so what have you done since your last post?
Saturday, 28 June 2008
I've read quite a bit, hung out with friends, went to Scotland for a few days, passed out in a coffee shop 3 times and spent some time in an ambulance, ate some really good expensive Japanese food... nothing much really!
By the way I'm fine I passed out after having a typhoid injection. I must have been hyped up about it and when I sat down to read a book and treat myself to a latte for having survived the injection I ended up knocking drink and book onto the floor. Then when one of the baristas went to get me a glass of water I blacked out again. A customer came to my aid and jokingly said that I must have been reading something sensational and I remember saying "No no I finished Fanny Hill last week". Ha! They jumped on the phone to the ambulance and I managed to call a friend to come help me out and must have blacked out again. I have a fear of needles and the adrenaline must have caught up with me. Unfortunately the book is ruined, a library copy of Cranford so I must hunt another copy down to replace it. Passing out is no fun and I apologized profusely because I was so embarrassed. I'm just glad I was in a public place where people were able to help me. And thank goodness ambulances are free in the UK!
Can't believe I only have 11 days left here! :( I'm trying to make the most of it. Off to see Prince Caspian in a bit and tonight I've been invited to a cocktail party. More good times to come!
. listening . the warmth . incubus . make yourself .
Labels: life
posted by Ashleigh @ 11:09,
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missing arizona
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Palo Verde in Bloom
The more I contemplate returning home the more I realize I really miss it. Just look at that blue sky, the sunshine, the beautiful blossoming trees. Now I know I'll miss Liverpool too, part of the reason I returned was because I did so much. But the love of a place is not always the right reason to stay in that place. And it's becoming more and more obvious that being in Liverpool and so close to the rest of the world weighed heavily on my choice in coming here. I know I'm seriously homesick right now. And I'm super jealous of the 80+ temps versus the 40 degree windy, rainy, sunless weather here. I've definitely got a bout of SADD. I had planned on going home for spring break since we get 3 weeks here because UK school systems have terms instead of semesters but I just couldn't afford to do it. I'm living on a US loan and with the exchange rate I'm not given much after they take my tuition and room and board. *sigh*
Close up of Palo Verde in bloom.
Fishhook Cactus in bloom
And I miss the giraffes at the zoo even if I haven't seen them in over a year. I've just been going through old pictures and stumbled upon these and was remembering what a great day that was. It was New Years Day last year and we managed to get there when the giraffes were being fed. I've never seen them so close before. They're very majestic and unusual looking creatures. I'm reminded of a book I read back in 2006 called Giraffe by J.M. Ledgard - holy cow that book was a tear jerker and left me feeling really sad but please don't let that deter you it was a beautiful book. I just can't believe the cruelty that exists in this world. At least there is a zoo here, in Chester. In fact after my naughty little obsession of watching Home and Away at 6 pm a show called Zoo Days comes on and it's all about life at Chester Zoo. It looks really nice and I've heard nothing but good things about it. Luckily I know someone with a car so hopefully I can manage a trip out there soon.
Giraffes at the Phoenix Zoo - I love the one in the front sticking out his tongue!
Giraffes at the Phoenix Zoo - this poor guy finally managed to get a bit of food and the rest of them followed him around everywhere trying to steal it. Ha!
I finished reading Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons this morning. That really was a wonderful book - it was really a combination of P.G. Wodehouse, Evelyn Waugh and Jane Austen. I loved it! Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen was also excellent but again a sad story about animals. I'm really going to try to catch up on my book reviews this next week since I'm "off". Hope everyone has a great Friday!
. listening . don't . jewel . pieces of you .
posted by Ashleigh @ 23:57,
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happy birthday to me
Thursday, 6 March 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! Pictured to the left is a fantastic cake or cakes rather created by the brilliant Colette Peters. If I could this would be the cake I would use to celebrate the day! As it is there's been no cake and seeing how it's going on 10 pm don't think there will be. This has been an interesting birthday. Frankly I'd have to say it's been the worse! I still feel like crap and have major sinus pain in my cheeks, my eyeballs feel like they're going to fall out along with my teeth. Got another doc appt in the morning so hopefully they'll get me some more antibodies. It's been 5 weeks since the last batch so here's hoping they oblige...Beyond that today was very stressful because I met with with the dept head, potential new supervisor and acting secondary supervisor to discuss my concerns. I was so nervous and it really felt like an inquisition! The meeting lasted about an hour then they asked me to wait outside while they convened. Agghhhh! This was happening just like the bad dream I had the other night where they asked me to wait outside and when I was called back in they told me "We no longer want you here... anymore." I waited out in the hall for 20 min - but it felt like forever and then they called me back in. The good news is, it looks like I'll be getting my supervisor changed after some shiftings been done. The bad news is they feel that my research topic is not big enough for a PhD that it's a proposal for an MPhil! Hmmmm... I think this is due to a couple of reasons: 1) I haven't really been giving the kind of supervision I need, basically I really haven't had any direction. 2) Being that I was nervous I wasn't really able to explain myself fully. I did focus maybe a bit too much on the data I want to use from the excavation I work on and I can see how that could be viewed as not broad enough for a PhD. But I have another meeting next Tuesday with just the two new supervisors to try to work that out. Hopefully I'm getting on the right track.
My weekend plans of running down to London to sightsee, finally see Wicked after 4 years of longing to (I know all the songs!) and checking out the Tutankhamun exhibit have been postponed. *sigh* The friend's house we were going to stay out is actually unavailable she misunderstood and thought we were coming in April - so that's when we'll be going. Oh well something to look forward to and save for. Instead tomorrow afternoon I'm going to see the movie The Diving Bell and the Butterfly based on the book of the same title I just read over the weekend (review coming soon). Saturday I'm reading my heart out, going dancing later that night, and reading all day Sunday.
I did get goodies, gifts, cards and picked up my free birthday gift from The Body Shop. Over the last week I've been receiving birthday coupons in my email, free ice cream at Coldstone Creamery (damnit there isn't one here!!!), 25% off at Borders (they are here but far away and I don't think they do the rewards program), free goodie at Origins (also not here... well not in Liverpool anyway). Darn, darn, darn! Oh well! Here's hoping the weekend is better!
. listening . earthquake . the used . lies for the liars .
posted by Ashleigh @ 22:21,
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money in my pocket
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
How nice it is to have clean laundry, peanut butter, honey and dark chocolate! A kind soul sent some money my way because she was appalled that I couldn't afford to buy peanut butter! Thank You!
But all is well, my money was finally deposited today after a 23 day wait! I received an email this morning from a new financial aid officer saying to forgive her for the delay, she's new to the post and she'll be processing the checks sometime this week... WHAT!!! I knew those bastards were lying to me. My last set of checks were deposited within 3 days of signing them - this round they told me would take 2-4 weeks - nobody could explain to me why. I went into the office on several occasions stressing the fact that I was on the verge of starving and really had nobody I could borrow money from. I knew the checks were sitting in someone's inbox!!! I emailed her right back and said that the checks needed to be processed today because I've waited long enough! I can't believe some people - don't they realize that most students who have student loans have them because that is the only way they can live while trying to get a degree?
Anyway I'm relieved that I can live more comfortably. I can be released from my prison of pasta and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (well I'll still eat these cause I love them! - but now I don't have to)! I can pay my bills (and all those wonderful late fees). I look forward to making a trip to the grocery store and buying fruits and vegetables, meat, kleenex and a decongestant. I saw the doctor again today because my throat is totally sore, I'm still blowing nastiness from my nose, I'm coughing and I just plain feel run down. He's says it's a viral infection and I've just got to let it run its course - oi! - it's been running since Christmas I tell him. He said I just have to take it easy, get lots of rest, drink lots of fluids and get an over the counter decongestant. I guess I just haven't been giving my body a chance to recover, I'm sure a poor diet hasn't been very helpful. The doc said that everytime I feel better and go out and do something I'm taking two steps back and need to wait a few days before attempting to be active.
So here's to having money in my pocket and to getting better really soon! Now I'm off to crack open Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities.
. listening . doin' fine . jewel . 0304 .
Labels: life
posted by Ashleigh @ 20:17,
,
patience is a virtue...
Friday, 15 February 2008
Another Valentine's Day spent alone... and I really mean alone because I didn't leave my house and didn't see any of my flatmates all day... sigh... at least it's over.
The university is really trying my patience. Can you believe they have yet to deposit my loan checks?!? I signed those suckers on Jan. 28 almost 3 weeks ago. Everytime I go to the Foundation Building to get some answers they just assure me that it can take 2-4 weeks and they'll have someone to call me to explain why - but no one ever calls. One girl finally said it can take as long as 10 business days - alright folks we're on business day #15!! I just want to know why it's taking so long to deposit a check - a good check - these aren't personal checks they're from SallieMae. All they have to do is deposit the checks into their account take a portion of my tuition and room and board out and then deposit the remainder into my account. Seriously people I'm tired of eating peanut butter and jelly (although I can't anymore since I'm now out of peanut butter and can't afford another jar) and pasta. I really hate asking for financial help but if I really need to there are people who will help me out. But the credit card people aren't happy and they needed to be paid a long time ago - oh dear!
The supervisor situation hasn't been completely sorted out either. The department head's father passed away so he's been out. Seems like that's happening a lot around here. I wasn't able to meet with the faculty head earlier because his father passed away. And my poor friend has been watching and waiting for her father to pass since just before the new year, he passed on Wednesday. The poor thing!
At least it's been a bit warmer here, in the 50s. It's been nice and sunny too, well partly cloudy anyway. A single daffodil bloomed outside in the flower box last week and he's still going strong. His little yellow head really sticks out amongst the green. I'm hoping it's a little banner saying spring will be here soon. Now I've just got to make birthday plans - 3 more weeks and I start the hopefullly slow descent into my 30s! I'd like to spend the weekend in London with a few friends, see Wicked, see the Tut exhibition, do some shopping (if that money is ever deposited), eat, drink and dance.
Happy Friday!
. listening . damn . matchbox twenty . yourself or someone like you .
posted by Ashleigh @ 11:40,
,
still sick
Friday, 1 February 2008
So just an update. I'm still feeling like crap, here I was hoping to return to the UK, instantly get better and hit the books. But I've gotten worse. I've got a mean sinus infection, a nasty painful cough, a clogged ear, a burning throat and I've pulled muscles in my rib cage from all the coughing making it painful to breathe. But I have hope! I was able to get another small loan from mom so I could go get my prescription, some cough medicine and some soft tissues (I've been using the cheap toilet paper here and as a result my face is all chapped and I've got a nasty cut just inside my nostril - don't I sound attractive...). Everyone's been really nice though. My friend Julie popped over with some soups, a loaf of bread and some vapor rub. One of my flatmate's made me some good spicy Chinese food last night that allowed me to breathe for a bit. And everyone's else been offering to fetch me things.
I've been having some financial problems due to the fact that the checks for my second loan installment arrived here in the UK after I left for Egypt, so I've been having to borrow money left and right. I went Monday morning first thing to sign the darn checks over to the university so they could take their money and deposit the rest into my account but they told me this could take 2-4 weeks! What???!!! I asked them kindly to put a rush on it cause I needed the money yesterday and at the time I only had 6 pence to my name! As of today the money still hasn't been deposited so I went to see them to once again explain my situation. You see my parents can't afford to help me out more than they already have done and besides with the exchange rate their loan is cut in half once I pull it out of my account here. I need money for food people! I was able to pick up a few essentials with what my mom was able to give me and a nice lady from the financial office said they can arrange to loan me £50 next Monday if my loan hasn't been deposited. I can make £50 last if I have to so I feel a bit relieved on that end. Now if I can only feel better. Inshallah the drugs will take effect soon!
Today I spent hours - yes hours - selecting, uploading, titling, tagging and describing 150 of the 811 photos I took this season. It's a lot of hard work posting pics but I wanted them all to have detailed descriptions. So I hope once I post the link someone will take the time to enjoy them all. I realized I don't have a lot of people pics, what can I say the monuments demand more attention. But next year I think I'll concentrate on taking more pics around town. I'd especially like to photograph some of the markets we visit to buy veggies and what we thought was a chicken but turned out to be a duck. I'm not able to post a lot of the photos cause they were taken on site and show things that are classified, only those who have been screened and have passed through maximum security will be allowed to view these (a.k.a. my folks and closest friends). Now I just need to work on the accompanying tale and move on to other projects!
. listening . your star . evanescence . the open door .
Labels: life
posted by Ashleigh @ 17:54,
,
about
Tuesday, 1 January 2008
:: me :: the short bit ::
Born in Phoenix, AZ - living in Liverpool, UK - working in Egypt - doing a PhD - loving books - loving crochet - obsessing over lists! (my listography)
:: me :: the long bit ::
I'm constantly distracted by the world around me and I try desperately to find focus in the things that I love. I love to read, always have. I have recently begun to redefine my reading by paying attention to the many classics, those sturdy cornerstones of literature as well as new ground breaking authors. But I also love to dive into a good popular book (Amelia Peabody, Anita Blake, Betsy Taylor - vampire queen).
I love to be crafty and creative. I try to be good at both, sometimes I succeed other times I can never quite match the finished product with what I had originally imagined. Creativity however, got me through many projects in my school career. I miss that now as a grad student, there isn't much room for creativity when writing a thesis, no need to arrange soundtracks, create costumes, make posters... I love to crochet, I espcially love making afghans and giving them to friends and family. I really want to learn to knit (I keep saying this) because the clothes are so much prettier and form fitting. I can do the knit stitch and purl a bit but I have a problem with tension. I need a teacher!
I love Egypt! Most Egyptologists try to beat one another by coming up with the earliest date of childhood that they first realized they were going to become an Egyptologist. Well I could lie and say it was the womb but really it was more like 8 or 9 years old. Truly. I know for sure that when I was 9 the $20 my grandma gave me for Christmas was not spent on the latest Barbie, it was spent at Borders to purchase two of Wallis Budge's books (dear me I didn't know at that time that his work was so outdated): The Book of the Dead and Easy Lessons in Egyptian Hieroglyphics (cringe I had yet to learn the constant misuse of the word hieroglyphics). I also remember playing Egypt in our side yard where nothing green grew so it was the perfect place to mummify Barbies and bury them. My love for Egypt flourished and to this day I am still working towards the goal of being an Egyptologist.
I received a BA in Anthropology with a minor in French from The University of Arizona and a MA in Egyptology from The University of Liverpool. I am currently working on my PhD in Egyptology at Liverpool however, after a necessary change to my research project I have decided that it would be in my best interest to finish my degree back at the University of Arizona. Unfortunately this decision was made after the application deadline which means I will not be able to transfer until fall of 2009 so I will continue to do research here in Liverpool until the end of summer and then return home to work for a year (got all those credit cards to make a dent in). By transfering my degree will have to be a PhD in Anthropology with an archaeological focus, I will probably minor in GIS and I may simultaneously do a MA in Classics but we'll see.
I am very fortunate to be a team member of The University of Arizona Egyptian Expedition. I began working with the team in 2005 and soon after took over as the Assistant Director of Archaeological Mapping and Surveying. We are currently excavating the memorial temple of Tausert on the west bank of Luxor. My responsibilities include running a total station and recording points and major artifacts on site which I later input into AutoCAD to draw a 3D map of the temple. I have also helped in the supervision of open units. Working on the temple has piqued my interest in the development of the memorial temples on the west bank and this is what I have chosen to research for my thesis. Having access to new data from the field has been exceptionally useful and will help me visualize what methods were used in the temple preparation at or below surface level. This and many other opportunities with the Expedition and being able to have my work supervised by the director were major factors in my choice to return to Arizona. *Please note that I cannot divulge any information about the UAEE and its work prior to publication. And I cannot help you or anyone else get a position on the team. Please visit our website for more information.
:: blog ::
This is actually my third blog. I first began blogging in September of 2004 when I moved to Liverpool the first time. I used it as a type of journal to keep folks back home up to date with what I was up to as well as to share all the neat photos I had taken. After leaving Liverpool a year later I kept the blog going until the end of 2006. After receiving a rude comment that I was sure came from someone I knew, I changed my blog address in an act of paranoia. Eventually I got bored with this new blog and in January 2008 I decided to completely start over with yet another new address, a new style and to talk more about the books I read. I still talk about life, school and share photos but now I don't really care who reads my blog. I've never posted anything I would be embarassed for people I know to read but I do moderate my comments because people can be such jerks. *Previous blogs are no longer available online.
Labels: life
posted by Ashleigh @ 00:00,
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