I called home tonight, not having done so in about two and a half weeks.

The conversations I had were pretty normal. I had a good amount of material for Mom, like my new second job and my midterm grades. She also asked me to send her a Christmas list, which is probably the most difficult and trying part of our mother-son relationship, because I never freaking want anything.

Fortunately, CDNow provides a nifty little service called a "Wish List" which allows you to amass a list of stuff you want, and allows anyone who knows your e-mail address to view the list, buy stuff, and have it shipped to you. (I was going to provide a convenient link for all you devoted readers who can't wait to buy me things, but they don't use a static URL scheme, so screw 'em.)

But apart from that, my Christmas list, as usual, consists of: "I don't know. I'll tell you if I think of anything." (Hint: I probably won't.)

I talked to Dad for longer than usual, as I had a tax question for him. (I recently won $25 under circumstances far, far too geeky to recount.)

My favorite line from that conversation (taken somewhat out of context, natch) was: "Well, some day you're gonna grow up for real."

When does he think that'll be? When I graduate in 9 months? When I get a "real" job in 14?

Parents are so funny.