My Aberdeen: Part 4 (My Walls)

Right, well. I wasn't on campus during light hours like I thought I would be. I didn't end up being on campus until it was dark and wet and just plain icky. So, no pictures of that today. Today was actually quite boring if I may be honest. Meant to do some work on my essay...didn't and went to a game. That's when I realised I haven't shown you the inside of my flat. 

Well, I didn't want to walk around the whole flat and take pictures as, really, it isn't all that interesting. But I thought you might like to see my room. Or, rather, the walls of my room. (I have neglected the floors for about a week and mean to straighten up tomorrow or Tuesday). 

I'm still trying to figure out what else to put on my walls because they are still fairly bare as you will shortly see.   



The wall over my bed has a Dr. Who? poster and a small mirror. I'm thinking about getting a new, bigger mirror.



In the corner you can see the pictures of Freya and Rocco. Hopefully, I'll have one of Hilly to add to that soon.

One of my walls next to my bookcase (yes, in that door is a bookcase) is my Animal (from the Muppets) poster and my GDB calender. 

The bit of the wall over my radiator and next to my desk has my cork board and a small scroll that says, "LOVE". Still thinking of what to actually put over my desk.

So, there you have my walls. If by the end of the week I am out of pictures I'll take a picture each of the other rooms in the flat, but that's a last resort.

The Lawn

Now, when last we left me in my exciting adventure I was telling you about how I was experiencing a little writer's block. You'll be glad to know that I got my writing exercise done and turned in. You might also remember that I said a little something about the lawn and how it deserved a post of its own. Well, here it is.


Well, I've been having a lot of fun trying to keep our lawn nice and neat. It was about a week ago when this all started. I walked into the kitchen and encountered a foul smell. Now, the flat is pretty small so if one part of the flat starts smelling funny the rest will shortly follow suit. I shortly discovered that it was this yellow liquid at the bottom of the trash can. Quickly I went to work taking the trash out the the outdoor bin and cleaning up the mess on the floor that it left. As I took out the trash I noticed that the lawn was in serious need of some TLC. So, since it wasn't raining (a real treat for Aberdeen) I decided to pull out the lawn mower and give it the love it needed. That's when I realised that I had no idea where the socket was the plug in the lawn mower. What does a renter do when they don't know something about the house? Call the landlord!

Of course, our landlord isn't here but we do have a factor. So I called him and asked. He said that we just had to string it through one of the back windows. Thinking about how silly that would look but not how long the cord was, I started stringing the lawn mower cord through my bedroom window. I started mowing the lawn and realised...I didn't know which part of the back or front lawn was ours. Well, I figured I would just mow all the lawn and give a nice present to our upstairs neighbours and then ask my landlady through email. I got about halfway through the lawn when the mower stopped working. I was confused for a little, until I realised that the plug had been pulled from the wall.

So I had to leave it for a day, half mowed, before I got an extension cord. The next day I got the extension cord and started to mow the bit that was still all long and unseemly. Unfortunately the extension cord was about two feet too short! So, there is two feet of lawn still uncut. I don't want to spend anymore money on a really long extension cord, but I'm feeling I might have to. It's starting to look a little weird.

On a side note; the call to my factor also reminded me to tell him about my wardrobe that had collapsed my first day back here. He says he can fix it, but he hasn't been back here to fix it yet. I hope it'll be fixed soon.

A Week Back

I've been back a week now and it's been...well, it's been interesting to say the least. I won't say that it's been my favourite week in the world. Aberdeen gave me a different welcome home than I was expecting, but at least I'm back home.

Last night I was watching "Frasier" in my new living room and one of the characters said something that really made sense seeing what's happened this past week. The quote was, "people suck." Now, I've always tried to believe that there is a little good in everyone, but I'm not so sure anymore. Maybe some people are just bad. Maybe they weren't born bad I don't really know, but something happened in their life that took the good out. *sigh* I won't go into details about what happened, but it wasn't a fun night and it hasn't led to fun days. Fun jokes maybe, but not so much fun times. Ah, well. The time has passed and everyone and everything is getting better. Including me.

I was helped along with this by a large box I received a few days ago. I wasn't expecting anything (besides my pictures and DVD of Rocco's graduation from GDB) so I was really surprised when a very large box arrived. I opened it a wouldn't you know it!? someone sent me flowers. Alright, before you start getting ideas in your head it was my father. So not as exciting as all that, but still, it's a really pretty house plant and definitely something that our flat needed. Now what it needs is pictures on the wall and possibly another sofa since we are taking turns of lounging on it at the moment.

Well, that's all for now. I'll let you know if anymore people start going bad.

Home Again

As you may have guessed from the title I am finally back in Aberdeen. The flights were pretty uneventful which is how I liked my flights. The car drive from my mom's place to LAX was more eventful that the flights (then again, it was LA traffic at 3:30 in the afternoon). Basically the flights went like this;

Get to the airport, argue with mom over which terminal I was suppose to be in, go to wrong terminal, walk outside and around to right terminal, argue with mom over whether I can go straight to the counters to check in bag, go straight to counter to check in back anyway, take 2 pounds of clothes out of bag, check in bag, hug mom goodbye, go through security, wait at gate for 2 hours, board flight, talk to man sitting next to me about divorces and psychology, sleep, get off first plane, take terminal bus to the next terminal, go through immigration, go through security, wait at gate for an hour, discover that flight has been delayed 20 minutes, take a survey while waiting, board plane, read, sleep, get off, claim bag, get taxi and go home.

There are a lot of steps involved in flying anywhere, but really it was an easy travel day. There were no problems with my seats or getting the vegetarian meal. They didn't charge me extra for my bag being slightly overweight. We didn't sit on the runway for hours before actually taking off and my bag was the first one out on the baggage claim. I didn't have to wait in a ridiculously long line for a taxi. There wasn't even any traffic from the airport to my flat. The whole travel thing went very smoothly. So smooth that it actually unnerves me a little.

But, now I'm home trying to get my new room in order. At least I have a few weeks to get everything sorted out before classes start. I need a mattress topper, an extension cord, a bedside table, a pencil holder, some pictures...

Off the "To Do" List

That's right! Housing for Lisa and me is officially off the "must do" list. :D We're going to be signing the lease on *hopefully* Monday. Either Monday or Friday, but we have a place to live. It's a pretty nice flat with two good size bedrooms, and nice living room, decent sized kitchen, and a pretty nice bathroom. It's also got a garden and, this is the icing on the cake, the landlady will allow me to raise a Guide Dog Puppy in the flat (as long as I agree to pay for any damage done by said puppy). Hooray!!!!!

This being said, Marlene and Amy still don't have a flat, but the landlady was so nice about this. I'm going to try to recreate the conversation.

"You two are looking a little worried. Now there's no reason to be. Here's the names of so many other landlords/ladies who are looking for two people and here are some solicitors who would be happy to see you, just tell them I sent you. I'll have a look around and talk to a few people and let you know what I find."

She really was that nice. And I'm sure we'll find something for Marlene and Amy close by.

Anyway, for now. I'm off to get ready for Eurovision. :D

Home Sweet Where?

As you might have guessed, that house viwing didn't go great. The woman did let us know that the single bedroom was small, but we didn't think she meant TINY. I mean, the room was big enough for a bed and that was it. We decided that we could deal with it because the rest of the house was pretty nice, but it wasn't meant to be. The landlady called me back and said that someone else had taken it. Oh well. She's letting us view a flat of hers tomorrow, but it's only a 2 person flat. We've decided to split into two groups of two in any case, but I was really looking forward to living with Amy, Marlene, AND Lisa. Instead it'll be me and one of them (most likely...almost definitely Lisa). A smaller household but the landlady is going to let me raise a Guide Dog puppy in the flat! (If we get to lease it of course). Wish us luck!

Sorry that most of my posts have been about finding housing for next year. I'm going to start posting about University stuff again soon, but this has been on my mind for a while and getting my thoughts out there in cyber space help to sort them. Tomorrow will probably be rants about how the flat viewings (yes, we found another 2 person flat close by the other and get to view it on the same day), how I'm still in shock over the last day of classes, and my excitement for Eurovision!

The Search Continues

If you read my Dog Blog you'll know that we're still searching for a place to live next year. "But Erin," you say, "what about that nice flat you were talking about not too long ago?" Well, I'll tell you what happened to that flat. The agency had to get the "yay" or "nay" from the landlady which is why we didn't start signing papers immediately. We knew we probably wouldn't hear until last Monday because it was Easter Weekend. When we didn't hear all Monday afternoon, I was asked to call the agency. So, I did. The guy who was dealing with our request said that the landlady would contact either Marlene or Amy and talk to them to meet us because she had found her own people who wanted to move in. Which makes me ask the question, "Why did she go through an agency?" Before you say anything about the flat being on the market for a while it wasn't. When we saw it, it wasn't even technically on the market yet. Anyway, she never called Amy or Marlene (we never even had a chance) and we got a call from the agency telling us that she had picked the other people. We're thinking we'll go to another agency due to the two places we've wanted and have fallen through when we tried to lease them. Ah, well...I suppose that we won't get anywhere nice to live. Everywhere nice and close to campus is already taken. If we can't find a 4 person that we like I might suggest we split up into two groups of two.

We have another flat viewing this Wednesday and someone got in contact with me about a 4 person house I asked about. It's available from the beginning of July, but the woman on the phone said we could talk about that. I'm hoping that she says something lovely like "Yeah, go ahead and move in in June" or something. Mostly because the flat we're viewing tomorrow is about 40 minutes away from the University while this house is about 10 minutes away, if that. I'm going to call her back today and hope. This house also has garden access...I want garden access.

Houses, Flats, and Lost Keys! Oh My!

So, you know that house viewing that Marlene, Lisa, Amy, and I had yesterday? Well, the house was perfect. We absolutely loved it! We went in, looked around, and basically said "yes, we want it." The real estate agent directed us to the office in town where we could sign the papers and definitely have a place to stay next year. Sounds like a happy ending huh? Well, unfortunately, it was not meant to be. As we were walking from the house to town we decided to call the agency to tell them that we were on the way to sign papers for the house. Amy called. She said, with a fallen face, that just as she was on the phone someone else came in to sign the papers who had viewed the house earlier. Oh well, it happens right? The only thing that gets me is that we could have had scheduled our viewing Monday if they had been able to make a viewing booking online and might have possibly seen the house before the four boys who ended up making it there before us. Means we could have been on the other side of the bridge signing the papers while the four boys had to find somewhere else to live. It's not worth worrying over really, because we won't get the house even if I do worry. So, I say "Oh well!" and will move on. We'll find the place we're suppose to stay in.

Actually, we walked down to the agency anyway to see if there was anyway we could make a better offer to get the house (which was a little awkward because the boys were still there dotting the final I's and crossing the final T's). We found out we couldn't, but we did get to view a four double bedroom flat today. The other three thinks it's nice, but looks a little grotty. I honestly don't think it looked all that grotty. The bedrooms were a wonderful size and the kitchen was nice and the living room was spacious. We'd even have our own garden. We did tell the agent that we wanted to lease it, but he had to get in contact with the landlord and with the Easter weekend we might not hear from them until this coming Tuesday. We're still looking just in case this one falls through, but I actually have a good feeling about it. Plus, I think if we decide to view something else and wait on this one and we end up hating the other things we view, then this one will be taken by the time we decide. It's a fickle thing to do; looking for a place to live. But, it's just a waiting game now with the flat we viewed today. We shall see...

Speaking of places where people live. I have lost my key. I don't know how it happened. All I know is that I stuck it in my purse after I locked my room door and when I came home from the pub quiz last night it wasn't there anymore. Let me tell you, getting back into my flat was a difficult task, but I did it. I went back to the pub today and asked if anyone had brought it up to the bar...but they didn't have it up there. I left my name and mobile number with the guy and he said he would ask the night staff who worked last night. But I'm not holding up much hope for it being found. Tomorrow as I pay my rent, I might just suck it up and pay the 20 pounds for a new key. I have a temporary one right now that I won't have to pay for if I find my other one, but...hmm...I don't know. Maybe I should just wait until Monday and if the pub hasn't contacted me by then, then I should pay for the new key. Or, I could pay and if I find it I could get the twenty quid back. Damn housing! Causing me so much trouble this week!

Flat Viewing

Last night after a wonderful girls night in with Lisa, Marlene, and Vera I curled up under my nice, warm blankets. As I cuddled against my pillows and wrapped the blankets tight around me, it occurred to me how fickle life could be sometimes. A few days ago I was feeling really homesick and thoughts of not being able to find a place to live next year kept going in and out of my head. Needless to say it was a sad few days for Erin. But, I got over it. I'm surprisingly chipper now and have decided that I won't worry so much, because worry only gets me stress and unhappiness.

Surprisingly...this has already worked to better my situation. After calling up a rental agency to ask for a viewing after I was called and said that I should start looking 2 months in advance instead of a year (that bit was my fault as I put down the wrong dates on my enquiry form) and then being told that I was being silly for looking 2 months in advance I decided to call back. I said that there should be no harm in viewing the flat. I said that I was aware the owner was most likely looking for someone to move in at the end or March and that I cannot move in until the end of May but that just in case no one came up (which I'm sure that no one will because it's the middle of a semester) we would like to view it. (Let's get real people, this flat was open when I started looking back in January. I don't think they'll find someone who will want to move in sooner).

So, Lisa and I are going to the viewing today and this excites me. If the person likes us enough and realises what I have about no one coming to Aberdeen between March and May who would need to rent a flat long term, then hopefully we'll at least have a place to think about for the summer. :D Hooray!

Wish Us Luck!!! (please)

People

Sometimes living with people is...hard. There's a moment (or a week) of discomfort that comes with moving in with someone. Mostly because you have different ways of living and different routines and what not. This discomfort is increased when you're thrown together with four other people who you don't know at all and are forced to share a kitchen with them. Now, I love my flatmates. Really, I do. We may not be the best of friends, but I've learned loads about them. I know what subjects they're studying here at Uni and when they like to get up and go out and all of those kind of things. I feel a sort of connection to them, partly because each one of them has seen me in a bath robe, but mainly because we live together. We have to deal with each other and each other's odd quirks. We've all gotten use to one another, still...there are things that are...hard.

Now, I have this odd protective nature over food. In the dog world you wouldn't call me "food obsessive" but maybe...wary. Anyway, I think it comes from when I was younger. See, I'm the only vegetarian in the family and my dad, well he attempts to make vegetarian dishes for me but they've always left something to be desired. That's not to say that they were bad, they just weren't good (sorry Dad, your meat dishes were always wonderful before I became a vegetarian). Because I wasn't the biggest fan of my dad's vegetarian dishes I was left to my own devices for dinner. I bought fake meat a lot of the time to enhance my salads and burritos and things like that with protein. Unfortunately, contrary to popular belief, fake meat is actually pretty good. My brother has a liking for it. This means that every so often I would come home and start making dinner and find that all of my fake meat was gone. It was a little aggravating because he was able to eat the meat in the fridge but he chose the fake stuff. So, yeah. It's just a little touchy.

Living with people has helped me grow in so many ways and has helped me become much more respectful. Still, when I pay for food I want to eat it. I recently discovered that someone had been using my celery in favour of their celery which was going off. They're breaking off the tops and leaving very little on the bottom. It's not like a really mind, but they have their own celery and they're using mine instead. It's just a little frustrating. My cucumber and bell pepper has also been pushed to the very back of the fridge. Now, we have a really old fridge. One of those that will freeze anything touching the dividers. My cucumber froze.

Just a few frustrations that I'm dealing with. Again, I don't actually mind, but it is a little annoying that half of my cucumber was rendered uneatable and half of my celery stalk was devoured. Eh, what are you going to do?

In other news! I am running my first game tomorrow. It's just a taster session. We're rotating GMs so that those who want to GM can do this first and feel comfortable GMing before running a full game. Should be fun, but still...nervous!

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. :)

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?"

My Room

So, I managed to sleep for 14 hours. For those of you who know me well know I just don't do that. I suppose I really needed the sleep. But I'm all ready for today and I'll be able to participate in the Fresher's Week stuff tonight. I just need to head down to Johnston Hall to get my Fresher's band so I can get into the clubs and things like that quicker and easier.

So, as I promised, here are a few pictures of my flat room.

My view.

I really like how everything here is green.

Some apples, the picture my friend painted for me, and my bunny angel.
My bed. I bought black sheets yesterday. They aren't that comfortable, but they're something to sleep on. And I'm sure they'll soften up after the first wash. Oh, and I'm not generally messy, but I was unpacking a figuring out how many clothes hangers I needed.
The only place in my room where I'm allowed to hang things. I need some thumb tacks and stuff to hang.

My gorgeous picture of Arwen. I miss her a lot. And that vase? I blew glass in Sweden when I visited my brother last Christmas and that is what I made. :)
My pop-up laundry hamper. It really does POP. I undid the band that was holding it together in a nice little circle and it almost attacked me.
My cloak and warm jacket on the wall hanger.
This is my small bathroom. But at least it's my own and I don't have to share it.
And my itty bitty shower. At least it lets me have hot showers and it's all mine.

My favourite corner in my dorm room. You see the black lab stuffed animal in harness and the yellow lab in his puppy jacket? I need a black lab in her puppy jacket and if Rocco makes it I'll buy a yellow lab in harness.

I still need to buy a few things like laundry and dish soap and other cosmetic necessities. But all in all it's a nice little room. And I mean LITTLE. But again, it's all mine so I can handle it being little.

I have my meeting with Professor McGonigle (that's still SO cool!) tomorrow morning which means I should probably buy a hair drier to quicken the drying of my hair.

I'm here!

Alright guys! I am here in Scotland. After I left Alabama the trip was rather boring. Except in London Heathrow. You see, they sent me to the wrong terminal. So I waited and went through security again and all that good stuff and then I'm told, "you came to the wrong gate." I'm sorry, I came to the wrong gate. No, no, no, no, no. None of you people would answer my gosh darn question when I asked which terminal should I go to and then finally stuck me in a line for terminal 3. The long and the short of it is that I had to run around that airport to get to terminal 5 in time to catch my plane which I did almost miss. I didn't, but the possibility was still there. Oh! So frustrating!

Did I tell you guys that instead of living in the "dorm" rooms I was offered a place at an off campus flat. I really like it. I have my own bathroom and room, but my kitchen space is shared with 4 other people. I actually haven't met any of my flat mates because I've been running around trying to get sheets and pillows and towels and all the stuff like that. I still need a hair drier. But those things will come in time. Possibly tomorrow when I'm not suffering from lack of sleep.

Right now what I'm (FINALLY) going to do is take a shower and wash off all 15 1/2 hours of travel. I feel so gross, but what could I do without towels first? Am I right? Anyway, I'll post some pictures of my flat room later.