"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. :)

Trans-Atlantic

Flying stateside today. Don't expect to post much from the US unless something amazing happens. Be back in the UK starting January 14 - expect photos and recap then.

Cheerio and Happy Holidays!

Flu-Like Symptoms

Doesn't it always seem like where you have the most to do your body decides to be sick? As I am trying to finish a paper (due Thursday) and leave for home (Wednesday), my body decides it would be a good time to get the stomach flu. Fantastic. It has basically decommissioned me for the last two days. Thankfully this morning I woke up with no fever or aches - a sign that I am on the mend? Hopefully. At least the plane ride won't be so terrible now. I must get back to writing ....

The Best Christmas Advert!

Although I am still enjoying the Quaker Oats commercial previously mentioned on this blog, my new favorite commercial I found when I was staying in Aberdeen last week. It is the Christmas commercial for Irn-Bru (the drink of Scotland containing nothing natural and is bright orange) featuring "The Snowman." Oh so funny ... a favorite in the Sutherland Street house.

Graves, Papers, and Witches

Well I am finally back in York after five days of traveling. Last Friday, I went up with Katie to help her find watch houses, dead houses, and mort safes in 35 cemetaries in Aberdeenshire. I have never been that far up north in Scotland - it is beautiful ... and last weekend, v. windy! Photos are posted in Yahoo!. In the photos you'll find photos of our car (which included a fun driving experience for me!), Katie's friend Claire's two dogs, Ginny and Rosie, and the Aberdeenshire countryside.

Monday was an extra study session for the postgraduate paper revolt, previously posted below. Turns out we have power and have been granted an extension, yet to be determined, but looks like the end of January. Woo!

After returning to York, yesterday I got back on the train and headed south to London for Wicked ... take two. The sole reason for returning was to see Idina Menzel as the wicked witch of the west (out sick last month). Thankfully she was in last night - her performance was incredible and definitely worth the train ride down and back in one day (and a train full of Arsenal-hooligans on the last train out of London at 11:30 p.m. ... scary!). I am so glad I got to see her - finally! I tried to see her when she was on Broadway, but she feel through a trap door and cracked her rib ... third times a charm.

Two papers to finish before the trans-Atlantic flight next Wednesday. Back to American soil for a month and the holiday!

Thanksgiving, the British Way

Last night we finally had Thanksgiving - all my fault we didn't have it last week as I had school. Oh well. Six Americans and one Brit ended up having the following (I feel the weight gain as I am listing):

• Turkey (a very nice 10 lb. or 5.6 kg version) and gravy
• Stuffing
• Mashed potatoes and sweet potato souffle
• Green bean casserole
• Creamed corn
• Raspberry salad (thanks mom for the recipe)
• Cranberry orange relish
• Rum cream pie
• Pumpkin pie with a kick (Katie's version with whisky)
• Pumpkin pie (my traditional one)

Oh so good!

In other news, tomorrow is St. Andrew's Day. Although I won't be in Scotland to celebrate - apparently the Scots are making a cake replica of the Stone of Destiny. Mmmm ... rock cake.

Post Grad Revolt and Ferrets

The Plum & Jello is reporting from Edinburgh, Scotland this week. Needless to say, I have been very busy with five days of school and three papers due in the next two weeks. Ah, the student life.

Here is a slight recap of what has happened since the last post:

• The Buckeyes won - woo! Championship here we come!
• The Brits love candy buckeyes (or conkers).
• The train is the best sleeping pill ever (Jeff, take note!).
• Grad students have power! After the worst Research Methods course I have ever seen, we are leading a charge to get the course removed. Besides PR students, the rest of the class is Public Health (who, I'm sure need to know about the epistemology and ontology of research. I however, do not.). We were granted the extension today, and now there is a hearing into the class! Yay!
• Media in Britain is the best course - topics this week: pirate radio and newspaper spin. Fantastic.
• When you load your backpack with 10 library books and there are 60+ mph winds, you are going to get blown over.
• The fervor of Scottish rugby (playing the land of OZ tomorrow!) is nowhere near Buckeye madness - we are crazy!
• The Brits are extremely interested in Thanksgiving. Their belief is that it is like Christmas and we get gifts. Ha.
• I am having a British Thanksgiving on Tuesday (look for pictures next week).

Whew - that was a lot and I'm sure I missed something. I get back on the train to York tomorrow. Another good 2+ hours of sleep ahead.

In other news, I spotted this headline on the cover of Country Life magazine: "Ferrets: Better than playing Playstation." Wow.

Buckeyes!

Thanks to online and email-submitted recipes, I was able to make a batch of buckeyes this week. The Brits went nuts (sorry, no pun intended!) for the candy, since there is no candy here that has a chocolate and peanut butter combination. The sad thing was, since there are no buckeyes here, it takes about 10 minutes to describe the candy and the nut itself. Now they are in high demand. I will need to get U.S. peanut butter when I am home - the British version isn't quite the same.

In the other row house news, the entire household went to a dinner last night, hosted by a couple who work for hedgehog rescue. The currently have only one hedgehog, Nipper, who they found on the side of the road and weighs just eight ounces. Very cute and prickly.

Monday it's off to Edinburgh for a week's worth of classes!

Trip to the Dales

Today Katie and I went with Leslie to Swinton Park - a large manor house in the North Yorkshire Dales. It's actually a hotel, but is still owned by the family. During the tour of the park, we were joined by a cat, who affectionately named Cecil. He followed us through the entire park.

Photos are posted to Yahoo! - also posted today were photos from my London trip Saturday.

In other news, Bond is everywhere. Although the movie doesn't officially open here until Friday, the world premiere was this evening -- with the Queen in attendance. Bond specials, Bond interviews, old Bond movies, etc.

My Desktop for the Week

Yes I know - I'm over 3,500+ miles away, but I still love my Buckeyes! I will have to rely on ESPN Gametracker on Saturday for all the madness. Feel free to click on the photo and download for your desktop.

On the dessert menu this week, candy buckeyes!

Go Bucks! Beat Michigan!