Long December update
Over the last few days, it's occurred to me that I haven't posted an update since everything was happening with my mum. I have so much appreciation for all of the support and well wishing that people gave to me during then (and a special, practical gratitude for people who helped me afford getting to the funeral).
I've honestly had a busy few weeks since then and will break up my post into sections if you only want some updates.
Time in Maryland
It wasn't actually as bad as I had worried. It felt, and to a certain degree still feels, surreal. The rest of my family saw my mother when she was very ill and both my brother and father were there when she died. It still feels weird to me to think she just isn't around. The funeral came across as accidentally hurtful. I know it was a Catholic funeral, and respect people's abilities to believe what they want but... the priest specifically said my own beliefs regarding death is too sad for him and then offered comfort with things I don't believe. I don't find the idea of someone no longer existing to be too sad but being told that it is felt rude. I kept quiet because it's not my place to speak up in this case. It just felt like it was supposed to be comforting and was just a little insulting instead. It was even more rude than when family offered comfort that way. At least I knew they were hurt and I could ignore it.
I did manage to get internet when I was at my parents' place. That really helped me get through the week. It was also nice to see people who I never see, even when I visited over the summer. It reminds me that I need to email a few people who I met. This is mostly a reminder to me.
My family's way to handle the pain was drinking. My brother took my dad out drinking on the night o the viewing and the after funeral event was mostly a big drinking binge. My brother was still shocked to see me drink.
Odd things: Soda bottles are oddly shaped. Why are 2 litre bottles so short and wide?
I was confused on the morning of the funeral. The sunrises in Glasgow are really late in the winter (at 8:28 on the day in question) and I needed to be awake early to go to the funeral home before the funeral. I was sleep deprived from the night before and didn't get to sleep until 4am so worried about oversleeping. At some point I drifted away and almost flipped out because the sun was fully up. I jumped out of bed and over to a clock. What time was it? About 6. I actually don't now how the sun was up because online records say it wasn't up there until 7. It was certainly before I needed to be awake though and so I went back to sleep.
If I were to only complain about one thing, it was the smoke. I have this issue whenever I go back to visit family. There are so many smokers in the house that it seeps from the walls. I slept poorly there and felt off for awhile after getting back.
Drinking with Classmates
I got back just in time to see presentations from my classmates that I get to make up for next term. It was a bit of a long day but not so bad. It really helped that after the last presentation we all went out for drinks.
I so rarely get to hang out with people and so it was really nice. There was drinking, talking, and I got a few phone numbers. A few people came over and saw the Fangirl Cave. I'm getting tired so this is making less sense. It was fun but I guess it doesn't deserve a lot of details.
Daft Friday
One night after the drinking with classmates. (two nights of drinking in a row? scandalous!) I wore a pretty dress and went to a formal event with a lot of people I don't know. The theme was Lord of the Rings and the decorations were very well done. I spent a lot of the early night alone but eventually found a few people to talk to. This sort of event would have been more fun had I known someone but I had fun anyway. I met someone from Glasgow who lived in Australia (specifically Perth) for a long time and then only recently came back, and then someone who was from Germany and moved to Glasgow. The next group was less noteworthy but still nice. Apparently I'm in a picture with a Robbie (or Robby or Rabby?). I wonder what they thought once they sobered up and had a picture of someone random who came up to talk to them.
The talking and drinking was nice but the real reason I went didn't disappoint. I should figure out more events to see youthful and attractive men in kilts. Do they have a festival just for that? Maybe a club? Specific holiday?
The night's main adventure was when I was eating something and realised I was too drunk and tired to want to stay. I texted cindy-lou-who8 to come to walk home with me. Just as I was going to get my coat, the fire alarm went off and we were all ushered out of the building. Some very nice man offered me his drink while we waited but it was taken. Of course, it was a freezing cold night and I didn't have sleeves! Poor cindy-lou-who8 lent me her coat at 2 am. It took forever to let us back into the building so I could grab my coat and leave again. It wasn't very far home but we took a taxi.
My First Pub Quiz
I went to my first pub quiz this week with cindy-lou-who8. We called ourselves Team Gallifrey... and got last place.
Unrelated thought: It was squeeful when someone at a grocery store said something sounded a bit like a Dalek. I'm still pleased to see Doctor Who references as a general cultural background bit of information instead of something obscure for the nerdy.
I think that's all I need to mention... for now.
I've honestly had a busy few weeks since then and will break up my post into sections if you only want some updates.
Time in Maryland
It wasn't actually as bad as I had worried. It felt, and to a certain degree still feels, surreal. The rest of my family saw my mother when she was very ill and both my brother and father were there when she died. It still feels weird to me to think she just isn't around. The funeral came across as accidentally hurtful. I know it was a Catholic funeral, and respect people's abilities to believe what they want but... the priest specifically said my own beliefs regarding death is too sad for him and then offered comfort with things I don't believe. I don't find the idea of someone no longer existing to be too sad but being told that it is felt rude. I kept quiet because it's not my place to speak up in this case. It just felt like it was supposed to be comforting and was just a little insulting instead. It was even more rude than when family offered comfort that way. At least I knew they were hurt and I could ignore it.
I did manage to get internet when I was at my parents' place. That really helped me get through the week. It was also nice to see people who I never see, even when I visited over the summer. It reminds me that I need to email a few people who I met. This is mostly a reminder to me.
My family's way to handle the pain was drinking. My brother took my dad out drinking on the night o the viewing and the after funeral event was mostly a big drinking binge. My brother was still shocked to see me drink.
Odd things: Soda bottles are oddly shaped. Why are 2 litre bottles so short and wide?
I was confused on the morning of the funeral. The sunrises in Glasgow are really late in the winter (at 8:28 on the day in question) and I needed to be awake early to go to the funeral home before the funeral. I was sleep deprived from the night before and didn't get to sleep until 4am so worried about oversleeping. At some point I drifted away and almost flipped out because the sun was fully up. I jumped out of bed and over to a clock. What time was it? About 6. I actually don't now how the sun was up because online records say it wasn't up there until 7. It was certainly before I needed to be awake though and so I went back to sleep.
If I were to only complain about one thing, it was the smoke. I have this issue whenever I go back to visit family. There are so many smokers in the house that it seeps from the walls. I slept poorly there and felt off for awhile after getting back.
Drinking with Classmates
I got back just in time to see presentations from my classmates that I get to make up for next term. It was a bit of a long day but not so bad. It really helped that after the last presentation we all went out for drinks.
I so rarely get to hang out with people and so it was really nice. There was drinking, talking, and I got a few phone numbers. A few people came over and saw the Fangirl Cave. I'm getting tired so this is making less sense. It was fun but I guess it doesn't deserve a lot of details.
Daft Friday
One night after the drinking with classmates. (two nights of drinking in a row? scandalous!) I wore a pretty dress and went to a formal event with a lot of people I don't know. The theme was Lord of the Rings and the decorations were very well done. I spent a lot of the early night alone but eventually found a few people to talk to. This sort of event would have been more fun had I known someone but I had fun anyway. I met someone from Glasgow who lived in Australia (specifically Perth) for a long time and then only recently came back, and then someone who was from Germany and moved to Glasgow. The next group was less noteworthy but still nice. Apparently I'm in a picture with a Robbie (or Robby or Rabby?). I wonder what they thought once they sobered up and had a picture of someone random who came up to talk to them.
The talking and drinking was nice but the real reason I went didn't disappoint. I should figure out more events to see youthful and attractive men in kilts. Do they have a festival just for that? Maybe a club? Specific holiday?
The night's main adventure was when I was eating something and realised I was too drunk and tired to want to stay. I texted cindy-lou-who8 to come to walk home with me. Just as I was going to get my coat, the fire alarm went off and we were all ushered out of the building. Some very nice man offered me his drink while we waited but it was taken. Of course, it was a freezing cold night and I didn't have sleeves! Poor cindy-lou-who8 lent me her coat at 2 am. It took forever to let us back into the building so I could grab my coat and leave again. It wasn't very far home but we took a taxi.
My First Pub Quiz
I went to my first pub quiz this week with cindy-lou-who8. We called ourselves Team Gallifrey... and got last place.
Unrelated thought: It was squeeful when someone at a grocery store said something sounded a bit like a Dalek. I'm still pleased to see Doctor Who references as a general cultural background bit of information instead of something obscure for the nerdy.
I think that's all I need to mention... for now.