And it begins...

So here I am in Scotland. It's hard to believe but my residency is almost half over already (middle of next week)! Remember in January 2008 when I saw a show at IPAY that made me say, "I wish I could work for that company for my residency." And then I became slightly obsessed with that company and now I am working for them. That was good times.

I will say that I now wish that I could have made my time here longer because I feel like I'm just now getting my bearings. Probably about a week before I leave I'll actually be completely settled in. C'est la vie.

Here's a quick list of accomplishments and lessons thus far while living it up...Glasgow-style:

1. Curse of the Demeter is up and touring! Rave reviews from the group of 16 year-olds who sat completely silent through the first show. I'm going up to Perth tomorrow for their first out-of-Glasgow show, then onto the next order of business...more awesome-ness!

2. I love taking the train into work! Commutes aren't nearly as bad when you aren't in charge of them.

3. I went to the Highlands this weekend. Beautiful! I recommend it to anyone!!! But just make sure you're adequately prepared (see #4).

4. My jacket is neither waterproof nor warm (see #5).

5. I bought a new coat.

6. As many of you know, I am not very competitive. I enjoy playing games and sports, but the winning is mostly secondary to the fun of playing the game itself. Come to find out, after awhile I get sick of losing. And so, I am incredibly excited to announce that I won four square twice! In your face, losing streak!

7. Contrary to a taxi driver's ominous warning my first night here, Cathcart is not a dangerous neighborhood and I do not fear for my life anytime I walk home. In fact it is quite the opposite. Luckily I do have people here who care, like Paul, who asks me every time I see him if I've been stabbed yet. No, I haven't.

8. I should stop saying that I was "obsessed" with Visible Fictions. When I'm not around other people who use it frequently and casually, it sounds a little creepy and stalker-ish.

9. G-chat and Facebook chat is almost like a real conversation. But still not the same.

There's a brief overview of the past month. (Wha?!?! Month?!?! Yes. Month.)

I don't know if my cohorts will agree with me or not, but third year is a tough year. I'm finding it to be a lonely year without hot wings and doggie play dates and paint your own pottery. I really did find amazing friends during grad school and am now a little lost without them. But just like leaving home for Benedictine and leaving Benedictine to work at The Rose and leaving The Rose to go to grad school, this newest phase of my life will be yet another wonderful opportunity. And if I'm lucky (as I have been through all those other ventures), I'll walk away with a couple friends who I can't imagine my life without.

For good and for bad...here's to our third year!