I'm an Auntie!:

My wonderful friends Jon and Ashley had a baby yesterday, Sept. 25; a beautiful (I'm assuming, I mean just look at them pictured below) baby girl whom I think is named Jada Cyan Walker. :) I will confirm all the details, but the call that woke me up at 5 this morning was such a joy to hear, even though I was too sleepy and confused to get all the information. But, I do know that Mom and Baby are doing well and that is enough for me. So, if everyone could keep sending out prayers for this new family that would be wonderful. Oh and if you are wondering why I'm saying I'm an Auntie it's because Jon has basically been my big brother since I was 6. :) I'm still holding out for the title of Godmother however. Hee hee.



Love,
Elizabeth

P.S. When did I get old enough to have friends who have babies?! Wow time flies when you're having fun! Blessings to all!

Photos!

I am so so so busy at the moment and I can think of nothing to say except Latin is hard, I have too much that I want/need to read for my thesis, and I am severely grumpy that my ipod died after only two years, that I thought I would entertain you with a few pics from Oriel in Dublin. I'm also including a pic I took in the train station in Paris with my parents that I forgot to post earlier. It is part of a French advertisement, but I thought it was priceless and all of you that know the Coulters and Annie the Pug will probably agree. I should also say thank you for all the support I've received in my U of L-induced melancholy. Thank you family and friends! And Poppa Joe, you're right, basketball season is right around the corner! Thankfully I'll be home for a few of those games! :)

The Group in Trinity College, Dublin Quad:


Me, Being Cold:


Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil:


The Villain:


Back to Work!

Love,
Elizabeth

I Lied:

My spirits could be dampened today, and the Cardinals did it. :( I don't know what to say, so I will let Waylon Jennings lift the mood for me, with a video from my childhood.



Ugh,
Elizabeth

A Year in Review:

I did not want to occupy my post yesterday with a mention of my one year anniversary in Britain, but I did want to bring everyone's attention to it briefly today. One year ago yesterday, I embarked on a life changing experience. I walked nervously to the edge of security at the Cincinnati airport with only Jeffrey's guiding hand to pull me on the plane. I hugged my dear friends Alvin, Stevie, and Roy, as well as Jeffrey's mom Regina, and my parents not wanting to let go. With tears streaming down my face I inched towards the line, thankful Jeffrey was still with me so that I was not embarking on this journey completely alone. It's a vivid memory really, and yet it seems so long ago. In a strange way this year has crept and flown by all at the same time. I won't go on about my experiences, I've tried to keep those as up to date as my time and psyche would allow, but I just wanted to address what I think is the amazing rapidity by which this year has passed. So many changes, so many new friends, so much have I learned! I am continually shocked by this world and what it has to offer. So much happens in a year! As I sit here on a Saturday morning about to embark on more work, I suppose I just wanted to mark the anniversary of my departure with some acknowledgement, and look ahead to what exciting adventures are still to come my way over the next 10 months and unnumbered years. Oh the possibilities! What hope I have for my future and the future of those around me. Even the dullness of rote Latin practice cannot dampen my spirits this day. And that really is an accomplishment!

Wishing positive thoughts to all,
Elizabeth

P.S. I'm sending out a prayer request for my dear friends Ashley and Jon who are very soon to have their first child. I ask that everyone pray for the safe delivery of their hopefully healthy and happy baby! And if you wish, please pray that they officially ask me to be the God-mommy of their beautiful baby (hint, hint). ;)

Felicitation:

Imagine my surprise this morning when I received in my little pidge a thick, full envelope from the University of Louisville Alumni Awards Presentation. I opened it carefully, removing a cardinal red, golden sealed invitation to this year's 2007 Alumnus of the Year and Alumni Fellows presentation. Now, how could I be so lucky as to receive such a prestigious invitation? Well, I will happily and most excitedly tell you. One of the honorees to become an Alumni Fellow is my very own Uncle Steve, the so-called scholar who loves me. I could not be more thrilled! And to be honest, the award could not go to one more deserving. I have always been in awe of my uncle and appreciative of the interest which he took in me. Since my childhood I've received postcards, letters, and notes allowing me into his world, dutifully preserving the art of hand-written communication, and talking to me as if I were intelligent enough to understand his great mind. Like my mother, my uncle reached a level of education to which I aspire, and I am so lucky to have him not only as an influence, but also as a help. He reads all my papers, suggesting changes while pointing out positives in my writing and research. He is also a wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. And I can, along with his other nieces I'm sure, vouch for his great abilities in the field of uncle-hood. I speak often of how blessed I am because of my family, and my uncle Steve is another facet of these unending blessings. I wish so much to be able to attend the presentation and reception, for I know the speech he will give shall be informative, clever, and a joy to hear. I also know how very proud the rest of our family will be sitting in the audience. As a proud niece and a proud U of L alumna, I can think of nothing better to celebrate my family and our love for such a wonderful university. So far three generations in my family have degrees from U of L, and I hope many more will continue so to do. There is nothing more precious than a degree from a university which houses both education and your community. U of L is more than just a place of learning, it is a place of life. So as my uncle accepts this highest of honors I would just like to issue my felicitation of complete and utter pride. Congratulations Uncle Steve! You are so deserving and I am so very happy for you! If only I could be there in person to congratulate you. And yet, it seems fitting that I can textually send my congratulations, for it is through text that our communication properly began.

With great love, and great delight,
Elizabeth

You Are Being Tracked!:

Tee hee. Thanks to Sarah I've got this nifty map at the bottom of my page now (scroll all the way down if you want to see it!) which shows from where my readers are, well, reading. It's fun! So, watch out all, big brother knows where you are! Just the city though, so don't worry too much.

I guess while I'm on here I will briefly let you know that I'm managing intermediate Latin and my research for the moment, though I have very little time for my research and I am pretty much continuously exhausted. I am however able to study in front of the television again because of the Latin (can't you see me sitting in the living room chair Regina?!). :) So that's fun.

Well, this is cutting in to my only 3.5 hours of library time a day, so I best be off. Because: si studeo, laeto (If I study, I am happy). Not really, but I can't find the word for sleepy in my dictionary. ;)

Love,
Elizabeth

What I Learned About Myself in Dublin:

I'm back from Ireland and have just finished my first of 15 days of intensive Latin. Whoo! What this really means is that I'm absolutely knackered. Honestly I don't think I've ever felt this tired. I can identify fully with my cousin Aidan about how stress and emotional exhaustion can lead to physical detriment. I can also identify with his common claims about the acknowledgement of aging. After this weekend, I can certainly see that age has changed me slightly, so with that in mind I shall tell you what it is I learned about myself this weekend in Dublin.

The first and most important thing I learned about myself this weekend is that I LOVE to see new places, learn new things, and explore. The problem with this love is that I HATE to travel. You all know I am afraid to fly, but I'm also just not comfortable flying. The air is stale, it can be turbulent, it's difficult to sleep. I just don't like it. Worse than flying though, I cannot stand to ride a bus. Particularly a bus through winding, small, and bumpy European roads. I have somehow adopted Emelia's motion sickness (thanks babe) and I become so very ill when I ride. My temperature rises, my stomach ties itself in knots, and I have to physically stop myself from letting the contents of my stomach emerge. Sorry to be unpleasant, but that is what happened on the four bus trips I took this weekend. I no longer have a tolerance for buses like I used to. I cannot explain this except to think that it has something to do with a change in my body due to age. My body has new comfort zones, and buses are not part of said zones. In summary, if someone could get on that teleporter they promised to build me (I won't name names here) that would be swell. The Star Trek method of transportation is far more appealing than any of our modern ways.

I learned this weekend that I have some addictions and preferences that severely alter how I experience life. Now, I know this is true for everyone, but I hadn't really thought about these things before. I guess I should begin by saying "Hi, my name is Elizabeth and I am an email addict. I am also addicted to University of Louisville athletics, talking on the telephone, and vegetables. I went 59 hours without any of these things. It goes without saying that I am addicted to chocolate and shopping, but I have some control over these things." So my travel-induced technology sobriety was pretty successful. I had an itch for the computer, primarily because of the game (I will not discuss the present depression I am experiencing except to reply to my friend Bobby whose email this morning stated that statistically the Cards had to lose to the pussycats sooner or later. Well Bobby, accepting your logic is true, I will be emailing you on the morning of Jan. 6, 2008 to remind you of said statistics. If I'm right, there has been a three year drought in a basketball victory for my Cards, so that must mean... P.S. I believe (in terms of Football at least) there are such things as statistical anomalies.) but also because as a graduate student, my main method of communication is through the computer. Email, blog, facebook, etc. Everything I do is on this thing! It's both handy and scary actually. Sometimes I wish I could go back to the time when I had a life without a phone and computer, but I fear that would be too difficult to do. Especially in my present 'life overseas' situation. Can you imagine what this experience would be like if I could not so easily communicate with all of you at home? But I did better than expected. Though I turned on my phone and dialed Dad to find out the score of the game as soon as I landed in Heathrow. But hey, I tried.

I am also addicted to and in need of a daily dose of fresh fruit and veg. I ate like poo on this holiday. Carbs, protein, and fat. Not even chocolate! Just rubbish bacon, potatoes, chips (french fries), fried fish, and some cheese. The only bad thing I did enjoy immensely was Smithwick's, which is an Irish Ale I love drinking at my weekly trivia sessions in Louisville, and does not exist in England. But anyway, three days without fruit and veg left me feeling weak, lethargic, lazy, and unable to concentrate. I was whiny. I need good food! It is not lost on me that I am lucky to be able to afford fresh food, but man, ever since my eating habits changed with Dad's massive weight loss last year, I now see that I've trained my body to enjoy healthy alternatives. So, I may crave chocolate and the occasional salty food, but I cannot live on those things. Also, I should here make a public apology to my Momma. Mom, I am sorry I was not understanding when you needed to eat regularly in Paris. I now get it. I hope you will accept my apology because like you, I need to eat at certain intervals or I cannot function either. Please forgive me.

Rereading my entry so far, this all sounds rather negative, and I assure you, I had a lovely time in Ireland. It is beautiful and Dublin is a great city. It is full of life and history. After taking a tour of the city and learning some of the basic modern history about which I will admit I was shaky, it occurred to me how young is the modern Republic of Ireland. America is a young country historically speaking, but in terms of modern government, Ireland is just a baby. 1922. That's it. And that got me thinking about Israel and the African countries that also formed in the mid to late 20th century after escaping Imperial rule. Some of our world is so young and so fragile. With what feels like fragility in the US pretty constantly, I cannot imagine the insecurity of being one of the revolutionaries to reform and reestablish a country. I guess it just goes to show that history is a living thing. It is ever-present, ever-changing, and this goes for what has already occurred in the past. I won't go on about this, but I think the term 'interpretation' says it all.

I will post pictures of our adventure in Dublin soon. I ought to go now and get back to work. It will be a crazy few weeks. So, what I learned about myself in Dublin: I both love and hate travel, I need healthy food, I prefer the accessibility of technology though am glad I can live without it, and I am, in fact, getting older. I am opinionated, stuck in my ways, and have specific expectations on how one should experience a new country that may not mesh with other peoples expectations. This is ok. My gray hair, my need for sleep, my new love of coffee because of the death of my taste buds, these things are all ok. My joy at sitting next to a woman with a five month old baby on the plane when others cringe, my excitement that she was breastfeeding and not giving the baby a bottle, and my absolute desire to hold said beautiful girl are all aspects and lessons of my childhood that have morphed into who I am and what I prefer as an adult. My need to be around friends or family, my growing appreciation for home and for new places all come from my experiences. I am so amazed at how certain interests from my youth have faded into the background of my life, while new things have taken over, or old things have obtained a further importance. This is growth, this is life. I am neither overjoyed nor upset at my aging. I just am. It is all ok. Certain people and places will become more or less important to me over time. Certain memories will become more faint; new ones will be made. But I will always prefer to travel with music and people, will always love to talk to anyone, will always love to be surprised by something new or by something rediscovered for that matter. I will always love my Cards. I will always cling to Grandpa's old pocket New Testament when I fly. I will always love children. I will always need friends and good, healthy food. I will always be overjoyed to step into a size smaller pair of jeans. I will always be in awe of my family and the blessings they all bring me. I will always love to learn and sleep. I will always want to be challenged in my work and I will always challenge the comments of the historical tour guide (Christianity was not solely a textual religion inaccessible to the masses!...what do you call stained glass windows and sermons buddy?). But mostly, I will always yearn to see new things, go new places, and be able to be fully myself: more aware, more content, and ever evolving, especially if I can do it without having to get on a bus.

Peace and love,
Elizabeth

Na hOrielenses i mBaile Átha Cliath And Spiders:

My title today is in Irish, not made up, I promise. Well, the spider part is in English, but I'm sure you could figure that out. Anyhoo, I leave tomorrow morning with 8 other members of the Oriel MCR to head to Dublin for the weekend in order to get to know some of the members of our sister college TCD (Trinity College Dublin). You know, building bridges and all. I'm excited about my first proper trip to Ireland (I flew directly over it when I came home at Easter, instead of underneath it which is what usually happens), and nervous about the flight (duh). So, once again I will beg for prayers, mostly because we are flying a budget airline which doesn't even provide peanuts or drinks! I'm sure my anxiety will be worsened without my normal ginger ale to soothe me. Too bad they don't sell it in the airports.

Or, maybe they do! We are setting off from Heathrow, which until now I have been able to avoid. I'm not that keen to go to the busiest airport in the world. It just means more people, lax security, and the ability to lose myself from the group in the crowd. Fun times. But maybe they will have ginger ale, though Patrick has already told me not to hold out for root beer. Seems that is a bit too American. By the way, have I ever mentioned that there are two types (not brands, types) of ginger ale over here? There is 'Ginger Ale' and 'American Ginger Ale'. There is also 'Ginger Beer,' which, like 'Ginger Ale,' I would advise avoiding. But you can on occasion find good ole 'Canada Dry' which makes me very happy. This gal likes ginger ale, especially when feeling sick (and we all know that's pretty much all the time).

I guess what this all means besides having lots to tell when I return and probably some after-effects from continuous pints of Guinness is that I won't be writing this weekend, not even to comment on the upcoming (and scary!) U of L v. UK game. Nope, won't even know the score until I return Sunday night. The lack of internet and computer will cause this, as well as my cell phone not working in Ireland. Though, if I become desperate, I'm sure I can find a calling card. But, I'm trying to save those funds for some Euro-based shopping which is cheaper than Pound-based. Yay!!!! I need new jeans you see. They are falling off of me again. Before you go: 'lucky girl,' please think about this problem from my perspective and imagine how difficult it is to hike up said baggy pants while cycling. I think I've given entirely too many truck drivers a show. :( And Phil, I'm eating...I promise!

I'm not sure about the frequency of my posts the next three weeks either. I will do my best, but I awake Monday morning to three weeks of 'Intensive Latin'! Yup, Latin, twice a day, while finishing my research so I can start writing my thesis in October. Joy of all joys. I am so very excited! Not really. Actually I'm just kicking myself for letting my Latin deteriorate to a state where I have to participate in intensive Latin. Boo, hiss on myself there. That is something I will have to work majorly hard to avoid once I leave Oxford. So, who is up for reading some Caesar with me? Anyone? Bueller? I really don't like Caesar. He isn't a fan of concise sentences. I'll have to find some medieval Latin texts with which to practice I guess.

I'll wrap up today by explaining to all that I live in the house in which the film 'Arachnophobia' was filmed. Every single day I kill at least one spider. I am petrified of spiders. I cannot stand them. Ever since stupid Zoo Camp when they made me hold a tarantula (I'm still bitter, yes). But you know what? I'm starting to feel guilty! I'm taking away a life unnecessarily because of my fear, not because it is harming me in any way. So, I now leave the little ones and attempt to take the big ones (some are huge!) outside. Though if they resist, sorry dude, ya gotta go somehow. I will say that I appreciate the role of spiders much more now, as our old house with no air conditioning or screens also has a problem with mosquitoes. So I have to pick the lesser of two evils, and in this case, heck, the spiders can fill the whole fricking house with webs if it means it gets rid of those darn mosquitoes. I also have a spider living on my bike. I've named him Nuisance. I should've picked something more like Shadow, because I've never seen him. And yet, every morning, I emerge to find a brand new little web between the back of my seat and my basket. And every morning I have to break it to move the bike onto the road. I apologize to him too. Can you believe it? I say sorry to the spider, because I know he must've worked all night. But what can ya do? I don't want him crawling into my trousers and I have to move my bike.

So there ya have it. I won't go on about my anxiety about the game Saturday, which for once has surpassed my anxiety for flying. I pray that I have a safe trip and that my Cards play their very best. I also pray that Kentucky does not end the season of another one of our players and that the offensive line successfully protects Brian. With that, I will bid my adieu.

Love, and a Go Cards for the road!
Elizabeth

Providing Some Laughs:

Not much to say, so here are a few Whose Line videos for your enjoyment.







:)
Elizabeth

A Few Loose Ends:

Not too much to say today folks, yet I have an overwhelming need to type or talk. And as it is expensive to call home, I shall type. So with not much to say, why do I feel the need to communicate? It's funny, communication. It's so vital to human interaction. It makes and breaks relationships. It malfunctions. It's effective. Communication can be fluid or non-existent. And it can happen even when we say nothing at all. But communication expresses so much. Feelings, thoughts, needs. Without communication what do we have? I mean, we even communicate with ourselves, with our own bodies. I suppose for me, this textual communication is just a means of furthering communication with those at home. It also records my thoughts and my experiences here in a distant land. And in some way it proves my existence. It reminds myself, and everyone who reads it, that I am here. I am alive.

I guess this all leads to the necessary self-plug that Sarah gave in her blog today. If you are reading, can you let me know you are there? I know I have faithful readers, but it sometimes feels as if I'm all alone in this cyber world. It's nice to know that my friends and family take the time to read my thoughts. It would be even nicer to know if my thoughts meant anything to them. So, if you get the chance, would you occasionally make a comment, or send me an email, or call, regarding one of my posts. I would love to know you are all alive too.

I've found recently that when I'm particularly pensive and in need of answers or comfort to life's big questions or problems, God finds some way to provide to me a sense of peace. It most often comes in the sermon topic on Sunday evenings, which seem to eerily relate to my life. But today, I was reminded that sometimes comfort comes outside of the walls of church. I'm not sure how many of you know my cousin Aidan. I am sure most of you know that I'm particularly close to my wonderful cousins Aidan and Erika. I consider them to be my siblings. They are both so very special. Clever, kind, funny, loving...I am so blessed to have them in my life. And I really believe that we are closer than some brothers and sisters. Erika always has a way of providing me with advice and comfort when we talk together. Aidan does too. Aidan also has a way of making me think more deeply about things bigger than myself. His humanity is humbling and his words always make me question my actions and choices. Today his blog struck a chord with me that I didn't expect. I can't exactly explain why. But I suppose the comfort I garnered from it was enough to prompt me to express publicly my thanks for my cousin. In fact, thanks for both my cousins. I love and miss you both so very much. My heart aches for you daily.

This leads to a loose end which I am ashamed to have missed personally in my blog. A belated Happy Birthday to my beautiful nephew Isaac, who turned two on Friday. I love you Izzy. I cannot wait to see you in December.

I suppose I should also mention that I've had some success with my work lately. I find myself to be a rather slow reader and processor of information. I think it may stem from an ease to which I slip into boredom. I'm starting to realize that I've eased through most of my education. Concepts, lessons, lectures, facts have all come easily to me. I'm ashamed to admit I haven't always done my fair share of reading. I could figure out points of interest without reading an entire text and once I did I got bored and stopped reading. I'm thankful that I have this ability because it means that I have an internal intelligence that I consider to be a blessing. But my ease into boredom becomes more worrying the further I go in my academic career. I want to work hard, I want to read everything I can, and know all I can know about my field and my research. And you know what? I need to know it all too. None of this is meant in a bragging, self-aggrandizing kind of way. It's just mentioned as a matter of fact and observation. My time in Oxford has enabled me to learn to work harder. Again, I don't mean that I never worked hard before. I worked very hard in undergrad. But I always had the sneaking suspicion that I could work harder. And I can. So right now, I am. And I love it. I love reading an entire article and knowing what it will contribute to my thesis. I love having so many ideas I can't even begin to figure out how they will all find a place in my work. And I love, love, love having the support of such wonderful supervisors, who believe in me and encourage me. Even if my work never contributes anything to the field of medieval history, I will know that it contributed to making me a better scholar, a better worker, and a better person. I am thankful and proud for that.

I guess I did have some things to say. I am my mother's daughter after all, so I imagine (and hope) I will always have something to say that is of value. To sum up this evenings ramblings, I hope all my readers know how very much I love and miss them. I am thankful for you all and recently am particularly sensitive to all the blessings God has granted me. I cannot understand why, but I am happy to bear the burden of a well-loved person. I wish everyone had this burden (and of course, I know it isn't a burden). I hope you all know you are well-loved by me.

Blessings and love to all,
Elizabeth

A Lesson In Humility:

Um...so, surprise, surprise....the US is not so good in the rugby market. Nope. Not so good. We lost 28-10. I had to endure endless taunts by commentators and Englishmen alike. It was not fun. The US played hard. They never gave up. They made me proud. But I couldn't help wishing this were a basketball game against England. That we would win. I had to learn some humility in all of the goings-on, and it wasn't easy. In fact, it was quite upsetting. I guess it's the same humility I had to accept while cursing at the computer on Thursday night. And the same humility I may have to accept on Sat. when we play UK. It's the kind of humility that hurts, deep down, because you see effort, but not results. I think though, that this is the best kind of humility, because when the pain goes away, when the sting lessens, what remains is pride. Pride and hope that your team competed at all, and will compete another day. After all, sport is supposed to be fun. So, I guess, as always, I will end with a vibrant and proud Go Cards! And of course, a GO USA! As the song says, I'm proud to be an American.

Love,
Elizabeth

Did You Know:

That the US has a rugby team? And we are playing in the World Cup as I type? Yah, we are playing England. I thought about putting up a minute by minute post, but I'm not that talented. And I have to be able to banter with this room full of English-people as we watch the match. I'm the lone American. :( Thankfully I have Rich, who is Welsh and thus hates all things English in terms of national athletics. I'll let you know how it goes. Right now it's 6-3 to England, but we are playing better than expected. I'm slightly agitated by the lack of respect for the US team. We aren't a rugby nation and the announcers are only talking about how the English team aren't playing well. "While they will win this game..." etc. Grrrrr. I feel as if I'm watching a U of L game in which no respect is ever shown for our team, particularly from national commentators. Yeah, I'm talking about you ESPN. Ugh. 9-3 now. And a US player sent off for 10 min. in the sin bin (penalty box). Incidentally, I won't mention how upset I am about the Cards performance on Thursday. Except to say I expect this will be a much longer season than first thought. With that, I'll support my country in their certain defeat.

Go USA!
Elizabeth

Feeling Nostalgic:



Mom and Dad, I hope you remember this one!

Loving everyone from home so so so much,
Elizabeth