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The link that I posted yesterday is currently experiencing difficulties. It looks as though I will need to repost ALL of the images and change some of the coding used for my previous pictures page. I'm getting on this soon, and will let you know when it's up and running again. SORRY GUYS!
The new page, however, will be bigger and better. I will be including (with any luck, and weather permitting, that is) pictures of the beach here (which is stunning), and hopefully some images from the rest of town as well. I'm working on getting some pictures of Marischal College and other buildings around here. Until then, please enjoy this picture of the front of the Chapel at King's College. Tune in next time for some great pics!
After a week in Scotland, I'm feeling much less disoriented than when I first arrived. This does not mean, however, that I am used to anything yet. I still can't remember which way to look first when crossing the street, I'm still not used to having two faucets on the sink (one to scald your left hand and the other to freeze off the fingers on your right), nor have I adjusted to the cost of living here. But neither have I lost the feeling of awe that comes with walking through Seaton Park and past St. Machar's Cathedral to the University every day. There's an almost magical aura in the very stones here, from the cobbled roads to the granite bricks the the great Crown atop the Court at the heart of the University itself. It's so amazing to see a place where both new and old have found harmony with one another: it seems so natural to see fifteenth century buildings among those of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The transition into daily life in Scotland has been challenging, although not impossible. My flatmates are truly a blessing-- they are very tolerant of my American-ness, and seem to be constantly delighted by the many Americanisms I have brought with me. I've learned that “bangs” are called “fringe” here, and that a “sweater” is called a “jumper,” but I don't think I'll ever adjust to saying “path” instead of “sidewalk”. They're two different things!Be that as it may, I'm still learning so much here. I have five flatmates: two from Germany (and they are kind enough to attempt to teach me German), a girl from Norway (who is trying desperately to get me to pronounce SOMETHING correctly in Norwegian), a local girl from the other side of Aberdeen, and one from Newcastle from whom I am learning “proper” English....I have experienced my first haggis with neeps and tatties. (If you don't know what that is, try it before you ask). And the verdict is...? I enjoyed it. Perhaps this is merely because I am an adventurous eater, but I will most certainly be ordering it again. There was something distinctly comforting about it, somewhat like the warm feeling that comes with eating beef pot-pie. Must be the Scottish in me.After many days of hard labor, I have finally created a worthy display of pictures to show where I have been and what I have seen. I took all of these pictures while merely wandering around. The pictures presented themselves for the taking and posting, and that is what I have done. (You will be redirected to my Yahoo! GeoCities account)You can also go to "Linkworthy Stuff" on the right-hand side and click on "Mandy's Pictures" or go to: http://www.geocities.com/notoriousthey/index.htmlLet me know what you think!
As I am an only child, my parents went through a bit of an adjustment period when I left for college. But since I stayed in the same state, I was able to visit them every couple weeks... you know, go home and do laundry, beg for money, eat REAL food... But now that I'm leaving for Scotland for a year, people were beginning to wonder if my parents would be suffering from "Empty-Nest Syndrome". As you may or may not know, this insidious condition is caused when children leave the nest and travel elsewhere. Well, not to worry. I have officially been replaced.
Since the beginning of this summer, I have helped my parents raise and train two lovely young puppies. Now, what was it that possessed my parents to adopt two two-month-old puppies at the same time? Well, one of them is technically for my grandparents' (who now live downstairs in our beautiful new Oregon home).
It takes two puppies to replace me. On the one hand, there's Murphy, the angelic poster-puppy. Perfect in almost every way (and no, I won't even pretend that that applies to me as well), Murphy is a handsome Brittany Spaniel. He learns quickly, and he's eager to please. An excellent companion-in -the-making.
And then there's Bogart. "Affectionately" known as Bogey. You may note the use of quotation marks. Bogey is, to be perfectly honest, a complete and total pain. He creates trouble because it amuses him to do so. Hounds are notoriously intelligent, stubborn, and individualistic. Maybe that's why Bogey reminds me so much of myself-- I like to be a pain too. And yes, he does bay. Loudly. Frequently. He's a Treeing Walker Coonhound... that's what they do. He treed his first squirrel a few weeks ago... enough said. But as much of a challenge as he may be, Bogey is one of the sweetest and most loving dogs I have ever had the good fortune to meet.
Our new family members have made themselves at home, although our other pets are still getting used to them. My cat, Licorice, wants nothing to do with the puppies. Something that they learned rather quickly. Prika, our other dog, is a bit intimidated by both of them, but is slowly beginning to adjust. Overall, it should be a good fit for everyone. Hopefully the pups won't forget me while I'm gone!
Now, the purpose of this blog is not merely to show off my darling puppies, but also to beg forgiveness for my lack of correspondence with a number of people over the past few months. My excuse? A combination of puppies, chaos, a few minor crises, and a couple major crises has made my summer most... memorable. I'm counting hours until I leave...
Well, the unthinkable has happened. I got a blog.
Now, before you start pointing and laughing-- or commenting that a place that shall remain unnamed must have frozen over-- please remember that I need some way to post pictures and make random comments. While I am abroad next year, I will regale you with tales of my adventures (there will be many, to be sure) and amuse and delight you with my (hopefully) witty commentary. Or something like that...
