I Was There!

05-Dec-07
Talbot Rice Gallery
You Are Here!

Today was the last day of You Are Here!, a course for international students who would like to get to know the Talbot Rice Gallery. Good times.

A group shot of us exploring the space with our bodies, or something like that.

Yoshiko lying down in the Monika Sosnowska exhibit.

Every Wednesday afternoon we would meet in the gallery and learn and talk and dance and run. I learned that the gallery was formerly a natural history museum and was frequented by Charles Darwin. There was also a pet puma that roamed around before it became a specimen. We wrote storied to go with one of Monika Sosnowka's miniature architectural installations, and made maps of 'our' Edinburgh.

St. Andrew's Day

... was yesterday. And I still haven't been inside the castle!!

Until I have, here's a picture of the Lloydies outside the castle. First try!

Comma-phile

While proofreading my final paper for Natural Hazards ('Was the Parkfield earthquake experiment a failure?'), it was brought to my attention that I am a comma-phile. I love that little booger.
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Winter-Märchenland

Yesterday (Thanksgiving for you Americans), Edinburgh turned on its Christmas lights. Downtown, next to the train station, a Winter Wonderland is set up. There is an outdoor ice rink, ferris wheel, carousel, and German market (with real Germans!). It was such a crisp (ie freezing), clear night and the lights were beautiful.

Blackjack

Thank you to everyone who made my 21st birthday great. Whether it was a birthday card I wasn't expecting, a great big box to open up, a conspiracy to meet up for dinner, a note on facebook, a one-of-a-kind gift, a colorful oven-mitt (with cupcake print!), a paperback trilogy, or a Scottish keepsake, I enjoyed them all. <3

Romanesco Brocolli

Vegetarians and mathematicians alike will be excited to read about my new discovery: Romanesco Brocolli. I saw this beauty at a market in Dublin. The pattern is a fractal, and has the property of self similarity. That means that when you zoom in on a bit, it looks the same as it used to. Cool, huh? I bet it tastes good and is nutrious, too. Super vegetable? I think so.

Dublin was deadly.

10-Nov-07 to 12-Nov-07

Last weekend was spent in Dublin, Ireland, just a 40 pound, 45 minute flight from Edinburgh . There was no loss of life or limb; 'deadly' is Irish slang for really good or cool. Sights were saw, roads were walked down, Guinness was drank.


That's the second stamp on my third passport. Woo hoo!


Standing guard in front of the Dublin castle.


Mmm, baked goods. Drool.


Being my bad self in front of the Bad Ass cafe. Rock on, dudes.


Dancing in front of The Clarence, 'Bono's hotel.'
Uno, dos, tres, catorce! (wtf, U2)

Science!

07-Nov-07
We Are Scientists, American indie rock band, performed at Potterow, one of the student unions.

Bonfire Night

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

Why Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Bonfire Night fireworks, as seen from Calton Hill.

Pipes and Drums

These Prince's Street performers are my absolute favorite. I stop and watch them every chance I get. Completely amazing, and worth the couple of pounds I chipped in when they were finished.