I'm dying. I've not gone two minutes without coughing for three hours now. Instead of my planned Halloween evening which went along the lines of curl up in blanket, experiment with eye liner and draw things on my face, drink hot chocolate and watch Death Note (which means I'm totally in there for a wii. SmokeyJoe I owe you some sort of beverage), I went to the football. We not only lost ridiculously but my ass has frozen off and now sitting down is difficult. I'm coughing like some sort of yappy dog. Mmmhmm attractive.
Some musings before I leave for my early grave.
There's a guy who's in all of my classes and I'm not sure if I mentioned him here before, let's call him Mouseface. Mouseface is tall, lanky with brown hair wears glasses, those clear braces and I keep forgetting what his name is but I do know it. He has spoken maybe a dozen words to me, all at the one time and never acknowledged me since. He's a first year and may be the same guy I saw at the induction thing who I saw was born in 1990 which freaked me out. Granted I only lived in the eighties for a year and a day but it's like having my lil sis at uni purely because she was born in the early nineties. Anyway, my point is he's in all of my classes and everytime we've had archaeology bar the couple of times I've been late in, he's sat next to me. Not right next to me like I'd sit next to someone I liked so as to have a little accidental brushing of legs during lectures, but a seat along from me. I didn't think anything about it until I noticed he was doing it every single time. He sat next to me properly for the first time today in my history class, but ignored me and talked to his mate the whole time. I see him everywhere and I can't be bothered with him. He's a cardboard cut-out of so many guys I've had to drive away because they've bored me to tears. I'm too lazy to do that again. I attract a strange mix of guys, sadly none of them are ever normal or available.
So Mouseface. He's in my classics class too, but I've managed to avoid him for the most part, mostly because I've been trying to get a chance to speak to the Classics guy. I had a perfect opportunity the other day but then I remembered I had a tutorial on the other side of the campus. Although now I know he smokes it's iffy. I have an unhealthy fascination with smoking, not as unhealthy as actually being a smoker but I imagine it's heading that way. The smell of cigarettes is just so comforting and for a couple of years every single dream I have involves me smoking. My dad got annoyed at me for freakin dream smoking, God knows what he'd do if I started for real. Fact is, with some people it's just outright sexy and I love the whole talking with a cigarette in your mouth that Dylan Moran does brilliantly. Although, I might just be thinking of him because he is brilliant in general and I haven't watched Black Books in a while. So yeah, iffy. If I went out with a smoker I'd end up either smoking myself or doing the proper girlfriend doesn't want you to die rigmarole which I hate. It's like mothering. I mothered my last boyfriend until I was sick of myself simply because he was so fucking lazy, it pissed me off.
I fell up the stairs on the bus today. Don't know how I managed it but I've skint my knee. Now it hurts to wear jeans (which is kinda sucky seeing as I only have jeans or a skirt and I don't want more colds) and to kneel, walking at any pace other than slow stings as well. It's annoying but then I think back when I skint my knee everyday practically as a kid. I was very clumsy, still am apparently what with not being able to climb stairs. But it was like a big deal, major pain. Little did I know how sore a broken heart would be. Angst angst wah wah. I worked out why I've been so crazy with my rawr hate men no wait mewants many. This week is the anniversary of the shortest time I've ever been single. How ever long ago it is now I manged to move from one realtionship to another within a couple of days. I came the closest I've ever been to cheating, but then I'm more of the idea that if you're with someone and you're attracted to someone else it's either a crush you don't act upon or it's time to move on to the next one. It's not that hard people and I betcha life would go more simple that way. But our TVs would have no Jeremy Kyle. That show's so hilariously judgemental.
My last musing is a memory that hit me the other day when I bumped into a girl I used to know. I used to be friends with this girl and she was a year older than me, always liked to remind me of that. Anyway she was smugly telling me that she'd kissed a boy in the cinema. I was disgusted, I was 10 at the time and boys were icky, and she just snorted at me:
"Cat, if you're so grossed out by the thought of a boy sticking his tongue in your mouth what will you do when he sticks his penis in you?"
Bear in mind reader that I did not know that this was how sex happened. I was bitterly upset. I didn't want anything stuck anywhere, thank you very much and decided she had got it all wrong.
I tell a lie this is my last musing. I just watched the Planet Terror trailer. It looks terrible. But in a good way. Gun leg! Zombies! Bruce Willis turning into some sort of weird ugly thing for some reason! I have to see this film. Sadly my usual film seeing people don't want to see it for various reasons (thinking it's crap, zombies apparently being scary). But I will see this film, even if it means going myself. Or better yet bribing others to come with with promises of free drink!
PS Julie is great. Catherine's day was not that interesting but mine was. Do not read this post.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Humpin' Pumpkin
It's Halloween! Woo and yay. I've cut my pumpkins. They look a tad ragged but I did what I could with the resources I had: 1 large spoon, 1 too big knife. Today was crazy. I got up before 8, made it into my history class on time and remained pretty damn happy until the tiredness crept in. All of this done after drinking a fair amount of rum last night. Which means, boys and girls, that your good friend Catherine had her first night out and didn't end up with a depressing hangover! Therefore, I should only get drunk in the company of guys, only way to not wake up miserable. It was actually pretty nice having a night out and being the only girl there. I don't know the name of the other girl who was there so I'm not counting her (sorry no-name!). I miss male company. All my male friends were from high school and I don't see them often and some of them are better friends with my ex anyway. So it was great, despite the nose crushing hugs and excessive pushing. All in all pretty good day today. Now to ruin it with an essay I have to write! Because I'm too lazy to make this a proper post have some writing.
Goodbye to You
Damn. This is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I'm not really sure where I should even begin. You know, daft as it sounds, I really did the whole plan everything you want to say montage in the mirror only without the editing to make it interesting. I can't remember a damn word now. Probably for the best though. Less likely to attack you with barrage of over-used clichés. I'll get to the point, Rambling like this isn't fair to you.
Things haven't been going so well with us lately, you must have noticed. It's my fault. I'm never around anymore. I've left you alone for days without warning and I feel awful for doing it. It's selfish and cruel and I wish there was an easier way to do this. But I'm leaving. I can't go on living this way, with you.
I've been seeing this girl for a while now. Claire. You met her at New Year. Tall, blonde, makes jewellery. You remember. Me and Claire, we hit it off. We kept bumping into each other after the party and things just went on from there. I wasn't planning this and I never ever meant to hurt you. Sometime these things happen organically, there's no helping them.
She has this flat across town. Big loft conversion with a view of the city. You'd like it. She's asked me to move in with her. I really want to. I think I'm in love with her. in fact, I'm fairly certain I am.
Don't go, baby. Stay here and let me finish, please. I want you to know that I'll never forget you. We had some good times together, didn't we. I know you'll find the right person one day and I hope you'll be happy. I can't give you everything you deserve. Not anymore. I always cared about you, don't ever doubt that. You will always mean something special to me.
So this is goodbye. No, get off me. You won't change anything by doing that. I've tried my hardest to make it work but her landlord was adamant about it. Under no circumstances could I move in with Claire and take you with me. I'm sorry. I hope they take good care of you, puss, and find you a loving home.
Goodbye.
Pro-tip while you may have a good idea whilst drunk don't expect your notes to be legible when you wake up the next morning. I had the following written on the back of a History handout: Magicbox, music's the secret to orgasms! So um yeah.
I have a magic music box.
You won't believe me. I don't care.
I found it at a car boot sale in amongst old costume jewellery and yellowing books. It's the colour of twilight and on the lid there's the outline of where the name of its previous owner had been fixed onto the wood. Ophelia. Only the O is clear, bright against the faded paint of the rest of the box. The 'phelia can only be seen if you look long enough. On the bottom a love heart is carved in the wood and coloured a rusty red. There's a hole in the back for the key that winds the music player. I haven't found the actual player yet. There's a false bottom with a ribbon to pull it up. It has to be in there but at some point the bottom's been nailed down and I don't want to break it for fear it loses its power.
I used it to store my journal before I knew what it was capable of. The woman who sold it to me never mentioned the music player, nor was there a key included. Three months after I bought it I found an envelope taped to my door, addressed to 'that nice boy with too much hair'. Inside was the key on a chain. I wear it round my neck. There was a note attached telling me that music was connected to the soul. That was all. I thought nothing of it until a week later when the power went out and the flat upstairs had a candle-lit party. With the CD player out and none of us having any musical talent I brought along my box and wound it up for the first time.
The music my box can play is something you've never really heard before. It plays the music of dreams. Far from the tinkling of your average music box, mine plays proper tunes. Fully orchestrated. It never plays the same song twice. That night it played music to dance too. Music that makes you feel invincible. I met my girl at that party. We danced all night and laughed til morning.
I'll tell you a secret, my music box is better than sex.
My girl winds it herself one night and lies across my bed, her cigarette hanging languidly from her soft lips. I sit on the floor, her head hanging off the end of the bed resting on my shoulder. The song begins with the first twinges of strings and soft taps of the percussion warming up. The guitars begin strong and steady building up as the rest of the band join in. The vocals are stage whispers bringing goosebumps to the back of my neck, the strings cause that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that softens her agate eyes as she looks up at me. The music swells, her body tenses and the volume increases. I'm dimly aware of my roommate banging on the wall for quiet but we're too far gone to care. The voices are practically shouting now, the strings are sweeping, one lone violin can be heard separate from the rest just for a moment, carried away with its own music making. My girl gives a shudder and the music climaxes before winding down, each instrument dropping out of the melody until only there's only a distant twinkling of chimes. Gently I move over to the desk and wind the box again. She wriggles a little and smiles at me as I lie beside her. I kiss her as the soft piano piece floats round the room. She cuddles into me, her body fitting perfectly against mine. The smell of her skin fills my head. We fall asleep where we lie as the music continues to play, completely content.
Goodbye to You
Damn. This is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I'm not really sure where I should even begin. You know, daft as it sounds, I really did the whole plan everything you want to say montage in the mirror only without the editing to make it interesting. I can't remember a damn word now. Probably for the best though. Less likely to attack you with barrage of over-used clichés. I'll get to the point, Rambling like this isn't fair to you.
Things haven't been going so well with us lately, you must have noticed. It's my fault. I'm never around anymore. I've left you alone for days without warning and I feel awful for doing it. It's selfish and cruel and I wish there was an easier way to do this. But I'm leaving. I can't go on living this way, with you.
I've been seeing this girl for a while now. Claire. You met her at New Year. Tall, blonde, makes jewellery. You remember. Me and Claire, we hit it off. We kept bumping into each other after the party and things just went on from there. I wasn't planning this and I never ever meant to hurt you. Sometime these things happen organically, there's no helping them.
She has this flat across town. Big loft conversion with a view of the city. You'd like it. She's asked me to move in with her. I really want to. I think I'm in love with her. in fact, I'm fairly certain I am.
Don't go, baby. Stay here and let me finish, please. I want you to know that I'll never forget you. We had some good times together, didn't we. I know you'll find the right person one day and I hope you'll be happy. I can't give you everything you deserve. Not anymore. I always cared about you, don't ever doubt that. You will always mean something special to me.
So this is goodbye. No, get off me. You won't change anything by doing that. I've tried my hardest to make it work but her landlord was adamant about it. Under no circumstances could I move in with Claire and take you with me. I'm sorry. I hope they take good care of you, puss, and find you a loving home.
Goodbye.
Pro-tip while you may have a good idea whilst drunk don't expect your notes to be legible when you wake up the next morning. I had the following written on the back of a History handout: Magicbox, music's the secret to orgasms! So um yeah.
I have a magic music box.
You won't believe me. I don't care.
I found it at a car boot sale in amongst old costume jewellery and yellowing books. It's the colour of twilight and on the lid there's the outline of where the name of its previous owner had been fixed onto the wood. Ophelia. Only the O is clear, bright against the faded paint of the rest of the box. The 'phelia can only be seen if you look long enough. On the bottom a love heart is carved in the wood and coloured a rusty red. There's a hole in the back for the key that winds the music player. I haven't found the actual player yet. There's a false bottom with a ribbon to pull it up. It has to be in there but at some point the bottom's been nailed down and I don't want to break it for fear it loses its power.
I used it to store my journal before I knew what it was capable of. The woman who sold it to me never mentioned the music player, nor was there a key included. Three months after I bought it I found an envelope taped to my door, addressed to 'that nice boy with too much hair'. Inside was the key on a chain. I wear it round my neck. There was a note attached telling me that music was connected to the soul. That was all. I thought nothing of it until a week later when the power went out and the flat upstairs had a candle-lit party. With the CD player out and none of us having any musical talent I brought along my box and wound it up for the first time.
The music my box can play is something you've never really heard before. It plays the music of dreams. Far from the tinkling of your average music box, mine plays proper tunes. Fully orchestrated. It never plays the same song twice. That night it played music to dance too. Music that makes you feel invincible. I met my girl at that party. We danced all night and laughed til morning.
I'll tell you a secret, my music box is better than sex.
My girl winds it herself one night and lies across my bed, her cigarette hanging languidly from her soft lips. I sit on the floor, her head hanging off the end of the bed resting on my shoulder. The song begins with the first twinges of strings and soft taps of the percussion warming up. The guitars begin strong and steady building up as the rest of the band join in. The vocals are stage whispers bringing goosebumps to the back of my neck, the strings cause that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that softens her agate eyes as she looks up at me. The music swells, her body tenses and the volume increases. I'm dimly aware of my roommate banging on the wall for quiet but we're too far gone to care. The voices are practically shouting now, the strings are sweeping, one lone violin can be heard separate from the rest just for a moment, carried away with its own music making. My girl gives a shudder and the music climaxes before winding down, each instrument dropping out of the melody until only there's only a distant twinkling of chimes. Gently I move over to the desk and wind the box again. She wriggles a little and smiles at me as I lie beside her. I kiss her as the soft piano piece floats round the room. She cuddles into me, her body fitting perfectly against mine. The smell of her skin fills my head. We fall asleep where we lie as the music continues to play, completely content.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Singing hallelujah with the fear in your heart.
Okay guys, lets review my past week!
First off I saw Stardust at the weekend (not the weekend that just happened but the weekend before) with lil sis. In general I liked it. I love Claire Danes, she's got an honesty about her that's endearing and Charlie Cox was cute. It was a bit Princess Bride-ish and I could have done without the overly epic trumpet score that kept cropping up at IMPORTANT moments. It was jarring. There was nothing epic about the story, we all know Tristan loves Yvaine, we know they're gonna get together and she's not going to die. It didn't need EPIC fantasy music. I was also a little disappointed in the ending. I'm not one of those people who get all pedantic about these things but the book ending was so sad but lovely and the film was a bit meh. I actually have the film tie-in book so I knew the ending was different but I musta forgot while I was in the cinema. I was just like 'wait, what? everyone lives happily ever after forever?' and sis got annoyed at me for ruining the moment or something.
Nothing much happened until Tuesday when I went to the other uni and paid £2 to watch Rangers and Barcelona do not a lot and pretend to ignore Emma singing in my face. She was adorably mad.
Then it was Lisbon time with Dad and Padington Bear! Lisbon is pretty. Lots of big fountains and statues of people like Vasco da Gama and King Jose. We didn't do much apart from eat and listen to Padington tell us Joe Strummer's life story and how the Clash formed all of his political views or something. I just kept thinking of Mark Ruffalo in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind when he gets high and rambles about how amazing The Clash were. I didn't tell him this. The stadium looks like a rollercoaster was stuck on top but Benfica have an eagle! At the start of each game this guy comes out and summons an eagle to swoop down over the crowd. Fricken awesome. We lost the game of course but you guys don't care about that. One last thing about the game I will say is that I had a surreal experience in the toilets. I could hear guys singing Celtic songs all around me while I peed because of the acoustics. Very weird. I got to see the national stadium where Celtic won the European Cup in '67. Dad was all in awe and the other guys with us crossed themselves with grass water.
Came back from Lisbon and saw Arcade Fire.
Emma and me were dying of the cold and she's never really listened to them but she boogied with me anyway. The crowd were all old and boring though. I mean the music isn't exactly rocking out loud but there could have been a bit more than serious arm pointing and swaying. We bounced and head banged as much as we could with coughing fits in between times because that's how hardcore we are. It was a good gig what with the organ and the guitarist running like a cartoon man on fire up and down the stage. No freebies though. Paid for a tee though, pretty nice.
Lil sis won £1000 by entering an article to the Scotland on Sunday. That's more money than she's knows what to do with! Ridiculously proud of her and have I mentioned how wonderful my sis is lately? Cause she is. Wii plz.
And lastly I got my pumpkins today. One little one and two tiny ones. Pics will follow once they're all cut and candled. Wish I could do more on Halloween but football. Yes, yes, I'm a man.
First off I saw Stardust at the weekend (not the weekend that just happened but the weekend before) with lil sis. In general I liked it. I love Claire Danes, she's got an honesty about her that's endearing and Charlie Cox was cute. It was a bit Princess Bride-ish and I could have done without the overly epic trumpet score that kept cropping up at IMPORTANT moments. It was jarring. There was nothing epic about the story, we all know Tristan loves Yvaine, we know they're gonna get together and she's not going to die. It didn't need EPIC fantasy music. I was also a little disappointed in the ending. I'm not one of those people who get all pedantic about these things but the book ending was so sad but lovely and the film was a bit meh. I actually have the film tie-in book so I knew the ending was different but I musta forgot while I was in the cinema. I was just like 'wait, what? everyone lives happily ever after forever?' and sis got annoyed at me for ruining the moment or something.
Nothing much happened until Tuesday when I went to the other uni and paid £2 to watch Rangers and Barcelona do not a lot and pretend to ignore Emma singing in my face. She was adorably mad.
Then it was Lisbon time with Dad and Padington Bear! Lisbon is pretty. Lots of big fountains and statues of people like Vasco da Gama and King Jose. We didn't do much apart from eat and listen to Padington tell us Joe Strummer's life story and how the Clash formed all of his political views or something. I just kept thinking of Mark Ruffalo in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind when he gets high and rambles about how amazing The Clash were. I didn't tell him this. The stadium looks like a rollercoaster was stuck on top but Benfica have an eagle! At the start of each game this guy comes out and summons an eagle to swoop down over the crowd. Fricken awesome. We lost the game of course but you guys don't care about that. One last thing about the game I will say is that I had a surreal experience in the toilets. I could hear guys singing Celtic songs all around me while I peed because of the acoustics. Very weird. I got to see the national stadium where Celtic won the European Cup in '67. Dad was all in awe and the other guys with us crossed themselves with grass water.
Came back from Lisbon and saw Arcade Fire.
Emma and me were dying of the cold and she's never really listened to them but she boogied with me anyway. The crowd were all old and boring though. I mean the music isn't exactly rocking out loud but there could have been a bit more than serious arm pointing and swaying. We bounced and head banged as much as we could with coughing fits in between times because that's how hardcore we are. It was a good gig what with the organ and the guitarist running like a cartoon man on fire up and down the stage. No freebies though. Paid for a tee though, pretty nice.
Lil sis won £1000 by entering an article to the Scotland on Sunday. That's more money than she's knows what to do with! Ridiculously proud of her and have I mentioned how wonderful my sis is lately? Cause she is. Wii plz.
And lastly I got my pumpkins today. One little one and two tiny ones. Pics will follow once they're all cut and candled. Wish I could do more on Halloween but football. Yes, yes, I'm a man.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
So I'm home.
Back from Lisbon. I know you all missed me. No, I haven't got presents for you, unless you're Emma in which case I do, but it's nothing big/worth any money. Meaning I stole it but I think it was free anyway but WHATEVER.
I don't have anything to say, too tired, face hurts, we lost blah blah stop calling me a man Emma just cause my interests do not match yours or those of females.
I just wanted a welcome home. From the internet.
Everything is too loud and cold.
I don't have anything to say, too tired, face hurts, we lost blah blah stop calling me a man Emma just cause my interests do not match yours or those of females.
I just wanted a welcome home. From the internet.
Everything is too loud and cold.
Monday, October 22, 2007
I wanna have your babies...
It's been a crazy baby weekend. I'll start with the laughable news. I have found yet another pregnancy test in the ladies toilet at work. That's like the third or fourth so far and in fairly quick succession. My money is on the skank with the 6 year old child already. She's doesn't have custody of her kid and she's admitted that while she was out on a fag break she got approached by a guy who mistaked her for a hooker. She'd be pitiable except I found 5 empty bottles of Slim Fast in her bin.
Now the question is, did she drink them before or after she suspected she was pregnant? I wish I could ask her.
The not so haha news is that my cousin (18, from Kansas, never met her) is pregnant. Shortly after telling our gran that she didn't believe in sex before marriage. Guess you do! I've only ever met my uncle, I don't know the rest of the family but he's such a nice guy and everything up til this sounded like it had been going really good for them. My cousin apparently is happy about it, suggested that she married her boyfriend until my uncle told her not to be ridiculous considering neither of them have jobs and both still live at home. I just feel sorry for her. I couldn't imagine throwing everything away like that. Big ol' life ruiner that is.
In better news I'm off to Lisbon this week. Woo and yay is in order! Mini-holiday with added fun of futbol! Also I finsihed my Classics essay. No more having to stare at Hesiod and his "women are a calamity and an affliction and they lie and eww women". Double woo.
So tired now. Hand cramp!
Now the question is, did she drink them before or after she suspected she was pregnant? I wish I could ask her.
The not so haha news is that my cousin (18, from Kansas, never met her) is pregnant. Shortly after telling our gran that she didn't believe in sex before marriage. Guess you do! I've only ever met my uncle, I don't know the rest of the family but he's such a nice guy and everything up til this sounded like it had been going really good for them. My cousin apparently is happy about it, suggested that she married her boyfriend until my uncle told her not to be ridiculous considering neither of them have jobs and both still live at home. I just feel sorry for her. I couldn't imagine throwing everything away like that. Big ol' life ruiner that is.
In better news I'm off to Lisbon this week. Woo and yay is in order! Mini-holiday with added fun of futbol! Also I finsihed my Classics essay. No more having to stare at Hesiod and his "women are a calamity and an affliction and they lie and eww women". Double woo.
So tired now. Hand cramp!
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Run for the shadows in these golden years
Julie's playing Kingdom hearts and other than making jokes about Sora's sexuality, setting character's names to music (Roxas fits perfectly to a certain song about a street walker by Sting) and suggesting that a better storyline for the Pirates arc woulda been Calypso has a beach party and everyone's invited (stone crabs with teeny maracas anyone?) I don't have much to do. So yeah, this happened.
I wrap my arms around me wishing that I'd worn my coat but the sun tricked me again this morning and I only have my thin red hoodie for warmth. Everything would be a lot less cold if I could get a coffee somewhere but that would only be an invitation for Sarah to spend more time with me. I can not shake this girl even though I'm pretty sure she doesn't even like me that much. The small link of high school seems to be enough for her to follow me all around town like a puppy telling me tales about people I care little about. I check my watch. Still three hours to kill. I'd planned on checking out the little vintage shop down the road from the history department and see if they had any bowler hats left but that was out now too. I'm wracking my brain for some excuse to get away when I realise she's waiting for me to answer her.
"Yeah, yeah. I remember Dan. What's he doing now?" Who cares? He was a bastard in school, probably being a bastard in some shitty job now for all I care.
"He's in a band now. For real." Figures. Can't get a proper job, too thick for further education so go for fame. Sarah's babbling something about some gig they've got lined up. Like as not just some club booked them on a quiet night with a bunch of other hopeful morons. What is it about boys and guitars. They think they just pick up a guitar and be Hendrixing in no time.
"So you wanna come with then?" I shrug noncommittally. I don't care what it is, I never actually plan time with Sarah. "You gotta come. You never go out. It's not healthy to shut yourself off from the world" I sigh. She does this everytime. Big pep talk on how to socialise like she knows how I spend my days. Why can't I think of an escape plan. All I can think about it smashing my fist through her smug mouth. I've just popped out one of her teeth when a word jars me out of my imaginings. I grit my teeth as I make my response:
"No, Sarah. I do not have a boyfriend at the moment." Cue sympathy sounds and more pep talk, this time on how to get some. Kill me now.
We walk on like this for a few more minutes. I'm freezing now and the Starbucks across the road is too tempting. I step out without looking too much at the traffic only to be pulled back onto the pavement.
"Saved your life!" Sarah beams at me. A beat-up blue mini van screeches to a halt in front of us. I smile recognising the design that twirls along the side. The passenger door is flung open and there she is. My escape route.
"Come with me if you want to live." Cass tells me this completely deadpan serious, her wild mane of red hair adding to the drama. The words tumble out of my lips before I can stop them:
"My hero!" Sarah looks awkward but starts her feeble attempt at a self-introduction. I leave her spluttering by the road as I jump into Cass' van and she roars away to freedom.
"Jeez, you're shivering. I gotta flask of chocolat somewhere." Her fingers point vaguely in the back. It's stuffed full of art supplies. I gamely pick my way through, spurred on by the fact that my right hand is practically numb now. It looks like she just robbed the art store. I tell her this. She laughs, tells me the story of how it would have panned out. Her in a bright orange balaclava with paint ball guns threatening to ruin the pristine canvas they charge too much for. I give up and manage to get seated again. I shove my hands under my armpits and try not to scream at her when Cass produces the elusive flask from under her seat along with half a cheeseburger which she offers to me.
"I thought you were veggie? Y'know to go with the crazy hippie vibe you got going." Cass snorts and steals a bite from the burger in my hand.
"I remembered how tasty cows were and gave it up." I nearly choke on cheese at that.
We entertain each other with tales from our respective courses and what with the laughing and warmth of the van I don't realise where we are. It's only during the first silence that I realise we've been driving for nearly a hour.
"Where we going, Cassie?" She doesn't answer me at first. Instead she chews on her lip, distorting her pretty face.
"Cassandra? Tell me where you're taking me. I've got a class soon." She drums her fingers on the steering wheel, the big silver rings clattering off each other. She answers me in a quiet voice, barely a murmur.
"Galway." I explode. She had no intention of telling me until she had to, I can tell.
"Were you hoping I wouldn't question the boat ride?" I'm so close to shaking her when she merely shrugs at me but she drives recklessly enough as it is. I shout and moan at her until she finally pulls over and talks to me properly. When she does she's close to tears.
"I left him. I left Richard. I know he's been cheating on me, I don't need to find that out one day, and I can't go back there. I can't." I look more closely at the piles of stuff in the back and notice the suitcases hidden under the boxes of paint. "We had a fight last night. There's this gallery in Galway that wants to exhibit my work. You remember the Irish guy we met last year who I got to sit for me? Well his dad really does own a gallery, wasn't just a line. Or it was a line but a real one. Anyway they want me to come over but Richard said he wouldn't come with me and got mad when I said I'd go myself. He, he really scared me Cee. I didn't know what he was gonna do. I thought he was gonna..., that he might...so I packed my things and drove off as soon as he went for work this morning and then I saw you with Sarah and knew I had to rescue you from that cow and I guess I felt safer with you here."
The last sentence is a rushed jumble and I really have nothing to say to it. So I reach over and hold her instead. She's shaking, scared for the first time in all the years I've known her. I keep holding her until she calms down enough to drive again. And maybe it's the turpentine smell rising from behind us or the way she's smiling at me now but I tell her to drive us both to Ireland with a happy dizzy feeling in my head.
She kisses me and we set off, back on the motorway. Roaring towards the sea and freedom.
I wrap my arms around me wishing that I'd worn my coat but the sun tricked me again this morning and I only have my thin red hoodie for warmth. Everything would be a lot less cold if I could get a coffee somewhere but that would only be an invitation for Sarah to spend more time with me. I can not shake this girl even though I'm pretty sure she doesn't even like me that much. The small link of high school seems to be enough for her to follow me all around town like a puppy telling me tales about people I care little about. I check my watch. Still three hours to kill. I'd planned on checking out the little vintage shop down the road from the history department and see if they had any bowler hats left but that was out now too. I'm wracking my brain for some excuse to get away when I realise she's waiting for me to answer her.
"Yeah, yeah. I remember Dan. What's he doing now?" Who cares? He was a bastard in school, probably being a bastard in some shitty job now for all I care.
"He's in a band now. For real." Figures. Can't get a proper job, too thick for further education so go for fame. Sarah's babbling something about some gig they've got lined up. Like as not just some club booked them on a quiet night with a bunch of other hopeful morons. What is it about boys and guitars. They think they just pick up a guitar and be Hendrixing in no time.
"So you wanna come with then?" I shrug noncommittally. I don't care what it is, I never actually plan time with Sarah. "You gotta come. You never go out. It's not healthy to shut yourself off from the world" I sigh. She does this everytime. Big pep talk on how to socialise like she knows how I spend my days. Why can't I think of an escape plan. All I can think about it smashing my fist through her smug mouth. I've just popped out one of her teeth when a word jars me out of my imaginings. I grit my teeth as I make my response:
"No, Sarah. I do not have a boyfriend at the moment." Cue sympathy sounds and more pep talk, this time on how to get some. Kill me now.
We walk on like this for a few more minutes. I'm freezing now and the Starbucks across the road is too tempting. I step out without looking too much at the traffic only to be pulled back onto the pavement.
"Saved your life!" Sarah beams at me. A beat-up blue mini van screeches to a halt in front of us. I smile recognising the design that twirls along the side. The passenger door is flung open and there she is. My escape route.
"Come with me if you want to live." Cass tells me this completely deadpan serious, her wild mane of red hair adding to the drama. The words tumble out of my lips before I can stop them:
"My hero!" Sarah looks awkward but starts her feeble attempt at a self-introduction. I leave her spluttering by the road as I jump into Cass' van and she roars away to freedom.
"Jeez, you're shivering. I gotta flask of chocolat somewhere." Her fingers point vaguely in the back. It's stuffed full of art supplies. I gamely pick my way through, spurred on by the fact that my right hand is practically numb now. It looks like she just robbed the art store. I tell her this. She laughs, tells me the story of how it would have panned out. Her in a bright orange balaclava with paint ball guns threatening to ruin the pristine canvas they charge too much for. I give up and manage to get seated again. I shove my hands under my armpits and try not to scream at her when Cass produces the elusive flask from under her seat along with half a cheeseburger which she offers to me.
"I thought you were veggie? Y'know to go with the crazy hippie vibe you got going." Cass snorts and steals a bite from the burger in my hand.
"I remembered how tasty cows were and gave it up." I nearly choke on cheese at that.
We entertain each other with tales from our respective courses and what with the laughing and warmth of the van I don't realise where we are. It's only during the first silence that I realise we've been driving for nearly a hour.
"Where we going, Cassie?" She doesn't answer me at first. Instead she chews on her lip, distorting her pretty face.
"Cassandra? Tell me where you're taking me. I've got a class soon." She drums her fingers on the steering wheel, the big silver rings clattering off each other. She answers me in a quiet voice, barely a murmur.
"Galway." I explode. She had no intention of telling me until she had to, I can tell.
"Were you hoping I wouldn't question the boat ride?" I'm so close to shaking her when she merely shrugs at me but she drives recklessly enough as it is. I shout and moan at her until she finally pulls over and talks to me properly. When she does she's close to tears.
"I left him. I left Richard. I know he's been cheating on me, I don't need to find that out one day, and I can't go back there. I can't." I look more closely at the piles of stuff in the back and notice the suitcases hidden under the boxes of paint. "We had a fight last night. There's this gallery in Galway that wants to exhibit my work. You remember the Irish guy we met last year who I got to sit for me? Well his dad really does own a gallery, wasn't just a line. Or it was a line but a real one. Anyway they want me to come over but Richard said he wouldn't come with me and got mad when I said I'd go myself. He, he really scared me Cee. I didn't know what he was gonna do. I thought he was gonna..., that he might...so I packed my things and drove off as soon as he went for work this morning and then I saw you with Sarah and knew I had to rescue you from that cow and I guess I felt safer with you here."
The last sentence is a rushed jumble and I really have nothing to say to it. So I reach over and hold her instead. She's shaking, scared for the first time in all the years I've known her. I keep holding her until she calms down enough to drive again. And maybe it's the turpentine smell rising from behind us or the way she's smiling at me now but I tell her to drive us both to Ireland with a happy dizzy feeling in my head.
She kisses me and we set off, back on the motorway. Roaring towards the sea and freedom.
What have we learned?
It's been a month of my second first year at Glasgow University. To celebrate and to prove that I'm getting something out of this I've decided to share with you some of the more interesting things I've learnt so far.
1. You can always improve a lecture by using the Nazis as an example.
2. Archaeology can be "the most fun you can have with your pants on."
3. The begetting section of the Bible actually has a use other than filler.
4. King John, upon seeing Hadrian's Wall, declared it was built by a race of Giants who had died out in a series of earthquakes.
5. Pippin after seeing the success of Gondor went on to usurp the throne of what would become modern day France.
6. Dublin is a Viking city. Thus Vikings with Irish accents exist. Just for you Emma!
7. It's alright to cheat on your wife as long as you cry about it a lot.
8. Homer may have been a Homera.
9. The more technology one has, the more civilised one is.
10. When the Greeks passed through Egypt they left graffiti on important monuments.
11. Never ask for help to defend your empire when nobody really trusts you in the first place. You get the crusades instead.
12. Nazis really did go around looking for archaeological evidence that they rocked during the thirties.
13. Never trust a god. They'll help you through all the things you probably didn't need much help with but when you take on 108 men by yourself they turn into a bird and fly off to laugh at you from a safe distance.
14. SUBTERFUDGE
15. The biggest threat to Odysseus in all the twenty years he spent away from home is impotence.
16. The best Pope name so far is Pope Innocent the third.
17. Being a solitary hermit is hard to do. Everyone wants to follow you thus ruining the whole point of being a hermit in the first place.
18. If you fight hard enough for a cause the Church doesn't agree with at all they just might give in. Just before you die. And it will only apply to you.
19. Never brag that your wife is the hottest ever and then force your right hand man to sneak in and see her naked.
20. The Greeks had a guide on when and where to pee.
21. Humans have the same number of hair follicles on their body as a monkey.
22. Aphrodite, the most beautiful and sexy thing to ever supposedly exist, was created from the genitials of another God.
23. Professor Robes still exist. And people wear them. And call an OHP a visualiser.
24. Glasgow Uni was originally built in the East End until the area became a bit dodgy. Subsequently it was moved to the West End because it was feared the students would fool around with the prostitutes.
25. Admitting that the pickled babies in the Hunterian Museum make you broody makes even biology students freak.
26. The QMU put 2 shots of espresso in their Mocha and that's why taking a huge gulp of it thinking it would be weak like everywhere else is not a good move. Especially when that cute guy was sitting right next to you and saw your 'woah what did I just drink?!' face.
27. This goes double when you drink the really thick bitter chocolate syrup at the bottom of the cup that you forgot to mix properly.
And finally
28. Otters are cute
1. You can always improve a lecture by using the Nazis as an example.
2. Archaeology can be "the most fun you can have with your pants on."
3. The begetting section of the Bible actually has a use other than filler.
4. King John, upon seeing Hadrian's Wall, declared it was built by a race of Giants who had died out in a series of earthquakes.
5. Pippin after seeing the success of Gondor went on to usurp the throne of what would become modern day France.
6. Dublin is a Viking city. Thus Vikings with Irish accents exist. Just for you Emma!
7. It's alright to cheat on your wife as long as you cry about it a lot.
8. Homer may have been a Homera.
9. The more technology one has, the more civilised one is.
10. When the Greeks passed through Egypt they left graffiti on important monuments.
11. Never ask for help to defend your empire when nobody really trusts you in the first place. You get the crusades instead.
12. Nazis really did go around looking for archaeological evidence that they rocked during the thirties.
13. Never trust a god. They'll help you through all the things you probably didn't need much help with but when you take on 108 men by yourself they turn into a bird and fly off to laugh at you from a safe distance.
14. SUBTERFUDGE
15. The biggest threat to Odysseus in all the twenty years he spent away from home is impotence.
16. The best Pope name so far is Pope Innocent the third.
17. Being a solitary hermit is hard to do. Everyone wants to follow you thus ruining the whole point of being a hermit in the first place.
18. If you fight hard enough for a cause the Church doesn't agree with at all they just might give in. Just before you die. And it will only apply to you.
19. Never brag that your wife is the hottest ever and then force your right hand man to sneak in and see her naked.
20. The Greeks had a guide on when and where to pee.
21. Humans have the same number of hair follicles on their body as a monkey.
22. Aphrodite, the most beautiful and sexy thing to ever supposedly exist, was created from the genitials of another God.
23. Professor Robes still exist. And people wear them. And call an OHP a visualiser.
24. Glasgow Uni was originally built in the East End until the area became a bit dodgy. Subsequently it was moved to the West End because it was feared the students would fool around with the prostitutes.
25. Admitting that the pickled babies in the Hunterian Museum make you broody makes even biology students freak.
26. The QMU put 2 shots of espresso in their Mocha and that's why taking a huge gulp of it thinking it would be weak like everywhere else is not a good move. Especially when that cute guy was sitting right next to you and saw your 'woah what did I just drink?!' face.
27. This goes double when you drink the really thick bitter chocolate syrup at the bottom of the cup that you forgot to mix properly.
And finally
28. Otters are cute
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