Oh the Library...

It's official. The Ole Miss Library is faaaarrrr superior to the monstrosity that is the UE Main Library. The J.D. Williams Library is oh so pretty and I have all of my favorite study nooks picked out (also known as the floor in the graduate study areas, but still). The UE Library hasn't been redone since wood panelling on the walls was considered aesthetically pleasing. Okay, so the newly refurbished 5th floor isn't so bad, except they kick you out at 945 even when the library doesn't close until midnight. Explain please? So now I'm huddled at a derelict desk from 1983 desperately trying to wrap my mind around Islamic History from 1050-1300. No pressure though.
Normally I would head home and just work there, but alas, the internet at Sciennes is possessed. Apparently someone downloaded a virus or is using illegal hardware or something and is eating up all the IP addresses, including the one assigned to me. So they've put a few more open IP addresses out there to help us out until they can fix the problem, but they get taken really fast. It's kinda like musical chairs, the high tech edition.

Midterms? But it's FEBRUARY!

Oi vey!
Can this midterm be over yet? I don't think I've ever panicked this much over a midterm before. Maybe it's because I just have no idea what to expect or maybe it's just because it's coming way to early in the year and my brain is screaming "what? midterms? WHY?! it's February for crying out loud!" I don't know, but it's bad people.
Nothing exciting to report, other than the fact that I went to the happy sandwich place today, and that's enough to lift anyone's spirits! I've also been listening to this (http://www.deltacappella.com/samples/Walking%20in%20Memphis%20-%20DeltaCappella%20(sample).mp3) on repeat ALL DAY. I'm considering stalking them until they give me a copy of their demo CD, since they refuse to release a full-length one and all. I've been patient! No more!
Leave me comments and keep the pretty cards and emails coming. I miss you guys!

M

Sorry, I've Been... Not Posting?

Wow, guys. I completely fail at updating on a regular basis. I'll work on it, swear. So in toasty-warm news (my definition of which has changed dramatically since moving to arctic cold land) the freezing temperatures are relenting. It hit 50 degrees Fahrenheit today. Do you hear that America? It was 50 degrees in Scotland today!!!! I never thought I'd be so happy to walk outside in a long sleeve shirt and not instantly freeze to death.
In other news... My Islam class is canceled all week. Huzzah! It's guided reading week, aka, an extra 3 hours of non-class time for Mindy to completely FREAK OUT about the midterm she has Monday. Yes, I referred to myself in the third person. I'm allowed to, because I'm FREAKING OUT! Oi vey. Midterms shouldn't happen in classes that completely baffle me. It's just not fair.
Hrm, what else... only 5 weeks of classes to go! That's worth celebrating right? And then I get to gallivant (yes, I realize I use that word alot, but, come on!, it's an amazing word) through Europe for two weeks! If that isn't worth celebrating, I don't know what is!
Okay, I've committed enough grammatical felonies that Ally is glaring at the computer screen in shock now. That's all the fun for today. I'll try to update again this week, you know, just to tell you I'm alive.
Love and Kilts

M

Are You Happy?

I gave you all lots and lots of pretty pictures to look at, and to the left you'll see what I came home too. I swear I got off the train and the entire city was engaged in one big snowball fight. It's like they had never seen snow before in their lives.
The trip was so much fun (see pictures below). However, I don't recommend 6 hours on a train for your next family fun outing. It's pretty horrible. That is, until almost everyone is off the train by an hour and a half before you arrive in Edinburgh and they let you take over first class. That part wasn't so bad at all.
Also, in case anyone was wondering... if Regions Bank is performing routine computer system updates, your debit card will NOT work in England. It wasn't pretty. There was panicking and hysteria and then Amanda and I paid to go to Stonehenge in change. We're just cool like that.
Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. I'm going to go read about Islamic people during the 12th Century. Jealous?

M

Because I Really Did Videotape Him

Sorry it's sideways!

Stonehenge

Bottom to Top: Stonehenge, The Altar Stone, Altar Stone Pt. 2, Burial Mound, The Crow That Stalked Us

Glastonbury II: The Tor, Pt. 2

Bottom to Top: From Halfway Up, From the Top, From the Top, Inside St. Michaels, Walking Down (just before Amanda and I slid in the mud and died, figuratively of course).

Glastonbury II: The Tor, Pt. 1

Bottom to Top: Which Way??, Up the Tor (aka GIANT HILL!), From Halfway Up, The Tower of St. Michael de Torre, The Tower

Glastonbury I: The Abbey, Pt. 2

Bottom to Top: What Remains of the Main Sanctuary Entrance (imagine an arch between them), Lady Chapel, King Arthur's Second Burial Place, Left Sanctuary Wall, Lady Church and the Sanctuary

Glastonbury I: The Abbey, Pt. 1

Bottom to Top: Theory of the Original Layout of the Abbey, The Lady Chapel, From Inside the Lady Chapel, Lady Chapel Upper Level, The Main Sanctuary

Bath II: The Abbey

Bottom to Top: The Sanctuary at Bath Abbey, The Organ, The Life of Christ, The Sanctuary, The Archway Into the Courtyard

Bath I: The Roman Baths

Okay, I have to start remembering to upload the pictures backward so they actually go in the order I want them too. From bottom to top: The Great Pool at the Roman Baths, The Sacred Pool, Theory of the Original Complex Structure, What Remains of the Apex of the Temple, The Donation Pool (it had dollar bills in it too!)

Dearest snow, why have you betrayed me?

Okay, lets talk about snow.
Snow and I have had one of the most fabulous relationships a person and frozen precipitation could have ever developed. Until today. Scotland snow isn't like Tennessee snow. Oh, no, my friend. Scotland snow is vicious. I don't think I need to say more than icy frozen cobblestones for you to visualize me wiping out about 800 times today.
Also, when you mix Scottish hail (aka tiny white frozen pebbles of doom) with 45 mph winds, it's not unlike walking straight into a wall of nails. No, snow and I aren't friends anymore.
We may be able to fix our relationship some day, after I've soaked my feet in a hot bath for 82 years and applied carmex to my face to try and soothe the windburn. Oi vey. Oh yeah, and I didn't take any pictures, so sorry, but I was too busy fending for my life.
It was Amanda's birthday today! Hence the snowstorm. You see, Amanda's birthday attracts snow. Noone knows why, it just happens. Her roomies made risotto and cupcakes and it was delicious! Then we piled up in Mander's bed and watched Resident Evil. Ah, zombies. I just love zombies.
Okay, I'm going to go dig through the kitchen and see if there is anything at all to eat. If not, I'm attacking the Chinese Takeaway across the street for hot and sour soup.
Love you all,

M

There's a color resembling day-glo orange on my plate...

So tonight, in a desperate act of starvation, I attempted to recreate the perfectly fried eggs on top of happy little hash-browned potato islands that may Dad makes whenever I sufficiently beg him to: morning, noon or night. Upon doing so I discovered several rather upsetting things...
1. Egg yolks in Scotland (or at least those bought from the friendly Pakistani man at the corner market) are orange.
2. I can't fry a freaking potato cube into a hash-brown to save my life.
3. There is a reason I always choose to poach eggs in the States, not fry them.
I'm currently sitting at my desk eating a semi-orange egg/potato jumble that is in no way appetizing looking, but doesn't taste half bad.
Nothing exciting to report in Kiltland. I slept most of the weekend. If you've ever met me, you won't be surprised. I am a sleeping CHAMPION!
On the exciting-things-to-happen-in-the-near-future side (Gosh, I love hyphens. How about you?) I'm going to England on Thursday. Wonder Pants and I have planned a four day extravaganza including, but not limited to: Bristol, Bath (Oh the Jane Austen!), Glastonbury (lots and tons of King Arthur-y goodness), and Stonehenge. Various side trips are bound to happen and mayhem will settle in Wiltshire upon the arrival of the Apocalypse (aka, me and Pants on vaycay). SOOOO exciting.
Did I mention my eggs are orange? I may be dead by this time tomorrow...
Okay, I'm officially out of fabulously witty things to say. It's probably the salmonella eating my brain stem. But at least I don't have SCURVY (good, good oranges!).
Good night all,

M