5/30/9 :: Spring/Summer Collection

Tonight was the second "graphic fashion" party-- celebrating bad fashion one more time.  This time, it was themed the spring and summer collection.  I re-ignited my good old gold suit by cutting off the arms and legs and adding some black tights.  I even commemorated the last party by drinking my vodka coke out of a jack daniel's bottle.

The party was fan-fucking-tastic, as per usual.  Lindsey and I lasted till about 6:30am before she left the party with Luke, and I lazed in Tom's bed.  Finally, Jamie and I caught a taxi to meet Linds and Luke in the meadows.  We had a good drunken frisbee session till 8am.  Lindsey and I stayed up to go to Subway when it opened at 10am, and it was probbbbably the best sandwich of my life.  Needless to say, when my head finally hit the pillow sometime around 11, I was done for.

5/24/9 :: Meadows Days

Since yesterday was in fact the worst day of my life, it was only fair that karma even things out.  I stayed in bed late, showered, and made my way to the meadows to meet friends for a barbecue.  It wasn't the best weather, but it didn't really matter-- we made a nice day of it anyway.  Food and drinks and cigarettes and cameras and good people.  

It was mostly the 2nd years, but Joe and Shannon were there from my class.  Just a good day of recovery and good chat.  Afterward, we were all supposed to meet at a pub, but I stayed home and edited photos instead.  Carian taught me his technique for making photographs look old-- practiced on my favorite photos from the day.  I think it's fitting for the kind of mood the day resonated.  I'll always remember this day.

5/16/9 :: Yankee Fuck

Tonight was a great night out.  It began by Chinese take-out and Eurovision at Joe and Shonagh's flat.  I must say that Eurovision was really quite an experience-- I had no idea such balls-to-the-wall cheese still happened in this world.  

After the winner was announced, we played a few drinking games and went out to a few bars off of George Street.  The entire night was full of good people and good laughs.  

Also, on another high note, I got a text from Jack out of nowhere (though I admit I've thought his name was Zach this whole time, haha).  We are supposed to be meeting up this week, and I'm really kind of giddy about it.  

Yusssssss.

5/11/9 :: Khushi's

Tonight was the end-of-assessment celebration.  I wasn't really feeling healthy enough for it, but I figured it could possibly be one of the last times my whole class is together.  I didn't want to miss it.  We all met at Khushi's, an Indian restaurant right across the street from where I got my tattoo done.  The place is BYOB, so I think we must've had about 22 bottles of wine on the table.  I drank Tennents because I'm a real class act.

The meal was amazing-- chicken jalfrezi to die for!  Afterward, we all walked over to the student housing to meet up with all the second years (sophomores).  Everyone was sitting around in the common room, drinking and enjoying themselves.  I could feel my body getting heavy and my face stuffing up.  I tried to stick it out though and kept sipping on beer.  By the time the group had made the decision to go to Bar Salsa and then The Hive, I was barely functioning.  I walked through the grassmarket to the first pub, but only lasted there for about five minutes before I made the hike home.

Sorry I missed out on what I've heard was an amazingly crazy night out, but the meal was lovely.  So glad I went.

ps. photo courtesy of shannon

3/15/9 :: Chef BoyAREdee

After eating an entire pizza to myself yesterday and finding the pizza box on the floor next to my bed this morning... I decided enough was enough.  I made an account on allrecipes.com, and I started myself a recipe box.  Planned out a few lunches and dinners, went to the grocery store for the ingredients, and cooked up my first real meal.  

Mexican chicken was a smashing success, and it's fun to cook!  I'm a total clutz in the kitchen-- I can never get the timing right, so I'm surprised I pulled this off.  Felt so good to have a real meal in my stomach, but I still miss my dad's cooking.  

2/15/9 :: Moshi Moshi

Come on, Edinburgh, is this the best you've got?  I tried to go for sushi again.  There was no eel on the menu, if that gives you any indication of what I'm dealing with over here.  Us Detroit girls take our maki seriously, and this just isn't going to cut it.

The quality of their salmon itself is actually not bad-- but something is just off about the way they make rolls in this town.

Haley, I'm going to go find that place you recommended soon.  I'm going to have to.

I'm dying over here.

  

Can't stop listening to The Smiths.

2/9/9 :: Cloudy

Look at my face.

Today is Monday, and I tried to make a decent day for myself.  

I went to a sushi bar today for lunch-- one that I spotted across the street when we went to the cinema the other night.  It was 12 quid (18 dollars!) for some of the most mediocre sushi I've ever tasted.  I was CRUSHED.  I'm going to start having wet dreams about Oslo's caterpillar rolls.  If I don't find a decent sushi place around + someone to go with, I might snap.

It's about time for me to leave the studio and make myself some sort of dinner.  There's been a lull in the excitement around here.  I think I'm going to finally finish One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

2/7/9 :: Birthday Holes

The tragus is my newest edition to my face of metal.  I got it done this afternoon, and Shannon came along.  Afterward, I walked up to the Royal Mile to get some incense.  Nag Champa just might be the most delicious, sexiest smell ever.  Is it just me?  Yeah?  Alright. 

Joe and I made ourselves the most ridiculously large and delicious Mexican feast tonight, and then ate it on his floor in front of the tv.  We ate so much that just the sight of our dirty plates was making us sick.  Success.

  We went to Shannon's and watched the Diving Bell and The Butterfly afterward.  Good film, but I'd be down for something new and affecting.  Joe walked me home through the Meadows.  When I got back to my room, I piddled on the internet until I couldn't stand it anymore.  I'm sick of looking at a screen.  I want to look into a face for a change.

Today is my brother's birthday.  Even though you're not reading, have a good one, dude.

1/25/9 :: Burn's Day

I slept in today, and then had the most lovely day.  I planned some activities for myself, starting with going to The Royal Museum of Scotland.  I took pictures from the terrace on top of the building, including the one above.  The views from up there are aaaamazing, but unfortunately, they keep you gated so far from the edge that it's hard to get a picture without a load of concrete at the bottom.  Also, it helps if you take notice that you've set your camera on manual focus.  Most of my pictures were blurry-- I'm such a turd.

Today was Burn's day, a holiday in celebration of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns.  It's tradition to read his poetry and eat the national dish, haggis.  I didn't have any haggis today though-- for shame.  The museum was packed because of it, so I didn't stay long.  I bought some postcards for everyone back home, and took myself grocery shopping.  I made myself a proper lunch and just relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.

In the evening, I joined Joe, Shonagh, Sarah, Kirtsen, and Anna at a gorrrrgeous italian restaurant on George Street called Gusto.  I ordered the most delicious pasta with salmon and lots of cocktails!  Afterward, we went to my favorite pub, The Tron.  I don't think I've ever laughed so much.  I love it here.  I don't think I'm ever going to want to leave.

1/13/9 :: It Ain't Me Babe

Today was a nice day.  It was our first pin-up for the corporate identity project.  In the morning we had a  short lecture, and once it was over, I rushed right home to keep working.  I had stayed up the night before with a good playlist, some cigarettes, and construction paper-- making monsters.  I presented my monsters today, and I think they went over pretty well.

After school, I went and picked myself up the most delicious jalapeno pizza and my new favorite alcohol, Magners.  I pigged out and watched Rushmore on my bed.  It was so relaxing.

If nothing else, I really think this experience is going to remind me how to appreciate simple pleasures-- a good meal, a nice walk, or an excellent puddle reflection.  Since I've been here, I've found myself the happiest when alone and experiencing some sort of quiet pleasantness.  

Also, on the way across the ocean, I watched Walk The Line.  I've been a huge Johnny Cash fan since I was little, and although it's not the same-- I love that movie to death anyway.  I've been walking all over Edinburgh humming this tune.

Till tomorrow,

Cheers.

Ps.  I planted my petunia.  : )

1/9/9 :: Chippy Sauce

You are looking at probably the most delicious thing I have eaten since my arrival-- fish and chips with chippy sauce!  Chippy sauce is this delightful brown salty sauce that makes everything taste better it seems.

Anyway, today was the critique of all of my classmates' exhibition work.  The critique itself was so timid compared to what we're used to.  They make helpful, polite suggestions, but there doesn't seem to be any harsh criticism about anything.  I was very surprised.  I had some suggestions and ideas for a few of the projects, but I decided it was probably best to keep my mouth shut-- they were personal projects, and I don't know anyone well enough to go telling them what I think of their work.  The work was interesting, but I was having a hard time understanding the concept.  There seemed to be this original idea, but then what form they applied the concept to, in many cases, seemed a bit unrelated?  I can just hear Michael or Sue in my head saying, "but why?"

Yesterday, for many reasons, was sort of a sad day for me.  I was feeling a bit hung over in the morning, and I was missing my friends very much.  Especially after being at one of their critiques, I found myself missing the comforts of CCS.  I've only been here a week, and I think I might die without Josh.  For most of the day, I wanted to rush home and call him, but I know that I can't with my awful phone.  Tomorrow is the party, and I am actually very nervous.  I hope I don't become a wallflower around all of these new people.

In the evening, I went out with Chris, which was nice.  We talked about music, and I got to feel a little bit more like myself.  After a few pubs, we got the infamous fish and chips and chatted on a bench for a while.  He's so very nice, but I feel terrible that he ends up being my tour guide.  I wish I could adjust and just be like a regular friend.  Being new here is novel, but it's not exactly the best feeling.  It makes me feel more out of place than I'd like to be.

1/1/09 :: The Last Supper

For the past few weeks, I've been on edge about the trip.  It's hard work being so excited and anxious about something for so long-- results in lots of sleepless nights.  Not to mention, for the past week, we've had 8 people staying at our house (my dad's two sisters and their families), so there hasn't been much quiet time to collect myself.  

We've been having these enooormous meals every night since their arrival, and tonight was the finale with the classic turkey dinner while watching The Rose Bowl (I fell asleep).  This was my last real home-cooked meal before my big trip. Tomorrow I will be rushing around and packing, so I've just been sitting back and enjoying the relaxing evening as much as I can.  I'm going to go for a walk after dessert.  Nothing says Pennsylvania like dad's cooking and one final jaunt through the small green hills.

1.5 days till blast off.