"I'm sorry, I wasn't listening. I have general malaise."

Just a quick post before I start classes today. The tiredness due to steroids has fully set in this week. In addition to going to bed supremely early last night, I slept on the train this morning (the late train t 10:19 a.m.)! I have no idea how I am going to handle the next three days of the 7:30 a.m. train. Blah.

Otherwise, Lissa proclaims that I should stick with the term "general malaise" to describe my side effects because it sounds so old-fashioned and high class (and, as we are all aware, I am destined to be a Lady at some point in my life). So thank you FDA for your general description of the side effects of Endocort ... and the general malaise.

The Many Different Ways To Get To Scotland

Greetings from Scotland! I have just arrived into Edinburgh for a four-day class stint at QMU (not QMUC anymore, apparently they received the gift of university status over the holidays). Normally it would take around 2 1/2 hours to get here from York ... but not today. My first train (a Virgin train named Doctor Who - hee hee) could take me as far as Newcastle because of an earlier train fire. Then from Newcastle, I had to catch a train (the Bonnie Prince Charlie GNER train) that would take me only to Berwick-Upon-Tweed, due to a dry goods spill. From Berwick-Upon-Tweed it was a coach bus ride to Edinburgh Waverley. Even with all those stops, I was only an hour late. I am semi-impressed. What I am more intrigued by is the names of trains ... who knew.

In sporting news, Six Nations Rugby begins this week. One of the first matches - England v. Scotland on Satuday (which, of course, I will in class!). Check your satellite server for additional details ...

Side Effects Include General Malaise ...

During the holidays, I was finally able to get my appointment at the Cleveland Clinic to find out what I had been suffering from for the last nine months (well, it might as well be, the last 21 years). Turns out every test and every doctor's appointment I had to suffer - finally success! It wasn't all in my head - it turns out I have Crohn's Disease and that I could have had it all my life, but never diagnosed. Sounds like a story for Mystery Diagnosis on Discovery Health.

So for Crohn's Disease, the doctor at the Cleveland Clinic subscribed a steroid. Yes, a steroid, with some of it's main side effects being tiredness and general malaise. And I have both - and it is fantastic (insert sarcasm here). Luckily it is only for two months and then maybe I can get some of my energy back - but for now, general malaise all day and all night.

Pictures from the York Residents Weekend soon. I have to go to class in Edinburgh this week.

To The Stables ...

This afternoon was my first English horseback riding lesson. It was completely different than previous Western riding and involved a lot of leg work. According the teacher, I'm a complete natural sitting on the horse. Ha. My horse was brown and white and named Coco - and the largest horse in the group. Good time and not sore (yet).

Double Movie Night

Tonight was Orange mobile 2-for-1 ticket night at City Screen. Katie and I decided to go one further and not only watch one movie, but two movies ... back to back. First up, Miss Potter - v. cute. Next movie, The Last King of Scotland. Wow. Incredible movie and a complete change of pace from the first. Guess this is just an example of our extreme tastes.

The House of Mixed-Up Times

Bedtimes of our house the last three days: 6:00 a.m., 5:30 a.m., and 4:45 a.m.

Oh well ... at least we are making progress and moving towards the p.m. instead of towards noon. No real reason that we are staying up so late, we just aren't tired. Can I still blame jet lag after a week?

Not Trademarked by the Fox Corporation

I'm not sure if I ever mentioned this or not, but our row house in York is named Kiefer. The phone in the house and all of our mobiles have its name programmed in - I always find it a bit amusing getting phone calls from Kiefer, it's so Hollywood. Why Kiefer you ask? You can thank out street for that - Sutherland Street. Ha. I guess we could have gone for Donald as well. Jack Bauer would be proud.

While I was home for the holdiays, a lot of people asked me what our house looked like. I am in the process of taking photos and will post shortly.

Holiday Revelation #3: Every day is a Chipotle day! (oh geez, that sounds really good now!)

High Wind Warning

It was so windy today! Leslie and I went to the University library today and when we walked out, we walked into a wall of 80+ mph winds. It is a great feeling to walk diagonal.

Holiday Revelation #2: If you state that it was really good no one fell during ice skating, someone eventually will (especially if a small child cuts them off as they are exiting the rink!).

Today it was ...

53 degrees! 53! I wore my spring jacket this afternoon. It would have been even warmer if it hadn't been so windy. Too good to last though, I'm sure we'll be hit with a huge article blast.

In other news, holiday revelation #1: when your friend is walking through a door frame with a glass of champagne and he walks into the closed screen door - it is still funny. Hee hee.

Holiday Recap ... Take 1

Ok, here's the start of the holiday recap: Mom and I were able to visit the Franklin Park Conservatory to see the new Chihuly exhibit. Exhibit was almost the same as the previous one, with the exception of two new pieces, but an excellent side surprise was an amazing orchid exhibit. Photos are posted to Yahoo! photos.

Back to the UK

Well I made it back to York after a particularly smooth flight (which only took 6 hours) and ended up at Manchester Airport 35 minutes ahead of schedule. Got on a train and arrived in York and arrived at the house and had a cup of tea. Mmmm.... Britain.

Will post up a recap of the holidays soon - for now, I will claim jet lag. :)