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another blog post so soon?!
why yes indeed.

Big news around here lately:
-yesterday I finally finished drawing three bird illustrations for a friend's article. Here is one of the images - in her paper it will probably be about 2 inches square:
-tonight I will go to see that new Batman movie, with a bunch of folks from work

-tomarrow I officially register for my third year here, i.e. I have to turn in a big report! also tomarrow the new X-files movie will be released in the UK! I hope to have time to see it.

-Sunday I leave for Finland to attend a crayfish conference! I'll be giving an oral presentation, and having way too much fun :D It is one week long. Tasha is staying with a friend of mine.

That's all!

I am terribly excited...

...about my new vacuum cleaner. It is possibly the best vacuum cleaner IN THE WORLD. I really needed a good one, as the one that came with the flat, though brand-spankin' new, was definitely not up to the task of cleaning a carpet covered in dog hair, Emily hair, and all the dirt I rather freely track in. So I ordered a refurbished Dyson Animal upright vacuum cleaner, and today it arrived, in all its lightweight, easy-to-use, purple-and-grey glory. So far the results have been phenomenal. I sucked up THREE chambers full of gunk already (it doesn't have a bag, but rather a tube-like chamber). WOW. and that was just my living room and hallway. It is even more amazing because I had just vacuumed with my old one a couple of days ago, and thought I had done a pretty good job! The house doesn't even have that just-vacuumed smell, thanks to the HEPA filter. Well, I could go on. Maybe I'll put up a photo later.

Dead catfish...

...for lack of a better title.

Hmm, its been awhile since the last update, mainly the long delay is due to my going home for vacation, which was AWESOME, despite what some may say about word misuse. But, if you are reading this, you are probably well aware of what I did at home. So let's not dwell on the AWESOMENESS of it :D

Back here in the UK, it is cold and wet as usual. The other day, at 6pm, I could see my breath. Easily. ITS MID-JULY!! Apparently, while I was gone, it rained almost every day, and all the rivers were flooded. Its been continuing to rain, I've only gotten one day of fieldwork in, with my new helper. She was great at catching crayfish, and doesn't seem to have any annoying personal habits.

I've finally found a way to stay warm. OMG, you say, IT IS JULY. Yes, it resembles Ohio's March. so, I, uh, liberated, a big fake fur coat. I'm wearing it right now. and do you know what? I AM WARM! do you know what else? It just started downpouring outside. yeehaw.

In other news, I managed to lock myself out, again. I gotta get a key copy to leave hidden outside...people keep giving me strange looks as I break in to my own house.

Lastly, I finally got a seat cover for Carl. It is actually just a sheepskin. It is nice and cozy and protective. Carl gives it two struts up.