You Gonna Use That?

The girls, at 8, are finally starting to answer the phone on their own.  They don't have a lot of experience at it, but do manage to say hello and not hang up right away. 

Today, Abby answered the phone and a minute or so later told me that Kaileigh was on the phone.  When I picked it up with a "Hi Kai-Loo" I was a bit surprised with the response "Mr. Smith"?  Kaileigh has called me many things over the years, but never Mr. Smith.

Apparently, in Abby's experience, any young female calling is Kaileigh.

But this was actually someone from the McCombs School of Business, just checking in.  I guess Dean Farkenparker asked her to check on me. 

"Yes, Mr. Smith? My name is Ashley and I'm calling from the McCombs School of Business."
"Uh huh."
"Our records indicate that you have both an undergraduate and a graduate degree from the McCombs School."
"Uh huh." (I got an A in Business Communications)
"Yes, Mr. Smith.  Can I ask you - Are you currently using those degrees in your work?"
"Why? Do you need them back?"
"No.  We are just updating our records.  Are you still the Associate Director at the University of Houston?"
"That was about fifteen jobs ago.  With a 512 area code, that would be a pretty long commute, don't you think?  Anyway, doesn't the chip ya'll implanted in my shoulder give you that information automatically?"

We went through the rest of the call, updating, chatting, sparring.  Then Ashley got to the crux of the call.  She wanted to see if I would be interested in supporting the McCombs School.  What with the salary I'm making at the University of Houston.  I politely declined.

Bitch took away one of my degrees.