Chuffed!

I'm going to see Franz Ferdinand in Glasgow!!!!!!!

M.

p.s. Loads has happened, stay tuned for updates.

Liverpool Photos!

Click here!

Mrs. Fedder

So, my sister is coming tomorrow, and I am incredibly happy about that, but also extremely stressed out. Most of you know me well enough to know that I am all about showing people the BEST time and I always want things to be perfect. Up until about an hour ago, I was having a terrible day just because of the stress (dirty house, no food, no shampoo, no hot water, tons of essays, need to do laundry etc. etc.). Well, then I get a note through the mail slot saying that I have a package. Who is it from??!?! Two guesses.

The Lovely Mrs. Fedder has outdone herself again (my mom cannot even be bothered with one package, she's always like 'I'm such a bad mother!' which of course she isn't, she's lovely, just busy). but Mrs. Fedder not only sent me pure American chocolate (Hershey's!) but colored pencils, and had taped on a sharpener by herself!! That's what REALLY blew me away - now THAT is thoughtfulness people - to anticipate a lack of a proper pencil sharpener.... wow, I am so impressed.

Anyhow, I really appreciated it so thanks Roberta and fam - love you all! I'll be sure to make a run over to Honeysuckle Lane over Christmas break to give you proper gratitude hugs. =)

The point is... I'm feeling better. Isn't it nice how presents do that? That's why everyone feels so gorgeous over Christmas - there's just thoughtfulness and love and generosity in the air. It's beautiful.

Well, I best stop wasting time and get on those essay, eh? Miss you guys - see you soon. (Barely a month left!)

Hope This Works...

How to make a melindaupenn

Ingredients: 3 parts intelligence 3 parts courage 3 parts instinct

Method: Layer ingredientes in a shot glass. Add a little wisdom if desired!

Username:

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

Film Review: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

So I went with Christina last night to see the sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary. I had a few drinks beforehand and was in a chick-flick mood, so all the signs were in favour of the movie. However, it was a bit unoriginal. A lot of repitition from the first one and it was quite predictable. Yet, there are genuinely funny moments and Hugh and Colin are as gorgeous as ever. Still a feel-good flick. So basically I got out of it exactly what I expected - a few cheap laughs and a warm and fuzzy feeling. I'm a terrible film reviewer. Basically, if you're a girl or you really liked the first one - go see it, if not, skip or wait to video.

Cheers!

HELP!

So, Becky is coming and I wanted to do a bit of the Highlands with her.

I have three choices:
1. Take her to Inverness, go on a cruise of Loch Ness, explore Urquhart Castle for two days.
2. Take her to Fort William, explore Glen Coe region for two days.
3. Take her on a massive train journey on the West Highland Way (supposed to be one of the most scenic rail journeys in Europe), part of which is the Hogwarts Express, from Glasgow to Mallaig, a small fishing village. Stay the night there and then get a train early the next morning to Fort William to do some exploring there then back to Edinburgh.

Which option? I'm leaning towards three, but Loch Ness is supposed to be amazing.

Help me out! Cheers, M.

Appeal for mail.

I have definitely not received enough mail during my time here. There have been a few attempts, some postal mix-ups, but basically I have only the Fedder family and my grandmother to thank. I feel like a failure abroad. Isn't a measure of your social success equal to the amount of post sent your way by loved ones? Haha, I'm only kidding, of course, but some mail would be nice (the fishing doesn't end).
My address, to avoid any further confusion, is:

431 Fraser Court
Romero Place
Dalkeith Road
Edinburgh EH16 5BJ Great Britain

It's a lovely address, don't you think?

Well, this weekend has been an uneventful one. We did go to Establishment on Friday, which was good fun, besides the fact that I had been bold enough to wear Pamela's 4-inch high black stilettos - which my feet promptly thanked me for during the massive queue. But a good time was had by all, thanks to cheap drinks and fantastic dance music (I eventually just took off the shoes, cuffed my jeans and went for it, American style). Last night was quiet, spent some time watching the classic chick flick, Bridget Jones's Diary, with Pamela and Paul (going to see the new one on Monday, I believe). The days have been spent mostly curled up with Jeremy Bentham, daydreaming about the economic implications of the greatest good for the greatest number. Ah, yes.

My sister is going to be here in less than a week!!!

More politics.

I suppose this goes out more to my Scottish friends than my American ones, but definitely take a look at this website (esp. the gallery) - Thanks Tom, by the way - www.sorryeverybody.com.

And what about this Arafat thing? I don't even know what to think about that yet.

Yeah, I pretty much have nothing to say.

Happy Birthday Laura and Justine!!!

I am going to miss this place.

Last night, I was sitting in my living room, trying to get some reading for Celtic Civilisation done. I found myself there with a can of Irn-Bru, a Penguin bar and consciously turning football (Celtic vs. Rangers) on the television - and really watching it. I then realized exactly how much I am going to miss it. I've really become accustomed to the lifestyle and culture here - I love it's quirks, it's slang, it's odd brand of humour (and even the spellings). Note: pure Scottish humour = the show 'Chewin' the Fat'... if you get the chance, watch it - hilarious!!

Slang that is classic: chuffed, muntered, gutted, mengin, all the terms for drunk (pished, slaughtered, mashed, etc.), quality, magic, pure, kirsty's infamous 'are you havin' a laugh?!', so many more!!!

Plus, of course, all the people - my fabulous flatmates - they all look so innocent!! Paul and his love of musicals. Bari - who 'feels' everything. Charlie - who is just indescribable. Christina - mad philosophical debates into the wee hours. Devon - mad political debates into the wee hours. All my professors - esp. Prof. Boardman (Scottish history) who segued today into Edward II and the 'red hot poker' issue as well as attempting to capture the phrase 'warrior-poet' - "Agh, he's coming at me with a rhyming couplet!!!" The list goes on.

That being said, I do miss you all very much, esp. my mum!!! Christmas will be quite a joyous occasion, although I wouldn't be surprised if you heard of me moving back to Scotland in the future....

Guy Fawkes Night and Haggis

So, they have this holiday here in Britain to commemorate the failed attempt of Guy Fawkes to blow up the Parliament building. November 5 is Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night. On Friday, like a good British citizen (as I am doing my best to emulate one during my stay) I climbed a gigantic hill, dodging amature fireworks until I got to the top, sat on a ledge with my friends and spent hours singing songs from musicals, watching an insane amount of fireworks and admiring the view of the castle. It was magical. Although I don't know how great the reason for celebrating is. That'd be like us, if the attack on the Twin Towers had failed, throwing around paper airplanes every September 11th. Bit morbid. But it's all part of the British charm.

More info on that: http://www.bonefire.org/guy/

Oh! And thanks to Kirsty, I had my first taste of haggis. It was actually pretty good. Everyone had me so scared. But I am definitely glad I gave it a shot. May even have it again...

11 days until Becky comes to visit!!! =)

WILD!!!

Ok, as if this day couldn't get any more surreal... I just got a friend request and a message (through www.thefacebook.com) from my elementary school boyfriend!!! Now, for those of you who aren't familiar with my past, I lived in Colorado for basically, elementary and middle school, then moved to Pennsylvania at the end of 7th grade. The only person I keep in contact with in Colorado is my former best friend for years from there, Shannon (who just got married!). So getting an e-mail with Josh Reilly's name on it was a TOTAL SHOCK. Anyhow, I sent him a return message and I'll keep you posted on what I find out. Still... such a random thing! The world is so big but so small at the same time.

M.

Just a note

AND I'M, BY NATURE, A FUCKING OPTIMIST!!!!!!!!!!!!

Away Messages

Just want to remember this moment in time and how excited all my friends were about the upcoming four years...

Beccerweccer: Ben: congratulations to president bush on his first election win

deannalorraine84: praying for a miracle

vidrotime: shooo-wee...i don't want dem gays gettin' married, gotta vote for bush!! daaammnn, these lines were so long! now if you eexccuuuuuuse me, i gotta go home and fuck my sister! praise the lord!

Starf1sh25: It is a dark day for America...welcome to office President Moron..and welcome to the beginning of the end for the rest of us... I am ashamed to be American today... in fact, I think I am moving to Canada...

charmed by u 03: "Never argue with an idiot. They'll drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience." there are apparently more uneducated people in this country than i could've imagined

JroseM11: 4 more years of nothing.. I'm so exicted for more of my friends to go to war, and more of my family to lose thier sjobs.. and if I'm lucky, there might be a job left for me when I graduate, only if the US hasn't become so involved in a war that doesn't concern us and gone so far in debt because the president was on vaction!!! Was a change too much to ask?

banky983: Six o'clock - TV hour. Don't get caught in foreign tower. Slash and burn,
return, listen to yourself churn. Lock him in uniform and book burning,
blood letting. Every motive escalate. Automotive incinerate. Light a candle,
light a motive. Step down, step down. Watch a heel crush, crush. Uh oh,
this means no fear - cavalier. Renegade and steer clear! A tournament,
a tournament, a tournament of lies. Offer me solutions, offer me alternatives
and I decline. It's the end of the world as we know it. It's the end of the world as we know it. It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine.


Way to go guys. I think we have all collectively captured the mood. As for my away message:

melinda167: I'm officially moving to Scotland when I finish my degree. I do not want to be a part of anything that administration does. Cheers, America - well done, again.

Halloween and Election Day

I did not stay in or go see a movie on Halloween. It was pointless saying so, I knew I'd eventually be dragged out. So I put on some cute cowgirl outfit and we were off to a club called Frankenstein's (quite appropriate, I know) for some food, drink and dancing. Then we went to a goth and rock club where I stood out to the max called Opium (£1 drinks!!) for the rest of the night. A fantastic time was had by all and climaxed in a hilariously Scottish singing of The Sweater Song by Weezer in the middle of Cowgate by Lucy's boyfriend Sean. *I have a re-enactment of this on video from our flat later that night*

But, now on to more important things... I did, in fact, stay up the entire night watching election coverage. It is amazing the coverage you get over here on the American election. I went to a newspaper shop which housed all major international papers (Le Monde, El Pais, Die Zeit, etc.) and every one's main headline was Bush vs. Kerry yesterday. The BBC had coverage all night and I was there, on the floor of my flat with a blanket, a pillow and the pink special pillow Tash's mom sent me (named 'Gretchen') nervous as all hell. Three cheers for Pennsylvania though - that made me proud. But this ultimate shit, with knowing that Bush won but not being entirely certain, is a complete pain. How did it all go wrong? Philadelphia county was brilliant - 80% Kerry, but Lancaster County was quite disappointing - 66% Bush. But we all knew it would happen. It's weird though, people over here cannot even understand why people would vote for Bush. They see him in an entirely different light. He's a war-mad idiot, not the protector of America. I think that's how many Kerry supporters also see Bush, but it's hard to explain how Bush supporters view Bush to a foreigner (most confusing sentence ever). I don't know. I went to bed at 8 AM and woke up at 3 PM - my mind is not in a clear state. I have a Scottish history due on Monday and all I want to do is mourn for the future of our country. Maybe this is karma. We didn't protest enough against the war in Iraq and now we're getting punished for it. Like, we have to finish what we started and with all the same material. No fresh start for America, no way. We've got to push it through to the end with a fucking asshole at the healm of our ship. Now I don't even know what I am saying. I'm just upset. Aren't we all? A lot of us knew that Bush would win, but still wanted to hold on to the teeny bit of hope. It's gone now and I have a dreadful feeling about the whole thing.