USA 2010 - Part Two

June 15th & 16th 2010 - The Road to Denver

My friend M's friend O (I'm not using full names because, well, just because! ;)) turned 18 this week, so as a gift M & M took him to a concert in Denver (along with some other friends). I went along to keep M1 from going mental with 4 teenagers in the car for 2 days. Half mad myself, I decided to photo-document the journey.

USA 2010 - Part One

Okay, so here's the thing. Every year since 2006 I have taken my one annual holiday in the good ole' US of A, visiting dear friends of mine (yes, that's an antiquated term, but 'second family' sounds too suspect). Every year I want to take lots of pictures and document things really well. Every year, thus far, I have failed to do so.

So, this year I decided I was actually going to do it. The problem is, I'm not used to being a photographer, and so there have been instances where I should have taken pictures and completely forgot. Therefore, my photographic record of my trip thus far is rather full of odd gaps.

However, in the interests of fairness, and because I promised myself I would do this, here is my first batch of pictures. I can't entirely remember the significance of all of them, and there are a lot more landscapes than people, but its what I have for now.

Thanks for reading!

I'm back..............again?

*Hangs head in shame*

I am officially the slackest blogger on the face of the earth (okay, maybe that's an exaggeration, but probably not by much!). The last time I posted was in February! RIP Grandad.

In my own defence, I did have an insane amount of cr*p going on. I had to finish my dissertation (did, handed in on time :D), then essentially teach myself my second-semester module, after neglecting it horribly whilst working on my dissertation. I then had to write an essay, do a (solo!) presentation and finally sit an exam. Probably sounds easy to any other undergrad in their final year, but I left uni in 2005 and didn't return until 2009 - its a long time to be away from academic work. I was pretty rusty. But, its over now, and for better or worse I did my best. Now I just have to wait for my final results.

Ordered my gown and hood for my graduation ceremony today. Hood = the part of the garment that is dependant on your degree classification (undergrad, post grad, sciences, arts, etc). All the gowns at my university (except PhD's) are plain black. Now I just have to find something to wear under it. 

I'll be heading away on my holidays very shortly, and it is my intention to take lots of pictures and post them here over the course of my trip. I read a few different blogs myself, and my favourites are the ones with a good balance of text and pictures. I'm mostly a writer - I've always been one of those people either forgets their camera altogether, or brings it along and forgets to use it. This time I'm determined to be more dilligent in capturing the moments. If I had the funds I'd get a new digicam (mine's 4+ years old, and as such is totally obsolete), but I don't, so I'm just going to upgrade to a bigger memory card and hope that helps.

Anyway, that's the last 3.5 months of my life summed up 3 paragraphs (actually not quite - I also had a birthday but I'm ignoring it because, although I got to see my great friends M3 and had a lovely time with them, it wasn't a particularly significant birthday, and I'm really getting too old to make a big fuss over them anyway)....okay, now its more like 4 paragraphs. I sincerely hope to be back here much sooner than last time.

Peace!

N xoxoxox
 

In Memoriam

On Wednesday February 3rd 2010, at 11.35pm, my grandfather passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 71 years old.

He loved photography, and gardening. He drove me to my therapy appointments because my sense of direction sucks and I couldn't find my own way there. He introduced me to country music (damn you!!). He built the hutch for my rabbits when I was 12, and later their garden run. He and my Nana loved to travel. He leaves behind a wife, two daughters and 5 grandchildren.

My grandad was a good man who tried to help people. He loved animals.

He smoked chronically for many years. He had 2 major heart attacks before being diagnosed with lung cancer in 1999. They gave him 18 months. He fought hard, and won many of the battles but ultimately lost the war. His pain is over now. Rest easy now Grandad - we'll be okay.

R.I.P.

Winter Wonderland

A little pictorial of today in the UK (pics behind the jump!)

Merry Christmas

and a happy New Year!

Happy Holidays everyone!

Damn!

I am officially the world's worst blogger. Its been 2 months since I last promised that I would update soon. Man - big-time apologies for my slacking.

In my defence, I am (as you may have previously read) back at school, and man is it harder than I remember! Or maybe its just that I give a crap this time, so I'm actually trying now. Either way I've been mad-busy. One major deadline done, one to go, then Christmas Break!! I am working the first week of the break tho' (December graduation ceremonies), and I have to study still, but at least no classes for a few weeks.

At least I've updated my Twitter more recently than this thing - blargh!

Anyway, sadly I don't have much to say (or rather, I have too much to say and can't remember well enough to recount it all now) but I am endeavouring to be less slack (I know, I always say that). I'm going Christmas shopping in York in couple of weeks (my friend and I go every year) and I will be taking my camera, so I'll try and make a post for that with some pretty pictures of York all decked out for Christmas. I'll also hopefully be seeing New Moon that weekend (yes, I've succumbed) so I'll try and post my thoughts on that too.

For now though, I'll leave you with my thoughts on the last movie I saw - the 3D animated version of A Christmas Carol, with Jim Carrey, Colin Firth and a number of others. I've seen versions of this story before (who hasn't?) and frankly its always creeped me out. I think it was the Muppets' version that killed it for me - slightly creepy story plus exceptionally creepy Muppets = nightmares for Nic.

However, this version was a plesant surprise. The 3D version is excellent - there were a few times when I forgot I was watching a cartoon - and Jim Carrey's performance as Scrooge was exceptionally good. I left feeling entirely uplifted and singing carrols all the way back to the car. All in all I'd give it a good B+ (only because I'm not sure if I'd feel the need to see it again).

See you soon!!