A wee walk.

I just went on a 'hillwalk' for the first time. The hill is called Tinto, in Lanarkshire. The cool thing about hills in Scotland is that, whereas in the US, there is always a higher peak, the hills in Scotland are not that high,

	and when you reach the peak, you've reached the top! Here are some pics from the climb. Left: Chris Ahoy! Below left: The cairn at the top, and me upon it. Below: Some landscape. Below that: A paraglider! Then: Some more landscape. Appreciate the panorama, please.

Störung und Schadenfreude

Can this be the official comic of the Anti-Fun Society?

You appreciate my perspective.

A normal day at the office:

Depressing thought for the evening

Do a Google search for "navel reserve," and see how few of the hits are puns. An overwhelming majority are simple misspellings. Why aren't people funny, like me? Navel reserve! That's funny!

That's all.

___

10:00 pm.

Update, eodem die. Mood much improved. On my way home from 'work,' I encountered a consternated-looking 1Glasgow fox. I shared his consternation as we stood together, listening to the lush choral arrangement of 2"I walk the line" pouring forth from the window of the Postgraduate Club nearby. Our interest having faded, the fox politely excused himself and I continued on my way.

_______________________

1. Vulpes weegiensis, my first sighting this year!
2. Composer and lyricist: Johnny Cash, Choral Arrangement: anonymous, Maracas: anonymous but manifest and annoying.

More fun than a deaf cabbage.

A damp squid.

OH NO!!!

Angry koalas!!!!

What's this thing for again?

Robb just reminded me that it's a good idea to use my blog for news. I keep forgetting that I haven't told everyone that I just got accepted to the PhD program here in Glasgow, with a bit of scholarship money (thanks, God!). This means that Heather and I will be living in Scotland for the next three years.

My friend Graham from NY state also got the same scholarship, and is also staying 3 more years!

Anyone want to come visit us?

Important News

I know you said not to break radio silence, but this is important! I think it is in your best interests to visit our wedding website!!! Thanks for the site, Nate! It's awesome!

Mua ha ha...

Does it count as hacking when he lets me do it? It feels more fun.

I think what I decide to do now is post pictures that have no relevance to anyone who views this blog. Ever. That is the kind of thing this blog needs, right? Right! Some people know Robin, I guess.

Wow, this is like, the lamest post there has ever been on this blog! Cool... I set a new record.

Now I am done talking to myself.
Signing off...

Too Christmassy around this place.

Too much snow.

Back to Glasgow

I'm back, but I done broke my camera, so no pictures for a while, I'm afraid.

Here is something else you can look at!

To everyone I got to visit while I was back in Washington, thanks for letting me visit you!

To everyone I didn't get to visit while I was back in Washington, sorry I didn't get to visit you... Maybe we can hang out at the wedding?

An Interval (Intermission)

Season's Greetings! This is what happens in Glasgow when it snows. By the way... I'm coming home! For the next three weeks, I'll be back in Washington, so if you want to see me, get on queue. Not sure if much will be happening on the blog during that time. But since no one reads this thing, that shouldn't be a problem. And if anyone does read this thing, it might help them get outside and enjoy the fresh air instead.

Kind of like a short, inane travel show that no one watches...

		CHAPTER 3: FORT AUGUSTUS Second stop: Fort Augustus. This is a pretty small, touristy town, with a canal right through the middle, as well as the River Ness, which empties which lake? Any guesses? So here's our obligatory Nessie sighting. What a monster! She ate all our oatcakes...

More OLD NEWS

	CHAPTER 2: FORT WILLIAM The first stop on our self-guided tour of the highlands was Fort William, an old town on Loch Lochy (imaginative, these Scots!). We stayed in the old house of the Campbells, who were put there by the English to keep a watch on the town. Nearby was Inverlochy Castle, a real medieval castle with stone and towers and everything! It was Heather's first. I bumped my head on it and bled profusely. We also visited the cemetery. Good eye, Heather! And Merry Christmas, everyone!

OLD NEWS

Heather just came to visit me, like, three months ago! I thought I should start putting up some of the pictures that resulted from that. If you're attentive, you will probably understand the progression of events. This will be the first of well.. quite a few graphics-heavy posts submitted at highly irregular intervals.

SO.

	Here is a picture of us waiting for the bus the day after Heather got here! We like to travel, apparently. A few days later, we took yet another bus to the small, picturesque, touristy town of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond (of deserved bonnie, bonnie repute). Here we saw several animals and a very nice river, which Heather photographed.

It's not so much a CASTLE...

I suppose the previous post has been up long enough for now... There will be many more pictures of Heather and me to come, I can promise! I think I'm going to try to post some from our trip around the UK, actually, so it will be a little bit of a step back in time. Hopefully nothing too jarring for those of us with weaker constitutions...

I had the opportunity to climb to the top of the University tower today, with a group of International students (Here is a picture of the tower, for anyone who doesn't remember). It was amazingly sunny, and the haze that usually covers the city like a poorly-applied coat of primer had apparently been cleared away for the occasion. Of course, I brought my camera! And of course, I didn't get any pictures of the town that I'd feel great about posting on my blog! If you want to see some of them, and get an idea of the location of campus in relation to my house, feel free to look here and here and here.

I did take a few pictures I think I can show you, however. Well. Look.

Left: The stairs at the top of the tower, seen from the top of the tower.

	Below: The view toward downtown... You can't see where Heather and I were engaged because of the buildings in the way. Stupid buildings...
Above: The shutters in the room below the bells

News of Great Import

On January 5, 2006, in the Glasgow Necropolis, under the steady but approving gaze of a statue of John Knox, I made a proposal to my best friend Heather Ehli that we become married.

Heather thought this was a good idea, and instantly agreed.

This makes her my fiancée.

Unas Aventuras con Alejandro

Alex came over to visit from Spain. It is a lot colder here.

I'll put up a longer post with more words soon! Honestly!

Here are more pictures, though.


Alex learns a few of the moves from Shiva.


This is the name of a real store in Glasgow. It doesn't mean what you think it means.


We went to Edinburgh. They put up signs to make you feel stupid.


We got tired.

Spotted Today in the Gloag

Why does this make me feel more at home?

Isle of Skye

Sorry I haven't been updating again (he says to his untold legions of faithful fans). But to make up for it (how can one ever?), here are some pictures from my recent trip to the Isle of Skye. Scotland is a pretty amazing place!


The ruins of Duntulm Castle, Isle of Skye. Supposedly the only male heir of the MacDonald clan was accidentally dropped to his death through this window by his nursemaid in her eagerness to show off the chieftain's newly-born son. The baby, the nurse, and the chieftain are said to haunt the castle, which was abandoned in the 1700s.


Fairy Falls, Isle of Skye. Our tour group is drinking the water from the falls, hoping the fairies will grant their wishes.


Crows near the battlefield of Culloden. Culloden was the last battle on UK soil, fought between the Scottish Jacobites under Bonnie Prince Charlie, and the English. Charlie fled the scene 30 minutes into the battle and ran away to France, surrendering Scotland once again to England.


Elian Donan Castle, Loch Alsh. Yes, for all of you who have been asking, I visited Loch Ness, too! No monster, though: He and I have been keeping up regular correspondence and may meet for coffee at some point during my stay here.