Tuesday with Not Tim

Hey everybody! It's Jean, a.k.a. Not Tim. Tim is super busy today with his final projects, so he (sadly) does not have time for his weekly post. SO! I wanted to still post something, and since I can't think of anything creative or funny to write, I thought I would publish some Anderson Family FAQs. Be prepared to be updated!!

When are Tim’s classes over?

This is his last week of classes. After Saturday, he’ll be finished with the term. Woo!

Is he graduating?

Not yet. He’ll graduate in December, after one more term.

He wants to intern this summer, right? Does he have an internship?

We have some leads, but nothing is confirmed yet. We’ll definitely keep you posted. DEFINITELY. I think we ALL want to find out as soon as possible. (Oh the stress.)

What exactly is Tim studying?

He’s studying Entertainment Design. Entertainment/concept designers generally work in the fields of film or video games (and even theme parks), working with directors, art directors, and/or production designers to come up with the designs of characters, costumes, vehicles, props, and environments. For instance, when Peter Jackson wanted an idea for what Gondor might look like in Lord of the Rings, he hired concept designers to draw their vision of it. That’s what Tim will do – take the various concepts within stories or ideas and come up with designs for them.

What are his plans after graduation?

Get a job! He’s leaning towards video games, so hopefully he’ll be able to work in that field. We have no idea where we will end up, and we’re flexible, although we’d both like to get back to the East Coast someday.

Are you (Jean) working right now?

No... not really. Although I technically still “work” for Peterson Economics as an independent contractor, business has been very slow lately due to the real estate market downturn, and thus there’s little for me to do.

If you’re not working, then what do you do all day?

I used to wonder this of stay-at-home moms, too, before I had a baby. But now I get it. TOTALLY GET IT. There is a lot to do as a mom, and it would take a long time to explain. Try clicking HERE or HERE instead. Granted, my life is very slow, peaceful, and manageable right now, given that I have a student husband who’s able to be home off and on throughout the day, and that I have only one child, who happens to be sleeping 12 hours per night and taking two naps per day, and who happens to be in that golden 12-18 month stage where his adorableness is not yet being soured by temper tantrums. I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can while I can.

If Tim’s a student and you’re not working, then how do you have any money?

Loans, baby. LOANS.

What did you and Tim do today?

Tim worked on his final project for his Architecture class (designs for a Star Wars-themed restaurant), while I took Weston to his dermatologist appointment, and then went to the Autry Museum’s free day. While there, I happened to run into Weston’s long-lost Chinese twin, Wonton:

Later we headed to our friends’ house for a farewell potluck dinner in honor of an awesome family of soon-to-be Pasadena expatriates. (Sniffle sniffle. Natalie rocks my socks!!) Then, just like the past few nights, I read The Host for three hours straight. (Okay, I haven’t actually done that yet, but I’m itching to get back to the book, and I know I won’t be able to stop reading even when midnight rolls around!)

If Tim likes Star Wars so much, why doesn’t he own Episodes I and II?

Because he doesn’t want to sully his Star Wars collection with, and I quote, “their awesomelessness.”

Is Tim actually Weston’s father? He doesn't look anything like him.

Yes. I think. I’m pretty sure. We’re saying yes.

What wrong with Weston’s lip?

“It’s a birthmark.”

(Don’t feel bad if you ever asked us this! I love you all; you know that. I would totally ask, too. Fortunately, because of Weston’s situation, I’m able to identify hemangiomas now, so I don’t feel the urge to inquire of other people. There’s nothing wrong; it’s just there.)

Did you have any Shining Motherhood Moments in the past week?

Why yes, actually I did. I took Weston to the mall last week to play in the children’s play area. Whenever he’s there, he’s most interested in climbing on these fake, roof-less cars that are attached to the floor, so he did that most of the time, climbing into the little car, turning the steering wheel, looking at the other kids running around, climbing out, and then doing it all over again.

At one point when we were there last week, he was standing in the little car, just looking around. From where I was sitting on the bench, I could only see him from belly-up because my view was partially blocked by the rear end of the car. After several minutes, a lady sitting closer to him eventually called over to me very nicely, “Can you see your son?”

I smiled and replied, “Oh, yes, I can see him." (I figured she was concerned because of the groups of kids who were running in front of me every now and then.)

She said, “Okay, well his pants fell down, and I can’t stop looking at him.”

I hopped over towards the little car so that I could see him better, and sure enough, his (slightly too large) brown corduroy pants were completely around his ankles, and above that were his pale chubby legs and his diaper. In completely full view. Weston had been standing there the whole time, not because he was looking around, but because he was standing on the bottoms of his pants and couldn’t move. I quickly collected him and pulled his pants back up.

HAHAHA! Funniest. Thing. Ever. How long do you think the other parents at the play area were wondering when I was going to notice that my child was stuck in his pants that had completely fallen down?? Haha! Several of them kept looking and smiling my way after I fixed Weston up and let him go play again, when I was bright red and hysterically laughing.

My Shining Motherhood Moment of the Week. :-)