Sounds of the Night

I intended to write a ghost story about the strange bumps in the night that occur in the law school, but Thanksgiving break provided me with alternate inspiration.

My parents got a new dog about a year ago. She's a happy, sweet, stupid yellow Lab. Don't get me wrong, I love labs and think they are incredibly smart, typically, and protective, regardless of what you've heard. What I didn't know is that they snore.

My brother built a doghouse when he was a teenager, I must have only been 6 or 7. This is the mother of doghouses. It has a floor, it is huge, too heavy for one strong man to move on his own. It has a shingled roof - this thing is intense. And, it is up against the exterior wall of the house in the carport. That exterior wall happens to be one wall of my bedroom. I didn't move into that room until after my junior year of college, but now it's my bedroom.

At any rate. One night, I don't remember when… ( I haven't been here much in the last year - the whole, growing up thing, law school thing, separating from my parents thing being much in the way). I was laying in bed, so thankful to be resting and not have to worry about school. I was almost asleep and I hear this deep rumbling sound. I was instantly wide awake. What was that? Was it dangerous? Was I safe? (did I mention I'm a little scared of what's in the dark - not the dark itself, but whatever it's hiding) I tend to have weird nightmares when I'm home, so I thought maybe that was it, but no, I was wide awake. Not to mention that I can be unreasonably paranoid sometimes.

Ok, what could it be? An earthquake? Maybe someone driving slow up the county road - are they parked outside? Are they going to harass us? (it's happened before, could happen again) It sounded like something moving something heavy. Is it a bear? Raccoons? What is that sound!
It was very rhythmic, not constant…. This deep steady rumbling.

It sounded like snoring. But, even my dad doesn't snore that loud. Not to mention that his bedroom is at the other side of the house. So, still, what could it be.

Then it stopped.

Simultaneously, I heard the chink and clinking of Ellie's chain on the entrance to the doghouse. Is it possible?

My final determination is that my dad's dog takes after him and snores. My theory is that she snores somehow against the wall of her doghouse which transfers into the external wall of the house and therefore resonating in my bedroom.

I never could understand why women would get so annoyed with their husband's snoring. Now I understand. There is something about that sound that is grating and irritating at a deep, deep level.
It still sends thrills and chills through my heart, it's a very unnerving sound. Then I just get annoyed that the dog is sleeping so soundly when I'm awake. She's supposed to be awake, protecting us, right? No. She's snoring peacefully in her doghouse, while I lay in bed wondering what manner of assailants are organizing themselves against my house. Bother.

A year later, she still snores. Just as rythmically, just as loudly. And I lay in bed and listen.

random

When I was doing tax homework the other night, I saw that you get a tax credit for adopting a kid from a foreign country. So, I sent my cousin (who just got a little girl from China) a quick email (like at 2 am): hey, you get a tax credit!

Then my mom was like, did you know your cousin is filing paperwork to get another baby from China?

Huh.

more stuff

O, in-sink-er-at-or, who gives us life,
Thou who providest the heat and water
That sustaineth this existence of ours,

Thy usefulness extends to our breakfast
Such as cream of wheat and instant oatmeal,
Graciously giving us strength to last the day.

When the luncheon hour chimes its gleeful sound,
We rush to you with our top ramen,
cups o’noodles, and dehydrated soups,

Hunger-inflicted multitudes flocking thence,
And leaving your shiny sink in blissful hope.

As the sun lowers in the sky, the need
Arises for a caffeinated boost
Or a warm cup of some comforting drink.

Tea, herbal or black, instant coffee shots
Hot Chocolate, or even simple water,
Thou providest these kindly without fail.

Even the rare dessert, gelatinous,
Flavored with fruit, jiggly, wiggly, when chilled
Will find its advent with thy progeny.

The unbelievers stay with their hot pots,
The unknowing content themselves with dry foods,

But we, the true believers, the faithful
Will continue to come into thy presence
To fulfill our most basic needs

To pursue nutrition and satisfaction
Flowing forth from thy spout
“twist right for nearly boiling water”

Whether we pay or are paid to come
To this place of education of law
To feed our ever growing need for thought

We approach you with naught but adoration
For thy abundance of nearly boiling fluid.




Ten things that keep your sanity while in law school:
1. Good friends who feed you
2. Martini Thursday at the Garden
3. Flag Football or some other sort of organized activity
4. The library being open 24 hours, but don’t get a parking ticket!
5. Finding a good study group who you won’t mind crying in front of because you probably will.
6. Free food at varying club events
7. Coffee shops that stay open until midnight
8. Delivery subway, pizza, etc.
9. Free music from Ruckus!
10. The insinkerator!

Apathy

I am apathetic (no big surprise - that's not the revelation)
so, I'm sitting here, reading cases and wondering why I am apathetic - why I don't care about writing this damn paper. The deadline is looming and I still can't care enough to actually write the damn paper.
My theory is that I don't care, because I don't have any hope that even if I do write the paper, that I will get a decent grade on it.
My apathy is the result of hopelessness. Hopelessness that even if I do try, it won't do me any good.
So, the next question is, where do I find hope? Hope, that maybe, someday, I will be good at this shit. That is the question.