FINALLY!

So... nearly a year after my trip to Scotland. I really cannot believe it's been almost a year. It has been one for the record books to file under Crappy or Lessons Learned.

I miss Scotland so much it's silly. I miss the place, because I felt I belonged there. I'll write more when I have time... I finally got back and checked my blog! ha!

We are gathered here today...

Because for some reason, we felt like it.



I think I am at a crossroad, I need to reexamine my life and see what needs to change. Don't worry, this isn't a sad pity party post, I'm just wondering what I should do. Give up stability to pursue what I love or hold on to stability for a while longer and put what I love on hold. I think it all comes down to what makes me happy. I know what I love makes me happy, but will I be able to find stability in what makes me happy? I'm sure everyone has thought about this at some point. It's a bit scary, but it feels like it would be liberating. At the same time though, it is frightening. It's always scary to take a leap, right? I think I should take a leap.



I'm going to set a date, by that date I will need to have made a decision. Putting off what you love will need to be my decision for now, but technically I'm not putting it off, just keeping it on the side for a while. Just until I get myself organized and try and cope with the reality of following my dream.



Maybe this is all just so capricorn of me, but I like to plan. I think everyone who knows me, knows this, because I started planning my Scotland trip in July of last year!



First goal - make a plan.

Second goal - save every penny.

Third goal - On the date I've selected, make my decision.



This all my be convoluted, but that's kind of me, too. I over think and over plan and then nothing really goes according to the plan. It's all part of the fun and stress of life. At least, I hope.



On a side note, I just saw a trailer for Pure Country 2. Wow, Pure Country... that takes me back. Back to Mom letting me miss a day of school just so we could go see the movie! :)



Anyway, I've totally lost my train of though... thanks George Strait.



Um... make a goal, do what I love. Yeah, that's it.



Scotland lost today against Spain, bummer. I can't wait to go back to Scotland though... I wish I could leave tomorrow!

It's been a while...

I'm still getting all my pictures edited. It's quite a large task, or at least, larger than I thought it would be. I have the dust on my sensor to thank for that. Oh well... I just wish I would've noticed it before hand.

I miss Scotland so much. I want to go back everyday. I even dream about it at night. I know, it seems I'm a bit obsessed... I don't mean to be, I just am. Maybe I'll get to go back soon. I really hope so. I need to start playing the lottery so maybe I'll win tons of money so I can buy a house there and everyone can come visit me.

Scotland is playing Spain tomorrow in a UEFA qualifying match... since I can't watch it at work, I'll see if I can find a website that has play-by-play.

I've been back for almost a month now and all I can think about is going back...

Mull, Staffa, and Iona

All beautiful islands... I wish I had longer to appreciate them, there's always next summer :)

I left this morning on a giant ferry that took loads of cars and passengers to Mull, from there I caught a bus that took us on a tour of Mull where we got to see Duart Castle. From Mull we went to Staffa and from Staffa to Iona then back to Mull. Staffa was amazing, apparently it inspired a lot of people to do a lot of things. The tour guide was telling us about them today, but again... right now I can't quite remember all of them. Now, I can officially say I've been on a boat in the ocean! I thought I was going to get sea sick, but I didn't. Go me!

I leave Oban tomorrow at noon heading back to Glasgow for one more night in Scotland. I really really really really really want to stay!! Anyway, I know I can't right now, but soon I hope! Maybe I should look into studying abroad???? (Or maybe I already have!!)

Okay well, I'm off to the Skipinnish Ceilidh House for some Scottish music... I hope they don't make me dance! Just a note, Ceilidh is pronounced kaylee it's a Gaelic word meaning - an informal social gathering at which there is music, singing, dancing, story telling, and fun. Yes, I just plagerized that from the Skipinnish brochure. :)

Anyway... I'm off, later!

From the Isle of Skye to Oban

Well, I had no signal in Portree on the Isle of Skye so I couldn't update my blog. Now though, I'm in Oban and I'm in love with yet another city. Actually, I'm in love with this country. I want to move here.

I wish I would've had more time on Skye, it is so effing amazing. Sadly it rained 90% of the time. I took a tour around part of the isle yesterday, I was one of two people on the tour so we got a good personal tour from a local of Skye. I took as many pictures as I could but seeing as how it was raining and super windy it was hard to manage keeping my camera dry. The place I stayed in Portree was pretty cool, the room was above a bar, but I think the constant weather changes have gotten to me because my ears, nose, and throat are being kinda of mean to me. I did't spend too much time down in the bar, it was crowded and since I wasn't feeling well I didn't feel like hanging around... so I slept a lot! Go figure. As I've said before, I love sleep :)

I took the bus from Portree this morning and got to Fort William about 3 hours later, then I had a layover (I guess) for about and hour before I caught the bus to Oban. The bus driver teased me a little bit about my suitcase... I think it's about to fall apart after being dragged around for the last week... I'm going to wear a hole in it! haha, what a piece it turned out to be!!

So anyway, I'm in Oban now at the Kimberly Hotel... my room is, well, amazing. I feel like a princess. The room is decorated in black, white, and pink. My FAVORITE! I want to steal this room and bring it home or just move in here. I didn't get in to Oban until nearly 5, by the time I checked in and walked into the city centre it was 6 and just about everything had already closed for the day! What?!?! It's Friday! I did have enough time to book a boat/isle tour for tomorrow. It lasts all day and I will be taking a ferry in the morning across to Mull, then to Iona, then to Staffa, then back to Oban. Looks like fun! (It better be!)

The only thing lacking right now to make this room perfect is a bottle of wine, there are two glasses on the table by the bay window, which has a beautiful view over basically all of Oban. I'm just going to sit here for a while, maybe pour my water into the wine glass and pretend ;-)

Anyway, I'm off... it's time to relax...

Inverness

Here I am, in Inverness. I have to say, it's a beautiful city and the place I'm staying is awesome! If I had tons of money I would totally buy this apartment! It even has those fancy kitchen drawers that close on their own!

Yesterday I took the train up from Edinburgh to Inverness, nice ride but very long. Well, about 4 hours I think. Today I took a Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness, it was really cool too, but VERY cold. Well, it may be normal weather for the locals but I was (and still am) freezing! It didn't help either that I was sitting on the open part of the boat, which meant all the other passengers and I were getting splashed by the super cold water of Loch Ness. I am sad to report though, that I didn't see Nessie. Well, I did, but only in the tourist information center where they sell stuff versions. Greg had told me Loch Ness was huge, but I didn't really believe him (sorry Greg). I do believe him now though, it is HUGE. The cruise lasted for just over 3 hours and we had a stop at Urquhart Castle. In three hours we barely saw half the loch, if that. It is absolutely amazing! I hope my pictures turned out alright. After I finish with the internet here at the tourist information center I'll be heading back to the apartment for lunch and then to look at my pictures. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It also rained about 4 times while we were on the cruise. Fine Scottish weather, right? :)

Anyway, I just bought my bus ticket to Portree, I'll be leaving Inverness in the morning. Now starts the hectic travelling part of the trip. Which is perfectly fine with me! I'm leaving a lot of clothes here and just taking what I need for the rest of the trip. The main reason I'm leaving them is, while I was dragging my suitcase to the apartment in Edinburgh the wheel broke. So now I'm stuck dragging around a massive, heavy, broken suitcase. Fun times! Ah well, it doesn't really matter, I guess it helps build arms muscles!

Ok, well I'm off now. I'm starving!!

See you all soon :( haha, just kidding, sort of :)

In Edinburgh

Well, tomorrow I leave for Inverness... so I'm happy but sad to leave here. My wifi at the apartment hasn't been working so here I am at the internet cafe updating my blog :)

I've done a lot in the last few days... let's see... where to start... I'll go backwards...

Yesterday I did a day tour of the Kingdom of Fife, which means I went to St. Andrews! Yay! Would've loved to play a round or, as I like to call it, making an ass out of myself at the home of golf, but I didn't play. There wasn't time. We only had 3 hours in the city before we went to Falkland Palace. I'd give you more details but I don't remember them at the moment. St. Andrews was a lot of fun, got tons of pictures of the bridge and the royal and ancient gold club. Also saw the cathedral and the castle. As well as making a stop at what I was told is a very famous golf shop. I'd try and spell it now, but I'd only butcher it... It starts with an "A" and ends with "lonies" I got a bunch of stuff while I was there, so hopefully I have enough $ left for my hotels! Oops!

The day before, which I guess was Friday, I went to Edinburgh Castle. It was really amazing. It's so big and there was so much to see. I got to see the Stone of Destiny and the crown jewels of Scotland. That night I went on a tour of the underground city. It was fun, but a little creepy. Bad things happened down there and it smelled funny. haha... the smell is what I remember.

Thusrday I just roamed the city, went to Hollyrood Palace, Holyrood Park, Canongate, Calton Hill... and somewhere else I can't remember at the moment. Sorry, but I'm pressed for time. Only have 20 mins on the computer...

I think I updated on Wednesday about the game and all that... so.. that's about it. I'm off to Rosslyn Chapel in a moment. You know it from the Da Vinci Code, I've heard it's amazing!!! If I'm lucky I'd love to go to Stirling today but I may not have time. Time flies so fast when you sleep half the day away! But, it's me and I love sleep!

Ok, I'm off now... talk to you in Inverness!