True Aim

Bookishness

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000Z

I suppose I more than made up for my lack of cinematic adventures by the reading habits last year. This list is impressive, even to me! That's almost a book a week, coming in at 50 books. Nice. I wonder if I can keep this up? Probably not. Oh well. It was a pretty good reading year for me, anyway.

Also, if you are interested, I'm on Goodreads, which is where I keep track of all my books. I'd love to be friends with you, if you're on there (or I can send you an invite, if you aren't and would like to be).

A Year With Aslan *****
Walk On ***
The Secret Life of Bees ****
Dead Beat ***
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan ***
The Lost Hero ***
The Gift of Fear ***
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes *****
The Renegades of Pern **
Praying in the Messiness of Life **
The Last Olympian ***
The Sea of Monsters ***
The Titan's Curse ***
The Battle of the Labyrinth ***
The Wrath of Mulgarath **
The Lightning Thief ***
Blue Like Jazz **
The Sign of Four ***
Blood Rites ****
A Study in Scarlet ****
Mockingjay ****
Catching Fire ****
The Hunger Games *****
Cugel's Saga ***
Death Masks ****
How to Live with a Neurotic Cat **
Nerilka's Story *
Frisky Business ****
All the I Needed to Know I Learned From My Cat ***
Camber the Heretic ***
Stardust of Yesterday **
Why? ****
Summer Knight ****
The Skylark of Space ****
The Fur Person *****
Dewey ***
The Prophet *****
Grave Peril ****
Moreta ***
Lose, Love, Live ***
Fool Moon ***
Saint Camber ****
Facing Your Giants ***
Dragonsdawn ***
Conspiracies ****
Storm Front ***
Camber of Culdi ****
Everything's Eventual ***
Heats in Atlantis ****
The Hour I First Believed ***

Cinema Limited 2011

2012-01-28T19:54:00.001Z

I didn't really go to the cinema much last year, because I no longer have the luxury of an Unlimited Card. I did find a buck-fifty cinema in town, but it's not very convenient. I only went two or three times. I saw four things before I left Scotland, I saw four things (including a repeat of The King's Speech) in Buffalo with my sister and her family, and I saw the last film of the year in Florida with my Gramma Jean over the Christmas holidays. The others I saw in Tennessee, either on my own or with my dad. I guess I'll have to start keeping track of dvds and tv films now, if I want my lists to not be so anaemic. =)

War Horse *****
Lion King 3-D *****
Thor ***
Cowboys & Aliens (drive-in double feature) ****
Captain America: The First Avenger (drive-in double feature)****
X-Men: First Class (with dad)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two (with Barb) **
Megamind (with Jen and the kids) ****
Despicable Me (with Jen and the kids) ****
Tangled (with Jen and the kids) ***
The King's Speech *****
Megamind 3D ****
Animals United **
Tron: Legacy in 3D ****

One Year

2011-09-21T04:29:00.001+01:00

Hello, reading friends! Long time, no see!

Yes, I know that's my fault. But it's still true. =)

Today is the first day I've made a 'real time' post in a year. That's because a year ago I had something very important and exciting to share. One year ago today, I passed my viva and became The Doctor. Granted, it was a two months later before I officially graduated, but on this day... I passed.

Now, a year later, I've spent the day getting mum's oil changed and reading The Hunger Games. That's a very bad idea, in case you were wondering. Not the oil change, but me reading the first few chapters of that book in public. No one warned me of that. You'd think someone would have, knowing what a cry-baby I can be. Still. There you have it.

I've also spent the day applying for what has been, traditionally speaking, my dream job. It's here in Nashville, which is the not-so-dreamy part of it for me; it is the only job for which I'd stay in town. And when I say 'traditionally', I mean 'ever since I knew this job existed' which equals about twenty years ago. So, it's kind of a big deal. I don't know that I'm completely qualified, but in some ways I'm way over-qualified. That's kind of a funny dichotomy, and whether or not I'm considered or (who knows?) even hired will really depend on the rest of this process, I guess. It listed today, and I sent it in today. I have about a month to wait for the initial application period to close, and then... more waiting, I'm sure. I'm not very good at waiting. And I don't really want to talk about what it is yet... I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much. I will let y'all know in due course, good or bad, I promise. In the meantime, I'd really appreciate your prayers. Or good thoughts, if that's more your style. Thanks, friends.

I also will be trying to get in some updates about what the past year held for me, including my last-ditch social and sightseeing extravaganzas in Scotland, my fabulous graduation with the even more fabulous Scotland rugby team member Chris Cusiter (OH MY LIFE!!), and my time in the States since January. There's far more to tell of the time before Stateside landfall, to be fair. But bear with me; I'll get around to in.

And if you are here reading this now, thanks for sticking around and checking in to even see if I've ever bothered to post something. Thanks for reading, and thanks for being here-- virtually speaking. =)

Cinematic Adventures 2010

2011-01-23T18:55:00.002Z

The Tourist ***
The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (with Lynch)
The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader (with the Beckers) ****
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part One (with Lynch) **
Let Me In ****
We Are What We Are **
Paranormal Activity 2 ***
Due Date ***
Despicable Me ****
RED ****
You Again ****
The Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole *****
Saw 3-D ***
Burke and Hare ***
Back to the Future *****
Devil ***
Takers **
The Other Guys ***
The Hole 3-D ****
Dinner for Schmucks *****
The Last Exorcism ***
Piranha 3-D *
Shrek Forever After 3-D ****
Jonah Hex **
Inception (again... because I love both Leo and Jospeh Gordon-Levitt) *****
Diary of a Wimpy Kid ***
Avatar 3-D ****
L'Illusioniste (with Aleithia) ***
The Sorcerer's Apprentice ****
Salt ****
Scott Pilgrim vs the World *****
The Karate Kid ***
The Expendables ***
The A-Team ****
Marmaduke ***
Knight and Day ****
The Last Airbender 3-D (with Paige) **
Eclipse *
Toy Story 3-D (with Liz) *****
Inception *****
Iron Man 2 ****
Psycho (with Aleithia) *****
Shutter Island *****
Alice in Wonderland ***** (with Liz, Tanja, and Jen)
How To Train Your Dragon 3D ***** (with the Beckers)
The Lovely Bones **** (with Liz)
Invictus ***** (with Alisa)

My 2010 Reading List

2011-01-23T18:51:00.000Z

Transitions ****
The White Dragon ***
Busman's Honeymoon **
The Missionary **
Notes From an Exhibition ***
The Healing Path ***
The Matisse Stories ***
Ivanhoe *****
The Boggart ***
Dragonflight ****
Water is Thicker Than Blood ****
Great Expectations ****
Serve God, Save the Planet **
We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2 ****
Breaking Dawn **
The Family in Christian Social and Political Thought **
The Merchant of Death **
Pulling Focus ***
Risk ****
Charlotte von Kirschbaum and Karl Barth ****
Dragonquest ****
Finding Happiness ***
The Handmaid's Tale *****
Foucault's Pendulum ***
Jesus Wants to Save Christians ***
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovitch ****
Radical Hospitality ****
The Chapel at the Edge of the World **
Real Christianity *****
Perfume ***
The Case for a Creator, Student Edition **
Moon Tiger *****
Hatching Magic ***
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, volume 3 ****
Far from the Madding Crowd ***
The Silver Sword ****
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, volume 2 ***
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time **
Kidnapped ****
The Complete Polysyllabic Spree ****
The Host ***
Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, volume 1 ***
The Moonstone ****
Mister Monday ***
The Joke **
Persuasion ****
The Sparrow *****
Truckers ***
Have His Carcase **
The God-Hungry Imagination ****
Dark Alchemy ****
Sabbath ****
False Impression ***
The Last Lecture ***
Theories of Culture ***
A History of Christian Theology ****
Lost In Austen *****
The Stupidest Angel ***
The World According to Garp ****
The Flying Scotsman: A Biography ****
The Perks of Being a Wallflower ***
A Clockwork Orange *****
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas *

Acknowledgements

2010-10-06T13:26:00.000+01:00

Many of you will have already received this as an email, but I wanted to share it with everyone else who I don't necessary have addresses for. I passed my viva, with minor corrections-- which means I have a couple of things the examiners want me to do before they say it's officially done. I have til 1 January to get them done, but they will be done before then. I'm not sure yet whether or not I'll be able to do the graduation ceremony in November (stupid univeristy contradictory rules), but either way, I'm practically done already.

Doing a PhD is not something that anyone can really understand, unless you've been through it. I can't explain what it's like, how horribly difficult a long, long slog it is, with moments of amazement, gratification and joy. Even being done is not all happiness and light-- but I am proud of myself, and glad to have reached this point. These are the acknowledgements printed in my thesis, and I want to share them with you. Please find yourself in their lines, and thank you.

Acknowledgements

Although I am passionate about this topic, and it has grown largely out of my whole life experiences, it has been the case more often than not that I despaired of ever finishing this thesis. The fact that I have made it to this point means there are several people who deserve recognition of my undying gratitude.

Thank you, God. There is absolutely no way this would ever have happened if it weren't for You. Everything good in it is praise to You; anything not good is down to me.

To the Theologicans, past and present, your support and fellowship on this long, dark road is most appreciated. I can't wait to celebrate with all of you, as well. You know who you are....

Thank you especially to Carolyn, Barb, and Lynch. More than most, you have been exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. I have no doubt that you were God-sent to me, and my life would be far less without you in it. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

To my friends on both sides of the Atlantic and, indeed, around the globe, thank you for encouragement, conversation, interest in my life and my research, and Facebook fun. Wherever I am, you will always be welcome.

To my family, thank you for your part in making me who I am. That is part of what has brought me to this point. Especially to my sister, Jennifer Balazadeh, thank you for having the two best children in the whole entire world, so that I can be Cool Auntie Amie.

To Brian Brock, my supervisor—thank you for knowing those things I didn't even know I didn't know about the process and the system, for encouraging me in the worst times, and for getting me to this point. If there were times you thought I wouldn't make it, you never said it, and I appreciate that. I thought it enough myself. I know how truly I have been blessed to have a supervisor about whom I have no complaints.

To Kenny Thom, my long-suffering and very gracious flatmate, I would not have made it in Aberdeen for very long if it weren't for you. You have become like family, and have been better to me than I deserve in more ways that I can name, and I owe you far more than I could ever repay. Thank you.

To the families who have taken me in and loved me like family, you have saved my life—or at least my sanity. To the Cornells, the Kelly-Johnstons and the Beckers particularly, you and your children have made my heart glad when everything else felt miserable. Thank you, and I love y'all.

To my church family at Crown Terrace Methodist, thank you for always remembering me, being interested in me, and loving me--whenever I happened to show up. Thank you for being the friendliest church family ever.

To the Aberdeen Book Club, over the years-- there were times when you were my only and best social interaction, and I thank you so much for the friendship and the chance to read good books together. You've helped form me in my years here, both by the books you chose and your time with me. Thank you.

To the coffee growers and cafés, the chocolatiers and wineries of the world, thank you. Without you, I would not have made it through. Zeste, especially, thank you for your customer service with a scowl.

To all 'my' kiddos—Machias and Semiah, especially—it is largely for you I have done this. I hope it is worth something. You are the best things in my world, and I love you more than I can possibly express.

Finally, to the men in my life who have helped me become the person I am today: Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, Charles Wallace Murray, Will Stanton, Merriman Lyon, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, and, especially, Aslan.

The Famous Alva Highland Games!

2010-09-29T16:51:00.000+01:00

While I was in Alva, they held the 153rd (I think) Famous Alva Highland Games. So of course I went.

It rained. All day. And it was cooooold. I was frozen through and quite damp by the time I left to get fish 'n chips to watch the World Cup semi-finals (Uruguay was playing, and my World Cup crush plays for them). The rain meant that the crowds were small, and that the Highland Dancing and piping got moved indoors somewhere... I never heard where, though. I watched all the heavy events, which were interesting considering how wet everything was. Only one guy even got the caber to flip over, which was disappointing. I think the contestants were all annoyed with the rain, too. It can't be very nice to be throwing deadly things around without a good grip.

I still enjoyed watching them, and there were a few I remembered from last year's events. I also watched all the footraces, the hillrace, and the cycle races. The hillrace was crazy... they ran all the way up to the top of the hillfoot behind us and back down-- the fastest one in just over 20 minutes! That would be an all day event for me, and they were running it. Mad.

I took some photos, of course. They are here.

The videos, in case you didn't notice, are in no real order. I just stuck 'em in places. =)

Alva Thesis Retreat, Take Two

2010-09-28T11:50:00.000+01:00

Study, study, study. In Alva. Thank you, Paige, for the loan of your flat while you were away!

It worked well for me in January to be away for a few weeks, and to just work somewhere different. I hoped it would work that way again, especially after being so frustrated with the whole robbery and losing my work fiasco. I debated about not going, but I'd already bought my train tickets before the theft, and I couldn't see wasting the money (they were, of course, non-refundable cheap tickets). So off I poddled to Alva for two weeks.

I didn't get completely done, but I did get a lot accomplished. It's funny how just a change of scene can work wonders on motivation and focus, sometimes. The weather wasn't great, as it was rainy and cloudy most of the time... but there is a great park just a couple of blocks down that I took my books and notebooks to when the sun came out. The university even loaned me a netbook to use for two weeks. Granted, I made them feel bad enough about having kicked me out of my office right at the end of my time when I needed a place to work the most, and laid it on thick about then having my laptop stolen in the break-in... they couldn't really do anything but loan me one that was sitting around unused, could they?

Anyway. I worked a lot. I drank coffee and ate snacks and sat in the window and watched the World Cup and read in the times when I wasn't working. It was productive, and it was refreshing to be somewhere other than the 'Deen for a bit. Thanks, Paige! I owe ya. =)

Where are the photos? They're here.

Quite a Week That Was

2010-09-27T11:51:00.000+01:00

One Monday, I had decided I wanted to get my hair all chopped off. It had been growing for nearly three years, and that was long enough. I grow it out so I can donate it to Locks of Love, and I usually try to get it cut while in the States so I can get a nice salon cut for free. This time, though, I couldn't take it any longer. So I made an appointment at the salon across the street, Mokoko. It wasn't cheap, but I had a 40% voucher. I figured it was worth it to get rid of the mane. I booked in for Thursday.

Then on Tuesday I went to have lunch with Lynch. She got an hour break from work, and we went to Subway. It was not a great experience, and I'm not all that sad that they are still closed for flood damage months later. I'll go to the one in the Hub if I ever have sub cravings again. Grrrrr. Of course, it was good to hang out with Liz, as always. Then I went home... and couldn't get into the flat. I thought the lock was stuck, as we've had some trouble with it sticking before. The door was loose in its jamb, but it wasn't open. And I couldn't get the key to turn for anything. I texted Kenny, and went down to sit in the cafe at Morrison's while I waited for him to get off work.

Three hours later, I went back to meet Kenny at the flat. He couldn't get in, either. Eventually he had to just shoulder the door in. We both just thought it was the lock, and he'd bought a replacement a while ago, just waiting for the time we'd need it. There were some random weird things, but nothing really seemed amiss yet. We just thought from all our shoving and shoulder and pounding to get it we'd knocked some stuff loose. While Kenny got to fitting the new lock, I went in to check my email in the lounge.

Wait. Did I leave my lappy in my room? Did I move it? No... it was here... and where's Liz's lappy? Oh. No. Kenny... we've been robbed!

It was horrible. We lost three laptops, both of our diary/filofax/organisers, a gold chain, a wallet with US store cards, a digital camera, and a thumb drive. But on the thumb drive and on my hard drives (well, mine and Liz's I was borrowing) was all my thesis work. All of it. Six years. I was freaking out, to say the least.

I only ended up losing two weeks' worth of work, because my latest draft had been sent to my supervisor two weeks prior (duh), and I had that in my outbox still. So at least there was that... but I had to cancel my UK chequebook (which was a hassle and may be contributing to my current visa problems), change all my login details everywhere, and am still trying to get address and contact details back for everyone (if you want me to have your address and phone number, please email them to me). It was a nightmare. The police came 'round and took our statements, we had to give our fingerprints for exclusion so they could dust (they didn't get anything), and the insureance... well, that's another nightmare in itself. Kenny got two new locks installed while I was away the next week, plus a baseball bat. Well, it's not a real baseball bat-- it's too short and too light. But it's close enough. So we're prepared now.

Then two days later I got my hair chopped off. And then I left for two weeks, to go to Alva and write as if my life depended on it. In a way, it did.

Photos from the haircut and from prior to knowing I'd been robbed and just thinking I'd been locked out are here and here. As always.

I do recommend donating your hair to Locks of Love if you have ten inches or more to cut. I do not recommend getting your flat robbed. Not that you have much choice about that, really. We didn't. I was only gone for two hours... boooo.

International Potluck

2010-09-26T20:12:00.000+01:00

At my birthday party, an idea was born: to have an informal international potluck. There were a couple of us sitting around talking about food, all of us from different countries, and we decided we wanted a chance to try them all for ourselves. A couple of weeks later, we did just that.

Noelle hosted us at her flat, and Natalie brought along some of her floorball friends, and then there were the usual suspects of Lynch, RitaB (and her mum and sister, who were visiting), and me. We ate well, let me tell you. The devilled egges I took disappeared quickly, and that was just Lynch! We all brought things from our home country, or from a country that we had adopted as home (in Nat's case). Oh my life. Good food. So much good food. And leftovers. Yum.

I think this should happen at least once a month. =D

Oh, and photos here. From 32-52. Don't say you aren't warned-- these will most likely make you hungry. They do me!

Private--Open Today!

2010-09-25T12:11:00.000+01:00

There is a house at the corner of College Bounds and Meston Walk that has a great garden. It's a private home, and usually the gate is closed. One day, however, I happened by and the gate was open-- today only! Come in and look around! Private Gardens Open to Public Today Only! Well, you don't have to tell me twice!

It was lovely. I wandered around, taking photos, and got to talking with the homeowner, who was our working the flower beds. He was lovely, too, and obviously enjoys his gardens. They have a great location-- directly across from King's College. I have recently found out that they rent out the 'servants' quarters' or downstairs to students-- there are seven or so of them, and you have to be interviewed and prove you'll get along with the others in order to be considered. If you want to live on campus in a gorgeous setting, there is no better place than that. Want to see? Here you go. They start at 180 and go until the wicket gate.

There have also been plenty of opportunities for me to take pictures of blooming things, which I absolutely love. Many of them are in that same album, and many of the others are here. Enjoy! I sure did.

Thomas

2010-09-24T12:08:00.000+01:00

For many of you, this is old news. You heard it back when it happened, either on ViewFinder (this is the link to this story on my photo-a-day blog) or Facebook. For the rest of you, and for posterity's sake here on True Aim, I'll say it again.

We lost Thomas, our older sweet kitty, pretty suddenly. He's had some health issues over the past year or so, but didn't seem to be doing too badly, considering he was sixteen-- and had a very annoying younger brother. Kenny and I had taken him to the vet on a Friday night, they kept him overnight, and called Kenny back on Saturday to put him down. We miss him a lot around here. Still.

Especially Dillon. He whines all the time now, and wants to be right where you are-- even more than before. It's sweet when he wants to be all cuddly... but I can't do anything without him right there. In the kitchen. In the bathroom (I shoo him out first). In my bedroom (when he's fast enough to race in before I can catch him). In the lounge.

The problem is, when I was trying desperately to finish my thesis, he kept wanting to be on my lap. Where my laptop was. That doesn't work so well. Now it's times like now, or when I'm reading, that he's really in the way. Once he settles down beside me, I don't mind so much... but until he settles, he's a pain. Quite literally. He has claws, and dang, they hurt!

Kenny keeps threatening to get another cat to keep Dill company, but I'm not sure I can handle another. I can barely handle this one!

Girlie Nite

2010-09-23T12:53:00.000+01:00

I go to the cinema a lot, as you probably know. I don't go to the theatre very often-- largely because I don't think about it, because they often have cheap student tickets available the day of. Oh well.

I always enjoy it when I do go, typically at the instigation of friends who have spotted something that can't be missed. This time, thanks to Lynch, it was The Vagina Monologues.

I admit, I was sceptical. Because it's an episodic presentation, I had seen (on other shows) a few of the Monologues. One or two I thought were okay; one or two others... not so much. But it was a girlie night out, and Lynch had seen it before and recommended it. So I was in.

I was impressed. It won me over. I wouldn't say it is for everyone, but I would encourage everyone to give it a try. It was all kinds of things: irreverent, hilarious, crass, moving, sad... varied doesn't begin to cover it. My favourite ones were not the crass ones but the thoughtful ones. And I would see it again.

My one big problem with the night was the crowd. I don't know if it was just because some people were uncomfortable (she said 'vagina'! *titters*) or because they had already had more than enough to drink before they got there, but the crowd was annoying. They laughed at everything. Even the things that weren't funny. Even the ones that were, for instance, reflecting on being present at the birth of one's grandchild or one's experience in a Bosnian rape camp. Still they laughed. That made me quite annoyed... but that's not the fault of the show. Or the actresses-- although one of them probably didn't help sometimes. Joyce Falconer plays on my favourite Scottish soap, River City, so there were plenty of in-jokes for people who follow the show, and she has a very thick Aberdonian accent to boot. She opened her mouth and the local ladies laughed. Even when it wasn't funny. She did play it up at times, but even so... it was still an aggravating crowd. I should have been prepared for that, though-- there were signs on the way in warning that the show might contain offensive language. Really? In a show called The Vagina Monologues? Might be offensive sometimes, or make people uncomfortable? Laughter will cover that, and make you not look like a prude. Laugh a lot, then. Just to make sure.

Still, I would recommend it. And go with people you like-- I was there with Lynch, Aleithia, and Jay. Lynch said it was better the other time she saw it, but having nothing to compare it to, I quite enjoyed it for the most part. Not exactly the kind of thing I'd have probably said even five years ago.... I'm a changed woman now. Not just because of the show. =)

Photos can, as usual, be found here: from number 11.

Flyicide

2010-09-22T12:07:00.000+01:00

Bzzzzzzzz...splat!

This was my life for about two weeks. Suddenly, there were dozens of huge, fat, slow black flies in our lounge windows. Sometimes they were in our kitchen window, as well, but mostly it was the lounge. No clue where they were coming from. I even stuffed the chimney full of newspaper, as Kenny thought that was where they were coming from. Didn't help. At the time, I was in the lounge a lot as I was feverishly finishing the thesis. Or working on it, anyway. I was already stressed. It didn't help that these flies were making me even more twitchy. I was cursing and couldn't sit still... they were making me mad. Crazy. Insane.

We didn't have a flyswat, either. Just a rolled up pieces of newspaper. And lots of smears of dead flies on the windows. And carasses on the floor. I swept up dozens every day, from my murderous rampages. I couldn't help it. It was justifiable flyicide, I swear.

We found out months later that it was because there were dead pigeons in the gutters around the flat above us. Did they get in through the lack of skirting board? I don't know, but that's what I suspect. Cos they weren't getting in the chimney, once I blocked it up. Still, they eventually died out. Thank God. I couldn't take much more.

Thesis-Writing Picnic

2010-09-21T11:06:00.000+01:00

We haven't had as great a summer as last year, but we've had some wonderful days. This was one of them.

I honestly can't remember what else was going on, or why I was dressed up. Maybe it was just because it was so gorgeous... either way, I wound up meeting Liz at her office in the afternoon. I loaded up some goodies-- coffee, kool-aid, chocolate, snacks-- and took two blankets down so we could sit in her office back garden to study. It was way too nice to be inside. So we sat and lounged around in the secret garden, soaking up the sun and the coffee, and even getting some work done. It was so warm, we actually had to move to the shade after a while. I've been jealous enough of Liz's office, but this was the final straw. Luckily she's nice enough to have let me work in her attic office as well as in her back garden office. Not to mention Khyber Pass nights in the common room....

New Title

2010-09-20T20:44:00.000+01:00

It's not 'Dame', but I'll take it.

From now on: I'm known as The Doctor. You can call me The Doctor.

Hahahaha. I love a good Doctor Who reference.

But seriously. I passed my viva this morning, with minor corrections. So it's not completely and totally officially over til I get those done, but hey. Close enough.

Finally.

And no, I don't want to talk about it right now. I want to go to sleep. It's been a long day. =D

Thanks for the party, Beckers and Lynch! And thanks for your support and prayers and celebrations for me today, everyone.

A Haiku

2010-09-19T12:10:00.000+01:00

Sunny hillfoot walk

like poetry in motion

inspires this 'hi, coo!'

I wrote this haiku for Paige. Because she said I should. When we were walking along the path at the base of the Hillfoots from Alva to Menstrie, to see the Highland Coos. I mean, cows. It was our last day in Alva for the Eurovision trip, and we were enjoying the nice nearly-summer weather and the middle-of-nowhere nature. I took quite a few photos, which you can find here. It was a great way to round off our weekend out of Aberdeen. It's always hard to come back to the Granite City for this.

Pleasure Princesses

2010-09-18T11:05:00.000+01:00

While at Paige's place, there are far more touristy places we can get to than from Aberdeen. Since we all four have Historic Scotland memberships, we decided to take advantage of that fact, and we headed out to spend the day at Linlithgow, formerly the royal pleasure palace.

It was fabulous.

They have the oldest working fountain in Scotland (or maybe all of Britain, I can't remember for sure), and it's a wedding-cake style with loads of carved figures. They also have lots and lots of staircases, some of which now lead nowhere. We definitely got our exercise that day. The view from the top is worth the climb, though.

We popped into the local kirk, which is also lovely (except for it's bizarre metal spire, that's supposed to represent the crown of thorns but is, in fact, just plain ugly). Even better, there was a rehearsal going on for the National Youth choir (or something like that... I can't remember their exact name). It was amazing. They had a great repertoire-- many of which I knew, which made it great, of course. =)

We ruled that palace, we four pleasure princesses.

Eurovision in Alva!

2010-09-17T12:05:00.000+01:00

After our day spent in Narnia, we went back to the wee flat for fish 'n chips and ice cream and wine... and EUROVISION!!

If you are not familiar with Eurovision, then I'd say you haven't yet lived. It's an international European song contest. Each nation has their own contests to find the song they are going to enter, and then there are qualifiers, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finally, the Finals. The country that won the previous year hosts the next year's contest-- this year, it was in Norway. My flatmate was there. We looked for him in the crowd, but didn't see him. Anyway. Each country performs their song, and everyone at home phones in to vote for their favourite. Then the popular votes from each country are paired with 'professional' rankings from each country, to decide how many votes each act receives. After all the performances, they actually go through calling every country to get their votes, and keep the tally live on tv. It's all very exciting. And someone wins. And then they sing again. And then that's it until next year.

It really is quite an experience. If you ever live in Europe, or any of the other countries that aren't in Europe exactly but are included in the mayhem, then you must watch it. Or just check out some of the previous entries on YouTube. You won't regret it.

This was our second annual Eurovision party--both times held in Paige's flat, although last year it was in Aberdeen. She was thrilled that last year's winner got to perform again... as you can tell by the excited expression on her face. We all could hardly contain ourselves. It was good times, for sure. As always, the photos can be found here, at the very end.

This is the 2009 winner, who Paige loves:

This is the 2010 winner, who actually deserved to win:

Seriously. Check out some of the videos out there. You won't regret it, unless you are looking for actual good music. But for a laugh, you can't beat them! =D

Narnia, aka Stirling University

2010-09-16T10:05:00.000+01:00

Who knew? ;)

The three of us girlies in Aberdeen went down in late May to visit Paige in Alva-- largely so we could all watch Eurovision together (more on that tomorrow). Since none of us had really seen much of her new uni, we forced her to take us on a tour-- which was great, because she hadn't seen most of it, either. =)

Stirling University is a fairly new Scottish university, all things considered, and the architecture leaves much to be desired. The setting, however, is breathtaking. We'd all noticed it on the bus between Stirling and Alva, but none of us had wandered around it. We had gorgeous weather, and needed to be home in time for Eurovision, so it was a perfect day to wander in the great outdoors on campus. The postbox says it's Narnia, and we believed it! We found lots of gorgeousness, hidden glens and cottages, tumble-down cemetaries, and more.

After spending time out on campus, Paige showed us around her office and her building. They have a great collection of Scottish art... which wasn't there. Ha. They had several things up in other places, and we got to enjoy it. Plus Paige showed us the window she gets to design in the entryway with all the other art, when it's at home. And her office... dang. Bunnnies galore cavorting just outside, and a view of the Wallace Monument. Lovely. Makes being in the office not so bad when you have beauty and distration so readily available. ;)

And we had a good time with each other. Although I'm sure you can't tell that from the photos.

What Not To Wear?

2010-09-15T12:03:00.001+01:00

Right, friends. I need some help. What should I wear to my viva? My sister has told me I dress like a grandma. Luckily I've got friends with great fashion sense who give me clothes they don't wear often. So I have choices... I just don't know what goes together, or what goes with me. So I need your help.

Here are the options (or mix and match between what I put together, because I can't be bothered to take photos of every single permutation):

These trousers are a little itchy. They're linen, but they feel like wool. And they show off what my grandma always refers to as my 'child-bearing hips'. She means it as a positive thing. I think. I would not wear them with a shirt tucked in like this, though... that was just to show the trousers.

Those are all the same trousers... just different shirts. Obviously.

Please ignore the fact that I'm wearing a green tank that doesn't really go with everything. I do have different colours, and will match them appropriately to whatever I end up wearing. I just couldn't be bothered with changing all my undergarments everytime.

Modelling is obviously not my calling in life.

I'm not really as mad as I look... the dang cat kept getting in the way and knocking over my camera. It's not easy to do this all with a self-timer.

This is a skirt. A long, slinky, floor-length skirt.

Yes. I need to iron half these things. I just couldn't be bothered doing it first, and besides, the iron and board are in Kenny's room. So pretend I'm nicely pressed, please.

Same linen trousers as above, but different brown shirt here and below.

These are fuzzy velvety trousers. I like them. They feel nice.

That skirt is purple. Like, a very nice plum. It's lovely, although it doesn't come out so well in these amateurish photos. That photographer isn't getting a pence for them.

Clothes sizes crack me up. This skirt is a 12, and it fits better than some of the 14s and 16s above. And that's not because they are too big, either. Weird.

I also have an orange shirt that matches this:

For this and the next dress, I do have sweaters to wear over them. It's not quite that warm here anymore.

This is probably my favourite dress I've owned in years. I love it. Love it, love it, love it. But that doesn't mean it's right for this. I just have to make it an option. =)

Ignore the jeans; it's the top I'm adding into the mix. Cos I like it.

So. What's the call? What should I wear? And what should I never, ever put on again and find a new home for immediately? If there is something like that, I need to know it. I can take it. Just be nice. =)

Muppet References Galore!

2010-09-14T12:04:00.002+01:00

I can't help but sing when I'm on the move...

'Moving right along, dug-a dun dug-a dun, footloose and fancy-free...'

I was singing this to myself a lot on the way to and from my Edinburgh mini-break. And then on the way home, it was this one:

'Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection--the lovers, the dreamers and me.'

The photos might not be great, but the views truly were. Whether it's from bus window or train window, wherever in the country I'm headed, Scotland takes my breath away with its gorgeousness. The skies, even when cloudy and rainy, are always dramatic. When the sun comes out, the colours couldn't be more vibrant. And it's always green. Always. I love the beauty of this wee corner of the world. My pictures of it are here, if you want to see what I'm talking about.

Mini-Break and Maxi-Dog

2010-09-13T12:02:00.002+01:00

Way back in May, I took a long weekend for a mini-break to stay with Paige. This time, though, she wasn't in Alva... she was in Auld Reekie. The Capitol. Edinburgh.

Nope, she didn't move. She has a friend at Stirling Uni who lives in Edinburgh, and has a monster dog. Hazel. She's seriously scary... or her tongue is, anyway. It's faster than the speed of light, I swear. Other than that, and her need to tear up with her teeth every growing thing she sees, she's a sweet puppy. So Paige was there flat- and dog-sitting, and as she had just finished a major presentation for uni, she was totally up for a weekend of some fun. And Papa John's pizza.

Oh, Papa John. I wish you were here in Aberdeen. But you aren't. So I have to go to Edinburgh to get you. Paige and I had a perfect plan: delivery. Because they SAY they deliver. And there are two different branches. It's a big city, sure, but not that big, surely. Ha. How wrong we were. They don't deliver to where we were. Pretty much if you aren't in a one-mile radius of their store, you can't get delivery. Which is flippin' ridiculous. Our dinner plans were thwarted by their dastardly delivery deviousness... so we went to Waitrose and bought a for-two curry dinner. It was delish.

The next day we were determined to get our pizza. We spent the day in the city, at the Elephant House for coffee and studying and wandering around. Then we walked out to where the PJs is... about a fifteen minute walk from Princes Street. Not too bad. The plan: get our pizza take-away to-go and then get a bus back to the flat. First part worked fine. Got our pizza (two of them, actually), and headed back to a bus that would take us home. Part two didn't really work out so well. Apparently you aren't allowed to take food on a bus. Really? Because I see people eating on buses all the time. But this driver wouldn't let us on. Grrrrrrr. Here we are, walking around the capitol in the chilly May evening with two big pizza boxes, not to mention all our other bags. Now what?! I was ticked. Seriously ticked. Paige decided we'd just get bags to put the pizza in... which we did. At Whittard's. She bought a pretty reuseable bag that fit her pizza, and got the sales person to give her the biggest plastic carrier bag they had, which *just* fit my huge pizza. On the bus we got. Finally.

By the time we got to the flat, the pizza was no longer hot. But does that matter? Not so much. PJs is just as good cold, and we had a microwave to zap it if we wanted it hot. What did matter, however, was the fact that they forgot to put in the garlic butter dip. WHAT?! Oh good grief. I could not believe it. On top of the rest of the disaster, that was the final straw. Papa John, you have some serious making-up to do to me if you want me to love you like I used to. I'm so disappointed in you.

Other than the pizza debacle, and the monster dog, we wandered around the nice suburb where we were staying. There's a big private school there that Hogwarts could have been partly modeled on. And there is a big park with a pond and lots of water birds and a gorgeous view of the city. We saw swans, and mallards, and other birdies whose names I don't know. We enjoyed the sunset, and the walk. It was lovely.

Mostly we just hung out and laughed a lot. It's just what happens when we get together.

All of the photos can be found in my All Around Amie site here. (If for some reason you can't access it, let me know and I'll send you an official invite. Hopefully it'll just let you in.)

Catching Up

2010-09-12T16:57:00.001+01:00

Over the next few days, I'll try to post about all the things that have happened in the past five months or so. There have been a lot, but I just haven't taken the time out to share them here. Partly that was due to the fact that I was pushing to get done with my thesis, and I just didn't take time out for much of anything. Since submitting, it's been due to my brain being mush and me not wanting to look at the computer for long enough to compose even a short post. However, I have nothing better to do now, so I'll get back to it. =)

I won't be putting pictures in very often, because I don't have them on my computer. They have been uploaded various places, burned to cd, and deleted from my hard drive. I will put links to where they are in my Shutterfly share site-- All Around Amie. If you can't access it, let me know and I'll make sure you get an invite from that site itself. When it gets to a point in time where I have photos on my lappy, I'll put them in again.

Onward and backward! =D

Dear Faithful Readers

2010-09-10T20:57:00.000+01:00

Hello? Anyone out there? *crickets*

C'mon, y'all. I can see the three of you. Hello! Echo...echo...echo...echo.

Ha. I'm such a joker.

No really.

Faithful friends and readers, thank you for not giving up on my entirely. If you are reading this now, you've at least not deleted me from your blogroll. Thank you for that. I have had loads of things I've done that I wanted to write about, and loads more things that I *should* write about... but I just haven't had the energy or presence of mind to actually sit down and write. Maybe it's just a by-product of being done with the thesis-- I have writer's block now. Better now than then, anyway!

Anyway. I just sent out this letter to all my email contacts, so if you're already read it, please feel free to skim or ignore or whatever. But I just wanted to update everyone on what's going on and what's going off and what's coming up and all that jazz. So here's the short version of my life right now:

Hi y'all,

I realise that I haven't written an update in years now. I also realise that I've been very, very remiss in emailing pretty much at all. For that, I do apologise. It's not that I don't miss you or think about you or pray for you... it's just that I've been very bad at letting you know that. Partly I blame writing a PhD thesis. Partly I blame Facebook (which is where I mostly keep up with people, so if you're on there and want to keep up with me, please find me!). Partly I blame the time going by faster and faster as I get older so that I hardly notice it's past. Mostly, though, it's just that I've gotten really bad at taking the time. I am sorry.

This note, however, is to let you know that I'm actually finally nearly done with my PhD! I know, it's been six years. You can hardly believe it. Me, neither. I submitted the monster of 100,000 words (give or take a few) on 2 August, and my viva (defence) is in ten days. TEN DAYS!! That's 20 September. Thank goodness it's not the 19th, as that's 'speak like a pirate day'. I'm betting that would be a little awkward. ;) So yup. A week from Monday at half ten in the morning my time (so the middle of the night for most of y'all), I will meet with two readers-- one from my university and one from another university-- to find out my fate. I'm nervous, of course. Who wouldn't be? But it'll be fine. I keep telling myself that, anyway. It'll be fine.

What happens after that, however, God only knows. I have hoped to stay in the UK and work for a year or two, and then figure out where I want to go next-- that plan seems to be in some trouble, thanks to the UK bordery agency still not having dealt with my visa extension that I applied for back in April. Technically now I'm illegal-- but they've had all my documents and application (and my passport, of course....yikes) since then. I'm not sure if they'll count that against me since it's not my fault or not, so I'm trying to find out whether it will be a total waste of my money to apply for the post-study work visa once the university cuts me loose. If I haven't heard back from the original visa application by then, that is. I really want to stay here a while longer... it's home now, after so many years, and I love it. I have been more myself here than probably any other time or place in my whole life. I have friends here who are more like family. I have an unlimited cinema card, and I don't have to have a car. It fits me, and I'm not ready to leave. However, I do realise that I might have no choice. I might get my April visa denied, in which case I won't be able to apply for the other from here. They might not accept my new application because of the delay in the other, but still would keep the huge application fee. Financially, it seems safer to just come back to the States... but that's not where my heart is.

Friends and family, would you please pray with me? About my viva, that it goes well and I'm not so stressed out that I burst into tears? Because that isn't unknown. I know, you're shocked. I never cry at anything. =D And about what happens next, mostly-- not for any specific outcome, but just that I would have a peace about whatever it is that I should do next. Because right now, I don't have peace about any of my options, for different reasons. I have no idea what to do next, and I don't feel like I really have 'choices', since so much of what will or won't happen is constrained by things completely out of my control. I know that God is in control, and that things will work out-- I just don't know how. And I've been in the dark on this for a loooong time. I'm really struggling with that now.

Thank you all so much for your support, love, and prayers over these past few years in Aberdeen. It has been hard and not always pleasant, but it has also been wonderful and challenging and surprising. I have learned a lot, about my research, of course, but also about myself. I can't believe this road is almost over. I seriously doubted over much of the past two years that this day would ever come. It felt impossible-- yet here I am. Thank you for walking it with me, even when you haven't heard from me. I would love to hear how things are in your world, though, and if there are ways I can be praying for you, please do let me know.

I'll let you know what happens in ten days. =D

love,
amie

And the Winner Is...

2010-07-22T21:42:00.000+01:00

I know you are all dying to know what name I choose for my moose friend. So here's the answer. Despite many great suggestions, and some that made me absolutely howl with laughter (Moosie Howser, for instance, and David Carmooseo, from my sister), I have thought on it long and hard. The name that has stuck with me, and seems the most fitting is...

Amoose-bouche!

For those of you who aren't familiar with where this name comes from, amuse-bouche are a single, bite sized hors d'oeuvre. You can read more about them here. Considering my love of food, my love of travel (including Paris), and my wee companion, it just seemed such a fitting name. Becky, you never cease to amaze me with your talents. =) I'll get in touch with you about your prize when I have a little more free time... in a week, after I submit.

Thanks, everyone, for the great suggestions! And please don't be too disappointed if you didn't win. =)

It's Unani-Moose!

2010-06-19T17:03:00.000+01:00

The moose has won. My new companion to me, the soon-to-be Doctor. Ha ha. Seriously, though.

Everyone, please welcome... wait, what's his name?

That's the question now. Each of the three of you who voted get a prize, cos I like you. I'll get with you about what you'd like. Thanks for your votes and your insights.

Now, for two weeks, I'll leave open voting for a name for my moose friend. Voting will close on 3 July at noon est (5pm my time). He'll remain just moose for the meantime. Vote in the comments for a name for him, and the winner (based on my own choice alone) will win some kind of fancy-schmancy prize. Again, we can chat about that when you win.

Put on your thinking caps and turn on your creativity-- name my moose! =D

20(1)0!!

2010-06-17T20:02:00.000+01:00

I've had writer's block, knowing this was a milestone post. 200 posts! That's not too shabby. Already more posts this year than all of last year. That's both great and sad, depending on your point of view.

Since it's a big one, I decided I'd use this opportunity to ask for some help, and do a contest! The prize will be negotiated with the winner, but it will be something Scottish. Cos I live in Scotland, of course. So think about what you want-- cadburys? cheesy t-shirt? digestives? marmalade? tartan scarf? If you win, we'll talk. =)

Here's what I need. I need an Inca John. I need a Flat Stanley. I need a travel buddy.

I have a couple of options, and I'd like to put it to a vote. I also might need a name. So there will be two parts to this contest-- the first to vote on my travel buddy, which winner will be chosen randomly from all the entrants, and the second one to name him or her. That one will be merit-based, and my decision will be final. I hope you can deal with that. =)

So here are the contestants. Voting starts immediately, and ends on Saturday at noon EST (which is five pm for me, in case you're wondering). After the lucky companion is chosen, then I'll post a new contest to name him or her! Yippee! I'm so excited!

Number One: Woody

So Woody already has a name. He actually talks, too. No string, you just whack him. I do love cowboys.

Number Two: fuzzy bear

Boy or girl? I don't know. Lots of room to develop personality, I guess.

Number Three: moose

A gift from Jen and Saum when they were on holiday in Maine a few years ago. I just think s/he's cute.

Number Four: Fairtrade Christmas gift boy

Paige got me this wee loon for Christmas because I had been talking about needing a companion. He's not been with me, or earned a name yet. This could be the time.

Number Five: sonic screwdriver

I realise this one could be tricky, but I've liked the idea of a Doctor-themed companion for ages. Or would I be the Doctor's companion? Either way. It's an option.

I have to have a buddy picked by Saturday so they can accompany me to Glasgow to see Paul McCartney on Sunday. I mean, what better way to start our travel relationship?!

May Babes

2010-05-20T22:24:00.001+01:00

There ain't nothing like 'em...

That was then... when the Auntie's job was to get the screaming Mya to sleep (hence lots of shots of sleeping Mya, and some of sleeping Auntie!) These are now-- in goodies that Auntie has sent, so that I'm still kind of in the pictures: ;)

Happy Second Birthday, Mya! Auntie Amie loves you lots!

Garden Envy, Part Two

2010-05-17T11:45:00.000+01:00

As I was walking home from uni one day last week, I snapped some more spring bloom photos. Nearly all of these came from people's very nice front gardens, which made me very sad about the sorry state of our back garden. I'm glad I get to see and enjoy other people's lovely gardnes, but dang. Anyway, here they are, the lovelies.

This gorgeous tree is at Kings, between the CASS offices and the Pavilion sports area.

These next few are from a wee strip of grassy-ness behind what used to be the Butchart rec centre, just before you get to Orchard Walk... or Orchard Place...

These couple are from the Orchard area, where all the streets are called Orchard something.

The rest are from King Street, homes on the left as I leave uni and walk home.

I caught several flashes of red jumping out at me. Always exciting. =)

The weather was totally crazy this day-- hail, sleet, rain, wind, sun, snow... all in rotating fifteen minute increments. I got hailed on as I was coming home, but the sun was still out. So I got lucky. I got these photos relatively unscathed.

*sigh*

Garden Envy

2010-05-15T11:33:00.002+01:00

My back garden:

The clothes line poles are just higher than my head, and those reed-things are that high.

I don't even know what these should be used for, but currently they are in such a state that I don't think they are fit for anything.

There were, last year, a lot of nice flowering bushes along that wall. Someone started tearing them all out, and I can't find a rhyme or reason for how and why they did. And why they left all the branches and bits in piles around the rest of the garden. Grrrrr.

The neighbour's back garden, which looks nice and tended and like the wee rooms at the back can actually be used for something.

A random garden at uni-- behind my friend Liz's office building. I gotta figure out how to get in there.

And I've gotta figure out how to deal with our garden. Not having the right tools is a big bummer right now.

Party Like It's 2010... Oh, Wait...

2010-05-13T10:31:00.000+01:00

So I had lots of my friends from different circles (uni, church, etc) and different eras (as long as I've been here, in the past year, etcd) to my flat for eating and laughing and goofing off on Sunday. It was a good day. I made Laurie's bean dip, Kayla's cream cheese salsa dip, ranch dip with veggies, raspberry choco streussel bars, Legend's fruit tea, and birthday cake balls (I had to neuter about a dozen and a half, poor cakes. But their sacrifice was duly appreciated by the guests at my party). I'll let the pictures tell the story, with a wee bit of commentary from me. =)

(they might not have eaten the cake balls if they'd seen these photos first...)

the fridge stocked:

Becker boys, Scot and RitaBekah

what the boys did the whole time, and didn't share:

Liz and Jay, caught in the act. Of what, I'm not sure.

Aleithia. Classy.

Which came first? Looks like neither one is doing very well... considering they were supposed to be going straight off the edge to the right of the photo.

Natalie and Noelle, vying for the win!

And the mystery parcel-- revealed this! Not busted yet. Needs a neater garden and less rainy day.

That's it. I'm officially olde now. Yay!

Not to Brag, But...

2010-05-11T11:10:00.000+01:00

I totally racked up on the gifties this year. And I just want to share the bounty. Not as in, actually share. Just share the pictures so you can all be totally jealous of me.

Mystery parcel. I didn't order this. And there is no glimpse of who it might be from. Hmmm...

Another mystery parcel. This one I opened on my birthday, and it had...

a sonic screwdriver! Awesome. From my daddy, as I found out when the Homer Simpson card full of d'oh! arrived. =)

All of these things are from Kenny. He's the bestest flatmate in all of Scotland. Probably all of the UK. Possibly even all the world.

Oh, and this was the 'gift bag' for all the above:

From Aleithia, coffee. Boozey coffee.

From Liz, the Voucher of Happiness. And Lush goodies. Because I'm a lush, and a wench. Obviously.

From Paige. Ahhhh, another Voucher of Happiness.

From RitaBekah. That girl has good taste, obviously.

From Noelle. I'd say she knows me a little bit.

From the Beckers. Also with very good taste. Which is why I'm often so well-dressed.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, friends! I love them all, and will use them all. Oh, and I love y'all, too. =)

Spring's Done Sprung

2010-05-09T10:32:00.003+01:00

It's been a weird spring here in blooming times, because of our very long and snowy winter. So things have not come up in the right order, or they aren't staying around as long as usual, or they are just plain late (and are going to get blown away in winds this weekend, they say). But I have taken a couple of advantages of pretty afternoons to take some photos around campus and on my way to and from different places (largely along King Street). And now, to quote Philip Scoffield, 'I'm about to be given the results... *touches forefinger to earpiece*... in no particular order...":

If I get any other good shots after I post this, I'll just make another post. Maybe I'll check out Seaton Park on Monday, or Union Square Gardens at some point. We'll see. =)

I'm Sensing a Theme...

2010-05-07T20:22:00.001+01:00

Oooh, thanks, Aleithia! I love coffee. But wait a minute... why do I get the 'boozey' one? What are you saying?

Yes, it's vodka... but it's Birthday Cake Flavour!!

Oooh, Liz! Thanks! I love Lush goodies... but hold on a sec. Are you trying to tell me something?

Oh, c'mon! It's only one!

But I didn't HAVE all 30...

That's only six. I can even remember what flavours they are: strawberry, bakewell tart, pineapple & mango, parma violet, cola cube, and ice cream. See? I'm not THAT big a drunk.

Oh. Right. I think the other six were milky bar, cherry, birthday cake, pear drop, lemon & lime, and... um... rhubarb & custard. Yeah. That's them. And it's not like I was drinking alone...

Y'all were there, too. Thanks for suffering through the flavours of vodka shots on my Cinco de Drinko Birthday! And for the 'themed' gifts. =D

Aaargh, Mateys!

2010-05-02T11:54:00.000+01:00

Liz is on a mission. Before she turns 30, she's tackling a list of things to do-- from the Pirates Who Don't Do Anything. She's done a few of them already... but to inspire her on, she had a pirate-themed party. It was great fun-- there was cake and chocolate and pizza and rum and coke and wine and games and babies and friends. And we all put our costumes together out of just our everyday wardrobes... which is either very cool or very sad. =D

Happy Birrrrrrthday, Liz!

Crocs' Epic Fail

2010-04-30T18:53:00.000+01:00

I love Crocs. I really, really do. Ever since my mom bought me my first pair four years ago, I've worn one pair or another pretty much every day. Largely it's been the Endeavour (the closed version of the original), but in the past two years I've branched out: Troika, Alice, Celeste, Mammoth,Gretel... and I love them. However, the Lily-- never again. Most uncomfortable shoes ever.

I've tried them with hose, with socks, with tights, with bare feet... nothing helps. They. Are. Rubbish.

Blech. Don't buy these. Buy pretty much any other, but these.

Celebrities Have All the Fun...

2010-04-23T17:05:00.000+01:00

Sport relief. Water skiing the English Channel. Biking the length of Britain non stop. Biking from Rome to Edinburgh for six nations. Let's dance. Kayaking the Amazon, the first woman ever. Fantastic sketches for fundraisers. And Becks. Oh, Lord, Becks. Dumb as a rock, perhaps. Looks of a god, oh yes. Heart of gold? Completely. Who knew?

It's a little long, but it's totally worth it. At least watch long enough to see David Beckham. I'm pretty sure you won't regret it.

I have loads more videos from the Sport Relief show... but I'll refrain. You can find them on YouTube through the BBC channel, if you want. They are quite funny, even if you don't live here. =D

Friendly Blog Plug

2010-04-21T12:08:00.000+01:00

If you've ever lived abroad and moved back 'home' again;

if you've ever been married to a ~~nerd~~ highly educated person, or are one yourself;

if you've ever had wee ones, or simply love others' wee ones;

if you've ever worked;

if you've ever enjoyed reading things that are well-written, well-thought out;

if you've ever had a dream or a gift or a hobby...

then you should check out my friend Becky's blog.

The Holloways were in Aberdeen for two years while Trey earned his second PhD, where I got to know Becky through book club. They are now new homeowners in the City of Brotherly Love (thereabouts), with three adorable wee ones. And Becky is a writer. I mean that in the best possible way. She herself says she has a novel in her, if she can just find the time to write it, and her blog is always a pleasure to read. She's witty and insightful and just plain good at communicating.

And, in case you need a little incentive, right now she's running a contest. I'm pretty sure that even if you go there just to enter, you'll be back. =)

The Rising Age of Retirement

2010-04-20T11:09:00.000+01:00

Poor guy. He's had it tough. Working day and night, for at least fifteen years now. Putting up with moving, travelling, illness, emotional instability, physical manipulation.... He had a couple of years where the going was easy-- two newer guys took over the heavy lifting for a while. But he's been back on the job full full-time now for a year and a half. He doesn't complain; he just does what he does best. He's gotten grey, and quite a bit worn down, but that only makes him better at what he does. It would be fair to let him retire, to enjoy some peace and quiet, to not work him to pieces and run him into the ground. But when is that going to happen? I don't know.

I just can't seem to let him go. He's been with me through too much, and he's the only one who is always there for me. He's my Velveteen Rabbit, even though he's...

Bear.

That's him on the right, obviously. Buster is ready and willing to take over for him, but I'm not ready. I got Bear as a Christmas gift in high school-- sophmore year, I think-- and he's been with me every since. Everywhere I've gone. Everything I've gone through. He's been cried on more times that I can possible say; he's been drooled on in my sleep, I'm sure; he's gotten snotty when I've been sick; he's had more germs coughed on him that I care to think about; he's traveled to foreign lands--as visitors and as residents; he's been my pillow when I've not had a real one; he's my comfort and cuddler every night.

I realise admitting all it even more painfully obvious that I am a total dork. But heck, I don't care. I love him, and he's been good to me. So what if I'm nearly 35, and still sleep with a stuffed bear? I don't see a problem with it.

Anyway. I love my bear. He's losing the lining of his ears and feet-- which will soon start leaking stuffing. His nose is rubbed down to the bare plastic. He used to be white. Seriously. And he's been a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, a cuddle when I need one, a bit of home wherever I am. I know I should let him rest, on a shelf nearby, watching over me. I should let Buster or someone else take over. But I can't. I'm not ready to let him go. He's a part of me, and I know that he'll one day be a Real Bear... but I'm selfish enough to want to keep him a while longer. He's real enough to me already.

Just Because You Feel Hopeless...

2010-04-19T11:55:00.000+01:00

My friend Jody posted this article a few days ago, and we had a brief exchange about it. Then that night, in my devotional time, I read this poem by Virginia French, published 15 November, 1941.

"Our Father Who Art"

We will return, O Lord, before the snows,
When autumn winds have hissed our candles out.
Weary and cold, and whimpering on Your name,
We will come back across the withered field
Of this adventure. Surely You will wait
A season, while we play a summer game
Of strength and valor, flaunting willow swords,
Challenging the drowsy dragon-fly
To duel upon the long, sweet meadow-grass.
And when the wanton locust hours end,
When winter's beast-eyes, in the bitter dark,
Circle our meadow, --Father, then prepare
The hearth for us, the chastened, briefly brave,
Stumbling across the world to claim Your love.

Reading it the same day as that article, about how desperately hopeless these current generations feel about everything, how cynical they are about it all-- it just seemed timely. I sat there and prayed that, somehow, these generations, all these lonely, wandering, hopeless, 'briefly brave' people will come to see that just because you feel hopeless doesn't mean there is no Hope. That not seeing an answer doesn't mean there isn't an Answer. That thinking all is lost doesn't mean that you aren't actually already Found, if you'll just stop hiding.

And that God would work in me to somehow be a part of this invitation Home, even--perhaps especially-- for those who as yet don't see the need or the possibility of it.

Laughter: The Best Medicine

2010-04-09T13:00:00.000+01:00

I know, you may be sick of my video posts. But I will not apologise for them. They make me laugh, and that is a very, very good thing. So I share them. And if they don't make you laugh, then I don't know what's wrong with you. Kidding. Sort of. ;)

These I came across at my first quiz night, thanks to Jay. There were ten in total; I've only found two of the right ones so far. But they were two of the best. Here they are.

This one made me laugh so hard I couldn't breathe. Jay was both amused and concerned, and was glad we had trained emergency aid people around. I still laugh when it comes to mind. Better than the real film, in my opinion!

This one is classic. Seriously. We only got the cut version in the quiz, for reasons that will become obvious once you see the end. However, after the quiz we got to see the whole thing, and it was brilliant. Truly genius. It honestly doesn't get more classic than this.

For all you Facebookers who only read these when they import... you'll be truly missing out. I would apologise, but if you really loved me, you'd read my actual blog. Kidding. Sort of. =D

(not) my office

2010-04-07T20:09:00.000+01:00

Liz is very good to me. She invites me to work with her in her office... at Joe's desk. He's not there, so he can't complain. =D

Being somewhere different is often quite helpful. I think it's just psychological, but a change of scene brings me a change of focus, or confidence, or something. I work well in a routine, but I work even better when I occasionally get out of my routine. The attic office serves that purpose very well. Plus, it's good to work with a friend who is doing the same thing. That friend would be Liz, although Harriet is also great for morale:

And Stephen is just so cool:

I know that I couldn't be doing what I'm doing without God-- so having purple sparkly Jesus there is another bonus for keeping me focused:

We are the madwomen in the attic, Liz and me, when we work in the office together. Good times, I tell ya.

Bwah ha ha ha! Cackle cackle! Heh.

Cozy Changes

2010-04-06T13:40:00.000+01:00

I don't think I've shared this here yet... although it did feature on my photo-a-day blog. I rearranged my room a wee while ago, and it makes me happy. It took some muscle, and some measuring, and some music--because everything goes better with music, of course.

Having small rooms here in the UK is not just my problem, but is an issue in most flats/apartments/houses that I know of. I've long had a loft bed, in order to have room for a desk and chests of drawers... but where to put my books? Kenny gave me one bookshelf, and when Paige moved, I inherited another. It took me a while, but I finally found places for them that I actually like.

In case you can't actually tell, that grey bar is the head of my bed... my loft bed. So the bookshelf is sitting on boxes and boxes of... well... stuff. Nearly six years' worth of stuff accumulated. How does that happen?! Oh well... it's coming in handy now. ;)

I have shifted things just a little since I first organised and took photos... my iPod alarm clock is now on the top of my wardrobe, and my other little fm digital alarm clock is in it's place. It was too hard to get to the iPod one when I wasn't in my bed if I wanted to listen to it without earphones. And I'm way too lazy to climb up and down just for that. Besides, the ladder has to be moved around in order to have room to turn around... but that's another story.

This is the other bookshelf, the one from Kenny, on top of my wardrobe. See where the water bottle is, there to the left? That's where the iPod alarm clock is now. Along with the phone. And all those boxes, which are full of Christmas decorations and other stuff I need to get to from time to time.

It's like my own private little retreat up there! And these guys keep me company.

It just makes it feel so homey and cozy, sitting up in my bed, propped up on pillows and snuggled under the duvet, with a hot drink and a book-- and all my books (the to-be-read ones; the already-read have to be packed up. No room.) right at hand. I. Love. It. I even hosted a couple of girls the other night, and we sat up there talking for ages (so as not to disturb Kenny's tv watching from his recliner). It's lovely. Come see for yourself! =D

How I Spent My Lenten 40 Days

2010-04-05T14:33:00.000+01:00

I meant to write this ages ago, and just never got around to it. The story of my life right now. Anyway. Here's what I did for Lent.

I gave up tv.

NO, not completely. That would be akin to emotional suicide, as I need my tv to distract me occasionally and keep me sane. I did give it up largely, though. I allowed myself one show a day, unless I had gotten a huge amount done on my thesis that day. And whatever day each week was my 'day off' (usually Saturdays so I could watch the rugby), I allowed myself whatever tv I wanted to watch. But largely, I gave up watching tv so that I could focus more on my thesis. Take away my main distraction, and viola! Or so I thought.

It did work pretty well, actually. It's just there's always something to distract me. If it's not tv, it's stressing over my visa situation. Or staring off into space. Or doing housework. Whatever. I had hoped that I would have my draft ready-steady-go by Easter... but not quite. It didn't go to plan that way, but I'm close. I just get stressed about other things, on top of already being stressed about my thesis, and my focus disappears. And my motivation disappears. And my moods drop through the floor. And my sleeping isn't restful. And on and on and on.

And yet, I am making progress. And I've cut down the number of shows I follow. ;)

The other thing I did during Lent was to read a Psalm every morning before I even got out of bed. I already read my Bible at night as part of my bedtime routine, but adding it in the morning as well has been something new for me. It's been a good change, though, and I'm going to keep it up. Just read one a morning, and when I've read all of them, start over. More time in the Word can't be a bad thing.

So really, for Lent, instead of giving up things... I added things. More work on my thesis. More time reading Scripture. Other years, I've written a letter a day to friends or families. Why do I give myself more to do, rather than the traditional 'giving up stuff' for Lent? Because they way I see it, the purpose of Lent is to prepare my heart for Easter. To re-evaluate my life, to repent and seek reconciliation, to draw closer to God and others. So. If that's the goal, then just giving up chocolate or coffee or whatever isn't necessarily getting me any closer to those goals. If I do give something up, like fasting during the day, then I should be using the time I would have been eating to pray or read Scripture or something else towards the ultimate goal of preparing for Easter. When I take something up, like reading Scripture, then I don't feel the need to trade that out for something else.

This year, because I feel like my thesis is God-inspired and my calling right now, working on it and getting it done is part of my spiritual journey, one way I am yearning to draw closer to God. Largely because it won't get done if God doesn't work in me, I decided that focusing on it even more specifically than I might normally was the best way I could honour God and prepare myself for Easter. Did it work? Yes, I think so. Even though I didn't quite get finished. God knows I'm trying. =)

Welcome to Aberdeen

2010-03-31T23:07:00.000+01:00

see more

thanks, verydemotivational.com!

Seriously, folks. This absolutely must have been on the beach in the 'Deen. The seagulls here are huge and scary. I've heard that we have the largest seagull population, perhaps in the world-- in both numbers and in bird size. So I just had to share this when I saw it. Heh heh heh.

Let's Dance, Cheryl!

2010-03-21T10:30:00.002Z

She is on one of the most popular soaps, EastEnders. I was totally blown away by this. I laughed so dang hard. Cool as ice, right to the finale. Brilliant. Truly.

If you want to see more of the acts, the BBC channel on YouTube has them. Or you can just search there for 'Let's Dance Sport Relief'. That's how I got them to share with you. I hope you've enjoyed these... =D

Let's Dance, Debra!

2010-03-19T10:30:00.001Z

Actress and comedic impersonator... which shows. She was so in character, she never even spoke as herself in any of the interviews. Classic. And straight to the finale.

Let's Dance, Sam and Mark!

2010-03-17T10:30:00.002Z

These two are children's presenters on CBBC. They were born in the 80s, and neither of them can remember when this song was out! And yet, they are pretty convincing as Wham! I was really shocked they didn't make the final. Silly voters.

Betcha didn't know...

2010-03-16T10:30:00.001Z

that fish 'n chips is healthy. as is kool-aid. and hanging out with liz. i have photographic proof...

The box says a lot of things. They are all obviously true things. And Liz buys it... she drank the kool-aid, so now she's on board. Fish 'n chips=healthy.

See? I told you so. =D

Let's Dance, Katy!

2010-03-15T10:30:00.001Z

Katy Brand, comedienne. And Beyonce double. Obviously. She, along with Rufus, were shoe-ins for the finale. I only wish the short video intros that they do were on here as well... they are often as funny as the performance themselves!

New Addition

2010-03-14T11:04:00.002Z

Kenny came home from work one day a couple of weeks ago and said, 'We'll have a new addition to the family on Wednesday.' My first thought:

Dear Lord, please not another cat!

They always expect treats or fancy food whenever I get up and go into the kitchen. Silly kitties... treats are for me!

Anyway. It wasn't a new cat. And thank goodness, because instead of one new addition we got two! Can you tell what they are? If you've been to my flat before, you probably can...

If you said 'recliner' and 'tv stand', you'd be right! Except that it's more of a tv accessory stand, since our awesome flatscreen is now mounted on the wall and doesn't need a stand. But either way, you'd be right if those are the things you spotted.

The recliner is very, very comfy. I've tried it out quite a few times--for napping, for reading, for tv watching. So far, it works for all of those. And I love the tv stand, where each box has its own shelf. Things don't overheat nearly so bad now. And Kenny bought a faux leather box for me to put all my gaming stuff in, so it's not just out or needing to be packed away. Yay!

Now if only we had baseboards.... =D

Let's Dance, Rufus!

2010-03-13T11:09:00.001Z

So you may or may not remember about this time last year when I posted about Comic Relief, and a couple of clips from the show where celebs performed their versions of famous dance routines. If you want a refresher, that post is here. This year, they brought back this awesome show, in aid of Sport Relief (which raises money for the same type of charities at home and abroad as Comic Relief). Each week for three weeks, six acts perform-- and two go to the grand finale, which is this weekend. So far, five of those in the finals I completely agree with... and one I think got a bum deal. Because I think they are fun, I'm going to share the ones I really like. Hopefully you'll get a laugh, even if you don't know the celebs in them.

This was the lead act of the first show, and it was a show-stopper. Seriously, it's been hard to top it in the following three weeks. Rufus Hound is a comedian, and apparently a great Cheryl Cole imitator. Enjoy!

R.B. Thistlethwaite's

2010-03-12T10:30:00.002Z

Back before she moved to Nigeria, I finally scored an invite to RitaBekah's all-boy flat. And for those of you who didn't get a chance to visit her there (which is pretty much everyone but me), I took photos. =D

First, her bedroom:

Now the kitchen, along with the microwave warning (because it just made me giggle)...

Now the refreshments... it was a chocolate feast!

And finally....

Proof positive that she only washes dishes at other people's houses. ;)

Not a Laughing Matter

2010-03-11T16:13:00.000Z

(I wrote this for something else, so please forgive the lack of caps. I know some of you have heard this before from me, but I can't help it. It's still an issue, and it's still close to my heart.)

i am not all that political. i am glad to have the freedom to vote and have an opinion, but i don't get very caught up in it all, either locally, nationally or internationally.

i am, however, very opinionated about how people are treated. especially when it is completely unfair.

i also know that a lot of people will think that this makes me political. it doesn't. i'm not anti-anyone-- i'm pro-everyone. i just think that all people have the right to live and work and love, and to do so in a manner that is not in constant fear or under constant threat.

what made me so mad today was the stupid young undergrads in a class i'm taking notes for. it's a class on the history of the middle east and all the conflicts there. i actually am really glad to be in this class. i have been to israel and the palestinian territories, twice. i know people who live and work in various parts of the entire region. i love the history, the culture, the food, the people-- arabs, jews, christians, muslims, all of them. it is fascinating to me, and i would love to live there some day. i also took classes in university from a rabbi-- both bible classes and classes on the holocaust. i am not ignorant of what has been done to jewish people... but neither am i ignorant of what they have done to others.

today in this class, we were talking about the history of the conflict between israelis and palestinians, going back to the 1930s. it has been a difficult situation for a long time, and neither side is blameless. for the second half of the class, we watched the first half of a film called 'paradise now' about two young men from nablus, following their journey in becoming suicide bombers. i don't know how it's going to end yet.

first off, the film is filmed in nablus. having spent time in the west bank, and really wanting to go back, it actually made me a little homesick, which is funny because it's never been 'home' yet. also, having spent time there with friends who have family living there, as well as having spent a summer term at hebrew university of jerusalem, i have experienced both sides-- and now i've studied the history of both sides. this film, seeing these two young men struggle with very limited options, trying to decide what they can do, how they can make a difference for their family, their people, their land... it was heartbreaking. at many points, i had tears streaming down my face.

and the kids behind me were giggling. laughing. ridiculing. i was furious. but i just had to sit there.

i want to be clear: i do not support or approve of violence on either side, whether state sanctioned (israel) or revolutionary (many arabs). i. do. not. think. violence. solves. anything. or. is. ever. the. answer. EVER.

that being said, i do understand why many oppressed people around the globe feel that violence is their only option. i have seen myself what life is like, and how intolerable it can be, when you are the oppressed and occupied people. one person's terrorist is another's freedom fighter. israel itself used the very same tactics to claim their statehood-- and are every bit as violent and oppressive towards their arab neighbours as they suffered under the nazis.

how is that fair? how is that right? it's not. and it's no laughing matter.

i know that there are no easy solutions, and that violence begets violence, and everyone has claims, and all that. but i get angry anyway.

The Ermine City

2010-03-10T22:57:00.000Z

Normally we are the Granite City, for obvious reason if you've ever been here or seen photos. But this winter, I've thought of us largely as the Ermine City. I got this from a poem I remember having to learn in elementary school--second grade, it seems to me. I cannot for the life of me remember the poem or who it was by, but I remember that even though I didn't understand most of it, I thought it was beautiful. One of the lines was something about fenceposts (or some other thing) dressed in ermine. That's always stuck with me.

And because I haven't gotten around to it yet, here are the last of my snowy winter photos. There was one Friday when it just started coming down, rather unexpectedly. I had to be heading into town to meet a friend to go see a film anyway, so I just went a little early to take advantage of the city centre in snow. I had only been to uni and the Bridge of Don the other times it snowed. I'm so glad I did!

This is the window in our stairwell, and that white glow always makes me happy. I can tell both how much snow there is and how bright the sun is by judging from this.

It was a mess out. Traffic on King and Union Streets were pretty much at a stand-still. Made me very glad to be walking, even on the less-than-perfect pavements.

The Arts Centre

The top of Marischal College

Queen Street Church

Castlegate

The clocks on top of the Town House

Where it's always winter, but never Christmas....

All in St. Nicholas Kirkyard.

The snow started melting again pretty quickly, and big globs of it were dropping off the trees and soaking me. But it was so gorgeous, and I was so lucky to get the chance to take these!

We had such great snow this winter. I don't even mind the cold when there is no wind and rain. It was gorgeous, and I am thankful for it. Really. I'm not just saying that because it seems to be past now. I really honestly did like it. And I hope every winter is so gloriously snowy.

Sucker for 10s

2010-03-01T10:30:00.007Z

We played so well. And yet we lost. It's heart-breaking, though nothing compared to a fortnight ago. And now I have another fortnight to wait. In the meantime, I thought I'd share something with you.

Sorry-- I'm talking about rugby again. The 6 Nations. In case you were confused.

I have to confess, I can't but help play favourites. I love all my Scotland boys, no doubt. They all have a special, special place in my heart.

Even so, I can't help it. I love a good fly-half. I love to watch them kick and run and tackle... they can generally do it all. And dang. Just look at this!

James Hook, of Wales, courtesy of the bbc.

Ronan O'Gara, of Ireland, courtesy of the bbc.

Today's Irish hero, Johnathan Sexton, courtesy of Sky Sports.

Jonny Wilkinson. England. Oh boy. I know I'm not supposed to cheer for them, but dang. From the RBS 6 Nations.

Chris Paterson, our most amazing kicker. Sadly, he's out with an injury for the rest of the 6 Nations. From the Daily Mail.

And Dan Parks, our very animated play-maker. I love it when this guy is on the pitch. Again from the Daily Mail.

And just to round things out, my boys:

I Am One... Are You?

2010-02-28T15:38:00.002Z

Caring for Your Introvert - Magazine - The Atlantic

This is seriously the most awesome article I've ever read about myself. I laughed out loud a few times, and nodded my head to nearly every point. Preach it, Jonathan!

I'd love to hear what y'all think, introverts and extroverts alike....

Funny Men

2010-02-27T13:32:00.000Z

I'm not usually a huge fan of Johnathan Ross, but I happened to find his guests last night quite entertaining.

I just had to share. They cracked me up.

Sicko

2010-02-23T19:49:00.000Z

Boy, oh boy. I've gotten off pretty lightly this year on the under-the-weather scale. I've had some doozies-- last summer/fall, and a bit over January. But two weeks ago... that's when the stuff really got me.

I thought my head was going to explode, face first. My ears were near to bursting just with breathing. The pressure was so bad it even hurt to move my eyes. Couldn't breathe. It was baaaaad.

And I couldn't even take anything for it, because of my other meds. I inhaled some Vicks VapoRub (a nice little steamy bowl of hot water and a spoonfull of the smelly stuff), which didn't really do much good because I couldn't breathe in the first place. And I took ibuprofen, which might have helped with the pain if it wasn't caused mainly by the pressure. Wowzer. I was in trouble.

I got nothing done that week. I barely made it to the classes I'm paid to go to... at home, I was laid in my bed, or laid on the sofa. I couldn't even read, so I either listened to my iPod softly, or the tv. Not watching it, just listening.

Luckily, that's over now. Except that now I'm running a low fever. And I can't get it to go away. It's wiping me out, man, even though I don't feel bad otherwise. Where is this settled in that it keeps my fevery but I don't feel it?! Grrrrr. Last time this happened, it turned into tonsilitis eventually. My sister had hers turn into strep. So... I'm plugging along and hoping this doesn't actually turn into anything.

Sorry for whining. I just had to complain a wee bit. Yes, it actually does make me feel a little better, just to complain and get it out. =)

Pancake Day

2010-02-21T13:17:00.001Z

Mardi Gras? What's that? Around these parts, it's Pancake Day. Why? Well, I asked Wikipedia, and she told me this:

"Pancakes and doughnuts are associated with the day preceding Lent because they were a way to use up rich foodstuffs such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. The liturgical fasting emphasized eating plainer food and refraining from food that would give pleasure: In many cultures, this means no meat, dairy, or eggs."

I invited Aleithia and RitaBekah over for a pancake supper. I have some Krusteaz mix, and we made three kinds: banana (with raspberry jam on top), chocolate chip (with powdered sugar), and plain (with golden syrup). They were so yummy. I hadn't made them for a while, but I'm not sure why when I enjoy them so much. And it was fun, hanging out and chatting with the girlies who were in town. I missed Liz and Paige, but oh well. That's life, isn't it? And, of course, silly me-- I forgot to take a single picture. Again, that's life.

Six Nations

2010-02-19T21:08:00.000Z

I love this time of year. Whether it's on tellly...

Or, even better, in person at Murrayfield with Paige...

That's Chris Patterson about to kick for goal up there. All our nine points came from him. I swear, he never misses. We did lose to the French, mostly through silly mistakes and throwaways, but it was still so much fun to be there, live and in person. It was a very last-minute decision to go, but we still got good seats and had a blast. I sang the Scottish anthem in the midst of a standfull of French fans (yikes!) and cheered my wee heart out. I can't wait to go again some time. Brilliant

The next weekend, I watched on tv while we were beating Wales... and then it all went wrong. It was a heartbreaking lose, and three of our men went down with some serious injuries. One of them had to have surgery to fuse bones in his neck... luckily, he is moving his arms and legs now. They will all three be out for the rest of the Six Nations Championships, and in at least the case of one, the whole season. You can read about it here, if you're interested. So the last weekend of the month, when we pick back up, who knows what will happen? But overall, we've been playing so much better this year. And even if we weren't, I'd still be cheering.

I. Love. This. Game.

If you are interested, you can go here for some fun stuff about this year's support campaign: We Are Scotland. It's really good stuff, if I do say so myself.

Nevermind that it's for the autumn test matches; it's still good for now. =D

The Light Box

2010-02-10T11:04:00.001Z

After six weeks away, I can tell. I was sceptical, but it really has helped my SAD this winter. So I'm glad to get back to it for the rest of the winter. For those of you who can't really picture what I'm talking about, here you go:

I get to sit for half an hour or an hour, for a total of five hours a week. I read my book club book, or write letters, or just listen to music. It's my 'down time', and it's great. I can make coffee or tea, or bring in my lunch, or whatever I feel like. And it really has made a difference. I haven't noticed the darkness having the same effect on my mood (which still isn't great to begin with, so it could have been so much worse...), and I haven't been as much under the weather (until this last month when I've been away from the light box).

Oh, yes. I am now a believer.

Park... or Car Park?

2010-02-09T11:09:00.001Z

Union Terrace Gardens is under attack. If you have lived here, or visited here, then you may well remember the Gardens in the City Centre. They are a favourite spot on nice days for all kinds of people, and they are beautifully landscaped year-round. To turn them into a carpark would be worse than just a tragedy. Please, if you can, even if you don't live here now, read the information and go vote 'no'. I would appreciate it greatly!

'A public consultation is now underway on Sir Ian Wood's vision to concrete over Union Terrace Gardens to create a Civic Square and 3 acres of underground real estate. The cost is £140 million+ of which at least £70 million must come from the public purse.

This consultation is NOT allowing the public to express their views on anything other than the City Square.

There is an alternative...

Peacock Visual Arts' scheme for a major new cultural facility in the Gardens has full planning permission and 75% of its funding in place. It allows the Gardens to be retained and regenerated at a fraction of the cost to the environment and the public purse of Sir Ian's scheme.

The Civic Square involves the felling of around 100 trees (including elms up to 200 years olf) and the loss of an historic park. It will be impossible to plant mature trees on the Civic Square as there will be nowhere for their roots to grow.

The Civic Square violates all guidelines on planning and green public spaces. It would potentially require compulsory purchase orders for Belmont St properties.

It has a £90 million + funding gap and may need to introduce a new local tax to cover its costs.

Peacock's scheme will welcome over 200,000 visitors per year and bring £5 million annually into the local economy. Peacock is a local charity, their new arts centre would retain the gardens providing disabled access, baby changing and cafe facilities as well as activites for including dance, music, art, education and community activities.

If you support the Gardens and the Arts Centre please visit the website www.thecitysquareproject.com and say 'No' to the City Square on the questionnaire, and sign the petition at www.iloveutg.org.'

(from a brochure handed out on campus by the Iloveutg group)

january hermit

2010-02-08T11:04:00.003Z

Paige was kind enough to let me use her flat as my writing hermitage for pretty much all of January. She's been home in the States, so I've been keeping the wee flat cozy. I had hoped to have a full draft done by the time I left here; I'm close, but not quite. I got a lot of work done, though, and it was good to have some time and space completely on my own. I needed that. (Sorry, Dillon and Thomas.) Here are just some shots of what my time here has looked like, and felt like. A couple of times sick, several times very productive, you've already heard about the fun with Liz... that's it, in a nutshell. My Januaray.

January. It was a good month.

Snow and Darkness

2010-02-07T10:30:00.000Z

It snowed in December. A lot. It was great! I loved it. And I got some photos of it around campus, and even in the Bridge of Don. Because we had a Darkness Party at Liz's--me and Aleithia and RitaB and Liz, of course. To celebrate the shortest day. Because what reason is there to complain about the dark? It was a good party. As they always are when those girls are involved. And the snow... and the bus came... and it was great! The snow pictures weren't taken all on one day, but during the same extended snowfall.

Who?

2010-02-06T11:09:00.000Z

THIS is the sole reason I agreed to go to Glasgow for the day during our girls-only Christmas fest. I had been waiting for a year for the chance... it was worth it.

If you don't know who these are, or what this exhibit if, or why I went... I may have to reconsider our friendship. Sorry. I only like cool people. =D

Thank you, Kelvingrove. Doctor, I love you. I'll miss you. *sob*

iPhoney

2010-02-05T10:30:00.000Z

You heard it here first, folks...

There's a new text-speak language in town, developed by Apple, apparently. See, my sister has an iPhone. She uses it to chat with me on Yahoo! Messenger. Except that I end up having to translate (and laugh my head off) most of the time. However, we are sure it's going to catch on. Here's your starter course:

hoebullu = hopefully
hash = haha
jerker = tee hee
javon = n'est pas? it originally changed from 'i have', but we've been using it as a 'you know?' kind of phrase
dait = cursing, like dangit. except for not dang.

We actually have been using these now, in our texting. I particularly like hash, hoebullu, and javon. i use them a lot. For instance...

So, hoebullu this new language we've termed iPhoney will catch on, javon?

hash! =)

Dait. I'm such a dork.

Christmas Girl's Get-Away

2010-02-04T12:23:00.001Z

The good thing about Paige living in Alva is that we now get to visit her there, and spend time in Stirling, and all the other places roundabouts that are so much easier to get to from central Scotland.

The bad part about Paige living in Alva, of course, is that it means she's not living in Aberdeen. *sigh*

Anyway. Liz and RitaB and I headed down in December for a wild and crazy girls Christmas weekend! We went to see the panto on at Stirling Uni on Friday night, which was Sleeping Beauty. Liz and I have been to pantos before, so knew what to expect. I was a little concerned that P and RitaB wouldn't like it... they are quite an experiences. But they loved it! At least, they claimed to. I don't have any photos, and I don't even really know how to explain it. It's musical comedy theatre with a LOT of audience participation and ad libbing from the dame, who is, of course, in drag. They are based on fairy tales or other folk tales (the other one I saw, in Cambridge a couple of years ago, was Aladdin.). They are great for kids and families, but we weren't the only adults there without children. It was hilarious, and a little sad, but of course had a happy ending. Ah... a Christmas tradition I'm happy to add!

Other than the panto, we wandered around Stirling on Friday, and indulged in our first try of the Milk Shak eBar. Oh dang. I don't have photos of that, either, but it was heaven. The city was all decked out, and we enjoyed it... what we could see, anyway. We also were on a quest to find a certain board game... which was elusive, til the very last. And we played it A LOT over the weekend. It's better than the original! You should try it. =) Oh, and Liz left us on Saturday, the day in which we pretty much stayed in the flat. Except for the brief time the sun came out, and the three of us took a walk along the Hillfoots to Menstie and back.

We went to church on Sunday at Stirling Methodist, and everything was all frosty. Even the spiderwebs. It was lovely. From there, we went to Glasgow for the afternoon, because we could. It cost less than seven pounds, and took just over half an hour. Brilliant. You can't get anywhere from Aberdeen for those. I was going on a mission, that the girls didn't share with me. We eventually met up at the Kelvingrove Museum, which was where I headed directly from the train station. I saw an exhibit that I've been dying to see for a year, and just in time before it left in January. I also heard the Salvation Army band playing in the open middle bit, and visited Jesus. He's hard to photograph, though. Silly lights.

Finally from there, we went back to Stirling and climbed up, up, up the slidey mountain to get to the castle. We had tickets for the caroling. It was lovely, with all the frost. A little creepy, too, but I liked that. The caroling wasn't really what I expected--it was a concert by some group. Bah. I expected, from it's name and it's advertising, that it would be an actual caroling eveing, with everyone joining in and singing songs and stuff. So I was a bit disappointed. The choir was fine; it just wasn't what I wanted. The Great Hall was very festive, though.

From there, RitaB and I caught the train home. And that, as they say, was that.

Oh, the Burning!

2010-02-03T11:09:00.000Z

I went down to the beach again this year for the city's Bonfire Night festivities. Fifth of November, remember (remember)? Anyway. Last year I went with Paige, but since she'd recently defected to Alva, and because I could talk her into it, I went with Liz. We took our travel mugs of hot cocoa and headed down. There were some crazy people walking on coals for charity. We didn't see it, which I'm actually quite glad about. It was quite a crowd, and the music was blaring from the local radio station's deejay. We had to laugh, though, about how Aberdonians express their excitement. The deejay says, are you ready for some fireworks! The crowd says, yeah, okay. The deejay says, I can't hear you--I said, are you ready for some fireworks! The crowd says, sure, whatever. The deejay gives up.

The show itself was nice, but nothing compared to last year. The budget crunch hit Aberdeen's city council well before it hit anyone else, so I was just surprised they were still having anything. They cancelled the Hogmanay party because of the budget. Jerks. I was looking forward to going again! Anyway. The fireworks were cool, and the Aberdoians around us showed their appreciation--- oh. Nice. See that one? Hm. It was awesome. They just don't get very worked up or very vocal. But Liz and I enjoyed ourselves. Here's to you, Guy Fawkes!

Badgertastic!

2010-02-02T11:04:00.002Z

Seriously one of the funniest things I've read in ages, and my new favourite blog (that doesn't belong to someone I know personally, of course). If you haven't found this couple yet, check 'em out. I read through all the back posts (they're short, and there aren't too many yet) and laughed myself silly. The language is a bit rough, but oh, the life this guy is living in his sleep! And bless his wife for seeing the funny side of it, and sharing it! Seriously. Check it out. It's good for a laugh. =D

Sleep Talkin' Man

And in the End... Day Twelve

2010-02-01T11:04:00.002Z

So pretty much it was just to the airport and away... so I'll put some photos as well that didn't really fit anywhere else, but that I like. They show a bit about what my trip 'felt' like, rather than just what I saw.

One last long look before leaving...

Good to go!

I have no idea what these are for. Kristianna, did you ask Alexis? Are they for gas and electric and stuff?

The door to the flat.

Just before getting on the train to head to the airport to fly away to Scotland. *sigh*

Oh, and these are in no certain order. Here John is posing with the Paris Bible. If you go to Paris, this is the book to get. It is seriously l'indispensable. It's how we managed, and found our way around, and it is brilliant.

The kitchen, wherein I made many coffees and other culinary delights, which made me very happy.

The view into the neighbour's kitchen, across from 'our' kitchen.

Oh, the macaroons... *drools*

Why are the door handles in the middle?

Our stop!

No bins, no bombs. A pretty good plan, if not all that beautiful.

She had camel feet. Seriously. Why would you do that?! It can't be comfortable...

Remember, remember...

Down, down, down the stairs.

Our line to go home.

Luckily, John knew the code to get in. Kristianna, it seems, didn't. =)

A lot of stuff in a tiny space.

The toucan mural tickled me.

Where I slept, both with Kristianna and on my own.

Hello, gorgeous. I don't mind that you look funny. You are divine.

Oh, the cheese...

Sorry, no looking after your children here, please.

I am a wee bit of a dork, and a huge part detail-oriented.

The names just cracked me up.

I'm pretty sure this is Kristianna's street... but I might be mistaken. It's been a while now.

Ah, Paris. =D

I really, really can't wait to go back. Thanks for having me, Kristianna! And thanks for going, too, Paige and Liz!

Eleven: La Nuit Blanche

2010-01-31T11:09:00.003Z

So I did more than just White Night in Paris... but I had been looking forward to that for days! Or a day. Ever since I'd learned what it was, and that it would be my last night in the City of Lights! Perfect.

I started out at L'Arc de Triomphe again, and worked my way back into town. I had to do some shopping for my niece and nephew, and they needed very chic clothes from the most famous shopping street in Europe.

Mainly, though, I just poddled around, soaking up as much of the city as I possibly could.

Another lovely Paris colour scheme.

Enjoying one last gelato... I am not even going to mention how many I enjoyed during my stay.

Kristianna met me at Notre Dame, and we were off into La Nuit Blanche!

We stopped for a wee break on our way to check out the disco ball and festivities in the Luxembourg Gardens.

The line was too darn long. We'd have waited all night and still not gotten in. So I don't know what was happening in there... but it was a madhouse out here.

I absolutely have to see this again-- the light show on the Tower. On the hour, every hour, for ten mintues. I only caught the last bit of it. It was so pretty, though!

the lights of the eiffel tower...

the shadows the boats threw as the drifted along the seine...

and finally, the crazy, crazy crowds

And the beacon shines out, calling me back...

10

2010-01-30T10:30:00.002Z

Are you sick of Paris yet? If so, don't despair--there aren't many more days left. If you aren't, don't despair--there are still a couple of days left!

This day, I spent in Montmartre-- partly with Kristianna, and partly on my own. We went to see Sacre Coeur in person and not just from her window. It is so gorgeous. Inside, too, but they don't allow photos inside, as they are not a tourist attraction but a living, breathing, active church. It was even more beautiful for that very reason, I think.

We got--what else?!--coffee. And Kristianna got that fabulous scarf!

The artist district.

The view. Again, with the moon. Ah, I love the moon.

I also love the light at this time of day.

I was walking home as the sun was setting over the city...

Thank God I was going down and not up....

And I took this photo because, well, Lamarck is dead. It's the sign for the people to... oh, nevermind.

And now for some slice-of-life real Paris photos.

I said 'real life'! But wait... this is real life. Kristianna's real life. Life is just not fair. ;)

This is my real life--feeling very pitiful because my back was still killing me. Oh, pity me. Poor, poor me.

At least I had Kristianna's view to cheer me up.

Hey, Kristianna? When you move to a bigger flat, will you give me yours? I don't mind that it's tiny. Or seven floors up. Really.

Please? =D

Am I Tired of Paris Yet? Nein!

2010-01-29T11:09:00.000Z

Which means, today is the ninth day... pardon my very bad German pun. Thank you.

We started out at Starbucks, doing some studying. Yes, we both actually did school work. I sat outside to do mine, and was only a little distracted watching all the cute wee ones chasing the bubbles...

I left after a bit, and Kristianna stayed on. I couldn't sit any longer, and wanted to walk and see and make Paris my own. So I did.

I took this, cos that's why my sister lives. And I thought it was funny.

I wound up eating my panini and drinking my Orangina in the Luxembourg Gardens. After our repast, we enjoyed the gardens themselves, John from his usual vantage point:

I had no idea why the huge disco ball... but it was obviously temporary (or new), and it was fun.

Rawr. And now I leave the Gardens and am making my very slow poddling way towards Place de la Bastille, because I feel I should see it. Considering it's one of the few bits of French history I know. However, most of the places along the way I can't remember what they are called... but I'll take you there, if you want to come back with me. ;)

It's bad enough he's called 'Wally' in the UK... but here I draw the line.

I love it! This is my kind of shopping... a store for each specific kind of thing. It totally suits my j-ness.

The one thing you can't escape in Paris is the graffitti. It was literally everywhere.

I finally made it. This was in a part of the city I hadn't been to yet, and it was quite a long way from my usual stomping grounds. I was glad I went, though. While I was poddling this way, Kristianna texted me that she was in St. Michel and a cafe was having two for one happy hour! So I headed back to meet her. She saved me a... something. I can't remember. But it was yummy.

But not nearly as yummy as this view. I mean, seriously. This isn't for real, right?

Except that it is for real. And I took this picture. I'm quite jealous of past me right now, just looking at this. Ah, Paris! Why do you do this to me?!

We also greatly enjoyed this view.

And wouldja look at that moon. Oh my life. I can't stand it.

We wandered in to the cathedral, and they were showing a film about the history of it. It was awesome... but sadly we only caught the last ten minutes. I will be sure to find out when it's on next time I'm there, though. It was both well-made and gorgeous to be seeing it in the dark cathedral.

But these guys were a little creepy in the shadows. In a holy way, of course.

I want to move here. At least for the autumn. Every year, for the rest of my life.

Eight Days a Week: I Luh-uh-uh-uh-uhve You

2010-01-28T11:04:00.001Z

On this day, I was actually quite miserable. We slept in late, which was good, but as we were getting ready to go out poddling again, to some fancy spots and do some shopping, my back went out. In a major bad way. Suddenly, I could not move. And it hurt so flippin' bad. My back goes out from time to time, and it usually lasts a couple of days. This time, it ended up hanging on more than two weeks, and not even three strong prescription painkillers from my GP made a dent in it. Oh my life. It was misery. But dammit, I was in Paris. And I was NOT going to sit in the flat and do nothing. So. Out I went. Just really, really slowly. And while I was moving, it was better. It was when I stopped that things got sticky. And starting again? I don't even want to think about it. Anyway.

Other than that, this was a lovely day. Poddling around. Buying famous French tea and macaroons. Being served coffee by Sulu. Just taking in the sun and sights. Come along, see for yourself...

I love all the stalls along the Seine, selling books and art and souveniers and stuff like that. One thing I wanted to buy while I were there, if I could find it, was a Babar book. If you didn't grow up reading about Babar and Celeste and their adventures, you missed out. I loved those books, and since they are French... well. I had to have one. And I found one! A hardback. And a good price. I was so happy! I also bought Paige's Christmas gift at one of these stalls... and some goodies for me, and to give as gifties. Yay for shopping!

These titles cracked me up, though. It somehow doesn't have quite the same affect... oh well.

I bought tea here, for myself and as a gift. I wish I had thought to take a photo inside. It was tea-heaven! I could have stayed in there sniffing blends for hours. If you like tea, go here when you are in Paris. No questions-- just go.

And if you like nice pastries and goodies, go here for the macaroons-- Laudree. It is not cheap (yikes!) but they have loads of flavours, and they are the best in Paris. The line was out the door! And their packaging is so darn cute !

Decisions, decisions! I got one of eight different flavours, in a lovely wee box. Worthwhile investment. I even shared some of them... though I hated to give them up. ;)

I told you the line was long!

I felt very chic with my fancy shopping bags. So we went for coffee, to be even more Parisianne. And because my back was killing me. But mostly because that's what you do in Paris-- drink coffee outside at cafes.

Kristianna and I both were thrilled that Sulu was our waiter. He was great. =D

This is me, being all Parisy. Life is boring, and I'm too chic for it all. Obviously.

And this is the real me. ;)

This is the last photo I have from this day, so I think my back must have driven me home. I remember watching Ratatouille (because it's set in Paris, of course) with Kristianna one night... that might have been this night. I honestly don't remember... and I don't have my journal from then with me here. So... I'll just say we went home, and ate and drank and watched films and talked and laughed and slept eventually. Because that sounds good.

Ah, Paris... Ain't Got Nothing But Love, Babe... Eight Days a Week

I've Been Here a Week Already?!

2010-01-27T11:04:00.002Z

We saw Paige off to the airport from the big Metro hub, and Kristianna and I poddled on into town to indulge in the best falafel in Paris and then to have a wee bit of a wander. After a while, she left to go do stuff, because she wasn't on holiday like some people, and so I poddled around on my own a bit . The benefit of staying so long is that by this time, I knew my way around enough that I didn't get lost. Not once did I get lost. I'm so cool.

We had to make a connection at this Metro stop, and the walls were all done in these murals. They really were impressive.

Next stop: Palais du Fallafel!

In case you can't tell by my stuffed face, it was seriously yummy.

We saw this Chagall-esque painting in the shop across the way, and took a photo for Paige.

We wandered 'round to the Hotel de Ville and it's surroundings. I am ashamed to say that I do not remember the names of most of these places that I took photos of... but I could take you to them. I know how to get there.

This is a monument to this saint (whoever he is):

Another churchly find. Also lovely. And from here out, I'm on my own.

Shopping, anyone?

In case you didn't know, Paris has a couple of bridges. My friend Barb likes bridges. I was 'playing Barb' of bridges... for Barb. =D

And for me, too, of course. I mainly just loved being along the Seine. It was just about my favourite place... and my other favourite places were generally right by it, too. Convenient, non? This above was my view, as John and I sat on the wall and wrote some postcards and read a bit.

Back at the Hotel de Ville. And by the way, have I mentioned that I could not have possibly dreamed up better weather if I had tried? The whole time I was there, it was gorgeous. Usually it was very comfortable--even warm!--and the sun always came out. God was loving me special this holiday.

If you don't know why I walked an extra block, crossed a busy street, and doubled back a good bit out of my way to take the above photo... well. You don't know me very well. And you're an illiterate dork. =D

It's the Colonel... with his wee beady eyes... and his secret recipe that makes you crave his chicken fortnightly! He's taking over the world!

Kristianna and I met back at her flat for dinner, and we were treated to yet another gorgeous sunset. Makes me sad to only live on the first floor... looking out on a pub... *sigh*

This is the view out her kitchen window. I love that these Paris flats totally make the most of light and air. So many of them have courtyards in places like this--sometimes in the centre of a building--just to let in more natural light. It's fantastic. And it's great for getting an evening breeze going, too.

The netting, I'm assuming, is to keep birds outta the kitchens. It's a very good idea.

Kristianna cooked us pasta, and we had a nice tomato salad (they had great tomatoes... better than here) and, of course, wine. On my way home, I'd stopped at the courner pastry shop and picked up an assortment of goodies for us to share: two traditional French ones and two Mediterranean-types. They were all fabulous, and only lasted a day or so.

And that night, the moon! Wow. It was such a lovely night.

Time definitely does fly when you are having fun. My trip to Paris proves it.