The time of my life.

The book I finally finished by: Cecelia Ahern. "As long as you're around, your life is too. So just as you shower love and affection and attention on the husbands, wives, parents, children and forever friends who surround you, you have to do so equally with your life, because it's yours, it's you, and it's always there rooting for you, cheering you on, even when you feel like you can't do it. I gave up on my life for a while, but what I've learned is that even when that happens and especially when that happens, life never ever gives up on you." Fret not I have no sharp objects or large quantities of prescription pills near by I just felt like sharing that quote. Good book, if you can get past the giant unrealistic Life character. Today I got some leads on jobs and was told by three I would be contacted next week. Those of you who know me already know that I am virtually unpacking in each establishment, mentally working a shift. Until then, I'll enjoy another unemployed weekend up in Fermanagh, Maguire's Bridge for New Years. Hopefully I return to some good news as I regretfully turned down a fulltime job for over minimum wage at a beautiful hotel due to the towns bad drug reputation and it's a loyalist town, which may not mean much to me, any place that is strongly religious to that point was unnerving.

The gift of hope.

Tonight I went to Midnight Mass (at six) at an old folks home. Seriously, I'm going to heaven, I know. But, the main message I got out of the whole thing was "live in hope." The rest was subjective. It really made me miss my granny, she is the reason why I went but it also made me thankful because my grandma could kick their asses, if it came down to it. Maybe that was inappropriate but just my way of saying she's in good physical health, and I'm thankful. I must say I've been feeling the Irish luck lately. It's good when things are good, obviously. Looking forward to Christmas with a bunch of family and food and wearing my new Dorothy Perkins red dress on boxing day, it's very UK of me. Merry Christmas to all and all the best xoxo.

Sumin' up the South (so far)

I really enjoyed my time in the South of Ireland. Favourite places in no particular order: Adare, Dalkey (where Enya and Bono live along the coast), Howth, and Dublin! Okay, that last one comes first. My bonus last full day in Dublin I was able to view the Book of Kells. I guess it was meant to be, and so interesting. I thought of my designer and even writer friends. Pretty incredible. The pages I saw: Picture - The temptation of Christ and written - "My father giveth you the true bread from heaven." Whatever that means. It said that the most important thing christianity introduced to Ireland was writing. Probably the thou shall not kill, love thy neighbour stuff goes without saying. Yesterday I went to this place called the Loft in Powers Court by Grafton Street and it was pretty much an attic in a shopping centre with all local designers and next door was art work by I'm assuming local people as well. I like that craic. (I've found that you can pretty much use that word in place of any word and it makes sence. Origianlly I thought it was just, 'fun'.) The South introduced me to a lot of things I've never been privy to. 1. Traveling Gypsies and 2. Organized romanian beggars. I saw a mother and baby out in the cold middle of December I came close to telling her off but I was on a tour bus so it was a bit of an issue. Oh and Guinness, 3. Right. In Ireland it's a two pour process to pour a pint of Guiness and in 'real life' I would never order the stuff but it's actually quite alright. I've been reading a book since Fermanagh by a Dublin writer named Cecelia Ahern. If you meantion her, most will bring up what a shoddy politician her father was. Her first book was PS, I love you. It's so good. I just started seriously reading it in Dublin but it's like 1. walk through Trinity College or 2. Read some chick lit? Exactly. It's the first book of hers I've read and if I was a rude house guest I would stay in my room until it was done. Oh, the title is, "The time of my life." Oh, before we part I must highly recommend the movie 50/50. Totally not Irish. But how often can you recco a comedy about cancer? Probably my favourite movie of the year, maybe longer. So those are the verbal highlights for now, organizing my pictures are going to be pretty daunting but will get done soon.

"A day like any other."

Exhibit at the Museum of Modern Arts by Rivane Neuenschwander. Google this person OMG it blew my mind. The museum was closed except this one exhibit. Good enough. The first room was just paintins of tiles, floors and walls: rooms. The next looked like torn wallpaper with toliet paper scattered on the ground and dripping water noises coming from the wall. Some people may be thinking, I dont' get art. But it was a cool experience. THEN! The best room, at first thought I thought this is shit, but the exhibit was called "I wish your wish" and it was all these wishes typed on coloured silk ribons. You could take a ribon and replace it with one of your wishes. The one I took said "I wish I knew what I wanted to be when I grow up." For me, it's more than just career aspirations, kind of like, what do I want out of this life, that'll take a lot of effort to answer now though. You're instructed to tie the wish around your wrist and by the time it fades or falls off your wish should come true. Cool, eh? The other room I thought was wicked was portraits of your first love. There was times set up where you could speak to a professional criminal sketch artists and describe the person you first loved. What an interesting artist eh? I'm pretty obsessed at the mo.

Dublin in a day.

It took me a whole of two seconds to fall in love with Dublin. It's so beautiful. I unknowingly booked a hostel with the Liffey River at its doorstep and in the middle of everything. It's themed with writers and playwriters which is pretty cool. Today I hopped on and off the Dublin bus tour. I visited Trinity College, which, probably just to mess with me, the book of kells could not be viewed today, yesterday, or tomorrow. Not meant to be. The campus is stunning, however. Most places I just window-viewed but I did go into the Writers Museum. Afterwards I somewhat regret but it had some interesting points. Although I am unfamiliar with most of the work, some names are obviously more well known than others. It was interesting to see their writing on paper, from so long ago. Really inspiring. Shitty looking too. There's hope yet. The highlight had to be the Guiness Brewery tour. Seriously. It was better than I thought. After yesterdays mishab I thought I may skip it but glad I didn't. It's so futuristic and fun. At the very top of the self-guided tour on the seventh floor is a bar where you can see all of Dublin, and the sun was out for icing. It tried snowing today, my first glance at the white stuff this year, but sun won. Temple Bar area is pretty touristy, but also pretty irishy. Love hearing all the live music walking along the street, tonight I'm going to check out some live comedy. Hope it's funny. I'm expecting dry, sarcastic, crude, yet charming Dublin. Accents are much easier to understand the more south you get I find too. I think I'll go to the shopping district for some delicious ethnic food. My pho and burrito were amazing yesterday... hopefully I stumble across good sushi, it's been over a month!

Picture perfect.

The other night I was walking home, in Craough (well, my home until Monday) down this narrow ill-lit country road on a dark windy night and I couldn't help but take a moment and appreciate how beautiful and peaceful it was. Then I smiled like an idiot because sometimes the voice in my head says, "you're in Ireland dog!" Yes, apparently I have an American Idol Judge narration in my head. The strange part about that walk is I didn't have to worry about any wildlife coming out of the woodwork, just fast driving cars. Last night was another Irish moment at my cousins engagement party in a small local pub, where I saw my first live band perform here. The real Irish singing took place after last call, old fashion army songs I'm guessing. I requestion Sir Mixalot but I guess that wasn't an option. Then driving home we crammed 10 people in a taxi van meant for seven home and away we went down the narrow roads again at half two. (That's Irish for two-thirty.) Tonight I'm going to see my very first Mice race. I'm assuming it's like horse racing but with mice... it's for charity anyway so what the heck?

From the prettiest little town in all of Ireland

Seriously. That's what the postcards say. I'm in Adare, the neighbouring town from where I'm staying. It's pretty darn cute with an ex-manor, current hotel along the water and little shops with thatch roofs. Not bad, Adare. Yesterday I went to Co. Clare and visited some castles. I say that so matter-of-fact eh? Toured inside one and it was pretty awesome. My leg muscles are actually pretty sore from climbing the narrow steep brick stairs. That shows you just how out of shape I am! Yikes. Went into Ennis which apparently my grandpa's side of the family is from. This visit has pretty much consisted of my grandma's family. Women really are better at keeping in touch. Anyways, neat town. I got my first mobile! Seeing as my other wireless phones have been cellphones of course... Numbers on my status if you'd be so kind as to txt me yours :) My internet usage has been very limited lately so I really should be applying for jobs. I plan to be in Dublin by Monday unless I land a job before. Library is filling up and I feel like an ass for not being more wise with my time so peace out home fries.

Traveling gypsies

My grandma used to call me a gypsy for sleeping over at my friends houses as a teenager. But I've seen the TV show almost one whole time and I think this crew is a bit different. Whatsup with all the nice houses and living in campers on the front lawn? I may not come to an understanding on this one... I'm now in the South of Ireland, in Co. Limerick. Again in a small town. Today I ventured out on my own into a nearby town called Adare. It's supposed to be one of te prettiest towns in the south. Yah, it was pretty nice. Visited a manor that's now a hotel. It was pretty cool. I've been sick my whole time here which has been less than stellar but my cousin is also suffering so we've been medicating and healthying up all weekend. Tonight we deserve a night out! So, unless you want to read about my kleenex usage and what type of non-prescription pills I've been popping I think I'll cut this short and start getting ready! Tomorrow should be a day of sight-seeing as my first day here was complete shit outside.

The City

City's are meant to be visited during the work week. Then you can see them in all their glory. I think, anyway. (Unless it's Vegas, the the weekend is just fine.)