That's all Folks...

Now that I'm officially back in the US and not looking to go back overseas anytime soon, my blogging days are done the time being.  Hope you enjoyed the pics!  Now on to the next adventure... finding a new job.  Eek!

Getting ready to head to the airport...

So, the time has come... I'm getting ready to head to the airport in a couple of hours.  I can't believe it. Very excited to go home, but sad to leave. 

Goodbye, Scotland...

Hello, USA!

Hopefully I can get back in the swing of everything... like driving on the right side of the road.  Ha!  I already have a list of things I want to do once I get home.  Like Taco Bell.  Oh, how I miss those cheap and delicious tacos!  Pretty sad, huh?  Can't wait to see everyone back at home!

I'm down to two days!

It's hard to believe, but I will be flying over the big blue ocean in just a matter of hours.  It's crazy!  I still don't fully believe it's happening... but the very full luggage, and very empty room is a constant reminder.  I'm ready to leave, but I'm not ready to leave.  Lots of things left to be done here.  AND... I don't have any idea what I'm doing when I get home. So that part is pretty frightening.  I'm trying to view it as an adventure, though.  Who knows where I will end up?  I certainly don't.  I will, however, take this time to relax and visit friends -- in between all of the job hunting, of course.  I won't be completely irresponsible!  But I am very excited to see friends and family.  Lots of good fun to be had!  Anyway, the US better get ready because I'll be back on Friday night.  Watch out, Indiana! :)

holy crap...

I'm down to single digits!  Counting down to the minute I land in Indianapolis.  Has this year seriously flown by this quickly!?!

My dissertation is done!!!

Woot!  Woot!

Seals!

I went on a boat cruise a few days ago... and actually spotted some seals hanging out on a buoy.  I was so excited!  There were a few swimming around, but I didn't get a good enough picture.  The boat cruise was really fun... headed out onto the Forth of Firth (try saying that 3 times fast!) and got to see all the sights up close that I usually see from my kitchen window.  It was a little rainy and gloomy, but don't worry... it cleared up the minute that our boat pulled in to dock.  Hooray! 

 Our lovely boat, the Forth Belle

 Cute little lighthouse

 Lazy, camera shy seals

 Woo-hoo! More seals!

 I love this little guy.

Tiny head... huge body.  So adorable.

 Abbey on Inchcome (?) Island

Pretty scenery!

Edinburgh Fringe Festival

It's time for the Fringe!  It's a HUGE festival that is in Edinburgh every August, and basically runs the whole month.  Lots of shows to see... comedy, theater, music, dance... basically a little bit of everything.  But it makes it very hard to focus when about 1 million people show up in your city and there are fun shows going on literally every minute of the day... all while trying to finish your dissertation.  I don't think that the school thought about this very much.

Don't worry!  I'm 'balancing' both... aka getting work done during the day and hitting shows at night.  It's been pretty amazing, I'm not going to lie!

 This is one of the venues!  A big purple cow.  Love it!

The crazy, busy streets!

And here are some of the shows/people that I'm seeing:

 Alex Horne -- super funny!

 Bob Downe -- I couldn't resist... he looks hilarious!

 Craig Hill... we'll see about this one. :)

 David Sedaris!

 Margaret Cho!

The Transformers -- they were so amazing!

I have a crush on one of them now.  Ha!

More Highland pics...

Here are some more pictures of my trip out to the Isle of Skye and the Highland Games.  I think that I found the place that I would like to retire.  Hopefully I don't have to wait until I'm in my 60s to do that.  Come on lottery!  Make a retiree at the ripe age of almost-30!!!

 Isle of Skye 

Kyleakin in Skye 

 Kyle of Lochalsh

 Ruins of an old Norse castle

 Pretty little village of Kyleakin

 Isle of Skye Pipe Band

 Look at that kilt fly!

They were wearing underwear... don't worry!

 1 man to throw it... 

 but it takes 3 to carry it!

Eilean Donan Castle

I seriously want to live in this castle.  So pretty!  And actually pretty warm and inviting on the inside, which I can't really say for most castles. 
It's been used in a lot of movies... anyone remember this from Made of Honor? 

Things I learned at the Highland Games...

1.  Men don't know how to sit in kilts.  Really, gentlemen?  Really?

2.  Little boys like to dance in kilts with matching socks.  Seriously, this little guy was adorable!

However, these dancers were just creepy.  Plaid cropped pants with neon suspenders?  Never on the best-dressed list.

3.  When at first you don't succeed, show 'em what you got...

More pictures to come... just wanted to get a quick post out there before I head to bed!

Royal Wedding -- Part II!

Now I couldn't miss a royal wedding when it was in my hometown of Edinburgh, could I?  I high-tailed it down to Holyrood Palace after slaving away in the business school all morning.  It was pretty packed, but mainly because they wouldn't really let people close to the church where Zara Phillips (aka Princess Anne's daughter) was getting married.  I managed to get a few videos... but it's basically of cars and you can see people's hands.  Those hands, however, belong to everyone royal!  The Queen, Charles & Camilla, Will & Kate, Harry... and the bride and groom, I guess.  So, enjoy the video.  Maybe you can pick out some people from it... good luck!

That little arrow is where I was standing.  

(I'm not actually in the photo, but you get the idea.)

And here is what you all really want.  People that I wish I had seen up close and personal today. 

 Lovely Harry

 The cutest Duke and Duchess I know!

The happy couple...

Has anyone seen a caber around here?

Oh yes, I am heading to the Highland Games in the Isle of Skye next week.  So excited!  Hoping to see lots of manly men in kilts throwing big stuff around.  Cabers... Stones... Hammers... who knows what else!?!

Woo-hoo!  I'll try to get some nice action shots.

Castle Gardens -- more pictures!

So, you can probably guess that I'm still in dissertation mode and haven't really done anything else.  Such is life.  Just to keep this blog going, I'll throw a few more pictures that I took when I was down at the castle gardens.  Hopefully I'll have some more exciting things going on in my life soon.  We'll see!  Maybe next time I'll actually have some people in the pictures.  :)

This is one of my favorites...

Castle Gardens -- the thistle edition

Hey everyone!  I haven't posted in forever.  This dissertation is sure keeping me busy!  I was walking through the castle gardens today, and all of the flowers were so beautiful!  I didn't have my camera, but did manage to snap a few with my phone.  I'll definitely be heading back there with my camera the next time the sun comes out... if it ever does! :)

These Scottish thistles were just too pretty to walk by.  They are HUGE, by the way.  You can probably tell from the first picture.  That one was almost as tall as me.  Crazy!

seriously, so pretty!

This little one was growing through the benches!  

Just don't sit down there... ouch!