Amber Waves

Meet me at the Met

2010-10-30T14:30:00.004+01:00

Last night I went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a friend. I had been there before, but that was before I went to Europe and discovered how much I absolutely love art.

The coolest part about going to a museum is that it takes me back to so many places. I see a rendition of a sculpture and all of the sudden, I'm back in Rome, seeing the original (i.e., from Roman times). I see a fabulous Carravaggio, and I'm transported to three different museums where I saw others. I walk in a room that is full of landscapes and can hear my friend Amanda saying "Let's see, landscape, landscape, landscape" and move on. (She's more of a portrait girl.) Or I look at incredibly textured clothes in portraits and I'm Paris with Lizzy, looking at the incredible work in the Louvre.

My favorite thing about art is how it can impress you so. No textbook or computer screen can replicate what I feel when I walk into a room with a painting or sculpture or photo that jumps off the wall, grabs me, and leaves a lasting impression.

Getting Your Priorities Straight

2010-10-28T14:59:00.002+01:00

One of my colleagues at work put the cartoon below in a presentation. It spoke to me...

The Coolest Etch a Sketch Ever

2010-10-08T03:03:00.008+01:00

I broke down and bought a Kindle, and it came in the mail this week. (Long subway rides without books = madness. Big books toted everywhere = soreness. New, light Kindles everywhere = happiness!)

I didn't realize how neato the e-ink is. I'm fully convinced it was created by someone who loved Etch a Sketches when they were kids. Part of me wants to shake it up and down and see if anything moves!

Now that I've had a little more time with the Kindle, I'm realizing that my world has been completely turned upside down. For any that know me, you'll know that I L.O.V.E. books. And that I can get ... absorbed in them. My whole plan to combat the potential for huge spending was to limit my book buying, try to read the newspaper more regularly, and supplement with books from the library.

Until I found out that there are a ton of books you can get for free. Yikes. I have books on demand, an easy collection of free reading, and a to-do list a mile long. Well, maybe this is the time in my life to develop discipline. If I can manage having an entire library of books at my disposal all the time, I think I can do anything!

Happy First Day of School!

2010-08-31T02:52:00.003+01:00

I've decided that the people who REALLY deserve the milk and cookies on Day 1 are the teachers and school leaders (and the people that support teachers and school leaders).

I've never seen school preparations before (the most preparation I had was picking out my cool new backpack!) and boy, is it a sprint for that first day to start. So far all is well. Except I really do want those milk and cookies. Hm...

Anyway, happy first day of school!

Two Years in 6.5 minutes

2010-08-22T21:11:00.003+01:00

I thought I'd post my slideshow I discussed earlier. In my push to try to fit as much in a normal amount of time, I made it go a lil too fast (I ended up replaying, pausing, and giving audio commentary) without a comprehensive view of my year. But hey, some days we celebrate things in my world that aren't perfect. I just thought you might enjoy.

xoxo!

You know you've been with family when

2010-08-20T03:33:00.002+01:00

You have the Little Einsteins theme song running through your head.
You want to go play on the swings instead of work.
You keep thinking of random jokes that only people who have known you for many, many years would understand.
Life is just brighter, happier, funner, better.

I love family time. I totally owe you pictures. But I have to go work like a good girl.

Later!

If life had a soundtrack...

2010-07-25T23:10:00.008+01:00

What songs would be on yours?

Every two years my family gets together (I fly to Allison's house in 2 1/2 weeks! SO excited!), and one of our newer traditions has been to put together slideshows that document the last two years. Well, I’ve got to say that the last two years have been FULL of adventure, so I felt like any proper slideshow would have a good playlist of at least two songs to go along with it.

So I’ve spent parts of today working on my list, and it turned into a fun lil activity. I thought I’d post youtube videos because they have some fun glimpses of cities.

I’d love to get comments on this one:

-- Do you have any suggestions for me?
-- Which of these are your favorites?
-- What about you? Is there a song that captures you?

Where to start?

2010-07-25T02:01:00.006+01:00

I've become a delinquent blogger. I think the hardest part is pulling out of the downward spiral - one where months of stories wait to be told, and the magnitude of life is too overwhelming to put into words. So then I wait. And more stories pile up.

But most days are full of quiet conversations that should be captured in blogs. Just the little things. Like a few weeks ago when I was on the Staten Island ferry with some friends, and I sat down next to this adorable four year old little boy. He had two Hot Wheels, and for whatever reason, I was as captivated as he was. And then he started pulling out more Hot Wheels from his pockets -- I think I counted something like 10. I don't know how he could walk with his lil pockets so full!

What else? Did I tell you I've discovered I have a LOVELY roof deck? I'm loving life right on the water. Dinners, breakfasts, random sunset chats with dear friends, quiet escapes, and late night fire works watching all seem so much more fun with a roof deck. And yes, as I seem to be in confession mode, I even have unshared photos of many such events. I'm just lazy (or stuck in said spiral to the extent that stories with pictures sound even more overwhelming).

I guess this is where I restart and don't even try to catch you up to speed. I'm loving life in NYC, especially in my little world that exists mostly in my apartment, my office, my church, and the adventures in between. I still feel like a newbie in New York some days -- more because the pace is really a challenge to keep up with. For one who plunges into life with her whole heart and soul, there really is a lot to consume me. I guess it's yet one more reason that the battle to blog has been a losing one.

But we'll just keep working on this. I'll get pictures posted sometime. And will keep working on a summer worthy of stories, even if too many go unshared!

A different kind of portfolio

2010-05-24T02:17:00.004+01:00

A fun shout out! My organization (Achievement First) just got featured in Forbes! (See the link here.) I thought I'd write a brief blurb about it, but it's turned a little long, and I'm afraid you might miss out on the link if I don't post it up front. Enjoy the link, and if you want, the commentary to follow.

_____________________________________________________

Many of you know that I got a master's degree in Finance and Economics. When I entered the program, I was dead set on an investing career, and it wasn't too far of a stretch to see me as a Wall Street girl.

These days, I'm a 5-10 minute walk from Wall Street (my train passes through every day on my morning commute), but I never stop there -- I keep going. And going. Out to the middle of Brooklyn, where I can assure you, there are few bankers in fancy suits.

But I have to say, I absolutely love it out there. A while back I had an epiphany that there are some really special pockets of the nonprofit sector that are looking to do the exact same thing that financial institutions are -- they're just looking for a social return, not a financial one. My goal is to help prove the validity of those pockets and to show the others how to replicate what we're doing. In other words, I'm looking to replicate the strategic/analytical approach used in the financial world to help schools be top notch.

These days I like to say I'm still in portfolio management; I just have a different kind of portfolio. So fun to hear Forbes tell the world the exact same thing.

PS -- There are some fun videos on AF's vimeo site. Click here and enjoy!

Home Sweet Home

2010-05-13T02:26:00.002+01:00

For a work event, I had to pull a picture that describes a personal victory this last year. Given all of my housing adventures in 2009, we're celebrating how lovely it is to have my apartment. I thought I'd post the picture.

Bedtime stories

2010-05-04T02:25:00.003+01:00

So the show Rent is a little wheels off, but I love a lot of the music from it. Do you know the song Seasons of Love? It talks about all the different ways to measure a year:

In daylights,

in sunsets,

in midnights

In cups of coffee

In inches,

in miles,

in laughter,

in strife.

On a similar vein (not from Rent), I like this piece:

We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths;
In feelings, not in figures on a dial.
We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.
And he whose heart beats quickest lives the longest:
Lives in one hour more than in years do some
Whose fat blood sleeps as it slips along their veins.
Life's but a means unto an end; that end,
Beginning, mean, and end to all things—God.
The dead have all the glory of the world.

Lately I've been learning that there are different ways to evaluate time.

Time to wake up. This one is just a mess for some reason. How do you tell your body to go back to sleep?!?
Sunrise time. I can tell roughly what time it is by whether the sunlight is shining in my room. When Time to Wake Up precedes Sunrise Time, you know life is in a funny place.
Work time. Our clock on the wall at work gets stuck every 7 seconds or so. I think the jerking second hand is one of the most true to form timekeepers I've ever seen.
Work time, II. My laptop's clock runs a few minutes off of normal time. Turns out if you have your laptop hibernate frequently (instead of shut it down) the battery slows down and messes with the clock. Once again, an apt description of life these days.

Then there are some meta-time indicators that really make me wonder. I've started celebrating when I sleep through the night. Yep. Just as if I were a baby. I've also taken to warm milk before I go to bed. Today I made this lovely squash puree with my dinner. And then part way through I realized I was practically eating baby food. Guys, this isn't good. I think that when I hit my birthday somebody rewound the clock!

I'm not sure what this blog post is really all about. But let's just say that I know when "sleepy time" arrives. It's when existenial, nonsensical blog posts show up. BRILLIANT ideas pop into my head when I should be sleeping. (It's funny, though. The ideas somehow lose their luster in the daylight.) And shadows draw along the walls of my room and my mind -- long, exaggerated thoughts that are at times comforting, and other times alarming, nightime companions.

I think I'm going to call it a night. If only because I call it morning soon, anyway.

Shout it out!

2010-04-11T19:14:00.003+01:00

My sister is my hero. Has been for a long time. And is even more recently. Why?

Meet Mason Brayden Eliason -- her brand new lil boy, and the newest addition to my CUTE collection of nieces and nephews. I love kiddos, but it's been quite a ride to see Allison go through this pregnancy. I think mamas love their kids because they made such an investment to get them here. That love, that sacrifice, it's just amazing.

Welcome, lil Mason. You're a cutie, and your mama is incredible. Sounds like a pretty good start to me.

Necessity -- the mother of invention

2010-04-11T18:54:00.003+01:00

Do you remember MacGyver? You know, scrappy guy, somebody who always got out of a bind by pulling together some ridiculously intricate escape plan improvised with the most random things around him? You know, this guy:

Well, these days I feel a lot like MacGyver. I tell people at work that we're in what I call 'MacGyver mode'. Some days it's getting scrappy and creative with making data analysis that works for 15 schools across varying grade levels. (It's the digital analogue of holding spreadsheets together with duct tape and bailing twine.)

But the MacGyver mode phenomenon doesn't stop at work. Sundays are quiet home days, and I frequently find myself with an inkling to cook with a less than amply stocked kitchen. Even with the weeks like this one where I actually went shopping, I find myself with such a random smattering of food that I'm at a loss for what to do with it.

I always have the greatest intentions when I'm grocery shopping. And either I don't buy those crucial items out of protest (you want me to pay WHAT) or my brain is too fried to think of what else I need. Maybe I'm fed up with trying to navigate around the other people in the store (those wide, long aisles are a luxury no NY grocery store can afford). Frequently it's that I reach my limit on the amount of stuff I can physcially take with me (I've learned to use a basket when I shop because the heavy basket is a strong reminder of what it'll be like to actually carry my food home).

Whatever the case, I've found some fun recipes because I've had to get creative in the kitchen. I turn to my trusty google search and pair a few recipes together. But I just got so excited by a brand new discovery that I've had to write a long, rambling entry to share it. You have to try supercook.com. You type in the ingredients you have (and very importantly - you can tell it what type of ingredients you don't have) and it pulls recipes from all over the internet that might suit your fancy.

So excited. I love browsing recipes. Except that now I'm STARVING and haven't even started to cook yet!

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T14:39:00.002+01:00

Wishing you a Happy Easter! Life is full to the brim these days -- I've been so lucky to have friends visit, the weather turn wonderful, and a really great week of well-wishing from friends and fam.

I wish I could capture spring in New York. Though life is full, I feel like my capacity to take it in is so limited -- my camera is broken, a cold has congested my head so fully that I think my brain has been squished somewhere else, and my to-do list calls so loudly for a little attention. But I'm loving what I get, and I'm looking forward to getting life in sync to really take advantage of all of it.

Life is just so happy - even with a congested head and a crazy to-do list. I really am blessed, and on this Easter morning, I can't help but be grateful for the source of it. Maybe I'm starting to learn what is means to "have life more abundantly." I'm a happy girl with a full heart, loving my quiet morning and my chance to reflect.

Lazy Saturdays

2010-03-20T20:41:00.002Z

I really should've been productive today. But I'll admit it, I wasn't. And it was glorious. This is a picture from the park bench right out side my apartment. Can you blame me for just taking a second to bask in spring's arrival?

Random Thoughts

2010-03-07T04:33:00.002Z

This weekend I went out with a friend from work. We've decided we're on a quest for finding our favorite jazz lounge. We've also decided the quest doesn't work very well on Friday nights - both of us were so wiped out by the end of the week that the jazz was a little too relaxing!

You know you're living in NYC when a box of cereal goes for more than $6. I refuse to accept that though. I'm determined to find ways to shop for normal food without paying gourmet prices. We'll see how that goes.

Today I was doing some work on taxes. The IRS has some nice lil websites that can help you figure out if you qualify for certain deductions, etc. Except they lost all credibility when they asked the question "Are you younger than your relative?" That was it. It was a standalone question - or at least it was from what I could tell. What kind of question is that?

Living a Life of Metrics

2010-02-24T02:30:00.003Z

So I have this big team meeting tomorrow, and I had to put together a brief update of what's gone on in the last two months. It asked for what the biggest successes and challenges have been since November 2009. Out of jest, I put together a list that looked like this.

Successes:

Finally having a place to live!
Finally having my bed to sleep in!

Challenges:

6 residences
10 states
9 airports
4 missed/cancelled flights
Critters: (alleged) bed bugs, snakes (completely contained, but you know), cats

Kind of a scary list! I was talking to a colleague and she said "Amber, everybody needs a friend like you. It helps you remember that life could always be worse!"

Now I'm not sure how I feel about that statement. But I do know this: for every one of those metrics up there, there's a miracle to go right along with it. Sometimes I think life happens so we can meet so many interesting, kind people. Like the guy I house sat for back in November that had a snake and a cat. Or the great people I met in an unanticipated layover in LA. Or the cabbies the carted my stuff from one place to another.

What a wash of memories... I never realized that one of the best ways to count your blessings would be to put numbers to the adventures you've been on!

Uh-Mazing

2010-02-21T22:57:00.002Z

Forget the nap. I love catching up on everyone's blog posts! What a hypocrite I am as I revel in your stories and share so few of my own. Ah, well.

Seriously, I've been laughing out loud at the stories you people tell. You really are amazing.

So many stories

2010-02-21T21:40:00.002Z

Life is quiet today. It's kind of nice. I've been traveling a fair amount on the weekends, so having a weekend at home is a little refreshing. Especially on those Sunday afternoons when the world stops for a bit, work will wait til tomorrow, and the quiet house whispers a serene cadence to the afternoon that is slipping by.

It really is true that this city never sleeps. It's full of work and ideas, adventures and activities, yummy food and fun friends. But I think I'm getting old, because I need to sleep far sooner the city wants to let me. My life - and my brain - is so full that blog posts are too infrequent.

When do I tell all the little stories? How to give a glimpse at this life out here? Hm. Dunno that I have an answer. Or a real point in this post, other than to let you know that I'm here. Someday I'll figure it out. Today, let's just bask in the loveliness of a Sunday afternoon. Maybe I'll take a quick nap and catch up on all of YOUR blogs. But I'll come back. Promise.

The Little Stories

2010-01-08T02:46:00.002Z

I keep saving stories until I can sit down and give a whole commentary on life. But then you miss out on the funny little stories that I just happen upon.

Like yesterday. I work in a big room with a bunch of colleagues, and it can be a lil crazy when you get people on 8 different phone conversations in the same room. But yesterday, it was extremely quiet because all but 3 of the group were away on meetings. So naturally, I put on my headphones and turned on Pandora (I heart Pandora - one of the greatest internet radios) to help with the silence. After a lil minute, I suddenly realized my colleagues were singing to the same song I was listening to. Crazy! Can people listen in on my radio? How did they get my settings? What in the world???

And then I looked down and realized my headphones were plugged into the microphone jack.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T15:49:00.002Z

Random fact: auld lang syne literally means "old long since" or, more ably put, "the days of long ago."

Last night I rang in the new year by watching the fireworks across the Hudson with Lady Liberty looking on. And the best part about it? I was a 30 second walk from my new, permanent apartment.

Somehow the holidays snuck by me this year, mostly because transition trumps anticipation. My simplified expectations of what was or wasn't going to happen for this season were somewhat liberating and entirely necessary. But it came at a small price: it just wasn't the normal Christmas, full of planning, scheming, and general reveling in the holiday spirit. Don't get me wrong; I was no Scrooge. It was just a more simple Christmas.

Which is why it's so interesting that I am fully embracing the new year. If time is flying so fast I can barely recognize the holidays, wouldn't I also be in denial that a brand new year is here? Nope. The new beginnings are almost palpable. I swear you can taste them. Or hear them coming. Or at least sense them somehow. A new year is a new start, and as I drug my bulging suitcase down the stairs one more time and surprised yet another unsuspecting taxi driver with the enormous amounts of stuff I expected to fit in his cab, I felt it. Transitions kind of make a mess of Christmas, but they do wonders for New Years.

Somehow life has sped through those "days of long ago" and landed me finally, happily, in the present. Yes, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne and for all the memories to come. Here's to a new year. Happy 2010!

I'll Be Home for Christmas!

2009-12-20T18:15:00.006Z

I know. The blogosphere around here has been pretty quiet lately. Cyber echoes bounce around, and I get a few questions of "what's going on for you?!?" that are out there. So much has been happening that I just haven't had the capacity to tell the stories. You see, NYC is like an exclusive club. Nobody tells you that the first few months are a hazing experience like you wouldn't believe. When they sing "if I can make it here, I can make it anywhere", they are really speaking the truth. It's an initiation unlike any other.

So today was almost the last straw. With tons of snow, a cancelled plane flight, and ironic carols like "Let it Snow" looping on the airline helpline, I knew I was gearing up for a rough go. But with 5 days til Christmas I thought I had plenty of time to figure something out. Until they told me that I wasn't going anywhere until January 6.

Man, what a roller coaster! After a lil drama, a lot of problem solving, and another round of carols as I waited on hold to give someone - ANYONE - a piece of my mind, the sweetest lady told me that she actually could get me home for Christmas. It's all going to work out okay. Or at least, it sure looks like it. Maybe there's another test awaiting me. Or maybe, just maybe, the city will decide to be my friend and let me stay.

I'll be home for Christmas. If only in my dreams.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-27T01:57:00.003Z

Do you ever feel like you're living in a blog post? Maybe it's almost a Stranger than Fiction moment where you're just sure that someone out there is writing a story, and you're the character. Well, that's my life. So now it's a post within a post. I know I haven't documented my move and my initiation into life in NYC. There are a couple reasons: 1) I've had intermittent internet access, 2) it's pretty consuming just to keep my head above water, 3) I'm not sure how the story ends yet! But I promise there are good stories to come.

I guess Thanksgiving this year is a different one for me. Instead of looking around, I look back at everything that got me here and forward to the things that are just about to come. I know I'm living in a memory. I just can't wait for the other pieces to fall together.

So yes, I am thankful for adventures. I'd never pick life without them. Though sometimes you wonder how on earth they manage to land you in some places.

The firehose phenonmenon

2009-11-10T00:24:00.002Z

This is me today:

First day at AF went great. Loads of amazing people, lots to work on, tons of challenges. Taking those drinks from the firehose is such a refreshing, exhausting, mind-numbing, crazy experience. It always is when you dive into the new challenge.

Somehow I got the sense I was going to ease into this one. You know, like where you tip-toe to the water's edge, test the water, wade in a lil bit. But nope. Now I realize we're looking at a high dive, and only one word comes to mind: CANNONBALL!!!!!!!!!!!

Whirlwinds

2009-11-05T04:30:00.004Z

It's my week, and my life in general! They pick you up in one place and put you down in another. They are craziness wherever they go. And you never know what to expect. So here's the update you've been waiting for: I have a job, plans, and a new city awaiting me! You're hearing from the next Director of Analysis and Reporting at AF, a charter management organization. This organization (supporting a number of charter schools) is working at the forefront of education reform, and I can't wait to jump in and help out. Seriously, my education made all the difference for me, and I can only hope I can make that true for some other kiddo out there.

So here's a fun clip:

And here are a few details:

Where to? NYC! I move to the Big Apple this week. Stay tuned for a bunch of stories. If you thought my nomadic ways had ended after last spring's escapades, well that was only the beginning! It's fuel for many posts to come.
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Where from? I've been in (well, near) Washington, DC for the last two months. I can't believe I'm leaving already! The people here are amazing, and I already feel that sad sense that a chapter is closing too soon. Change is such a bittersweet phenomenon!
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How come? Oh, so many reasons. I'm thrilled to take all my nerdy economic tendencies, bottle them up, and put them to use for something good. And I can't explain how great it is to have solid plans for once. I mean, I haven't planned more than two months out since... hm, I can't remember! Most of all, there are some HUGE learning opportunities for me in this. One friend called it an extension of my postgraduate education. I couldn't agree more!
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But wait, next year...? There are some of you who are drawing conclusions about what this means for my future. Thing is, I'm not. I know we're prone to speculation, but I hope you'll give me the benefit of the doubt for a while as I'm still sorting a lot of things out. (My apologies if I'm not making sense. But I have a diverse audience out there, and I promise someone is asking this.) Right now we're just celebrating a baby step that is so right, so happy, and so exciting that it makes it much easier to leave the rest to be answered another day!

Man, I knew there were new adventures on the horizon. I can almost taste them now!

Random note: I know there are do's and don'ts for blogging, and I can't decide if I'm breaking a rule here. But I'm super excited to tell you some fun news, and hope it's not too personal to be posting for all of cyberspace to hear. If you, my readers who know/love me, are cringing when you see that I've posted this, I'd love to know!

Fallin Back

2009-11-01T15:47:00.006Z

I love Daylight Savings Day. It's the one day the whole year where you can go to sleep late, wake up early, and still get a decent amount of sleep! Life is happy, though you get to wait for a few days for a proper update. (I'm confident you won't be disappointed!)

In the meantime, here are a few photos from a recent trip to Harper's Ferry, a lil town with big historical significance. We went down for the 150th anniversary of John Brown's raid - one of the big sparks for the Civil War. I must say, one of my favorite things about the east coast is that it is seated in so much history. Being a western girl myself, I've always felt that the US is so ... new. What fun to dig a little deeper into its heritage!

Customer Dis-satisfaction.

2009-10-16T14:58:00.005+01:00

So let's start with the positive. I believe in humor, even if it's sarcastic humor. So please do go to despair.com and laugh with me at the truth of some of their demotivators. They hit the nail on the head today.

And then let's give you a bit of context by sending you to my friend Shannon's post. Her blog is absolutely hilarious. I love this girl to death, partly for her amazing vball skills, and partly for her humor, and mostly because she claims me as a friend! Somehow she predicted my morning.

Now, please allow me to vent. This is a 100% true story. There are some parts of re-establishing life that are just a pain. And yes, I had put off talking to these customer service people, so I'm not blameless. But it's no wonder one puts these things off when you get this:

Attempt 1: Go to the website. I consider myself smart enough to try to solve the problems myself. Calling people is always a last resort. So I try to enter my account information. It won't let me. I dream up any possible permutation of usernames and passwords I could've selected, to no avail. It won't give me my hint, nor will it email me any info. It tells me to "please call." Fine.
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Attempt 2: I track down the phone number and get put on hold. I finally talk to somebody, only to be transferred to a very nice, different company (let's call them Company B) who can't help me. They give me a new number for people who should know everything, but that have less of a clue than I do about the whole situation. I try calling the original number (Company A) again.
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Attempt 3: Call Company A. Get put on hold. I think they have a mathematical formula: your wait time grows exponentially when you call them back. It's their way for punishing stupid people who can't get their questions answered in a single call. Someone finally answers, asks for my account information, mumbles something incomprehensible, and transfers me. Then I'm transferred again. And again. (Really.) This guy happens to be super nice. He actually talks to me. I almost beg him to help me figure it out. He is so great to give me a phone number to help me out. But wait, it's the very phone number I called! He says he'll figure it out. And then he transfers me to Company B.
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Attempt 4: Maybe if I call the original lady and refuse to give my account number to her, she won't transfer me until I explain who I DON'T want to speak to. I call, wait for 20 stinkin minutes (further proof of the exponential wait-time algorithm), and somebody finally picks up. The lady is so nice. And then I find out it was answered directly from Company B.
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Attempt 5: I try to call and just hit 0 to talk to someone. Just in case you wondered, it's an invalid response. I admit defeat, lick my wounds, and embrace the bitterness of despair.com. And then I blog.

Fer Cute!

2009-10-12T03:29:00.002+01:00

I know everyone thinks their nieces and nephews are the cutest. We won't have a cyber-argument where no one will ever concede. But you have to admit these pictures of a few of them are just so stinkin fun. Thanks to Mom for posting them. I fully admit to pilfering.

Happy Autumn!

2009-10-01T04:00:00.007+01:00

Autumn happens in more places than in the States. I know it does. But there are some things about it here that make me feel at home. Things like pumpkins. Pumpkin cookies, cakes, muffins, breads, pies. Or apples. Apple cider, apple crisp, carmel apples. I guess I'm a little like Mr. Ichabod Crane, whose eyes, "ever open to every symptom of culinary abundance, ranged with delight over the treasures of jolly autumn."

Which brings me to another point. I heart America. Today I went to the Smithsonian's Museum of American Art when I had a gap in my schedule. And though my feet protested from a long walk, it was worth it. And then I went to a book club where we read various bits of American literature. Somehow that culture just seeps into what I see or read. Just lil bits and pieces that speak of home. And somehow, when it's fall, it's home with crisp air and colored leaves, pumpkins and apples and all the spices that go with them.

So if you're wanting to feel festive, go read about Mr. Crane in The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. You'll feel it, too. Promise. It's such a good (and short) read!

Where the Sidewalk Ends

2009-09-20T00:53:00.003+01:00

One of the things I learned to love in London is walking. I didn't realize it at first. Any newcomer doesn't because they're learning about things like sore feet, heavy groceries, or horizontal rain. But I really learned to love to walk and watch. To roam city streets with no real plan. Or, if I was confined to the library, to roam the gigantic spiraling staircase, grasping at a moment of sanity in between the pressurized bouts of study. Those were always shorter walks than I wanted them to be.

Now I've brought my walking tradition with me, and it's a certainly a favorite thing to do. (Though I must admit the humidity makes an impact on my condition when I reach my end destination!) I can't get over the lovely houses here. They have so many different personalities and seem to burst with stories. I love to lose myself in the winding streets, walking, thinking, and definitely dreaming....

But sometimes going walking qualifies as an adventure. Winding streets are not the best for orienting oneself in a new place. And sometimes I wonder if I'll be permanently injured from whiplash when I try to figure out which direction to look as I cross the street. (I like to think of it as reverse culture shock. As long as it's not a much bigger injury if I fail to look the right way!) Frequently I just wonder if there's a way to train drivers to be wary of pedestrians. Like when I'm standing in the middle of the crosswalk next to the cement median (bless it!) as the cars rush by in both directions.

And then there are the times when the sidewalk just ends. That's what we really call adventure these days.

New Adventures

2009-09-12T16:48:00.003+01:00

I've decided that the last year was training. Somehow living in a different country helps you acquire a taste for adventure, a love for the unknown. Or at least it ups your tolerance levels, right?

Life is one big unknown these days. Given that my plans seem to be constantly in flux and that my audience is a bit diverse, I've elected not to go into detail about my plans until I get my head on straight. But don't worry, while we all wait for that time, I'll just share the little adventures along the way.

Like today. I went exploring in some beautiful areas in Arlington, VA. The houses are amazing! And now I'm off to run errands (read: get lost and then run errands) for the afternoon. Here's hoping that living life with gusto brings a little luck, a lot of fun, and maybe even a better sense of direction!

London Rain

2009-09-02T22:45:00.002+01:00

You can't really live in London without a proper post on the rain. Well, here's a last London post, just for old times sake. Some days the rain isn't a big deal. I keep a baby umbrella with me at all times, so I'm always prepared. Other days I stay inside and listen to the rain pour outside, and then the rain seems like a friend who tells me stories while I'm snuggled in the covers. Today, it isn't rain. It's tears - mutual mourning for a city I love and now leave.

But rain brings a fresh start, right? Even in London the clouds pass. Tonight the quiet streets whisper of upcoming adventures, fab reunions, and fun memories. New cities to love. New chapters still unwritten. Sure makes those goodbyes bittersweet.

More Pinch-Me Moments

2009-08-26T08:42:00.006+01:00

I've decided I'm in denial. Time can't really be moving this fast. I mean, graduation was just a bit ago, right?? How can it already be the end of August?!

I figured I ought to document my graduation, partly as a reminder that it really happened. I have my diploma and everything now, so I guess it must be real! Seriously a "pinch me" time, though. To have Mom and Dad come for graduation was amazing. I think they were pinching themselves, too!

Anyway, here's a picture, just to prove it's real:

And some links to much better posts from my momma: here and here.

And lastly, some random photos of us around London, etc.

Aren't they so cute?

With the Baker's; we stayed at their place in Worcester and had a great time visiting.

Outside St. Margaret's church. I just like this picture of us.

Classic view of St. James park. Mom had a pedometer that day, and we walked something like 24,000 in our site seeing frenzy!

Ghosts at the Tower of London.

And the obligatory slideshow:

Berlin: Last, But Certainly Not Least

2009-08-16T11:02:00.004+01:00

Allen says I’m not allowed to have any more fun until I’ve put up all my pictures up from my travels in July. I’m not sure who put him in charge, but this is the last of all of them. Not that there aren’t more pictures of fun since then. I personally think that having life too full to adequately document is my favorite way to go.

Anyway, welcome to Berlin, a major contender for coolest city. If ever someone thought that history is a dull, boring concept, well, they haven’t been to Berlin. I’ve never seen a place that captures history, in all of its heartache and triumph, as this city does. It’s full of memorials – ones that smack you in the face, bring a sense of scope (or the immeasurability of it) and motivate you to be one more that remembers what has happened in some of our darkest moments. And in case history seems like something of the distant past, you see things that remind that not long ago, oppression was still too present in our world. The Berlin wall fell only 20 years ago. I was alive then! Crazy!

But Berlin does the present really well, too. Talk about incredible architecture. The city is really thought through in a lot of ways. Maybe that comes from having a phoenix for a city, one that rises from the ashes again, and again. Or maybe it’s just an effort to look forward, to defy the past by making the future something to talk about. Or maybe I’m just waxing philosophical here, and all you really want are pictures…

A few obligatory pictures of me and/or Berlin:

And of course, the slideshow. I have the same photos with captions on Facebook. You get the benefit of a more chronological grouping here. If only there was a way to streamline the whole process…

A Little Surprise

2009-08-14T23:55:00.001+01:00

Okay, I have a story. But before you read about it, you have to know a little bit about me. I come from a little town called Drummond, Montana. When my parents came we figured you could have fit the entire population of my home town on the plane that flew into London. So when I say little, I mean little.

Alrighty. Now that you have a sense of context, imagine this conversation.

New friend: "I heard you mention you were from Montana. Whereabouts?"
Me: "Oh, in the southwest. Kind of by Missoula."
New friend: "Really?? We used to live right around there years ago. You haven't heard of a town called Drummond, have you?"
Me: Speechless. Trying to keep out of shock.

So without further adieu..........

Meet Elder and Sister Little! They're a missionary couple that helps out in the Young Single Adult program of our church. They knew me when I was six. Isn't that crazy!

Raspberry Days

2009-08-13T16:08:00.005+01:00

So in all the lovely spare time these days, one of my favorite activities is to read. I've always loved it. And while I get to deal with the panic when I'm on a bus and realize I have no clue where I am or the embarrassment of missing my stop on the tube, I can't help but get engrossed in a good book. And now these books are fodder for all the churning that goes on as I try to figure out my life. For example, I was reading The Forger the other day, and it tells the following story:

Just imagine a man falling into a lion pit. Halfway down he gets caught on a root by his braces. [I think braces here = suspenders. Not the very painful visual of hanging from braces on your teeth!] The man looks down. Below him vipers are writhing, showing their fangs: above him a lion waits, licking his chops. The man looks ahead of him. There are raspberries from a branch that is sticking out. So what does the man do? He eats raspberries.

Just in case you're wondering where all this is going, I feel like I'm metaphorically sticky with raspberry juice right now. A lot of you have asked about what my future plans are, and you probably got a very ambiguous response. This isn't due to any lack of enthusiasm. It's due to a lack of plans! It's kind of funny that any type of plans I try to make tend to blow up.

Anyway, I should be working on some fellowship applications right now (my metaphorical lions). And I spent the better part of yesterday working on them. But today wants to be a raspberry day, where I savor the moments here. Let the rest come. I've just bought plane tickets to Dubai and to Denmark. And while the travel high is fleeting and puts a dent in the pocket book, I guess it's my way of standing up to uncertainty. These raspberry days won't last forever. So bring it on. In large doses. I'll figure myself out later!

Santorini = Paradise

2009-08-11T11:35:00.003+01:00

I can’t say it any better than my friend Larissa. “I feel like I’m living in a postcard!” And it’s so true. After a hearty investment in getting to Santorini – a late night, extremely uncomfortable, smoke-filled ferry – the island was pure paradise. When you only have questions like “beach or pool?” and “eat now or later?” you really can’t go wrong. There aren’t so many sights or highlights to note. What you really want are pictures, because they can show a snippet of what it was like. But there were so many times that I put my camera down, and just tried to absorb this life in the postcard.

So here are a few photos:

And some fun shots. These girls are just so great. And it’s made for some fun memories following. We had a photo viewing night one night where we got together and ate more Greek food and just reminisced on all the fun little memories. Pretty soon we’re going to be scattered all over the world. But what fun we had before then!

And a slideshow. Once again, I’ve shared some of these girls’ photos. I wish I could take credit for all of them. I guess I could’ve by not giving the disclaimer. Hm!

So I'm looking at the photos I've put in the slideshow, and wondering if you're getting a lame post because I could be so much more descriptive. But maybe the photo essay is really the best way to go here, because it's exactly what those days were like. Beautiful scenes, interspersed with fun in the water, at the restaurants, and in the middle of random photo shoots. Add a dose of gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. And that's it!

Oh, and a quick word to the wise as a PS. It's a good idea to not put sunscreen on while you're about to fall asleep. I'd apply a bit and then doze, but found out later that my semi-lucid sunblock application left some funny splotches to burn. Funny!

Athens - Through Rose Colored Glasses

2009-08-03T22:37:00.000+01:00

So I’ve been battling with a tricky CD with some of my Greece pictures. I decided I’d at least show you Athens. A post for a single day, but a much different experience than the beautiful, simple moments in Santorini. Anyway, without further adieu, here’s Athens through my lens.

Literally:

And through the photo lens:

And figuratively: Some people call Athens a hole. Vast amounts of graffiti, random animals running the streets, and ultra hot temperatures all point that direction. But maybe it’s the history that’s there – especially as I studied ancient Greece in a lot of my humanities classes in undergrad. Or perhaps the yummy food awaiting every corner. Maybe it was just the ambiance of the trip or traveling with some really great friends that skewed it for me. In any case, I loved every minute of it. Well, take away things like crossing the street and praying that the cars rushing past your baby sidewalk won’t smack you. That was probably a minute I could do without. (It felt like a very long minute!) But in retrospect, I throw on those rose colored glasses, look at the fun pictures that we have back, and I’m in Athens, with Italy behind me and the beach ahead. The past still lingers, this time on the acropolis. And we still find a way to get my daily gelato.

Another slideshow. This one incorporates more of my friend’s pictures. These ladies are the photographers I only wish I could be, so if you see a cool photo, it’s probably not mine.

I’m not going to put in captions. I’m just too lazy. But when I look at these pictures, here are some words I think of:

hostels. changing of the guard. flea markets. dogs.
accordion music. olive trees. acropolis. pantheon. (be
still my history loving heart!) churches. olympic
aspirations. (cue chariots of fire music…) fun photo shoots.
bliss. Or if all my greek letters are right from my math this year, I
should say βλισσ.

La Bella Italia

2009-08-01T11:39:00.007+01:00

Another post on Italy. After Rome, I left my schoolmates and went up the west coast of Italy. In just a matter of a few days, I stopped in three places:

Cinque Terre

Literally “Five Lands”, Cinque Terre is an area of five little villages strung together along some breathtaking coast. The area is known for its hiking trails right along the coast. I only got to see a snippet, but I must say it was one of the most beautiful and therapeutic days of my whole life. I hiked by myself and just got to watch the ocean and contemplate whatever. Then I found a little restaurant with the most amazing view where I had one of the best pastries ever. Man, what a beautiful day – fully justifying the use of as many superlatives as possible!

Pisa

I met up with my friend Olivia in Pisa. The highlight there was of course the tower. I didn’t know that the tower is a bell tower for the cathedral it’s next to. That was news to me!

One interesting thing – the day after we were in Pisa, there was a big train crash. So a word of advice to all of you who travel out there: make sure you email your mamma wherever you go. It saves her from some stressful moments because she knows you’re safe and sound!

Florence

Yet another blockbuster stop. Florence is such a cool city! It has a distinct personality from Rome, and I loved getting another taste of Italy. Florence was at the heart of the Renaissance, and you can feel it. From the street artists to the statues that surprise you on every turn, from the fabulous architecture to the picturesque views, this is a place that exudes art. I got to see Michelangelo’s David along with some other pieces of his that were super neato. (Unfortunately, they didn’t let me take pictures there. Boo.) And of course, no taste of Italy is complete without more gelato and yummy pizza, pasta, bread, etc. etc.

A picture of the Duomo from the outside. I think all the colors on the building are so cool. Most cathedrals have such basic exteriors. Not this one!

Statues in the Piazza della Signiora. One of the guidebooks I read called city an outdoor museum - it's kinda true. You just find areas full of art.

And then there's the real deal, too. The raw inspiration that artists try to capture, and no camera or brush can ever do it justice.

Ponte Vecchio - a famous bridge with shops built into the bridge. Fun!

A pic of me with Florence in the background. Love it!

----------------------------

More pictures for your viewing pleasure:

Roman Holiday

2009-07-27T11:07:00.008+01:00

Okay, a real post on Rome, now. I’ve sent pictures because you care a lot more about those than anything else I’ve rambled about. The thing is, sometimes pictures never do it justice. And some pictures look like I was just photoshopped into the foreground. You might be wondering if I was really there or if these are the musings of a girl who fried her brain for an entire year on stochastic calculus. Don't worry - I'm really wondering, too!

There are a few key things that a person must do in Rome:

Eat gelato. Every day. Here’s a picture in my Gelato reverie. Ah, sweet bliss.

Eat pasta and pizza. Ya, we didn’t document that with pictures much. Probably wouldn’t have been the greatest picture if I had!
.

See some of the Roman ruins. Here are pictures at the Coliseum and in the Roman Forums. It’s just incredible to be in places that are so ancient. So full of history!

Go to the Vatican. We were right next to Vatican City, so it was easy to pop over for multiple photo shoots. I saw the Sistine Chapel (truly amazing) and St. Peter’s Basilica.

See some art. So it’s hard not to see art in Rome. It’s everywhere, and it’s uh-mazing. It was really cool to see artists that had impressed me years ago in university and to see it for real.

Enjoy the beautiful city.

Eat more gelato. Mmmm…. I heart Rome!

More photos, less commentary:

When you're just at a loss for words

2009-07-23T12:29:00.006+01:00

So it's a tough balance to tell about all my trips. Should I share only highlights? If I were to tell detailed stories, we'd never finish. I guess we'll do something in between. So here's a quick story before I'm off for the day. I went to Rome for the first leg of my trip. It was so fun to go with some girlfriends from school; we had such a great time! And it started off in a big way. (Rome doesn't really do anything but big.)

So imagine this. You've taken a couple trains into the city to get to your flat that you've rented with the girls for the next few days. You're trundling along, toting your suitcases and taking in the new city. Suddenly, you see some columns up ahead...

Well hey, now. That's pretty cool. But then again, you're in Rome. You're bound to see a bunch of columns. Lots of architecture. You know. All sorts of that stuff!

But it's still neato.

Yep. Way cool.

Dang, this is awesome!

---------

Then all the sudden you look forward. And you see this:

And you say to yourself, "Hang on. I know this place. This is, this is."

Yep. This is St. Peter's place - heart of Vatican City. And it's huge.

An areal view (taken later from the top of St. Peter's Basilica) might help:

At this point, we'd lost any sense of trying to find our flat. We just sort of moved along to the center of the place, suitcases and everything, and just looked around, a bit dumbfounded. I think I started to get a sense right about then for how awesome this trip would be. There's no way to convey the scope of something so huge. There was barely even enough to try to take it in, let alone put it into words. So you try to take pictures, to do something to capture the feeling of being in the middle of all of it.

Right about now, this is where the words just come. "Holy Cow. Welcome to Rome." My travel companions, one from Switzerland and two from Russia, had never heard of "holy cow" and got quite a kick out of the phrase.

But that's fine. I was too busy trying to digest the concept of being there. Just one more time where I feel so small. You gotta love that great big world that can bring such incredible surprises. Holy cow, indeed!

A New Look

2009-07-23T07:55:00.002+01:00

Guess who has internet at home! Hooray! I have so many posts to get up that I could spend all day doing it. But that's not a happy idea because I know that getting picture intensive posts up has a tendency to make me a bit cranky. And I think it would be more fun for you if I get things up in pieces. (Besides, I don't have all my pictures yet. One of my friends is holding them hostage...)

But in the meantime, what do you think of the new look? (That's a rhetorical question. Please don't answer if you don't like it because it's taken way too long to do.) You'll notice new links to others blogs. That's by special request so you can stalk one another. Some of you are long overdue for a post, though. Now that the rest of the world is watching (and I won't be so much of a hypocrite in saying it), I want to hear an update!

In the absence of a proper post...

2009-07-22T14:53:00.003+01:00

I owe you so many posts. I know I do. But I have that reliable old excuse that my internet hates me. Any day now, I should have a trusty internet that works from home. Until then, I'm just too lazy to try to send any sort of decent post from the computer lab. I have already graduated for goodness sake! Who wants to spend any more time than necessary on campus!

So here's a compromise. I'll send you my friends' blog posts. :) Hope those blogger friends don't mind me mooching. If you do mind, let me know and I'll take down the link. Anyway, if you want to hear about the fun that Liz and I had back when she came in May, click here for a London post and here for a Paris one. (Sure makes me miss you, Lizzy!)

Tin Tin shows off her fab story telling capabilities in a post on Greece here. (Note: I didn't have such strong opinions about Athens as Tin Tin. Maybe it's because I was only there a day, and we spent most of that at the Acropolis. Santorini is amazing as she says!)

The only problem is that these posts are so great that now I'm raising expectations on what a proper post should be. I guess that's what I get for being a lazy blogger!

There Are No Words

2009-07-10T17:29:00.003+01:00

How do you blog about a 3 week vacation that knocks your socks off? Where to start in documenting 3 countries, 6(ish) cities, and the trains, planes, ferries, and taxis that go along with it?

And what to say about the fab news that I found out I passed my master's degree! (HOOORAY!)

How to catch you up on all that's been going on?

How to share my excitement that my parents are coming in T-minus 5 days? (Not to mention the relief that I'm actually going to graduate. Would've been pretty funny for them to come all the way here if I hadn't passed!)

Maybe I'll just start in increments. I had such ambitious intentions until I came home to an internet that won't work for a week. So we'll see how it goes. But until then, just know that you've got one happy girl on your hands. She's full to the brim with fab food, amazing memories, lots of sunscreen, and a bunch of time on her hands. Life is great!

Ciao, belle!

2009-06-28T21:09:00.002+01:00

Mmmm.... I love Italy. Just spent five amazing days in Rome, and I took the train up to Tuscany for another few days. Pictures to come - when I have a minute to spare.

So have a plate of pasta tonight and think of me. That's all I eat these days. Oh, and gelato. It's a good thing we've walked so much!

So Much to Do!

2009-06-22T22:34:00.002+01:00

You're not going to believe this. I'm sitting in the library as we speak. And I'm in the middle of figuring out some really complicated stuff, waiting to hear from my schoolmates.

The only difference - it has nothing to do with school, and every bit to do with a fab trip to Italy, Greece and Germany that starts tomorrow.

I hope to send updates. And I'm already behind on all the fun celebrations that we've had over the last few days. But if not, stay tuned for an update in a few weeks. This should be legendary!

xoxo

Free at Last

2009-06-19T09:33:00.002+01:00

You're looking at a photo of my dissertation receipt - the piece of paper confirming that, yes, my dissertation is turned in. Yes, my master's degree is over. Yes, I really am free. I think I'll carry it around with me for a while, just in case I start to think that I should be doing something productive.

Of note, you may see the submission time of 16:00 (4 PM) there. And when was the deadline? Oh, 4:00. And for all you AG-ers reading this, you get the blame and the credit for much of it. For helping me to make accompanying exhibits at the speed of lightning, staying up til all hours the night before the deadline, and somehow thinking it's reasonable to turn something in without a second to spare. Somebody's phrase "we train for moments like this" popped into my head, and I couldn't decide whether I agree or whether all that training has warped me!

Anyway, it's over. I have a one-way ticket to Rome for Tuesday and I'm not sure when I get back to London yet, but it won't be for a few weeks. Between now and then, I want to do everything and nothing all at once.

Life is beautiful, because I am free...

Deadlines...

2009-06-17T19:59:00.002+01:00

Just in case anyone is counting down, my dissertation is due in T-minus 20 hours and counting. Freedom is knocking on the door, and I'm loving it. (Even if that door happens to be the library entrance.)

Adventures

2009-06-10T09:29:00.002+01:00

I wish I had my camera with me last night, but I never would've guessed it would be such an adventure just getting home. I was at the library late working on my dissertation, and completely forgot that there is a strike on all of the underground (subway) lines. So I walk my usual route and suddenly realize I'm in for an interesting night.

Two hours later, I was finally tucked away at home. But I saw some brand new parts of London, and can't tell you how many times I turned around a corner, only to see a beautiful little London setting. And I sat next to the most interesting little Scottish lady who was headed my direction. (Thank heavens! I thought I had my bus ride home all figured out until the stinkin bus never came.) We got to know each other so well by the end of the evening because the bus sat in traffic for ages. She's about to retire and live on a little island in Greece for the rest of forever. It got me thinking - I'm about to visit Greece in a few weeks, and I still don't have firm plans for the rest of life yet. Maybe I'll just bum around with my new friend there!

Freedom! Sorta.

2009-06-08T20:53:00.002+01:00

So exams are over. I can't believe I just survived that. Don't ask how it went, because I really have no idea. But I do know one thing. I'm way excited that it's over. There is a possibility that I didn't pass and it's not over. But I'm going to believe that I just took my last exam ever. That I'm all done with school. Except my dissertation. Oh wait. Maybe freedom is still coming. Hm...

But who want's to think about dissertations today? Can't we just revel in the fact that I've made it through the most challenging academic experience ever? We can? Good. Because I'm one happy girl, and I'm choosing to dream about the possibilities of life outside of the library. Ah, freedom...

It's the little things

2009-05-26T16:36:00.002+01:00

Remember my random celebration re: dryers? Well, I think I should be cautious about discussing the virtues of anything these days, because luck is not on my side. I did a load of laundry last night, and started it drying this morning. It's still not done yet. I set it on the wrong setting the first time. My fault. But then it's been going for the last 2.5 hours on the right setting, and it's still not done. Kinda problematic when it contains a vast majority of the suitable clothes to wear for the day.

Thus, I am studying from home. Er, should be. Rather, I'm blogging. It better finish soon!

PS

2009-05-24T10:26:00.001+01:00

One more quick thing to celebrate. The flat I'm staying in now has a washer/dryer. It's the little things in life that make it worth the while. And being able to dry my clothes in a manner of minutes (as opposed to days) is one of them!

Story Time

2009-05-24T09:44:00.004+01:00

So I haven't done justice to the stories of late. And this post probably won't, either. But I have a few spare minutes this morning and I thought I'd blog for real.

Story #1: Lizzy came to visit me! Oh my, did we have SUCH a fun time. Shopping, sight-seeing, musicals, food, and talking. It will go down as a favorite memory for sure. Seriously, I'm just going to take a second to say how great Lizzy is. She doesn't get the press time she deserves for how amazing she is! I mean, after spending a whole week together nonstop (and almost all of it awake! We didn't sleep much...), I'd still do it again in a heartbeat.

Story #2: Second only to having your bestie in your own city is to go traveling with her. We went to Paris and it was fabulous. Jose joined us part way through (we spared him the hours at museums and shopping. Only sight-seeing and yummy food for him! And a bit of girl talk.) I've posted pictures on Facebook, but didn't manage to get them up here.

Story #3: I went to Wales over Easter. That was so fun. We went horseback riding British style, which made me so saddle sore in completely different parts than I'd ever had before! We went on midnight castle tours and some fun romps in the country. I heart Wales.

Story #4: I'm a nomad. Seriously, I've lived out of a suitcase for four weeks now. I called this a speed bump in a previous post, but it's turned into a bit more of a story than I'd imagine. Why did I move from my last place? Well, one flatmate got married. The other is buying a place, and I was going to move in with her. Turns out there have been some technical difficulties on the seller's end (that have all worked out - makes it a lot easier to be gracious retroactively!) that have kept us from moving in.

So I moved into a lil studio flat for a few weeks. I was house sitting while Dave was in the States, and had the place all to myself. Nice, except for he came back! So I had to move to another place. Yep - I've lived in three places in the last month! (Four if you count Paris. :) With suitcases still in tow, I'm safely stowed until school is done. Then I'll really settle in at Madeline's place and life will be back to normal. Sorta.

Story #5: "Suitcases still in tow" is a bit of a stretch, because for a while, it was more like "one suitcase in tow - the rest stuck in flat #2". Like I said before, NEVER lock yourself out of your place. I was moving last weekend and had propped the door open while we pulled out suitcases, bedding, boxes, etc.

But the door decided to close on me, and I stood there with arms full of inconsequential stuff, realizing that a significant portion of my earthly possessions remained locked inside. The landlord was a pain and wouldn't give keys to a complete stranger (wonder why!), so I had to wait for two days to get my stuff. Seriously, two days with no money, phone, toothbrush, etc., etc. Luckily I had a place to stay (I was moving!) and some clothes. With some really sweet and generous friends, I made it through, but boy it was a couple of days I'll never forget!

Story #6: School is in its final stretch. I have one more week of studying before exams start. Given stories 1-5, you can imagine that I haven't focused quite as much as I anticipated. (I had tried to plan for Lizzy coming, but I certainly didn't plan for the rest of the speed bumps!) So cross your fingers for me. When I emerge, I hope to be in one piece, with some set plans for the rest of my year, etc. Until then, I'm all out of stories, and out of time, too!

Later!

Radio Silence

2009-05-19T18:26:00.003+01:00

I just had to pop on and celebrate. You know how the last blog was all about conflict, gratitude, etc., etc.,? Well, can I just tell you that I have a newfound appreciation for a lot of life. I'm renewed. I'm happy. I have my internet and my cell phone, my purse and my suitcases full of clothes, a stable place to live and food in the fridge. And yes, if you wondered, I've been without all of these for some extent of the last three weeks.

So noting that many conflicts have had periods of radio silence, I've consigned myself to ignore the blogosphere when it just didn't make sense to blog. The precious minutes at the library should be reserved for much needed studying, rather than my prattling to well... whomever you are.

But today I got my internet back. And my stuff. I have a place to live for the next five weeks. And I still need to get back to studying. But before I go, let me just tell you that housesitting is an interesting experience on its own. NEVER lock your keys, and 95% of your earthly belongings inside.

Call it lessons learned from combat training...

On Conflict, Triumph, and Dearness

2009-04-18T08:54:00.006+01:00

"The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly; 'Tis dearness only that gives everything its value." (A quote by Thomas Paine)

Been an interesting week out here! Yesterday I had a good friend land a dream job after months of suspense. Earlier in the week, one of my study buddies got a fab internship after a long, crazy interview process. And me? Well, I think I'm still in the 'conflict' stages, but I'm okay. School is an uphill battle. I don't really know what I'm doing with myself for the next year, though I have a couple leads on the job front. And a couple of other challenges act as speed bumps to keep me from cruising along too fast or too smoothly.

I just remind myself that I'll really appreciate the end result after all this. There's no way that I'll obtain too cheaply. It's kind of satisfying to realize that whatever I end up with (fingers crossed!), I'll give it the value it deserves.

So here's to glorious triumphs, even if they're only anticipated ones. And to fully publicized self-pep talks!

It's here!

2009-04-03T11:26:00.005+01:00

Note: If anybody is reading back, please note that DYC is currently reassessing its scope and vision. We appreciate feedback/insights of all sorts, but we have suspended our request for resources until further notice.

The moment we've all been waiting for. I'm sure you're in suspense. Or at least I like to think so. Today you get to hear about my secret project - an organization called Discover Your Cause, or DYC for short.

DYC is the biggest, most overwhelming project I've ever taken on. (And for those of you who have seen me get in over my head time and time again, that says something!) But I've never found something that has created such a passion and changed my way at looking at things like I have with this.

So just what is this DYC? Well! Discover Your Cause is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to helping bring people and organizations together to solve challenges by working toward a common cause. Rather than try to find the answers to the complex and connected issues ourselves, we want to help people share their insight, their conviction, and their resources to actually create these solutions. DYC is a platform for working on challenges together and a portal to help people find their role in making the world a better place.

And why have I waited to tell you? A good question. I guess for something so important to me, I wanted to have some significance to this post, and I wanted to have something for you to do once it came up. And today's the day where I have both.

Today is significant because it marks DYC's first birthday. One year ago, Chris (my co-founder) and I were discussing a book that talks about how America has lost its common cause and about the social repercussions that come from it. Somehow we came up with an idea of helping people find their own cause. We wanted to help make sense out of an overwhelming social sector. But now we want to do more - we want to help the social sector develop into something better.

Which leads me to what you can do. I'm more realistic than you might imagine about such an ambitious undertaking. There's no way that I can accomplish this without a lot of help. So there are three things that you can share with me to help me accomplish my dream:

Contribute financially. We're in the process of raising some initial funds, and you can contribute online using the following application. (And yes, given that we're an actual nonprofit organization, I feel completely justified in saying that overused phrase that any contribution "no matter how small" makes a difference.)

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Contribute your voice by clicking on the "copy" link on our ChipIn application and adding the code to your blog or social networking site,
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Contribute your ideas. We're developing the concept of DYC and its mission online at Founders' Square. This development site is built on the same software as wikipedia, so you can actually edit the content and help us in laying plans and making DYC a reality.

What fun to introduce you to the newest passion in my life!

Feeling the love

2009-04-03T00:00:00.006+01:00

A friend teases me that I don't have birthdays. I have birthweeks. Well, he actually says I have birthmonths, but I think that's a little carried away.

I love birthdays - but not because of the presents or the attention. I think they're a really neat way to celebrate friendships; it's a cool thing to reminded of how many people make my life so rich and interesting. It was overwhelming to get so many birthday wishes. Thanks to all of you!

So what have I been doing for my birthweek? Well, Tuesday had several fabulous restaurants in the lineup. (Dinner was kind of funny - both plan A and plan B fell through! But we ended up at a really fun pizza place. I'll post pictures when I get them off my friends camera.) And you can't forget a pedicure and a little shopping. I don't think my birthday would be complete without that!

Tonight I got to play volleyball. It wasn't tied to my birthday, but getting some good play at the net can make me just about as happy as a girl can get!

So to round out the week, tomorrow night is going to be a birthday party with my school friends. Two of my study buddies had birthdays this week as well. So we're hosting a traditional Danish-American birthday party, as our Facebook photo so obviously conveys:

And what, exactly, is a traditional Danish-American birthday? I'll tell you once I find out!

Man, I love a great birthday.

Star Struck

2009-03-29T11:43:00.002+01:00

I've been tasked with picking a place to go out to dinner with some friends this week. So fun! For anyone that wonders, the notoriously bad food of London is a myth. You can certainly find it if you want, but London is full of fabulous food and great restaurants.

Can I just say that I really love a good restaurant? Because I do. And yes, most of you out there have heard it. Or have shared one with me. And I think that's half the fun. I have so many fun memories of times out to dinner with friends. I don't need the swanky places or the big scene. But how I love to search out that intimate, quality place, to experience something new, and to spend the evening with dear friends.

I've been immersed in restaurant reviews for a better part of the morning, and aside from making me much hungrier than I care for, I couldn't be happier. I'll never manage to go to all of these places, but I can just sense the memories that could be. It's almost like window shopping for a fun evening. I try a restaurant on, look at the menu, read about people's experiences. And then another one. It doesn't matter that dinner is Tuesday and I still don't have a venue. One will work out, and it'll be wonderful. I can practically taste it!

Mornin!

2009-03-22T08:27:00.002Z

I love to luxuriate in mornings. Especially weekend mornings. They're just so freeing. I get up, grab some breakfast, grab my laptop, and snuggle back in bed. Sometimes I just lay and think and think some more. There's something so personal, so intimate about these moments.

Problem is, I love my evenings, too. There's something to be said for defying the logical part of your brain that says you should be sleeping. Getting one more thought in before the night is over. Or one more email out. Or one more thing off the to-do list. And then falling asleep, knowing that you could've been asleep hours ago, but that something would've been waiting for you in the morning if you hadn't have stayed up to finish it.

The interesting thing is, my life has just turned in to one looooong weekend. My second term finished on Friday. I'm officially on break now, but I'm in denial. When I come back from break, I have mock exams. And then I study for my all-or-nothing, leave-it-on-the-table, 100%-of-my-grade finals. No more lectures. No more problem sets. Free time to study. To think. To do whatever I want.

Oh dear.

I feel like my love of my mornings and my evenings just started a tug-o-war, with me as the rope. Anyone wanting to place bets on who will win?

Spring is here

2009-03-17T11:58:00.002Z

I've decided you don't really know a place until you see it in all seasons. Spring came to London in a matter of fact way. None of that business of raising your hopes, only to plunge you back into the depths of winter. (In Montana you don't officially declare spring until May - any earlier and you're just asking for a snowstorm!)

And I must say, spring in London is lovely. The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and I have an acute case of spring fever. Who wants to study when it's so nice outside? I was using some research as a crutch to get me through - data work only requires sporadic bursts of brainpower, so I can be productive without having to think too hard. And it was working until I hit a roadblock with my data. Now all I want to do is sit in the sun and forget about studying...

Time Warp

2009-03-14T18:03:00.004Z

Happy Birthday, Albert Einstein. 130 years - that's something!

I've actually been thinking a lot about Einstein lately. For all is brilliance, he's so approachable. I mean, think of that fabulous hair - he just had to have been an amazing guy. His bits of wisdom have stuck with me, and I frequently mull them over these days. Especially the “we can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them” quote. So true. But how do you change to a new kind of thinking?

The wisdom tidbits aren't the only reason I've been thinking about Mr. Einstein. I attended a lecture this week that talked about how you can apply his theories on relativity to asset pricing. Whoa. Enough to make my head spin - especially after four straight hours of lecture on a Tuesday night.

But as I saw there, slightly numb from having already saturated my brain (I could think no more), something said that maybe time relativity isn't quite as crazy as we imagine. Time relativity in a nutshell discusses how the speed of time isn't constant - how it moves at various speeds.

Not crazy?!? Yep. Think of how often time has flown by for you. Sure explains why it's already March and the second term of school ends so soon. And why Saturday morning minutes are so elusive. And it explains time can crawl so painfully - like when you're watching the minutes tick by until you're free from a lecture that should've been over 15 minutes ago. If I could only be the one to control that lever that speeds up and slows down time...

But then again, if I don't have the capability of finding a new kind of thinking, it's no wonder I'm still subject to the ways of this one, where somehow, I watch the moments tick by without savoring every one. Figures.

I Think, Therefore I Blog

2009-03-08T07:44:00.004Z

You know, when I lived in Dallas, the word "commute" was almost a naughty word. Your coolness was directly related to how little time it took you to get to work each day. And you thought twice about going anywhere that took longer than 15 minutes to get there.

And then I moved to London - where getting anywhere in under 30 minutes is fast. And it's no surprise to spend more time in the round trip of your commute than you do at your actual destination.

My feelings toward my newfound commuting patterns have been mixed, though generally positive. At first, my commutes were simply fodder for excellent people watching, and while I still love to watch all the kinds of people that get combined in the great mixer we call public transport, the novelty of diversity has started to wear away.

Some days, I'm a little bitter toward my commute, but usually it's not the one to blame. My ever-constant struggle to be punctual is exacerbated when you can't control anything, and somehow it's easier to blame the commute than my poor planning. I guess I should be grateful for a legitimate excuse, but I forget that as I try to sit still and try to will the train to go a little faster.

And I've actually come to enjoy my commute. No, really. My time walking and waiting is such a luxury to me because I feel such freedom to think about whatever I want. Rather than the focused concentration that I should be demonstrating (or the guilty lapses into daydreams), I love to switch my mind to a specific thought and mull over what it really means. Some days I'm think about a specific friend or family member and what is going on in his/her life. Other days I flesh out my views that are frequently ambiguous and poorly articulated. And some days I draft an email or a blog post in my head.

So maybe a commute isn't so evil after all. If it could only get me home quicker on a late Saturday night, then I'd really have a change of heart. Until then, I commute, therefore I think, therefore I blog. And here I am.

Wish everyone could feel this small...

2009-03-04T23:02:00.004Z

No, I'm not talking about the "I feel like scum" type of small. And I'm not even talking about the "I fit into these jeans?!? Sweet!" type of small either - though that's a great feeling, too. I'm talking about the "The world is so big, and it makes me feel small" type of moments. They don't come often - at least not for me. But there are a few "small" moments that I will never forget. Like tonight. I got to see Maurizio Pollini - one of the greatest pianists of our day. I wish I could describe how incredible it was. And I'm really not exaggerating on this one. To get to see someone who is such a master at their work - well, it's truely extraordinary.

Being an Aunt is Grrr8!

2009-03-01T09:57:00.005Z

I love these posts. I don't do any work, but I get to shout to the world some of the greatest news: I'm a new aunt! This is #8 for me - the nephews finally evened out the score, and we have 4 nieces and 4 nephews that have staked a claim to my heart. Enjoy the pictures and join me in welcoming lil Spencer Allen Mackay into the world. Wooohooo!

Everything is Amazing

2009-02-25T15:03:00.005Z

Crazy thought.

It was four years ago this month that I flew to Dallas the first time. I interviewed at AG, and boy did they take care of me. It's amazing to see how that little trip changed so much in my world.

This weekend I went to Dallas again. Yep. Just for the weekend. Why?? Well, for those of you who still don't know about my 'secret project', you're just going to have to be patient. I'm so close to a great blog post on that one, I really can't let the cat out of the bag on that. But it was worth it to go, just for the weekend. It was funny to see the parallels and funny contrasts in the trip:

Last time: recruiting dinners in fab restaurants. This time: cheap, greasy, yummy diner breakfast; classic burger joint; Tex Mex with dear friends; BBQ - with brisket, sweet potato, and cobbler. Yum!

Last time: stayed at THE nicest hotel of my life. This time: on the couch at a friend's place.

Last time: got stuck in Phoenix with a cancelled flight. This time: got stuck in Chicago with a cancelled flight.

Last time: didn't know a soul in Dallas. This time: felt like every place I visited is full of memories.

Last time: changed my life. This time: a re-affirmation that I've never been so passionate about anything as I am about my secret project. Changed my life, again.

So I'm back in London now, wishing I could do whatever I want. And trying to figure out how to be productive on so little sleep over the last week. So while I do that, I wanted to send a funny lil clip that made me re-think those detours. Seriously, if I were to complain about the jet lag or the layover or the mounting school work, wouldn't I just be silly!

My New Valentine

2009-02-15T21:34:00.003Z

I was a little surprised by how much Valentine's Day is a big deal around here. I guess after seeing Halloween be something that is no biggie, I just assumed that a lot of the "extra" holidays in the U.S. don't have much bearing. Boy was I wrong.

I was touched how people do really simple things to make that day special. I decided to use it as a personal day, and didn't expect a whole lot out of it. But I got some sweet emails/texts from friends, and I was really touched by how simple it is to show love to someone. Maybe next year I'll be a little more selfless.

This is all a leadup to a super exciting announcement. I'm a new aunt! It's been so fun to follow the newest addition to our family because he didn't come the conventional way. Little Breyson Mackay is adopted.

So I guess when I think of this year and love and Valentine's Day, I think of the love of my brother and sister-in-law. I could feel how much they already love this little kiddo, and I'm a whole ocean away. What an amazing gift they have given him. And me. Because I love the little fella already, too.

Isn't that just adorable?

Oh, the weather outside isn't THAT frightful!

2009-02-03T15:33:00.003Z

Status update! This is day #2 of no school. They canceled it at 2:00 yesterday because of the forecasts for more snow. Seems a bit premature - we could've handled it. Then again, who am I to complain?

It's been fun to see so many responses to the snow on facebook. To me, it was a chance to catch up at home and avoid the pressure-cooker of the week. To them, it was a rare chance for snowmen, snow angels, and snowball fights. I guess I should give them credit - many have never lived in a place that has snowed. Those that have seem to be scratching their heads, too.

A friend passed along this link that gives a fun overview of the story.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

2009-02-02T11:52:00.006Z

An update on the weather. Now it is newsworthy! London is ill-equipped for snow, so the 3-4" we got last night has shut down the busses and cancelled school. Hooray! I get to study from the comfort of my couch (which has lead to some important but non-study-related checks off the to-do list, this post, and a peruse through the hilarious superbowl ads. The monster.com one is my favorite!) So now I'm off to really study and to wish you all a happy ground hog day. It's still winter here, for sure!

The view from my porch. I need to figure out a substitute for a snow shovel!

My snowy street. Love it (as long as I'm not trudging through it!)

The Weather

2009-02-01T12:22:00.002Z

Such a universal topic, isn't it? It makes me wonder whether I'm engaging in cyber small talk by talking about it on my blog. Probably so. I don't have anything remarkable from my recent escapades at school, and I don't have time to create a recap post from the holidays. So this is a little insight into me, however small.

The weather here doesn't change that much. For winter, it's cold (in the 30's or 40's, but with a ton of humidity) and sometimes rainy/misty. I've seen a lot worse, but I think that the amount of time I spend walking outside, coupled with the lack of central heating, brings the weather front and center. (Ha, didn't mean to rhyme on that one!)

For some reason, my bedroom gets the least amount of heat in my flat. Seriously, it's FREEZING in here right now. (My hands are cold from typing!) I have a little space heater, but it's on the fritz right now, so I've resorted to thermals under my PJ's and wearing a beanie to bed.

I know. You're thinking this is all an excuse to wear a hat even more. Maybe you're right. But I've realized that hats don't solve all problems. It's still REALLY hard to want to get out of bed in the mornings!

On Morale Boosts

2009-01-27T06:18:00.007Z

Not sure what I'm doing writing a blog post at this crazy hour! What a funny trend! But somehow, some blog posts just ask to be written, and so here I am!

Yesterday was a new first for me. Not one of my favorite moments. I got a test score back, and it was the lowest I've ever received. And before you roll your eyes, I'd posit that it was lower than any score you've ever received either. I'd known I hadn't done well, and I knew it didn't matter. The tests were diagnostic, so they gave me a benchmark to rely on. And a lot of things kept me from being able to study how I'd intended. One of them was having my sleep schedule messed up the night before the exam. (Hence, the cranky post below!) But regardless, it was a really demoralizing blow.

Fastforward to this morning. Without going into detail, I'm awake, and I came across a speech that I'd read before. This is from a speech by a former president of BYU, and it really gave me a new perspective so I thought I'd share a part:

"As you wage such personal wars, obviously part of the strength to “hang in there” comes from some glimpse, however faint and fleeting, of what the victory can be. It is as true as when Solomon said it that “where there is no vision, the people perish” (Prov. 29:18). If your eyes are always on your shoelaces, if all you can see is this class or that test, this date or that friend, this disappointment or that dilemma, then it really is quite easy to throw in the towel and stop the fight. But what if it is the fight of your life? Or more precisely what if it is the fight for your life, and your eternal life at that? What if beyond this class or that test, this date or that friend, this disappointment or that dilemma you really can see and hope for all the best and right things that God has to offer. Oh, it may be blurred a bit by the perspiration that keeps running riverlike into your eyes, and in a really difficult fight one of the eyes might even be closing a bit; but faintly, dimly, and ever so far away you can see the object of it all. And you say it is worth it, you do want it, you will fight on. Like
Coriantumr, you will lean upon your sword to rest a while, then rise to fight again." -- Jeffrey R. Holland (Click here for the whole speech.)

I recognize that I have a wider audience than what spans my religion. And I recognize that this is two out of the last three posts that touch really deeply on things I believe that others may not. But when something I believe gives such a morale boost in such new found territory, it's a significant event. And since significant events are a big part of what this blog is, it's newsworthy.

You should read that speech, even if you skim the religious parts. It's amazing.

High on my Hit List

2009-01-19T02:06:00.003Z

You guessed it. Jet lag. I've been in the UK for more than one week, and my schedule is still messed up. Of course, there are other contributing factors besides your average jet lag. I'm studying for exams next week, so rather than forcing my body into a certain schedule, I admittedly take the sleep when I can get it. But still! I was tired and have a big day tomorrow (er, today), so I went to sleep at 10:30, prepped for an early start. I got more than I bargained for! After 2 hours of blissful sleep, I'm awake again. Curses!

Probability Theory

2009-01-16T18:02:00.005Z

I should be studying now. Odds are, you get sick of me saying that. But the thing is, my studies could consume every waking minute, and so I hear my studies calling me, wherever I am. It's the siren call to the nerd at heart. But I had something on my mind, and it's decided it needs a voice.

Have you ever thought about why we buy fire insurance? There are some things where the odds are so low that something will happen, but you plan for it just in case. Why? Well, part of it is that we are risk averse people. For the non-economists out there, that means when we're faced with uncertainty, we'd be willing to pay some amount to insure against the "bad states" of the world. You can feel it in your gut, right? You do some things, "just in case." We all do.

And what does a random economics lesson have to do with anything? Well, I got back to London to see an ad campaign that tears at my heart, and it makes me want to speak out. I pulled this picture from a friend's blog to show you:

In case it's hard to read, the sign says "There's probably no God, now stop worrying and enjoy your life." I can't tell you how many mental debates I've already had with the author of the ad. (The best part of those debates is that I can always win!) I'll spare you most of them, but I wanted to share a couple quick thoughts, rather than just lament the circumstances that bring me to my soap box.

I think it's ironic that the sign says "There's PROBABLY no God ...." How funny that the author doesn't take it to the absolute. Do they really believe in their atheism or not? But moreso, does the rest of the argument hold if it isn't absolute? If you buy fire insurance even though there are very low chances you'll ever need it, wouldn't you want to have a little "fire insurance", given the possibility that God does exist? Is that really a bet that anyone would want to lose?

Some people would argue that we shouldn't stoop to these kind of debates because it elevates the position of the other side. But I believe that for every person that sends such a depressing message, those who disagree should say so.

In studying mathematics this last term, I've learned about the phrase "almost surely." To me, this phrase says that when we find something that will happen with 100% probability, there's always the extremely remote possibility that we didn't account for something else. It's almost as though we admit our human nature, and so we can only state something "almost surely." We don't change the probability of the event happening. We acknowledge the issue and carry on, just the same.

To me, God exists, almost surely. Despite the horrible things that can happen, despite the tragic parts of life, despite the inexplicable, He is there. I can't see my adorable nieces and nephews or see how much good is in this world and believe anything else. I can't appreciate the beauty in art and nature or be inspired by someone's brilliance without believing that we are here on purpose.

So what is the difference between my "almost surely" and the author's "probably"? Well, for one thing, he/she admits the possibility that God does exist. And that's enough for me. Some people may call it foolishness. I call it "the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things unseen."

Update: Kudos to a bus driver who is standing up for his beliefs by refusing to drive one of the buses carrying the ad: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7832647.stm

Whew!

2009-01-11T23:01:00.002Z

What a holiday! I'm back in London town, and can't believe that life can fly by at that sort of pace. At some point I'll give more highlights and pics - so many stories to tell! But for now, I'll leave you with a few random thoughts:

My family is AMAZING. Wish you could all share in how incredible they are. They're still the greatest friends, heros, and cheerleaders you could ever have.
I'm NOT ready for reality. Just in case anyone out there can do something about it, I'd give a lot to slow down time. You can never fit everything into a holiday!
I forgot the rest of my bullet points. Guess that's a good time to sign off. Maybe once the jet lag/sleep deprivation/travel hangover wears off, I'll remember what I was going to say. Until then, I'm back!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T23:45:00.002Z

I'm home with my family, the snow has come gradually all day, and a strong wind just picked up. How glad I am to be tucked in my house with my wonderful family. I'm all warm, I can smell Christmas dinner cooking, and I'm just a happy girl.

Hope this finds you well, too. May the peace and joy of the Season find you, wherever that may be!

xx

You Know You're From Montana When...

2008-12-22T18:15:00.002Z

I was re-reading an email from my mom that she sent a bit ago, and she was giving me a little update. I'm not sure if it's the cold medicine talking, but I had to smile at this:

"'Tis a little warmer here - 20 degrees ABOVE [zero]. But supposed to get cold again this weekend and 15 degrees on Christmas Day."

I posted this blurb to comment on just a few things:

My mom is amazing. It's hard to tell how much optimism is in this, but I can assure you there's more than you'd imagine. When you've been dealing with sub-zero temperatures, somehow, you do actually welcome 20 degrees. She's my hero.
I love that even though it's 20 degrees above zero, she tells me it's going to get "cold again". As if 20 degrees isn't cold! This isn't poking fun, honest. It's just the way Montanan's are built. When I lived in Dallas, any drop below freezing would bring special weather alerts about the "Artic Blast." So maybe I'm implicitly poking fun elsewhere. Just a lil bit.
I'm flying home for Christmas on the 24th. Given the weather conditions in the U.S., anyone want to venture the odds that I'll actually make it home for Christmas?

sunk cost

2008-12-22T10:59:00.004Z

Pronunciation: /sunk kost/

Definition: 1. Any expenditure that has already taken place and can not be undone. Decisions should not be made based on sunk costs (thank you, google definitions); 2. What economists tell themselves about a stinky situation in order to make themselves feel logical and in control (thank you, School of Hard Knocks).

I dunno if I always like my economics training. My econ training tells me that things like train tickets to Paris and tour tickets to Stonehenge are sunk costs. It tells me that if I have another stupid cold and won't enjoy the trip - especially if it keeps me from getting better - that I should forget the money I've already forked out. Other people might say I've already "invested" in the experience, so I should do it. But my little economist's brain won't agree, so I sit here at home, missing my dear friends that are in Paris already.

Seems to me like sunk costs are just another way of saying that you're paying a lot of money to stay at home in bed. But I'm not bitter. I'm an economist.

A Snippet of the Candy Saga

2008-12-14T22:10:00.001Z

Note: This was written Sunday morning. My internet wasn't cooperating, so I was making all sorts of contingency plans. But it's up and going, and you get a blog post. Whew!

Something to know about me - I inherited a Christmas tradition from my mom. Every year I make homemade carmel and fudge, and if I say so myself, it’s pretty darn good. In fact, it’s usually my Christmas present to my friends and colleagues.

Well I should’ve known after my Thanksgiving experience that I’m in a whole new ballgame. For example, they don’t really have corn syrup here - at least not like it is in the States. I finally found out that they have tiny bottles of “liquid glucose” that’s close enough. And I have a gas stove (or “hob” as they call it out here) and get to do some fun math when everything is in metric. Like I said, it’s an adventure.

So yesterday was yet another trek across London in search of cooking supplies. (Oh, and I found those disposable roasting pans in the most random little shop! They do exist!) After 5 stores and 3 hours of sloshing through the rain, I had all my stuff – including a brand new candy thermometer, and had lost all gumption to cook. So I got up early this morning in order to have the candy ready to give to friends that will be at church.

The carmel turned out pretty well. I think so, at least – it’s in the fridge cooling right now. It was a close call, though. My pot was BARELY big enough, especially when the mixture wanted to expand! I might give it a B+, but the truth is, I have easy critics here, and it should go over fine. That is – as long as the wrapping I used is non-stick enough so people can actually eat the carmels. Oh dear…

And the fudge? Not so much. You see, I have this lovely, yet slightly complicated recipe for fudge. It requires a lot of faith in your candy thermometer, and a good knowledge of what in the world is going on inside your little pot. Well, I soon found out that the slightly burnt smell wasn’t a bit of sugar on the outside of the pot that was burning (hey, it was possible!), and that the trusty thermometer wasn’t so trusty.

So here I sit, with a little extra time because I won’t be able to have a second batch ready for church. I promise it won’t get the best of me, though. There will be a second batch. That is, as soon as I’ve finished chinking the last of the “fudge” that has melded to the bottom of my saucepan. Ah, memories…

True Confessions

2008-12-08T15:10:00.001Z

Confession: I skipped school this morning. I know, I'm a little shocked, too! I never skip school unless I have a good reason. My good reason for this morning? Um... I slept in. Ya, we'll see if this blog post actually makes it up there. I know some of you out there are cheering. But I just know my mom will read this, and it's just a lil hard to admit it to her! Don't worry Mom - it was just one class! Promise!

So I have an idea for rebalancing the karma or seeking restitution or some sort of setting the world right. (I'm such a dork, I know. Maybe it's a knee jerk reaction to staying away from the Naughty List. Or maybe I just need to get a life!) Anyway, I figured if I'm going to blow the morning, I'll send along some pictures that you've been wanting. That should make up for missing class, right? So enjoy Dublin and Paris. I'll get around to some others later on this week.

Paris Recap

2008-12-08T15:02:00.002Z

It's so hard to capture Paris, so I'm relying a lot on the really long slideshow to do it for me. Needless to say, I loved it! Such a picturesque city. Amanda and I have settled into an excellent pattern in our sight-seeing; just soon enough for her to head back to the States! So a lot of these highlights are going to sound a little similar:

Memorable Moments

The Louvre: One of the coolest things I've ever seen in my life. Seriously, the building itself is amazing. And then the art that is in it is pretty good, too.
The food: Okay, this was written after the Dublin post below, but hey. You go and eat crepes, beignats, croissants, quiches, mousse, etc., etc., etc., and tell me if it isn't a highlight!
The Architecture: AMAZING architecture. Just incredible!

Um, ya, that'll have to be it. I've got to get myself to class! Enjoy the pictures.

Oh, and PS. There's a bonus feature at the end of the slide show - just to keep you going if you get bored. And be proud of me for posting these pictures. It's not very natural for me to be spontaneous, so I was proud of it. Amanda has much to teach me!

A LOT of Paris Pictures!

2008-12-08T15:01:00.000Z

Dublin Stories

2008-12-08T13:46:00.010Z

I should really write the story posts before I do the pictures. Putting together one of those slide shows can get me really cranky! Anyway, I wanted to give some commentary on the trip, and some of the pictures just beg for explanations.

Highlights

Beautiful Scenery! That's what half of my pictures are. And yes, Ireland is SO green!
Great food. Ok, that's probably my favorite part no matter where I visit. But I love to try new restaurants, and a new place means fresh pickings!
Malahide Castle. Probably misspelled that, but I'm too lazy to look it up. It was still cool, no matter what it's name is.
Trinity College. Kind of the Oxbridge of Ireland. It's a beautiful, very old campus in the middle of the city.
Cathedral Hopping. Amanda and I both like to see cathedrals when they have an evensong or some sort of musical performance. It's just cool that way. Well, we walked around half of Dublin trying to get the services for Christ Church and St. Patrick's Cathedral. Turns out we saw several OTHER cathedrals (never again will we point to a spire and say - that must be it! There are just too many pretty churches here!) and when finally found the right one, they didn't have a service that day! But the organist was practicing, so it was still pretty cool.
Shopping. If I've ever experienced love at first sight, it was discovering my love of hats at the Blarney Woolen Mills. I'll never be the same!

On to Pictures!
This place is a combination of a shop like Anthropology and a cafe. They call it Avoca. I call it Paradise!

Rachel, we found a kindred spirit. The whole car is chuck full of Hello Kitty accessories. It was intense!

We had to laugh because we kept finding the most ironic/witty/insightful signs. Thought you might enjoy!

See the slideshow for more pictures!

More Dublin Pictures

2008-12-08T13:45:00.001Z

Brighton

2008-12-01T22:46:00.009Z

I finally got the last of the Dublin and Paris pictures, and now I can't figure out where they went! But I thought I'd show some pictures from Brighton. I went a few weeks back for a retreat with the Finance department.

Can I just say first off that it was an interesting experience? I've already admitted I'm kind of boring; I enjoy board games, jazz music, museums. What am I, 80? Well, this weekend was a little different. And yup, I'll leave the rest for you to ponder. No need to elaborate here...

Anyway, enjoy a few pictures. Dublin and Paris will come at some point.

Brighton has a pier with a bunch of carnival attractions. I had so much fun on the bumper cars, even though I drove in reverse half the time and I came out bruised. One of my classmates said it was just like driving in Paris. Funny!

I love it when I get welcome signs!

Brighton is on the English Channel. You can't see France from there, but I still believe.

Some fun classmates.

My roommate Tamara. She's from Russia and we laughed because she really looked the part. But hey, when it's cold, what do you do?

This is a picture of the Royal Pavilion. Built by George IV in the 1800's, it's Indian design on the outside and Chinese design on the inside. The crazy thing is, neither he nor the architect had ever been to Asia! Click here for the wiki article that has more trivia. It has better pictures, too.

A random pretty picture, just for good measure.

Cheers!

A Tour

2008-11-30T20:10:00.015Z

The other day I went to see the London Philharmonic Orchestra with some friends. The concert was in the evening, so I managed to bring everything - including my camera - to campus with me. I realized you haven't seen much of my world, so I thought I'd share some pictures!

This is the underground station where I wait every morning. Notice the adverts for whisky, more whisky, and a color (er, colour) printer.

So LSE is a tiny campus. You're seeing about half of it in this picture here. The school only has 4000 students - so I guess they don't need a ton of space. It's also smack dab in the middle of London, so they don't really have a whole lot of elbow room!

Here's a picture in the library.

Another picture of the library. The massive staircase is cool looking, but it's not very convenient!

This is Kingsway - the street I walk down to get to campus. If you look really closely you'll see my friendly Starbucks.

This is the newest building on campus. I guess the planners aren't super creative, because it's offically called the New Academic Building. (Random side: the queen came to dedicate it a few weeks back, but I had a lecture so I didn't see her. Don't you hate it when school gets in the way!) When you go inside the building, it's funny because they'll tell you where the funding for an auditorium or a room came from. It seems like people just scribbled in place holders. I wouldn't be surprised if one plaque reads "Donated by Mr. ASDFGHJKL". That's about what some of the names look like!

Here's our mascot and logo. Yes, I'm officially a beaver. I guess it's a good thing we don't need to be intimidating! The logo is Latin for the phrase "to know the cause of things". Kinda funny because I was known for always asking 'why?' when I was a little girl!

I walked by this shop every day without thinking much about it. Turns out it's one of the oldest shops in London. Rather than paraphrase, I thought I'd quote a travel blog about it:

"The Old Curiosity Shop is said to be the inspiration behind the Charles Dickens' novel of the same name. The building was built in 1567 and is considered to be the oldest shop in central London. The building is listed which means it must be preserved. It was one of the few buildings to survive the Great Fire of London of 1666 which is wonder as it's made of wood from ships. The shop is still open and, at the time of writing, sells shoes."

Well, that's it. I hope it'll last you for a bit - I need to post more pictures, but life is extremely busy these days. They're happy memories, but so much to do!

A Random Story

2008-11-29T09:32:00.005Z

My story for this morning isn't very newsworthy, but it's been on my mind so I thought I'd share it. Yesterday I went grocery shopping as I was coming home from campus, which was a big mistake because the bus was really crowded. (You know, a lot of times I don't miss my car that much. But I really miss it for the shopping aspects!)

Anyway, I stood there on the bus with hands full of shopping bags, counting down the bus stops until I could be home, pitying the inconvenience of the crowded bus. And then about half way home a lady got all cranky at me because I kept bumping her with my groceries. She thought I should set my groceries down because there was enough room to put them on the floor. (That spells disaster in my mind. I could just see someone stepping on them on their way out the door, or the bags spilling open!)

I apologized to the lady and explained I wasn't going to be putting my groceries down, but that I would make sure to leave her alone. And then this really quiet, sweet woman next to me told me I could put her groceries at her feet and she wouldn't mind it.

Ya, so after I get that story written down, it seems kinda silly to write a blog post about it. But I was really struck by the difference betweeen those two women. I was probably bothering the nice lady more than the cranky one, but what a patient woman to simply offer to help! And you know, her kind attitude impacted me much more than the lady who was in a huff.

This morning I was reading the news and came across a story about a Wal-Mart employee who was trampled to death by the mobbing shoppers. Another story talked about how two guys got into a shoot out at Toys-R-Us. Maybe the need for kindness is a bigger deal than I thought. Sounds like the opposite is newsworthy, at least!

Part III - Turkey Hangover

2008-11-23T09:52:00.001Z

I'm so stinkin tired. But I just survived through one of the coolest Thanksgivings ever. We just had 30 guests at my house, with a knock-out dinner. It was so fun to share Thanksgiving to people who had never had it before! And the turkey turned out splendidly.

I've been thinking that maybe I inherited some of my great-grandma's genes. They would pack the house full of people, too. We didn't try to seat everyone at tables, but we did have a great time.

But I'm already resolved, so that next time:

I'll make sure to ask my mom all the questions days in advance. Cooking when you're 7 time zones ahead of your mama is just risky business.
I'll defrost the turkey much, much sooner. Somehow.
I'll enjoy the ride a lil more and stress a lil less.

So here's wishing you a Happy Early Thanksgiving. I'd hope you could have something so memorable, but I just don't know that you can get something like this in the States!

Part II - Turkey Vigil

2008-11-23T00:20:00.003Z

Turkey? Check. Roasting Pan? Check! Thawed turkey? Ummm. Let me get back to you on that one.

I've purchased the largest turkey ever. Just in case you were wondering, a 9.4 kg turkey weighs about 20 pounds. All righty. I go to my trusty butterball website, where I learn that if I want to defrost this in the fridge, it'll take about 5 days. Ya right. This is half the reason why I bought the turkey today. There's no way I could keep a turkey in here for 5 days! (And even if I could, we're celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, so it just won't do.)

Option 2: defrost the turkey in cold water. Cool. I can do that. Mom's done it a gazillion times before. I go to the website again. How long will that take? Oh, just 10 hours! This is one high-maitenance turkey, that's all I have to say. It likes a little company all the time. That's okay. We'll have the last laugh tomorrow!

Part I - Turkey Run

2008-11-22T10:16:00.005Z

Nope - I'm not talking about a Turkey Trot. This is not a 5k or anything close to it, but it may still qualify as a sport. I'm talking about the challenge to pull together Thanksgiving dinner in a place besides the U.S. I just got back from hauling a 9.4 kg turkey (still have to look that up to see how big it actually is. I have no idea!) on the bus from the grocery store. Luckily I brought a carrying bag.

The part where I'm a bit panicky is that I can't find one of those handy roasting pans. Where to go? Target, you say? There is no Target!

Wish me luck. This could be legendary!

Multi-Tasking to the Max

2008-11-21T12:10:00.004Z

Random trivia for you: A lot of my classes will give you a book of lecture notes at the beginning of the term. Sounds like life is cut out for you, right? You just have to sit back and chill; the notes are already there for you. WRONG. The real notes come when you try to decipher whatever is already on the page in front of you. And then when your professor diverges into something new, boy is life crazy. We (well, I) like to call this a practice in multi-tasking to the max.

Here's a glimpse at a thought process in these situations. Note that all of these thoughts need to occur simultaneously for this to really work:

Decipher notes going on white board. Success results in a record of these new insights, regardless of whether they're insightful yet. Failure means that it might make sense now, but you'll never remember it later.
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Write down everything the professor is saying that isn't going on the white board. Same results as above.
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Process everything the professor has said or written. Success means you might understand what in the world you're discussing that day. Failure equates to sitting through a class that sounds like a foreign language. You swear it's English - but it makes no sense.
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Pray that the professor only asks you questions on something you've processed. Success brings a renewal of faith. Failure brings truckloads of humility.
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Focus on only the information; keep all distractions at bay. Success leads to higher likelihoods of 1, 2, and 3 occurring. Failure leads to blog posts on mental multi-tasking.
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Keep brain from melt-down. Success leads to failure of 5, which leads to blog posts. Failure leads to dazed expressions and a few extra wrinkles.

Signing off,
Your semi-dazed, humble blog-poster. Man, I need to go study!

Superlative Dilution

2008-11-15T12:16:00.003Z

Okay, one more quick post. I've been loving my internet and procrastinating my studies, and somehow started looking back at some of my blog posts. I guess you might say I have a distinctive writing style. But have you noticed how many times I use the word 'fabulous'? And it's not the only one that I use, either. Dunno whether to apologize for my almost ridiculous enthusiasm for ... er, everything! or whether it's just a commentary on how cool my life is. Maybe I just blog about the really great things, so I feel a need to emphasize that.
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Whichever is the case, if you're still reading this, you probably put up with me regardless of my word choice. What a fabulous audience you are!

My Good Friend Starbucks

2008-11-15T11:38:00.005Z

You know, for the fellow non-coffee drinkers out there, I hope you don't pass up on Starbucks. You see, we're good friends. In the summer-time, we enjoy yummy Frappacinos together. And when I got to London, Starbucks introduced me to a fabulous rocky road brownie. And we have a new mutual interest - toffee-nut hot chocolate. The server thought my adaptation of the latte was unusual. I thought it was genius. It's just like a Heath bar or almond roca in a cup. Yummy, lovely, chocolate-toffeeness. It's perfect for a study break (and with two Starbucks near campus, it's a frequent temptation!) or a shopping pick-me-up.

Ya, Starbucks and I, we're pals.

True Love

2008-11-15T11:19:00.007Z

Got your attention? Well, I probably got your hopes up, too. But I must admit, I'm in love with London. Yesterday I experienced a tidbit of London's shopping, and my heart is still at Oxford Street.

I don't know why it's taken me this long to really discover the shopping, but I have a feeling I'll make up for it. And no, I didn't go crazy. In fact, I was on a very focused search for a bridesmaid dress. Well, pretty focused, given the amount of lovely distractions around me.

I think the only thing that could've made it better was to have my shopping gal pals with me, especially dear Lizzy. I think London wants you here as much as I do!

Yippee!!!

2008-11-10T23:50:00.000Z

I’m free! Look at this happy, happy blurb, written and posted from the comfort of my slippers and on my own sofa. This year, among the many things I’m grateful for, internet has got to be near the top. Of course, you’re probably up there, too; half the fun of the internet is that you’re on the other side of the computer!

We Carry On

2008-11-06T11:35:00.003Z

Life is busy, and it's hard to save enough time and brain-space for a meaningful post. But the week deserves one. Why, you might ask? Well, in my usual bullet-point fashion (it's an urge I can't suppress), here are a few reasons:

I saw Paris last weekend for the first time. I still insist on doing a picture-intensive post from my home computer, as it is a huge hassle (and time-consumer) to do otherwise. But, goodness, Paris deserves some press time. It's incredible.
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The election is finally over. It's amazing to see how my non-U.S. friends are so engaged in American politics. (Many put me to shame!) But I guess it makes sense. The U.S.'s foreign policies certainly impact them, and the domestic policy frequently has economic effects.
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I tried to celebrate Guy Fawkes Night. England has this holiday where they celebrate how a group of 'terrorists' (in 1605) failed to blow up Parliament. They have a bunch of fireworks - which I missed. (I'm used to fireworks beginning at 9:00ish at night. Turns out that when it gets dark at 5:00, there really isn't a reason to wait so long.) So we substituted a traditional English celebration for a yummy Italian dinner with friends.

But I guess the real news is that life just keeps going on. Regardless of the fabulous weekend, the week is still full of study and a deluge of humbling coursework. Despite the political outcomes, I'm still proud to be an American. No matter how much Mr. Fawkes tried, he failed. And even though I missed my fireworks, I still had a great time with friends. So I'll keep on keeping on, and hope that next week is yet another fabulous one.

Isn’t it Funny…

2008-10-30T11:09:00.002Z

To think I was really sick just a week ago? Life is getting back to normal, and it’s crazy to think about how quickly life stops and starts up again. So in that spirit, I thought I’d take a second to share little blurbs about the ironic little parts of my day-to-day life.

Isn’t it funny…

That the dollar is doing so well and that it actually snowed yesterday! Both are so unlikely. In fact, it was London’s first October snowstorm (and I mean big, wet snowflakes) in 70 years. Come to think of it, the weather and the financial markets seem to be more related than you’d imagine. You’re frequently wrong with any prediction you make, and no matter what you think should happen, it doesn’t prevent the opposite from looming. Maybe I should get a job in weather forecasting!
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That my feet are so cold while my head is so warm. I have two conflicting interests: a love of shoes, and a (new) love of hats. I had to laugh today as I walked to school sporting a beloved pair of shoes and a new hat from Dublin. I was so warm and cozy on top, but my little peep-toed shoes just didn’t cut it.
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How differently people interpret “Use all available space.” The little automated voice on the tube tries to encourage us to squeeze in as many people as possible during those busy times. People usually comply, and you learn very quickly not to think about the awkward invasion of your bubble from complete strangers. But every once in a while, someone stubbornly or absentmindedly prevents the others from moving down into the rest of the space, and you get a bunch of really squished and rather disgruntled commuters. And then there are the times (like last night) when there is plenty of room, and a couple still feels the need to reduce every bit of space between them! Seriously, some people take PDA to a completely new level out here.
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That I’m sorta ahead in one of my classes. Last week was a practice in strategic school sloughing. I ditched morning classes when I was actually sleeping well and missed on homework assignments that were less crucial than others. I actually managed okay, considering. And then today I showed up for my micro class with what I thought was the current assignment. Turns out they were still covering the first one, and I’ve managed to finish next week’s assignment already!

I could keep going on, but I think that’s simply a tribute to the fact that life seems so surreal. At some point it might sink in that this is really my life. Until then, those funny little ironies are some fun companions!

Note: This is posted a day late. So when you hear "today", think Wednesday. Just another result of my internet-less living situation.

I'b sick

2008-10-21T15:24:00.002+01:00

No it's not a typo. It's how I sound if I try to talk right now. You see, I've concluded that there are two types of colds in this world.

Colds you can manage. This is what I had last week. You might have the token signs of a cold - a little tickle of a cough or the occasional sneeze. But as long as you sleep enough and take care of yourself, you're ok.
Colds that manage you. This is what I have this week. Dunno what made this difference. I was actually starting to feel better, and then WHAM, I got a doosy of a cold.

So I'm avoiding studying right now because I can't really think enough to think about Financial Economics. If I curled up in a lil ball and took a nap under the desk in the library, do you think anyone would notice? Actually, that might not be the best idea. I'm a little self-conscious of whether my stuffed-up nose leads to snoring. Maybe I shouldn't test it in such a public forum.

Maybe it's fate that I'm wishing my mama would just come and take care of me. (She took care of Allison last week when she got her wisdom teeth out, and I'm sorta jealous. Come to think of it, her caretaking role kind of promotes risk-taking behavior. If I manage to have surgery, Mom comes and spends time with me. Interesting.....)

Anyway, today's Mom's birthday, so it kinda makes sense to be thinking about her and how she always makes life better. Of course, if she were here right now, she'd probably tell me to be tough and take better care of myself. Somehow she always has a way of knowing when I'm being a wimp. But in the end, she's the best cheerleader, mentor, example, etc., etc., I could ever ask for.

So I guess I'll go study, and just try to be the girl my mom would be proud of. Seriously, if I can ever achieve that, I'll call it success. Until then, I'll be living it up on cold medicine, OJ, and maybe some hot soup.

Happy birthday, Mom!

Tagged

2008-10-18T12:52:00.003+01:00

I’m it. Actually, I’ve been it for a while, but I’ve been operating in radio silence for a while because I don’t have internet. Still. : (

But then today I realized I could draft at home and bring it to school! So here I am, typing away. And then this’ll get posted sometime in the future.

The rules:

1. Link to person who has tagged you: Ummmm, Ashley, do you really want me to link to you? After someone ran across your blog once already, I'd think you wouldn't want the entire office to find your blog.

2. Post the rules on your blog. Done

3. Write 6 random things about yourself.

I LOVE blogs. I think it’s because I can’t get enough news about what’s going while I’m away. But I check them so many times it’s almost embarrassing. (That is, I do that when I have internet access!)
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I really like to play board games. I know some people think it’s cheesy, but I’m still a fan. Except for games like Monopoly where there’s only one player standing. Ugh.
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I’m a fan of top __ lists. Usually it’s top 10 or top 5. Why? I like to hear about what people are passionate about, but they get hung up if you ask what their favorite is. So if you ask about something that is in their top 5, you avoid the debate.

(I want to hear from you! Tell me something that lands in your top 5 things to do on a Saturday morning. I love to sleep in and then read a book before getting up and going. How about you?)
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I got my hair cut yesterday. It’s the shortest it’s ever been, and I think I like it! Someday I’ll get around to posting a picture. I love having a hairdresser as a flatmate!
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I’m working on a secret project that nobody knows about. Pretty soon I’ll let you in on the secret. In fact, I’m really excited for the day I do. But there’s a bunch to do until then, so I’ll just build suspense for the moment!
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I’m a lucky duck. Seriously, I’m just happy for all I’ve got going on right now. My family is fabulous, I have wonderful friends (whom I bribe frequently to put it up with me), and I’m in the middle of making some fabulous memories. What more could a girl ask for?

4. Let each person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

I tag Lizzy (because I’m dying for a post!), Shannon (did you know I’ve been following your blog???), and Allison (but only if you're up to it!).

Hi There!

2008-10-18T12:48:00.002+01:00

I thought that getting to use the internet would be a good motivation to go to the library on a Saturday. Turns out that it was, but it doesn't mean I'm getting any studying done!

I know I haven't done well with getting you some substantial posts, but I'll do better. I should get internet back sometime next week, and then maybe I'll feel a little more complete.

Cheers!

Internet Explorer cannot display this webpage.

2008-10-11T22:30:00.004+01:00

Never, ever, EVER mess with a girl and her internet connection. I'm currently camped out at a neighbor's because the internet isn't working. Not a happy camper, though.

Have you ever thought about how much you use the internet? I have school notes online. And then email. Oh, and I'm just getting a Skype account setup so I can call people for super cheap through my computer. I have all sorts of blogs to read, respond to, and posts to create. And then the random surfing that is somehow crucial to my existence. I'm sure there's more that I use the internet for. I just never remember what it is until I want to get online and can't.

Whoever took my internet away, please give it back!

Top O' the Mornin!

2008-10-08T07:30:00.003+01:00

Mornin! I haven't written for a while, so this is just a global hello to all of you. School is officially in swing, and the pace of life has definitely jumped up from last week. (Almost anything would bump up last week's pace, though. There was one point where I tried to see how long I could stay snuggled in my bed with my laptop and still be productive. Gotta love a good challenge!)

I wasn't boring and lazy all of last week, though. In fact, I managed to get quite a bit done before leaving to Dublin on Friday. I'll post on that later - still working to get pictures. But suffice it to say that Dublin, like everywhere else, is FABULOUS. Of course, my lil umbrella wouldn't really agree with me. I think Dublin was too much; it's on its last leg.

So the best part of 'hello' posts is that they don't really have a point. No real stories to think of. Just a reminder that I'm still here and the promise of a meaningful post later.

Cheers!