Getting Lame fast

I'm such a freak, I just joined a crochet forum to get help because my blocking board smells like poo.

Which is not normal.

You probably have no idea what I'm talking about. It's better that way.

Cabin Fever? Why yes I have it.

Did I mention tonight Eamonn's making dumplings? They accompany a stew with braised beef which was made last night and it smells AMAZING.

I wish I could photograph the dumpling-making but my new camera battery hasn't arrived in the mail yet. I wonder if I can still charge the old battery and squeeze a few photos out before it dies...

Speaking of things arriving in the mail, I am patiently waiting the arrival of a 10mm crochet hook so I can make this hooded cowl, and a book on how to crochet all kinds of really awesome flowers. I also just sent Youth in Revolt to Japan (for a friend), and my visa app to some people who I hope will love it and accept me as one of their people.

And This

...and filling my time laughing at things like this



(Wait 'till the end!)

What's the Haps?

Thanks to the beauty of Facebook, I was able to wish a relative I've seen three times in my life a Happy Birthday. Then I found myself engaged in a back-and forth about what I am up to. I think this will be the general answer I give from now on:

I am in Scotland, waging an epic battle with the UK border agency for a work visa. Potentially, congressmen will be involved. In the meantime, I listen to a lot of talk radio from America and crochet hats, scarves, and various other accessories. What are you up to these days?

I may never be warm again

Last night I was two steps away from putting a straw in a bottle of Pepto-Bismol and sipping it like there's no tomorrow. I don't know what could possibly have made me feel that awful. I could feel the bile gurgling somewhere near my lungs. It couldn't possibly be the bagel and lox I had for lunch/dinner. Or the latte I drank after. Definitely not.

Sadly it's been about ten days since my proud crocheted contest entry and I have yet to make another one. I blame a few things: mainly Eamonn having four days off, and the need to crank out a baby gift for what I think will be the last baptism I'll have to attend for a while. Speaking of baptisms, I've never been to church so much in one year. Luckily the first two babies were baptized together. Not that church is so tortuous, I'd just rather not go. I like sleeping in. Plus even though it's the same religion, Scottish Catholic masses are curiously different from American ones. Mainly the Our Father. A prayer I know better than the pledge of allegiance, despite the fact that I haven't regularly gone to mass since I was 14. There also seems to be a considerable amount of church gossip around here. Maybe I was just too young to partake in the slandering of fellow parishioners in San Diego, but I find it hilarious how much chatter I hear about people at church (or the priests themselves!).

On Eamonn's days off we decided to leave our happy apartment and lovely houseplants for the privacy of North Berwick's beachy countryside. Aside from sleeping in and watching insane amounts of Arrested Development, we visited two mind-blowing, surprisingly steadfast, castles. Of all the castles I've seen so far, these two are my favorite. First was Dirleton Castle: incredibly large, with it's own moat, private chapel, prison, and various toilets--all surprisingly in tact (that is if you consider a hole in a rock which leads to the moat as a working loo). The second castle, Tantallon Castle, was on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Considering 3/4 of it is completely eroded thanks to time and the salty breeze, there was a considerable amount left to explore. I'll save the extensive praise for when I upload pictures. Sadly my photographing was cut drastically short while exploring Tantallon castle. Apparently my camera battery chose that day to die, after 4 years of faithful service. I guess that's pretty good for a lithium rechargeable battery.

Luckily we are now proud members of Historic Scotland, which means free entry to castles and re-returns to our faves (Tantallon, Dirleton, Stirling, Edinburgh, and Hermitage--to name a few). I'm also very excited about the 20% discount we get in gift shops--for all my post-card and Loch Ness Monster souvenirs.

In other news, I have been battling bad-weather gloom by powering through books-turned movies. First was The Road. I thought the filmed version was almost exactly like the book, which despite being very good, gave me incredibly creepy, disturbing dreams. Now I've just finished Youth in Revolt and I'm very excited to see the filmed version. Considering the book is incredibly funny, and Michael Cera plays the lead role (accompanied by such fantastic supporting actors as Justin Long and Zach Galifianakis), I expect great things.

And now, after all this rambling, I must dedicate some time to hugging my pepto bismol while double-checking phase 1 of a 3-part plan to open up a can of whoopass on a certain border agency.

Whew!

I've been busy crafting up a storm.

TA DA!!!

I'm trying to make as many entries as I can, to up the chances of winning.

In other news, it's stopped snowing, but now there's drizzling and occasional sleet.

Let's just say I don't go outside much.

It's SNOWING!!!

Pretty much every day when I get up there's a new covering of snow on the ground, and amazing icicle formations all over the place.

I need to take more pictures of this business!!

Apparently there haven't been crazy snowy winters like this in Scotland for years and years and years. And years.