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!

Scotland 2 - Liechtenstein 1

Yesterday was my last day in Glasgow, now I am sitting in "my" apartment in Edinburgh, so very tired...

Yesterday started a little slow, I swore I was going to get up early enough for breakfast but I missed it! Ha, go figure! I took a bus tour around Glasgow, it was great. The tour guide was great, very informative. I took a ton of pictures from the bus. Oh, did I mention yesterday was the first time it's rained since I've been in Scotland? (knock on wood, now it's going to rain everyday!! haha) So anyway, I hopped on the bus tour once the rain let up a bit, once I got back to the hotel I uploaded my pictures then met Alan down at the hotel bar. From there we went to The Corinthian, awesome place, very upscale for my tastes but the inside of the place was amazing. After a pint at Corinthian we went down the street to The Counting house, it used to be a bank, and had a pint there... I had a half pint because after 2 beers I already had a buzz. It was so much fun being around all the people getting ready for the game. Tons of kilts, feathers, and loads of guys in blue shirts... I don't know if that sentence made sense! Haha, did I mention I'm really tired?!?! From the Counting House, Alan and I met up with his brother-in-law Andy and two of his friends for another pint.

After a pint we took the bus to a pub called The Church on the Hill. It used to be a church... we had another pint. Well, I should say, th guys out drank me at least two (or three) to one. Alan and I left the church on the hill and headed down, or up, to Hampden.

Along the way Alan bought me a Scotland scarf to wear to the game, I think maybe so I wouldn't look so American???? haha! The game was a lot of fun, although not that most terribly exciting game for those who actually knew what was going on. I had such a good time!!!I was (and still am) happy I got to sing Loch Lomond, 500 Miles, We'll Be Coming, and Flower of Scotland, like I knew what I was doing! I had my first meat pie at the game, it was actually quite good!

After the game Alan, Andy, and I went back to the hotel and finished using the free drink vouchers I got when I checked in... did I mention I am tired?!?! I think the correct word is, "hungover."

So here I am today, in Edinburgh... I haven't really done much except go the store. After this I'm going to try and figure out how I can get to St. Andrews. I'm dying to go there!!!

Ok, night all. I'll catch up tomorrow :-)

on the bonnie bonnie banks of Loch Lomond

Today I went to Loch Lomond, which meant catching the train from Glasgow to Balloch. It was an interesting ride, my first trip on the train here. It was, well, a train ride! haha, nothing terribly exciting to report although I must have "Tourist" written across my forehead. This guy tried to talk to me on the train, I think he asked me how I was doing... but I'm really not sure. I did the ol' smile and nod. That was about it, I guess it didn't help that I was wearing my Longhorn sweatshirt that says Texas really big across the front. :) His accent sounded a bit like the people on the TV show The Scheme (if you haven't seen it, google it... it's a trip and sad and scary)

Anyway... the loch was very pretty although I only saw a small part of it, I walked around for nearly four hours. When I first arrived I opted not to take the Loch Lomond cruise, I figured I would do it after I went on my own adventure. Sadly, when I got back I was the only person waiting for the 4:20 departure and they had to have at least 6 people to run the cruise. I didn't get to go, I'm still kicking myself about that. I really wanted to see Ben Lomond a lot closer than I did. I had a late lunch after that in the shopping area at the loch, it was good but overly expensive for a roastbeef sandwich and chips. I guess it's a good example of a tourist trap???

Anyway, the tourist info center in Balloch had a lot of great information about walks to take in Scotland. So I got all that info,because I left my walking book at home. That book had to weigh 5 pounds so I opted to bring more clothes instead of the book! haha

It is finally getting colder here, I'm so excited.

What's coming up this week??? Well, tomorrow night is the football game!!! Yay!! Then on Wednesday I leave Glasgow for Edinburgh... I'm super excited to see Edinburgh, but I'm getting a little nervous about traveling again. I'm just getting settled in and familiar with the area and then, I'm leaving. Oh well, that's what traveling is about, right?

Anyway, I'm beat... bedtime soon...

PS - If you haven't heard this song, listen to it... the version I have is by a band called Runrig, the song is called Loch Lomond (go figure!)

Around Glasgow...

So today I went to a few places. I didn't catch a bus tour today, this moring when I work up a big event was going on in George Square (right outside my hotel), it was called the Great Scottish Run, basically a HUGE marathon, half marathon, or 10k. So the bus tour was out considering half the streets were blocked and the place they load (across the street) was full of people. So I got up... barely made it in time for the free breakfast... which was good, but there was an assortment of mystery meat and runny eggs. I did have a lof of fruit and a couple of pastries.

After that I went to the Glasgow Necropolis. Very beautiful place, basically tons of graves stones but some are just... amazing. Google it, you'll see what I'm talking about. I took a lot of pictures at the necropolis and the cathedral, but am not happy with my pictures. I think it was too sunny and "happy" outside to suit the mood of the necropolis? Maybe it's just me. I want to go back when it's rainy or something.

After the necropolis I came back to the hotel and changed, it's been surprisingly warm here, and went to the Glasgow Green, the People's Palace, and the barrows (sp?). All cool, the barrows were interesting basically a giant flea market. If I wanted to I could probably spend all day there buying someone else's junk :)

I had mexican food for dinner (Yes, that's what I said) I figured Mexican food in Glasgow would be an experience in itself. I was shocked that it was actually good! Although, I don't know if a place a long the lines of Chipotle, Moe's, and Freebirds really counts as Mexican food. For 5 pounds it was worth trying!

Tomorrow I'm off to Loch Lomond! I can not wait to see it!

Have a good night and HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORGAN!!!

In Glasgow...

So here I am, in Glasgow. It's been fun so far, seen a lot of things but still so much to see!

I'm at the hotel right now, I like it a lot. I'm central to pretty much everything.(Thanks for the suggestion A!) I think tomorrow I'm going to catch one of those uber touristy bus tours :-)

Along with just random walking around today I also stopped by a little grocery shop and picked up some things. Yes, beer, but other things as well. The shop guy was really nice helping me pick out beer. I thought it was funny he suggested Budweiser, until he explained that it's not American Budweiser, it's something from another country and it's spelled a little different. Anyway, I think it'll help save a bit of money... especially since I had to spend 30 pounds on a converter that actually works! (Note to anyone who travels, do not get the cconverter from Target. It doesn't work!!) The guy at the electronics store was really cute... but was probably only 19 or 20. I felt a little pervy. haha!

I'll start working on pictures tonight. Now that I'm addicted to photoshop, I can't post anything before it's edited.

Okay, I think it's 7 o'clock... I'm still not quite on top of what time it is and adding 6 hours on to the time my phone says seems to be hard. I don't know why, considering my job! hahahaha

Good night all... I'll catch up with you tomorrow!


PS HAPPY EARLY BIRTHDAY MORGAN!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!! :):)

It's after midnight...

...so that means I leave today :)

Today was long, but I'm home now. Trying to find motivation to clean my apartment before I leave. It's not working. I feel like I need a huge glass of wine. There is so much to do tomorrow before I leave for the airport.

I keep having minor freak out moments, but I think those will end the second I get on the plane.

I'm very annoyed with something and/or someone right now, but it'll pass. Always does. After so long I should expect nothing else! haha

Anyway, I'm going to attempt to sleep now. Tomorrow (today) is a new day and with that comes the first day of my solo trip/first trip ever out of the country. Look out Scotland, here I come! :)

Goodnight all... see you on the flipside!

PS - I have been trained in Scottish Martial Arts, called FahKue, so I'll be able to defend myself against any would be Scottish meanies!

It's nearly time to leave...

So this is my first post... I have less than 48 hours before I leave. As long as I feel I've been waiting, it's hard to believe I'm going!

I'll fly from Dallas direct to London and from London to Glasgow. I've never been on a plane longer than 3 hours so this should be interesting! My first trip anywhere and I'm going to the country that gave us golf, whisky, and haggis.

I wouldn't have it any other way!

I'll see a couple of friends while in Glasgow, both of whom I met here, which should be fun. I'm glad they will be there, it'll make me feel much more secure for the first week I'm in Scotland.

I'll try and keep this updated daily (for mom).