The End of an Era

Aw, look at you, wondering if I'm still blogging. I decided it just wouldn't make a lot of sense to keep up a blog called 'Christina in Glasgow' when I was not, in fact, in Glasgow.

So...just in case you're still willing to read things I've written (often quite carelessly, lest you be tempted to do just that), my new blog is this:

www.christinainminnesota.blogspot.com


Take care!

Christina in Minneapolis

So...I'm coming home. When? Soon. Next week soon. Why? I'll tell you about it later. How? By plane, silly. What will I do when I get there? Probably go back to work at the hospital, set up an apartment and try to get my fiance over there legally. Spend time with family. Get things together. You know, the usual.
See you soon.
xo

It's Brightening Up!

Hey everyone! I have just returned from a really great camping trip and thought I'd share a few pictures with you.

Four of Chris' friends, Chris and I drove down to Androssen, which is on the west coast of Scotland, and then took a ferry across to the island of Arran. I had expected to do some hillwalking, but the guys had other plans. They wanted to climb the highest mountain on Arran, which is called Goatfall. So...we did!

Eithne and I point at the only patch of blue sky visible at the time.

I was so happy to be camping with staff members of one of Scotland's most renowned restaurants. Hot dogs on the fire? No way! How about smoked Mackerel sandwiches, a la Captain?
Our ascent began. Chris and I found ourselves lagging behind, wondering what the heck we were about to do.
We stop for a much-needed banana break.
The view was pretty spectacular, even from this height.

Ohhhh man...Chris loves to climb mountains. Doesn't he look pleased to be up there?


Eithne and I approach the final peak of Goatfell just as the rain starts.

I am so happy you can see the rainbow in this picture! While I dragged myself all the way up there and was soaked to the bone by a chilling downpour, the thought of this picture turning out kept me going.

This is one of my happiest moments. No, not because I was with Chris, but because I was warm and dry for the first time all day.


A beautiful shot of the sea. There is a small river in the foreground and the mainland in the background.
See the mountain on the left? That's the mountain we climbed!

A standing stone near the sea. Sort of like a miniature, less-cool, smaller, less-dramatic Stone Henge.
The ultimate reward after a long day: a big cup of milky tea and some Arran ice cream. Yum!

In addition to the moments captured here, there were a lot of other great ones. For starters, our campsite was literally a stone's throw from the sea. Our tent's door looked out onto the beach. It was one of the coolest campsites I've ever been to, which is saying a lot! The six of us spent a lot of time playing cards and drinking beer in the pub next to the campsite, and last night we stayed up to watch a meteor shower on the beach. Pretty, pretty amazing.

Alright, I'm exhausted so I'm going to hit the hay. I hope you've all had a great week!
xo

Kindling, Twigs, Sticks, Then Logs...Right?

Hey all, I just wanted to say a quick "hello, goodbye" for a little bit because I am going camping for the next few days! Chris, a couple of his friends from work and I are heading to Arran, which is a little island off the west coast of Scotland, early tomorrow morning. We'll be camping and hillwalking and generally having a nice, outdoorsy time for the next 3 days. I couldn't be more excited! I'm hoping my summer camp-attained fire building skills have stayed with me.

Also, I may or may not have some news of progress on the job front the next time I write. Let's just say that there is an...um, interesting...job opportunity that has come up and I may or may not have an interview next week. I'll know soon. Is that cryptic enough for you? Let me assure you now that it is, in fact, legal.

I just got back from meeting my friend Eithne's new puppy, Maude! She is the cutest little baby black lab ever and now my clothes smell like puppy. Heaven.

Last night, I couldn't sleep and ended up talking to Mary on the phone from 3-4:30 AM, and it was totally worth the bleary eyes I've been sporting all day. I also talked to Melissa and Alison yesterday, so I'm feeling a lot of love from back home. Sigh...

Alright, I've got to go pack up my waterproof gear and continue to break in my walking shoes! Miss you all.
xo

Another Week

Here are some pictures from our trip to the Blair Drummond Safari Park the other day:







At this point, we were being chased by this rhino:





...and for some reason, my instincts were telling me to get out of the car and run. That would have been a mistake. I can see that now.

Anyway, my hunt for a job continues, our cheap week is over, and we're continuing to sort of make some wedding plans. Things are coming along nicely, according to my parents. Our "reception" will be held at the Medina Ballroom, which I think is pretty cool.

That's about it. Things are just absolutely, sluggishly boring with me over here at the moment. Sorry.

Hope you're all having a whale of a time, wherever you are!
xo

An Expensive Day...

...well, relatively.

So, it's Day 4 of 'Cheap Week' over here in Glasgow. Just to recap, Chris and I are trying to spend just £20 each this week--food, travel, entertainment, everything else included. Anyway, I was riding my bike into the city center today and got a flat tire--the same tire I replaced about a week ago (grumble, grumble). As a result of this, instead of spending £0 on travel, I had to put myself on a train to Cathcart and back, which cost a whopping £4.55. BOOOOOOooooo......

Anyway, so things are going pretty well, other than the little bump in the financial road today. In fact, we are finding this so painless that we've decided to do it one week a month until we repay our student loans. I owe some very nice people back home a big chunk of change and I'm eager to pay it off, and this will help.

Anyway, I'm about to head off to make some delicious (and thrifty) stew. I hope you're having good weeks so far!
xo

Spare Change?

Oh man, I'd love to tell you all I've been doing something really interesting. (Wait, that's an awful way to start out something I hope you want to read. Let me rethink that...)

Oh, man, have I been up to some INTERESTING THINGS! I've been...um, well, I guess I've been sort of, like...doing dishes a lot?

Nah, I can't keep that up. Look, the thing is, I'm looking for a job and basically languishing in abject boredom. I somehow feel like now that I've got an additional year of education on my resume, I'm actually much less qualified to do things. I'm absolutely desperate to work. There is not much worse for me than doing nothing. That is the absolute truth. Boredom tends to induce in me a moderate amount of panic. I am reminded of when I was younger, fretting that someday, I may end up living in a cardboard box, eating cold beans and panhandling for change. In my mind, this reality creeps ever nearer...but the search continues. Wish me luck.

In addition to that, though, Chris and I were in beautiful Carnoustie this weekend for his friend's engagement/housewarming party. I am also reading a couple of new books and helping other people work on their resumes (which are called 'CVs' here). I've got another long bike ride on Wednesday, probably followed by a little more panicking and subsequent job-searching.

Chris and I have also started taking it upon ourselves to create little 'challenges' for ourselves. Our latest is that we are going to try to live for a week on £20--including food, transportation and entertainment. Why are we doing this? I don't know. Will it work? Probably. Will we be eating cold beans and panhandling for change at the end of the week? We'll see. Hey, whatever it takes.

Anyway, I hope that all of you are doing well back home. Miss you all!
xo