Etc.

Well, (that's Irish for hello, or how's it going, I really don't know. Some sort of greeting). Today was great because I talked to my bff and parents back in Canada. It's easy to feel guilty when so far away, missing out on nephews, 'nieces' growing up and grandparents growing old but you just have to overlook it and hope that they understand that right now is a selfish time. Everyone needs to be selfish sometimes, most just feel too guilty to be it.
I really don't have much to update, I came back to my families in the country over an hours drive to Nowhere, Tyrone. (Don't take that seriously it just sounded good.) But anyone who lives here knows that's not far off with a few shops and a lot of grass. So, anyways, I took this time to write my own blog without depending on my mediator to post them, (and double posting the title... oh technology). It's late here and back 'home' in the early a.m. EEeeee! Love it. Start work Monday which isn't always the most comfortable but they are very welcoming and looking forward to being hilarious with them as I see a lot off humourous potential to be reached.
I wouldn't say this is a drunk post but it can't possibly be  sober post at near 1 a.m. and a half empty white wine glass affront. "Cheers to the freakin' weekend, I'll drink to that yeah-e-ahhh" - Rhianna.

A welcome mat of waves

This is how I was greeted by the staff and the scenery outside the restaurant window. It's like night and day, it really is and I look forward to starting on a regular basis come Monday. And, I'm am starting to get an idea of just how small the town I live in as I start meeting more people and frequenting the same places, I find it both intimidating and homey.
The other day I spent a girls day out window shopping my street, (one of the only streets here) full of shops, pubs, restaurants and hotels. Most were tourist traps but I found a couple gems that really lit me up. Across the road is a local Photographer named Peter Nash ( http://www.peternashphotography.co.uk/ ), I may become an annoying fan with his shop as he displays some beautiful, moving print work of scenery in and nearby  Portrush. You'll die. It's great. The shop next door is up my alley as well, full of local and Uk work like pieces of a fence with inspirational typography on it. Genius. Really. I eat that shit up. And a local artist that designs cards. And tarot cards, all eco-friendly etc you get the picture I'm painting kind-of-place: zen.

On another note: Despite that orange silk ribbon from the Dublin MOMA exhibit, "I wish your wish", falling off my wrist some time ago I still am no closer to knowing what I want to be. But, I am realizing the things that bring me joy and make me feel energetic: photography, modern artwork, writing and food. And not in that order necessarily. So, I guess I could write a cookbook but how does one go about publishing one? And is it wrong to plagiarize other peoples recipes if you put your own twist on it? I've seen it done lots in advertising and that still sells. It's an idea anyways.

I am also researching a trip to Amsterdam that will hopefully take place within a months time. Yee ha! (How embarrasing?) I look forward to a couple of the main attractions there and no, I do not believe I will be par-taking in any freedom of smoke, FYI.

At 27

My birthday was good despite having to work a split shift. At the end I just ate some homemade veggie pasta in my snuggle I got for my birthday and did laundry. Sound sad? I quite enjoyed myself on my big comfy pea green couch watching trashy UK tele. And thank you so much to everyone for wishing me a happy birthday I couldn't wait to check my facebook this morning and was surprised by how far down the page I had to scroll. That's nice.
Do you ever feel like you're walking around experiencing a reality that is so unreal it couldn't possibly be yours? No? Just me? Sometimes anyways.
Now 27 I feel like 'I have lived many lifes though I'm not old' - Nelly Furtado: Try. Some chapters are longer than others and some are merely paragraphs. I've just been thinking lately, now that I've had the chance to fully experience a different way of life, even though similar in a lot of ways different in other ways you wouldn't notice unless you lived it for some time. If that makes sence. It's just a shame we only get this one life to live when there's so much out there and how great would it be raised in different cultures then pick the one that brought out the best in you? An impossibility surely but just some food for thought.
I guess that's why people often say, "you're given this one life so you better make the most of it."
The Irish also have a saying, "What is for you will come to you."

My Home by the Ocean

It's a crisp clear day. Today was the first time I've actually had the privilege to take in the sights around my seasonal seaside town. Gorgeous. I was walking around near-stupid smiling the entire time. I just went for a little stroll around the block around the waters edge and regretted not wearing my glasses as the sights are as beautiful near as they are afar, (I just couldn't quite take in the far)! Today was my first time going to a butchers by myself and purchasing meat, as tonight I'm going to make my first decent meal in my apartment: Chicken vegetable stirfry with sweet and sour sauce as it's pretty much that flavour or sweet chilli in stores here! The butcher is only a 30 second walk from my doorstep and must say that I may eat meat more regularly as the butcher is quite cute. I also went to a little grocery store around the corner which I will be frequenting as the fridges over here are small. Tomorrow I will be touring the town more with my cousins girlfriend, Gemma. My one friend in town so far but I don't think others are far off as some of the people I work with seem cool. There's a bar in-between my work and apartment that has karoke on weekends, I will make no friends there I'm sure.
Hey Canadians, want to become instantly popular and loved? Come to Ireland. Even though the first question from customers is am I American once they find out I'm Canadian they're shaking my hand like I'm the president and ask me so many questions it's prety awesome. And they seem to tip pretty well too (although the staff shares the tips). Everyone asks what I'm doing here etc etc and I don't mind sharing the same story about that!

I love the restaurant outside my window on the waters edge. Last night I had a delicious vegetarian enchilada with my cousin. Hey Atlas, snap peas in an enchilada actually works! Tasty. Anyways, "that's me." I was walking around thinking in my head about all the things I was going to share and it was going to be a terrible blog entry of random thoughts but now I can't seem to think of anything! (Oh, and the voice in my head is starting to sound like an Irish person so I must fight that or I'll come back accented.) Oh! But welst (haha, that's not Irish just smart) on my walk I saw so many puppies! (Dogs.) I friggin love it because they're friendly dogs here as aposed to the scary country side mean dogs. This is a total dog-walking town and dog people are so friendly and I just so happen to LOVE dogs so it's great. People let me pet them. Ha! You can imagine my excitement. Cheerio.

1000+

Thanks for keeping reading and being a part of my Irish experience, (and giving me an excuse to write)!

10/10

Now I don't mean to sound like an asshole and I don't want to jinx it but I have found the most perfect little fourth floor apartment in Portrush. It's overlooking the beach and golf course. I kind of think I could write something amazing sitting at my unusually high breakfast table. There is a giant Church of Ireland right outside my window and a Protestant church to the left of my building so I guess I have some gods watching out for me. Or same god, not sure what their beliefs are there. My place is completely furnished, I'm talking two tallboys in the fridge furnished. Vacuum, utensils, furniture, six lighters in the drawer furnished. It's pretty cute because the entrance is on the third floor to which I open my door to two story stairs with a love seat, table and chair at the separating landing. Why I'd want to sit there staring at stairs going each way is beyond me but it's character I suppose. It's right downtown, a five minute walk from my work. I can not wait to go for runs along the water and there's endless shops right next-door (and pubs). I won't have a computer but I am two minutes from the public library. I've never lived in my own apartment (because I've always rented basement suites) and it's all pretty unbelievable to me right now that I can afford this little slice of heaven on earth. Work starts on Thursday and I went with family for lunch today so looking forward to getting the menu under my belt. It's no Atlas Cafe menu but it's nice to be a part of a place that cares about giving good service as it's the first time I've experienced it in Ireland (except for at that place I worked for two hours in Dungannon the other night, but I was working not eatting, so...) Next chapter.

Possibilities

The prospect of a fresh start is always exciting (and scary). Mostly good though.

Phase two

Ask and you shall receive.

In the case of finding employment in Portrush it's true anyways. As the status update on facebook explains I have found fulltime employment at the Ramada Hotel right along the gorgeous ocean (as are a lot of the hotels and restaurants there). The people seem nice and it sounds like a multi-cultural environment which I appreciate and find interesting. Maybe I'll meet some travel buddies. Tomorrow my cousin Madonna is taking me apartment shopping. It's really thanks to her being a Portrush pusher in the first place that I got a job there and get to live there. My family has a trailer (caravan) there too so it'll be nice to see everyone. Looking forward to loosing some holiday chub and exploring this foot-friendly seaside town. Did I mention that the Irish Golf Open will be held there this summer? Sounds familiar but i'll write it again and hopefully start drying out my wine-soaked brain a bit!

Rome wasn't built in a day.

The reason for that being the title is it was on the 'tele'. And it struck a cord. I had a crazy dream last night. It was about a high school teacher from my childhood school. One of the two big ones. She wasn't mine, but knew me well enough just the same. She told or asked, (dreams are always hard to recall), but the just is she stated that I'm afraid of achieving my dreams. The truth is that I haven't had a dream or any sort of real feeling of ambition since I pursued my advertising career in Vancouver several years ago. I hesitantly say that I now know that that type of writing (restricted and scrutinized) is not for me but when I think back I still get a tightness in my chest. I've never really found resolve. I think because when you have such a strong dream that it consumes you and you have the chance to touch it, it's hard to let that dream go. What does this tid-bit have to do with "My Grand Travels" you may be asking? It's the catalyst for my travels.

I heart Port Rush

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Europe/United_Kingdom/Northern_Ireland/Antrim/Portrush/ Copy and paste that link and you'll see some beautiful photos of where I was today looking for work, I must be fare, they do not do it justice. I guess it's the feeling you get when you see waves large enough you could surf on crashing into the shore line and just how much water surrounds this town and it's steep edges. I have a different love for this place then Dublin, it's more of serenity and breath-taking natural beauty you could go for peaceful runs in verses fast-pace speed walking. I would want to be there for the summer. Gawd!

A time for resolve.

My nephew would be happy to know I brought my party pants to Maguires Bridge in Fermanagh for New Years 2012! Okay, the pants were in the form of purple tights to compliment my asymmetrical leopard dress but you get the metaphor. New years was a great time and I spoke with a jolly gypsy, (just don't call them that to their face). For some odd reason there were a group of 'travelers' in my families local, I must say they were a well behaved group and when the load of their wife's came in to collect cash one said, "and mind your manners will you!" I'm sure they weren't so polite come midnight but they left and me and my younger cousins were off for a night of taxi rides and craic hunting. Three cabs and five pubs later we found our dancy spot. We were literally dancing on broken glass on one place, that stay was short lived. I partied in three different towns that night and no worries if you weren't done your drink before leaving as every place provided a to-go cup. Seriously? Yep. And you could drink in the cabs no worries. As if. Ireland you are a giant enabler. I spent the weekend at the homestead out on the lake with a few of my cousins and it was so peaceful, a narrow long lane away from any other farm land. Quite enjoyable. I am happy with the amount of photos I took only wish I could give them my mac treatment but had I gone out fifteen minutes later you would have seen showers.