Silly little hats

I spent giftmas with Fiona's family downin Newbridge. It's a thirty minute train ride southwest of Dubin. The trains weren't running xmas or St. Stephen's day (the day after). So we were "stuck" in newbridge for 4 days. Couldn't complain, there was good food and lots of movies to watch. Christmas was just like any american Christmas, but with silly crowns and "crackers" which are gifts you open at dinner and it takes two people to "crack" them open. I got a pencil, just what i've always wanted.

New years is still a few days away. It's nice to have a whole week off of work, although I wish I would have made some plans to go somewhere (like Greece!) but the flights were expensive and frankly the loss of my camera has put a damper on my picture taking.

Courtesy of Fiona's camera:

Time for a camera upgrade

Last nite we had our work Christmas party. We started off with lunch (at 3) at Brasserie Sixty6. I had chicken skewers, then a steak for dinner with missisippi mud pie for dessert. Delicious! Around 6 we headed out for some drinks, just went to a few local pubs downtown. At 9 Martina and I headed to Whelands to meet up with Leonie for a gig. Good old rock show, apparently a farely well known Irish rock band. After the band the place basicaly turned into a dance club. Headed home around 2.

Overall a very good nite. Oh, except this morning when i went to load my pictures from the evening onto my computer...my camera wasn't in my purse. Looks like I musta left it at Whelands...just rode my bike back over there. No sign of it. So I had an optio w10, looks like I'll be upgrading to the w20 soon.

So now imagine that i've posted lots of pictures from The Pogues show, the christmas party and from Whelands. Cause those are the ones I lost. boohoo.

Christmas with The Pogues

Tonite I paid 50 euros to go watch one of the most famous drunken toothless irishmen stumble around a stage.

It was worth it.

There was more energy in the room than I've ever felt. He didn't need to sing because there were about 5000 Irish people singing and dancing for him. Imagine the energy of any rock/punk/metal show you've ever been to, then imagine that the audiance is made up of boys/girls/men/women ages 16-70 all having the same amount of energy singing along with Shane MacGowan. The crowd was something else, most people were wearing red and green, even the punks had died their mohawks red or green. And once the music started, out of now where people in the audiance pulled out huge Irish flags which then "rode the crowd" continually the whole show. In between songs I'd watch the crowd of full of drunken Irishmen hug and yell how much the loved eachother.

They did two encores with one of the final songs being the famous Fairytale of New York. "Snow" fell from the ceiling while they all danced around stage and the crowd went mad...I was also up and dancing. I couldn't let the old women out dance me!

I can't say I feel too sorry for Shawn MacGowan, but he has made some great music and its a shame he can't sing it the way he use to.

Without further adu:

more photos!

O'Connel street at nite.


Doyles pub.


This is one of my favorite cinemas in town. It's called the Screen and has this inviting usher outside. I belive the statue is a monument to a real usher who use to work there.


This is what most of my evenings look like.


I saw this hole in the sidewalk.


I put my camera in the hole and took a picture.


Our work christmas party dinner. Chips, chicken wings and sausages. Good thing I'm not a vegetarian.

The most acurate software I've ever used

Photo post (again)

a few of the things i've been up to the last few weeks


^this is what my umbrella looks like most the time.



^this was at a "psp art" showing...strange.



^today i took a trip out to Howth, it's in north dublin and a very nice coastal village. I will be going back again. Great for long walks along the beach.


^Tommy would be proud. I had korean bbq for dinner.


^a few dinosaurs at the local watering hole.

Everyone's a critic

If you loved these guys as a kid:


You'll love these guys as an adult:


>>>>>Youtube: For your viewing pleasure.

The Bridges of Dublin County.

I had a good weekend (not over yet, it's only Sunday morning). Friday night afterwork I headed out with Susan for dinner. She took me to Cafe Bar Deli. I had walked past this place many times but always just thought it was a bar or deli as the name suggests, but I was wrong. Apparently it's one of the most aclaimed restaurants in Dublin, great food, prices and atmosphere. Susan and I stayed there for about 2.5 hours. We had homemade bread, pizzas and shared a liter of house wine. Very tasty dinner. Then we headed up to The Lord Edward pub. According to this website, the Lord Edward is one of the best kept secrets in dublin, and that's where I was. It felt a bit as if you were sitting in your granny's living room drinking a pint of guinness. Good craic.

It was a clear nite (and not that cold!), since i was headed home early 10pm i decided to walk. Walking around the city at nite is great because the city is alive with lights and my favoriate (not suprisingly) are the bridges. So here are a few pictures, hopefully you'll get the feel of how great the city is at nite.





Below is Walshes, my neighborhood pub with the nicest barman in town.


Last nite, Saturday, I again attemped my never ending quest for a pair of shoes. It's still neverending. Then I met up with Martina and Tommy for dinner (fried brie in a fruit sauce with a salad, whoa, delicious!) and then to see Pan's Labyrinth. It wasn't what I thought it would be like but still very good, we all enjoyed it. Then, as it tends to go, we headed to the pub, The Long Hall. We had a great nite, just drinks and talking. Pubs are great because, unlike bars, they have proper lighting and no loud music (if any it's usually tradidtional irish music playing low in the background). So, you can actually have a decent conversation. What always amazes me is the massive amount of Guinness that is consumed. I know I should be over this by now but it's still quite a site to see 15-20 pints of guinness lined up at the bar.




Today is going to be a relaxing watching movies maybe going for a walk kinda way. I'm looking forward to it.

PS. my spell check has stopped working on this blog thing so you're getting the raw stuff: Judy Uncut.

Thanksgiving

I'll be dreaming of turkey tonite. Actually i'm about to eat some delicious lamb stuffed cabbage i've made. Same old thing going on here, i'm lazy. I was going to go shopping tonite (still need to get some winter shoes, slip-ons aren't cutting it) but I've got a bit of a cold and its really cold and drizzling outside so i decided to just come home instead. Maybe start a fire, eat my dinner, watch some six feet under and have some tea. I'll go shopping this weekend.

Oh, i'm back on my cookie obsession. If i haven't mentioned it, ireland has the best cookies ever!!! Let's see, I had a stressful day at work, had a horrible meeting with a client. She was the very definition of the word Bitch, I've never wanted to walk out on a client meeting until today. I Won't get into it, just believe me. Then just really busy. Somehow I managed to stay in an uncalled for good mood all day.

Dinner's up. Happy thanksgiving everyone! Gobble gobble.

Entertainment over

Well, Ian came and went so now all of my planned entertaining is over. There is no one on the schedule to come visit me. Let's work together to change that. How about March? Sound good for anyone? That will give you 4 months to plan and save, perfect.

My new roommate has moved in. Her name is Fiona. She seems really nice, an Irish girl but has lived the last 10 years in Belgium. We haven't spent too much time together yet because she had a planned holiday this weekend, the weekend she moved in. Jessica (old roommate) just moved down the street to a cheaper place. We plan on going for a pint tonite.

Not much else going on, had a little excitement last nite. Something was going on two doors down and the Gardaí (police) were out front at around 2:30am. The worst was the house alarm was going off for about an hour. I'm not sure what was going on but I heard lots of yelling and fighting. Got back to sleep around 4am, I was glad it wasn't a worknite or else i would have been really tired, but instead i slept till noon. hehe.

1 month 29 days 23 hours 53 minutes

Yep that's right, flynn left yesterday morning and I'm already counting down until i get to see him again. But not only him, I get to see everyone!!!

This last week flew by, as expected. Contrary to how I though, I do not feel that time cheated me. I feel like Flynn and I were able to spend some quality time together and it felt great.

After his initial jet lag wore off we had a good time. We started the week off with some simple dublin walking around (I think flynn was sleep walking most of it). Then on monday we picked up the car, we were suppose to get a nissan micra, but they "upgraded" us to a 5-door sedan. Gee, thanks. I wanted a mini for a reason, because i knew the roads were small and the traffic crazy. I figured driving would be a cinch, I was wrong. Everything is backwards, every time I tried to turn the blinker on the windshield wipers turned on and the shifting was backwards and on the other side. So now, i was driving around completely confused in an oversized car. I managed to freak myself out in Kilkenny by clipping the side mirror of another car while avoiding a car coming head-on. After that it was no more driving for me, Flynn took his turn behind the wheel and suddenly felt a little more sympathetic towards me. Now, flynn usually hates driving but for some reason he found this new challenge to be "fun," where as I found it to be the most stressful experience of my life.

We stayed the nite in Kilkenny, where our overpriced hotel room lacked the splendor described on the website. The main reason I booked at Zuni was for its restaurant. Well, when we got there, there was a sign on the door: Restaurant Closed for Maintenance. Boooo! Flynn slept off the rest of his jet-lag while I hit the town for some Judy and Sarah 2001 memories. I really didn't recognize much of anything there from last time except for the castle, which was still beautiful.

I started off the next day with a Full Irish Breakfast, just to show flynn it was edible. Delish, even the black/white pudding was good!?! After walking around Kilkenny for a bit we got back in the Danger-mobile and headed West to Cashel. Two hours and only 80 miles later, we turned a bend to see a huge castle on a hill, the Rock of Cashel. We parked, headed up the hill, did some castle touring and got back on the road (this time me driving). But soon, flynn was in the driver seat again. Apparently I was being too cautious, because 50kph in a 100kph zone just wasn't good enough for him, not to mention he could tell i was extremely tense. Or maybe it was the fact that 30 minutes after we left Cashel, I mysteriously made a loop and ended up BACK in Cashel! Oops, crazy country roads.


By 5pm it was dark. We were trying to make it to the Cliffs of Moher for the evening and were told that no matter where we go don't stay in Limerick. We weren't too keen on driving in the dark and the rain was a comin...and we were in Limerick. We pressed on making it to the quaint village of Enis. Here we found a B&B and a pub and made an evening of it. A rather good evening.

Next morning, to the Cliffs of Insanity!!! er...Cliffs of Moher. We lucked out with the weather, only a light mist. Unfortunately there is a ton of construction going on at the cliffs and most of the areas were blocked off. We hung around for a while, taking in the view. Then off again for our straight drive back to Dublin. Except for a quick stop for lunch Flynn drove straight across Ireland, from West to East coast.


The next few days were spent walking around, drinking guinness, watching movies, going to museums and just enjoying seeing each other again. Thursday nite however, was spent at the GDBA Graphic Design Business Association IDEA Irish Design Effectiveness Awards dinner. We had no idea (ha) what we were in for. We were greeted at the door with all the Gin Martini's we could drink (for me that's two). After smoozing in the lobby, 500 or so, graphic designers and associates jammed into the ballroom for dinner and the awards. Think MTV awards, every time a company won an award some crazy music such as We are the Champions would play, lights would flash and cheering and shouting ensued. The craziness was instigated by wine, champagne and of course beer. Dara Creative walked away with two Awards, one Gold and one Silver. It was quite a nite.


For more pictures go here.

Overall I had a great time and I think flynn did too. Now, who's coming next?

we've got plans comin out the wahoo

Flynn's on his way to Chicago right now. Lucky him, I always get stuck with a transfer in Atlanta. We've got big plans when he gets here.

I've rented a car for three days and we're going to drive down to Kilkenny and then over to the cliffs of Moher (you may know them as the Cliffs of Insanity from the Princess Bride!). Then we will head up to Galway and make a circle back to dublin. The time we have together is packed! On thursday my work is winning an award at the Irish Design Effectiveness Awards, which will be a big fancy dinner, we get to go to. Then there are museums to see and pubs to drink in. I'm worried its going to make the time go by so fast (the last 3 months have flown!). But this is also my vacation from work and a chance for me to get out and see some of the country, so i don't want to just sit in dublin the whole time. Even though there is more than enough to see and do in Dublin alone.

Here's a cute little map so you can see where we're going:


You may not here from me for the next week so here are some more random Dublin pictures:

1 day 17 hours 37 minutes and 14 seconds

until flynn gets here! I'm excited.

How to get your adrenaline pumping

1. go to any shoe store, try on a pair of boots
2. look in the mirror at the boots, while leaving your purse on the bench
3. turn back around to find your purse gone and a man walking out the door with a strange lump under his coat.
4. take off the shoes your were trying on, yell "that man just stole my purse!" and high tail it bare foot after him down Grafton street.
5. Grab the guy and demand your purse back.

Your heart will race like it never has before.

My how time flies

I've officially been a resident of Dublin Ireland for 70 days. I'm learning lots of new things (mainly project management blah!) and i'm really enjoying my time so far. The cold weather is starting to set in and it's really starting to feel like winter. Next week we turn the clocks back so it will really be dark by the time i get home. It will be nice to light a fire in the fireplace, maybe i'll have to go cut myself some peat. I'm also learning I can do without a lot of things, how unfashionable I am and that public transportation is either completely awesome or completely horrible.

And of course I'm learning new vocab!

I hear some of these words daily and am finally starting to incorperate some of them into my own speech.

Culchie: a country person
Deadly: very cool
Fair play: well done!
Fry: fried breakfast (sausage, bacon, eggs and black/white pudding)
Jaysus: Jesus
Knackers: basically white gangsters usually young boys
Muppet: fool, idiot
Snogging: making out
Wrecked me head / headwrecker: makes me mad or someone who makes me mad/frustrated
yer one: a girl your talking about
yer man: a guy your talking about

weekend adventures!

Saturday: Viking Splash Tour!
I met Martina and Kathriona at Stephen's Green for the tour. This is one of the more famous tours in Dublin. It consists of taking a DUKW all around Dublin City center to all of the famous viking landmarks, and while driving "rawring" at people along the street. Then it continues into the water for a 10 minute float around in the man made canal basin, where we got to see where U2's recording studio use to be(everyone: oooohh ahhhh). I'd have to say the best part of the tour was that we were on it with about 15 small children, 7-10 years old. They were good at rawring and had the best answers to historical questions. My favorite was when the tour guide asked if any of them knew which English queen built Trinity College, to which one young man quickly answered, "Elton John!"

A true viking maiden

Capt'n Judy

St. Patrick's cathedral...maybe you've heard of this guy?


Sunday: Wicklow Mountains
Treasa picked me up around noon and we headed down to Wicklow County, south of Dublin. Wicklow is known for its mountains and it was absolutely beautiful. We were also accompanied by Treasa's 2.5 year old son who made the adventure all the more exciting. He's absolutely adorable and very imaginative. After a long day of walking in the mountains and forest I'm ready for a hot shower.

Thoughtful

Guinness owns this valley...

The graveyard at Glendalough

Treasa and James walking towards the lake


On our trip Treasa told me all kinds of superstitions, apparently the Irish are (still) very superstitious. I learned all about fairies, leprechauns, banshees, and magpies. The other thing we talked a lot about was Guinness. I learned how much the Guinness factory helped the people of Ireland. They built houses for the homeless and low income, if you were lucky enough to get a job working in the factory you were set for life (as well as your family), and every nice building you see in the city was somehow linked to the Guinness business. In fact, the house and neighborhood where i live was built as living quarters specifically for the factory workers. Very interesting stuff.
okay...on to that shower, goodnite.

weak in the knees

On my way home from work today I stopped at Easons (think Borders) to buy some paints and a map of Ireland. The place is usually busy because it's right downtown on the main street, but when I walked in, it was PACKED! I thought, "Wow, there are a lot of people here!" then realized they were all girls...strange. I made my way toward the escalator (feeling as though I was in a mosh pit, working my way to the front) when a group of girls next to me started screaming and then (I'm not exaggerating) one of the girls puts her hand to her head and falls over! What the hell is goin on??? I'm thinking.

Finally I make it too the escalator and on my way up I can now see that the crowd of (young) girls is gathered around a table and there is some blond dude signing books and kissing cheeks. Now it all comes together, its a book signing! So who is this dude I'm wondering. There was no one up stairs (in the art area) so as I'm purchasing my paints I ask the girls behind the counter who this dude is, they reply with "Gary Barlow!" Umm I still have no idea. On my way down i got a glimpse of this guy sitting at his table:

He's a real looker aye? So now I'm sooo curious who this middle-aged tool is...I made my way back outside to my bike trying my hardest to remember "Gary Barlow" on my way home so I can google him. And I did. Click on his picture to find out who he is...

Oh and if you read his book let me know how it is, cause I'm not going to be reading it.

Best/worst nite

Had a great nite tonite, headed out after work to grab some dinner with Martina. We went to Aya, one of them revolving sushi places. We're talking gooood sushi here, not the kind that has been making its way around the conveyer for an hour, nice and fresh and lots of variety. After that I headed to Powerscourt Townhouse to meet up with Susan. Her friend Chris Judge was having an exhibition opening. The gallery was filled with this bright and happy paintings creating a wonderful atmosphere (or maybe it was the free beer and wine, we'll never know). Headed back to Dara to get my bike around 9:30 and then home.

now comes the worst part...

I come home to find this in my inbox:

hey guys sorry about the mass email but i got into a pretty nasty bike crash yesterday. i got doored! on ne 21st. ambulance, hospital, lots of stitches. i broke my shoulder and landed on my face, so it's not pretty. also have quite a lot of dental trauma. but i was wearing a helmet thank god or the drs say i'd be dead. love you all.
emily

Now i'm freaking out cause my best friend almost died and I can't even see her. very upsetting. Probably more so for her than me, but still...

EMILY GET WILL SOON!

Pictures

I went out walking for six hours on Saturday. Took some pictures:

The potato famine sculpture

This is a memorial to an immigrant ship that was taken over by pirates!

Sign that basically sum's up Dublin

The Ha' Penny bridge. The most famous bridge in Dublin. Back in the day you'd have to pay a half a penny toll to cross it.

The Liffy River is lined with anchors dating back to the medieval period.

I'd be dead if it weren't for these signs (they drive on the other side ya know...)

This is my favorite monument in the city, the O'Connell Monument. Shown here is only one of the four angels that are at the base of the monument. This one is wrestling a snake and if you look closely at her right breast you will see she's been shot, yep with a real bullet during the revolution. She's one tough cookie.