And since Dublin...

The week after Di and I got back from Dublin was filled with preparation -- for paper deadlines, for Sam and Jessica's visit, and for Halloween. I had my first essays due on November 3rd, so I had to watch movies and reread books and articles, but somehow I managed to bang them out.

In more exciting news, Di, Kara, Kristie and I went to see Quantum of Solace on October 31st, since it comes out in the UK a couple of weeks early. I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as Casino Royale. The plot was a little all over the place, but I still think it ranks above many of the lesser Bond films, especially Die Another Day.

The rest of the afternoon was spent trying to work out my costume. I went as a mime for Halloween, and had all the necessary clothing (black pants, a striped shirt, and a beret I bought in Paris), but I needed to find makeup. Unfortunately, I was pretty late to the game, so the only thing I could find was white eye-shadow. And that's what I smeared all over my face, along with purple eye-liner (I don't own any black), and a little mascara on my lips because I didn't have black lipstick (in retrospect, I might have slightly poisoned myself by doing so). I'll put my pictures up soon and let you all judge if the results match the effort. I think it turned out okay.

Di was Sarah Palin, and put a lot of effort into her hair. It's amazing that Palin does it everyday -- I can't quite figure out how anyone does an up-do like that. We met up with Kristie and her roommate Mel at Oran Mar, or "the church bar" as most seem to call it. We all walked over to this house party Kristie's friend had been invited to. Supposedly the house once belonged to the creator of the Scottish soda Irn Bru, and now was just a house rented by a group of international students. We all thought that it was a pretty open party, but it was fairly quiet when we arrived, and everyone seemed to know each other. It also was a BYO, so after a few minutes of appreciating the decoration, Di and I decided to bail, and head over to Halloween Cheesy Pop at the QMU. I heard that the party picked up a bit later, but we were already entrenched in the QMU line at that point.

The line was down the block and around the corner when we got to the QMU. We waited on it (in the freezing cold) for a little less than two hours. Luckily, the people behind us were very friendly, and we chatted with them to pass the time. Finally, after being pushed and shoved up the stairs to the main doors, we got in, got drinks, and danced the remaining two hours of Cheesy Pop away up on the balcony. A Finnish man we had been waiting in line with followed us around and kept spitting on my neck as he tried to whisper in my ear, and when he left, asked Di if we were lesbians (I was in the bathroom at the time). He later reappeared (again, I wasn't there -- I was talking to someone in the bar) and asked Di to dance, as well as asking her if she usually dressed like a school teacher. CREEP.

Saturday was a day of recovery, and finishing up my essays. Di and I went back to the QMU for a concert that evening, by this folk singer Seth Lakeman. One cool thing about the concert was the Swedish all-female country band that opened for him. Sort of like the Dixie Chicks from Sweden. All in all the concert was okay, a little long for an artist I didn't know, but there was this crazy woman sitting next to me who kept drumming on the table with her hands off-rhythm. By the end of the night she was up on her feet and dancing really awkwardly, almost in my face because of the tight space. I just ended up feeling bad for her husband, who was quietly and politely sitting next to her, and looking unhappy about the entire situation.

After Sam and Jess showed up we hung out on Sunday and Monday. We went to the Burrell Collection, which was neat because there were some pieces by Rodin, Manet, and Degas there, so the Art History student in me was happy. We also went to the Ubiquitous Chip and the Loft for dinner and drinks with Di, and I'm definitely taking my parents and Dan back to the Chip. Excellent food all around.

On Monday we had tea at the Buchanan Tea Rooms (since the Willow Tea Rooms close at 5, and I had been in class until then), and then had dinner at Two Fat Ladies, a tiny seafood restaurant on Dumbarton Rd. More great food, especially the cullen skink, which is the Scottish equivalent of New England clam chowder.

Tuesday night a bunch of Americans stayed up to watch the election in the TV lounge in the reception building. Di and I bought a LOT of snacks that we didn't even come close to finishing, and alcohol that we didn't drink. It was exhausting to stay up until 5:30 AM, but we saw all of it, from the exhilarating moment when they announced Obama had won Pennsylvania, to the wonderful speeches from both candidates. I'll admit it, I teared up a bit. Okay, a lot.

Wednesday was November 5th, so Guy Fawkes Day, so Di and I watched V for Vendetta in the afternoon. Glasgow, in a hilarious move, actually postponed their fireworks until Thursday because of the Celtic v. Manchester United match. Di and I walked down to the Loft to see the match on the big screen after we finished the movie.

That about covers it, I think. I still have plenty of photos to put up, but at least I'm basically up to date on the text side.