So, here I am...

One year without a cell phone. blissssss.

But now I am back to technology, cell phone in hand.

Back in the UK after four short months in the US.

Back to lots of work, lots of thoughts, a lot less sleep.

Next up...

Science Brevia article

Research in Nara, Japan

Diana and her hunting dogs by Jan Fyt

Just back from nearly two weeks excavating on the Isle of Harris and Lewis in the Outer Hebrides Island of Western Scotland. Lovely, breathtaking, amazement - how can one come up with the words to describe it? There is a sense of wildness and necessary self-sufficiency that is conjured up in the mind when seeing the vast salt-marsh, the sandy Scottish machair plains, the steep rise of the highland. The people primarily speak Scottish Gaelic. There are black-faced sheep everywhere, defiant to cars and people. And mostly importantly there are dogs. Lots of them. All seeming clones of each other: black and white piebald, long collie faces, bright eyes and desperate to corral sheep. Walking along the rocky hills with the cold ocean breeze coming at me I fancied myself a sort of Diana.

No recent posting because I have been out-of-my-mind busy. And it isnt looking to stop anytime soon.

Schedule:

Aug 6-Aug 21: excavating, Northton, Isle of Harris, Scotland

Aug 21-Aug 28: ICAZ conference, Paris, France

Sept 15-Dec 15: internship, Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL

A view of my home for the next few weeks:

Northton, Harris, Scotland

The Dog Burial

Because, of course, I search YouTube for dog burial related items I give you the following:

"The Dog Burial" by Sopor Aeternus

"Be quick, be quick, you must climb down!
I heard him breathing below the ground!
Bring forth some light and break the lid!
What is wrong with you, why do you hesitate?!
Open the grave, oh please be quick, before his poor heart gives up its last beat!"

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Last night saw the Swedish movie Girl with the Dragon Tattoo based off the book by Swedish author Stieg Larsson. I hadnt read the book and wasnt really sure what to expect with the movie. All I had heard was that it was 'good', 'controversial' and that they were planning to make a US version of the movie soon.

Leaving the theater after the movie I was in a bit of a daze. Im not sure what I was expecting, but that movie rocked my senses. I think I barely breathed for the whole 2 hours. Its like taking Saw, Underworld and some vintage murder mystery and putting it into one movie. The friend I was with said that the movie was much more tame than the book, and that was not a tame movie. The sex, violence, sexual violence and perversity are on a pretty high scale, but it all seemed critical to telling the story.

It will be very interesting to see how they make a US version of this movie. I can see this movie being much too graphic for a majority of US audiences. I cant imagine an American actress who could pull off the lead role of Lisbeth. Im not convinced some of the themes of the movie are something that a US audience would handle very well unless it is watered down significantly. Will be interesting to see how they pull it off.

My life this month...

I saw him standing there

I decided to take a little stroll through the Botanical Gardens here in Durham the other day on one of the few sunny days we might have this year. A little stroll turned into a long stroll when I realized that the gardens are 60 acres of winding paths through meadows, forests and swamps.

At the end of one quiet, empty path through a forest I came to a sort of clearing. Looking around and listening to the birds and the movement of the leaves I had the strange feeling that someone was watching me. I scanned the treeline. No one. I looked down the path, but no one else was headed my way. Then I saw him, with a look on his face that encouraged me to keep walking.


Move along, sister.