Choppy because I am tired. To be read over and edited later.

The moral of today: Be careful of what you wish for because you just might get it.

A noble saying, one that has proven true in my own experience on several occasions, both good and bad. It particularly applied to today. Throughout the past few weeks, I've been receiving reports that both MD and Oxford have been receiving copious amounts of snow. I'll admit that I was jealous. I haven't seen a decent snowfall in years. And I wasn't shy about voicing my jealousy to my father and friends scattered about the globe. On Sunday, we received about an inch of snow here in Edinburgh, which quickly melted on Monday morning.

Today, I awoke at the absolutely obscene hour of 7:30 (especially nowadays) in order to get ready for my fingerprinting appointment at the police headquarters. As I sat checking my Facebook and double-checking that I had my passport on my person, I realized that it was snowing quite heavily. 'How nice!' I thought, not realizing that it would not be so nice when I was walking the 3 miles to the police station. It wasn't so bad in the residential areas, which had not been heavily trafficked since walking on the snow provided some measure of traction. It was much worse on Princes Street where the snow had become slush and quite slippery to walk on. I left Warrender Park Rd at 8:45, expecting to arrive at the police headquarters around 9:30 (my appointment was at 10). Several wrong turns and slips later, I only just barely made it at 9:50.

It was much worse coming back since the appointment lasted until 10:20 and I had a class at 11:10. I had expected to run back, but the slush made it barely possible to walk, much less. This, coupled with the fact that my glasses kept blurring horribly, made for a very unpleasant walk. Luckily, my hauling ass meant that I got to class at 11:05.

I am not such a fan of snow anymore. (Although, incidentally, if you want an interesting challenge, go running on ice. It certainly makes you concentrate on what you are doing.) ((And no, Dad/Mum, I did not purposely go running on ice. When I was running on Tuesday/Wednesday, there just happened to be patches of ice in the way. I did not fall/trip/die.))

I can't write paragraphs anymore

Monday:
Went to Popular Religion and discussed the role of the laity within the parish community. It had snowed the night before and so the ground was a sheet of ice, so I decided not to go running (and then felt incredibly lame because I saw loads of people running in the meadows on my way to the library). Received some pretty horrible news, but am dealing with it. Spent three hours in the library researching devotinal images for Monday's presentation.

Tuesday:
Went running in the morning. Finished presentation on the long-term significance of the early 14th century crises (any significance was overshadowed by the black death of 1348). Gave presentation in tutorial (It went alright.) Went running again.

Wednesday (today):
Finished eschatological mentalities research for Black Death presentation next Tuesday. Started research on Margery Kempe for 9th week and Pop. Religion essay. Procrastinated horribly. Went running.

Tomorrow:
Wake up incredibly early and find my way up to Police Headquarters at the city limits to get fingerprinted. Try to haul ass down to George Square for Blessed Union. (Mapquest says it is a 40 minute walk. I intend to sprint there as class starts at 11:10 and fingerprinting appointment is at 10.) Blessed Union seminar. Running? Retrospect meeting. Library.

Friday:
Spend all day in library making up handouts for Black Death presentation and finish devotional image research for Popular Religion presentation. Start reading Calderwoode and Spottiswoode's histories of the Church of Scotland for Thursday's Blessed Union presentation.

Saturday:
Arthur's Seat.

Question: Why am I doing my SMP on a topic that I know virtually nothing about (Jacobites. the rising of 1745, Scottish nationalism) when I could just do it on something that I am basically an expert on (the Black Death)? It would make my life so much easier and I would probably be more enthusiastic during my presentation.

Answer: ? (As far as I can see, it is because I like to make things difficult for myself.)

They are coming.

Exactly what is coming, you might ask. I could answer with a very cryptic and perfunctory 'they' but that would be quite rude. The first few weeks of hell are approaching. Monday marks the beginning of 5th week (out of 11) and with it comes my first actual presentation for class. I have to talk for thirty minutes on the long-term significance (if any) of the Great Famines of the early fourteenth century. Needless to say, it has been an absolutely thrilling few days spent poring over manorial records of grain, oat, and barley yields. Thrilling. (For those who didn't quite catch it, that was an example of sarcasm.)

Ah well, this is what being a history major entails.

6th week is going to be the real killer. I have three presentations (Monday for Popular Religion, Tuesday for Black Death tutorial (easy), and Thursday in Blessed Union) and then have to immediately begin writing my Medieval Europe final essay and my article for Retrospect on the rise, fall, and rise again of Russia, both due in 7th week.

I'm trying to keep my head in the game, but sometimes it is hard. At least the running has been helping me keep focused. It clears my mind, prevents any one emotion from becoming dominant. Calm, cool, collected. It's what I have to be if I am going to get this and my SMP done at the same time.

What have I done today?

Lay about in my pajamas reading articles on the Great Famine of 1315-1325.

What am I going to do?

Go running, take a shower, eat some dinner, and then spend from 7 to midnight in the library.

I am so lame. But it must be done if I wish to get the grades/recommendations/personal satisfaction.

ADDENDUM:

I forgot that I did end up giving a tutorial lecture on the Black Death (causes of, reactions t0) to a group of ten first years who are in one of my teachers' lecture classes. It didn't go too badly, but I hate teaching.

I am finally back in Edinburgh. It is cold, icy, windy. I don't like it because I can never seem to get warm, even when I am back in my room. Indeed, I am not sure that I have been properly warm since October or so.

My trip to Oxford was nice and relaxing. The trip back to Scotland was absolute hell, but I'd prefer not to relive the stress by actually retelling what went on. The trip made me realize exactly just how much I love that city. Part of my wonderful experience last semester was due to the people I met, but a larger part was also due to the location. It is the perfect fit for me in so many ways, at least at this stage in my life. As I believe I've mentioned before, I will be applying to Oxford for graduate school. This trip back showed me how I devastated I will be if I fail. It was also strange to realize just how much I missed the food at St. Peter's. The most complicated thing that I can cook is chicken curry. To actually eat other things was quite a treat.

Unfortunately, on my return I've found that things are going to pick up quite considerably from here on out. This is not entirely a bad thing as I was a bit bored prior to this, but still, no one is keen on having to spend all of their days in the library. (Especially seeing as my prime studying hours are between 11pm and 3am. Edinburgh's library closes at midnight.)

5th week: (Next week)
Tuesday: I'm preparing a tutorial lecture on the long-term significance of the 14th century crisis.

6th week:
Monday: Seminar presentation on the difference in devotion shown by literate and illiterate members of the early parish.
Tuesday: Tutorial lecture on contemporary reactions to the Black Death. (Although this is a bit of a freebie since I know am an authority on the Black Death. No, really, I am.)
Thursday: Seminar presentation on the role of John Spotiswoode and David Calderwood in the Scottish kirk before 1603.

7th week:
Friday: 4000 word final essay on Malthusian crisis for Medieval Europe due.

9th week:
Monday: Seminar presentation on reactions to The Book of Margery Kempe

10th week:
Monday: 4000 word final essay on Margery Kempe for Popular Religion due. 4000 word final essay on the foreign relations of James I due.
Thursday: Seminar presentation on James I's foreign policy and relations with Spain.

On the other hand, I've decided to spend the first two weeks of spring break in Oxford. This is not as great as it seems, as I have been issued a Bodleian card and will be spending those two weeks doing the majority of my research for my senior dissertation. So while everyone else is going fun and fancy free in the Canary Islands, Grenada, or Greece, I will be in England stuck in the library. Still, I never was a beach person and I don't particularly mind this scenario. Karen will still be there and we are planning a trip to the 'other place' (Cambridge). I figure that if I am going to be applying for grad school there, I may as well go and visit.

I'll be renting a room for the two weeks so that I have a comfortable place to crash after a day spent working. I'm still looking around, but I've found a room in Iffley that is reasonably priced, has an ensuite bathroom, and a kitchenette. It is a 25 minute walk from the city centre, but I don't mind that at all.

On another note, I casually mentioned that I had read Edmund Spenser's 'View on the Present State of Ireland' in my Blessed Union seminar and, as a result, had to spent 20 minutes telling the class about what he said, my thoughts on it, why I had read it, and what else I did in that tutorial. My teacher was quite excited to hear that I had studied in Oxford as she was at Somerville for her doctorate. It is strange because I never mention that I studied in Oxford. I always say 'I was in England' because people hear Oxford and immediately assume that you are pretentious. But my professor immediately guessed where I had studied. I think it might be because I have such a hard time talking in groups now. One-on-one and I can chatter up a storm (for me at least). But put me in a group of fifteen and I am lost amongst the crowd.

Oh well. There are worse things to talk about.

So, I am not back in Edinburgh. I went to the bus at 2am, but was told that coach service to Gatwick was suspended until 10am. A bit of a problem considering that my plane was scheduled to leave at half 6.

So I changed my ticket to Wednesday (the earliest time available) and have been enjoying my day by walking around.

God, I love this place.

I'll be back in April because I have to finish my senior dissertation, but it won't be the same as it is term break and most of the students will be gone. I've yet to figure out the logistics of this visit, but it won't be quite as pleasant as this one as I will be spending all of my time in the Bod.

Finding a place to stay nearby is going to be a bitch and a half, if this trip is any indication.

I should be back in Edinburgh by 5pm tomorrow and will be making a beeline for my bed as I am rather tired of sleeping on concrete and floors.