month

Has it really been a month since I posted? I haven't had a weekend without obligation in ages, which is the biggest hindrance to my blogging. I'm trying to keep next weekend clear to clean the apartment and work on a little photography project for an upcoming art exhibit.

Since I last blogged I have had a few exciting things transpire. I had three of my photos turned into posters. It really did my inner-insecure-artist good to see them. I have to say they are just beautiful. One is a rain-beaded rose, one is hanging mosaic lanterns and one is a close-up of a bouquet of flowers. I also ordered a photo-book that I formatted. When I finally got it in the mail I kept looking through it saying, "it looks like a real book!" and it does!


I also had a visit from some of my best London friends Janelle and Angela. They were visiting family in the area and I got to spend a day with them. It was so nice to catch up, and now I'm back to trying to figure out how soon I can go back and visit them. But not right now, since two of my friends are coming out from the UK next month, and I've changed my vacation to August. I'm really looking foreword to it! Work is starting to let up and I'm realizing how worn out I am, and how glad I'll be to see them!

Since my last post I've also acquired two long-term mechanical loans from my friend KT, in the form of a sewing machine and a vacuum, both of which thrill me. And as if that wasn't enough excitement, I finally bought an electric kettle. My friend Ben didn't think much of it when I told him, but he's an Aussie and a Commonwealther, so he doesn't realize how few Americans have electric kettles. It's a most welcome member of my household.

And lastly, I went to the Portland Highland Games last weekend. To be perfectly honest, it was a bit of a letdown this time. I went last year and loved it, but since then I've been to the Scottish Highlands, and by comparison it seemed kitchy. The "Celtic" and "Scottish" trinkets and merchandise were really over the top and the Americanized 'kilt couture' was horrible. And honestly, I love the pipes, but one can only take so many renditions of Scotland the Brave...

Not that it wasn't fun - just not as much fun as I anticipated. And when I told my friend Anna that she laughed and called me a snob. But she came around when I explained that when Mom and I were at Loch Rannoch, in the shadow of Shehalion, we were met one evening by a beautiful highlander named Alan. He was about 6'4, with gorgeous long red hair, very fit and dressed head to toe in traditional wardrobe. He made my mother blush - he was that lovely. He had us there to show us how to dress in a 'real' kilt, how clans went to war and what weapons they used. He even told me my ancestors (we're Mackintoshes) were a good clan because, in his words, they were "good fighters". I'm sure he was humoring us, but all the same it was a memorable experience. Certainly more memorable than if he'd been ugly. :-)

All in all it's been quite a jam-packed month. There's more I could tell you, but I already know I'm rambling so I'll just be done. And I'll try not to wait another month to blog.