Let's Take the Narwhal to the Elephant House

I've officially added another destination to my list of places I would like to go someday... The Elephant House gourmet tea & coffee house in Edinburgh. I know what you're thinking why go all the way to Edinburgh for tea and coffee when there is a cafe on every corner in Boise? Well this particular cafe is where JK Rowling worked on the Harry Potter series. I learned this from an acquaintance's FB post today. Also The Elephant House? As in elephants my favorite animal that doesn't have a narwhal tooth or fly? Yes. It's pretty much like fate is calling me to Edinburgh. I've heard bits about their art festival but now I simply must go. I wonder if they offer transportation via riding a narwhal since it seems like it'd be a lengthy plane ride. 

So my expedition list now includes: Harry Potter World, a Narwhal Adventure Extravaganza and Edinburgh :) if the narwhal mode of transportation ever becomes a thing then I could absolutely knock all three out in one go. Win-Win-Win. 

My phone won't let me photo credit the above photos like I normally can from my lap top. But the sites I stole them from are listed. The Elephant House has a window which overlooks the Edinburgh castle. Does it remind you of anything? 

In other exciting news Whole Foods had vegan pumpkin pie the other day. I offered to split it with Justin but he is making me eat the entire thing. I tell ya; it is a rough life. 

Tribal Pants Transporter

Today I decided to be fashionable and wear some tribal design leggings to school. It seemed like a good idea in the beginning. But all the way to class I kept thinking about how skin tight the leggings were. My shirt was too short to cover my butt so I was very self-conscious about the leggings suddenly ripping open revealing my bare ass. I tried to quell my fear by rationalizing that at least I had on underwear. Then I realized that my thong was nude colored and it basically would just be like I was running around butt ass naked.

When I walked to class I held my messenger bag over my ass. I was walking with such ferocity because at this point I felt like it was only a matter of minutes before they ripped wide open. I kept my line of vision at the ground careful to avoid eye contact with anyone who may realize that my pants were about to spring from my body. In class my fears only exaggerated because the anticipation of making it back to the parking garage was killing me. I was border-line running by the time I reached the parking garage after class, and my bag was bouncing violently off my ass-making a loud thumping noise in its wake. It was as though I was running away from my own ass and spanking myself at the same time all while a bomb was about to explode.

It was then that I realized I am better than Jason Statham because I was able to transport my own ass across campus despite the fact that it was about to blow up (the pants not my butt), and I didn't even need a car to do it. Then the bomb didn't even go off so really I am awesome. Except when it comes to wearing leggings... that I am not awesome at, unless they have palm trees on them. So for now the tribal leggings will hang in my closet until I invest in longer shirts that will match them.  

Oh and here are some Narwhals

Photo Credit: Reddit

JC Penny the Beetle and Friends

My sister has always had a real knack for creativity. On top of that she can draw very well, and always has been able to. She also holds on to a lot of things from our younger years... perhaps because she cherishes the many memories of me; her favorite person in this whole wide world.

Oh the child videotapes that exist which showcase our sisterly love. My most favorite video is when my dad filmed us sitting under an apple tree in the orchard in front of our New Hampshire log cabin on a late summer day.  We were both bedecked in our OshKosh B'Gosh striped overalls. Hers were pink, and mine were blue. My father had tried to stage the perfect setting for the video that would act as a commemoration in our later years. Maecee read to me from one of her story books, she must have been five maybe six and I was 2 maybe 3. She read away as I persisted to pick my nose and wipe it all over her perfect overalls. She continued to read, not noticing the disgusting behavior I was partaking in.

Back on track...Do you remember the Beanie Baby Craze of the 90s? Well my sister came across something the other day that we had done in our youth. A hazy memory coupled with the photos that I am about to post reminded me of a time when we sat down together and had our Beanie Babies make up their own Beanie Babies as imaginary friends. I know we were living in our home in South East Boise so I would like to say that I was roughly 9 and Maecee was 12. My drawings were lost, probably because I throw away nearly everything. But hers have survived the past couple of decades and are in pristine condition.

There are a couple dozen more. I think you get the gist however. If Ty is still in business, which I think they are, I do think they should hire my sister because some of these are just amazing and need to be manufactured.

Edit** Apparently I already told the Apple Tree story.. But it is such a fond memory I had to tell it two times http://malinamylife.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-muffin-man-and-his-apple-tree.html

The Mystery Man

Yesterday was Saturday which hosted my last two exams for the week, YAY- glad that is over.

I awoke at four in the morning to attempt to get some last minute cramming in. I was studying away in the living room when suddenly I heard this strange gurgling/wheezing/coughing noise. This noise persisted for approximately 15-20 minutes. I eventually concluded that it must be this creepy guy who is usually outside smoking non-stop. His apartment is clear across the complex but being that it was four in the morning and the only other noise was the gentle pattering of raindrops I presumed that his coughs must be carrying across the courtyard.

I went about my business, went to class, took my exams, came home did a bunch of homework watched BSU fail miserably at football, watched a movie and at last hit the sack. I awoke to a strange knocking sound at the front door around 6:56 AM. Justin was asleep next to me, but I in my bravery decided to let him sleep (after spanking him of course) as I deduced what could be going on. Maybe that wheezy guy wasn't that smoker? Maybe he came back, and maybe it was someone trying to abduct me.

After arriving at this logical conclusion my first thought was:

I literally thought of the wand that one of my friend's (highly talented I might add) made me a few years back for my birthday which is right on top of my dresser. I seriously ruminated on how exactly this would work to defend me for about thirty seconds before I realized that perhaps that wasn't the right option to save myself. I wonder what an intruder would do if I brandished my wand as a mechanism of defense? They would run away, duh!

Oh and by the way I tried to take a photo of the wand for you with my highly technical iPhone 4 which I think is on the fritz. I attempted the Reparo spell on my phone camera but alas, it did not work. These were what I got:

With Flash- hindsight it is possible my wand was in the midst of some kind of spell when I took this.

Without flash, notice my antique nautical dresser that my late grandmother refinished for me some 26 years ago

Here is a photo that was taken years ago by my friend herself-it showcases her excellent wand making skills much more than my photos do:

Photo Credit: My friend :)

and this post just turned into a Harry Potter post again. Oops. I blame the approaching Halloween and blustery weather that has been had here in Idaho as of late.

Stemming From Fear

I just spent about twenty minutes trying to get the balls to kill the huge spider in the sink.

Ya that is a tomato stem… It really was much more menacing looking and exponentially bigger than this crappy phone camera shows. I had a dream last night that there was a spider who could jump really high (around five or six feet) and ran extremely fast. Because of this, I was too afraid to reach over the spider to turn on the sink. I stood from a safe distance observing waiting for it to move slightly closer to the drain. Finally after staring for twenty minutes or so I realized it hadn’t moved. I approached the rabid beast only to find that it was a tomato stem. Awesome. 

In other news I found this photo of Seattle on Imgur and thought it was pretty neat

Photo Credit: Imgur

And this photo of The Ships in Bulgaria 

Photo Credit: Vasil Anastasovski found on Imgur

For some reason the Bulgaria photo reminds me of Lord of the Rings. This scene in particular...

Photo Credit: LOTR

PS Liz from grad school emailed me back something pun-ny about a computer working its magic so I think we are good to go with my accidental Harry Potter fandom email.

I Am My Own Worst Enemy

Remember how excited and proud of myself I was like two days ago when I submitted everything required to apply for grad school? Well that was fun while it lasted. This morning I noticed a refund processed for my app fee from the school I applied to. I checked my email to find a note from one of the grad school employees telling me that I am an idiot and despite stating that I was an Idaho citizen I filled out the international student application. *sigh

I immediately processed what I believe was the correct application (I will keep you updated if it isn't). I then responded to the person who emailed me telling them about how sometimes I labor under the delusion that I am from England because I love Harry Potter so much. I had it all written out and then I thought: 'Hmm should I send this? No better not send it. Not every one understands weird Harry Potter fans.' I highlighted it all and instead of hitting backspace I think I hit enter? which apparently sent the email?

My face after I sent the email
Photo Credit: Harry Potter

So hopefully Liz the grad school coordinator likes Harry Potter, because if not my odds of getting in to grad school this round are equivalent to me finding Hogwarts. *sigh

Photo Credit: Harry Potter

10 Points for Gryffindor

Last night directly before I was going to bed Justin asked me if I had seen Emma Watson's speech at the United Nations regarding feminism. He had seen a blip on his Facebook news feed and just decided to mention it in passing; having not watched the speech himself. I retired to our room, pulled the video up on my laptop, and watched for thirteen minutes as Emma Watson delivered what I consider to be both spectacular and moving speech.

The speech revolved around equal rights for men and women which I obviously find important. I need not preach about the issues at hand since if you care to be enlightened, Emma Watson does a far better job then I could ever do in the video below. Toward the end of her speech she stated a few impressive proclamations which inspired me so much that I finished my CASPA application for PA School, and then my supplementary application for the one grad school I am applying to this round. I honestly do not think I stand a chance at getting in for the upcoming year owing to my lack of medical experience hours (I come in at about a third of what is liked.. not having the minimum hours puts me at the bottom of the application stack), but the point is that I tried. Because as Emma Watson said: "If not me, who... if not now, when?" and she was right.

I am excited and terrified all at the same time. If you know me personally then you are well aware of the uphill battle that I have faced while finishing my undergraduate degree and combating health problems. But despite those adversaries I never gave up. So for me- submitting that application was monumental. As miniscule as it may seem in the grand scheme of things, I am proud of myself.