alligators schmalligators

I went "golfing" this morning with my dad, brother, and stepbrother. This entailed me driving a fancy golf cart while taking photographs of alligators and sedges of egrets. Viva South Carolina!


I also ran along the marsh, which was just LOVELY. My knee only hurt half the way! GO KNEE!

Tomorrow, I'm going to Augusta--my eternal nemesis. Bring it!

....breathe out

I am in Georgia. And in light of the events of the past few weeks, I decided this morning to take the day to exhale. I slept in (til' seven), went running (in my NEW shoes and NEW shirt), submitted my thesis proposal, digitized wedding movies, watched the Daily Show AND the Colbert Report, drafted a survey, and as you can see now--wrote a blog. It feels very good. I hope to finish this day of exhaling by drinking some fairly awful southern beer (just so I can miss the great beer I had last weekend) and chillaxin' with my bro(ther).

Highlights from the past weeks include:
1. VINCENT AND I GOT MARRIED! WAHOOOOOOOOO!

2. I surveyed LA with Karen!

3. I went to Brayde and Matt's wedding! WAHOOOOOOOO!

4. I saw Cecily and Adam!


5. I visited the Seattle aquarium and saw a puffin and a crazy octopus! WAOOOOOOOOOO!



Whew.
...Double Whew.

who knew?!

This interpreter in Melbourne: I was trying to figure out where you are from.

Lindsay: Yeah...

This interpreter in Melbourne: Then I heard you say 'Eh,' and I knew you were Canadian!

Lindsay: Hahaha, I'm actually American.

This interpreter in Melbourne: No way! I totally thought you were from Canada.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I blame this COMPLETELY on George.

ATTN: cupcakes and furby's do NOT mix

This is serious business. I'm flying back from Melbourne last night--and because I rarely fly on airplanes I decide to read over and memorize the safety information card. One can never be too careful (especially with Qantas' luck recently). And this is what I read:

Prohibited at all times onboard the aircraft. Devices which emit electromagnetic signals such as cellular telephones, transceivers, FM/AM radios, pocket pagers, radio controlled devices, printers, television receivers, audio equipment with wireless controls, and Furby toys.

And on top of that--they had illustrations to go along with this important request--a picture of a little Furby with a big red circle and a strike through it. I mean, wow, what could a whole species of mechanical talking make-believe animals do to an airline to irk them so bad. And, is it really necessary for them to emit electromagnetic signals? Does W.A.T.C.H know about this?!
Thank you Qantas for protecting us from the evils of those malicious emitters--where would the world be without you?

For the love of all that is PENGUIN!

It has been decided: penguins R-O-C-K. They are just so spectacular, I can't even begin to think about describing them to you. So, I won't. Instead, I'll back up a few days to sum up our lovely stay in the southern city of Melbourne.

You see, it all started when Vincent's work sent him here for a month, which I guess is a good opportunity for him and blah blah blah, but whatever. What it means for me is that once again we are going to be spending a few months apart (if you add on the month that I'm going to the States). PLUS, we are supposed to be getting married in the midst of all of that. Sigh. Never the best timing, but that's how the penguins roll (haha get it? penguins.).

That's when I decided to have a great idea and go down to Melbourne WITH Vincent. I'm a PhD student after all, and one of the perks is a mobile work environment. It also helps that the project (and me) is collecting data in Melbourne, and I could help get that started --and voila: everyone is happy!

Since arriving, I've been very very busy writing my thesis proposal-which even if it kills me will be done by May, running--kind of at least, and doing a bit of sightseeing and drinking delicious coffee. My runs have been around the Royal Botanic Gardens which, I have to regretfully say, are better than the ones in Sydney. 90 acres of crazy plants and I'm sold, what can I say?

We also visited a town just outside Melbourne called Williamstown and discovered an authentic French Breton Creperie. And oh holy crepes, people, it was so delicious. I think the world I'm looking for is heaven. Yeah, and the coffee-- not even funny how awesomely lovely it was. :)

But the day didn't end with delicious crepes my dear friends-- it ended with PENGUINS! Vincent and I had both been on a mission to see penguins. It just wasn't in the cards to go see the little buggers on Phillip Island so we decided to visit the Melbourne Aquarium instead which are having an exhibit on Antarctica. And it was everything it should have been and more. Here's a short video of them....

Then of course, what's an aquarium without crazy sea animals... my OH SO FAVORITE (Leafy) Sea Dragons, tassled angler fish, and jellyfish!!



They also had gigantuan stingrays and several varieties of turtles and frogs. We also got to hold a baby starfish (well, actually- I have absolutely no idea if it was a baby--but it was small)!

If only everyday could be spent in a giant aquarium...

Alright y'all, it's time for Lindsay to go write linguistic-y things about mental spaces and medical terminology!