Chasing Michael Phelps

I have become obsessed.  

With Michael Phelps.

I wake up at (or stay up until) 3 am to watch him swim. (The BBC is only airing Olympic events live...)

I have changed my computer wallpaper to a picture of him.

And here I am, blogging about him.

I love the Olympics.  I always have.  Its a passion I share with my Mom.  Normally, we're really not into sports (understatement of the century), but every two years (Winter and Summer), for the two weeks of the Olympics, we will watch ANY event that's on... from badminton to curling, speed walking to cross-country skiing.  But this time, I live for the swimming.  And swimming alone.  I'm happy to catch anything else on my little breaks from working on my dissertation. But it is for the swimming that I am sacrificing my ever-precious sleep this week.  

Specifically for the swimming of Michael Phelps.

Why?  I had a good think about that today.  He's from my home state, Maryland.  And being so far away, any connection with home is exciting.  But that's not it. Its not even that he's got muscles in places I didn't even know muscles existed. (Though, I will admit, that is an added bonus.)

To explain this obsession, I have go back to the Spring of 2006.  I was working on my MA thesis at UMBC, and the Boston Red Sox were working for the Pennant.  My struggle to write the thesis mirrored their fight to win the World Series.  If the Boston Red Sox could finally win a World Series, I could finish my Masters degree!  They did, and I did.

But my current fascination with Phelps goes deeper than my motivational interest in the Sox. 

The picture I put on my computer isn't what you might be expecting; one of the posed shots with a Speedo and flexed muscles.  Instead, he is in the pool, pouring himself into his work, plowing through the water.  

Focused.  Committed.  Intense. Unstoppable.

Regardless of whether or not he actually does it... get all eight golds... just knowing, being reminded, that there is someone else out there (outside of academia) who is in pursuit of a dream--a dream that requires tremendous effort, sacrifice, and dedication to achieve within a limited time--its downright encouraging.

Knowing he's out there, pushing himself beyond his limits.

Pushing himself harder to be the best at doing what he loves.

Now that's the inspiration I have been looking for.

Home Sweet Home!

Well, we have finally moved into our house! After seven months of waiting, two hours of moving boxes with three friends and one and a half cars (the half car was a Mini), and two days of being "homeless", my friend Lisa and I have finally settled into our new digs! (We have two other housemates, Rachel and Mary, but they won't arrive until September!)

The house is perfectly located, less than 5 minutes from EVERYWHERE including the Library, the School of History, and the Reformation Studies Institute! Built in the 1720s, our little 20 x 25 foot abode used to house FIVE FAMILIES--two on the ground floor, two on the second floor, and one in the attic! Now, there is a kitchen/sitting room and a large bedroom on the ground floor, and three bedrooms, a full bath (with a tub!) and a half bath on the second floor. Its small, but cozy! AND we even have a back garden, that comes with a gas grill!

None of the walls are perfectly straight, and there are little niches and cubby holes everywhere, the hot water in the kitchen sink makes horrible moaning noises when you first turn it on, the kitchen could do with a serious overhall, the street noise can be a bit loud in the early morning, and I LOVE IT!

I love that the stairs wind upwards, and that I fear for myself when I hurry down them--because it means that my residence has two floors! I love the mismatched furniture--because its REAL furniture, not economical, uncomfortable university stuff (I finally have chairs and sofas with ARMS!) I love the buttery yellow color of the walls--because its not the institutional white of university housing. I love the creaky floorboards--because I've always wanted to live in a house older than 200 years! This one is getting close to 300! I love the old-lady-esque pictures on the walls--because it makes it look homey. I love the mess that the walled-in back garden is in--because the garden is all ours, and we can plant whatever we want. I can even tolerate the carpet in the bathrooms--because, well, I can't really explain that one!

My room is spacious and bright. When I woke up the first morning I was so disoriented! My room is 2 1/2 times the size of my room in Stanley Smith House, and I went from a single to a double bed! Plus, my windows are twice the size of my old one, and now I have TWO, verus the one in SSH! They landlords are even getting me a wingback chair to sit the the window nook! (The outside walls are about two feet thick, so the windows have deep recesses, perfect for curling up in a chair!) And the views from my windows aren't half bad! If I lean out a bit, I can see St. Salvators Tower! And the best part, I can actually WORK in my room! I couldn't stand to be in my room at SSH for extended periods of time. Despite my best efforts, it was still too gloomy. Now, I may never leave this new room!

Our landlords, Jerry and Linda Ann, are fantastic! Jerry came over to run through some of the details with us. He said that if there are any pieces of furniture or odds and ends (from brooms to casserole dishes)--within reason, that we need, they would get them for us!

I'm so excited to be living here. I certainly have been blessed! Getting it was totally a "God Thing". The day before I left St. Andy's for Christmas break, my friend Lisa and I were talking about renting a flat for the next school year. We were walking past Castlemount, a B&B owned by my former flatmate Jo's Rotary host family. (If you ever come to St. Andrews, I highly recommend Castlemount! It has some of the best views in town, the B&B is cozy and comfortable, and the owners are lovely!) I remembered that they rent out a flat in the B&B, and just as I mentioned it to Lisa, Jerry walked by! Long story short, the flat in the B&B wouldn't work, but they had a whole house that was available for as long as we needed it! I can live here until I graduate! The only exception will be two weeks during the British Open Golfing Championship in 2010. Jerry rented the house out years ago for those dates!

Speaking of graduating... Last week, in addition to moving I received the official letter from the University accepting me into the PhD program(me)--on the condition that I successfully complete the MLitt! So if all goes well... and I can write the goofy dissertation in the next four weeks... when I return to St. Andrews after September at home, I will be starting my three final years of higher education! And if things go according to plan, I'll be living here, in this house, for the duration!