Very quickly

I am crashing fast, and I said I was going to go to bed at 10 pm, it’s now almost 1:30.

I met someone today who was talking and randomly mentioned, “So my brother gave me this boxed set DVD of Brisco County,” and I went “BRUCE CAMPBELL!!!! COMET!! BOULDER!!!”  We had this amazing moment of about 10 minutes of screaming how excited we were about Bruce Campbell.  It was HILARIOUS.  And people have no idea who he is.  I highly recommend everyone look up Bruce Campbell.  If you’ve seen all 3 Spiderman movies, you’ve seen Bruce Campbell.  In the first one he was the guy at the theatre that wouldn’t let Peter Parker in to see MJ, and in the second he was a boss, and in the third one he was the French maitre’d (no I can’t spell).

The other crazy thing is I forgot that Anna’s friend Dan calls me Oriole Bird (Baltimore. . .  bird. . . yeah. . go figure).  The next part to this is that Dan’s friend Matt lives frickin’ one block away from me!!! He’s moving on Sunday so I totally won’t ever see him again, but GO FIGURE!!!

And holy crap, I still have to pack.  I am soooo not ready for San Francisco.  I am so spaced out and stressing and  . .  well… I am getting up early tomorrow so I can get all this stuff done.

Danger: Mammology book found

Today my mom’s friend Peggy came over to give my mom acupuncture.  They were chatting about how Spidge has a wonky tail.  It seems that at some point near the base her tail might have been broken.  So she moves her tail a little funny.  They wanted to see an image of a cat skeleton and we don’t have any books on cat anatomy, but I have my Mammology book from Biology of Mammals.  So I brought it down and there we go, cat skeleton.

Somehow we got onto the topic of bacula.   Fun times with penis bones!  Well it’s what they are.  Most mammals have them, just not humans.  Apparently Great Apes have very small penis bones in relation to their size, but a 65 g Bush Baby can have a 13 mm baculum.  Fun facts huh?

So we’ve been chatting about penis bones and how scary they look.   The ones for Sciuridae  i.e. Squirrels and Marmots have have scary ones with these “scoop” endings with teeth around the edges.  I believe it’s for pulling out sperm plugs.

That’s my fun fact for the day.  I’m relearning my species/genus names.  This is going to be a very fun plane trip to England.   Poor Grant, he’ll have to deal with me going on and on about animals and their species names.

And as a trick, most of my names on WoW are just a species name.  Look it up, I kid you not.  The only ones that aren’t are my two hordies I just made.  And speaking of WoW, I am freezing my account on September 6th.  I am not sure how this will go over, but I think I shall miss a lot of the social aspect of the game and guild I have become friends with.

News from The Economist

I love the Economist for the pure reason that they give a different view from most other sources I try and read.  I have a horrible time reading the Baltimore Sun.  I just come away angry or feeling like I can’t get the whole story because the infamous “they” are limiting the information and skewing it.  I can’t stand it, so I try to stay away from it.

Anyways, I’m flipping through the recent Economist (the one that has all the articles about the KGB in it) and lo and behold there is an article about american kids of today getting fatter.  They even said that “a group sponsered by the National Institute on Ageing has warned that this may be the first generation ever to have a shorter lifespan than their parents.”  Apparently the percentage of overweight children in the US is now up to +17%.

The article goes on to discuss how in 2004 Congress passed an act that told school districts who receive money from the school-lunch program to make wellness policies pertaining to the food offered, and physical activity requirements.  Apparently more percentages go on to say that in 1991 42% of the children were partaking in daily exercise and by 2001 it dropped to 28%.

I’m going to say that this boggles my mind.  In 1991, yes, I was attending a private school and we had required gym time and activity and things like that.  Kindergarten through 2nd Grade I remember having to go to gym class at the glorious Northwood Elementary School.  We had to play kickball, run relays, circle games, etc.  We had school lunches at Northwood that were. . .  some food glop (Mexican Pizza sticks in my mind the most), something else, milk and a fudgesicle pop you had to eat first or else it melted.   We were active kids, we had to get out and do things, go to gym, etc.  By the time high school rolled around people were finding ways to get out of gym class (the infamous “time-of-the-month” figured in FAR too often, as did just sitting in the nurses office for a class or two) but usually we still had to participate to a certain point no matter what.  We also had 4 floors in that high school and you had to walk them if you wanted to get to class in the 4 minutes between bells.  Nice cardio.

I have since lost where I think I am going with this.  My mind has gotten too garbled in what I’m trying to get across that I have since lost my train of thought.

These statistics scare me.

I don’t like to think that the US is not so much known as “The Melting Pot” but as a land of fat people that are ignorant to exercise and eating properly.  Going over to the UK and Europe has shown me that people have these ideas of Americans that is just staggering.  They see Hollywood stars, our President and then these statistics on a population that is more overweight than not.  It’s hard to face the views and opinions other countries have of your own, no matter what they are.

To write. . .

There is something running about in my head, and I can’t figure out what it is.  I just can’t make the little idea come forward.  It’s being shy.

All I know is that I’m getting psyched for England.  I can’t wait to get over there.  The days are ticking by.  And it’s scary to think that in . . . 3 weeks I’ll be there.  Actually I’ll be on a plane right now flying over Canada.  Hopefully I’ll even be able to fall asleep. Unlikely, but there it is.  I never sleep well on planes.

My cousin Eric’s wedding is on Sunday, Grant and I leave Friday morning.  We have to get up at 6 am-ish and I’m not much for the mornings.  At least not that early.  So this is going to be a struggle.  I am forcing myself up early early early early tomorrow so I can go to bed earlier tomorrow night.  What a fun time.

I have to start setting my body for England time as well, which means going to be way early and getting up a bit earlier than I’d like to. This way I’ll at least be mildly ready to face the 5 hours time shift.  It’s still going to take some doing, but I think I can make it work.  The first few days will just involve me being sleep deprived and wonky.

Enough about what “will” happen.

I have started to figure out my money transfer stuff, I have my visa, and the British Consulate sent me back all my original paperwork.   This is very handy because it turns out the UK Bank I get a student account with wants to see the original acceptance letter.  FUN!!  I’m not sure even sure what bank I will go with.  I don’t think Barclay’s is what I want, probably Lloyds  or Royal Bank of Scotland.  I really have no bloody clue.  Fun eh?

Okay, now to say the fun bit.

I have seen Stardust for a 2nd time and the new Mr. Bean movie.  I must say nothing beats Robert DeNiro as Captain Shakespeare.  I mean honestly now.  And Mr. Bean; who doesn’t like Rowan Atkinson?? He’s not a pretty face to look at, but he makes some great faces!!!!

Here is the best Mr. Bean I have ever seen! I have laughed about this since I first saw it.  If you know Dr. Who you’ll know why at about 4:00 I just start falling over laughing.  *snort*

Interesting thought

I was looking at the stats for this blog (you can see the number of people who have looked at it on a given day) and wondering who actually reads this.  Not as a “You-the-reader-should-tell-me-who-you-are,” but as a general wondering.  I read random people’s blogs because they are interesting to read.  I read Neil Gaiman’s blog because it’s a fun thing to read.  I’m reading stories about bee keeping and what it’s like to be an author and have all these trips and things.  It’s a window into a life I don’t know about.

There is even a blog by a friend of his who works at the Raptor Center in Minneapolis.  I read her stuff because it’s 1. got fun videos 2.  it gives me a view into something I would really like to do.  I want to work with birds.  I mostly want to work with any animals, but I believe animal rehabilitation facilities are truly wonderful things.  I understand this breaks up the natural cycle of the world, but we’re human, we seem to have naturally ruined all kinds of cycles and tried to instill our own cycles of the way we think things should be.   I’m sorry to say this, but uh, we are so not above the Golden Hawk for a fair battle.   That bird would win. They are stunning birds and I would probably know diddly about them if we didn’t have these preservation trusts and facilities.

I think it would truly be something worthwhile to work at doing and making more available to the community.  Or at least have the community know about it.  The hardest part is that most of these aren’t in the middle of the city or easy to get to.

I’m digressing from my original point.

I just want to say that whoever reads this, whether I know you or not, it’s fun to see the traffic numbers for here go up and down.  And whether I know you or not, feel free to write comments or your own opinion of whatever in the comment section.

And if I don’t want people reading this, I’ll just send a link to my LJ and those of you I have on that list can read my stuff there.

Layers

I’m waiting for Grant to get all cleaned up from his early-afternoon jog.  The basement (where his room is) is FREEZING. I am sitting here in bed, fully clothed (I got clean earlier) with jeans and a sweatshirt on.  I also have the down comforter pulled up to my waist so I don’t freezeify.

I like A/C, don’t get me wrong.  Sometimes you just want some real fresh air.  It’s nice to be able to sleep with just a sheet sometimes.  And as much as I love the shower here, coming into an A/C room after a nice hot shower is a bit of a jolt. I’m surprised I don’t have a cold yet.

Accommodation is all figured out. Even Grant has his settled.  I’m excited to think we’re leaving in less than a month.  I can’t believe it.  It seems so unreal.  Until I have that visa I’m not going to be able to think I really am going.  Things are just too crazy.

My cousin is getting married in. .2 weekends and that’s pretty thrilling. I’m not looking forward to the long plane ride over there, but I think it will be a lot of fun.  Any vacation away from Baltimore is a welcome one.  It will be very nice to see the cousins and feel short again. The only people shorter than me are Tara (she’s 11) and my mom.  Everyone else is taller. No, wait, Aunt Caroline too.  I don’t know how tall Alex is (my 17 year old cousin), but there is a VERY good chance she is now taller than me.  We shall see. I’m hoping we’re about the same height.

I’ve been feeling very odd recently.  Muscle cramps and general feelings of ick.  I’m not sure what to do about it all.  I just want to lie around and be a lazy blob.  Grant and I have been going to bed rather late and getting up close to 11:30/12.  Bad form.  I need to start getting up a lot earlier.  If I get my system to start thinking 9 a.m. is a good time to get up, then all the better.

I miss my Winston. Being away from my puppy is getting harder and harder.  He’s getting thinner, and sleeping a lot more.  He’s still a happy dog.  At least I hope so.  At 9 1/2 years old he’s doing pretty well.  Cancer is a nasty little thing and I’m really hoping he makes it a bit longer.  I would love to make all his pain go away, and for everything to be okay.  I’m not ready for him to leave.  I’m not ready to leave him.   It’s all very hard.

Spidge is still the same old cat.  She’s calmed down a lot, but she still hates too much attention, and she really likes to swipe at ankles.  She has a new obsession though: vibrating things.  My mom has a small back vibrator thing and Spidge has taken to staring at it like it’s the neatest thing on earth.  I didn’t believe it until I saw it.  Pretty funny stuff.

And now Grant is all cleanified and we need to figure out what to do for today.  I still feel rather indoorsy and lazy, but getting out would be a nice change.  Nothing quite like curling up and watching a movie, but it’s nice weather and less humid so I think even a small hike will be a nice change.

Picture Change

I’ve changed my picture from the Dover Houses to one I took in Newcastle.

I took this while looking down at the road from somewhere near the Robinson Library.  My dad has a huge thing for Autobahn signs, so I took it for him.  Admittedly the official Autobahn is in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, but it’s still the same sign.

I can’t wait to leave.  I am hoping that my visa application goes through this time and then I shall be VERY happy.

Stupid. . visa. . grrrrr

So the British Consulate has rejected my application for a UK Visa.  I’m stupid and didn’t have all the right papers with my form.  Stupid me right?  Well that is all my fault.

Today, I am going to photocopy a bazillion papers including bank statements, my acceptance to the University, my Undergrad Transcript from BU (they better take student copies of the damn thing)  and a few other various things.  They apparently also want my old passport.  Ew.  Good thing I kept it nice and safe.

So let the fun being and hopefully the British Consulate will finally give me my visa and I can get that stuff underway.

On the UPSIDE of things I have my accommodation for the school year.  *giddy bounce* I am so thrilled to finally have my housing done with.  I am all set to move in on the 18th.  I have opted to get their overly priced bedding package and hopefully things will all work out nicely.  I hope they give me a comfy pillow.  I’ll be forced to find a cheap pillow of uber-comfyness if not.

So now that I have my accommodation everyone is welcome to visit me, just not all at once.  There is an amazing guest house to stay at that is VERY close to the University and everything else that I love to pieces.  They man that owns it is from the farmlands of Aberdeen, Scotland and he is wonderful.  He’s super friendly, has great stories and really does a lot to make sure you’re comfortable.  I think my dad really got attached to him.  Not quite like the little boy at the guest house in Norwich was to me, that kid was leaning on me.  Hehehe Awwww I’m so happy to know I have a place at the University.

I will post the address of “how to send me mail” later.  I’m not sure what my mailing address will be since I doubt they bring you mail to your room.  It’s not that fancy.

Anyways, the day is beckoning and our morning thunderstorm is turning into a sunny humid day with a few more mosquitoes than I’d care to think about.

Too much

Yesterday I had enough stuff to do that my brain imploded.  Honestly it just went “Kerflopple.”

I had to call up my insurance about my car.  It’s not fixed.  I picked it up the day before but the fender piece isn’t even a VW piece.  It doesn’t fit.  I want my car to look NORMAL again, not half-assed.  Do it right the first time you jerks.  They also hadn’t reattached my antenna.  That wasn’t such a big deal, but they shouldn’t just leave it off. And my driver’s door window no longer fits in the door.  It’s off by a bit.  DO NOT LEAVE ME WITH A BUSTED CAR!!  My car worked fine until they came along to “fix” the fender/bumper.

So I talked to my insurance, they set up another rental car for me, and then I went by Heritage to drop off my car.  I was amazingly nice about it, and I noticed each and every little thing, pointed out that it was on list of things they were going to work on and now it’s all wonky.  Mo, my new favorite person at Heritage, was very nice about everything and was quite amazed at how the window is just a mess.

So my car is now back at Heritage and I have a Kia-big-blue-thing.  It’s mini van-esque with a touch of trying to be a lot smaller.  It’s actually a lot of fun to drive.  Far better than that hideous Ford Fusion.   I can’t stand that crappy car.  I could go on and on, but that’s just a bit much.

I also had to run up to REI to pick up my shoes that I ordered from them. I love clearance items.  They’re about 60% off and I’m more than happy to pay only $25ish for a pair of shoes.  They’re really quite nice too.  I hope I enjoy wearing them.  If they start to not feel so great, I just get new inserts.  Easy to fix.

The worst part about England is that I have to pick which shoes I am taking.  I don’t have all that many shoes compared to say. . .  my mom.  I do have a few though and I did get rid of about 6 pairs of shoes in the room cleaning business.  Speaking of which, I am still cleaning up my room, and that’s just going to take a billion years, but at least I can admit I am working on it and I need to do it.

I also can’t get to my closet right now.  It holds things like dresses, sweaters and long sleeved things I don’t want to wear right now anyways.

I am getting ready to head off to . . . food.  This means the kitchen.  I just remembered I also went to Wegmans yesterday because that really is the best store ever.

I am also going to back up my computer some more.  I have way too much crap on here and I need to get rid of it.  I believe one could call the crap: Too much music and pictures.  So I am going to see about getting rid of some of it.  I got a decent sized HD, and well, I need to keep it nicely cleaned up and oraganized.

Alright, time for the work to begin and the fun to end. . . for now.

Movies

So this weekend I’ve seen two movies, Stardust and Rush Hour 3.  That doesn’t count watching some other movies on TV.

Friday night Grant and I drove all the way up to Hunt Valley (from VA mind you) to see Stardust with Sharyn and friends.  It was a great movie, and hilarious to hear how the large group of TEN or so of us reacted at different times.  At one point Hillary looked over at me and I had my hands over my mouth and my eyes were about as big as saucers. I wasn’t scared, I was merely letting it all sink in . . .Robert De Niro, need I say more.

The movie was not quite like I thought it would be, but I really like what they did with it. I must say it really was well done.   I enjoyed thoroughly.

It was wonderful.  We all went back to Rachel’s house where I met Keesa, the cutest husky EVER!! She sheds like crazy too.

Yesterday we (Grant and I) saw Rush Hour 3.  *smirk*  I was waiting for that song to come on. . . had to wait until the very end.  It’s hilarious to watch Jackie Chan do his little dance moves.  He cracks me up.  It wasn’t as good as say. . the first one.  It ended rather abruptly I thought.  I did enjoy George, the taxi driver.  He was really great.  Oh the Eiffel Tower. . .  all the movies that get shot using you.

F.Y.I. — I can’t wait to leave!!!!