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Thursday, February 8th, 2007
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11:02 am - am I easily amused?
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I know this probably isn't the world's best joke, but it made me laugh into my tea this morning, and so is worth sharing.
Tony Blair is visiting a hospital.
"How are you today?" he asks the old man in the first bed.
"Wee sleekit cow'rin' tim'rous beastie," screams the man at him, so he moves on.
"And how are you?" he asks the second patient.
"Some hae meat but cannae eat!" yells this one.
"Hmm," says Tony to the doctor. "Is this the psychiatric unit?"
"Naw - it's the Serious Burns Unit."
And now, to work.
current mood:  cold
current music: Seth Lakeman - Send Yourself Away
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| Tuesday, January 16th, 2007
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7:16 pm - hooray for modernity
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In the interests of academic curiosity, and to further a conversation I had today...I ask you all:
What is the best invention of the twentieth century?
All answers, serious or not, are highly appreciated.
current mood:  curious
current music: The Vanity Project - Wilted Rose
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| Thursday, January 4th, 2007
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4:28 pm - war-porting?
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I am stealing wireless in Logan Airport. I thought this was impossible to do, but lo and behold, I open my laptop to find handy free access. Hurrah for that, and hurrah also to the fact that in 24 hours I shall be home...even less than that if I actually manage to make my tight connection in Paris.
The vacation hasn't been all bad, and in fact some of it was positively good. None the less, very ready to get home. My life awaits me.
More to come from Edinburgh...
current mood:  impatient
current music: people and their phones...annoying.
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| Monday, December 11th, 2006
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11:11 pm - The Apprentice: Academia Version
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So, as I was recently reminded by the lovely ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) shaykhyerbouti, there is a whole sizable portion of my life that I have been neglecting to update about. Namely, my PhD.
That! Right! I am still drawing a stipend as a funded member of the School of History & Classics, and so should still be valuable member of the academic community. And as such, there should be plenty of shop-talk to fill my little corner of cyberspace. Now, perhaps, things have calmed down enough to let me make some sense of it all. I must warn you. It is very long...( but here it is. )
Anyway, the important bit is that I'm going to shake that all off now. I teach again starting in January, but there are several important differences:
• It's the same course, the time period is more my style - 1850-2000.
• I've done it before, and know what I can get away with.
• I've actually been given course info ahead of time, so I can prep before the week before class
I am also not expecting a lightning bolt to cure me of my virus friends. But we're coming to detante. I've learned a bit more (like teaching) about exactly what I can get away with and when to be sensible about my doings. I have had the fear of god (or the fear of forced time off) put into me by enough people now to at least consider not being stupid.
This has also led me to change my PhD a bit. I had been hoping, as many of you knew, to procure a Smithsonian fellowship and construct a US case study to contrast with my Scottish one. This is off the table now. I'm not even applying. Instead I am going to take advantage of the resources to hand here and really dive into the issue of the re-branding, what that says about Scottishness, objects, and identity, as well as looking at exhibitions of other objects that have either come to or from my main site. This will allow me to use my time more efficiently, save my summer for really working hard here, and allow me to get on with things right away in January rather than waiting for yet another bureaucratic decision to be made on my behalf. I am not entirely happy with this change of plans, but not entirely displeased either. I'll make it work, and I'll make it be more than good enough. I have a few big conferences and other presentations coming up in the spring, and hope to get some publications out there as well.
More than that, I hope to get my academic mojo back. And I think I will. I made a plan of my thesis this weekend with coloured pencil. I think that's a better start than I've had in a while. Oh, and the title of this post? That comes curtesy of my supervisor this morning, who said I was an 'apprentice to academia', not a student. I feel that is so much more...well, something.
current mood: cold
current music: The Mammals - Dime-A-Dozen
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| Monday, December 4th, 2006
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1:57 pm
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I guess it's fitting that I am writing fairly late into Monday. It's perhaps proof that this past weekend has indeed been one of the best birthday weekends ever. I am now officially 25, and while some of the celebrations had their low points, as a whole I can say that I most thoroughly enjoyed myself. There was a good mix of time to treat myself, wild carousing with lots of friends, and quieter time in smaller groups. And, as my flatmate pointed out, there has been no sign of an imminent quarter-century crisis as of yet. Perhaps I did that earlier in the year, and now can just coast through the rest, working my way back to sanity.
Thanks for the lovely good wishes that have come my way...I appreciate each and every one of them. Now, back to being an old crotchety academic.
current mood:  cheerful
current music: BNL - One and Only
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| Thursday, October 5th, 2006
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11:41 pm - not a satisfied customer of life
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bad day.
can I trade it in for a good one tomorrow? I think I kept the reciept...
current mood: morose
current music: Matchbox 20 - Mad Season
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| Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006
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11:37 pm - good
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I went to the depths of the city
wearing my dancing shoes.
cowboy boots and accordians played anti-war songs
(and my request in the encore).
Money I should not have brought
was spent on a disc made out to me
by a fellow who knows my bit of 202,
though he's left it now.
As have I.
(editor's note: I dunno either. It's not a poem. It's also not what I was going to write. But these things happen.)
current mood: good
current music: ...it's a mix, I would say.
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| Sunday, October 1st, 2006
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3:55 am - why?
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It's 4 am. Sunday morning.
Autumn.
September.
2006.
Some weekend this is turning out to be.
current mood: amused
current music: BNL - Peterborough and the Kawarthas
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| Tuesday, September 19th, 2006
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10:26 am - avast!
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| Monday, September 18th, 2006
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6:49 pm - facts
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Did you know that Dorothy's ruby slippers have their own fan club? Well, now you do.
Another interesting and exciting fact for you? Finding that website is competely valid and necessary work on my PhD. There is absolutely no sarcasm in that last statement either. I really did have to run the Google results for 'Wizard of Oz ruby slippers' and various other permutations. Ah, academia...though, if any of you do want some procrasination, the lovely folks at the fan club will provide you with plenty of instructions and inspiration to create your very own shiny footwear. Symbolism comes included with your slippers for no extra work.
I am in the stage of the year (or of life?) where I am so stressed and have so much to do that I am frozen with trepidation, and end up somehow passing my whole day with mundane and necessary activities that do not actually address the bulk of what needs to be done. So, for my own sanity, as well as perhaps for your entertainment, here is some of what needs to be accomplished. ( Is it do-able? )
Only time will tell...or something like that.
current mood:  tired
current music: Howie Day - You and a Promise
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| Thursday, September 7th, 2006
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3:02 pm - hear me roar
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Bow before me, legions, for I am now a second year PhD student. I am apparently exciting, accessible, original, and expansive, and I just need to become more decisive, focussed, and confident. (ha ha ha...)
So...
Ladies and gentlemen, may I present...my thesis: Aura, Authenticity, and Icons: Museums and Objects Creating History will coming your way sometime around August 2008. Pre-publicity might include tour stops in Washington DC, Toronto, and/or Ottowa. Offer me support, shelter, strawberries, or anything else nice and perhaps recieve a thrilling mention in the footnotes. Otherwise, just wait with bated breath for the first bits of my illuminating prose, where I can deconstruct everything you thought you knew about the past and ruin the idea of museums for you forever.
Academia means getting paid (a pittance) to be evil. It's fabulous.
current mood:  relieved
current music: Catie Curtis - Find You Now
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| Wednesday, September 6th, 2006
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5:32 pm - dangerous perfection
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When I was little I didn't think anyone could possibly eat a whole chocolate bar by themselves...it just wasn't done in my family, and I thought it was because that much sugar could kill someone instantly. It always felt like it could do that to me. While I do have a soft spot for baked goods, most candy and chocolate is just too sweet for me - even now.
Give me some quality dark chocolate, though, and its a whole different story. And now I've found the one step even better. Here, for your virtual delectation is pure tart chocolate heaven. It's so not-sweet that (unfortunately) I could eat the whole thing.
Hopefully I won't submit to its siren song. Maybe I am tough enough.
I resisted it for days before opening but now...chocolate and cherries are so much more appealing that the vast majority of what else is in my head right now.
current mood:  satisfied
current music: Jack Johnson - Times Like These
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| Tuesday, September 5th, 2006
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10:31 pm - sigh
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Well, I did come back. I am sort of regretting the choice, but not entirely.
We went to Bridge of Orchy, slept in a train station/hostel, hiked some of the West Highland Way, played Scrabble, walked through Rannoch Moor, observed tourists in Glencoe, and generally enjoyed ourselves. It was fabulous, minus the midges.
Then, today, just for last-minute kicks, I went to a conference in Dundee. I was invited along Monday afternoon, and by 7:00 am today I was on a train for another new city and a day of sitting (luckily out of the nasty rain) listening to papers on Everyday Life and Culture in Scotland. I got in about an hour and a half ago, and I am ready to crash. Really good time, though, even if it was totally out of the blue.
So...yeah. Maybe tomorrow I can get back into the swing of daily Edinburgh life. Or maybe not. Who knows what will come up next...
current mood: drained
current music: Kate Campbell - In My Mother's House
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| Friday, September 1st, 2006
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9:40 pm - maybe...
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I am off on a wee little adventure tomorrow.
I have no idea where I am going...or, rather, where I am being taken.
My friend and I made plans to go somewhere in the Highlands and go walking for the weekend...carefully consulted maps and the like...and then the bunkhouse was booked. At this juncture, said friend got a tad excited and perhaps fed up with my indecisiveness as regards a second choice. So she decided to make all the plans and not tell me any of them.
Hence, tomorrow at the crack of dawn she will show up in a car, and we will drive somewhere, where we will (I'm assuming...) explore, hike, stay overnight, likely get drenched, and who knows what else. There is a whole lot of country within driving distance of here. I've just been instructed to bring a bit of everything clothing-wise and some good walking shoes. I'm also packing my camera. Oh, and we have enough food to feed several horses. I do love shopping for picnics.
So...I do not know where I shall be tomorrow night. I must confess...I do not much care. It is past time to get out of the city for a bit, and I'm happy just to go along for the ride, as usually I'm the one organising. The only thing I have to plan is whether or not to bother returning. That might take some mulling over.
current mood: pleased
current music: B21 - Darshan
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| Saturday, August 26th, 2006
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12:37 am - I am an odd duck. It's been confirmed.
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At the beginning of the night I was seething. Just one of those pervasive, low-level seethes for no particular reason and a lot of little ones. My knee hurt. My throat hurt. My work was boring and uninspiring. No one was around. Etc. etc. etc.
And somehow, as I was waiting for it to be an acceptable time to go to bed, I put some music on, and soon I was dancing in my chair. And then the chair was removed and I was dancing all around the room. An hour later, hair disheveled, barefoot, overheated, I was still dancing. Luckily the chosen theme music came to an end, or I might still be going. Oh, and my flatmate came home. That helped end it too.
I really have no idea what got into me tonight. And now everything hurts just that little bit more insistently. But I care not. It's been Friday night, and it's been a good one.
current mood: pleased
current music: Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars
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| Thursday, August 24th, 2006
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11:27 pm - in passing
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• I've mailed out so many letters recently that the guy at the post office gets the 50p stamps out when he sees me in the queue, and doesn't even bother to weigh the things any more. And I still owe some. They're coming.
• I think I'm done with the Festival. I saw 4 Fringe things, 1 Book Festival event (and several other days of lounging about in Charlotte Square being literary), 2 International Festival Concerts, 2 films (one with directors/producers Q&A after), 3 special festival exhibitions, and various other random Festival-y type things. I think that's as much culture and crowds as I can take for one month. Kick out the tourists and bring on September.
• It is a strange and special kind of cognative dissonance to be met on the street by someone that you thought was safe on the other side of the world forever. Especially if you're like me and continuously think you see people in Edinburgh that you know are not in Edinburgh. Then, suddenly, one of them is. It really messes with one's mind...but I wish it would happen more often!
• It's amazing how fast one's diary fills up with two jobs, a PhD, and some semblance of a life. Also amazing? How all the weeks you thought you had to meander through a project just disappear from view. I guess I should finish this stuff up now...tomorrow. Maybe.
current mood: sleepy
current music: Van Morrison - Domino
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| Monday, August 21st, 2006
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11:04 pm - 007 and I...
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James Bond and I have the same taste in films. I knew we were fated to be together...
But seriously. I walked into my film festival screening of Little Miss Sunshine today slightly disgruntled at the fact that the film opens in a month in normal release, as I had thought I was seeing it way before the masses, and now I wasn't, not really. But soon I realised what I had paid that higher festival ticket price for...some faded intrigue.
Some men in suits came and removed the 'reserved' signs from the seats across the aisle from me...and in walked Sir Sean Connery himself, complete with anonymous female companion. I could have reached across and patted his bald spot (not that I would treat a man in so foolhardy a way when he has (had?) a license to kill...)
So, the film was absolutely fantabulous, there was an unexpected Q&A with the directors and producers afterwards, and Sir Sean was just across the way. Even though I was too nervous to ask my question of the directors, I'm not getting a huge jump on the general public - even in Europe - and this particular 007 has perhaps seen better days...it was still worth it.
All joking and brushes with fame aside, I do love the atmosphere of the Film Festival. People aren't afraid to roll in the aisles laughing, or applaud good bits...or, I assume, vent their displeasure either. And I'm really glad of my vow to Festival largely solo this year. I like being lone in the crowd, not having to force sociability when I'm processing, not having to compromise. Although yesterday's trip to the Book Festival was lovely as well, sweetened with the company of a dear friend.
And so goes day 4 of the marathon 5 consecutive days of culture. I think I'll need a normal sit-at-home-bored night after all this excitement. That will let me catch up on the letters I have not yet written, and get them on their way to all my dear ones.
current mood:  surprised
current music: Devotchka - We're Leaving
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| Sunday, August 20th, 2006
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1:59 am - night
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It's 2 am and my clothes smell like lovely crackle-y woodsmoke and I met people on the street that I hadn't seen in eons and I was so sociable tonight and people liked my pumpkin cookies and I could get used this having friends thing and living in the city for ever and ever and I don't feel like going to sleep at all.
current mood: crazy
current music: The Clumsy Lovers - Scarce
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| Thursday, August 3rd, 2006
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11:10 pm - ideals
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'What I want:
a garden with pumpkins and bare earth
hardwood floors for sock ballets
a handful of raspberries
birdsong
and sometimes
stolen kisses from a mysterious lover man.'
This quote, which may not be exactly exact, but is certainly right, is one of the reasons I loved the play I saw tonight. It was channeling me, but a stronger, more passionate, and definitely more brave me. It was the me I thought I could be when I was growing up...changing the world by facing it down on its own territory. The I that I am now is a weak imitation, but still wants pumpkins and raspberries, hardwood and a mysterious lover. Sometimes, and sometime.
current mood:  introspective
current music: James Taylor - September Grass
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| Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006
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10:29 am - brushes with stardom
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Not only did I discover this morning that Miles, an MHC friend, made his debut on Queer Eye for the Straight Guy last night (thanks for the heads up perseph12. I must catch that on itunes when it comes out...) but I am about to have another encounter with star status.
In my 'I don't want to revise my article' wandering about town this morning I came into possession of a ticket to see the first Edinburgh performance of the play My Name is Rachel Corrie, produced by and starring Alan Rickman.
Me. And Alan Rickman. And amazing theatre. In a very small venue. Across the street from my house. Tomorrow night.
Ah summer...60 degrees and drizzling in Edinburgh, but still...it's an intoxicating, if often also irritating, place to be for the month of August.
current mood: chipper
current music: Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Zoot Suit Riot
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