Moviestar

My friend Helen Meaher is in a documentary that had its European premiere here at the Edinburgh Film Festival last night. Order of Myths...What a great film! It is a story of Mobile’s Mardi Gras, but examines the segregation that still exists in the city. Helen’s family is an old Mobile family, so they are intricately woven into this story. I think it’s an important film for everyone to watch. Racism is not something limited to the South (although one person at the Q&A proceeded to say the South is backward and makes her nauseous to which I quickly jumped up and shot her down with an account of racism against Muslims and Catholics in the UK...she shut her trap). Racism is a global problem while at the same being an individual one. Each person must examine himself and put an end to the racism within him.

I know racism is a sensitive topic for people...especially if you are from the South. Unfortunately there is a history of structural violence throughout the world. So overall I think this is a brave film for all those who were involved. The cinematography is absolutely beautiful for a documentary. The director, Margaret Brown, did a brilliant job editing the film to the point where some easy targets aren’t landblasted but others are allowed to make a fool of themselves just by being themselves. Margaret is actually from Mobile and her mother was the Mardi Gras queen many years ago, so this film was also personal for Margaret. Her adorable grandfather was interviewed for the film, and is a charming and touching addition to the film.

After the premiere I joined Helen and the other people featured in the film for some drinks. The director was there...as were loads of people from the film industry. CRAZY!!!! No actors, but film distributors, production company staff, etc. What an incredibly interesting and diverse group of people. After drinks they had dinner, but I had already eaten so just joined for the conversation. If ever in Edinburgh and you want an artistically presented (expensive) dinner, go to Abstract. Such a wonderful restaurant! Dinner did not start until about 10, so it was after midnight when we shut the restaurant down. ha. Because the sun doesn’t really set during the summer, we walked some other cast back to their hotel and then took a taxi home. Helen and I chatted until about 3 when we both finally passed out.

So again...Order of Myths.... CHECK IT OUT! It should be released in 50 cities in the States in about a month.

I am still alive

(Just me hanging out at Adam Smith’s grave. If you don’t know who he is, Wikipedia that shit. He wrote “Wealth of Nations”...that’s a start for you!!!)

So although it may seem as if I died, I am still alive. I am elbow deep in my dissertation. I will write a few things now to start with the catch up session.

I am still dating Graham which is going really well. He is wonderful to me, and I cannot ask for more. I have never dated anyone this awesome...I have a knack for picking duds!

My mom, aunt and cousin came to visit. I think they were disappointed with Scotland. Not really sure though, but I guess they didn’t get the memo about it being windy and cold all year round. Also, for future reference I am NOT a tour guide by any means. I had sent messages through my mother that they should come with a list of sites and activities they wanted to do. Did they come with one? NO!! Also my mother was incapable of going through the correct customs line in Scotland. Don’t worry...she went through the one for UK/EU residents. Um do what? How they hell did she mess that up????

But I did have a lovely time with them here. I was quite stressed the whole time due to school and having deadlines and meetings while they were here. During the week they were here I submitted an abstract for the World Conference on Tobacco OR Health being held in March in Mumbai. Amazing. Hope I get accepted so I can have a holiday to India. woohoo!

Other than that I attend a pub quiz every Wednesday night with a group from my program. I hang out with my friends here and there...mostly over coffee or during library breaks. The library is my office. I am starting to get along with my flatmates which is honestly a miracle.

Jobs are on the horizon. Unfortunately I cannot legally work in this country until I have completed my course. On 2 July I am meeting with my supervisor and one question I have for him is when the earliest date will be that he can write the letter saying I’ve completed the course. Hopefully he will agree for it to be once my dissertation is handed in to the administrator. At that point my supervisor will have read it at least twice, so I’m hoping he will have a good idea if I passed or not.

The problem with this is I will not have anywhere to live after August. Until I have the visa I will only be able to take temporary positions. And if i need to take a temporary job here while I wait for my visa, then I will have to lease a place short term. And short lets are quite expensive. So pray for me and getting my visa ASAP!!! Then I can move anywhere in the UK and take up a permanent full-time position that probably pays pennies. :(

Other than that...not much to report. I did see a little boy pee in a passport photo booth at the grocery store the other day. Weird!! The mother of this child was a complete moron who had walked away from him. As soon as she was near the front door he said “I need the toilet. I need the toilet.” He then proceeded to turn toward the outside of the booth and pee all over his basket of candy. bahahahahaha. Tiny little penis on display. So I squealed. Everyone else looked, made a face, and went on about their business. The mother returns only to YELL at the boy and tell him he is embarrassing her. Ummmmm, no I think she was embarrassing him with those pink tracksuit trousers, that fake blonde hair, and her yelling in a busy store. Yeah, I think she was the ass in that situation.

It’s 2 AM here, so off to sleep!!!