice and his amazing educated rodents or not, but the proposal was accepted, and i will be presenting this paper at the icfa in fort lauderdale in march! that is, if i can round up the funds for it. there is a conference fee, and the hotel is $103 a night. THAT'S CRAZY! and it couldn't come at a worse time. after christmas, grad school applications, a trip to paris. RIGHT. i'm going to see if hampshire has any sort of alumni conference scholarship or something... doubtful, but i can see if they have any resources. so, that's the great news!

in the bad news, my car was towed. i guess they didn't like me having street parking without plates on it. (i had to turn in the plates to cancel the insurance. they get you coming and going.) so, i have to call the city of cambridge tomorrow to see if i can do anything about it. i know they're going to charge me by the day. yarg. so yeah! lots of mixed news today. i love you, and thanks again for the excessive birthday gifts* :) love, lindsay

*He took me to see Cake at the State Theatre in Portland, which was SO COOL, got me an LL Bean throw, mad ass gift certificates to Pacific Sunwear and the Gap, and the Terry Pratchett book. Dammit, Dad, i'll never be as cool as you.