Nothing much to report, so here's a list of things I've seen/done/learned recently:

• This afternoon before work, I went to Club Franco's fondue party at the TA's apartment. Très freaking délicieux.
• Speaking of French, I got the highest grade in the class on my last exam! 
• ...but I think I got a D on my World Wars test this morning, so it evens out. 
• Pennington lounge (the main lobby -slash- hangout area in our classroom building) is filled with naked people. Well, not people exactly....plaster casts. Stark naked, painted funny colors and sans limbs and heads. They're just chillin' in Pennington, exhibiting their nakedness while people attempt to study and hold meetings around them. I don't really know what it's supposed to represent... something to do with body image. All I can think of, is how uncomfortable must it have been for the models...getting all plastered up whilst one is naked? Cold and squishy, I would imagine. Sorry. Moving on...
• Leaves are getting pretty.
• Had some lovely ice cream today.
• Must go to the gym.
• I haven't had any delightful cafeteria encounters recently, mostly I think because I haven't had time to go to the caf much in the past few days. Oooh, there was one thing was amused me.Some freshmen who are in UCM decided to sabotage the napkin dispensers that are on the tables. They randomly inserted napkins  that had nice things written on them, such as 'you're beautiful no matter what anyone says" and "remember to laugh today." Cheesy, but kind of adorable and it helped restore my faith in the class of 2012 that had been shattered by the previous incident (see prior entry).
• Quote of the moment:

                                        Dr C: *lectures for an hour on how he spent the summer proving that a ninth century manuscript had its origin in Milan, as opposed to Strasbourg as had been originally theorized*

                                        Dr K: So....why do we care where this thing came from?

                                        *silence*

                                       Dr J: ....'cause we're NERDS!

• The following songs/videos have proven to possess the ability to cheer me up, no matter WHAT:

                                          OK Go - Here it goes again (Merit lies in the video, mostly)

                                          Paolo Nutini - New Shoes (Must...dance!)

                                          Ludo - Love me dead (You're awful; I love you)

                                          Ludo - Good Will Hunting by myself (you were the most vapid, whiny, blaaaaah I ever met)

• but these three make me want to cry:

                                        Paolo Nutini - These Streets (I like this version best because his accent comes through)

                                        Daniel Bedingfield - If you're not the one (I don't care if it's been around for awhile and is overplayed..I love it)

                                        Ben's Brother - Time (As long as you treasure whatever it is, whatever it is can never be wasted) 


Now I must study my Chaucer.                                   

Look.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7238534.stm
How cool would it be to come across that guy while trekking through the highlands? I think I read once that ghostly white stags are supposed to portend the coming of king Arthur, or something.

Ah, such a lovely springy sort of day this was! Haein, Matt, Hannah and I climbed Arthur's Seat and just chilled on the squishy grass for a while. It was glorious. Just to feel the sun radiating on my skin was a huge high. After we went back down, I decided I needed more and so I went off to explore the Salisbury Crags for the first time. There were a couple little boys scampering around the crags like mountain goats and they said hi to me. I said hello back and then told them jokingly not to fall off the giant rocks they were playing on. As I was making my way out, through a stony path, I ran into them again. One looked at me and shouted "don't fall!," then they all started giggling. It was cute. And such adorable accents. It's ridiculous...I'm completely used to hearing thirty different accents in a day, but I still have an "awwwww" moment when I hear kids chattering. Once as I was walking past a nearby schoolyard, a car came squealing around the corner a tad too fast. This little boy's jaw dropped and he turned to his dad who was walking him to school and exclaimed, thoroughly shocked, "how very naughty!" It was just...too cute. I nearly perished because of the cuteness.

I discovered another interesting thing about Edinburgh recently. On my way to Scottish Archaeology, I pass a great big stone wall at the end of Drummond street. There's a plaque on it saying "Flodden Wall," and although I've always been curious about it, I didn't look it up until yesterday. Apparently it's a defensive wall that was haphazardly put up around the entire city in the early 16th century after the battle of Flodden. The bit I walk past is actually an old blockhouse. If you're like me and you find this sort of thing absolutely fascinating, this site has a virtual tour of where the wall was and which parts remain. Click the one for "The Flodden Wall Corner," then click the yellow arrow and you can see the blockhouse on the corner that I walk past twice a week. You can even see where the old doorway was bricked up, long ago. Too cool...

I spent the past hour making a list of things I must see/do/explore before the semester is over. This includes Scotland as a whole (Inverness, Rosslyn Chapel, Isle of Skye, various and sundry castles) as well as the city of Edinburgh (go to the Farmer's market, visit Portobello Beach, climb the Walter Scott Memorial). I'm also needing to start an Ireland and London list for when Kerrie comes up.

Speaking of friends visiting, Erin (friend from home) is thinking of spending her spring break in Edinburgh. I think it's fabulous, but sadly, if it occurs it will be during my essay-writing-week-of-DOOM, so I'll won't have a huge amount of time for her. But I still hope she can make it over. I may not be able to be her constant tour guide, but surely I can squeeze a bit of exploring in, between writing three 2000-word essays? At any rate she can stay with me and save a few pounds on hostels. And no doubt she'll find plenty to occupy her while I'm tucked away scribbling. Ah well. Que sera, sera...