when folding the past onto the present, it’s important to make sure all the lines match up.  in other words, your answers to the questions depend on who’s asking them.

how’s austin?

“good!”

“fine.”

“it’s the same.”

“it’s the same.  it’s exactly the same.  i always used to think that if i moved somewhere else everything would get better.  and people would tell me that if i moved somewhere else things wouldn’t get better; that i’d just take all my same problems along with me.  i didn’t believe them, but they’re right.  moving doesn’t change anything.”

how are you?

“good!”

“fine.”

“bored.”

“i’m about the same as i was here.  i did need to get out of that apartment, though, no matter how much i liked the floor plan.”

what are you up to these days?

“not too much.”

“a few freelance web projects here and there.  i’m still making jewelry, too; that’s going pretty well.  oh, and i’ve been getting into sewing lately.”

“nothing.  you?”

“nothing.  good thing i have about a thousand hobbies.”

“nothing.  i don’t do anything.  not a thing.  i apply for jobs and watch tv and make things, but that’s about it.  i don’t even leave the house.”

“no, i swear to god i put on clothes every day.  if i sat around in my pajamas all the time, i’d feel like i was sick.”

the answers are all mostly true, i suppose.  just because they’re not the truth doesn’t make them not not the truth.