"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring."

That quote by Roger Hornsby pretty much sums up my attitude over the past sixty days. Winter has finally subsided here in Edinburgh. Since the calendar hit March 1, the weather has been frickin awesome: mostly sunny, little rain, and a temperature that has flirted with 50 on a couple occasions. The winter weather had mercilessly beat the remnants of energy and enthusiasm from most people in Midlothian- everyone, that is, other than the Scots, whom have grown accustomed to an incessant climate of depression. Through years of evolution, they have learned to maintain their joviality through the winter by consuming copious amounts of alcohol, sausage, and cigarettes. The few foreigners who attempted to keep pace with the locals fell by the wayside in January. But the dark days have past! Spring hath cometh! Once again, the sun rises before the city; it stays until after 6. Baseball season is right around the corner! The change in weather, however, has opened a new front in the battle for my attention and focus. Whereas I had fought a constant threat of ennui for the better part of two months, I am now struggling against a determined case of wanderlust. This is not, needless to say, good for my studies. The semester is coming to a close, bringing a unique blend of ignored fear and subdued panic to most postgraduate students' lives. I know I will have to confront the end of term essays sooner or later. But for now I choose to turn a blind eye. I am traveling to Paris this weekend to meet up with two great friends from Hope- a trip that will hopefully put a rest to my need to get out of my daily routine and enjoy the newly born Spring. This trip will mark the first time I have traveled outside of Edinburgh since I arrived last September, not to mention my first ever trip to France. I can't wait. It's going to be an awesome experience. Hopefully I'll come back with my wanderlust satisfied (for now) and a renewed focus that can carry me through the end of the semester and into the formative stages of my dissertation. We'll see. In the meantime, everyone should be cheering for Notre Dame basketball in the Big East Tournament and throughout the NCAA Tourney. Also, your thoughts and prayers for Chase Utley and the Phillies as they prepare to defend their NL crown are much appreciated.