weekend update

so, i am a wee bit tipsy just now (lots of scotspeak there for you, wee + just now) because i've just been to a wine society function in which i tasted 8 new types of wines, most of which i didn't greatly enjoy but had to empty from my glass in order to try the next one, and i have to get up at 5:45 to report to work at 7am for my breakfast shift tomorrow, BUT i thought i should tell the www a few things while i am feeling the urge.
to summarize (this may be later elaborated upon):
-friday night i went to the symphony and saw most notably the 2nd movement from ravel's daphnus et chloe which was crazy and lovely and made me miss playing music a lot (flute is featured in an extensive solo) as well as beethoven's ninth symphony. for those who aren't fans, this is the one (he wrote while deaf) that contains the "ode to joy" movement in full choral glory. the whole piece is very celebratory in a few different ways and i quite loved it. i hope i will go to the symphony more often here in edinburgh, because it would be just plain lazy not to.
-saturday during the day i went to glasgow. it was a gorgeous day and i met some new people - 3 spaniards, mickey, alicia and rosalia, from a university in barcelona and elodie, a french girl. i spent an extremely pleasant day with them getting on and off one of those cheesy open top bus tours to see the spread-out sights of the city, including the chapel, the university (which is truly beautiful, though the weather may have helped), the armadillo (sydney, australia style hall) and much more. i had a wonderful spanish lunch and was in awe of the ridiculously posh shops throughout glasgow, with brands that i never even fathomed to have physical stores for their products. it was only a 3-pound bus trip, so it will be great to go again for shopping (i didn't do any while i was there, believe it or not) and for the copious amounts of music played there. everyone says people either love or hate glasgow, and i will say safely that i had an experience in the former category. i will soon update my photo website so all can see.
- sunday i started my new waitressing job, coming in for both the breakfast shift and the dinner shift to get a taste of each. the restaurant is quite nice, and so are my coworkers, AND i found out i am getting paid 5.05 pounds per hour rather than the aforementioned 4.85, which is obviously an improvement. more to come on this front i'm sure, but i'm pretty sure i will enjoy it.
-classes are going well. i did a bit of a presentation today in my english lit class and it turns out that regardless of my geographical location i am still more zealous of a student than most. oh well. but yes, i think it will be a good semester, for i have a better feeling about what i can get out of sociology of education and intro to social anthropology continues to be easy with an articulate and sort of dreamy lecturer (who i found out today lived for an extended period of time in a room with a rotting corpse as a part of his anthropological fieldwork!). there is lots to read, but i am happy to do it.
- this week will consist of reading, working breakfast shifts (i am doing several to get used to that before i start in on dinner) and so going to bed early, and a bunch of plans with some new friends. i'm not sure what's in store for the weekend but i hope to go to the theatre, namely miss saigon or as you like it, around edinburgh.
-reminder to self to elaborate upon gripe with american flatmate who is very southern and limited.
-okay, time for bed! i will say more better later. adieu