Edinburgh Half Marathon and Summer

Hi Everyone! I hope your summer is off to a great start. Mine has.

The past week or so St Andrews transformed from a rainy cold place to one of the most beautiful sunny and flowering places I have every seen. Wow, this town really is different and I think I owe myself a little kick for every time I complained about it.

During exam week and the week after I had been celebrating and throwing different sort of get-togethers with friends to say good bye for the coming season. We had an excellent last violent movie night (VMN), a tradition of staying up really late and watching some good action films. This time we had some made sushi. :) Also had a BBQ at my house.

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My last post was regarding a fund-raiser, which is still going on. Yesterday, however, was the Edinburgh half marathon. I completed it in 1:45:22, I believe my fastest time yet. It was a fun run, ideal weather condition, and it was great fun running with the Thumpers (a St Andrews casual football team). Over 3,000 pounds raised.

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Now, it is all about the summer plans. I will be down in London in June and to the States in August. Looking into more races and more fun.

Look out for more blog posts and some challenging thoughts this summer. I've had months to think on them, but now I have time to write them out. So, be in discussion with me!

:)

I hope to skype you, chat you, mail you.

-J

For Sofia

Dear Friends and Family,

For the past few years, once a year, I have ran in a half-marathon or participated a sport event for the charity Chai Lifeline. This year I was invited by a new friend, Matt Harrison, of mine to run with him and a few friends in the Edinburgh half-marathon and raise money for a newly established scholarship.

Last year, Matt began seeing a girl, Lorena. Last May Lorena lost her dear sister, Sofia, who took her own life. Sophia was an undergraduate student at the University of Maastricht in Holland. At the University of Maastricht a scholarship has been set up in Sophia’s name. This scholarship will help a selected student who would otherwise not be able to attend university, to meet with Sophia’s parents and have the chance to pursue their goals.

In order to raise money we have partnered with a charity in Dundee (one big town north of us), “Remembering Yusef Abubaker”, who have kindly agreed to help us with our project.

Please, take your time to read Matt’s side of the story at https://www.justgiving.com/Thumpers-Edinburgh-Half-Marathon. I, and the guys I will be running with, appreciate any donation you can make.

All the best,

Jeremy Hipps

Some Days You Just Can't Get Nachos

I found out recently that sometimes life decides to support the maintaining of bad habits.

A few days ago I was worrying as my last test of the year was approaching. The test would be on psychology second year stats, mostly ANOVAs and other variance tests. I realized that this semester I had not attended any of the stats lectures and hardly paid any attention in the methodology labs. I had wanted to, I promise, but I found every time I went I just remained confused by my teacher's explanations with no hope of understanding until I went back and did the labs on my own.

Today I had this test. Last night I printed out all the slides, in a moment of determination, and sat down to work on them. But, I got distracted and visited friends. Then I went grocery shopping and had a chat with my housemates which left me in my room at 11:40pm with the stack of lecture slides. I looked at them and thought, "Wow, so many slides." I decided sleep would be better than a morning headache. I woke up, had some coffee, and started to study the practice questions (based on a friend's hint and common sense) with only a hour and a half to go.

Forty minutes until the test I walked to the psychology building where I met a friend and read a few More slides. The time came and I sat down. Half the questions on the test matched the practice questions exactly. Hallelujah. Jeremy passed.

As I said. Life can support bad habits. I'm grateful that this once on this day life did it for me.

I went out afterwards to grab some of the Whey Pat's nachos, but discovered four rejections on the way.
1. A dog sitting out side didn't want to be pet and turned its head away.
2. Hamish McHamish walked up to me then quickly ran passed.
3. The Whey Pat was closed and no nachos were two be found.
4. The West Port wasn't serving nachos until 12pm.

Some days you just can't get nachos.

-J