My mother fails.

Not really, but while I'm waiting for her to make her weekly call (I have class at 9am tomorrow, let's hurry this up now), I'll update you people on my life. Granted, I could call her, but it uses like a billion minutes on the phone card that I have. It's cheaper the other way round.
This weekend was both fun and not. Here we go:
Friday night: After updating this, Alice and I decided not to go to the young adults' thing, because it was at somebody's flat and had a high probability of being awkward. Instead, we went pub crawling. The first place we went had a live band playing blusey-rock stuff, with some covers appropriate to that genre (CCR "Fortunate Son", for example). The bar itself was underground and suitably cave-like. Again, appropriate to the type of music that was being played. The next place, we met up with Alice's friend Jenny. This place was a pub, with live folk musicians. Think pub (not the super dark Seven Grand-type), and this should be the type of place that comes to mind. Unfinished wood floors, dark bar and wainscoting, white walls and ceiling, etc. Awesome. Third place was Bannerman's, which is a bar that a lot of students go to, and to which I've been before. There's a back room where they have a place for bands to play, and it's usually punk. So there are also a lot of punks milling about a lot of the time. Basically, I love that place. When that closed at I have no idea, we went to Opium, which, as Glenn told me today (getting to that), bills itself as the "only rock bar in Edinburgh" or something. It's more a club, in my estimation, though the music is generally brilliant. From what I remember. I know that "Arms Race" was played, as well as "Cute Without the E," and, last song of the night, "Don't Stop Believing." And yeah, I danced. With a boy even. Granted, it was more that I was dancing next to a boy who would not leave me the fuck alone and get that I wasn't interested (he kissed me on the cheek when he left. wtf), but still. I've now been clubbing twice since I got here, which makes twice in my entire life. And yes, I was drunk. Obviously. That's a lot of scenery changes.
Saturday: Didn't leave my flat, so I was completely bored and somewhat morose all day. I hate not leaving, but I really just had nowhere to go. I could have gone to the movies or something, but I'd rather go to the movies alone on a weekday. Actually, wait. This is how my Saturday started off. When I got home at 3:30 in the morning or whatever, drunk, I attempted to go to sleep after coherently replying to an email from Kate. What actually happened was, I got into bed, tossed and turned, had the window open because it was too hot. At some point, a huge amount of noise starts up outside. Dudes talking and yelling and shit. The sound of a wheeled trash bin being moved around (think smallish, plastic dumpster). And then my room starts to smell like burning plastic and chemicals. Uh. For fear of being poisoned in my sleep, I got up to shut the window. I vaguely remember seeing a plume of smoke when I did this. Anyway, I still have no idea what the fuck happened, but my room definitely still smelled like chemicals in the morning. And then I woke up at 9:40, because other people outside were being loud, and I just couldn't sleep anymore. So I was tired and vaguely hungover for most of the day, sitting at my desk watching House and Psych reruns, with nobody to talk to. It was an odd, sorta shitty day. And I sent Glenn a Facebook message at like 8pm to figure out what his plans for today's match were, and he hadn't replied by the time that I got to bed. Mostly, yesterday was disappointing.
As Kate and I were talking about, going to a city where we know people/going to grad school with our friends in mind is going to be important to us after SC, because neither one of us ever wants to have to do this whole "making friends" thing again. It's one thing to meet new people, but it's entirely another when it's either make friends or be alone all day, every day. This way is lame. Having at least one person to hang out with at all times is integral, I've learned.
Today: Woke up and went to church. Didn't go to coffee hour (which is a very Episcopal thing wherein the congregation gathers to drink coffee and chat after the service), because the football match was at 3, and I was still hoping beyond hope that Glenn would have responded to my message by this morning. The damn service didn't end until 12:10 as it was, so I hurried home. And lo and behold, I had a Facebook message. Thank fucking God. So after eating lunch and getting quickly changed (I spent a stupid amount of time contemplating my outfit, by the way), Glenn and I met up at 1:15 and walked to the stadium. So yes, I did actually go to the football match with Glenn, thereby making my entire weekend about a million times better. But I think I want to do the match in a separate post, because right now I'm fucking tired and apparently I have to call my mother because she doesn't actually love me.
Goodnight for now. Sorry for the cliffhanger. And Houdini, if you actually still read this, I apologize for being a total girl. I've caught the dumb or something.

- C

Mom jeans.

That title has nothing to do with anything except for the fact that these pants are so mom jeans. I think I will actually give them to my mother when I get back to the states. She's going to be so pissed that none of the clothes that we bought before I left actually, technically fit me. Everything is about a size and a half too big. I have no way of telling if this is because I've actually lost weight, or just because I'm a terrible shopper. I would bet on a combination of the two, really. I suck at clothing myself.
I've done a combined total of naught hours of anything of interest so far this week. The only reasons that I've left my flat were class and a short excursion to the overpriced computer store to buy a mic so I can Skype. Today, actually, I went to the Princes Street Mall, which is, coincidentally, a mall, to get money out of the ATM. They have the only Barclay's ATM anywhere near here, which is the type that I need to use to not get charged exorbitant fees by Bank of America. It's downtown, so like 15 minutes walking from my flat. It is currently sunny and crisp outside. It was a pleasant walk, and I stopped at the McDonalds there (okay, so that was half the reason for my leaving the flat) and got a Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry. As my Facebook status says, yes. Oh my God, yes. I am going to be so sad when the Easter promotional period is over. Also, McDonalds menus are super interesting here. They have faux falafel and BBQ pork sandwiches and hamburgers on ciabatta bread. Not that I would suggest eating any of it, but still. Cultural differences rule.
Tonight, I may or may not be going to one of the church member's flat to watch Monty Python. It depends if Alice (who often writes on my wall) wants to go and can therefore give me a ride. Otherwise, I would have to walk downtown to catch a bus, at night, for which I will have no idea of the area in which I'm supposed to exit. I'm just not feeling that adventurous. If I don't go, I'll probably sit here and watch a movie on my own. Hahaha leave me alone, all you people who know people. I honestly don't feel like I'm missing out on anything by not going out and getting wasted or going to clubs every night. Free internet movies are good enough for me.
BESIDES, I will be going out on Sunday. To a football match. With Glenn. I got a Facebook message today that asked, very concisely, if I still wanted to go. To which I replied, ABSOLUTELY!!! Well, not so forcefully of course. Because that would be terrifying and completely out of character for me. But yeah, Sunday, Hibs match (Hibernian FC if you want to google the team). I will try to not get stabbed by ardent supporters of the other team (Aberdeen, I think). For those who don't know, Edinburgh is a two-team city, much like LA and basketball. Unlike LA fans, however, Hearts and Hibs fans make a habit of stabbing, maiming, and beating the shit out of each other. Trainspotting (which is set in Leith, the port of Edinburgh) makes reference to this, I believe. Yeah, football, woo! Go ahead, tell me I'm not being social enough. I will then tell you to suck it, and we can move on. I've been grinning since I saw the message, btw.
Part of the other reason that I'm not doing anything this weekend is that I think Ashley has taken a trip to the Highlands with her flatmates. So what I'm doing is saving money, or something. My mom gives me shit when she calls on weekend nights, and I'm home at 11pm or whatever. I mean really, what's the alternative? Getting felt up by some dude in a club and then getting impregnated? Yeah, thanks, Mom. Way to look out for my well-being.
I'm not sure that I really have anything of interest to drag this post out any longer. I should do a minuscule amount of reading or something, instead of being the creepy loner. But then that wouldn't be me. And there's always tomorrow.
I probably need therapy.

- C

Address to Edinburgh

Edina! Scotia's darling seat!
All hail thy palaces and tow'rs,
Where once, beneath a Monarch's feet,
Sat Legislation's sov'reign pow'rs:
From marking wildly scatt'red flow'rs,
As on the banks of Ayr I stray'd,
And singing, lone, the lingering hours,
I shelter in thy honour'd shade.

Here Wealth still swells the golden tide,
As busy Trade his labours plies;
There Architecture's noble pride
Bids elegance and splendour rise:
Here Justice, from her native skies,
High wields her balance and her rod;
There Learning, with his eagle eyes,
Seeks Science in her coy abode.

Thy sons, Edina, social, kind,
With open arms the stranger hail;
Their views enlarg'd, their liberal mind,
Above the narrow, rural vale:
Attentive still to Sorrow's wail,
Or modest Merit's silent claim;
And never may their sources fail!
And never Envy blot their name!

Thy daughters bright thy walks adorn,
Gay as the gilded summer sky,
Sweet as the dewy, milk-white thorn,
Dear as the raptur'd thrill of joy!
Fair Burnet strikes th' adoring eye,
Heaven's beauties on my fancy shine;
I see the Sire of Love on high,
And own His work indeed divine!

There, watching high the least alarms,
Thy rough, rude fortress gleams afar;
Like some bold veteran, grey in arms,
And mark'd with many a seamy scar:
The pond'rous wall and massy bar,
Grim-rising o'er the rugged rock,
Have oft withstood assailing war,
And oft repell'd th' invader's shock.

With awe-struck thought, and pitying tears,
I view that noble, stately Dome,
Where Scotia's kings of other years,
Fam'd heroes! had their royal home:
Alas, how chang'd the times to come!
Their royal name low in the dust!
Their hapless race wild-wand'ring roam!
Tho' rigid Law cries out 'twas just!

Wild beats my heart to trace your steps,
Whose ancestors, in days of yore,
Thro' hostile ranks and ruin'd gaps
Old Scotia's bloody lion bore:
Ev'n I who sing in rustic lore,
Haply my sires have left their shed,
And fac'd grim Danger's loudest roar,
Bold-following where your fathers led!

Edina! Scotia's darling seat!
All hail thy palaces and tow'rs;
Where once, beneath a Monarch's feet,
Sat Legislation's sovereign pow'rs:
From marking wildly-scatt'red flow'rs,
As on the banks of Ayr I stray'd,
And singing, lone, the ling'ring hours,
I shelter in thy honour'd shade.

- Robert Burns: 1786

As a poem is probably the best way to start anything off, and Robert Burns is the only poet fit to start off a blog of time spent in Scotland, I figured that this poem in particular was the way to go. Hopefully it leads to a more auspicious time than that which I've had so far.
I'm starting this blog in an attempt to keep everyone updated on what's happening in my life, as the internet is free and phones are not. Also, this allows me to post pictures and things that can then be shared with family and friends alike, instead of keeping one group separate from the other. So hello, welcome, I will update as much as I can, etc etc. I make no promises, but I do think I'll at least stop by to say "I'm alive" every once in awhile. And the nice thing about blogs is the ability to comment, so go for it.

- C