Don't count your chickens before they're hatched

Today, I was finally able to sit down and figure out what day I wanted to leave Ottawa, and hence what day to book a van for from a rental company. I had been so busy finishing up my thesis and getting ready to move that I hadn't really had any time to sit down and think about this. But now, I am officially moved out of my apartment and officially done of my thesis so I thought it would be a good time to figure this sort of thing out, so that I could book somewhat ahead. I had been incredibly relieved to find a car company that would accept one way bookings to PEI, as apparently, most don't anymore, so I wasn't too concerned when I sat down in front of my computer today. I was thinking I would like to leave either Tuesday or Wednesday. This should give me sufficient time to clean out my desk and filing cabinet at the lab, and to organize my files, I should think.

Unfortunately, there was no "mini-van" option for either Tuesday or Wednesday. They seemed to be sold out. I started to panic and looked at Monday - in a pinch, I could probably finish up everything tonight, if I really really had to - but again, no vans . . . the same thing happened for Thursday, and Friday and, well you get the idea. At this point, I was saying all kinds of words out loud that should not be said in the presence of children. Finally, I had to resign myself to traveling on Thursday with an "SUV crossover" which was the roomiest vehicle I could find over the course of the week. It appears to be very similar to a minivan, but I am somewhat worried about fitting my stuff in there. It will need to be well packed, but fingers crossed that it will all go well.

Now, I just need to figure out what to do with this extra time I will be spending in Ottawa. Oh, and I am also (perhaps sadly?) bummed that I will have to miss Grey's on Thursday night because I will still be on the road. Yes, I am a wee bit obsessed, but I can't help it!

My room is echoing!

Twenty-four hours after successfully defending my Masters I managed to complete my thesis corrections and submit my thesis along with all appropriate forms to graduate in October 2007. That’s right – I am now officially a master! . . . Well, at least of biology. It feels absolutely wonderful to have completed all of this and to be done. I am so ready for the next adventure!

I have been packing for the last few hours (it’s now midnight here) and I can say that I am 90% there. My room now echoes, which I take as a good sign in terms of emptiness. I expect tomorrow’s move to go really smoothly, as I have managed to get rid of almost all my stuff (the rest I am donating to the Salvation Army). The move tomorrow is just a temporary one. I need to complete some things at the lab this week, before I can finally take off, so I am happy to have great friends who sometimes let me crash on their futons (in this case, thanks Karen!). So, I hopefully have only enough stuff to fit into a van which I will be renting to drive back home at some point next week. I think it will be really fun to drive back east . . . at least for the first 3-5 hours. By hour 14, I think I will be pretty happy to get back (and unpack - ugh).

The official date for the upcoming move to Scotland is October 13^th. I have two weeks and I couldn’t be happier!

Defense Date

This is just a short note - I found out this morning that my defense date will be Thursday afternoon. Yep - I have 48 hours to know all I need to know. And, here I am procrastinating with my blog, in typical grad student fashion! So, I should be back in the UK either October 14th or 21st, depending if I decide to change my flight! Keep your fingers crossed for me for Thursday! :)

Scottish Weather

I have to admit that I am not sure I will be able to handle (on a full time basis no less!) the nearly total lack of sunshine in Scotland. I like the sun. I really, really do. Today in Ottawa, they expect to beat the temperature record (we'll likely reach a high of 29-30 degrees) compared to the temperature in Edinburgh right now which is a mere 12 degrees. For fun, I looked up the longterm forcast for Edinburgh and this is what it said:



Yep, cloudy and a bit on the cool side all the way. It's such a good thing that I am planning to move over just in time for winter - perfect timing on my part! :)

I will never forget what a scottish friend of mine once told me: You know how most people, when they go on holiday to some beautiful sunny destination turn from a pale white to perhaps a lovely sunburn pink? Well, the scots like to do it a bit differently. Since it's so cold there in the winter they actually have to defrost first, changing from a beautiful deep blue, to the pasty white, and then the sunburn pink. Given the complete paleness of my skin, I should fit right in!

Scotland Bound, yet again!

I started this blog quite some time ago, when I was first settling in to Ottawa and since then I have kind of neglected it, since my life was virtually taken over by grad school. You see, this is why I should never be allowed to have plants. Something else comes up and before you know it my beautiful greenery has turned to brownery!

I have almost completed all of my requirements for my Masters in Biology: I just have to have my defense and make corrections to my thesis and then I will be returning to bonnie Scotland yet again! I am getting rather excited about it all, although I am also filled with a sense of trepidation since I have so much to do before the big day. And, I am the queen of procrastination. As is shown by me sitting here writing a blog about all the other things I should be taking care of.

Okay, major upcoming obstacles/things to do include:

1. Passing my defense. It's not so much that I don't think I will end up with my MSc at the end of the day, but I am certainly more than worried about looking like a complete idiot in front of my friends and colleagues who are kind enough to come to the defense to support me. The major issue I am having with this is simply getting my defense date organized. I am hoping to have it sometime in the upcoming week, but as of yet, I have not had a date confirmed. I really should be studying . . . eek!

2. Moving out of my apartment in Ottawa. I have to be out of here by October 1st, so naturally my apartment is currently littered with half packed boxes, organized in piles that only I could comprehend. This will get better though. Right?

3. Finding a new home for all the stuff I cannot take with me. *sigh*. Since I am moving across an ocean, it is difficult to take all the things you have accumulated over the years to your new home. It's possible, but expensive - I could probably just buy new stuff for cheaper! Today it kind of hit me that I am saying goodbye to a lot of items that I have known for a long time and it made me kind of sad. I think it'll hit home even more tomorrow which is when my friends are coming to pick up my bed. Then it'll be me, an air mattress, and a whole lot of empty space for a week.

4. Moving all the stuff I want to keep, but am not taking with me right now to PEI. I have no idea how I am going to accomplish this anymore. Perhaps Greyhound? I will need to see how many boxes I have to move.

Well, I guess those are the big things. There are all kinds of minor things too take care of, but that will come together. I'm keeping a list. For those that know me well, that should come as no surprise!

The good news is, once I get through all this stuff I will be in Scotland. That is my light at the end of the grad school tunnel.