It's not a bad one! There's a couple more I have to put up, of my new pin and my new hippo shoes.

Oh man, SA, those photos make me so homesick (for a place that's not my home, but English lacks a word for that).

Did you visit the Minster? And the Shambles? And the Botanical Gardens? And Wippmawoppmagate?

Does Heslington still have that ugly-ass watertower?

Now I want fish and chips from Petergate Fisheries, followed by an apple turnover.

I'm perversely glad that the ducks and moorhens are still crapping all over everything.

Have you visited Cardiff yet? Do you have a sense whether you'll choose Wales or the Dales?

In mememe news, since Friday suddenly became my last day of work, work had a small ceremony for me today and gave me a generous award. Everybody said really nice things, and now I'm all verklempt.

So, yesterday was Practice beth's Birthday Day? Ok...I'm good with that.

Happy Birthday, beth! Hope today is even more fabulous than yesterday!

Awww...Raq, that's so nice!

Raq, I'd been to York before so I didn't really plumb its depths--we checked out the campus for a long while, and popped into Heslington to grab something from the shop. But didn't go much further into Heslington, and only poked around a little in the city centre. I did go to the Minster, though (and got in for free!) because I wanted to visualise that scene from Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, having read it a few months ago.

I haven't visited Cardiff, and I won't get the chance to before I need to make my decision. But I remember the city very clearly.

It's an insanely difficult choice, and one I haven't made yet. My friend and I realised that I'm the heroine in a romance novel, with this choice between York and Cardiff. York is the nobleman, a bit frayed around the edges, but with excellent breeding and stature. Quirky, though, with a bit of a dark side. And Cardiff is the always-cheerful blokey dude, frank and open and welcoming. Not as prestigious, but there's just something about him...

And then we anthropomorphized the cities. Where York was David Tennant (more his HP character than his Doctor) and Cardiff was Rhys from Torchwood.

And then I realised I essentially had to make a choice between Doctor Who and Torchwood.

And now I can't stop laughing.

It's an insanely difficult choice, and one I haven't made yet. My friend and I realised that I'm the heroine in a romance novel, with this choice between York and Cardiff. York is the nobleman, a bit frayed around the edges, but with excellent breeding and stature. Quirky, though, with a bit of a dark side. And Cardiff is the always-cheerful blokey dude, frank and open and welcoming. Not as prestigious, but there's just something about him...

This is awesome.

vw, congrats on the writing thing - go you!

There was a le creuset outlet in CA -- I should look for one here. Although if I buy any more kitchen stuff my DH will plotz.

Suzi, don't you forget that they should be trying to sell themselves in your meeting. Good luck!

SA, what a wonderful dilemma you have!

Sox, stay out of the corner!

Raq, have you found a place to live in D.C.?

Thanks, Raq. I've actually decided to pursue it. We'll see what happens... I'm starting to get excited about the possibility.

Beautiful pictures, SA! Good look making your decision!

Gronk isn't even a strong enough word for this morning. I only got about five hours sleep last night, and today I have a busy day ahead of me. I used to be able to stay up all night doing schoolwork and get up the next day with no problem. I'm obviously too old for that now.

Hi, vw, I'm sorry I missed you last night, I turned off the computer right after posting.