October 31

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!!!!

This is my first holiday here in the UK. I can't help but miss my friends and what I used to do on this day. No child is going to come to my door shouting "Trick-or-Treat!" tonight and I have to say it was one of my most favourite things. I love handing out handfuls of candie to little kids and then giving 15 and 16 year-olds a piece or two as my way of telling them they should be having a party with their friends rather than trick-or-treating. Anyway, I don't really have that great of a costume. I'm probably going as a black dog with white ears because I don't have black socks. But to be honest, I'm not feeling all that well. I think I'm finally getting a cold or a flu. It's about the time of year that I normally get sick so I'm not terribly surprised. The Roleplaying society is going pub crawling tonight, but I'm probably not going to go. I would have gone to one pub if I were feeling even 95% but I'm down to about 70% so I'm probably going to come straight home after the session today and sleep. Hopefully I'll get a good night's sleep tonight, something I haven't had in that past few nights.

Ryan's Visit

Well, Ryan left yesterday morning to go to Kent before heading back across the pond. He has friends in Kent and wanted to visit them seeing as he doesn't make it to this side of the globe that often. I didn't like seeing him go, but I understood. He's gotta get back to work and back to his friends at home. Gotta make the monies.

Anyway, I really loved seeing him and I think it's the sweetest thing anyone has every done for me. I mean, he came all the way to Scotland just to see me. And he bought me flowers while he was here. That was nice. Yellow roses...my favourite flower by the way.

What did we do while he was here. Well, we explored mostly. I don't have any close friends yet, I do have friends though, but no one to go out to a pub or walk around with or any of that stuff. So we tried out a new pub which I quite enjoy and walked around the city centre and we even went to the local theme park.

Yes, Aberdeen has a theme park. It's small and old, but it's pretty cheap and pretty fun. Ryan is a bit of a theme park nerd. he's ridden...380 roller coasters I believe. Maybe 390...I know it's a rounded number like that and that it's in the 300's but I can't remember if it's 80 or 90. Anyway, he was like a kid at a candy store when we went to the park. And there were bumper cars! Not the stupid bumper cars we have in the states that are all concerned with safety and all that. The past few bumper car rides I have ridden have only been around in a circle and there was a sign above the parking place for the cars that said "No Bumping". These were dangerous bumper cars and the kids there were quite ruthless. I don't generally like ramming into 8 year olds but they started it so I can't help it. And they thought it was the most fun thing ever, so I don't feel any sympathy for them especially since I got a bruise or two.

I do have pictures but I don't really feel like posting them right now so I might post them in segments.

Again, I was sad to see him go and I have no idea what I'm going to do tomorrow alone, but I couldn't be happier that he came to see me.

Dropped Philosophy

I don't know if I ever posted about how much I really wasn't enjoying my Philosophy course. I really like Philosophy, don't get me wrong. I don't mind studying the different schools of ancient Greece and all theat. I even want to name my next cat Socretes. But any class can be ruined when you don't have the right teacher and the lecturer for my Philosophy course just wasn't the right one for me. She's a nice enough lady and I think I would really enjoy just talking to her, but she just didn't hold my attention in the lectures. I've never before fallen asleep in school because I really enjoy school. I really do. I'm quite the bookwormish nerd, but there were a couple of times when I found myself drifting off during her lectures. So, what did I do. Of course I dropped the class. This might seem like the easy way out for some of you out there, but rest assured I stuck through it for a month and still wasn't enjoying it and wasn't able to focus during class. And I was already taking one extra course so I don't have to find another course to supplement the credits I'm going to be losing. So, I'll have a normal workload, I won't have to go to a class that not only gets me no closer to my degree but also doesn't hold my attention or interest, and both of the days that I stay until 5 I now only go until 4. It seems like a win/win situation to me.

So, I have a question for you guys. What classes were ruined for you during your college years (or right now if you're still in your college years) because of a teacher who just couldn't teach? Did anything good come of it (like finding a new interest and course that turned out to be your true calling)?

Guess What!

So, I have to say I have the most amazing boyfriend ever. Why is this you ask? Well, of course I'm bias but how many other boyfriends would fly half way across the world just to see their girlfriend? That's right people! Ryan's coming for a 2 week visit!

Needless to say I am very, very happy. He's bringing two very important things that I forgot at home. One is my stuffed bear Patches. I had every intention of bringing Patches, but when it came down to it I just didn't have room so I left him behind. To answer the question that I'm sure is going through your head right now, yes I do still sleep with a teddy bear. In fact at home I sleep with multiple stuffed animals every night. But that brings us back to the space in my suitcase issue doesn't it? Anyway, he's also bringing me my GDB 2010 Calender. I totally meant to bring that, but when I unpacked I found that I had left it behind. :) I'm very happy to have it back. (Speaking of GDB, check out this post from my Dog Blog about my issues about not having an animal here). He said that my dad and step-mom also gave him a few things to give to me, but he won't tell me what they are. I guess I'll just have to be patient. But it's really hard to do right now.

He's coming in on Sunday which means I'll probably have to leave the Roleplaying Session a little early to meet him at the airport (Jamie if you're reading this I'm sending you an email straight after I finish up this post, but I'll definitely still be there for the Committee meeting).

Didn't I tell you guys that I was on the committee? You remember? I wasn't too sure if I was running but it turns out that I was. You remember! Well, I think the only reason I won was because I brought my cat with me and said "I'm a first year and I have a cat. And I'm American so I know how Democracy works (which got a big laugh and groan from the group)." Anyway, they either voted for me because I brought a stuffed cat with me or because they felt worry for the poor American who thought that her country actually knew how to govern itself...and I believe I was described as looked like a Hobbit because I have a Bob cut and I happened to be wearing a cloak that day. Anyway...

So yeah! That's my big news! I'm very excited for Sunday!!!! But for now, on to my first essay (well, it's really only the opening paragraph of the essay) of the year!

Last Night

Last night I had trouble sleeping. Why you most faithful readers ask? Because there was a party going on next door. Now, I'm an easy going person and I don't' really mind it so much (plus they were blasting "The Sound of Music" so it wasn't as bad as it could have been) so I turned on some music and got to bed.

Then an hour and a half later I was awoken by a GIANT bang on my wall that made my room shake. They were being loud and yelling and banging on the walls and it just freaked me out. I was so shaken because I was shaken awake by the banging. My stomach and head started to hurt because of the shock. Again, I'm an easy going person but I gave serious though to marching out in my pj's and saying that everyone who did not live in this hallway had to leave because it was well past midnight and I had a 9am class. I didn't, but I should have.

But, I no longer care about waking up the person sleeping in the kitchen.

A Break-Down

So, Friday evening I had what you might call a slight break-down. If you've ever seen "Julie & Julia" (a personal movie and book favourite. I highly recommend you see the movie and read the book if you haven't already) then you must remember the part where Amy Adams as Julie Powell says "And I cried. Like a small, emotionally disturbed child..." That was pretty much me Friday night.

First off on Friday I went to the bank to kindly explain to them that because their online application for an Easy Cash Account was flawed I still did not have an account and the University sent me a check for 200 pounds that I wanted to cash. They said there was really nothing they could do for me to make the process go faster (But I've been here for almost a month now and it was your stupid fault that my first two applications haven't gone through!) and that they would check the online application and fix the problem. That still left me with having to fill out a form in the bank (something I avoided at the beginning because they told me it would take 3-4 weeks to process and the online app usually only took a week and a half...yeah right! That worked out didn't it?) and having to wait 3-4 weeks for my account to be set up. Stupid bank!

Then I waited around for my package to be redelivered when I got an email telling me that they had lost it (this is the package with my medication in it) and that they were "sorry for the inconvenience they had caused". So, I cried...like a small, emotionally disturbed child. So, I took an hour long nap, woke up, and went to the kitchen to make hot chocolate which, as everyone knows, makes any situation better. What did I find as I walked into the kitchen but a "Sorry, you were out" card from the mail timed at 7am! I was up at 7am and did anyone ring the room to tell the people up stairs that there was someone delivering a package? NO! I mean really? Do they expect me to wait by my post box all day in order to receive a package when all this could have been solved if they had just rung the room like they're suppose to do? So, I cried, again, like a small, emotionally disturbed child.

Throughout the day I complained and whined to Ryan between my fits of rage and complete sorrow. I am actually quite surprised my phone still works because there was quite a bit of water that splashed on to it while I was crying and talking to Ryan about how stupid the postal system was and how stupid the banks were and how stupid the book store is and all that. I also sent a few emails to my father about the packages in which several four letter words were frequently used. So, thank you to both of them for dealing with my emotional break-down.

Well, I woke up Saturday with a strong feeling on conviction. I was going to get my freaking packages even if it killed me! So I walked down to the "local" package pick up place. I ended up getting lost and it took me a little over an hour to get there, but I got my packages alright. They hadn't lost my meds (thank Jiminey Cricket!) and I even got my other package. This one made me very happy because it had the book I ordered before I left in it!

Yes, I read modern pulp fiction. So sue me. For those of you out there whose heart just went pitter-pat because you've found a girl who reads comics and listens to old time radio shows I'm very sorry, but as you know I am completely spoken for. But! That doesn't mean you can't enjoy The Red Panda; Canada's greatest superhero! :) If you haven't heard of Decoder Ring Theatre I suggest you look them up in the podcast section of iTunes. They're really great and do some great work. It's completely free, though they do take time out of every show to shill for money. I am a monthly donor because I love the radio shows so much.

I also got a nail kit in the package (which was greatly needed) and until I find a better spot or purchase some little baskets for my bathroom it is hanging on my board.

After my success at the post office I decided to go into town. My straightener died on me so I figured I should get a new one and I did need a hair drier and a few other things. My breakfast (which was a Panini with Peanut Butter and Honey from a shop seeing as there was someone sleeping in my kitchen and I didn't have time to deal with it before I left so I just bought something and it was amazing!) was getting a little lonely too. I had walked for almost 2 1/2 hours straight. So, to town I went!

I not only bought a straightener and a hair drier, but my favourite Halloween movie ever!

Yes, I to change something on my laptop to watch it, but no October would be complete without getting to watch "Hocus Pocus" where Sarah Jessica Parker looks at a spider web, says "What a pretty spider!" and proceeds to stick the spider in her mouth. This movie just makes me happy.

I then, finally, found a blanket! I might go back to that store for another two of these kinds of blankets. What I didn't know is that it was going to be rectangular instead of square, so it's a little hard to cuddle up in it, but it's so soft and lovely. And it wasn't that expensive so why not? At the same store I finally got some real dishes. I've been eating off of plastic plates and bowls and what not since I got here and there is just something pleasant about eating off of ceramic dishes. :)That random little mug? I found it at the Cat Protection branch here in Aberdeen. The Cat Protection is like a charity store, but all of it's proceeds go towards housing stray and abandoned cats. I was looking for a small, all black cat stuffed animal and when I couldn't find it I figured I should buy something. I spotted that mug which has my three most favourite herbs ever (mint, lavender, and rosemary) on it and it was only 30p so I bought it.

While in town I passed the Disney Store in the mall and decided to have a look in just in case they had a Figaro stuffed animal. I was met by the most amazing Disney Store I think I've ever been in. Now, I LOVE Disney. Absolutely love it. So I spent a good half an hour in this store. I found really cute little bowls with Tinker Bell and Pooh and Eeyore on them. I almost bought them, but they were a little pricey. I also found a really cute 101 Dalmatians baby set. Now I just need to find a pregnant friend so I can buy it and give it to them. I just had a blast in that store.

After shopping for quite some time I decided to get a little something to eat at the Costa. I had me a Cappuccino and a Lemon/Orange Muffin.

My tummy satisfied I went to build a bear. It was the only place I had found that was selling all black cats that didn't have the cat's back arched and its hair standing on end. So, I bought my stuffed animal Bynx. She's a nice little substitute for my cat Mia back home. I really, really miss Mia and I miss having an animal around at all times. So with my new stuffed cat I can have it sit in my lap as I'm typing at my computer and it feels like Mia is here with me.

Bynx sits on the window sill sometimes and watches outside just like Mia does. :)

Needless to say I'm feeling much better. My roleplaying session is today and I think I'm running for First Year Representative. I'm not sure. I talked to Jamie about it last night over Facebook, but I'm not sure if I'm completely in the running...oh well, if I am I am. Maybe I'll email him just to make sure I'm on the vote.

Today I woke up early and went to the Episcopal church down King Street. It was a small Communion this morning of 5 people including me, but I hear the 10:45 Communion is larger. Now that I found my Episcopal church I need to find my SGI Buddhist meetings. That way I can feel completely in touch with my parents' religions. :)

On my way back I bought this pretty, little thing...
Yep. I am now a proud owner of an orchid. I'm pretty excited! This little room is actually feeling more and more like home. The only thing I really need is a small rubbish bin for my room instead of just having a plastic bag sitting under my desk. :)

Why Scotland?

So, I'm asked all the time; "Why Scotland?" This is usually said in a state of shock or awe and the person saying it is generally a little impressed. Well, for quite I while I had a lot of trouble answering this. I'm "from" Scotland. My mother's family is MacGregor and my father is part Campbell (if any of you know Scottish history you will realize that my parents marriage was doomed from the moment they met because of this little fact and it is also, I suspect, why my brother and I have both gone through multiple "Identity crises"). You can't get much more Scottish than that. So, there was a pull to get back to my roots and learn more about my ancient culture. It's also gorgeous and I was tired of 100+ days back home. And there's history here. You can see it in the sidewalk. It's majorly cool. But, I don't think you can quite grasp this idea without pictures. So, here is my picture show of "Why Scotland?"

Because this is my town...

The yellow one is my building...I know, it's ugly.
This made me miss my mini, Jude. :(

Because this is my school and the street that runs through it...

Yes, this is one of my buildings.

Because there is a tomb on campus...

Because this is a run down apartment but I still want to live there...

Because I was sitting in a pile of leaves at this beginning of October...

Because the "Keep Out" signs are funnier...

Because I can buy Sherbet Lemons and feel like a real Harry Potter nerd...
There's quite a few more reasons, but this is pretty much it. It's gorgeous here. There are old buildings left and right and I LOVE old buildings. The weather is nicer. Yes, I'm aware it rains a lot here, trust me. But it's a lot more fun to walk in the rain that to walk in 115 degree Fahrenheit weather. Everything is just so green and cool here. I've never really been around this much water at once. You have to remember that I lived in the desert that in it's like billionth year of a drought. So having it rain almost everyday in September and October is weird for me (though I hear back home there has actually been rain). Leaves falling off the trees this early is weird for me. The fact that I can't find plastic baggies for my sandwiches is weird. The fact that people say "cheers" instead of "thank you", that the stove is the hub, that a jumper is a sweater, and that people complain of the heat when it's 80 outside is just weird. But I love it.

The Common Area

I have a question for you readers. Now, my flatmate has a friend who didn't work out his housing before coming to Aberdeen and he's letting this friend stay here. I'm totally ok with that because sometimes it's hard to work out housing when you're a second year because University Housing is not guaranteed to anyone above first year students. So again, I have no problem with an extra person here. He could put his pictures up in my flatmate's room and move food into our already packed refrigerator for all I care. I mean, Ryan's going to come visit me for about 2 weeks and he'll need a place to stay so I could care less if any of my flatmates bring people to stay here for a while. My problem is that it's week 3 of classes on Monday and he's still not looking for another place to stay and he's taken to sleeping in the kitchen. Once or twice I don't really mind. I can tip toe around him and make a quick breakfast with little to no noise. It's not a problem. But everyday? I kind of wanted porridge this morning. I waited until 9 to go in there (I fell asleep really early last night and just randomly woke up at 7) but he was still asleep. So I didn't want to turn on the lights a bang pots and pans around to make my porridge. But here is my real problem. I pay rent here and he doesn't. If he helps his flatmate out that's great, but he's not lessening my rent at all and he's making it hard for me to get breakfast in the morning. Even on school mornings I have to tip toe around my own kitchen for breakfast. It's kind of defeating the whole purpose of being in a self-catered flat if I can't make my food in the mornings. I don't know. It's just that I'm paying rent here and he isn't and I have to make breakfast in the dark on weekdays and can't have breakfast until he wakes up after 12 on weekends by which time I really hungry. It just doesn't seem fair.

SO my question to you is; "Am I making too big a deal of this?" "Should I just go in there and make some damn breakfast?" "Should I perhaps talk to him about how difficult it is for me in the mornings when he's sleeping in the kitchen and that I really don't think he should be sleeping in the common room because...well, it's the COMMON room?"

Week Three

Last week I didn't have time to put up a "Two Weeks" post because I was trying hard to get settled and everything so I actually walked all the way to town and shopped around the mall. I found nail clippers and gloves and...a COSTA! Costa is the big coffee chain here. Sure they have Starbucks and I could go there for coffee, but what I was really looking forward to was the Costa. I think, no offense to dear Starbucks, that Costa coffee tastes all around better. Though, I haven't gone to a Starbucks here so for all I know it could actually be just as good as Costa. My point being that I was really excited and promptly got myself a cappuccino. Besides that I didn't do so much on Saturday, but I was out pretty much all day walking around the city centre. I'm probably going to do the same thing tomorrow and look for a small, stuffed, all black cat to take with me to Roleplaying on Sunday...yes, I know I'm a nerd.

Anyway I think it's time that I tell you what I've accomplished these past two weeks.

Accomplishments:
1. Made it to every single one of my classes and tutorials one time and without really getting lost. I don't understand how people can end up in the wrong room. All you have to do is check your schedule before you leave and carry a piece of paper with your room numbers on it for the first week and then all you have to do is follow the signs.
2. Walked all the way to city centre and figured out where all the cool shops are (though I think I still have a lot to find out).
3. Bought my first alcoholic drink.
4. I can now say a whole bunch of stuff in Gaelic and hold a basic, but decent conversation.
5. Cleaned my room. You know, vacuuming, toilet scrubbing, desk clearing, the whole sha-bang.
6. Made a few friends, though I'm still looking for the same companionship as that that I had back home with my friends.
7. Went through several fire alarms with my flatmates (all of whom I adore). We had 4...no 5 fire alarms in the past week. All of them false alarms and only one or two false alarms with a reason. Like bacon smoking on the hub because someone forgot that she was cooking it. At least that one was sensible.
8. Finished a whole bowl of sweets that was full last Saturday...
9. Signed the paper down in the lobby that allows the desk to take packages for me so that what happened with this last package doesn't happen again (they lost my package! Grr...)
10. Finally got my bank thing set up...sort of. It'll take 4 weeks even though they're the ones that screwed up and is the reason I don't have one yet.

Goals for the next Week:
1. Set up appointment with the GP, because they asked and because that package that the post office lost contained my medication (that I've been off for a week and a half now) so I need to get them to refill it.
2. Find access to a printer.
3. Finish reading a few of my "for fun" books.
4. Get a good night's sleep at least for the weekend (I haven't had that great amount of sleep in the past week so I'm rather tired)
5. Go down to the supermarket on Sunday, get a whole bunch of flowers, and walk through the cemetery near the flat and lay flowers on some of the graves. Hey! They need to be reminded that someone out there is still thinking of them right? (It's a very old cemetery)
6. Get a bottle opener so I can drink my Koppaberg Non-Alcohalic Cider. It's been sitting in my fridge for a week and I want to drink it gosh darn it!
7. Get ahead in Gaelic because I'm a bookworm and I love the language.
8. Find my stuffed, black cat and a bleach pen and bleach the heart shaped mark on her chest. Yes this is for my roleplaying game. I am an elf wizard and I have a familiar named Bynx who is an all black cat. I want to take it to the session this Sunday. :)
9. Find out what it would take to get a membership at the Sports Centre so that I can get rid of some of this excess energy.
10. Buy a new straightening iron (mine kind of died) and a hair drier so that it doesn't take hours for my hair to dry in the morning.

First English Lit. Tutorial

Sonnet 116

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
Oh no, it is an ever fixed-mark
That looks on tempests but is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

~William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

This is the Shakespeare Sonnet that we discussed today in our first tutorial. I heard some interesting ideas, but I think mine is almost a combination of all of them. I think it basically means that true love is not a feeling that can change quickly if ever at all. Even when the people are old, wrinkled, and sunken those two people will see the young person they fell in love with so many years ago. Love, true love, can withstand anything and will be there even in the toughest of times or "to the edge of doom." Upon the first sign that something can be changed a true love will not look to change it. And we all feel this love the same. It is the same for every person who feels true love. Some one's love is no stronger than another person's. We all feel the same fiery passion, deep intimacy, and strong bond between our significant other and us. It's no different if it's felt by a couple who have been married for 50 years or for a newly wed couple. If it's true love it's the same feeling. Though the love in the 50 year old marriage might be wiser, it is not stronger because it has endured more than the new true love. And at the end of the day it's just love. It's only a feeling, but it's such a strong feeling that we take comfort in knowing that we're loved. When we're young we go to our parents. We climb into bed with them when we're scared, we climb onto their laps when we're sad. It's because we're looking for that true, unconditional love. Even though love is just a feeling at the end of the day, we all need it to feel truly human.

Anyway, that's my thought on the sonnet. I think it's very interesting that this was the one my tutor decided to choose this sonnet because on Sunday I went to church. For those of you who have read my previous posts or have perhaps read my other blog, you know that I am not particularly religious. But I thought it would be fun to get out of the house, see what the Church of Scotland was like, and two of my flatmates were going so I figured "why not?" The pastor (I'm not too sure what he would be called here) talked about love. Unconditional love and he said this quote. I wish for the life of me that I could remember it fully but I can't. It did go something like, "Love is not love without sacrifice." I think that's awfully true. Parents make sacrifices all the time. Why? Because they absolutely love their children and they're happy to do whatever to make sure that they get what they need. And they don't present us with a bill later on in life. They are generally happy to make these little sacrifices for us. I can't count the numerous times my dad has left work early to get me to a doctor if I was ill or to get me to a play rehearsal and back again. He did this because he loves me. My mom allowed me to climb into her bed past the age of 10 because I was "scared of her house" (it was a very large, old house and I have a vivid imagination) and occasionally because I had a tummy ache. She didn't question why, she just knew that I felt safer with her there. There was something familiar in her room that I didn't have in my room at that house. She's helped with homework and taken time out of her work to do it. All four of my parents have supported me even though my step-parents haven't been around as long. All four of them have allowed me to be a brat occasionally (or more than occasionally I'll be the first to admit) and still they support me. I don't call this anything but love.

Now it's quite like how Ryan (you all knew where this was going right?) likes to pay for everything. I tell him occasionally that I would love to take him out to dinner or lunch or something, but he generally insists on paying. Now, I'm really hoping he doesn't have a running account on how much he's spent on me and will present me with a bill if our relationship ever ceases to be and I don't really think he does. I think in general he likes buying my food. There have been other things that he has bought for me and things I have bought for him. Sacrifices in their own right. We both sacrificed a little money. But do we know how much? I sure don't.

I spent both of these lectures, the one at school and the one at church, thinking about wonderful, amazing boyfriend Ryan and my relationship with him. I mean the ENTIRE time.

Now of course, the question you've all been waiting for. Is this true love? Do I think it's true love? The answer to that is that I have absolutely no idea. After all my pondering and questioning I still do not have a definite answer. Does this, in its self, mean that it's not true love. Of course not! It could very well be. We both made small sacrifices here and there and didn't ask anything in return. We're in the middle of our first "hardship" and we're still as strong as ever. I mean we are thousands and thousands and thousands of miles away from each other in really different time zones, but we're still strong. I've spoken to a few people from England who broke up with their boyfriends before coming here because they thought the distance was too much and I talked to a couple (one of them is here and the other is about two, three hours away) and they were worried about the distance. I'm not worried about the distance having an effect on our relationship. I think we can survive the distance though we miss each other terribly and tell each other that everyday, I don't think that me being here and him being there will end our relationship. Our feelings toward each other have not changed from when I left to now (I know it's only been 3 weeks). Even though we've both been presented the opportunity to "see what else is out there" while I'm away, neither one of us wants to take that opportunity. We're not interested in it in the least. And we both know that the other has no interest in "playing the field" and yet we're both still worried about it. He's absolutely sure that some Scottish guy is going to whisk me off my feet. Silly Ryan. And there's definitely a strong physical and mental love for one another. Stronger than I've felt with any other guy (sorry to any ex's who happen to be reading, that's just the way the cookie crumbles sometime).

So, true love? I don't know. I have a strong bond with him already and I'm willing to do anything for him. True love...I'm very keen on the idea of finding out together with him.

Dedicated to my wonderful parents (all four of them) and my amazing boyfriend, who is seriously still worried about the Scottish men. Readers? Would you like to tell him how wrong he is?

First VegBag

As promised a few pictures of my first VegBag.

The Unidentified Leafy Green.
Celery! I love celery.
Unfortunately this is all I had left when I removed the bad stalks and the parts of the mostly good stalks that weren't so good anymore. It's not celery season here apparently.
My root veggies. A rutabaga...I think (I have no idea what I'm going to do with this), 3 potatoes, 2 1/2 carrots, a parsnip, and three turnips...I think.
They were quite dirty so I used my amazing vegetable scrub brush. I have a peeler that works in the same fashion. Put it on my finger. Such a great thing.

There they are, squeaky clean. Those are turnips right?
The newly clean roots and my bell peppers (which have a surprising bite to them) and my onions.

So that's the VegBag. I did cook a little of the Unidentified Leafy Green and it's pretty good. I just wish I knew what it was. And if any of you can correct any of my roots that would be great. I'm afraid Root knowledge is carrots, parsnips, and potatoes (including sweet potatoes).

AURS Pub Quiz Night Out

Last Wednesday I went out with the Roleplaying Society to a Pub Quiz. It was a time for us to get to know everyone (there are actually quite a lot of people in the society), have some fun with testing our knowledge of the obscure, and, of course, get drunk (for a few people). There are pictures, but I can only show you a few of them for...propriety reasons.

Now, you;ll be happy to know that yours truly stayed sober. I did have one drink. I went straight up to the bar and ordered my Pear Cider. And I got it. It was a pretty cool experience for me because I am only 18 and in America it would have been quite illegal for me to have bought the alcohol. Not so much here though. But I only had the 1 bottle the whole evening and Cider tends to have less alcohol than beer and definitely less than the hard liquor.

There's the bottle that I bought all by myself. :)

The menu. It was a Gothic themed pub. Pretty good food. And my friend Vera before the drinking began.
I would just like to point out that this was before the drinking began.

Poor Sandy's not too sure what to think...
Me and my new friend Marie from...oh gosh! I can't remember.
I did in fact "Grab a Bit to Eat". I figured since this was my first real experience with alcohol (I know, 1 bottle right) that I should have plenty of food in my stomach. So, I gots chips with cheese (or fries with melted cheese on top for people in America).

Again, before the drinking had really begun.
This was back when we all still really cared about the quiz. My team didn't win 1st out of our group but we did win second.
Ok, I know I said I wasn't showing everything for propriety reasons, but this was just too funny. Can't read what the sign says.

Enough Said...by the way, that's my GM Jamie. He's also the president of the club and he was is the team leader of the team my team joined up with because we both didn't have enough people.

Anyway, it was an overall great night. I really enjoyed myself and I really enjoyed being able to go and get my pear cider. Yes, I like girlie drinks, but I am a girl. But the really great thing about staying sober as Marlene and Sandy (who also stayed sober) can attest to; you remember everything that no one else does. :)