quick update

After getting a couple of comments about the temperature situation here, let me clear a few things up.

1. I have a really big blanket (actually a duvet) that keeps me nice and warm all night.
2. The heat in my apt. is one of those boiler/radiator deals that is probably connected to each of the six apartments in my house. Yes, someone else controls that thing.
3. I broke down and bought a heater fan yesterday for 22 Euros, so problem solved.
4. I'm learning to manage the shower thing. For example, today I took a jog before showering, so I wanted a shower at a much cooler temp anyway. These things can be worked around.

All that to say, don't worry about me Mom, Becky, or Granna. I'm well.

Also, I have another bit of news. I'm meeting a guy about getting some broadband internet pumped into my little apt. this afternoon at 4:30. This is good news. I'll be promptly Itunesing the latest episodes of the Office and will be streaming lots of This American Life while I get my breakfast ready in the mornings. Also I can photo update more easily. In fact, I can do most everything that relates to this little site more easily.

Sorry for the long silence, guys. I'm trying to avoid the outrageous cost of internet cafes until I can get my own internet hooked up. So that means that I must go to Trinity to get on the computers in the labs when I need to use the internet. And those computers are usually pretty busy. This morning the crowd is down a little in here, so I thought I'd take the time to post.

I thought all along that classes started this week, but as it turns out, they begin next week. I met my classmates this week at our departmental orientation. Turns out we are only four. And three of us are American. They seem nice, but I'm a little surprised 1) at the low number of students and 2) at the high number of American students. Ah well, it will be OK.

I also met some other folks at a postgraduate campus tour and social and an international student social. I don't know that I'll keep in touch with them, but it was fun to hang out a little while.

I saw that Bill Mallonee of the Vigilantes of Love (who is probably only known by Sam) was playing a concert about half a mile from my apt. on Tuesday night so I went to that. It was a nice show. He and the other band (Stewboss from LA) did an unplugged set in this tiny place the size of an average livingroom. There were only about 8-10 people there not counting the musicians so it was a really unusual concert to say the least. I hope they weren't too down about the low numbers because those of us who were there really enjoyed it. And both acts looked like they were having fun. Bill was great as usual (who knows how many times I've seen him at this point), and I was pleasantly suprised by Stewboss. Props to them for the liberal use of the mandolin and harmonicas.

In other news, my apartment's starting to take shape, particularly the kitchen. I don't have control over the heat so I'm anxiously awaiting the day when my radiator thing produces some kind of warmth. For now, it's a little hard to get out from under my covers in the morning. And the shower's no help. The warm water there lasts about 4-6 minutes, so I've had to employ Dad's old trick of turning off the shower to soap up and shampoo (a trick I rarely used at home, Dad, but one I used more than Seth did). It's not the most enjoyable way to get clean in the morning, particularly when the room's a little chilly anyway, but it's better than running out of hot water while you're still covered in suds. Just a little warning to all of you who are planning on visiting: brace yourself for the shower thing.

But today the weather's a little warmer than it has been. Overcast and breezy, and it looks like we had some rain this morning before I woke up. I don't know why, but it especially agrees with me today (otherwise I hope I wouldn't be talking about the weather). I enjoyed my walk through St. Stephen's Green (the city park) on my way to Trinity this morning. I should get you guys some pics of that place. It's really beautiful. I'll get to work on that. And about that weather, I'm sure it will stay this way for about 15 minutes more. That's just the way of it here. They say we can go through four seasons in a day in Dublin. I believe it.

So how about you guys? What's the news in Ragland, Ashville, Auburn, Tallahassee, Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Austin, or anywhere else that might be reading this? What's going on your way?