Posing as a Dubliner

10 years flies by so quickly, then so does life.

2011-03-05T19:58:00.004Z

March 5, 2001 was a sad day for the Cecil family, but if there was anything I learned from my dad passing was to live life to the fullest.

He taught me so many things and gave me my love for travelling, history, science and life in general. Love you dad, you are missed.

Dale Cecil
March 1, 1946 — March 5, 2001
Dale Cecil of Silverton died March 5. He was 55.
The service will be held at 1 p.m. March 24 in the Orchard House Community Room at Providence Benedictine Nursing Center in Mount Angel.
Mr. Cecil was born March 1, 1946, in Greeley, Colo. He moved to Oregon when he was 3 and was raised in the Hood River Valley. He graduated from WyEast High School in Odell.
While working for JCPenney, Co., he was transferred to Bend in 1966. He lived in Bend for more than 20 years. He started his general contractor's career in 1972.
He married Mary Nealeigh on Dec. 31, 1966, in Hood River. They moved to Salem in 1987 and became residents of Silverton in 1996.
Mr. Cecil graduated from Chemeketa Community College in 1992 with honors in computer technology and was voted Outstanding Student in Computer Curriculum. Most recently, he worked as a company service-support technician and nationwide trainer for Tak Industrial Corporation.
He was affiliated with Jehovah's Witnesses. He also served on the Chemeketa Electronics Board as a community representative.
Survivors include his wife, Mary of Silverton; one son, Tom of Beaverton; two daughters, Judy of Silverton and Kathy Knight of Salem; his mother, Velma of Tillamook; four brothers, Milford of Mountain Home, Ark., and Samuel, Leonard and Jack, all of Tillamook; two sisters, Wanita Reynolds and Jean Purdie, both of Salem; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Liver Foundation, 1425 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, N.J. 07009-9990. Unger Funeral Chapel in Silverton is in charge of arrangements.

France from the back of a motorcycle.

2010-09-08T20:33:00.015+01:00

On August 21st I waved goodbye to Mick as he headed off on his BMW K1200 GT with Grado, Italy locked into his GPS. I wasn't too sad cause I knew I'd be seeing him in a week myself when he picked me up from the Rodez Airport in the south of France. On the morning of Saturday the 28th I boarded a dreaded Ryanair flight and two hours later we were fixing the new Autocom to my helmet. The only question now was, North or South? I had my sights set on south to Carcassonne and since I was appointed navigator that's were we headed. Three hours later after a stop in Toulouse for sausages we arrived in Carcassonne. We followed the Good Book (Lonely Planet's guide to France Mick borrowed from his sister) to a recommended 2 star hotel in the city. I was anxious to see the Castle that the city was known for so so after we threw our bags in our room we headed towards le cité which happened to be about a 20 minute walk from the hotel. However the site of the castle was just around the corner and we were not disappointed. Carcassonne was a fantastic introduction to medieval France and more beautiful than I could have imagined. We walked up to le cité and walked around the walled city for the remainder of the evening. Due to our huge Toulouse sausages we didn't have any room left for dinner. We filled what space we did have left with Coca-Cola and Amstel. The view on the way back was amazing as well as all the lights had come on and the entire walled city was beautifully lit up.

After being awoke at 3am to the fire alarm going off, all the guest at the hotel went outside to either await a fire truck or the hotel manager. The manger showed up first and after a bit of messing managed to turn the alarm off. We got the impression that wasn't the first time it had happened. Back to bed and up early on Sunday and on our way North again. Our destination was Sarlat-la-Canéda about a three hour drive. But three hours turned into 5 after our stop off at Gouffre de Padirac, caverns with a massive sink hole as an entrance. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take any images inside the gaves so you'll have to let google do the honors. When we drove up we were a little apprehensive, as there was a queue of about 50 people of all ages outside. We were worried it was going to be a 'disneyesque' experience but when we saw the size of the sinkhole we knew were we wrong. After a long flight of stairs descending into the earth and a long walk down a cave passage (conveniently paved) we reached water where gondola's (also convenient) were awaiting to take passengers through the cave. After a short time we arrived at land again where we got out and made our way through the accessible 2km of the cave. Then back into the boat and headed towards the light.

Onto Sarlet, still awestruck by the awesomeness of the cave we arrived hungry and quickly found a hotel for the night. Mick had a great time driving down the small medieval cobble stoned alley way to get to the Hôtel Les Récollets. This was an absolutely amazing hotel. Set in a small cobbled stoned alleyway with views that look out of over the city. Very friendly staff who seemed to love the fact we were on a motorcycle. Now that we had a place, on to the important things: Dinner. We headed towards a restaurant recommended in the Good Book but it was completely full (must be good!) so we went to the restaurant just across the way hoping it would be just as good, we were not let down. I will never look at a duck the same again. I had the traditional meal of a Cassoulet while Mick had margaret canard which was also delicious. We ended the night with a stroll around town which was very lively for a Sunday night, we particularly enjoyed a punch and judy going on in one of the squares. I also wont forget the view from our room that night, looking out over a completely medieval city with a clear sky and stars as a backdrop.

We knew we had a full day ahead of us on Monday and it was a day we were looking forward to, but I don't think we knew exactly how much of an impression the day was about to make on us. Our plans were to head to some more caves in the Dordogne area. We asked ahead at the hotel if we'd need reservations for the caves as the book highly recommended them. But he said with such short notice it was best to just go and see if they had space. The first cave we headed to was Font de Gaume. The woman at the ticket office informed us that normally we would have to reserve a space a month in advance, however 'tourist season' had officially ended the week before, therefore it would be an hour wait. For us this meant an obligatory ice cream break. Once again we weren't allowed to take photos inside the caves. This is one of those things that I'll never be able to explain to anyone, it's something you'd need to experience. Within the cave there were several prehistoric paintings that dated back to 17000 bc. The most amazing part was how the artists used the natural shape of the cave rock as part of the paintings themselves. We then had a choice to go to either of 2 more caves. One was just around the corner but the next tour was at 4pm which would take the rest of our day and give us a 2 hour wait. So we headed to Rouffignac instead. Unfortunately we felt as tho we chose wrong, as the Rouffignac caves consisted of an hour 'train/trolly/cart' trip into the depths of a cave while a rude french woman repeated herself twice at every stop in french. When we asked if there was an English tour (which all the others had) we hardly got a reply of a shrug. The highlight of the tour was at the furthest depth of the cage there was the 'Sistine chapel' of cave paintings, animals of all shapes and sizes painted across the domed top of the 'room'. Very impressive.

After the caves we continued our journey north and stayed the night in Brantôme. We stayed the night in a cutesy BnB run by a chatty British woman who informed us that on Monday nights the town pretty much shut down . We had dinner at an outdoor restaurant next to the river. While we ate our delicious duck we were able to watch the sun sink into the horizon which set the river alight with pinks and purples. After dinner we took a short stroll around the town and but everything was shut up tight, so we headed back for an early night in.

Up early the next morning as we had a long drive ahead of us to the coast. The woman at the BnB was kind enough to give us a list of towns to hit along the way that would take us on a beautiful drive through wine country and farms filled with sunflowers. However at some point the list blew out of my hands and we had to make our own way. But I don't think we could have gone wrong if we tried. When we finally reached the sea we stopped at the tiney beach side town of Talmont to grab some lunch, delicious pizza. Back on the bike, we started seeing signs for the Zoo in La Palmyre which was on our way north so we decided to stop in. We were there for a good 2.5 hours and it was one of the best zoo's I've been to. My particular favorite was the Pelican who took a liking to Mick and walked along side him as if they were having a conversation. We then headed on as it was getting late and we needed to find a hotel for the nite. I struggled to remember the names of the town that was recommended to us. Finally giving up we headed to La Rochelle as it was a bigger city and we'd have better options.

Around 8pm, we pulled up to Bar de l'Hôtel de Ville which was a bar that had 9 rooms above it located conveniently in the center of the city and right next to the famous harbor. We unload and headed off to find dinner. It was only fitting that we had seafood and boy did we. Mick ordered a plate of mixed grilled fish and I went for a large pot filled with what I'm pretty sure was everything that lives in the sea. It was good, but hard work. I must have had 5 different utensils designed for cracking, scraping, de-boning and general picking small morsels of meat from various shells. Of course this was all followed by profiteroles, some of the best I've ever had. We then strolled along the harbor for a while making our way back to our hotel/bar where we had a final glass of wine before heading for bed.

Wednesday morning we decided we'd head back inland a bit and set the GPS for Chinon. On our way out of the city Mick saw a bike shop and thought it would be good to have the front tire looked at as it had been bothering him for the last few days. A spot on the tire had begun to wear a bit and causing a bit of alignment issues. After waiting only an hour to get it changed we were on the road again. We had a lovely drive through the country side, more wine vineyards and more sunflowers. However just outside Chinon the bike came to an abrupt halt, I thought Mick had just stopped the bike but when we tried to push it off the road the bike wouldn't budge. We both thought we may be in some serious bike trouble. Our first thoughts were that somehow the guys who fitted the tire messed something up, however they worked on the front wheel and this seemed like an issue with the back. As we were stopped around a corner I headed back to warn any traffic that may be coming and left Mick to see if he could find the problem. After a few minutes he waved me back and said that somehow the back break had locked-up, after a bit of messing around with it and using the rest of my coke to cool the plates down it seemed to unlock. We still aren't sure what actually happened perhaps a small stone was lodged in the break...all we knew was that it was fixed. Onwards to Chinon!

Happy to have made it to Chinon safe and sound we sat in the sun for a minute before looking for somewhere to stay for the night. We booked ourselves into the Hostellerie Gargantua for the nite. This hotel is best described by Lonely Planet:

"Harry Potter would feel right at home at this turret-topped, soaring medieval mansion, once occupied by the town bailiwick , and now a simple endearing offbeat period hotel. Spiral staircases, pitch-dark wood and solid stone conjure the Middle Ages atmosphere..."

We absolutely loved it. I was beside myself when I went in to check it out while Mick waited at the bike. I came back beaming like a little kid and best part was it was our cheapest stay yet. Unloaded and headed out for a walk about town. We stopped and had a few drinks beside the river and then walked around for quite a while looking for dinner. When we couldn't find anything to our liking (and our pricing...) we settled on pizza where we sat next to an English couple who had a few suggestions on what to see in the town and on our travels. The next morning we headed up to the famous Chateau Chinon. This place has made it's mark on the history books as the place where in 1429 Joan of Arc met with future Charles VII and informed him that he would be king. The Chateau was in in ruins with only a bit of restoration, but we didn't need any buildings as the view alone was worth the visit. We then headed back down to the city and tried to go to the Caves Painctes, 15th century wine cellars in caves under the Chateau, however it had just closed for the tourist season the week prior.

Back on the bike again and back to the Atlantic coast. We took the advise of the young English couple we had met the night before and set our sites on La Baule. Late in the day we pulled into the town, which was lined as far as the eye could see with resort hotels...not our cup of tea. So far we had been staying in Medieval towns where prices were relatively cheap. However we were here now so we had to make the best of it. La Baule wasn't in our guide book so we had to wing-it in regards to finding a place to stay. We headed inland, away from the beach stretch and found a nice little Hostellerie for about the same price we had been paying. Then we headed straight for a walk on the beach were we saw the most amazing sunset and we kinda figured, "hey, this town ain't so bad after all." The region we were in is famous for it's crepes and galettes, so for dinner we found a creperie. But this place wasn't just any creperie this was the Cat Creperie. It had cat pictures, paintings, figures, dolls, toys everywhere, including a 4 foot tall wooden cat carving and napkins every. Not to mention the galettes and crepes were amazing. I ordered a crepe that comes with rum, on fire... it was awesome.

We had a bit of time to kill the next morning so we hopped on the bike, sans all of our bags, and headed out to find the salt flats which apparently La Baule is famous for. We found them, drove past them and stopped in a small town of Guérande which was another cool medieval city. We ate ice cream and bought salt (why not!). Then back to the road north towards Brittany. Our destination was the town of Dinan. Upon our arrival we thought we'd check out the local hostel as it sounded like a great place to stay, however, it ended up being a few kilometers out of town, so we ended up at a hotel inside the city walls. That night a lady who worked the hotel recommended that we head around the corner for diner. It was early (7pm) and we were the only customers. We had a bit of a chat with the owner, turns out he'd been to Oregon before and rafted the Rogue. Then we had dinner...wow. I nearly cried at how good it was. It was a set menu with a starter, main, desert and cheese. Of course we ordered duck for dinner and it was actually the same meal that we'd had before but the way it was cooked was amazing. I've never tasted anything quite like it. Afterwards we had a small walk around the walled city and a few more glasses of wine at a bar.

We decided it would be best to book another night in Dinan so we could head out to Mont St. Michel and not have to worry about staying somewhere for our last night. Mont St. Michel was only a 40 min drive from Dinan and when we got there we were both blown away at how beautiful it is. I've seen it in photos but to actually be there is such an amazing experience. Tide was completely out so before we headed into the 'city' itself we went for a walk on a beach that is usually covered with water. Once inside the city we headed up to the abbey and followed a tour round which was fantastic. We were very happy for the tour because there are so many small things we would have never known about the abbey and the people who lived there.

That night we headed back to Dinan for a walk around town. We strolled down the Rue du Jerzual, a street that is labeled one of the best streets in Europe. It's a very steep cobble stoned street that heads from the walled city down to the harbor and river. Once at the bottom we sat by the river and had a drink and then headed across the river for a dinner of Moules et Frites (mussels and chips)! They were delicious.

The next day we had a bit of time to kill before catching our 7pm ferry from Cherbourg to Rosslare. We decided to make a stop at St. James to visit an American War Cemetery. It was beautifully set in a peaceful valley, quite and serene with only the sounds of birds chirping. I couldn't imagine a better place for men who died in such an awful manner to come to rest. We silently walked around the cemetery paying our respects to the dead. Then on to Cherbourg for the boat trip home.

We stopped at a market before getting on the boat to pick up our last french dinner, consisting of 2 baguettes, pork pate, cheese, chorizo and chocolate. Once the boat started moving, I suddenly remembered...I don't do boats very well. My head immediately started to swim around and I couldn't walk straight. So while Mick stayed up stairs to enjoy his Guinness I headed to the cabin to lay down and read my book. As long as I laid down everything was fine. After a rough nights sleep for me and a great one for Mick we pulled into Rosslare to be greeted by the fine Irish weather. From there we had a 2.5 hour drive home in some of the heaviest rain we've been in, especially on a bike.

A few overall notes from the trip:

I enjoyed being on the back of the bike more than I thought! Not a second of boredom.
We learned that in the French countryside if you don't eat between 12-2 and 7-10 you don't eat as everything closes down (thank you Super-U or we would have starved).
France so many medieval towns much more than I expected.
The food is delicious: bread, chocolate/almond croissants please and duck!
The french are quite nice no matter what Mick says.
Wine is much cheaper than beer!

I really enjoyed the trip and and can't wait for my next holiday! Which happens to start tomorrow at 9.45am when I head once again to the Dublin Airport this time headed home. See you soon PDX!

France 2010

How could the last 11 days fly by so fast?

2010-05-12T13:36:00.017+01:00

I picked Mom up from the airport Friday the 30th. After a 18 hour flight she was very happy to see a familiar face. To my surprise, jet-lag never seemed to set in. I had planned the first 2 days of her visit to just be resting and catching up. However, she seemed fresh as a daisy and ready to start her vacation. Since I didn't have much planned we didn't do anything major, we hopped in the rented Hyundai i10 and drove through Dublin and down on to Dun Laoghaire, visited the botanical gardens which are just up the street from my house and had a drive around Howth. Mom (and myself) was a bit dazed by the crazy driving but we managed okay. I think the first thing she noticed was the houses and how they're all stuck together like duplex style and also just how everything in general is much smaller, roads, cars, houses, buildings, everything.

Our adventure really started off on Monday, when we headed up to Newgrange and Knowth. This had been my second visit out to them but it was just as interesting as the first. Mom enjoyed it also, as they are older than the pyramids and much older than any structures found in America. They're something that really need to be experienced, seeing photos of them just won't do them justice.

On Tuesday we headed to the West of Ireland with Galway as our first stop. We had planned on having lunch at Nimmo's which came highly recommended. Although when we got there, they were closed for lunch due to 'chef problems'. We headed around the corner instead to Goya's where were had a lovely lunch. I'll have to save Nimmo's for another time. After lunch we headed North to the village of Cong where I had a little surprise for Mom. I managed to book a night at the 5* Ashford Castle. As we turned down the road to the castle and mom saw the signs she assumed it was just a tourist stop, which I then had to convince her that we were actually staying the night there! The castle was great, very 'castley'. It had miles of manicured garden walks and plenty of places to snoop about inside. Mom was a bit tired from the day (maybe that jet lag was setting in after all) so I ventured out on my own down the river path into the village of Cong. The walk was lovely along a long river dotted with men fly fishing and the occasional pair of swans. At the end of the path there was an old stone bridge that led over into the village entering through Cong Abbey dating back to 1135. That evening we both headed into Cong for some pub grub.

The next day we packed our bags and headed towards Connemara. After a 4 hour drive on overgrown and narrow roads we had our fill of cows and stone walls. With a short stop at Kylemore Abbey, we headed back to the Castle for High Tea. Tea was fantastic, served with mini sandwiches, cakes and scones. Scrumptious! (Thanks Kathy!) Around 4.30 we figured we better stop pretending we were royalty and head to our next destination. Back in the car and heading south.

We arrived in the extremely small village of Doolin at about 6pm. After finding a b&b for the evening, even though we had plenty of light left we decided to leave our Cliffs of Moher visit until the next morning. To the pub! At O'Connor's Pub Mom had a dinner of fish and chips while I opted for the Guinness Stew with a side of Guinness all of this was accompanied by a Trad Session (a trio playing traditional irish music). The next morning we were up early to go tour the Cliffs of Moher aka the Cliffs of Insanity! Back in the car and heading south again. We drove the coast line down to Killimer where we got the ferry across the Shannon River which saved us quite a bit of time. We then continued on south until we hit Killorglin where we got some lunch and decided to push on around the Ring of Kerry as it was only 3pm. We decided to settle down for the night in Kenmare at the end of the Ring. We stayed in a lovely B&B and I think we were the only one's there. Kenmare was a really cute little village and I'd happily go back when I have a bit more time to look around.

Once again, up early Friday morning to head back to Dublin. We made a few impressive stops along the way. I figured we started our little trip west with a castle (Ashford) so we should probably end with some. First we stopped off at Cahir which is home to one of the largest castles in Ireland, built in 1142. We had a great tour guide around the castle, learning of all sorts of medieval and norman traditions, such as catapulting dead animal carcasses over walls as a form of 'biological warfare'. After lunch in the town we headed just down the road to Cashel. This would be my third visit to the Rock of Cashel, the first being in 2001 with Sarah and the second in 2007 with Emily and Christina. Cashel is very impressive, but not to be confused with a castle, it is actually a church, only a ruined one on top of a hill making it look quite castle-esque. After we had our fill of norman history we hopped back in the car and hit the motorway all the way back to Dublin in time for dinner.

Saturday was filled with cooking, eating and laughing with friends. Mick and I decided to have a little BBQ so Mom would have a chance to match some faces to names. Even though we managed to overwhelm her with 15 people who spoke with accents I think she still enjoyed meeting everyone. After a bit of a clean up the next morning, we picked up Orla and headed down to Powerscourt Estate in Wicklow where we met Susan for lunch on the garden terrance. With full bellies we headed on over to Glendalough for one last look at some old ruins and a walk through the park.

With Mom's last day upon us, there was nothing left for us to do except go shopping! Neither one of us would be your typical shopper, however when you're shopping for gifts it's another story. I took Mom to the renown Grafton Street to find a few souvenirs. After we were shopped out we met up with Mick for a late dinner at my favorite Indian Restaurant, the Green Chilli. Once again with full bellies, we headed on back to the house for one final late night chat before Mom's flight the next morning.

As I watched her disappear through the security doors I realised that I already missed her. It was absolutely fantastic to have my Mom come for a visit. I guess I just didn't realise how much I miss her every day. She knows me better than anyone else, loves me unconditionally and is very proud of her little girl.

It's hard to see my Mom grow older but it's even harder to be so far away and to realise that time is just flying by so quickly.

Thanks for coming to visit Mom, love you!

Pictures to come...

V-Day 2010

2010-02-15T21:21:00.005Z

Mick and I decided to stay in and avoid the masses on v-day this year. We treated each other to homemade sushi followed by Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake with White Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Coulis (found on an aptly named blog). I would highly recommend this recipe, don't be scarred off even Mick loved it!!!

Thanks Mick for the great dinner company. ♥

Over the hill

2010-01-27T21:05:00.008Z

Or maybe I'm just on the ascent of the hill? On January 15th I officially turned 30. I was lucky enough to spend my birthday in the amazingly beautiful Austrian Alps. A group of thirteen of us went to Saalbach, a cozy little village (resort) in western Austria. This was my first attempt at skiing which the idea of has never quite suited me. However since the back surgery last year I decided that snowboarding (aka falling on my ass non-stop) probably wasn't the best idea, so I thought I'd give skiing a go.

Getting to Saalbach in the first place proved to be quite difficult. In what will forever be known as the Big Snow/Ice Storm of 2010 here in Ireland we were attempting to fly. After 9 hours in the airport, with our Ryanair flight to Salzburg delayed and finally cancelled we were able to book another flight with Aer Lingus to Munich, Germany and this flight actually was on time. Instead of our 1 hour transfer from Salzburg we were now looking at a 3.5 hour transfer from Munich which put us into the Hotel Panther at around midnite. A few beers and we were off to bed.

Up and early the next morning to book into Ski School. Myself and another guy, Rob, were the only two beginner skiers in the group. We stuck together for the first few days until Rob quickly surpassed me in skiing talent and I decided to drop down a level. I'm not sure if I hurt my left ankle on a fall or if it's just my weak ankle but the boots did not agree with me either way. When I had my boots on I could only put pressure on my ankle for about 10 min at a time, this does not really agree with the concept of skiing so I stuck to the beginners slopes while everyone else moved on.

I found out the real reason that everyone goes skiing anyway:
Après-ski (French: after skiing) refers to going out, having drinks, dancing, and generally socializing after skiing. It is popular in the Alps where skiers often stop at bars on their last run of the day while still wearing all their ski gear.

Skiing is a hard life: up at 7am, ski till 4pm, drink till 8pm, eat till 10pm, drink till 2am, sleep, repeat. And there you have it.

The best nite out by far was my birthday. At dinner the hotel had made me the most amazing hazelnut cake with a Firework on top! No joke! Then after dinner, off to the bars for some karaoke, bowling, drinking and general fun times...And then up at 7am again.

Overall it was a great holiday and a fantastic birthday. I'm looking forward to my 30's I think they're going to bring some great adventures!

I'll get some photos up for you soon.

Slacker

2009-12-30T15:40:00.009Z

I am really slacking on these blogs lately and I apologize. So much as happened, yet it just seem so go by so fast that I don't have time to write about them. I've added a whole slue of photos to my Picasa Page so head on over there to see what I've been up to.

The winter is definitely upon us here in Dublin. It has gone from rainy to rainy and cold. For the last few weeks we've been waking up to a frost covered Dublin. It has been spitting snow a little, but from what I hear the snow is on it's way and should hit next week. Our quant little old house has now become a quant freezer box. All this weather makes for staying inside huddled in one room with a roaring fire, drinking hot chocolate/tea/bailey's coffee and watching movies - our activity of choice. When we're not doing that you'll probably find us huddled up in some warm pub slurping down some cold pints.

Work has calmed down quite a bit this winter as well, my work has been put back to a 3 day work week again with 3 weeks off for the holiday's. Some people aren't so happy with this, but I welcome the time off. I'll actually be taking a 4th week off as well as we're heading to Austria skiing on the 9th of January. I've been doing a few ski lessons at Kilternan on their dry slope. Just learning the basic's of skiing so when I get to Austria I'll be a step up on the other beginners. (you'll find some photos here.

Another fantastic thing that happened was Modest Mouse came to Dublin! I was quick on ticketmaster.ie at exactly 9am and was able to get tickets to the small venue before they sold out in less than 5 minutes. Jessica flew over from Dublin to see them with me. She arrived in the Saturday before (gig was on Tuesday) so we'd have a bit of time to hang out and she was happy to see a bit of Dublin again. So that night she got in, myself, mick and jess headed up to the Porterhouse North for a quite "welcome back Jess "pint. When we arrived I saw a few of our friends, what a coincidence! ... and then look a few more, wow they don't even know each other... why are they all here together? After about a 2 minute delay everyone yelled "SURPRISE!!!" and I quickly realised this was going to be more than just a quite pint. Mick had gone through months of organising a surprise party for me 6 weeks early as we are going to be away in Austria for my actual party! I definitely got a surprise. It was great to see everyone out especially on another crappy evening. On Tuesday we headed the Modest Mouse gig which was probably the best show I've ever been too. It was in a venue that only holds about 500 people. We had no problem standing dead center stage just in front of the guard railing. I sang my lungs out and danced my legs off, I had no voice and wobbly legs the next morning. Outstanding.

A quick rundown of some other things that happened. I got laryngitis, then I caught a cold, then I got better for a few days, then I caught another cold. I've basically been sniffling and coughing for well over a month now.

In between all that I've managed to do a few things. A group of us headed over to Lahinch, County Clare to go surfing. I was really looking forward to this but the stupid cold I had wouldn't allow me any fun. While we were there we visited the Cliffs of Moher where we experienced the true power of wind. Several people a year get blown off the cliffs and I always put this down to stupidity but now I realise you could be 200 feet away from the cliff and still get blown off if you're in the wrong area. Don't worry we stayed in the walled area the whole time, but at one point go smashed up against the wall and if it wasn't there about 20 people would have been blown over the edge. Scary! After we all decided we'd had enough wind we visited the Ailwee Caves where there was no wind and it stays at a constant 10°C. The next day everyone, including Holly the dog, went surfing while myself and Orla stayed on the beach and took photos. It looked like great fun and I'll have to give it a go sometime when I'm not sick.

Only 9 days now till we're off to Austria! Where I will attempt to ski. I promise I'll post up a blog when I get back. Hope you're all doing well.

Head on over to my Picasa page for photos!

Yes I'm alive!

2009-10-11T21:28:00.009+01:00

I've just been very busy, or maybe very lazy, probably a combination of both. Too much has actually happened for me to remember. Our trip to America came and went far too fast. We had a fantabulous time. Four days in NYC with Aaron where we went to the National History museum and saw dinosaurs, went to the top of the Rockerfeller Center where Mick kept his eye out for his TV-Star crush (Tina Fey). We went up to the Top-of-the-Rock just as the sun was going down so we got to see the city with and without lights, absolutely beautiful both ways. We visited the Bronx Zoo on apparently what is the busiest day of the week and we ate a pound of cheesecake.

Then on to Oregon. We were picked up at the airport by all my friends and drive directly to the Concordia Ale House so we could get a pint of sweet, delicious, very much missed Oregon beer. This just started things off perfectly, I knew it was going to be a good trip. The next day, we headed down to Sunriver. This was fantastic as 13 of my friends got to go which is pretty amazing as everyone was able to get off time work or get babysitters and generally act like we were all 22 again. We all went out to the Lava Caves which were very different from the caves Mick and I visited in County Clare, Ireland, which were also very cool. I finally got to spend a bit of time with my mom and introduce Mick whom she'd heard so much about and finally got to met. I also got to spend some time with my brother which was much needed.

Back to Portland. We went for hikes in the Columbia River George, Kayaking with Jaimie's family on the Rogue River, Sarah's bachlorette party, walking around Portland, eating around Portland, Mick got to go shoot guns while I visited my fluffyfaced kitty cat. I took mick to the batting cages where he got to partake in the great aAmerican past-time of hitting baseballs. We got to spend a little time with my sister and my three nieces who are all so big now and so cute! We took the train up to Seattle and where we met up with Dominic and drank beers from our socks in the park. And then most importantly, I got to see my best friend in the world get Married. The wedding was fantastic, not a thing out of place, all was perfect. When Sarah and Morgan went off for their Honeymoon we watched after their house for them. They just bought a lovely new house complete with game room (pool and poker tables), a hot-tub, and koi pond out back! They really lucked out and so did Mick and I by getting to stay there.

Then before we knew it, it was time to go home. I didn't quite realize how much I missed everyone and Oregon until I was there again. It was so good to be home and be surrounded by all my friends and family. I miss you all and thanks for treating us so well.

Lots of love,
Judy

If you haven't seen em yet, more photos at Mick's Picasa:

American Holiday Part 1

American Holiday Part 2

Great weekend, baaaaaaad Monday.

2009-07-14T20:11:00.008+01:00

On Thursday 10 of us headed west to Carrick-on-Shannon for the annual Shannon Cruise. Thursday night was nice and easy, we settled in for the evening and to enjoy a bbq on the docks. Friday was back to the river going at a top speed of 8mph! We stopped along the way for a quick dip in the cool (freezing) waters of the Shannon. There was only one fatality of Mick's new waterproof camera, which is probably still working perfectly at the bottom of the river. We sailed on and went to a pub beside the river for dinner, I had grilled Hake, which has topped my list of the best dinners I've ever had in Ireland. Back to the boat for some cards and drinking.

For more pictures go here.

Saturday contained more of the same intermixed with shooting scenes for "The Shannon Stranger II a sequel for the members of the Shannon Cruise from years back. We also had an important addition to the crew this year, Holly, the official boat-dog joined us. It was great having a dog aboard. On Sunday we lazily made our way back to Carrick-on-Shannon to head home. We had a farewell dinner at a local Italian restaurant and then I hopped on the back of Mick's bike and we were once again Dublin-bound.

And that's when thing's went bad. About 30 minutes into the bike ride my stomach started to feel queezy this was then followed by what mick could only explain as exorcist-style shenanigans including the worst stomach cramps I've ever felt (and never want to feel again). Long story short, at 2am we went to the emergency hospital where I remained until 2pm the next day. When I left they still didn't know what was wrong with me. I'm awaiting some more tests to come back from the labs. I'll then get antibiotics for whatever ails me. Most symptoms are pointing towards E.Coli which I could have got from something I ate over the last week or so. No one else from the boat trip has been sick so we're ruling out anything eaten then. I'm feeling much better today (Tuesday) and was able to eat almost a full dinner. I'll hopefully get lab results back tomorrow. In the meantime I'm confined from going to work as I may be contagious. All I know is that I feel better and it seems that whatever it was has passed. thank god!

Here I go again on my own...

2009-06-09T19:43:00.003+01:00

Hi All it's been a while since i've posted and many fun things have come to pass.

I introduced Mick to Geocaching and it's our new favorite activity. It has taken us to mountains and castles and to lovely walks in the park. We've only done a few so far but plan to pick em up in our spare time. We had a week of absolutely amazing weather, got a sunburn and all, now it's back to a bit of rain and overcast. We took full advantage of the weather when we had it though, by going to beach, motorbike rides and bbq's a plenty!

We also celebrated mick's 30th birthday party (which is actually on the 12th, but due to a business trip had it early) traditionally over at Aslinn's house complete with bbq, bouncy castle and bone fire. It was absolutely fantastic. Then the next day we headed over to Trim Castle for a day in the sun among the ruins.

While we were busy doing this our flatmate sarah was busy moving out and getting ready for her move to Italy, so we'll be cat-sitting pebbles while she's away for the summer. It's nice to have a cat in the house again, but to be honest, pebbles is well... insane. It had to be said.

As for Mick's business trip, he's been called to Sydney Austrailia for three weeks. He's at the airport as I type this. I've moved from the thoughts of not wanting him to leave to just being plain jealous! I wanna go! I'm just trying to keep in mind that it's business and he will be working a lot. As well it's actually winter in Sydney right now so there won't be any fun times on the beach (just one's in pubs). He's promised we'll go back someday and i will hold him to that. I'll be using the next few weeks to get things done i've been meaning to do...not too sure what those are yet.

Oh I also passed my driving theory test last Saturday. Basically I've been driving for 12 years and I can legally drive in Ireland but I can't legally get insured which means i have to apply for my irish license before getting a car. However, actually obtaining a license is quite a lengthly process.
1. First I have to pass my theory test (done),
2. Then i've to apply for my provisional license
3. Next i have to take 6 driving lessons (up to 50 euro a session!),
4. Finally after 6 months i can apply for my full license and of course have to pass a driving test.

And of course each one of these steps costs money. I can actually get insured with only a provisional license but my insurance rates will be sky high!

There are a few things i'm looking forward to. I won't shut up about going to the states i'm very excited for that! I'm also looking forward to Mick getting home (I know... already??) then the day after he gets back we're heading to Claire and Mike's wedding up at Darver Castle which should be fantastic!

to view some of my latest shenanigans follow the link below.

Bits & Bobs 2009

If you didn't get the email...

2009-05-19T16:36:00.001+01:00

I know what's been on all of your minds lately. When the heck is Judy coming for a visit??? We'll the time is near...well 3 months away. As an added bonus my amazingly awesome and handsome (and irish) boyfriend will be joining me. Clear your schedules for some proper Judy & Mick hang out time from August 27th to September 14th. Aaron we'll be in NY August 24-27 so prepare your couch/floor!

Oregon has a lot to live up to for mick, as you all probably know how I tend to exaggerate. We'll be looking for couches/floors/beds to sleep on and cars/vanagons to borrow for some short trips...so let us know if you have a spare.

We'll have 2.5 weeks to:
1. Go to the beach! who's in?
2. Maybe camping/rafting if the weather is as good as last sept.
3. Down to sunriver (Emily think i can rent the house again? not sure of the dates yet)
4. Up to Seattle for a day (DOMINIC!!!)
5. Drinking delicious oh so missed Oregon beer.
6. Sarah's wedding! (Sept. 6th)
7. Leah party? huh huh?
8. lots of visiting in between.

I'm a little excited if you can't tell. See you all in a few months.

Lots of love,
Jude

Damn Recession.

2009-04-26T22:17:00.002+01:00

I finished my first full week back to work last week. I was actually suppose to be back to work the week before, but i fell ill with a case of strep throat which kept me home and in bed for the better part of the week. Not fun at all. Overall I'm, health-wise, i'm doing well now. I've still a bit of pain in my leg but I'm confident it's getting better all the time. I just need to keep up my swimming (2x a week), yoga (once a week) and physio exercises (5x a week). All that keeps me fairly busy.

I've also been toying with the idea of signing up with a softball team. But I'm not sure how the twisting of hitting would work with my back. Not to mention, I don't really have any sort of transportation and all the teams play outside the city centre. So I'll have to look into that a bit more, but i sure would love to play again. The subject of transportation has been on my mind a lot lately. I miss driving. I miss having the freedom to go anywhere I want whenever I want and not to rely on public transportation or the kindness of others. But I hate the idea of owning a car again, paying insurance and buying gas for it. The other option is to get a motorbike, it would be a hell of a lot faster to get through traffic, but i'd still have the gas and insurance to pay for. I hate traffic. What i really need is a flying machine—with no insurance and runs on water. :)

The recession is still going strong. I'm hearing all the time of people being laid off and businesses going out under. My job is going strong for the moment, everyone is working full time again and we're all working hard to keep it that way. However, 2 months ago one of my best friends, Guðrún, was laid off and she has now made the hard decision to move back to Iceland. There are no words to describe how much i will miss her. I'm sure it's much more scary for her, as she's lived here for 3+ years and has made an entire life in Dublin and the city attached itself to her heart as it has to mine. However, this will give mick and me a great opportunity to visit Iceland!

I'd also like to note that it has been 1 year and 5 months since anyone has come to visit me. I think it's time, don't you?

Well that's all from this side of the world. Hope you are all keeping well and drop me an email sometime!

Paddy's day and other miscellany.

2009-03-23T20:49:00.005Z

Well not a lot has happened since last post. Paddy's day came and went. We enjoyed it by watching the parade from a rooftop on dame street where we had a fantastic view. I've mainly just been taking it easy. I went and saw the doctor on the 13th and he requested that I stay off work for another month! That was a bit of a blow, but I gotta do what the doctor says. The improvement in my leg/back seems to be going at such a slow pace I can't detect it, but the doc assures that it is healing normally. Over the last week I've been getting really stiff and it's hard to move, feels like i need a hip replacement. I'm hoping this won't last for too much longer. I'm swimming and just going for walks, but other than that, not much.

Any way here are some pics of what I've been up to.

Paddy's Day 2009 & other Miscellany

Catholic for a day.

2009-02-25T22:04:00.003Z

So this week included Pancake Tuesday. In honor of the sacred holiday we made Blueberry Pecan Buttermilk Pancakes.

In other news my back/leg seems to be improving slowly. It's still a bit painful to sit for long periods of time but that also seems to be improving. I'm not getting as many pins and needles anymore either. I think I've finally seeing results and if I continue to improve I should be fine in a few months. And I'm okay with that!

Time

2009-02-16T12:56:00.003Z

Well I'm 2 weeks post-op now and I definitely have not walked away "pain-free" as I was promised. It's a strange pain now, hard to explain. I still have twinges of sciatica down my leg and my feet have lots of pins an needles now which they never did before. I've called the surgeon to make sure all these symptoms are normal and that i haven re-herniated my back, however he won't be available for 2 days. So I just get to wait. Everyone made this operation sound so simple before i had it, but now i'm finding out it's not so simple at all and it could take me up to year to be back to 'normal'. which is frustrating for me because it's not what i was expecting. I'm not so sure I'll be able to go back to sitting at a desk for long periods of time as sitting hurts the worst. As you can tell my spirits are not very high at the moment and it's hard to just grin and bare it, but i'm trying.

In the meantime, i've passed the days by creating a new portfolio site and have opened myself up to freelance designing in my spare time. Take a look.

UPDATE: The doctor called back and said pins and needles are normal everything i'm experiencing is to be expected and he'll see me in two weeks. phew.

Home Again.

2009-02-05T14:21:00.008Z

I'm back from the hospital and restricted to bed-rest for the next two weeks. Overall I feel okay, it's a little concerning because the pain I'm feeling now is identical to the pain I had before the operation. But the doctor has assured me that this is normal and the pain will go away. He described it as hitting your thumb with a hammer, once the hammer is removed the pain will remain for a little while. He said my nerves have basically been getting hit with a hammer for about 8 months now, and the hammer has been removed. So, it will be a only a matter of time before the pain subsides. This could be anywhere from 2 weeks to 3 months. I'm hoping for the 2 weeks...

I'm moving freely around the house, able to go up and down the stairs and walk around. If I stand up for too long I start to get a bit dizzy, think that might be from the painkillers I'm on. Speaking of them, it's sure noticeable when they start to run out the pain is back in about 5 minutes and i know it's time to take another dose.

I've to go to the dr. next week and get my clips (aka staples) out and then in two weeks I'll be able to go swimming again. Then in a month it's back to the surgeon for a check-up.

Mick has been amazing. He was at the hospital with me the whole time, staying all day until the nurses would kick him out. When I got home he had put together our new orthopedic bed so I can get some good rest, and I have.

I think the hard part is over, now I just get to lay down and take it easy at home and watch the snow fall.

Thanks to everyone for all the loving thoughts.

Here's a few photos from the last few days and of our new house!

Surgery and new house

Surgery

2009-02-02T15:16:00.002Z

Sitting in my hospital bed after surgery, eating cookies. More cookies stat! Surgery went well, or so they tell me, I don't remember a thing. I woke up in the hospital this morning at 6 to the sounds of construction work next door. I got up to close the windows and looked out on a snow covered Dublin. That was strange. Shortly a nurse came to take me to get my back 'marked' for surgery. After he informed me i had my gown on backwards we headed down to get marked. After receiving a local anesthetic they jabbed some inked up needle into me which hurt pretty bad. After they finished my body thought it would be fun to pass out, all the blood drained from my face and my legs and arms went tingly. I didn't pass out completely but i managed to get all the attention of the nurses. ;)

They then put me on a trolly/bed and pushed me back up to my room where i got my blood drawn and awaited surgery. About 9am someone came and took me down to the anesthesiologist. Can't say I remember too much after that. Woke up, went back to sleep, woke up again and then was taken up to my room where mick was waiting for me. Dr. O'Neill came in and said that everything went very well and that my disc was 'very large' and i had very much reason for complaint. Well not any more!

I'll keep you updated later. Lots of love, jude

Birthday Road Trip

2009-01-19T20:42:00.007Z

Well, I am now officially in my last year of my 20's. Wow. It's really amazing how life just flies by. Thirty will be here before I know it but I still feel about 23. I figure I better end the second decade of my life with a bang so let the shenanigans begin!

On the 9th I met up with Guðrún who was kind enough to share her birthday celebration with me. I was celebrating a little early due to Mick being away snowboarding and a pre-planed trip to see Jessica in Germany for my actual birthday. It was a good night we started and remained at the Porterhouse all night. It was great to be drinking Red instead of Coors Light for a change.

Then on Thursday the 15th I woke up at 4:30am to get to Dublin airport to catch my flight to Frankfurt Hahn. The flight was good until the end when we attempted to land but the visibility on the runway was at zero. We made one attempt but had to pull back up as we could see absolutely nothing but fog. From there we circled the airport for an additional half an hour and then approached from a different direction, success! After several questions in my extremely broken German I found the bus station and was off to see Jess.

Jess Greeted me at her house with a special birthday quiche, then off for a little nap. The next day we were up bright and early to begin our journey to Zürich. We drove straight through Germany and France and into Switzerland. Thanks to the superb roads the four-hour journey seemed only like two.

Once in Zürich we found our ridiculously clean hostel and began our exploring. Immediately we noticed how clean the city was too. Of course, most other European cities are clean when you come from Dublin but Zürich was immaculate. Shortly after we also realised how expensive it was! Two Corona's, one meal and one starter (split between the two of us) cost €50. This may not have been so bad if the food was good but it was possibly the worst Mexican food I've ever had. Imagine: Cool ranch Doritos with old El Paso Salsa on em with a bit of cheese and some canned guacamole and you can imagine my disappointment. In it's defense however, we probably should have gone for some traditional Swiss food instead of Mexican food...it's just hard for me to walk by those bright yellow and red signs that boasts such delicious cuisine and not stop. Oh how I'd pay for just one 7-layer burrito from taco bell...(yep, it's that bad).

We continued our tour of the old town and meandered down the many quaint ally ways, peering through expensive shop windows. The town was empty, surprising for a Friday night. Not finding much to do and the shops all closed, we headed back towards our hostel with the hopes of finding a nice little local pub to tuck into. Our hopes soon dashed. We asked several passerby's for directions, but they all replied that Zürich has no 'local pubs' and if we wanted a beer we'd have to head back to the city center...strange. Very strange. Defeated we headed for the hostel but soon found ourselves lost. And then... a pub — Hooray! We joined the six old men inside and stayed until late. Good conversation with Jess and good beer. A local man took a shine to us and told many stories in broken german/english, mainly about how he was from the Milkey Way system and broken memories of war. He explained that he has a storm in his brain that made it hard for him think (to me, he seemed to think far too much!). I believe he was just happy to have someone to listen.

Saturday morning we packed our bag and set off for the local flea market before we left town. We picked through junk for the better part of an hour, me buying a small bottle topper and jess a picture. Back on the road again and off for Strasbourg. Strasbourg was absolutely beautiful and much more 'realistic' than Zürich. We walked around the town for 2 hours and toured the town's gothic cathedral. We ate lunch and sampled chocolates. And then headed back for Homburg.

Sunday morning we lazed around and waited for lunch. Jess' mom made a traditional german meal of Klöße with sauerkraut and bacon sauce. Absolutely fantastic!

Overall I have to say I'm happy I got a chance to revisit Switzerland, but I can now say it does not live up to what I thought. Perhaps if I was extraordinarily rich and enjoyed the finer things in life I might move to Zürich, but for now I think I'll stick with this dirty old town.

Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes. Love ya all.

View Larger Map

Germany / France / Switzerland

Times are changing.

2008-12-22T17:10:00.010Z

Jess and I started off in Dublin together and tomorrow a part of that adventure will end. Jess will be moving back to Germany and opening the door for all sorts of new adventures of her own. Our friendship was built on us both being thrown completely blind into an unknown city with only each other as companions. Companions who couldn't speak the same language, but we were completely lost together.

I will miss our chats about how Dublin dives us crazy, how much we love and hate it. I'll miss our travels together and that friend who is always up for anything even if it's pissing down rain. I'll miss her German common sense.

I know this is not the end and we'll see each other again and be keeping in touch. But I will miss her dearly.

London calling...

2008-12-02T23:08:00.005Z

So we've all been asked to take a week off unpaid due to the recession. This is hard for a few people but for me however, I welcome the time off. So last week I took Thursday and Friday off and Mick and I headed over to London.

Actually, let me roll back a week to when I got the tickets. For some reason I decided to be a scatterbrain and leave getting the tickets until only a week before going. So when I went online to book the tickets, whaddya know—Ryanair had decided to triple the price! So we pushed the holiday out yet another week. We booked tickets for leaving Thursday afternoon and getting back Saturday evening about 10. When I got home and checked my calendar I realised I'd doubled booked over the Wolf Parade gig I already had tickets for on Saturday night. So I got back online again to book another flight home to make us arrive back in dublin in time for the gig. Only a 40 euro charge for the new flight. I didn't bother cancelling the first flight home as there's a 50 euro fee for cancellations or changes, but no fee if you just don't show up...

So finally we arrive in London and get to the Royal Lancaster Hotel just at the edge of Hyde Park. We settled into our 16th floor room, took in the view and then headed out for dinner. After a bit of looking we ended up at Satsuma, a Japanese restaurant, which was okay. Then out for a drink and back to the room to get a good night sleep and up early the next day.

First thing Friday morning we headed over to Portobello Market to get breakfast. Lots of cool stuff there, but unfortunately, not a lot of food. We ended up getting some vegan pastries and had to balance them out with some German hotdogs and burgers (mmm breakfast). Then onward to our main attraction—The Natural History Museum. We spent a good few hours here and only got through about half of it. The highlights were the dinosaurs (duh!) and The Vault, I had no idea I liked jewels so much!

We then took a short stroll across the street to the Victoria & Albert Museum, we took one look at the map/floor plan and decided that it was far too big for us to tackle if we were ever going to get through our plans for the day. Back on the tube and on to Tate Modern. Gotta say I wasn't impressed. I think I may just be burned out on modern art museums or perhaps it's just because I was recently at MOMA and the Guggenheim in New York, which are hard to follow. At this point we were museumed-out. Back to the hotel for a rest up and then dinner. We were determined to find some good indian food. We headed to a recommended restaurant, only to realise it was Friday night and we'd never get in anywhere without reservations. We settled for Masala Zone a chain restaurant throughout London. The food was good, once again, nothing amazing but it did the job. To the PUB! the pub closed at 11...on friday...yeah. So, back to the HOTEL!

Up bright and early again on Saturday, backed our bag, dropped it off at Victoria Station and headed out to see the sites of london. We wondered over to Buckingham Palace where there were thousands of people staring at nothing. Then a stroll through St. James Park trying to avoid the savage pigeons and squirrels. Past big ben, over the river and to the Imperial War Museum. We were lucky cause while we were there a few vetrians from WWII were having a Q&A session. However we spent so much time listening to them that it didn't leave any time to actually tour the museum as we were to meet up with Mick's friend Colm for lunch. Luckily Colm worked just around the corner so we headed to his local and ended up drinking our lunch.

With a few pints in us, we headed back to Victoria station to collect our bag and get the train to Gatwick Airport. The time was tight, but we'd a half hour till our flight took off. We got to the Ryanair check-in desk just as your man was leaving. No luck, he wouldn't let us check in. See, Ryanair actually count on people not making their flights, that's the way they make their money. So there is no kindness in their hearts and they won't make allowances. In fairness it was our own fault...actually I blame the beer.

Luckily, we still had our second, later flight booked. Only a 4 hour wait in the airport. Phone calls had to be made as, Aishling and Gudrun's gig tickets were at my house, but it all got sorted in the end. We finally arrived home at 11pm which was far passed time to make the gig. Two lessons were learned: 1. Don't go to the pub before a flight and 2. Never think Ryanair will be kind.

Overall though a very good few days and London has been redeemed on my list of places to visit.

A few pictures:


London	LondonBreak28Nov2008

Ouch my aching back! Part 2

2008-11-09T21:54:00.005Z

Well, I've followed all my doctor's advise. I started doing physio therapy once a week, then every other week. I stuck to doing my exercises everyday but after a month when the pain continued to be persistent. I started to slip with the exercises. I was up to almost an hour of stretches a day and it was now hard to find the time or desire to do them.

I called the doctor again to look into getting an MRI, he suggested I hold of a while longer and perhaps try osteopathy instead. He arranged for me to meet an osteopath the following week. I went and once again my hopes were high. The osteopath took a look at my xray results and concluded that they were actually normal and the problem was with my sacroiliac joint and that my hips were out of alignment therefore putting pressure on my sciatic nerve, causing the pain. Hooray! She said she'd have me fixed after 2 sessions.

The two sessions came and lots of money went, and I was still in pain. Called the doctor back again...please let me get an MRI so I know what the problem is!!! I had an MRI appointment the very next friday. The MRI confirmed the first diagnosis of a bulged disc (or herniated, slipped, whatever you wanna call it) in my back at the S1/L5 vertebrae. Not only did it show a bulge but it showed a very large bulge, that phsyio therapy, osteopaths or time is very unlikely to help!

I have to say once again I am so frustrated with doctors and health care systems. If I would have gotten the MRI 3 months ago when I originally asked then I would have been on my way to fixing my problem a long time ago.

Fixing however is the tricky part. There is a surgery that can be done called a microdiscectomy, it is simply a keyhole surgery and done as an outpatient procedure. So far the research I've read has said that if a disc is to heal its self it will do so in 6 weeks, which I am well over. However, its also not advisable to have the surgery if the problem has been active for over 3-6 months, which I am just over 3 months. If I do decide to go the surgery route, I then have another challenge on my hands; I can do it through the public system, which there is a 2 year waiting list (that's helpful) or I can do the surgery through the private system for only €7000. There is a fund called the National Treatment Purchase Fund that offers to pay for the procedure if I've been on the public waiting list for over 3 months. I'm just not sure how well this fund works and have never heard of anyone who has used it...so I've to do a bit of research there. But even if I were to wait the 3 months to avail of the fund, I would be well over the suggested 6 month mark of getting surgery.

So that's the story. Here are some pretty pictures of the inside of my body:
Side view

Top view

Edinburgh for the weekend

2008-10-24T16:31:00.000+01:00

To forget all this talk of recession me, Jess and Guðrún headed up to Edinburgh for the weekend.

Edinburgh

life update

2008-10-13T22:55:00.002+01:00

I haven't wrote for a while, mainly because nothing has been very noteworthy. I've been keeping my life fairly uneventful in order to give my back a chance to get better. Unfortunately I seem to have plateaued. I've been taking Difene daily for 2 months now. And I'm starting to get concerned about the effect it may be having on my stomach, so I've been keeping off the drink and spicy foods. I'm still keeping up my physiotherapy and I went back to the Doctor to schedule in an MRI. I'm really torn on this situation because as long as I take the Difene I'm perfectly fine, other than a few aches and pains in the morning and night. But the moment I go off the Difene, I'm crippled again. I quit the acupuncture as it was only helping the inflammation which is none existent while I'm taking Difene.

Ah, that's not what I meant to type about at all...So on to other things.

There's lots of concern over here about the "recession." I'm assuming it's a similar situation as the states right now. I found out today that my back is one of the banks that has been bailed out. Whatever that means. All I know is I don't have 100's of thousands in the bank so I don't really have to worry. Of course I realise this effects business and it's all we here about at work these days.

On the fun side of things, I went with Mick to Carlingford this weekend and a bunch of friends. It was really relaxing, we stayed in Trea's parents house, which is a huge 7 bedroom 5 bath house out in the mountains. It was amazing there were 10 of us and we each had our own rooms/beds. The only downside was it was raining so we had to catch a ride with Tom meaning we didn't get to take the bike which would have been an absolutely beautiful drive (when it wasn't raining). We'll have to take a spin up there sometime again when we get some nice weather (positive thinking, right?).

Speaking of weather, the cold is setting in again and it's dark by 7 and getting earlier everyday. Break out the hat, scarf and gloves again.

On the horizon, I'm heading to Edinburgh this weekend with Gudrun and Jess. That should be great! I haven't been to Edinburgh since Sarah and I went in 2001. wow. Then, when I get back on sunday, I'm heading into town to see Jenny Lewis! That should be good fun too. I've also to look forward to Death Cab for Cutie and Wolf Parade next month.

Hope all is well with all of you, please drop me an email and let me know what's new in your life.

Lots of love, Jude

Not getting any younger.

2008-08-23T21:56:00.005+01:00

However, I'm getting older before I should! As I mentioned in my previous blog, the acupuncture seemed to relieve my back pain—for about 2 weeks. Then it decided to come back with a vengeance. The pain that I had prevously felt in my lower back now quickly spread to my butt and down my right leg, Sciatic pain. I knew this was not right, so I scheduled some x-rays to be taken. The x-rays showed a narrowing of the L5/S1 disc space with facet joint degenerative change. Basically this means that two of the spine bones in my back are smooshed together, narrowing the disc space, probably making the disc bulge out, therefore, pinching a nerve and making the pain. Apparently degeneration is a normal occurrence but is not noticeable until you're in over 50, not 28.

So this pain has basically left me immobile, unless i pop myself full of anti-inflammatory pills. I hate taking medicine crazy pills, i feel like i'm just filling my body with unnatural chemicals that really can't be good for me. But at the moment it seems like it's the only thing I can do. I'm also keeping up the acupuncture as well as seeing a physiotherapist who has given me a few exercises I have to do twice a day, every day, probably for the rest of my life. If I can get the the inflammation down permanently so the pressure is off my nerve I should be okay again, but that can take a lot of time. Positive thinking is what I need, I'm trying.

Somehow, this is a bit unexpected. Yet when I look at my life, I lead a sedentary life compared to how humans are suppose to live. Sure I walk an hour every day and I've started swimming weekly, but I'm also still sitting at a desk for 7+ hours a day. I've done this since a computer was introduced into my life at about 12. So that's at least 16 years of sitting and leading a fairly unactive (physically) life.

Two years

2008-08-10T20:38:00.004+01:00

What started off as a year adventure in my life has now turned into a two year life changing journey. And I feel like it's just starting. However, I'm also starting to feel the effects of getting older, not just the aches and pains, but that time is running out and I have so many things in this life that I want to do. Mainly travel, thailand, cambodia, laos, south america, Japan, and Egypt which will all somehow involve going through Italy cause that seems to be a hub for everything. I'm trying to schedule in a few weekend trips in the near future a wishlist would be Poland, Germany and Switzerland/Austria. Of course all this involves money and time off of work which don't exactly work together. I'll manage.

In celebration of my two year anniversary I spent some quality time with a few friends from my past. Kerry and Jennine from Oregon are visiting Ireland, so I invited them over for a traditional Irish meal cooked by an American. I made Shepherd's Pie and Guinness Brownies which both turned out delicious!

Today Aishling, Guðrún, Mick and I went down to Glendalough and went horseback riding! We lucked out with the weather considering most of Ireland is experiencing major flooding right now. We had great fun which is a direct ratio to the arse pain.

I'm back home now and ready to start my 3rd year of Irish life.

Lots of love to all and I miss you dearly.

Horse Trekking

I'm a believer!

2008-07-11T13:44:00.002+01:00

Anyone who has talked to me in the past year is probably familiar with my constant complaining about my lower back aching. It all started a year ago when I got a case of Strep Throat. I was on a weeks worth of antibiotics, which cleared up the strep, which then immediately came right back. I was put on another two weeks of antibiotics. Well this basically messed up my insides causing the need for more antibiotics? Vicious cycle, I think so. A year later, but insides finally became normal again yet the constant back ache remained. I figured maybe it was just a coincidence and had nothing to do with the bout of antibiotics, it was probably aching just cause I'm lazy, need to exercise more and improve my posture. I focused on doing these things, did yoga, started stretching every morning, paid more attention to my posture, went to a masseuse, osteopath, etc. Nada. Still every morning I could barely get outta bed cause my back hurt so bad. I finally gave up and accepted the fact I felt like a 70 y/o while i'm not yet 30.

Well hallalujia! Am I a believer in the power of acupuncture! I've been going every other week over the last two months and after the first session i thought i was cured! However, it did come back slight, but after a few more sessions I feel great again! It's such a relief. The acupuncturist explained that it had nothing to do with muscles or bones but was simply my kidney's still inflamed from being sick, a year ago! The next few sessions we're going to focus on getting my entire body healthy. Oh i'm so excited!

Summer in Ireland

2008-06-26T18:22:00.002+01:00

This is the rainfall meter, it's not set to stop for the next two weeks.

I'm not complaining. (Yes I am.)

It's official.

2008-06-18T20:43:00.004+01:00

I'm legal to live in Ireland again! I went down yesterday and extended my work authorisation for another 2 years. I can't believe these past two years have gone by so fast! And I'm continuing to have the time of my life. I now know that moving to Ireland has been one of the best choices I've made. I do miss my friends and my family. But the good thing about them, is they're always there, and they're just as I remember. However, I'm making new friends, some as close as family.

What have I been up to recently, you ask? Well I was helping Mick celebrate his birthday with lots of shenanigans. I tried my hand at baking him what I've just dubbed, Judy's Crazy 8 lime cheesecake, with a strawberry hat. The cheesecake topped off some delicious enchilada's.

I've been relatively busy the last few months and that seems to be slowing down now, unfortunately that means no more holidays planned. I'll have to change that soon. I've a few exciting things on the horizon, but they're top secret for now. More details to come. For now feast your eyes on 'Crazy 8.

Camping

2008-06-03T11:39:00.004+01:00

What an amazing past few weeks! To follow up on Budapest, this last weekend we hopped on the bike headed to into the west driving three hours to Oranmore, just outside Galway, were we were camping for 3 nites with some friends of mick. On the second day we took the bike for a trip around Connemara which was amazing. Neither one of us knew Ireland had such a big mountain range! It was pretty amazing, we stopped off at this cute little swimming hole which also amazed us cause the water was so clear blue it looked like we were in the tropics! the only way we even knew we were in Ireland anymore was cause there were cows watching us the whole time. Then the next day we all went to Salthill and walked the beach front and played mini golf, bumper cars and pool. loads of fun. Now I'm back at work...not as much fun as camping.

Camping Oranmore / Galway / Connemara

Budapest and back

2008-05-30T00:30:00.002+01:00

Last Friday, Mick and I took off to Budapest, Hungary for 5 days. My previous memories of the city weren't that great, however they were also 7 years old. My new memories are amazing. We basically spent the entire holiday walking, up hills, over rivers, through zoos and parks, only stopping occasionally for food and beer. I highly suggest Budapest to anyone planning to travel to Europe.

A few pictures for you:

Budapest

The fun's not over with yet, tomorrow we're heading off for a 3 day camping weekend near Galway! I've just finished packing and now I've to do my anti-rain dance.

It's good to be home

2008-05-06T19:38:00.002+01:00

While America was fun, it sure is good to be back home; my own bed, clothes to choose from, seeing mick, overcooked veggies, the rain...okay maybe not. The weather this last weekend, however, been amazing! In fact this last weekend was one of the best weekends I can remember in some time (perhaps even ever!). Friday, mick and i headed out to malahide to have drinks with some friends, stayed up there and nursed hangovers saturday (okay, maybe that part wasn't the greatest).

Sunday, we were sun-struck and hopped on the bike and headed up north to Skerries and Rush really beautiful coast towns. We stopped along the way to feed swans, walk on overgrown tracks and lay in the grass by the sea. On our way back we stopped off for a bbq at mick's friends. Only to come back to my house to join in on what remained of a house party.

We took advantage of the bank holiday monday and headed south this time to hike up Bray Head. We were almost halted by the fog but we pushed on and once up the mountain and through the clouds we had an amazing view of a fog framed Dublin. We still had bbq on the mind, so we headed back to mine and jess joined us grilling at my house (excellent burgers!).

That's pretty much it, I'm afraid if I say summer is here, it will go away. So I won't say it. Here are a few photo's from mick's fancypants camera:

NYC day 3

2008-04-15T09:14:00.001+01:00

Up and at it early this morning, my last day in NYC. I joined Aaron on his way to work at 9:30 and we grabbed coffee at his neighborhood coffee shop. He went on to work and I went on to finally see the Natural History Museum. It was everything I thought it would be. I walked around for 2 hours (that was all my brain and eyes could handle) looking at fantastic dinosaurs, wonders of the deep sea, wonders of the universe and every other animal to walk the earth. Very educational and very cool!

1:45 I hopped back on the subway to meet up with Aaron one more time to do what we do best, eat. We went to the cutest Cuban restaurant that made me want to dance the minute I walked through the door. Then the food made me want to go to Cuba! I had crab cake salad with guava cheesecake for desert! Holy moley!!!

Back on the subway again to head back to aarons, with a quick stop off to one more touristy area so I could pick up some of them 3 dollar I heart NY shirts. Now I'm sitting at the JFK airport, awaiting my flight to Portland. See you soon Oregon!

NYC day 2

2008-04-15T09:09:00.000+01:00

Aaron woke up hung over from the nite before, the exact reason I didn't want to join him. So while he slept, I headed over to the Statue of Liberty and then wandered up Broadway Street, past Wall Street, strolled passed the massive hole in the ground where the twin towers once stood and then took a ridiculous taxi ride to a restaurant Bread to meet up with Aaron and an old high school friend, Ryan, for lunch. I arrived 20 minutes late thanks to NYC traffic. However, I was still there before Ryan and his wife. It was super good to see them again. It's strange how you don't see someone for 10 years and our lives have changed so much but are still the same person you remember. Fun times.

After lunch we parted our ways and aaron and I headed in the direction of the Natural History Museum, we headed in the direction alright, and then went right past it. By the time it would have taken to backtrack our path, we would only have had an hour at the museum. So, we decided to get off where we were and stroll through central park. I called this our Cloverfield Tour. We passed the subway stop, saw the apartment buildings, hid under the bridge and saw the open green where that dude got eaten. Oh by the way Central Park is HUGE! If you decide to walk across it, wear good shoes and get lots of hot dogs on the way.

At the end of Central Park lays the mother of all nerd stores, the brand new NYC Apple store. We spent a little while in there drooling over all the latest overpriced gadgets. I wanted to shove my pockets with iphones, shuffles, imacs, macbooks, and anything else i could get my hands on. I didn't (not yet!). Then on to dinner! We dined on NY's finest street food of hot dogs, cookies, and pizza. The pizza was probably the best i've ever had! Yes, even better than American Dream Pizza. Then on home, where after the long day of walking I fell asleep watching No Country for Old Men.

I <3 NY!

2008-04-13T05:12:00.003+01:00

Hey everyone I made it to NYC! A quick rundown of what's gone on so far. I got in yesterday, friday, at around 12pm got my huge luggage and headed off on the subway to meet Aaron in Manhattan at his work. After sluggishly lugging my luggage through out the many stepped subways of NY I finally arrived at his work. After hello's and hugs we got down to business, on to mexican food; the only reason a really even came back to America. Two enchiladas and beans and rice later, I was on my own again with keys to Aarons flat in hand.

Once again I attempted the ridiculous task of getting my gigantic suitcase through the subway, at least I didn't have to change lines. I popped out of the Morgan Street exit to arrive in the heart of Brooklyn, aka, the ghetto. Aaron had drawn me easy enough directions and only left out several major points consequently getting me very lost...in the ghetto...white girl...huge luggage...in the ghetto. Sure no problem, I've traveled all over the world, I've no problem stopping and asking for directions... ironic thing however, no one spoke English. After wondering around for a half hour I finally found a helpful person who pointed me in the right direction. At last finally at aaron's place. I was down for the count, took a three hour nap waiting for
Aaron to get off work. Turns out he had to work late and didn't get off until 10pm, on a Friday! We then headed out for a few drinks at a local bar. Ah fine American beer, at last.

We woke up bright and early this morning and made our way into downtown Manhattan. We walked around a bit checked out some of the more famous spots. Then headed off to the Guggenheim Museum where there was an exhibition by Cai Guo-Qiang . It was extremely cool. Basically the guy blows things up for a living and in his spare time creates creepy political artwork using lots of taxidermy animals. After that, on to the next museum, possibly the mother of all modern art museums, MoMA! Before hand, however, we went and got amazing ramen noodles! Delicious! Then on to ponder the works of Andy Warhol, Picasso, Kandinsky, and the special exhibit, Design and the Elastic Mind. In the MoMA bookstore on our way out I had my first ever celebrity spotting! There standing right next to me was the former White House speechwriter, not to mention Emmy Award-winning actor, comedian, and game show host, yes, that's right none other than Ben Stein! Funny stuff huh?

To finish off our sightseeing for the day we headed over to Rockefeller Center where we had free passes to the top, courtesy of Dominic's visit the previous week. We had perfect timing, we went up to the top about half hour before the sunset began, we stayed through the sunset and watched the city come alive with lights. What an amazing site. Now it was time for dinner, over to chinatown for dumplings as an appitizer, then back across town to Mama's for some NY style home cooking, I had mac and cheese, sweet potatoes, and corn. One more time: Delicous! All of that chased down by yet another tasty american beer.

Finally back home now and i'm completely wrecked. Aaron has headed out to a friends party to live up the NY lifestyle. I will stay home and sleep off my Dublin jetlag. Besides big plans tomorrow.

New York

Upcoming travels

2008-03-28T16:27:00.002Z

Yippy I'll be in NYC in 14 days! I'm really excited as I've never been there before and it will be awesome to see Aaron. Then off to Oregon hooray! I'll be getting into Portland the evening of April 14th and there till the 25th, with a few days spent in Bend and Salem.

May holds 5 days in Budapest! Wahoo, we just booked out tickets last nite and will be staying in some crazy old building that's been turned into apartments. I was in Budapest 8 years ago (!!!) with Sarah but didn't feel that I got the full experience as we were both sick at the time. So I said what the hell...I'll give it another try cause Aer Lingus is having a flight special! I love cheap flights! Yes, I am bragging :)

Lots of love to you all and see you soon.

Why yes, my boyfriend is Bruce Wayne.

2008-03-06T21:45:00.003Z

France was great! However, far too short of a vacation. I hadn't been snowboarding in a very long time so I had forgotten the small amount that I learned. Mick was a very patient and good teacher though. I was just getting the hang of my front edge by the time I had to hop back in the rental car and head home. If next time, I can pick up where I left off last time I'll be sailing down the mountain in no time.

Although, I am very sore! I'm hoping my soreness will go away by Saturday, as I'm heading to Edinburgh and am hoping to do some clay pigeon shooting. yippy.

Here's my awesome boyfriend, batman (duh) snowboarding:

And for the rest of my images (more to come from Mick's camera when he gets back):

Les Arcs, France

Give me some snow!

2008-02-29T16:01:00.001Z

Les Arcs Snow Forecast | Snow Report | by E-mail

In 4 days for 4 days

2008-02-27T09:11:00.006Z

It's going to be a busy couple of weeks (months).

Whaoo I'm heading to France in four days to go snowboarding in the Alps. I can barely contain my excitement. I'm a bit nervous as it's been over 4 years since I've been, and as I left it last time I was just learning how to turn. eek. I'm going to take a quick half day training course to see if I can pick it back up again. I'll be there for four days and should be able to get in at least 2 solid days on the mountain. Then back to work on next Wednesday.

The following Saturday I head up to Scotland for the weekend, to Gleneagles for the McNaughton Awards. Where I'll spend Saturday clay pigeon shooting and scurry driving, whatever that is.

March, we might be planning a trip to Prague or back to Croatia, April I'm heading home, and in May I've got a week solid of great gigs! June, going to radiohead and Mick's birthday. It's great to be so busy with such fun things on the horizon.

the last few days

2008-02-17T20:04:00.005Z

It seems like right when I get over a cold I catch another one. I felt entirely healthy for about one week and then the sniffles and aches came again. boo! I've managed to suffer through. Actually, the last week has been really great. The Smashing Pumpkins concert was a total success. The day started off with meeting up Jess for a cup of coffee then heading up to St. Stephen's Green to see Frank Black play. As we neared the top of Grafton Street we got word that the park was being closed and the cops were kicking everyone out. We got to the front gate just in time for them to close it on us, but shortly after Frank Black emerged. Apparently they didn't like the idea of his impromptu gig and decided to put an end to it. So instead, he played there on Grafton street. It was really incredible to see 300 or so people on the street singing along to Monkey gone to heaven.

After the crowd died down we went and joined a few friends for a pint before the SP gig. Before we caught a taxi to the RDS Liam asked if I knew anyone else interested in going, as he had two spare tickets, so Jess decided to join us and I gave Gudrun a ring too and she came and met us at the RDS. Once inside, I was worried I wouldn't be able to find Mick in the crowd of 10,000 people. But miraculously, he found me within 5 minutes! The gang was all there and the pumpkins started things off with Tonight, Tonight. It was mad seeing the pumpkins again, last time I saw them was over 10 years ago! As expected they played a lot of music from their recent albums much to our disappointment as we were all hoping for older songs. After the gig we caught the DART back into town and joined up with some friends for a few drinks. A great day!

Over the last three weeks I've also managed to get back to my roots a bit. A few of the girls at work and I have been going to weekly courses at Trinity College. We attended a Life Drawing class and I've gone twice to the Pottery Workshop. I am so incredibly happy I've started doing this again, it's made me realise exactly what a release of stress pottery can be. The best part is it's located directly across from my work and starts at 6pm, leaving just enough time to grab a quick bite to eat after work. So I plan to continue to do this for a while and am very excited about it!

So last Thursday was v-day, I was still pretty stuffy from my cold so we decided to lay low. I made the most delicious pizza ever and then we went and saw Juno which we both really enjoyed. Friday I stayed home from work, but still managed to work. That night I made pizza again with the left overs and we just stayed in and watched episodes of Family Guy. On to Saturday I got a bit of running around town done, met up with Jess for coffee/wine. Then off to Yamamori for Aishling's birthday dinner. It almost turned disastrous because we went to the wrong location at first and I had forgotten my phone so calling was out of the question. We quickly legged it across the river to the other location and made it just in time (actually before Aishling even showed up). After dinner the five of us headed over to the Globe for a few drinks. Mick and I ended the night a little early as I still have a bit of the sniffles. But overall, a very good nite, which was followed by today! We were extremely naughty and went to the Queen of Tarts and ate cheesecake for breakfast! oops. The weather was sooo nice we got it for take-away and ate in the Dublin Castle Garden. Then we went on a little bike ride up to St. Anne's park and walked around for a bit. I seem to view Dublin in a whole new way when riding around on a motorbike, when the sun is out and we're cruising around the streets, it's possibly the most perfect thing I could ever think of. Romantic huh? Now that the sun is coming out and weather is getting better my excitement for this city is returning.

In other news, my best friend in the entire world is now engaged! That's right Ms. Sarah Stanford is gonna get married! And well I approve. I couldn't be more happy for her (and morgan!).

These days are crazy and I love them.

January/February shenanigans

Why am I excited?

2008-02-08T23:06:00.000Z

I'll tell you why. Because tomorrow I'm going to see the smashing pumpkings, who happen to be playing the same night as Black Francis (aka Frank Black, aka the Pixies!!!). However the pumpkins won out, as anyone who know's me know's my love of SP. Not to mention the ticket was a christmas pressent. HOWEVER, Frank black will be playing a FREE pre-show show tomorrow at Stephen's Green! How awesome is that?!?

I am also excited because one of the designs i've done is up for a McNaughton's Award, and I'm being flown to Edinburgh for the awards ceremony in March! And will be staying in some fancy 5-star hotel (the same one that the G8 was held at a few years ago), with a fancy black-tie dinner. Yeah!

It's that time of year again

2008-02-05T21:07:00.000Z

It's Pancake Day! And I didn't eat a single pancake, boo!

But it's also time for a visit back to the ol' You Ess of Ay. Got my ticket today with a 3 day lay over in New York so I can do a bit of sight seeing with Aaron, I hope no giant monsters attack while I'm there!

See you in April:
Fri, Apr 11, 2008
Depart DUB: 09:30 AM
Arrive JFK: 11:45 AM

Mon, Apr 14, 2008
Depart JFK: 06:55 PM
Arrive PDX: 10:26 PM

--------------------

Fri, Apr 25, 2008
Depart PDX: 07:10 AM
Arrive JFK: 03:35 PM

Fri, Apr 25, 2008
Depart JFK: 07:45 PM
Arrive DUB: 07:45 AM

Good times

2008-02-03T22:19:00.001Z

Rain rain and more rain, however I had an excellent weekend. Friday nite, went out for drinks with a few friends, had a great time. Didn't do to much saturday, went for a walk, a little shopping and started watching Dexter. Then went and saw Cloverfield, which was excellent! It has jumped to the top of my list of excellent monster movies, replacing the Decent. Next on the list, Juno and I'm looking forward to I'm a Cyborg at the Dublin Film Festival.

Today was spent doing laundry, watching the new series of lost and kicking mick's ass at tetris.

Still loving this poster:

Twenty-eight and feeling great

2008-01-15T23:05:00.000Z

Well it's official, I'm 28. Maybe if I keep heading east I can out run it for another few hours. Through my years I've learned that the only proper way to handle growing older is by embracing the fear with delicious food.

The day consisted of going to work, finding a birthday pastry on my desk, followed by lots of birthday shouts from my co-workers. For lunch a cheesecake was busted out which I gladly ate two pieces. After work I was joined by Susan, Treasa and Laura from work for a few pints at the local. Laura and Treasa departed but were replaced (in so many words) by Aishling and Jessica, then onward to Acapulco where we met up with Gudrun for delicious mexican food, I got the Chimichanga (of course) followed by deep fried ice cream! It was a great evening and I can't think of anyone else (in dublin, calm down you crazy Oregonians) I'd rather spend my birthday with than four of the most genuine, caring and all around amazing girls I know.

I also got a few gifts, one being a big blue long time friend who I never thought I'd see in Dublin, another a snowball thrown in the Alps in my honor.

Good stuff.

Welcome 2008

2008-01-08T10:59:00.000Z

New Years in Stockholm went well, possibly one of the strangest nites of my life. It consisted of, a dinner of seafood casserole, only to head back to Infamous Studio where they were having a burrito fest. As midnite crept closer we headed a short distance away to a friend of a friend's penthouse apartment filled with 16-17 year olds. Not exactly what we had planned. We babysat for an hour or so before following the children to the river to view the city fireworks at midnite. Kisses and hugs for everyone and then back to tuck the children into bed. Tyson and I then headed on to a club that was a bit more our age, where we met up with tyson's friend, philip. The three of us sat backstage and brought in the new year drinking champaign. New years day I woke up to a snow covered Stockholm.

The remaining few days were spent recovering, trying to stay warm and hanging out at the studio. Overall, a very good trip. Stockholm you treated me well, I thank you.

My flight back to Dublin was delayed an hour because of snow (I thought sweden would be prepared for that one?), putting me into dublin around 11:30pm. Luckily Mick was picking me up from the airport so I was able to avoid the 300 person taxi queue. I didn't head into work thursday as I originally planned, instead opted to spend some quality time with mick before he took off to Austria for two weeks. Now i'm back at work. Dublin is just as I left it, except a bit colder and a little rainier (just when i thought it wasn't possible). I'm keeping myself occupied sitting next to the fire, reading American Psycho and watching the Long Way Around.

New Years 2008 -Stockholm, Sweden

Snow Day 2007

2007-12-31T14:11:00.000Z

Well, its the last day of 2007. I'm sitting in the Infamous Tattoo studio in Stockholm Sweden waiting for Tyson to finish up his drawings. Looking back, what can I say about 2007? Cha-cha-cha-changes. Lots of things happened, lots of things didn't happen, however the good have always outweighed the bad. Overall, I'm happy and I couldn't imagine being anywhere other than where I am right now (in life, not necessarily in Sweden).

Just to recap my little trip so far:
I got in on Friday morning and found my way to Infamous where Tyson works. It was really easy to get here, just a short trip on the subway. I dropped my bags off and took a short stroll around the old town before it began to get dark around 2.30pm. Tyson and I went and go some dinner and just hung out, headed home early and watched a movie before hitting the hay.

Saturday, more walking around, dinner at some fancy place and then back to the studio for a birthday party. It was rad cause I got to meet a lot of tysons friends and just interesting people in general, not to mention an open bar. After the party on to a bar for a few more drinks and then home for snoozing.

Sunday, more walking around. Went to the modern art museum, then to the grand hotel to pretend we were millionaires and drink expensive beer. Then continued on a small pub crawl of Stockholm. Found a girl passed out in a public toilet and got some help for her, cruised around the park for a while. Home early around 11.30.

Today, December 31, 2007. i slept ridiculously late but woke up to snow. tyson headed into town early to do a bit of work, where I met him him at the studio, where I'm typing this. No major plans for new years as of yet. I have a feeling we might just end up here at the studio with a few cans of beer. Not too sure yet.

Farewell 2007 welcome 2008. Its going to be a great year.

Cozy pubs.

2007-12-15T18:42:00.000Z

Warm pubs, pint in hand and good friends for company. These are the days of my life, at Brogan's Pub.

Me and Gudrun
(these first two photos were taken by Dara, i want his camera!)

Gorgeous.

Me and Mick

Your's truly and Aishling

Fun times.

Dublin in December

2007-12-11T23:13:00.000Z

How it goes

2007-12-01T16:30:00.000Z

The rain is upon us and coming down hard today, which is okay because I'm home nursing my hangover all day. Things have been going good lately. Good thing i did all that traveling last month cause now i'm spending most my time indoors, trying to paint more, watching lots of films and sitting in cozy pubs. I've seen some great films lately, Control, The Darjeeling Limited and 30 Days of Night.

I've also been to a few great gigs, Wilco and The GO! Team, where I met the most amazing guy. Upcoming: The Good Life tomorrow nite, Múm and Seabear, CSS, Stars (again) and maybe the Smashing Pumpkins in February.

In other news, work is going good, just found out last nite that one of my designs won the Design For Print Award! So that's very cool. You can see some of my most recent work on my new online portfolio. I also bought my ticket for Stockholm, hanging out with Tyson for new years! Hooray! I'm super excited because Sweden has always been on my list of somewhere I'd like to visit.

We'll that's my life at the moment. Hope you're all doing well.

More travels!

2007-11-18T22:30:00.000Z

Last week I made plans with Jessica and her two flatmates to drive up to Belfast this weekend. Well, as life has it, the other two girls' plan's changed and jess and I were out of luck. But we though, hey, let's go anyway! So this morning we hoped on a bus to Belfast. I'm not quite sure how it works but the bus costs 22euro and takes 3 hours while the train takes 2.5 hours and costs 60euros. So the bus was just fine with us.

Of course we made now plans of where to stay but figured we'd find something. Belfast greeted us with a torrential downpour! More rain than I've seen in quite sometime and of course accompanied by gale force winds. We opened our umbrellas and headed in the direction of a few hostels. The first hostel had a sign posted, no vacancies, so we headed to the hostel I stayed at 8 years ago! It however was also full and we came learn that it was quite a busy weekend in belfast due to a football game and two big gig's on (one being My Chemical Romance, causing the town to be crawling with 16 year old goth kids). Next step, bed and breakfasts. Once again turned away from the first, we found the second one only had 1 three-bed room left for £75 ($154!) no way were we gonna pay that. But as we were walking out the door we met a another lady how was looking for a room and she was on her own. Bingo! So we decided to share the room with her for a much more reasonable £25 per nite. We were set!

We booked ourself a Black Cab Tour to go take a look at the war murals, with piping hot chips in hand we hoped in the cab. It was going to have to be a short tour because it was already beginning to get dark at 4:30 and the weather was not cooperating. The murals were not quite like last time i saw them, 8 years ago, because this time there is peace! thank goodness. Once back in our room we warmed our feet for a while and had a great chat with Janet, our roomie. Then Jess and I headed out for the most amazing indian food and then to meet Janet for a pint at the pub across the street.

Wow, all i can say is, wow. What a crazy "pub". It was a bit more like a bar than a pub, but it had such an eclectic mix of people there and we had our pick of any of the 60-year-old men we wanted. Needless to say it wasn't exactly our crowd, but very entertaining none-the-less. After two drinks, and watching the "belly family" get arrested, Jess and I decided to head back to our warm beds.

Up-and-at-em early this morning we walked with Janet back to the bus station, where she caught a bus back home to Monaghan and us up to Giant's Causeway. We completely lucked out with the weather, a crisp clear day with puffy white clouds, making the perfect day for a cliff walk by the ocean. Giant's Causeway is such a magnificent place, it's no wander it's been named a national wonder of the world. After a few hours there, we headed back to belfast and then on another bus back to dublin, about 4 hours of bus ridding all together. Not so bad.

Tomorrow I'm off to the exciting land of work! (that's sarcasm).

Belfast and Giant's Causeway

Home again, home again.

2007-11-04T10:09:00.000Z

Rome was great. It never ceases to amaze me. Walking through the doors of saint peters, exiting the metro to find the coloseum looming before us, or turning a corner and seeing the sun gleaming off the magnificently beautiful trevi fountain. This was the third time I did all these things, and it still felt like the first. However, my anticipation was even greater, cause I knew they were all coming.

Rome was more packed than usual due to the bank holiday weekend, because of this we decided to skip admission to a few of the major attractions and opt for people watching in the piazzas. Our last nite included an amazing dinner of salads and pastas chased down by delicious red wine. The food is simply amazing, however, we somehow also mananged to find a bad restaurant, i wouldn't suggest it unless, day old microwaved vegitables is your thing.

Italy Novemeber 2007

So now, i'm back in Dublin, I feel truly home again. My friend jess (from germany and my compainion on this crazy irish adventure) captured my feelings about dublin:

...I would miss these thousands of people from all around the world who jostle my shoulder when I go through the city, where parcels never find our house, always a beer in front of me without having to pay...that amazing wind, I will miss the smell of winter... in Dublin that is a smell like a flowery open fire, pub's where looking from the outside look empty and dead but inside all hell is breaking loose, where the rain and mist can be so lovely especially in the country side, bicycle lanes where actually there aren't any ... where elderly people and the pub keeper bring the night to an end ... just a 10 minute drive when I want to smell the sea, just 30 minutes drive to see beautiful mountains ... excellent and affordable fish and chips in the irish film institute ... where people keep acting naturally in all their life situations, to live in the real and rough north side, the city where a river divides the money... but otherwise where everybody is a star.

Thanks Jess.

Rome again Rome again

2007-10-31T13:35:00.000Z

Yippy, just got into rainy Rome. Once in Italy we stayed two nites in Lecce and then headed over the the supremely beautiful Amalfi Coast, where we stayed the next two nites. And where I reminiced of the days of yore. Here in Rome were staying in the same hostel I stayed in last time i was here, however, they are booked up for the holiday weekend so we need to find somewhere else for the next two nites. So I best be internet searching for hostels. tootles.

Amazing, just amazing.

2007-10-26T19:17:00.000+01:00

The last week Emily and I have been living in postcards. We have seen places I thought were just TV sets, but no, they exsist and we were there. Climbing the walls, walking the streets, eating the food and drinking the beer in these unbelivilby beautiful places.

After Dubrovnik we headed south to to Kotor were we hiked the walls that were built in 1166. After a cold, restless nite, dreaming of zombies coming down from the mountains, we headed down to Bar for a nite, where we lounged in the ruins of the 10th century Stari Bar (old city).

Last nite we jumped aboard our 9 hour ferry ride across the Adriatic to Bari, Italy. Yet another restless nite filled with dreams of the boat running into a whale, into another boat, and somehow sinking from a hole that just appeared out of no where. Emily finally dragged me out of our cabin half an hour after we docked. Still in a daze, after agruing with the taxi driver, we managed to grab a taxi to the train station with several other travelers, for minimal price. We napped for our two our journey to Lecce, the Florence of the South. Here we have set up camp in my idea of the perfect apartment. I may just move here so I can live in it perminitly. So far we have managed to walk around the city at nite, which is so beautiful because all of the old baroque buildings are lit up. Absolutly amazing.

We are here for two nites, then we head to Mantra and stay the nite in some swanky cave hotel. We will continue our way north to the Amalfi coast and then spend our final nites in Roma!

I will leave you with an image of what I will be dreaming about from now on...

Mi jesu idiomi

2007-10-21T14:23:00.000+01:00

Rough translation: We are idiots. Here we are in the most beautiful place in the world, huddling in our apartment. Why you ask? Because instead of believing the weather forecast and bringing coats, gloves and scarfs, we brought swimsuits, skirts and tanktops. Now we are freezing. but its okay cause its our own fault. Today we are shopping for warm clothes. Two more days here and then were off to Montenegro! Were trying to follow the warm weather south!

burrrrrr!

Dubrovnik!

2007-10-20T16:27:00.000+01:00

Day 4 in croatia, this is our second day in Dubrovnik and it is more beautiful that i ever imagined. One of those places that words/pictures can't describe. Emily and I flew into Pula (northern croatia) on tuesday evening, found our incredibly cute private apartment with the friendliest owners and most amazing view. The next day we spent walking around Pula, which has a colosseum similar to the one in Rome. However, as the sun began to fall, we quickly learned that we didn't pack the right clothes for the weather. It's true that during the day it is sunny and beautiful (we even went sunbathing!) but once the sun goes down croatia quickly turns into an in credibly cold country. We're layering all out cloths and are working through it.

Thursday we hoped on a 14 hour over-nite bus ride to Dubrovnik. we couldn't believe our eyes when we got here. so beautiful. The first day we walked all around the old city and atop the city walls. Today we ventured into the new town and on to the famous copacabana beach. we're just in town now heading for some dinner, seafood for me!

Here's a photo from the internet, i'll post my photos when i'm back home in Dublin.

Off to Croatia/Montenegro/Italy

2007-10-15T13:01:00.000+01:00

We just got back from traveling around West Ireland, every corner we turned we felt like we had entered a new postcard. Absolutely amazing scenery. I haven't had much time to post photo's but will when i get the chance. Christina left this morning to fly back home so it's just me and Em again, just like the good ole days. We take off tomorrow for Croatia, don't really have any plans except that we need to be in Rome in 18 days. Wow it's gonna be so great to be traveling again!

I'll post pictures as soon as I have a moment, hopefully before I leave tomorrow.

Adventures with Emily and Christina Chapter 1

2007-10-01T13:47:00.000+01:00

Hooray! Em and Christina arrived in last friday morning at 5am in the morning. They arrived baring gifts; milk duds, twinkies, cupcakes and of course the most important reeses cups. After a few hours of chatting, the girls hit the hay and I hit the sidewalk to walk to work. After a very giddy 7.5 hours at work I skipped off early to meet the girls and help them get their barings of the city, aka, show them the pubs. We walked through temple bar and down a few of the main streets. We then stopped in to the Porterhouse for their first pint. Then then we met up with Aishling for another and then off to the IFI for dinner. After a quick stop in at the Turks Head we headed across town to meet up with Susan and Owen at a friends birthday party. As anticipated, jetlag began to set in, instead of trying to keep the girls from falling asleep in their guinness, we headed home.

Up and at em early the next morning we really set out to see the city. We started off by cruising around Christchurch, Saint Patricks, Dublin Castle, Chester Beatty Library, temple bar, Stephen's Green, ending up at Trinity College for the highlight—the Book of Kells. Which was absolutely amazing. Then off to the Northside with a quick stop at home. As the sun was heading down, we headed to Glasnevin Cemetery. After an hour walk through some of the most beautiful gravestones we headed across the street for a pint of the best guinness in town at the Gravediggers pub. Dinner time! Home for some spagetti, and then off to meet up with Martina for a "quiet pint" at the Lord Edward. We finished out "quiet pint" with a taxi ride home at 3am.

Next afternoon, up and at em' again. I told the girls that we wouldn't be doing much walking since our heads and bodies were still aching from the nite before. With blue skies above our heads we caught the DART down to Dalkey with the goal of catching a boat out to Dalkey Island, but when we got there the harbor was closed. We met a nice local man who pointed us in the direction of a few unmentionable famous people's houses, so we figured, what the hell, let's take a look. At this point our day of "not walking much" turned into a five hour walk to another village down the East Dublin coastline. The view was amazing. Halfway through our walk, i realized we were halfway to Susan's house so we might as well keep on walking since we already had plans to visit her that evening. We caught up with susan in Kiliney at the Obelisk on Kiliney hill. After the day's long walk we headed with susan to get some dinner in Dun Laoghaire at Cafe Mao. Then back to the DART and home to fall into bed.

This morning the girls were up at 4am to catch their flight to Edinburgh, and me back to work. I can't wait for them to get back on friday and we'll do it all over again!

Friends unite!

Tis the wind and nothing more!

2007-09-26T22:28:00.000+01:00

The wind is back and it has blown summer away. But despite the blustery, cold, dark by 7.30 evenings I've still managed to do a few things. The fringe festival has been on for the last month and I went to a few events. But in more exciting news—Emily and Christina will be here in 1 day!!!! They arrive in early friday morning and I couldn't be more giddy!

My world

2007-09-12T19:29:00.000+01:00

So I got a little bored and in preporation for Emily and Christina to get here, I've noted all my usual haunts.

They can be found here.

View Larger Map

Goodbyes

2007-09-06T23:15:00.000+01:00

Jessica Lynn Liddell
November 4, 1979 - September 2, 2007

Jessica was one of those people I didn't see for years. But when we did see eachother, our friendship always picked up right where it left off. I will always remember her for being a very sweet person and a friend that years couldn't detour. I will always always remember Jess.

STAYTON - Jessica was lost to her family and friends in a river accident on Sunday. One major blessing was that she was with friends and having a good time.

She was born in Salem and moved to rural Stayton prior to her 1st birthday. She spent her school years in the Stayton public school system, where she excelled as an artist. This talent led her to achieve her Associate of Art degree through Chemeketa Community College. She put herself through school working at Stayton Video/Liquor store and Wherehouse music.

Her first job was at Ace Hardware, after school hours and the Ugo's Pizza Parlor, where she met her future husband, Marty. They were married on August 5, 2000. After residing in Salem for a few years, they moved back to Stayton. She was employed at Sublimity Eyecare as a team leader, working for her Uncle John and with her sister, Michelle.

Jessi was a beautiful, vibrant young woman who will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She had many hopes and dreams, one of which was to open an art gallery and feature works by her friends, her sister, and herself. Friends are hoping to have some of her artwork and photographs memorialized in a book to be published, with proceeds going to an art scholarship. She was also a counselor for the Outdoor School program and looked forward every year to the week she spent helping students learn about nature and ecology.

She was preceded in death by her father, Darrell Plunkett, and grandfather, Hal Rickman. Survivors include her husband, Marty Liddell and his family; her mother, Cheri Plunkett; half-brother, Brian Shapiro; younger sister, Michelle Plunkett; grandmother, Edna Rickman; uncles, Tom, John, Bill and Janet, and Don and Tami Rickman; and aunt, Janice and Rick Moore. She also had numerous cousins who adored and looked up to her.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 8 at the Weddle Funeral Home, Stayton. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations for the art scholarship, the Outdoor School program, or the Marion/Lynn County River Rescue operation can be sent to PO Box 392, Sublimity OR 97385

Timothy Lee Harrison
1960 - August 25, 2007

My cousin Tim. My heart goes out to Candice, Shawna, Bobby Joe, and Ashley..

A Tillamook-area man fell to his death while bow hunting with his brother Saturday afternoon on private property about 3 miles north of Trask River Road.

On August 25, 2007 at approximately 1:04 p.m. the victim's brother, WILLIAM HARRISON, age 50, from Tillamook, called 9-1-1 after hiking about three miles from the scene where he had left his seriously injured brother who had fallen about 250 feet down a cliff. Personnel from Oregon State Police, Tillamook County Search & Rescue, Tillamook Fire Department, Tillamook Ambulance, Netarts Fire Department, and Garibaldi Fire Department responded to the area to assist.

After emergency responders returned to the scene on foot with the victim's brother, two rescue personnel went down the rocky cliff to where the victim, TIMOTHY LEE HARRISON, age 46, was lying. The victim died at the scene before he could be retrieved and taken to a hospital.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter responded to assist with retrieving the victim and two rescuers.

Trask River Road is about three miles east of Tillamook along Highway 6. The scene was about 7 miles up and 3 miles north of Trask River Road.

Oregon State Police troopers from the Tillamook work site are the lead investigating agency. A chaplain for Tillamook County Sheriff's Office also responded to assist

Emily Frances Egan
1989 - August 28, 2007

I didn't know Emily too well, but I did spend a few christmas' and thanksgivings with her. The Egans are some of the most loving people I've ever met, they don't deserve heartache like this.

A funeral Mass will be at noon Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, in St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church (Madeleine parish) for Emily Frances Egan, who died Aug. 28 of homicide at age 18.

Emily Frances Egan was born April 2, 1989, in Portland. She went to the Madeleine School, earned a GED certificate, and had been a student at Portland Community College.

Survivors include her father, John; mother, Terry; and brother, Joe.

Electric Picnic 2007!!!

2007-09-03T20:48:00.002+01:00

Where to begin...the weekend that I had most eagerly anticipated came, and went in a flash.

Friday
I took friday off and at 11am met Aishling and Martina at the bus station to catch our bus down to Stradbally, about a two hour drive south west of dublin. We got down there, found a small area just big enough for our three tents. It turned out to be a great spot, with the best of both worlds, a vegan/vegetarian booth on one side and Hog in a Roll on the other. Shortly after we pitched our tents up we were joined by bridget from limerick. Throughout the day already we had seen several people we knew and most stopped in for a beer or a chat.

After a few beers, a spicy mexican vegan burger we headed in to the arena for the start of the festivities. We started the festival off with Hot Chip on the main stage, then stayed for Bjork. She was great, as expected. However I cut Bjork short and Aideen and I headed towards the crawdaddy tent to catch Modest Mouse. Wow, what a turn out, i had to fight and throw some elbows but we finally managed to squeeze into the jam-packed tent, which was completely worth it. Since modest mouse was my most anticipated act, the rest of the festival was just icing on the cake. We headed back and caught up with the other girls for LCD Sound System. Back to the tents for some decent shut eye.

Saturday
This was without a doubt the busiest day. It turned out way better than I had expected. I knew there were loads of bands on, but I wasn't too crazy about any of them, I have since changed my mind. This day's music hit it off with !!!. Good stuff, then in a blur over to catch a bit of The Undertones on my way to see Bonde Do Role. After shaking our booties for a while Aishling and I took our seperate ways, her heading over to meet up with the rest of the girls at Fionn Regan and me to M.I.A., one of the highlights of the festival. The day was young the sun was out, and Architecture in Helsinki was playing, they were absolutly amazing! I had to give ladytron a miss and head over to see Ratatat. The girls put their faith in my musical taste and headed over with me. They were not disappointed. Ratatat was without a doubt my favorite of the weekend! They don't need no stinking lyrics! They were so good, we stayed for their entire set, missing the first half of Polyphonic Spree. But we made it just in time to hear their amazing cover of Nirvana's Lithium (another highlight).

It was only 9pm. Much more to do. We had a short break before the B-Boys took the stage. What a joke, biggest mess up of the festival. For some reason (I can only assume sound?) they put the Beastie Boys on one of the smaller stages, in a tent. Well, the tent filled up very quickly and there were a 1000's more outside trying to squeeze in. We took one look, and said no way. Back to the tent for us, for a few beers before the Chemical Brothers. However, once i snuggled into my tent you couldn't get me back out. I wasn't too pushed to see the Chemical Bro's either, sleep held a much higher priority. The other girls went, and said i didn't actually miss much, so that was good.

Sunday
After a somewhat proper nights sleep, I woke up feeling refreshed. The last day! Not a lot of bands on my schedule for today, so it was a good opportunity to take advantage of the other festivities. We did a lot of "chilling out" in the body and soul area. This place completely reminded me of the Oregon Country Fair (lots of hippies). The first band i went to go see was Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, they were good, but not amazing. I think the sound was off. Then stopped off for a Sonic Youth song on my way to Rilo Kiley. Yes, I realize I passed up sonic youth for Rilo Kiley, and I'm not happy about that either because frankly, their set was very dull. Live and learn.

Back off to the main stage to meet up with the group. Iggy and the Stooges were playing, but frankly I don't remember, too busy talking to my mates about everything else going on. To bring the festival to an end, Primal Scream put on an absolutely amazing show. I shall not forget.

There were a few things I missed that I would have liked to have seen, including, Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth, The GO! Team, Deerhoof, ladytron, Camera Obscura, Gary Baseman and Tim Biskup.

But without a doubt one thing that made the festival worth every euro:

Battle of the century

2007-08-29T09:15:00.000+01:00

The Babylonians vs. The Romans

As mentioned below, I got two fish. After a mighty battle, for breath, Nero won. Nebuchadnezzar died after only three days. I didn't mean to do my own animal testing but I got the wrong info from the pet store and apparently Nebuchadnezzar needed a filter to survive while Nero does not. I gave him a proper flushing burial.

Long live Emperor Nero.

It get's lonely at the top—and I live in an attic.

2007-08-26T12:00:00.000+01:00

Hardly a replacement for logan, but meet Nero (left) and Nebuchadnezzar (right).

I've lost EVERYTHING!

2007-08-16T09:33:00.000+01:00

I've always thought highly of macintosh computers, everyone know's that. But now, my faith is wavering. Only one year after i bought my macbook, the hard drive has crashed. the ironic part was i was backing up all of my photo's when it crashed. so now i've lost the last 6 months worth of photo's which are precious to me. Not to mention all of my design work.

just got off the phone with the apple repair guy...it would cost me over 500 euro ($620) to retrieve the data. So i sucked it up and i'm just getting a new harddrive without the retrieving the data.

One year - no regrets

2007-08-10T10:04:00.000+01:00

As of yesterday i have officially lived in Dublin for one year. It's crazy how time fies, yes when I'm having fun. I've learned so many new things living over here, mainly how to live on my own and be comfortable with myself which is far from easy sometimes. I've decided I'm going to stay for another year and see where this crazy world brings me. After that I think i'd like to continue traveling, asia will be next.

To celebrate my one year anniversary I came down with strep throat, so I've been celebrating in bed for the last 3 days with Tom Robbin's Skinny Legs and All. Usually I'd be celebrating with my computer re-watching all the episodes of Firefly but my computer decided to get strep throat also, and is dead. Unfortunately, without my start up disc's (which are in oregon) I can't fix her. Bugger.

So I'll be keeping a low profile this weekend, taking my antibiotics, napping and reading. exciting stuff. Bring on year number two!

Week in a flash.

2007-07-29T22:39:00.000+01:00

What a doozy. Last week was very slow at work but my nitelife was running faster than I was.

Wednesday I headed out to a Design Social put on by Design Ireland.

Thursday evening was Tanja's (my flatmate) last day so all of us in the house headed out to wish her safe travels back to Switzerland.

Friday nite I went out with some friends after work, great nite.

Saturday, Aishling and I headed up to Howth for a walk along the beach, followed by Tapas with Susan and Owen then met up with Martina for drinks.

Today was a lazy day, filled with sleeping, tv watching, laundry, cleaning the room. And I just got back from watching Sherrybaby with Ash, good movie but very depressing. We were suppose to go see the Simpsons Movie, but of course it was sold out.

Next week I foresee a week filled with movies the Simpsons Movie, Transformers, and an outdoor showing of Spinal Tap.

The flatmates, from left, Keiran, Donnacha, Tanja, and yours truly.

Howth >>>

Fish and Chips by the sea, some of the best I've ever had!

not much

2007-07-22T20:10:00.000+01:00

Sorry I haven't been writing lately. There just hasn't been much going on. But there has been a lot going down...rain that is. The most exciting news is, I went and watched Alien's on the big screen last nite, outdoors, with NO rain! It was great, watching a scary movie outside where real alien's could have attacked at any moment! However, they didn't, only a few seagulls flew over.

The morning commute

Sunset from my window

Who's bright idea was this?

2007-07-09T12:47:00.000+01:00

An outdoor festival in Ireland???

Wahoo, yesterday Martina and I headed out to Punchestown in Kildare for the Oxegen 2007 music festival. The festival was two days but we got day tickets for Sunday only. Upon arrival we were 100% satisfied with our decision to buy wellies, due to the fact that we have been receiving more rain this summer than ever before (yes even for ireland). By the end of the day mud people were abundant and mud wrestling was the main event, set to the tune of some of the most popular bands around.

Our day started out by catching a bit of Charlotte Hatherley (of ASH), nice and rocky. We then sloshed over to the Green Room to watch Calvin Harris, great energy, horrible lyrics. It was pretty exciting when the top of the tent burst during his set. Lunchtime! We ate the best felafel's I think I've ever had listening to the rhythm of the Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars.

Now, the fun begins. Bloc Party took the main stage, and put on an good show. We cut it short though and headed over to catch Albert Hammond Jr, but got there just as they were clearing the stage. Which is okay because we're going to see him at Vicar Street Next month. Now it was time for Martina and I to go our separate ways, she headed over to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and me to CSS. Due to a certain Amy Winehouse cancelling her set (ahg that woman, i tell ya always messin things up) I missed half of CSS because they were moved up in the schedule. But I was able to catch the last half, which was absolutely amazing, as expected. The good thing about the time change was I was able to catch the majority of the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club set with Martina, and found a few other friends there too.

We stuck around at that tent for the next band, Satellite Party. I'm not quite sure why they changed their name from Jane's Addiction though, all they played were Jane's Addiction songs. Wow is Perry Farrell crazy. Then across the way to see the fabulous Arcade Fire. Once again we cut the set short and slugged over to watch bright eyes. Now i was just expecting same ol thing, but, they blew us away! Without a doubt one of the highlights of the festival, I think I finally made Martina a fan also. She finally figured out "what all the fuss was about." We stayed in the same tent for the fabulous (tosses hand) Rufus Wainwright.

The end was near, the sun was going down and the Killers were on, but Daft Punk was louder. We stood half way between the two turning an ear to each. We also ducked into the Pet Sounds stage to catch a song from Brian Wilson, gotta say, a middle aged man sitting down playing a keyboard just wasn't holding a light to the lasers and light shows Daft Punk was putting on. We ended the nite with All These Things That I've Done by the Killers. Overall the last hour was filled with dancing to daft punk, singing along to the killers, and feeling sorry for Brian Wilson being overshadowed by the other two.

The nite was almost over. The heard of mudcaked people headed towards their cars, campsites and us to our bus. We ended the nite, in the standard Martina/Judy way, by getting separated. I squeezed onto a bus and the doors closed before Martina got on. We thought I was the lucky one but getting on a bus first thing, but it turned out Martina was the lucky one. About 10 down the road, my bus got a flat tire! Now we had 50 muddy, exhausted, drunk people waiting a half an hour for another bus to pick us up.

I finally got to the door and peeled off my wellies around 2am. Wow what a day.

Some mud pictures, this was not just a certain area, this is how the ENTIRE festival grounds looked:

Happy fourth of July

2007-07-04T21:36:00.000+01:00

It's nites like tonite that I love where I am.

unfortunately, i did not take this photo, but this is pretty close to what it looks like.

I'm sure the rain will resume tomorrow.

Caio Italia!

2007-06-25T17:16:00.000+01:00

Hello Ireland.
I'm back in dublin where it's easy to pay for things and find my way around, yet the food just isnt as good and the people are not as attractive (no offense ireland!). Of course the trip was good. I have to say it was very different from other trips i've taken.

I spent the first three days on my own, it was a bit lonely, but allowed some quality thinking time. Rimini is suppose to be one of the liveliest cities on the Adriatic coast. But because i was there on a wednesday through thursday not much was going on. I spent a lot of time on the beach, but got so burnt that i couldn't really go back. So then i thoroughly walked around the quiet city which took only about a half an hour. The majority of the remaining two days i passed time reading and drinking corona's in the garden at the hostel. Friday nite i headed out with two swedish girls (super nice girls), but headed in early because i had to catch my train early the next morning.

The Tiberius Bridge in Rimini, began under the Emperor Augustus in 14 and was completed under Tiberius in 21.

Saturday morning I headed to Faenza. I found the hotel that sarah was staying at really easy but she has left a note at the front desk to let them sleep a bit, so i grabbed a coffee and read more of my book. It was so great to see sarah, I haven't seen her since January and I haven't spent quality time with her in a very long time. The wedding was at three so we got ready and headed to the church. It was a smallish wedding at the very small, oldest church in Faenza. Now, all i know of italian catholic weddings is that the entire thing is read from a booklet and there's a lot of standing up, sitting down, kneeling and singing. After the wedding we headed to the reception at a vineyard a little outside the city. The food was amazing and the wine even better (as expected). After the reception finished, we headed back into town and joined the towns people in the pre-palio, (a jousting tournament between the town's five districts) festivities.

Sunday we walked around the town a bit and then headed over to the stadium with everyone else in town to watch the Palio. It was pretty fun, but at time more fun to watch each district yell and shout at the other districts and in some cases throw water balloons. After the match was over we headed out for a bit to eat and then sarah and i stayed out assuming there'd be some sort of victory party. We ended up crashing the winner's party but it was quite boring so we went and sat in the piazza for a while. Around 1:30am, the piazza was dead, but just as we were about to give up on any further festivities and head home, we heard drums and along trots the winning district with their pennants flying high. We sat around for an hour or so more and watched them celebrate.

Piazza del Popolo

This morning I had to get up early and head home. The travel home went very smoothly, I only wish I didn't have to do so much sitting around at airports I could have had some more quality visiting time. I need to get working on that teleportation devise.

See more Photos

To feel the sun on my back

2007-06-22T14:17:00.000+01:00

Isnt it great lying in the italian sun? its only great until you wake up the next day and realize youre a lobster! I can barely move. And that was with sunscreen on. As italy will have it, i was suppose to head to Faenza today to meet up with sarah but guess what? Train Strike! No trains are running for 24 hours. Not only that but sarah missed her flight in Frankfurt (curse you again frankfurt!). So I hope to see her tomorrow. Off to put some more burn cream on.

Rain, rain, go away...

2007-06-19T21:33:00.001+01:00

The weather here is crazy! Everyone is freaking out because normally June and July are very nice in Dublin. However, there's flooding all over the country and the rain is not stopping. It's predicted to rain for the next month solid!

I think I'll go to Italy and lay on a beach all day! Rimini and Faenza here I come!!! Be back on Monday.

The end of an era.

2007-06-14T16:46:00.000+01:00

Sad day.

Brú na Bóinne!

2007-06-10T20:26:00.000+01:00

Wow, what a great weekend!

Guess I'll start with friday. After work, it was so nice out I couldn't bare to go home so I walked up to stephen's green park and walked around then popped in topshop where i found two great shirts and ran into Martina (imagine that). We went and grabbed a quick bite to eat and then I met up with Kieran (my flatmate) and his friend Tom at Trinity College for a few cans on the grass. Headed home just after nine.

Saturday, I woke up early and hit the bus station for a trip out to Newgrange. I usually don't like tour bus' but it is one of the only ways to get out to Newgrange if you don't have a car. So at 10am I climbed on the bus with all the other tourists. On our way we stopped by Mainistir Bhuithe, an early christian settlement. Now mainly a graveyard with a remaining round tower. Then back on the bus and off to Mellifont Abby, dating back to 1142! We had about an hour tour and then back on the bus again.

Celtic Cross

Cup o flowers

Mellifont Abby

Next stop our main attraction, Newgrange. Let me also point out that it was HOT outside, well into the 70s and clear blue skies, therefore, the airconditioned bus was actually quite enjoyable. When we reached newgrange we had an hour break for lunch and then waited out turns to catch a minibus out to the site. It was pretty amazing, it was constructed 500 years before the pyrimids! Of course no one is quite sure what it was used for but, it aligns with the sun for the winter solstice. They've built in a similation of the solstice while you're inside. It's pitch black and then slowly a pencil thin light begins to creep in and illuminiates stones with spirals carved on them. Pretty cool indeed! We remained at newgrange for an hour or so, then back to the bus for the ride home.

Newgrange

I was walking up the path to head back to the bus, and who comes trotting down the path towards me? Kieran and Tom! Crazy coincedince. They were out for a drive, saw signs, and decided to check it out. I got my stuff from the bus and told the driver I wouldnt be continuing home with them, which was fine, he was a super nice guy and a great guide. Unfortunatly the boys had arrived too late for the last tour out to newgrange but we were able to book the next one out to Knowth.

Knowth

Around 5:30, tired, and sunburned we headed back to dublin, stopping at an overpriced golf pub on the way for some grub and watch a little Back to the Future.

Long day huh? Well it wasnt over yet. Got home cleaned up and then met up with Martina and Aishling for a nite on the town. We were all in great form, full of laughs and beers. We ended the nite shaking our booties at Whelans pub.

Again today the sun was out. I absolutly love dubin in the summer, as do the dubliners. Everyone just gathers in the parks to lounge all day. I grabbed my book and headed down to stephen's green for some reading. I was dreading having to go find a dress to wear to Erick's wedding, but I completely lucked out and bought the first dress I tried on in the first shop i went (i swear by this shop, it works everytime). Then I met up with Aishling for some sushi! And now I'm home.

Great weekend!

As always see my Picasa Page for more photos

I pomised my mom I wouldn't do anything crazy

2007-06-08T23:49:00.000+01:00

So I cut my hair. Bangs!

Blog theft!

2007-06-08T15:33:00.000+01:00

For your viewing pleasure, meow.

Short Trips

2007-06-04T00:23:00.000+01:00

This weekend was (still is) a bank holiday weekend! Aishling and I decided to take advantage of the long weekend and head over to Galway. Galway is only a three hour train ride from Dublin, it's one if Irelands largest cities. It's most known for the Claddagh Ring. Over all it was a cute little city, we were only there for one nite but walked circles around the city center several times. We lucked out with the weather, Saturday it drizzled off and on. Sunday when we headed out to Salthill, the beach, the weather was gorgeous. Here are some of the highlights.

Galway Cathedral

Claddagh

Salthill coastline

All smiles at the Bierhaus, drinking a nice blonde ale.

The Great Distraction 2007

2007-05-30T22:37:00.000+01:00

Puppies

Coffee

Quick trips

google kittens and puppies

Flash

Ratatat

C.I.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Johnny Depp

Substitutions

Photography

Friends

Six Feet Under

Slayer

Not eating meat

Imagining

weekend photos.

2007-05-28T23:07:00.000+01:00

This weekend I went back down to Killiney for one last look before they go to their new families.

This one was the hardest to leave...she also didn't find a home that day so it made it extra hard not to bring her home with me.

This is nacho, he reminds me a lot of Logan, and apparently doesn't mind puppies too much.

The beginning of the sunset on the way home.

This is just a crazy door in Dublin.

Home and connected

2007-05-13T17:14:00.000+01:00

Guess who has has the internet!?! Yep, me.

I returned from my Spanish adventures to find the internet up and running at my house. Hooray. So you can once again expect regular updates from me.

What's new you ask? Well let me tell you.

First of all my boyfriend is now a handsome 30-year-old. Happy birthday flynn! The great girlfriend that I am, I decided to celebrate his birthday in Spain...without him. And this is how it went:

May 5 Saturday

Martina and Aishling picked me up in a cab and headed off to Dublin airport to catch our 3:45pm. After only a 2.5 hour flight we landed in Madrid around 8pm (an hour time change). We found our way through the metro to our hostel which was conveniently located in the center of the city. After a quick freshening up we hit the town to meet Aishling's brother, Rowan, who's been living in Madrid for the last year. After dinner we met up with a few of his friends and headed out to a bar. The bars that we went to were all great, good music, great people and cheap (but good) beer! Not much more I could ask for there.

The first bar we went to had no television...

May 6 Sunday

As true Madrilenians do, we stayed out all hours of the night and finally settled back into our hostel around 6am. Not the best idea for sightseeing the next day. However, we only had plans to go visit museums and some parks. First Aishling and I headed to the Museo del Prado, where I got to see Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights. Then we met up with Martina and spent the remains of the day in Parque del Buen Retiro listening to the bongo's beat to rhythm in our heads.

Madrid Archetecture

May 7 Monday

We got up early, 7am which is early for a holiday, and made our way to the Madrid train station to get a train to Toledo. Surprisingly we found everything quite easily and had our tickets within 20 minutes so we had plenty of time to spare. We picked some breakfast and awaited our train. The ride was only a half our so it was almost over as soon as it began. We stepped off the train into the quaint historic city of Toledo. We hadn't a clue where to go so just followed our fellow tourists and soon found ourselves on our own, snaking up a hillside towards the city. Once we reached the top we were so amazed. Toledo is such a small quite town (even with all the tourists), surrounded by stone walls and beautiful old buildings.

The sign into Toledo

I can easily say that our highlight was the Toledo Cathedral, dating back to 1226. Now, I've taken lots of art history classes, and I've seen the slides of intricate alters, but I was not prepared for this one. One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and unfortunately it could never be replicated in photos (believe me, i tried) and is something one has to see.

The apse of the cathedral

Wall painting

The current Cardnial

We wondered around the cathedral for a good two or more hours. We stopped of for some lunch and then visited Santa María la Blanca, a synagogue dating back to 1180.

We strolled around the city for a while before catching a train back to Madrid.

View of Toledo

We met back up with Rowan for Tapas and a few beers. The last bar we went to looked like it was straight out of the 1920s, light jazz was playing, we were surrounded by art and we were expecting some flapper girls to walk in at any moment. At the evening's end we took a short metro ride back to our hostel and said our goodbye's to Rowan and thanked him for being an excellent tour guide.

Tapas Bar

May 8 Tuesday

We were up early again to catch our train to Barcelona. We had bought our tickets the day before so we just headed straight for the station and where after a little hassle i was finally able to get some breakfast. Finally we settled into our train seats for our 4 hour ride to Barcelona. I passed the time watching the country side and reading The Courious Incident of the Dog in the Night. When we arrived in Barcelona we found our hostel easily, settled in and as usual, hit the town! It was only 5pm by the time we headed out so we took a stroll down La Rambla to the Mediterranean sea. We sat by the sea for while and then stopped in at this silly "fairy bar" for a few pints, where we ended up for the nite. Imagine if the enchanted forrest was a bar and you have a pretty good idea what the inside of this place looked like.

May 9 Wednesday

This day was dedicated to Antoni Gaudí First we headed to his Casa Batlló. Amazing, and once again something that pictures can not capture. If only every house was created with this much thought and passion.

Roof of the Casa Batllo

Next we headed to Sagrada Família. Now, I knew that this building was still under-construction, but I had no idea to what extent. It's basically a construction site, men with hardhats, cranes, machinery, lots of hammering and drilling and throughout all of this are tourists wondering around the perimeter. The front facade is very angular while the back facade is the most intricate piece of architecture I've ever seen. Every time I looked at it, i saw something that i hadn't seen before. We were also able to take a lift to the top of the cathedral where we had great views over Barcelona and could get closer to Gaudi's incredible designs.

stained glass

Me and Aishling, view from the top

We continued our Gaudi walk to Parc Güell. We spent several hours here walking throughout Gaudi buildings and artworks.

Gaudi has now jumped to one of my favorite artists. I've never seen anything like his buildings and I never imagined anything liked them existed. On our way home we stopped at a xocolata cafe for a cup of chocolate and churros!

May 10 Thursday

Today was was our museum day. We began the day by visiting the Salvador Dali Museum. What a wacko!

Next off to the Palau de la Música Catalana . Just when I though I'd seen it all with Gaudi, along comes this building. Unfortunately for us, we could only take a guided tour through the building and no pictures were allowed. The interior was pure eye candy at the hight of the Art Nouveau period, right up my alley.

After a short trip on the metro, we found ourselves at the Joan Miró museum. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of Miro, but it was bright and colorful that's for sure. Some of his paintings were beautiful, others were simply a black squiggly line on a white canvas...the kind of painting that makes you say..."I could do that." But you gotta hand it to the guy, he was dedicated. There were Hundreds of paintings and most of them were on wall-sized canvases.

For dinner we headed to the Café de les 7 Portes, established in 1836, where we had paella in the same seats as, Orson Welles, Dalí, Picasso, Miró, and Che Guevara have eaten.

After dinner we headed to Bar Marsella, an absinthe bar, where we stuck to beer, and tried to gain some of the genius of Miro, Picasso and Hemingway who had all drank there.

May 11 Friday

Beach day! We laid on the beach all day, with the occasional dip in the Mediterranean. When the sun started going down, we headed back to the hostel to freshen up. We found a great little cafe for dinner were were had the best dinner of the trip.

The modernist trail, trail markers throughout the city

Local Graffiti

May 12 Saturday

Flynn's Birthday! We took one last stroll around Barcelona, grabbed some lunch and headed to the bus station to head to Girona. We had an 1.5 hour bus ride to the airport and then a 2.5 hour flight home. I can't say it was the best to be home, because that means I have to go back to work and no more sunshine. But it does mean I get to sleep in my own bed and not spend so much money.

And that was my trip to Spain.

As always for the complete slideshow visit my picasa page.

Disconnected

2007-04-24T09:40:00.000+01:00

Hey everybody... I still don't have the internet at home. boo hoo. But I've managed to get some time at work to upload some photos. Here's a taste of what I've been up to:

St. Paddy's Day

Parade

After the Parade

Dublin Zoo

I toured the zoo with my friend George (yellow) he met Ted while we were there.

Trip to Malahide

Visited Susan in Killiney - where here boyfriend's parent's just had 8 puppies!!!

For more pictures go to my picasa page.

Internet cafes

2007-04-08T19:42:00.000+01:00

Hi, My name is Judy.
And I'm an addict.

I still have no internet at home!! I'm going crazy. I have an internet addiction. I'm at the internet cafe just down the street. 1 euro an hour. I have loads of pictures to post but i can't hook up my laptop, i have to use this crappy pc instead. Okay, it's actually a pretty nice pc.

Today is Easter! Happy Easter everyone! I'm about to go celebrate the rising of Jesus by eating some great food and having a guinness. I think that's how Jesus would have done it if he was Irish.

The new house is good. Flatmates are great. Work is busy. Weather is amazing. That's the short of it all. Hope all you (those who still read this) are doing well.

I'll post pictures next time I actually get my laptop to a proper connection. Promise.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2007-03-17T16:41:00.000Z

I think this will be my last post for a while. I'm officially moving to my new house. We're working on getting the internet there but pobably won't be up until next month. I'm moving the last of my stuff now (ie, my computer).

The Paddy's day festivities have begun. I attened the parade this morning and will post pictures later. I have a few more plans for the weekend so we'll see how they pan out.

TTYL

Where have I been?

2007-03-14T22:00:00.000Z

Looking for a hew home, that's where. And I finally found one! I was concentrating my search on the south side becasue I feel like I am really familiar with the north side having lived up here for 7 months. So I went to lots of interviews for lots of overpriced rooms. There were a few good ones, but they always went to someone else quickly. So I broadened my search, and waddayknow? I found a place just up the street from where I am now. It's exactly what I was looking for, except for the location. But the price, people, room, neighborhood is worth it. Here's a map to help out:

I will be moving from Stoneybatter to Phibsboro this coming weekend. It's still the old part of dublin. My new house is an old georgian house, three stories, large living room and kitchen. I'll be sharing with 3 other housemates; Donnchadh (who owns the house), Kieran, and Tanya (who I have yet to meet!). Both the boys seem great though. Oh, and my room is the attic and has it's own bathroom!

So now that I have a house sorted out, I can turn my attention to making plans some holiday called "St. Patricks Day," whatever that is...

They followed me home, can I keep them?

2007-03-02T08:07:00.000Z

From the BBC, "A pair of Sumatran tiger cubs and a set of young orang-utans, all abandoned at birth, have become inseparable after sharing a room at an Indonesian zoo."

These are the days of our lives...

2007-02-27T22:59:00.000Z

My visit to the Irish Modern Art Museum.

Oh Jesus!

Our town.

I just can't escape New Mexico.

Door number one?

We Judiths tend to stick together

Choose wisely

2007-02-20T19:31:00.000Z

When I woke up this morning it was soooo nice outside. Walked to work. Sat in a building all day. When I finally left the building, it looked like armageddon outside, lashing rain and the sky was pure black (at 5:30 when it's usually light). But by time I got to the bus stop it stopped. So once again I decided to walk (my new years resolution). About half way home, guess what? Yep, you'd think the flood was 'acomin. And guess what else? Yep, forgot my umbrella, so I ducked under a ledge.

When the rain lessened I continued on my way home. When I neared the crosswalk to head onto my street, I noticed people stopping, looking as if they were going to cross but then continued on their way. When I got the the crosswalk I saw why, the street had narrowed and now had two streams (approaching white water rapids status), 5 feet wide at least, on both sides. I live on a bit of a hill, so all the water from the hill was rushing down the streets and apparently Dublin's medieval sewer systems aren't capable of handling the rain water (???).

Dilemma: walk up the street to the next crosswalk or go swimming.

I went swimming. I knew I couldn't jump the water, so the next best plan of action was to one-foot hop to the center and then hop out. It turned out to be a two hop. Both feet took their turns hopping in the water up past my ankles. A good time to point out that I made the decision this morning NOT to wear my boots, but to wear my cute open-topped maryjanes instead. So, then I found myself standing in the island in the middle of the street. This was truly an Island, completely surrounded by water. I had the other side still to venture across, same formula as last time.

Once safely on the other side of the street, a meer minutes from home, I looked down at my feet, completely soaked, socks, shoes, jeans. I laughed out loud and wore a huge grin all the way home.

V-day

2007-02-14T23:20:00.000Z

Well, I just found out that St. Valentine actually resides here in Dublin, well his remains at least. I guess I should have went to see him today. Instead I helped Ashling celebrate her 27th birthday with dinner, wine and Diamonds. Maybe I'll go check out the Saint this weekend.

Anywhoo. Happy v-day everyone!

Doin' time.

2007-02-11T01:03:00.000Z

Today I went to jail. Kilmainham Gaol was built in 1796 to house all of Irelands criminals. Before the jail was built all criminals were shipped to Austrailia, most of them dying on the 7 month voyage. The jail is most famous for holding Irish Rebelion leaders, Joseph Plunkett caught my attention. Most of the men involved in the 1916 Easter Rising were not your normal military leaders, they were artists, poets and musicians. Irish history is passionate, so much devotion to the country and people. I will definitily study up on it a bit more.

Main gate

East reformation wing

Execution yard

The cell Plunkett was held, 1916

After the jail, Martina and I got a little lost but hopped the LUAS back to town for some Pizza, then for a drink at 4Dame Lane, and ended the evening at the Irish Film Institute. Many of our nites end up there (or start off there). We watched For Your Consideration, a good laugh after walking through a dreary jail all day.

Home again, it's only Saturday (oh wait sunday now, its 1 am.) I have all day tomorrow to enjoy.

But there's still the question of:

This morning

2007-02-07T20:59:00.000Z

I opened my front door to go to work and aloud said "Oh, inter-esting..." as I stepped out onto a snow covered street.

It's funny how you're awake for an hour but never look out the window, and then, it just hit's you. The snow was beautiful against the rosy morning sky. There's suppose to be more snow tomorrow.

Overall, a very good day.

2007-02-04T00:29:00.000Z

Other than the fact I woke up at 1pm I had a great day! I was hoping to get up early and venture into town for my first weekend back in Dublin. Got my act together around 3pm and headed ot the Hugh Lane Modern Art Gallery. It was, uh, interesting. The exhibition they had on on was called "The Studio" which consisted of actual artist's studios that had been dissasembled, and then reassembled within the Gallery. So I walked through a bunch of "recreated rooms" that had paint splattered on the walls, sketches, notes, beer cans, etc. The Gallery also holds the Francis Bacon collection which was really amazing.

After the Gallery (only took 1.5 hours to get throught it) I rode my bike around town some more. Oh, I didn't mention, it was an absolutly gorgeous day. Grabbed a bite for dinner and then I was off to the Decemberists gig at Vicar Street. Guinness and a great show, although they didn't play either of my favorite songs. The show got out rather early so I decided to take advantage of the nice nite and walk home. Which I happened to pass a Thai take out place on the way and was lured in by the smell. While waiting for my food I had a funny conversation with a drunk dubliner about football.

Now, I'm at home, eating Pad Thai and watching Snakes on a Plane!

Bravo! Good day!

Across the pond (again)

2007-01-28T23:50:00.000Z

Made it home safely, then slept for eight hours. It's going to be strange going back to work again tomorrow. I had an awesome time in Oregon, thanks everying for taking time to hang out with me. I spent lots of time driving around, actually flynn did the driving (thanks sugarface!). I managed to cover Portand > Salem > Silverton > Corvallis > Bend > Sunriver in just two short weeks. It was strange being back, only because nothing has changed, I felt just as at home as I always have. But I do believe that this trip just made me miss all my friends and family even more. But I'll be back, you just wait! Here are a few pictures from the trip.

Sunriver necessity

A few from Sunriver

Oh Emily...

More like Iceriver

Mount Washington on our way back from Sunriver

On our way back from Sunriver

Flynn at Detroit Dam

We are adorable.

View of the Rockies on the way to Chicago

Mount St. Helens from the plane

Snowey Chicago

Coming home!

2007-01-10T20:06:00.000Z

Two days to go until I cross the Big Pond and make my way to PDX, via a three hour stop in Chicago. I'm really excited to head home and am hoping to get a chance to hang out with everyone. I'll be heading to sunriver for the 19th-22nd, so unless you're in sunriver lets plan on meeting up sometime during the week.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to point out where priorities lie:
Europe vs. America.

I'd also like to say wow whee!

See you soon.

Food poisoning sucks!

2007-01-02T21:29:00.000Z

I didn't make it to the first day back at work today from our week long break. Apparently, my new favorite food, goats cheese salad, gave me food poisoning. I was up all nite last nite, the sickest I can ever remember being. Ah it was the worst. I still haven't eaten anything today and i haven't been sick since this morning, but my stomach is still grumbling at me as though it might get upset again at any moment. I hope the nite treats me well and I'm able to get to work tomorrow.

Silly little hats

2006-12-29T11:16:00.000Z

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

2006-12-23T18:36:00.000Z

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

2006-12-22T00:23:00.000Z

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!

2006-12-16T13:12:00.000Z

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

2006-12-11T21:56:00.000Z

Photo post (again)

2006-12-11T18:29:00.000Z

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

2006-12-04T23:26:00.000Z

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.

2006-11-26T11:15:00.000Z

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.