Catch up
I am aware that I have neglecting this blog. I want to do something about it, but I also am ill and have very little in the way of both patience and writing skills at the moment. So, a bullet list will do.
A recap and update on events and thoughts since I have come to Belfast:
- I have moved out of halls! Yay! If I feel particularly vindictive at some point, I'll write a whole post complaining about the QUB student housing situation. For now, I'll just let it go.
- On the health side, I got shingles, a flu, hives (five times), laryngitis, and mono.
- On the research front, I've actually found a novel that fits into my parameters where the protagonist is a writer who actively debates the use of females in his novels. Not only that, but I find it a fun and interesting read.
- I really miss having a clothes dryer.
- I went to Oxford and London for Thanksgiving. I was getting sick (feeling poorly but not knowing why), but I still had a great time.
- The Christmas Market is open here in Belfast, and that's a lot of fun, day or night.
- High heels and cobblestones should never come in contact with one another. No good can come of their union.
- I'm trying out this food service called graze. They send out a box of fruits, nuts, berries, and sometimes crackery bits. My first box came yesterday and contained roasted pistachios; a cajun seed mix of pumpkins seeds, sunflower kernels, and linseed; a new world mix of banana chips, giant golden raisins, and macadamia nuts; and cashews. They're not huge portions, but the point is to 'graze' throughout the day on small, healthy things rather than take in larger, unbalanced meals. (If you want to try it, I have voucher codes for free boxes, and I get £1 off if you use it.)
- Speaking of meals, I've also been keeping a food diary. It started because I thought the hives might be allergy-related, but I've been keeping it up since then. I find it quite useful.
- I had a Halloween adventure! I dressed up as Betty Draper, carved a pumpkin, and walked around the city with new friends.
- I have a ticket back to the States for Christmas. I'll only be there for six days, though, which seems like an awfully short time.
- It turns out I don't dislike London all that much. I just didn't care for the London I had seen at orientation.
- I wrote a short post before about Remembrance weekend. I spent that weekend out in Ballymena with Paul and his family. They were really great and accommodating and, as you can see from that entry, I learned a lot.
- There was a fire in my apartment two weeks ago. It was small and did not require the fire brigade. I wound up with six small burns on my face, but everyone and everything is fine. I was quite fortunate, actually, as the fire was beside my computer, my external hard drive, my giant stack of books (no shelves), my phone, and my head.
- Quorn is fascinating and delicious stuff. It's a mycoprotein-based meat substitute and they make some great stuff with it.
- "It's being so cheerful as keeps me going!"
