Toward the end of Impromptus today, I have a little item on language — marveling that an old New York intellectual would use the phrase “intending on.” I had always known it, and loved it, as a southern expression. (“I’m intending on seeing my cousin.”) A Texan writes,

Down here, we say “fixin’ to” instead of “intending to”: “I’m fixin’ to go to the store.” Actually, to be quite honest, I usually say, “I’m fixin’ to run to the store.” My husband — who ain’t from around here, but bless his pea-pickin’ heart, I do love him — always laughs and asks, “Why don’t you take the car?”
Thought you might enjoy that.

I did.

P.S. In Greater Detroit, we didn’t say “fixin’ to” so much as “finna”: “I’m finna run to the store.” (More formally, “fittin’ to.”) The roots and permutations of Detroit language are a marvelous subject (’nother time).