I do have to admit that one of the muddled thoughts that ran through my brain was that there was a real poltergeist in my room! When I thought of it being an earthquake, it seemed like that should be followed by SOMETHING--car alarms going off, sirens, some sort of activity, but there was nothing--so that left me somewhat befuddled about whether in fact it HAD been an earthquake--another thought that occured to me was that it was the concussion from some kind of huge blast...but again the lack of reaction made me wonder!

Happily listening to Bruce Springsteen Internet radio at the university, and making some inspired changes to my conference paper!

John Hopkins might have internal funding--they might have a combination of work and funds, its common in the US for a PhD student to do teaching to cover the costs of tuition and fees, and then its also extremely common to take out loans to cover costs, so you might check to see if you are eligible for any kind of student loan funds.

Have you asked John Hopkins for a list of possible resources?

I checked the time too, right at 1 a.m.! I had slept awful the night before, and so was really wanting a good nights sleep last night.

I think there were two tremors--the first woke me enough to be awake ( though groggy) for the second--I thought at first it was Bleak Towers swaying in a high wind or tornado!--but then woke up enough to realize it was not that, and it was an earthquake. I waited when it was done to see what would happen--but all was quiet--no sirens, no mass exits--so I went back to sleep.

I sort of yearn to get on the Flying Spaghetti Monster pirate ship and sail away, telling the world of the joys of pasta...and trout...of course. Fettuce alla Trota.

http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/8461/trotaff.htm

I do some things sort of automatically--that seem to startle people here, not in a bad way, but just sort of pleasantly surprised. This morning a team of workmen were coming into Bleak Towers, with their hands full of crates and ladders and such, and I was headed out, so it was just automatic to stand and hold the door for them as they went through. They seemed startled, but happy about it! Or--holding the lift door for people coming down the hall--again, I do it without thinking, but people invariably seem startled and pleased. Its not until I am getting the uncharacteristic eye contact with a stranger, and a thank you thank you so much, from someone that I realize...oh...yes...what have I done now?

I am, I am, like coming out of shock! Well I suppose that makes sense, something like culture shock. Its so POLITE here...soooooooo polite...and so subtle...and soooooo reserved.......I have done my best to behave like you should, to stand in queues, to pretend you are alone in a sea of 12 million people...I am not knocking anything--its just a different way of being and behaving. Different is not bad, its just different. I am starting to feel like ME again--oh good. good good good!

Hey I found it for 60 p so there...in the same machine as the triple chocolate slice, but I did not go for the slice..just the diet coke. Its a long time study companion.

That can only be a plus, to take have that to take your mind off of the PhD! But what fun, blues music, musicians, hanging out, drumming! Sounds a treat!

I've been sweet and I've been good...had my head down in the books forever it seems like since I got to England, been carefully negotiating the rules written and unwritten of a new place, grinning and bearing it in Bleak Towers.....

I am getting back in touch with these other facets of my personality that have gone into hibernation or shock...and now I am sitting here starting to feel more like myself, whatever that means. It's a good step I think--like coming out of a deep freeze! or a coma.

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ohhhh Caitlin, hope that you feel better. That does NOT sound fun...

Diet Coke is lovely, thank you, and I am struggling to get a few more facts of the Indian legal system into my brain before I call it a day/night.

Oh def very cool, Cyro! And that must make such a nice constrast to PhD work--to jam with musicians, and play drums! Sounds good! What got you into doing jam sessions like that?