"I saw Passion of the Christ. Not that funny."

Natalie
Originally uploaded by JK.

I missed this year's Oscars because I was completely knackered and couldn't be bothered to stay up until all hours of the night watching it. I did read about it all today though and couldn't help but be disappointed Natalie didn't win, she was really wonderful in Closer though I do suppose it was her first really great film role. And no, nothing else does spring to mind. Good news is, she looked fabulous at the ceremony. I have a weakness for classical style gowns.

Can anyone confirm if Chris Rock was that funny? The above quote from the title that I stole from E! Online had my cracking up.

The Battle of the Soggy Feet

Today Kiril, Rob and I decided to take a drive and see a bit of the countryside.



One of my best trips was when Sea and I went to Ireland. My aunt simply drove and we would stop at interesting places along the way be it cute towns, dolmons or castle ruins. We put the same method into practice today. The above picture is from our first stop in Abernethy. Since Kiril and I are taking a class called The Ship, this seemed like a necessary shot.



When Sea and I were in Ireland we saw one of the "Irish Celtic type" of this tower in a place called Monasterboice.



Kiril and Rob attempting to do maths from the dates on one of the graves.



A Pictish stone by the side of the tower and at the gate to the kirkyard.



The clock on the outside of the tower is obviously a more recent addition as are the Romanesque windows.



Our next stop was Fowlis Wester. It is an ancient village in the middle of which stands a 13thc. church dedicated to St. Bean. Inside the church is an 8thc. Pictish cross, which you can see above.



Behind the larger cross is this smaller one which is an excellent example of Pictish stone work, it dates, apparently, to "the time of St. Bean" but when that is I am unsure. I do know that St. Bean was an Irish missionary and that the first church on this spot was consecrated in the 8thc to him.



Rob and Kiril.

After this we stopped in Crieff, after a quick call to Crawford for some advice, for some lunch. The place we chose was definitely strange. Owned by an Australian who had everything on the menu but the kitchen sink and none of it particularly good. The boys needed some added sustenance after that and we stopped in a gourmet shop for olives and rhubarb crumble.



Along the way to...well somewhere, we saw a sign for the Grouse Distillery and decided to make a detour. On the road to the distillery we came across this fantastic gatehouse, a castle in itself.



If this is the gate house can you imagine what the actual house looks like? We couldn't get a glimpse of it until we headed up along the hills above it and even then we only caught a partial view through the trees. Nestled in a valley between two hills. That is where I want to live.



The Grouse "Experience". Home of crap whisky.



We opted out of the tour seeing as it was 7quid and roamed around the gift shop instead.



Our next stop was, well, amongst these hills. Don't exactly know where we were, somewhere in Perthshire, but we did have a destination in mind. I remember it was near Fortingall.



We decided to take this small winding road up the hills instead of the main road but half way up we were met by cars coming down that told us the road was blocked by snow and impassable. We attempted to go up a bit more but stopped once the car started to slide.





We ate olives and threw the pits into the brush.



"Don't eat it. Oh no, you ate it." You had to be there. We both look like we are suffering from some sort of mental handicap in this picture though.



This is where I lost the battle with the stream. I didn't realise that the snow was covering the stream bed and I put my foot right through it...



twice.



I heart timer photography.



Rob had no trouble navigating the treacherous terrain.



The beautiful reason for my oh so soggy feet.



Next was a tea break in Dunkeld. A detour from the original 'plan' because it was starting to get a bit late. They have a wonderful cathedral which was built in 848AD by King Kenneth MacAlpine on an original site of worship dating from the 570'sAD.



The town is set on the banks of the River Tay.



Where we had a stick race. I won.

We got back to St. Andrews around 7:30pm and stopped at Tesco for some cake before heading over to Crawford's to tell him all that we had done like a bunch of giddy school children.

My Favourite Places

A list inspired by Steve. In no particular order.

• The rocks at the Montauk Lighthouse
• The back booth at The Jigger
• My grandmother's house on Christmas Eve
• On the back of a horse you trust
• My bedroom on a stormy night
• The bench facing the sea on The Scores dedicated to a man for whom the reality of St. Andrews far surpassed his dreams
• The wide flat prairies of West Texas and being able to see a storm approach from miles away
• My living room at home in front of the fire on a cold December night beside the Christmas tree
• That place between sleep and awake where you still remember dreaming
• The fountain on the mall at the University of Maryland on a hot summer day
• The farmlands along the fjords in Northern Jutland at sunset
• Riding in the backseat of my parent's car at night
• The Medieval wing of the Met during Christmas
• St. Peter's Cathedral, Rome, where I once felt so small and humbled amongst such beauty
• A Victorian era theatre in London just before the curtain goes up
• A quiet bench in any museum in front of one of my favourite paintings

Forwards From Papa

About once a week I get an email forward from my grandfather (called Papa in our family). For a while now I have been playing with the idea of posting some of the funnier ones in a series as an homage to him. So without further ado I present "Forwards from Papa":

Texas Facts
The first word spoken from the moon, July 20, 1969, was "Houston."
The King Ranch is larger than Rhode Island
Tropical Storm Claudette brought a US. rainfall record of 43" in 24 hours in and around Alvin in July 1979.
Texas is the only state to enter the U.S. by TREATY, instead of by annexation. (This allows the Texas flag to fly at the same height as the US flag.)
A Live Oak tree near Fulton is estimated to be 1500 years old.
Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state.
Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period after Dr in Dr Pepper.
Texas has had six capital cities:
1. Washington-on-the-Brazos
2. Harrisburg
3. Galveston
4. Velasco
5. West Columbia
6. Austin

The Capitol Dome in Austin is the only dome in the U.S which is taller than the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. (by 7 feet).
The name Texas comes from the Hasini Indian word "tejas" meaning friends. ; Tejas is not Spanish for Texas.
The State animal is the Armadillo. (An interesting bit of trivia about the armadillo is they always have four babies! They have one egg which splits into four and they either have four males or four females. (Well...I thought it was interesting anyway!)

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS - TEXAS STYLE
People here in Texas have trouble with all those shalls and shall nots in the 10 Commandments. Folks here just aren't used to talking in those terms. So, some folks out in west Texas got together and translated the "King James" into "King Ranch" language:
Ten Commandments, cowboy style. Cowboy's Ten Commandments posted on the wall at Cross Trails Church in Fairlie, Texas:
(1) Just one God.
(2) Honor yer Ma & Pa.
(3) No telling tales or gossipin'.
(4) Git yourself to Sunday meeting.
(5) Put nothin' before God.
(6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(7) No killin'.
(8) Watch yer mouth.
(9) Don't take what ain't yers.
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff

Now that's kinda plain an' simple, don't ya think? Y'all have a good day... Ya hear!

Note: Last week's has been posthumously posted below.
Sidenote: Not all the views expressed in these emails are those of the blogger and if you find offense in them please fuck off.

Pass the Port

Today, after another very lovely The Ship class, I met up with Crawford in St. Mary's Quad to attend Rob's lecture on Christianity and the Qur'an. Though I was very tempted to snap a picture in the middle of him speaking, I maintained some self control and kept the camera safely in the bag. The lecture was honestly really wonderful and insightful, I did have a question at the end but kept quiet. Don't know why really. Perhaps it was the site of the old professors up front that deterred me.

And tonight continues the gripping adventures of the wardens versus the students at the High Table Corral. Tune in this week to find out, who will drink more sherry in an attempt to overcompensate for shyness? Who will leave with an inexplicable urge to throw themselves from the top of the building? And most importantly, who will tell Crawford's old man in the woods giving a blowjob story? Find out all this and more during tonight's exciting episode...

Scottish Pie

I left my building today. Shocking I know, but it had to be done. I needed to ask one of my lecturers if he would write me a reference letter and if I could skip his class on bibliographical resources tomorrow. I received a yes to both questions.

Of course I pick one of the most retched days weather wise to go into town. First was vertical snow blowing directly in my face then little spikey balls of evil hail and lastly a biting wind that had me convinced my nose might fall off onto the Haugh.







The sea was in a tempest with the high winds.





While I was in my department I thought I would pop up to my supervisor and ask if he too could write me a reference letter to put on file but as is usually the case, he was unavailable.



Of course not an hour after I leave does it begin to clear up.



After my Wednesday evening Italian class I met up with Steve and we went to the hall's ceilidh in the rugby club down by the Old Course.



It was so much fun, and I even got Steve to dance with me once. Was it the Canadian Barndance Steve?

A Day in the Life of

A typical Monday...



I woke up slightly later then I should have.



I brushed my teeth.



I went out my door to see that it had snowed in the night.



I ate some porridge and pear for breakfast.



I fooled around on the internet.



I did some reading on the symbolism of ships in Medieval Scandinavia.



I was interrupted in my work by a fire alarm. I handled the situation with care.



I went to lunch and it started to hail.



I ate my minestrone soup and macaroni and cheese.



I gave out High Table invites.



I didn't take a nap.



I talked to the curator at the Museum of St. Andrews.



I watched the clouds go by.



I talked with Debbie online and waited patiently for someone to write me an email.



I read blogs that have no relevance to my life nor would I want them to.



I went to the wardens office to meet for dinner.



I waited with Nenya, Jamie and Steve in the dining hall for the kitchen staff to call us for food.



I read some more about Scandinavian ships.



I went to bed after sharing a dram with Jamie and Crawford.

It's Exists to Give You Comfort, It Exists to Keep You Warm

This weekend I spent a relaxing time in...mostly. It has been utterly freezing for the past two days, so much so that today I awoke to the pond outside my window being partially frozen over and a dusting of snow on the ground.

Yesterday though I did brave the cold and make my way into town to the Crawford Arts Center where I inquired about information on potters in St. Andrews for a paper I might be doing. They sent me to the St. Andrews Pottery Shop who gave me the number of a potter in a town close to here that could help me. On my way home I stopped in the St. Andrews museum to check out the exhibit and see it they had any pottery on display. They had a few artefacts (American translation: artifact) but mostly just disturbing wax figures of beggars and monks. I was about to make my way home when I remembered that the Zapatista meeting (Viva la Revolution!) was starting soon in The Cellar so instead I turned back and made my way there. It was a highly productive meeting where it was decided the first cause the group would take on is the raising of the room and board fees for the halls which essentially price poorer students out of an education. Kiril and Alan showed up as well and afterward Kiril and I took a walk around town. He bought me an ice cream along the way. I couldn't help but feel five all over again and being taken to Carvel by my grandfather for a cone of lemon sherbert. If you ever want to know the secret to my heart, it is in a cone of lemon sherbert.

Today I finally used some more of my gift certificate to itunes that Matt bought me for my birthday back in December. I don't know why I am being so miserly about my credit, probably because I am a miser, but there you go. I didn't buy anything hip or cool or indie (all of which I am by the way) but songs that I haven't been able to find through resources which require no payment.

First off was "Perhaps Love" by John Denver. Last night I went to Rob's for a drink and this song came up on his ipod. Hearing it felt like a warm and distant memory of something long forgotten. When I was young I used to love John Denver. There is something so simple and beautiful about his music. I remember having a sleepover with my bestfriend, Heather, when I was about 5 or 6 and laying on my bed with a little black and white tv at the foot of it watching one of his concerts. I think I could listen to "Annie's Song" forever and never be sick of it.

Next was a complete cave. I really didn't want to have to pay for this song but I bought "Play" by Jennifer Lopez. Tell me that isn't a catchy tune. It's got a great video as well.

The big plans for today include lunch in half an hour and then coffee and trip planning with Rob and Kiril. And by the way. You can just type in Livinginabstract.com for this website for now on.

Mi Chiamo Jennifer

If anyone has been looking for the sort of awesome mash up of Green Day, Travis, Oasis and Eminem, "Boulevard of Broken Songs", I got it right here.

I failed to report on the goings on of the weekend that just passed, but it was very wonderful:

Friday night Kiril had a party which I stumbled home from at 5am.



Johanna and Niall with Crawford leaning in to listen to Rob.




The leader of St. Andrew's Zapatista movement, Phillip, lecturing to Crawford.



Johanna and Niall.



We always end up in Kiril's room at his parties...



except when we are dancing, then the party goes down in Alan's room where people can dj his computer. Here is Kiril, my own private dancer.



Kiril showing off Alan's Che Guevara poster. It's blurriness is in no way a reflection of my drunkenness.



I put this twice only because in the first, darker one, we are all happy and smiling even though the second picture is clearer. (update: I just fixed the above on Picasa, my new favourite program and if you want a clearer, bigger picture, just click on the image.)



Me, Rob, Dorothy and Kiril on his bed and in front of his Macedonian flag. Needless to say, it was a good night.

Saturday I was on duty for Dawn so I had to stay in Melville. I did laundry, drank large amounts of water and watched The Matrix Revolutions with Steve. It's amazing to me how someone could take The Matrix, a fucking good film, and have the balls to create the dull and confusing sequels. And then to name them Reloaded and Revolutions nonetheless like they have suddenly been taken over by the Charlie's Angels.

Sunday afternoon Rob picked me up and we drove to Arbroath, a lovely seaside town famous for it's smoked fish and wondrous cliffs along which we took a walk. It was incredibly beautiful and incredibly windy. Afterward we stopped in Dundee to go to the Arts Center and see a film. We chose Closer which I ended up liking a lot more then I thought I would. Natalie was filthy/gorgeous in it. It is still amazing to me how she can look so large on screen and be so small in person. I mean Clive Owen and Jude Law are both over 6 feet tall and she didn't look too midge next to them. She must have been standing on a box. (thanks Rob)

Wednesday evening I had my first Italian class. It went well and I am attempting not to be embarrassed when I can't figure out what to say. Why oh why am I so terrible at languages?

And plans for this weekend have yet to be determined. Hopefully something good/exciting to report.

Up All Night

During the total of today's daylight hours I was awake for 3. Sickness is a bitch and that is why I have slapped it into submission. Now I get to be up all night.

And I swear this is not a funny video blog but I thought this was pretty hilarious: How Not to Stomp Grapes

Tomorrow evening starts my Italian for Beginners class. Hopefully this will be better then my pitiful adult education ones at my old High School that I took last year. All I remember from that class is how to say 'in my house', 'nella...casa...' Fuck maybe not. I can definitely still count to three though.

Forwards From Papa

A weekly series dedicated to my grandfather

The Wish:

A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer. Suddenly, the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, "Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish."

The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over anytime I want."

The Lord said, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking. The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific! The concrete and steel it would take! It will nearly exhaust several natural resources. I can do it, but it is hard for Me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of something that would honor and glorify Me."

The man thought about it for a long time. Finally he said, "Lord, I wish that I could understand my wife. I want to know how she feels inside, what she's thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says nothing's wrong, and how I can make a woman truly happy."

The Lord replied, "You want two lanes or four on that bridge?"

Let's Be Honest

Tell me this is not the greatest thing you've seen at least all week? And will someone please tell me how I know this song? Silvia, I am looking at you.

If Curiosity Kills the Cat Then Stagnation Kills the Soul

After stumbling out of bed (whisky is the Devil's drink and that's why I like it) and having some lunch I decided that today was too nice a day to spend sitting in my flat blog...um, never mind. Anyway, I decided to go to the beach.



Converse are perhaps not the greatest choice for beach footwear, especially my hole infested ones, but they matched my outfit so well.



There is some construction going on at the beach and of it's purpose I'm not quite sure, fixing the road that runs along side it perhaps, but they are disturbing what seems to be the remains of a pottery kiln or something. I spotted a rim sherd of a pot and hopped a not too small stream that the construction created to get a better look. This is another reason why wearing holey converse was not the greatest of ideas, water right in the shoe.



On the way home I was filled with an incredible feeling of contentment having been out in the fresh air on this beautiful day. Then I dropped my foot into a rabbit hole, fell flat on my face and twisted my ankle. sigh.

Harry and the Potters

I just had to put up the link to this band. They are a couple of brothers from Massachusetts who write songs about the Harry Potter books. They remind me of a clean version of the Moldy Peaches. Check out the song 'Wizard Chess', so far my favourite one. 'Stick it to Dolores' has a great chorus with lyrics like "Cho Chang what have you done? I don't care where you and Cedric were snogging"

A Word to the Wise

There are new posts on this site I promise! Just scroll down a bit to find all the pics from the past week when my friends came to visit me. I am in the process of putting them all up (and am nearly there!) so tune in daily to find some fresh retro posting.

Also, to anyone (anyone? anyone?!) who wanted to leave a comment before and couldn't because they weren't registered, I fixed that so go at it.