Jenna's House of Idiosyncrasies Version 10.0 [Focus.]

Someone please remind me never to leave voicemails.

I'm just not breezy enough for them. Really!

So I don't usually write about my mom here. I think I would either make my troubles with her sound trite, or make her look like a devil woman. The problem is neither. My mother is just... my mother. The long and short of it is she is emotionally abusive to people she loves, namely myself and my father. She never admits that she was even a little wrong about a fight, amending apologies with a but-you-made-me-so-it-was-your-fault-after-all.

I'm not complaining, I'm just trying to give you some background information, because today a monumental thing happened.

I'd been avoiding her calls since she took out her work frustration on me on Monday, mainly by cursing at me quite loudly and telling my I was disrespectful and whatnot. Monday night she called and left a message that was about 45 seconds sincere apology and 3½ minutes about why I made her yell at me.

Typical.

Anyway, she called again last night and left a message. I was in a pretty good mood (and wanted to stay that way) so I went to bed without checking it.

I wake up this morning, and waiting for me on my phone is a bonafide. sincere. guileless. humble. apology.

Hey, it only took almost 20 years for her to do that for me. That's like, nothing in the span of all time. It's great!

Really, I am so happy.

After that I went to the library to study, and the vending machine gave me two Pibbs by accident!

"This is my lucky day."

My internal dialog actually narrates like that, yes. Yours doesn't?

Then I went to Religion, which was quite edifying, actually. Even thought I'm usually pretty confused about the material, I really enjoy that class very much. The fact I have such a crush on the guy who sits next to me in there doesn't hurt. He is so articulate. Intelligence is so sexy.

I left deep in thought and went to Bio lab. I forgot to do my homework, and was all ready to grovel for a late due date, but due to the inavailability of lab books, the TA just told us to turn it in next week. The lab is supposed to last til 6:30, but only lasted until about 5:15 and I got out early enough to beat the rush at the dining hall.

I knew it was my lucky day.

My ability to stand for 7 hours straight, sometimes dancing even, while completely dyhydrated and on nearly no sleep truly astounds me. I, Jenna Tollerson, who can barely take walking more than a block in the hot August sun, can stand outside a venue for two hours, dance, convort, then can head inside for another 5 hours of more dancing and convorting. Because when my love of Jump is involved, I always have to be hardcore.

The title is a quote from Jay, from the top of the show, regarding Matt's complete forgetfulness on the words to “The Singer”. We just got to hear a lot of extra fills from Jay's voice and Ward's cello. I didn't mind at all. Messing up words only makes them more endearing. When your favorite rock star forgets the words, it just makes you want to give him a hug.

Georgia Theatre was hot. About halfway through the show, I was questioning my will to stay upright. I was feeling quesy from the heat, and all I wanted was water.

Of course then they broke out “Dancing Virgina” and I somehow determined that I could stick it out. I obviously have little concern for my personal welfare.

We did moon arms. Claps in “Say Goodnight”. Snaps and ring fingers and “NOOOO!” during “U Can Look”. It feels good to have our little family back together again. A summer without Jump is a long summer indeed, not just because you miss shows, but you miss a whole lot of comradery. I mean, there is a whole group right there that is just as batty as you. It rocks.

After we rushed up to the bar to claim our free water, and I gulped down two glasses in less than 3 minutes or so. We stood around, watching them talk to people, which seriously, with Jump, is almost as good or better than getting to speak to them yourself. You just get to listen to them say things and there is no pressure on you to hold up one end of that.

Of course, that's not completely satisfactory for me.

“Ward.” I said. “I have a story.”

“Okay, tell me about it.”

“Will is going to call me from L.A. on Wednesday.”

“Will Hoge?”

(I get way too used to just refering to all these guys by first name now.)

“Yeah! Last time he called, I had ‘Not Today’ on my voicemail, and he was all, ‘Next time, I want to hear some Will Hoge on here. What is this Jump, Little Children?’ [The two bands are actually really good friends. So you can see how this is fun. For everybody.] So I had ‘Let Me Be Lonely’ on there all summer and I didn't get any calls from him, so I'm thinking they you or more than one of you guys could put some kind of evil message on there for him to hear. I'm trying to throw him into a jealous rage.”

Of course Ward thought this was a great idea.

So now the greeting on my voicemail says,

“Hi this is Ward from Jump, Little Children, and I am cooler than Will Hoge.”