Snowy, snowy day here in the wonderful Upstate NY region, you know, you know just a little south and little east of those wonderful Great Lakes. It's very beautiful, I admit, looking out the big windows in the aforementioned house that I am sitting for again...the backyard is all blanketed in white, and it appears to be extremely blustery. I find it nicer inside. It's cozy here with a blanket, a cup of tea and I Love Lucy on the tube.
Other than that, not too much else is happening here other than SNOW. Tonight, we're supposed to go see Anthony (formerly known as BFF), Harley and Vinny perform at the Tramontane Coffee Shop as Draculatron. Plus I get to see my lovely Duchess G perform tonight for the first time. That is, if we're not snowed in.
Last weekend we went to the annual record fair and scored big!! $80 bought us about 50 records, including The Beatles' "Revolver", some CCR, alot of Clapton and Cream, unfortunately too much Dylan for my taste, Johnny Cash, a Simon and Garfunkel when we thought there couldn't possibly be more, and, the first box of $2.00 records that I began pawing through, I found an amazing 1986 'Til Tuesday album!!!!! Wooo! Aimee Mann in her punkish phase, with white-blonde hair and a rattail braid to match. "Welcome Home" is simply fantastic. She has yet to fail me. (Ok, "Superball" I said it.)
So, that dreaded holiday season is upon us and sorry to surprise any of you out there who didn't know I'm a total scrooge! I suppose it doesn't help that Travis and I are torn between families and each other. Being a scrooge, of course, doesn't mean that I can't have 90% of my shopping done. And on a budget!
In speaking of a budget, how would I go about selling my skills at being frugal and wedding planning on a budget, ebaying, secondhand store owner...? I need some sort of snazzy title or catchphrase...
Dryer buzzed, gotta go fold some clothes!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Well you just might find...
It's Friday afternoon and I am house-sitting for Travis' parents, one of my favorite things to do. I find myself in a sea of delicious yet low-fat munchies, the kind that are always too expensive to buy...endless bottles of red wine (if I like red wine, that is...Travis lucks out) and a wonderfully big bathtub...Okay, technically I am cat-sitting but their princess Fiona isn't quite keen on her catsitter, moi.
But right now I'm in the basement in the midst of an unproductive workout...Hey, I did 10 whole sit-ups on the big purple ball...I'm in between reps. I got to wandering and found Travis' old brown rug from a previous apartment that will cover-up those beer stains in front of the couch quite nicely...I also came across some maps, maps are so interesting to me...places I've been, places I haven't been and incidentally that question that's been lingering in my system for quite some time now...where will we live once we're married? All the choices, all the dealbreakers. Lake effect snow? Con. Potential hurricane/earthquake/war? All cons. Big City. Con. Lack of social healthcare (there, I said it)...CON. In looking at the maps of the great ol' US of A I found a whopping 6 states...will it be Vermont? New Hampshire? New York? Montana? Wyoming? Colorado? And don't forget about America's hat...CANADA!
On another note...I'm really excited to see Jon Stewart tonight! He's speaking at Hamilton College and we have tickets. I'm also really excited to wait in line for a speaker at Hamilton College and actually get to see said speaker. Four or Five Novembers ago, I waited in subzero temperatures to get to see Bill Clinton only to be turned away.
Alright, back to those fab-ab sit-ups.
But right now I'm in the basement in the midst of an unproductive workout...Hey, I did 10 whole sit-ups on the big purple ball...I'm in between reps. I got to wandering and found Travis' old brown rug from a previous apartment that will cover-up those beer stains in front of the couch quite nicely...I also came across some maps, maps are so interesting to me...places I've been, places I haven't been and incidentally that question that's been lingering in my system for quite some time now...where will we live once we're married? All the choices, all the dealbreakers. Lake effect snow? Con. Potential hurricane/earthquake/war? All cons. Big City. Con. Lack of social healthcare (there, I said it)...CON. In looking at the maps of the great ol' US of A I found a whopping 6 states...will it be Vermont? New Hampshire? New York? Montana? Wyoming? Colorado? And don't forget about America's hat...CANADA!
On another note...I'm really excited to see Jon Stewart tonight! He's speaking at Hamilton College and we have tickets. I'm also really excited to wait in line for a speaker at Hamilton College and actually get to see said speaker. Four or Five Novembers ago, I waited in subzero temperatures to get to see Bill Clinton only to be turned away.
Alright, back to those fab-ab sit-ups.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
It's not the end, just another road in the bend.
Well, well. AOL certainly has a way with their customers. If their infamous advertising scheme of '06 didn't vote you off the island, get ready to pack your bags...and don't forget to take your journal along for the ride!
This Egg can now be found at http://myeggiscracked.blogspot.com/
And where can I find all of you?
I'm not sure I want to get all sappy here---at least I have the last 5 years all backed up now. I guess all I will say is that this journal, this body of work, is my pride and joy and biggest accomplishment to date. I've laughed, cried, made amazing friends, used as a weapon, broke up, broke down, left to inevitably return...
Though most importantly, I have made tangible the memories of my past. Travelling, each New Year, life decisions, random rummage sales, death of a president, unofficial lists of Marissa's favoritest things ever, losing love, finding love, shoe counts...and not to mention the randomness that would have never been documented if it weren't for a little ol' blog that I call m'Egg.
Yeah so. Slightly sappy. Sue me, I have ovaries.
This Egg can now be found at http://myeggiscracked.blogspot.com/
And where can I find all of you?
I'm not sure I want to get all sappy here---at least I have the last 5 years all backed up now. I guess all I will say is that this journal, this body of work, is my pride and joy and biggest accomplishment to date. I've laughed, cried, made amazing friends, used as a weapon, broke up, broke down, left to inevitably return...
Though most importantly, I have made tangible the memories of my past. Travelling, each New Year, life decisions, random rummage sales, death of a president, unofficial lists of Marissa's favoritest things ever, losing love, finding love, shoe counts...and not to mention the randomness that would have never been documented if it weren't for a little ol' blog that I call m'Egg.
Yeah so. Slightly sappy. Sue me, I have ovaries.
Friday, October 10, 2008
there she goes getting all political.
I don't know what it is, but lately I've been confronted with questioning my own political views. Could it be the SNL skits that shows the debates true colors, the mockery, the hilarity, yet the utter hopelessness of it all? Or could it be the TWO candidates that are supposed to represent each side of the spectrum, yet forgetting everyone and everything in between? Bipartisan? Why not Pan-partisan? People from all across the board, representing the many different beliefs that a melting-pot such as we encompass. But no. In this world of having any type of fast food to choose from, we only get TWO choices for who we want to govern our people. RIDICULOUS! So all us Nader fans are considered to have "wasted our votes" by voting for someone we truly think could the job, and do it well. So all us Nader fans can sit on the sidelines and watch as yet another chump gets elected to make too much money for his own cause (and his own class), while crushing everyone else under his big, authoritative boot.
GIVE ME SOME TRUTH!
In case you were wondering, my election selection is a Republican't. And a Democan't. Non-partisan.
So what's a girl to do? Move to Canada in hopes a benign government and socialized healthcare is all it's cracked up to be? Move away from my roots here in NY? This area is beautiful, all I've ever known to be home...yet I'm not sure how strong my attachment is...I called Dublin home for sometime, but if given the choice, I'd say Ireland was home...namely the rural countryside, as opposed to Dub's traffic and low-grade "thugs" with stupid haircuts and sweatpants tucked into their tube socks. Oh, and vomit and dog shit all over the sidewalks. Definitely not home.
Italy? Live out all the romantic ideals I have of that place...our life together would be one long date...Travis, Italy and I. Talk about roots, this Fiorentino is possibly meant to go back home.
Here in Upsate NY. Good ol' Utica. Home of the world's largest watering can (thanks Mayor Hanna!), the half moon, the tomato pie, outrageous gas prices. My family. My grandmas, and my brother & sister's, and my sister's pup's. Travis' parents. Our friends. Our commonplace. Uprooting.
I'm not sure how to approach this contradiction, the girl who always longs for flights of fancy, the desire to travel...to escape. The girl who is equally apprehensive and embracing of shifts from so-called normalcy...
In constant search for some sort of contentment in all of those things that make me uneasy.
GIVE ME SOME TRUTH!
In case you were wondering, my election selection is a Republican't. And a Democan't. Non-partisan.
So what's a girl to do? Move to Canada in hopes a benign government and socialized healthcare is all it's cracked up to be? Move away from my roots here in NY? This area is beautiful, all I've ever known to be home...yet I'm not sure how strong my attachment is...I called Dublin home for sometime, but if given the choice, I'd say Ireland was home...namely the rural countryside, as opposed to Dub's traffic and low-grade "thugs" with stupid haircuts and sweatpants tucked into their tube socks. Oh, and vomit and dog shit all over the sidewalks. Definitely not home.
Italy? Live out all the romantic ideals I have of that place...our life together would be one long date...Travis, Italy and I. Talk about roots, this Fiorentino is possibly meant to go back home.
Here in Upsate NY. Good ol' Utica. Home of the world's largest watering can (thanks Mayor Hanna!), the half moon, the tomato pie, outrageous gas prices. My family. My grandmas, and my brother & sister's, and my sister's pup's. Travis' parents. Our friends. Our commonplace. Uprooting.
I'm not sure how to approach this contradiction, the girl who always longs for flights of fancy, the desire to travel...to escape. The girl who is equally apprehensive and embracing of shifts from so-called normalcy...
In constant search for some sort of contentment in all of those things that make me uneasy.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
another quick one? that's what she said.
First of all, a big SUCK! to not having internet at home anymore. But a big YAY! to not having an annoying neighbor anymore.
But other than that, life has been, in the words of Larry David, pretty, pretty, prettaay good. Travis and I are thoroughly enjoying our happy little fam, especially the middle of the night purr-fests...although not so much the knocking over of a certain cactus, and the other houseplants.
I must hit the dusty trail for now, to go home for the evening (finally), that's not to say I won't be back to tell you all how to find me again...
Monday, September 8, 2008
ho hum
So here I am again on my own...going down the only road I've ever known...
Okay, so I'm not really on my own, but I am possibly going to go down that only road I've ever known, again. The road to CraftLand.
I've been out of work for 2 months now. It's been a mix of things, but mainly some health problems. Dare I mention that D-word? I decline, I am sick of that D-word. I'm hoping to move on-word.
Oh. No internet on the homefront has disengaged me from writing in this bloggity blog blog.
Maybe one day I'll feel like myself again.
Pictures of our 2 new kitties soon to come! Mr. Curtis Mayfield and little Prudence can't wait to meet you all!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Memory Lane: Scotland
25 Mar 2008
"Holy crap, I'm tired." - Travis
I'm going to have to agree. Not sure why we thought were departing from Glasgow Prestwick instead of just plain ol' Glasgow airport! Also, tonight we experienced the most expensive cab ride ever at
100 or $200. F-IN A!!!! Definitely not a "relaxi-taxi" when we have an hour to make a flight 45 minutes away. Luckily, the flight was delayed...unluckily,we didn't find that out until 10 minutes before we were supposed to take off...
And then there was that whole AerLingus check-in desk being closed and not having a boarding pass, but I s'pose that makes for a good story. And an expensive one, at that. Wonderful.
But now for ruminations of the trip that prefaced that whole airport mixup ordeal. Scotland was magnificent. I am elated that Travis knew such a great person from camp in West Virginia nearly 6 or 7 years ago, Graeme and his lovely lady Chloe. Travelling to another country is always much easier and much more pleasant when you know someone who knows it well. We had a place to stay and our own personal tour guide!
First things first. We got to Glasgow VERY EARLY Thursday morning, it was raining and cold. So much so that Travis had no qualms about letting me shop for awhile just so we were out of the rain. It cleared up not too long after that and we went to a record shop while we waited for Pizza Dump to open. I know, I know...we are nothing more that stupid Americans, but we were on a budget and the Pizza Hut buffet was the right price. We bought a Cat Stevens album, Paul Simon and Queen for about 10 quid. Afer lunch, we went to the Museum of Modern Art...modern art stuff is always interesting, I either love it or hate it but there were some gems...plus it was free so we couldn't really go wrong. After that we strolled over to The Lighthouse in the lovely sunshine, although it was still bitter cold. The Lighthouse was fantastic. I will never forget the "take-away' exhibit which had all funky takeout containers from decades ago to the more modern ones, and also picninc gears and thermoses. It also had a spiral staircase of over 130 steps to the top of the lighthouse...the view was incredible but man, IT WAS FRIGID UP THERE!!!!
----TAKEOFF----
view of Glasgow from the Lighthouse museum
After that we took the train into Ayr and met Graeme and Chloe, chatted for a long while and had dinner. After watching Rocky IV, Travis and I called it a night. The net day we headed to Edinburgh and saw some amazing sights, including a whole store dedicated to whiskey! Again, it was frigid. We actually saw a little bit of snow that day. For lunch I had fisherman's pie with pieces of salmon and haddock, inside the delightful filo pastry that enclosed it. Mmmm! Immediately after lunch, Graeme insisted on trying a deep fried Cadbury Egg from next door in the store which had deep fried anything and everything. Travis and I took some great pictures this day, but it's hard not to since the Royal Mile is so picturesque.
Saturday and sunday we were in Stirling, visiting Graeme's family for Easter. I must say how lucky both Graeme and Chloe are to have gotten such a good one. Especially Uncle Colin! He was my particular favorite to chat with for his collection Elton John and whiskey! What a dear. They all are, in fact. I also must note the insane amount of Guitar Hero played this night. So much so that the carpet was moving after momentarily taking my eyes off the screen. It was a wonderful Easter. Also, the house was breathtaking...right on the Stirling mountainside. It had an outdoor hottub, three baths, a sauna, a sunporch, oh my!
Sunday morning we had breakfast, consisting of many things unfamiliar to our foreign palettes, all except good old fashioned bread. I tried a duck egg which tasted the same, only larger in size, and haggis, which is surprisingly delicious! Who knew lamb paunch could taste so fine?
After breakfast (what an experience!) we said goodbye to the family, and the three of us plus Graeme's brother Mark, went to the William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) monument and saw his massive sword. Then we climbed another assload of steps to the top. Might I add that it was frigid up there as well.
We drove back to Ayr listening to the late,great Mitch Hedberg , before heading to a local hotel bar to catch some European futball (wooo!) with some of Graeme's buddies and his bro. To avoid any trouble, we ordered local Kronenburg which is 5 point something of absoulte deliciousness. After three, I was feeling pretty good, but started to get a little homesick all of a sudden. I couldn't stop thinking about how badly I wanted to hang out with Erin and Jess and how awesome it's going to be to see them again.
After beers, we went home and I prepared my specialty for dinner. Drunken Stirfry!
Gotta love it! And then it was time for our beloved LOST. We got to Meet Kevin Johnson after about 2 seasons of not knowing where the F he and Walt went!
So I forgot to mention that Saturday morning before we left for Stirling, Graeme brought us to see some sights of Ayr, including the Electric Brae...a raod that appears to be going downhill at one point, but is actually going uphill. We experienced this by driving to a certain point, putting the car in neutral and feeling it roll back downhill. Crazy!
That same car trip we also stopped off at an old castle site, quite in ruin, right on the coast of Ayr. We climbed all through it and took some lovely pictures.
Yesterday was Monday and we drove up to the highest point in Ayr and saw herds of sheep crossing the road! That may have been my favorite part of the whole trip. After that we went to the Brig O'Doon bridge, which was also brilliant. And a beautiful place to get married, I might add. Then, dinner at Graeme's parents house, which consisted of steak pie with a WONDERFUL turnip mash (mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!) and some more haggis! They are two fine people whose paths I hope to cross again one day.
------LANDING!!------
Let me just note that this flight took less time than the cab ride to the airport from the airport. BAH! 'Tis all for now.
"Holy crap, I'm tired." - Travis
I'm going to have to agree. Not sure why we thought were departing from Glasgow Prestwick instead of just plain ol' Glasgow airport! Also, tonight we experienced the most expensive cab ride ever at
100 or $200. F-IN A!!!! Definitely not a "relaxi-taxi" when we have an hour to make a flight 45 minutes away. Luckily, the flight was delayed...unluckily,we didn't find that out until 10 minutes before we were supposed to take off...And then there was that whole AerLingus check-in desk being closed and not having a boarding pass, but I s'pose that makes for a good story. And an expensive one, at that. Wonderful.
But now for ruminations of the trip that prefaced that whole airport mixup ordeal. Scotland was magnificent. I am elated that Travis knew such a great person from camp in West Virginia nearly 6 or 7 years ago, Graeme and his lovely lady Chloe. Travelling to another country is always much easier and much more pleasant when you know someone who knows it well. We had a place to stay and our own personal tour guide!
First things first. We got to Glasgow VERY EARLY Thursday morning, it was raining and cold. So much so that Travis had no qualms about letting me shop for awhile just so we were out of the rain. It cleared up not too long after that and we went to a record shop while we waited for Pizza Dump to open. I know, I know...we are nothing more that stupid Americans, but we were on a budget and the Pizza Hut buffet was the right price. We bought a Cat Stevens album, Paul Simon and Queen for about 10 quid. Afer lunch, we went to the Museum of Modern Art...modern art stuff is always interesting, I either love it or hate it but there were some gems...plus it was free so we couldn't really go wrong. After that we strolled over to The Lighthouse in the lovely sunshine, although it was still bitter cold. The Lighthouse was fantastic. I will never forget the "take-away' exhibit which had all funky takeout containers from decades ago to the more modern ones, and also picninc gears and thermoses. It also had a spiral staircase of over 130 steps to the top of the lighthouse...the view was incredible but man, IT WAS FRIGID UP THERE!!!!
----TAKEOFF----
view of Glasgow from the Lighthouse museum
After that we took the train into Ayr and met Graeme and Chloe, chatted for a long while and had dinner. After watching Rocky IV, Travis and I called it a night. The net day we headed to Edinburgh and saw some amazing sights, including a whole store dedicated to whiskey! Again, it was frigid. We actually saw a little bit of snow that day. For lunch I had fisherman's pie with pieces of salmon and haddock, inside the delightful filo pastry that enclosed it. Mmmm! Immediately after lunch, Graeme insisted on trying a deep fried Cadbury Egg from next door in the store which had deep fried anything and everything. Travis and I took some great pictures this day, but it's hard not to since the Royal Mile is so picturesque.
Saturday and sunday we were in Stirling, visiting Graeme's family for Easter. I must say how lucky both Graeme and Chloe are to have gotten such a good one. Especially Uncle Colin! He was my particular favorite to chat with for his collection Elton John and whiskey! What a dear. They all are, in fact. I also must note the insane amount of Guitar Hero played this night. So much so that the carpet was moving after momentarily taking my eyes off the screen. It was a wonderful Easter. Also, the house was breathtaking...right on the Stirling mountainside. It had an outdoor hottub, three baths, a sauna, a sunporch, oh my!
Sunday morning we had breakfast, consisting of many things unfamiliar to our foreign palettes, all except good old fashioned bread. I tried a duck egg which tasted the same, only larger in size, and haggis, which is surprisingly delicious! Who knew lamb paunch could taste so fine?
After breakfast (what an experience!) we said goodbye to the family, and the three of us plus Graeme's brother Mark, went to the William Wallace (of Braveheart fame) monument and saw his massive sword. Then we climbed another assload of steps to the top. Might I add that it was frigid up there as well.
We drove back to Ayr listening to the late,great Mitch Hedberg , before heading to a local hotel bar to catch some European futball (wooo!) with some of Graeme's buddies and his bro. To avoid any trouble, we ordered local Kronenburg which is 5 point something of absoulte deliciousness. After three, I was feeling pretty good, but started to get a little homesick all of a sudden. I couldn't stop thinking about how badly I wanted to hang out with Erin and Jess and how awesome it's going to be to see them again.
After beers, we went home and I prepared my specialty for dinner. Drunken Stirfry!
Gotta love it! And then it was time for our beloved LOST. We got to Meet Kevin Johnson after about 2 seasons of not knowing where the F he and Walt went!
So I forgot to mention that Saturday morning before we left for Stirling, Graeme brought us to see some sights of Ayr, including the Electric Brae...a raod that appears to be going downhill at one point, but is actually going uphill. We experienced this by driving to a certain point, putting the car in neutral and feeling it roll back downhill. Crazy!
That same car trip we also stopped off at an old castle site, quite in ruin, right on the coast of Ayr. We climbed all through it and took some lovely pictures.
Yesterday was Monday and we drove up to the highest point in Ayr and saw herds of sheep crossing the road! That may have been my favorite part of the whole trip. After that we went to the Brig O'Doon bridge, which was also brilliant. And a beautiful place to get married, I might add. Then, dinner at Graeme's parents house, which consisted of steak pie with a WONDERFUL turnip mash (mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!) and some more haggis! They are two fine people whose paths I hope to cross again one day.
------LANDING!!------
Let me just note that this flight took less time than the cab ride to the airport from the airport. BAH! 'Tis all for now.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Update Shmupdate
The last month has been crazy, a mix of hills and valleys. It started out with 4th of July weekend---Travis and I were house-sitting for his parents, which is one of my favorite things to do. Not only do they have an amazing house with a huge bathtub, fridge filled with beer and cable, but that weekend had perfect weather...and in the privacy of their extremely large backyard, I tanned topless while my own personal Cabana boy (Travis) brought me gin and tonics, that is when he didn't "accidentally" spill beer all over me!
In speaking of backyards, we were hoping to have our wedding reception in his parents' since it's a beautiful expanse of green and trees and flowers, flat land and plenty of room. But get this. His mom wasn't really feeling her only son's wedding in her own home! I'm sorry, but
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?
Here's something else I can't believe. Getting fired, surprise style. Like, leave work on Thursday for a 3-day weekend...come back on Monday, incidentally the Monday my boss was on vacation, and am handed a letter by my co-worker who was telling me something along the lines of "It's not working out. Thank you and good luck."
Dumbfounded, I took the letter and said "No, thank you!" and left. Feeling totally defeated. I did abhor that job, but I am unsure of what exactly I can tolerate for 8 hours out of my day. Whatever happened to the verbal warning? The letter said I was "unwilling to follow directions." What directions? Not to use the internet? Well, I would have gladly stopped had there had been any sort of direction not to, instead of moving my desk so "Jenn could help you out more." Well, before that, I was sitting next to Jenn. Then I was just sitting merely in front of her. Now, I was getting fired via Jenn.
That was a month ago. *sigh*
I'm not too sure of any prospective jobs at the moment. All I know is, I would love to own my own business...something along the lines of Estate Sales, Ebay and Event Planning. A little extra shot of faith in myself would be perfect right now.
Then there was debit card fraud. Excellent.
But on one of those said hills, I had the extreme pleasure of seeing two concerts in the last two weeks. The first was Aimee Mann in Albany, her only FREE! show of all of her tour dates, in an outdoor park about 80 miles away. Travis and I decided to also go camping that weekend before seeing the show on Monday. We ended up in the Catskills, tenting during a HORRENDOUS thunderstorm! I was scared, so we collected our must-haves from the tent (did I mention just about everything, including us, was soaked?) to head over the car to seek shelter. On our way, we discovered a brand new river running between us and the car. We were on our own private island.
The concert was amazing, I am so in love with Aimee and her new album &*$(#)^$ Smilers! She never disappoints. Especially since this is the second time I've seen her in concert and the first time I had to drive all the way down to VA to see her! The opening act, Ashley Pond, was just as incredible. What a voice that chick has, not to mention she's not bad on the eyes either. Her and her band are like a mix of blues,rock,country,soul, something...wow.
The other concert we went to, and just returned from, was Radiohead in Montreal. But first, we stopped in Old Forge (Adirondacks area) to stay at camp with his parents. We would be dining with some of DC's finest gay men this evening, and other friends. Before the rest of the gang arrived, Travis and I decided to go kayaking, this being my first time. I was a bit of a slow-poke but enjoyed myself nonetheless. Feeling just as adventerous, I also opted to go tubing for the first time ever, once David and Maurice arrived with a speedboat and a tube! I stayed on for the entire ride, not noticing until later that I had a MASSIVE contusion on my shin! I think the booze may have had something to do with that. I usually try to opt for beer instead of liquor, but Leslie (future mother in law) makes a mean martini and pomegranate cosmo, so I had a few.
Other noteworthy aspects of that evening included: Jim and Leslie learning from the said gay couple what exactly a "blumpkin" is.
Okay, that was the only noteworthy aspect.
The next morning, I awoke in some PAIN. Slight hangover, extreme nausea ("In the beautiful land of fun and sun, we never flush for number one.") the bathroom pee stench was OUTRAGEOUS, upper body pain from rowing, the rest of the body pain from the tubing incident. Both of my butt cheeks have bruises and charlie horses. Not fun for a 5 hour drive to Montreal. YOW!
We arrived in Canada in plenty of time for waiting around, but were not allowed to bring in any food or beverages to the concert area. Enter: me drinking 2 beers faster than I have ever drank before. Not that it mattered, by the time we got into the venue I was way beyond sober. While waiting in line, Travis and I tried to pick out the Canadians from Americans. It was relatively easy. Where we were standing, there was a railing seperating us from what weconsidered to be the front of the line, or at least, they were closer than we were. What we didn't know was how long the line actually was. We thought showing up 4.5 hours in advance would be enough time, but man. When they opened the gates, we realized just how far away we were.
The area was a large, muddy field. Muddy only because it had been a torrential downpour, recently upgraded to sprinkling status. We purchased a pricy hotdog and bottle of water, and the hotdog was peculiar to say the least. Wanting to find a good spot, we walked into the crowd and almost immediately ended up next to two of the coolest people ever! I was stoked when I heard one of them utter "That's what she said." When I mentioned we came unprepared, they said they also had and we set out to find some of that good Canadian stuff we always hear about. It didn't take too long after that.
During the opening act, Grizzly Bear, the sun came out momentarily and presented the crowd with a rainbow, notable only because Radiohead's new album is entitled "In Rainbows."
Radiohead was incredible. I wish I had a better view, but being as vertically challenged as I am, I guess I'm always going to have to wish I had a better view. By the end of the concert, my back hurt even worse from the constant standing, prior evening, no room to move or breathe in the crowd. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want Radiohead to leave the stage, but I couldn't wait to get back to the car either. We were planning on sleeping in the car until the parking lot cleared out and then head for the border. After a beer and three Advil, I was in a much better place. I didn't rouse until the alarm went off at 3:30 am and we awoke to a totally empty lot. By 9, we were home again and only minus $120, most of which was spent on gas.
I guess the only thing I left out was the wedding plans. Like I may have mentioned before, about the B&B in Maine and the reception in his parent's backyard...those plans have changed...for the better, I think and hope. The ceremony will be at his parents friends' camp in Old Forge, where we stayed this week, on the water with 50 of our closest friends and family. The couple also offered to cook for everyone afterwards. Perfection.
It's much closer and easier and free.
The reception venue was just decided. Our downstairs neighbors are moving out, to our surprise, and I was fearing the worst: since we live in the house that Travis' stepdad owns and is planning to sell relatively soon, I thought this would be it. Loss of 2 tenants and us already paying a deeply-comped rent. We met them (the parents) for dinner out, had drinks, got to talking about wedding plans, which seems to happen alot these days. After two Red Stripes, I felt ballsy enough to say, "You know, I was kind of hoping we could have the reception in our own backyard." And, to my very much surprise, they both immediately agreed.
So, we don't have to move until at least next September. That's good for us and our wallets.
And I couldn't think of a better place to celebrate our wedding than our own home. I'm elated.
In speaking of backyards, we were hoping to have our wedding reception in his parents' since it's a beautiful expanse of green and trees and flowers, flat land and plenty of room. But get this. His mom wasn't really feeling her only son's wedding in her own home! I'm sorry, but
CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT?
Here's something else I can't believe. Getting fired, surprise style. Like, leave work on Thursday for a 3-day weekend...come back on Monday, incidentally the Monday my boss was on vacation, and am handed a letter by my co-worker who was telling me something along the lines of "It's not working out. Thank you and good luck."
Dumbfounded, I took the letter and said "No, thank you!" and left. Feeling totally defeated. I did abhor that job, but I am unsure of what exactly I can tolerate for 8 hours out of my day. Whatever happened to the verbal warning? The letter said I was "unwilling to follow directions." What directions? Not to use the internet? Well, I would have gladly stopped had there had been any sort of direction not to, instead of moving my desk so "Jenn could help you out more." Well, before that, I was sitting next to Jenn. Then I was just sitting merely in front of her. Now, I was getting fired via Jenn.
That was a month ago. *sigh*
I'm not too sure of any prospective jobs at the moment. All I know is, I would love to own my own business...something along the lines of Estate Sales, Ebay and Event Planning. A little extra shot of faith in myself would be perfect right now.
Then there was debit card fraud. Excellent.
But on one of those said hills, I had the extreme pleasure of seeing two concerts in the last two weeks. The first was Aimee Mann in Albany, her only FREE! show of all of her tour dates, in an outdoor park about 80 miles away. Travis and I decided to also go camping that weekend before seeing the show on Monday. We ended up in the Catskills, tenting during a HORRENDOUS thunderstorm! I was scared, so we collected our must-haves from the tent (did I mention just about everything, including us, was soaked?) to head over the car to seek shelter. On our way, we discovered a brand new river running between us and the car. We were on our own private island.
The concert was amazing, I am so in love with Aimee and her new album &*$(#)^$ Smilers! She never disappoints. Especially since this is the second time I've seen her in concert and the first time I had to drive all the way down to VA to see her! The opening act, Ashley Pond, was just as incredible. What a voice that chick has, not to mention she's not bad on the eyes either. Her and her band are like a mix of blues,rock,country,soul, something...wow.
The other concert we went to, and just returned from, was Radiohead in Montreal. But first, we stopped in Old Forge (Adirondacks area) to stay at camp with his parents. We would be dining with some of DC's finest gay men this evening, and other friends. Before the rest of the gang arrived, Travis and I decided to go kayaking, this being my first time. I was a bit of a slow-poke but enjoyed myself nonetheless. Feeling just as adventerous, I also opted to go tubing for the first time ever, once David and Maurice arrived with a speedboat and a tube! I stayed on for the entire ride, not noticing until later that I had a MASSIVE contusion on my shin! I think the booze may have had something to do with that. I usually try to opt for beer instead of liquor, but Leslie (future mother in law) makes a mean martini and pomegranate cosmo, so I had a few.
Other noteworthy aspects of that evening included: Jim and Leslie learning from the said gay couple what exactly a "blumpkin" is.
Okay, that was the only noteworthy aspect.
The next morning, I awoke in some PAIN. Slight hangover, extreme nausea ("In the beautiful land of fun and sun, we never flush for number one.") the bathroom pee stench was OUTRAGEOUS, upper body pain from rowing, the rest of the body pain from the tubing incident. Both of my butt cheeks have bruises and charlie horses. Not fun for a 5 hour drive to Montreal. YOW!
We arrived in Canada in plenty of time for waiting around, but were not allowed to bring in any food or beverages to the concert area. Enter: me drinking 2 beers faster than I have ever drank before. Not that it mattered, by the time we got into the venue I was way beyond sober. While waiting in line, Travis and I tried to pick out the Canadians from Americans. It was relatively easy. Where we were standing, there was a railing seperating us from what weconsidered to be the front of the line, or at least, they were closer than we were. What we didn't know was how long the line actually was. We thought showing up 4.5 hours in advance would be enough time, but man. When they opened the gates, we realized just how far away we were.
The area was a large, muddy field. Muddy only because it had been a torrential downpour, recently upgraded to sprinkling status. We purchased a pricy hotdog and bottle of water, and the hotdog was peculiar to say the least. Wanting to find a good spot, we walked into the crowd and almost immediately ended up next to two of the coolest people ever! I was stoked when I heard one of them utter "That's what she said." When I mentioned we came unprepared, they said they also had and we set out to find some of that good Canadian stuff we always hear about. It didn't take too long after that.
During the opening act, Grizzly Bear, the sun came out momentarily and presented the crowd with a rainbow, notable only because Radiohead's new album is entitled "In Rainbows."
Radiohead was incredible. I wish I had a better view, but being as vertically challenged as I am, I guess I'm always going to have to wish I had a better view. By the end of the concert, my back hurt even worse from the constant standing, prior evening, no room to move or breathe in the crowd. Don't get me wrong, I didn't want Radiohead to leave the stage, but I couldn't wait to get back to the car either. We were planning on sleeping in the car until the parking lot cleared out and then head for the border. After a beer and three Advil, I was in a much better place. I didn't rouse until the alarm went off at 3:30 am and we awoke to a totally empty lot. By 9, we were home again and only minus $120, most of which was spent on gas.
I guess the only thing I left out was the wedding plans. Like I may have mentioned before, about the B&B in Maine and the reception in his parent's backyard...those plans have changed...for the better, I think and hope. The ceremony will be at his parents friends' camp in Old Forge, where we stayed this week, on the water with 50 of our closest friends and family. The couple also offered to cook for everyone afterwards. Perfection.
It's much closer and easier and free.
The reception venue was just decided. Our downstairs neighbors are moving out, to our surprise, and I was fearing the worst: since we live in the house that Travis' stepdad owns and is planning to sell relatively soon, I thought this would be it. Loss of 2 tenants and us already paying a deeply-comped rent. We met them (the parents) for dinner out, had drinks, got to talking about wedding plans, which seems to happen alot these days. After two Red Stripes, I felt ballsy enough to say, "You know, I was kind of hoping we could have the reception in our own backyard." And, to my very much surprise, they both immediately agreed.
So, we don't have to move until at least next September. That's good for us and our wallets.
And I couldn't think of a better place to celebrate our wedding than our own home. I'm elated.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
My favorite, food.
So here it is. A whole blog about food.
First things first, let it be known that I love food. I love cooking it and I love eating it. Thank god for my wonderful Italian genes. Sometimes when I can't sleep, I dream about recipes like what to make for dinner tomorrow using whatever randomness is hanging about in the refrigerator and pantry. I think the best utilization of the bare minimal to date was the dusty can of white cannellini beans thrown into some random pasta, with some leftover fresh spinach that was about to be on it's last legs. Toss with butter, fresh garlic,
a little olive oil and some fresh grated cheese....ideally it would be fresh grated but in this case, I opted for the parmesan in the green plastic shaker thingy and sprinkled it quite generously while all of the flavors were meshing over medium low heat. It's a shame I didn't have some delicious prosciutto on hand.
Other times, when I'm day dreaming at night, I fill that insatiable urge in my belly with a varietal of nourishment. No, it's not the typical late-night cravings of heading to the drive-thru and hitting up the dollar menu for an array of extremely high trans fat foods, that were bathed in day old oil, with pickles and onions on a sesame seed bun. I mull over steamed mussels, or a delicious hunk of salmon with a walnut crust, butternut squash, a bathtub full of gravy, or that squid's ink paella we tried in Barcelona. Who knew that squids ink was a delicacy? I also ruminate over the crepes and waffles that the Belgians are known for, dusted to perfection with powdered sugar and whatever fresh fruit to accompany it.
It's no suprise with my dual passion for food and travel, that I am the third book into my
travels alongside Frances Mayes, who penned Under the Tuscan Sun during the first years she had bought the old villa in Tuscany. In Bella Tuscany, she took us on an amazing tour of Italia, never leaving out the delicous meals consumed, recipes, stories from a Southern childhood, home renovation and gardening. It made me laugh. It made me cry. But most of all, it made me hungry. Today I've started A Year in the World, where Frances continues her journey of breathing life in a foreign country in France, Portugal, Spain, Greece and North Africa. I can't wait!
I've also been reading a fellow AOL Journal, Trickle of Semi-Consciousness by Belfast Cowboy, another member who left due to the "incident" and has found comfort in his blogging elsewhere. I must say, reading his past entries make time fly by here at the office, and it's a challenge to not laugh and give myself away.
"Marissa, are you blogging again? What is so funny?"
I'll tell you what's so funny. Cowboy's former career as a jug-bander. And I hear they did a doozy of a version of "My Eggs Don't Taste the Same Without you" in which he croons, "My heart's in a-shambles, I can't eat my scrambles."
Back to the immediate subject at hand, or at tummy, whilst on the topic of the wonder that is food, I must make mention of a place that never disappoints. La Petit Maison, the little house, is a FANTASTIC French restaurant here in Waterville. While I've never had the pleasure of dining in France per se, dining in The Little House is always an exceptional treat. With a bottle of wine, we order for an appetizer oysters
or gazpacho or a warm mushroom salad with endive which is INCREDIBLE. For the main course I always find myself torn between the bouillabaise riviera with saffron (ping!), salmon with caviar and a champagne sauce, filet mignon with a blueberry and bourbon reduction, or something off the specials menu which can range from rabbit to duck to bull testicles (dubbed 'sweet bread,' I don't think so). Travis is slightly more adventurous than me in this sense, because I will not touch a fork to a rabbit or a duck, although I hear both are magnifique. On the side of each dish comes a small couscous salad, scalloped potatoes, and mashed beets. (Remember that bathtub full of gravy? Scratch that. Make it a tub full of mashed beets.) Dessert too, is sheer perfection. An array of sorbets, custards, creme brulee`, gateau (cake) are presented with a carmelized sugar cage. Yes, a cage. A sugary sweet net of unrequited goodness. Needless to say, the price of all of this makes our visits rare, but equally more enjoyable each time we sign the guestbook on the way out, our bellies full and our hearts light.
So. When I'm in bed on the night before christmas, you can be sure that I actually am having visions of sugar plums dancing over my head. Actually its probably something more like beets doing dance moves to Gloria Estafan's "Turn the Beat Around."
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
goings-on.
Just another day at the office, having no other choice but to listen to this god-forsaken country "music." at least the radio station has been better about changing it up a bit. i heard a new song today, well it was new to me. It actually made me laugh out loud, prompting my co-worker Jenn to inquire as to what was making me giggle..."Did he just say, 'she's rockin' the beer gut'?"
She confirmed this to be true.
Wow.
I must admit that this lyric has made all of my insecurities surrounding my drinking paunch fade, as it sounds as though maybe it's not such a bad thing, and perhaps it is viewed as a highest form of honor or a mark of Buddha in some faraway land, like Alcoholpulco or New Drinkingland. I should see the bulge that rests atop my beltloop symbolically, that I have enough to drink.
And I am lucky for that.
Or am I?
But as for new music on the country radio station, there isn't much. In fact, I'd say nearly half of the songs played on there were originally belonging to someone else. Like All4One's "I can love you like that" or Edwin McCain's "I'll Be" or anything by Kelly Clarkson. To my suprise, Darius Rucker, formerly of Hootie & the Blowfish fame, has just released his first country album. Didn't see that coming. Who's next?
On another note, it's a slightly dismal day here and all I want to is to crawl in my bed and be all cozy and sleepy warm, listening to the rain outside my windows. But instead, I sit here, typing away andd wishing the next 3 and half hours away, which is something I greatly dislike to do.
My wedding planning has temporarily halted. We set a date, and it seems still a little
too far to start ordering favors, tables and chairs, and all that jazz. But I have to say, I think our $5000 budget will go a long way. It will hopefully include our honeymoon expenses, plane tickets and resort in Turquoise Bay, Honduras! I've already planned for the flowers...my downstairs neighbor and I will be planting them in the spring, hundreds of zinnias in all colors, fuscia, oranges, yellows, whites...they will be included as bouquets in my centerpieces, in various vases, pots, lemonade pitchers, mason jars, wine bottles...a mishmash that throws uniformity to the wind.
Did I mention the date is September 4, 2009? That will be the day that Travis and I exchange our written vows in front of immediate family and the closest of friends, on the coast of Winter Harbor, ME. We've arrangedthis with the owners of the B&B and they are having a lobster bake for the party in their backyard...it should be wonderfully splendid. Two days later, the sixth, will be our reception hopefully in his mom's backyard, back in NY. That's also the day of my parents 35th wedding anniversary.
I'm also in this hyphenation contemplation. Shall I be Marissa Olivera? Marissa Fiorentino-Olivera? Or just plain old Marissa Fiorentino? I feel attached to my last name. How will people know I am still a Fiorentino? I love it when people ask me if I am related to or know so and so.
Having all this excess time throughout my day, in front of the computer, I began reading some of the old blogs that still remain, that I once loved, and still do. Anyone recall The C-Cup Chronicles? They still make me laugh out loud, cry, and warm my heart...Then there was TwoScoopsofCrazy, always hilarious. And of course, Jennifer from Random Ramblings. I wonder what her and Walter, the wonderpup, have been busying themselves with. I'm sure she also still "idoling along."
We didn't lose everyone to the move, afterall, Mike and Kathleen and myself are still ever-present. I never found my blogspot to be as homey and comfy as it is here.
Whatever happened to those Weekend Assignments from Mr. Scalzi anyway? Did he run out of questions and scenarios to present to the eager bloggers? Or did he just get a new job?
Until next time, keep on rockin' those beer guts!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Dum Dum Da Dum...
Since I suprisingly have alot of extra time when I finish my workload here, I've been the queen of googling wedding ideas, with the occasional game of Freecell or Sudoku to spice things up. How amazing it is to get paid to do these things.
Last night, Travis and I asked his parents if we could have our wedding reception in their backyard. I don't think it would've been as big as a surprise as it was, considering they haven't even asked us if we've set a date yet. Which we haven't. Next August is looking to be it, though, mainly because I want to steer as far as possible from the possibility of being rained out! Not that that's any indication of whatever inclement weather happens to arise in this crazy area...
Take the other night for example. It was one of those warm nights and right before a storm was due to hit...the wind blowing right through our curtains and cooling the stickiness of the day, dually curing our swamp-ass. I reveled in the fact that this was one of my favorite parts of summer...
And then our house got struck by lightning! I was TERRIFIED. The kicker is Travis and I were just talking about how silly we are to have not gotten renters insurance yet, seeing as how it's like $1 (not really, but pretty damn close) and that I work at an insurance agency. Not only was it the loudest, brightest, most horrifying storm I've ever experienced, that shook the ground and house like a bomb had hit, but it ended up striking the siding and taking a large chunk out of the foundation as well. With one fell swoop, our TV was no longer and my car wouldn't start the next morning.
All I could think of was the antiquated electricity that runs through our outlets...and boy, OUTlets they are---the thick plastic-coated wires that come out of the floor to attach it to the silver metal box in which we plug things. My hair crimps at the thought.
But back to wedding stuffs. I have to say, of all things in my life, this is the only thing that I am totally sure of. Nothing I've experienced in my 23 years compares to the companionship and intimacy that I have shared with my love. I feel lucky, and surprised that I've found it at all. Like any other two, we have those inevitable moments where we grind each others' gears or cannot accept the fact that the other never makes the bed/buys too much furniture...I bet you can't guess who the latter is.
Loosely, our plan for the marital union is as follows. Intimate ceremony in Winter Harbor, Maine in the backyard of a beautiful B&B we stayed in last summer, right on the coast. Reception back here at home a few days later, in his mom's expansive backyard under a tent, with Brooks BBQ (DELICIOUS!) cooking chicken and ribs at a pit within safe distance...
We also have been researching how to register for your honeymoon, which I think is a splendid notion. Instead of registering for china and crystal stemware that we'll NEVER use, we'll opt for a bottle of champagne for the happy couple as we toast our love in some tropical location. Or chocolate covered strawberries. Or a couple's massage.
This is fun. Such a challenge to create our idea of a perfect union on a budget... it forces me to get creative. I'm sure this will undoubtedly bring his mother and I closer, unless of course she turns into mother-in-law-of-the-brideZILLA.
But until then, I've got colors, flowers, desserts to choose...for me, and my chosen one.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
this country is bad for my health
So, I've just been adjusting to being a full-timer here at the insurance company,
waking up at 7:45, hitting snooze til I can hit snooze no more, getting here at 9
and leaving at 5. It leaves me little time for myself, seeing as how I can barely
stay awake after 11 pm these days.
My day at work entails drinking too much caffeine,taking/making payments,
processing homeowner/car insurance applications, renewals, reinstatments,
cancellations, etc...and after all that fun is done, it's just me and Freecell
and this forsaken country music. There's one in particular I feel I can actually
relate to...in the typical southern drawl, and this one is more of a drawl than a
twang
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMEEEE I WANNA GO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMME
Every time that song comes on, roughly twice a day, I just want to tell the man,
I concur.
But not ALL of the country tunage is bad on the ever-popular local country radio
station (ever-popular here in Waterville, that is) there is one, count 'em one,
song that I enjoy. It's called "Johnny and June," referring to the Cash's
of course, and the singer chick says "When you go, I wanna go too."
Brings a twitter to my ticker.
Other than that, I feel on the upswing at the moment, healthwise. I don't believe
I've mentioned at all here what's been going on, but it started about 3 months ago
in Ireland when I had severe pains in my abdomen and lower right side. All signs
pointed to appendicitis, especially when I bent over to tie my shoes and almost
doubled over in pain. Doctors, surgery and a hospital stay confirmed it to be
endometriosis, oh joy.
If being cut open and hospitalized for the first time wasn't enough,on the exact day
I was journeying home to the states, a different kind of pain prevented me from eating celebratory dinner with our parents and friends...yadda yadda yadda, cut to today and here I sit with pernicious anemia, inability to absorb B12 and Iron, main symptom being gastritis--inflammation of the stomach lining.
I haven't felt well enough in the tummy area to be keeping up with all m'beer drinking,
and my pants don't fit. *sigh*
All the medical terminology aside, I hate feeling unwell enough to do things. I'm tired and
alot of days I'm in pain from either gastritis or endometriosis, which has chronic lower back pain and tummy pain. But, I am glad we've figured all this out whileI still have insurance.
This is where I face another one of life's ironies, working in an insurance company that doesn't offer insurance to their employees. At least in Ireland, my surgery was FREE!
SOCIAL HEALTHCARE! SIGN ME UP!
On a much much much lighter note, my beloved Aimee Mann has a new CD called %^*&#Q(* Smilers! Picked it up yesterday, and can't wait to fall in love with it like I have the others. Also, she's doing a FREE (there's the word again!) concert in Albany in July...
Can't wait for the weekend. I have much to tend to. A great book, I am almost done with. My plants. My honey. Rewatching LOST season 3, you know, really important matters. And hopefully, in keeping with the last few days *knocks on wood* feeling well enough to get some much needed exercise.
I can't believe my voice is joining in the millions asking "Is it Friday yet?"
Also, I just noticed all of the different moods and didn't find one that fit my "feels like bugs are crawling all over me" present state of mind. Who should I talk to about that?
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
she works hard for the money
I know I haven't been consistent with my updates, but that's what happens when life happens.
I'd says it's good to be back in the states, but I'd be a liar. There's so much I miss about our time abroad, like our friends, being able to walk everywhere and not having to buy gas at an outrageous price, not having to participate in the "real world" in which responsibilities rest on my shoulders. My only responsibility in Dublin was to make dinner for Armando and the suitees, drink pints and see everything I possibly can while there.
Other than trying to restore our place back to the condition it was in when we left, I've just been looking for jobs and working on my resume, being a college graduate now...you'd think it'd be exciting to not have to write essays on whatever topic or prepare for tests and presentations, but I found myself doubting my ability to embrace change, even though, more times that not, change is a positive thing.
So, I found myself a real job. It's only my first day at a small car insurance company, but I can tell I'm going to like it here. It's quiet (except for the country music being piped in, GROAN) and self-paced and I don't have to worry any longer about peeing glitter, and not getting enough hours at the ol' craft store. Here I can just sit and work and sip my tea and earn money to pay off all of that college debt I've been accruing. Not to mention to save up for a wedding and honeymoon and maybe a new apartment.
I wish I could post some of our other photos from Amsterdam and Barcelona, but my laptop contratcted an e-std of some sort...
more to come.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
i am so LOST
Okay, so the girl who hates mainstream television is completely obsessed. I think the title gives it away so I can't even insert Dancing with the Stars as a joke.
I think it's some kind of virtual crack...It makes me want to call in sick to life.
Is anyone else with me on this??
I think it's some kind of virtual crack...It makes me want to call in sick to life.
Is anyone else with me on this??
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
end of the march
So in honor of my last entry being exactly one month ago, here's what my last month was like. Sometime in early March, when Tracy was visiting us with her friend Kat, and we went to Howth, a little fishing town on the Dublin's dart line (album above). First we walked up to an old castle that was kind of renovated quite recently, but still a cool thing to see for free. After that we made lunch reservations for an hour later, walked along the piers that overlooked boats and sea lions on one side, and the lighthouse along the coast on the other.
We also celebrated my first, and probably last, St Paddy's Day. I'm not really one for spending an entire day and night drinking my face off! I did however start my day off with a screwdriver and a flask full of Jameson...followed by the parade, and a gin bucket. You may be wondering what a gin bucket is, as I was myself the first time I heard it. But it really is just a big ol' bucket of gin, with Sprite, tonic and lemons....and of course a nicely-sized cup to fill up. I suppose I do enjoy the occasional drinking off of faces, but I did call it an early night.
this picture says it all.
And pretty much a few days after that, we made our way to Scotland. It was gorgeous and frigid! It's awesome Travis has an old friend there with whom we stayed and who was also our tour guide around Glasgow, Ayr, Edinburgh and Stirling. Some highlights are definitely the herd of sheep crossing our path, walking down the Royal Mile, catching a glimpse of William Wallace's massive sword, seeing an old castle built into the side of a mountain and one along the jagged coastline with snow-capped mountains across the sea. It was a great five days, until the very last hour of the very last day. We went to the wrong airport. But let's not focus our attention on the negative aspects here. Then there was the hundred pound cab ride that dropped us off just in time for a delay. Yay.
view of Glasgow from the Lighthouse museum
We also celebrated my first, and probably last, St Paddy's Day. I'm not really one for spending an entire day and night drinking my face off! I did however start my day off with a screwdriver and a flask full of Jameson...followed by the parade, and a gin bucket. You may be wondering what a gin bucket is, as I was myself the first time I heard it. But it really is just a big ol' bucket of gin, with Sprite, tonic and lemons....and of course a nicely-sized cup to fill up. I suppose I do enjoy the occasional drinking off of faces, but I did call it an early night.
this picture says it all.And pretty much a few days after that, we made our way to Scotland. It was gorgeous and frigid! It's awesome Travis has an old friend there with whom we stayed and who was also our tour guide around Glasgow, Ayr, Edinburgh and Stirling. Some highlights are definitely the herd of sheep crossing our path, walking down the Royal Mile, catching a glimpse of William Wallace's massive sword, seeing an old castle built into the side of a mountain and one along the jagged coastline with snow-capped mountains across the sea. It was a great five days, until the very last hour of the very last day. We went to the wrong airport. But let's not focus our attention on the negative aspects here. Then there was the hundred pound cab ride that dropped us off just in time for a delay. Yay.
view of Glasgow from the Lighthouse museum
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Picture Update
This is my ultimate serenity...Giant's Causeway on the coast of Northern Ireland.
Of course I have to include a picture of me and my love.
This is Glendalough (glen duh lock) which is slightly south of Dublin....we traveled by car (very scary on the other side of the road, folks) with his parents this past week while they were visiting.
This is the Study Abroad group when we met with the Ambassador a few weeks ago....Travis is a baldy in this one and I am the shortest person ever.
Monday, February 25, 2008
buy the ticket, take the ride.
So, I still need to buy a ticket home. And hopefully one to Scotland, and possibly England, then venture to Barcelona in between...but there's only so much euro in the college student's purse these days. In search of these flights over this many weekends just made me realize how fast this experience has been rolling along...it's a mixed bag. I miss things at home, but when I'm there, I'm going to miss things here. Eight or so more weekends making big dinners, venturing out, drinking pints. 'Tis brilliant! And then there are those weekends that we don't really leave the bed...watching movies, reading from our journal from our trip last summer...here's one particular great entry from last June.
mile 8852
We're still in Maine, though not for too much longer. All the Maine license plates we pass on the road brag about being the #1 vacation spot, but I am going to have to agree. I loved everything from the sweet smell of the ocean in the air to the distant but constant sound of water that surrounds you.
I'm glad The Pines turned out not so swell because instead we discovered The Bluff House B&B in Winter Harbor. It's a beautiful recluse facing west toward the ocean and remains to me to be the ultimate place to watch the sunrise and set. That is of course if you don't mind being eaten alive by mosquitoes, but I hear if you eat enough garlic, you'll smell like a vegetable to them and they won't bother with you. I am unbeliever until I try it next time.
Over breakfast in the morning , we watched as a hasty squirrel ate all the bird feed, while finches anxiously awaited for any seed left unshelled...Hummingbirds held my attention with both their flitting and fleeting nature. I hope the pictures we took of them feeding come out well...it's always at the very moment you are shooting the picture that they take off, leaving you with a blurry dot flying away...
The other creature that captured me was the baby raccoon that Mary, the B&B owner, rescued from being trapped in a fireplace. His name was Taddy and he made snorty little purring sounds to display affection for his new adoptive mother. The raccoon is nature's bandit.
As I mentioned before in some earlier entries, Travis and I couldn't visit Maine without trying the lobster, even though we both tend to shy away from the usual cheesy tourist stuff. Luckily, our place-mats had directions for getting a shy lobsterto come out of its shell. Also, it's a good thing we wore those plastic bibs with the giant lobster on it...not only were they essential, but they added to the experience. I'm sure Travis would want me to note the fact that upon receiving our lobsters and in the early stages shelling, I tossed my lobsters claws into the plastic bucket they gave us for discarding anything we found not consumable. I didn't realize that there was deliciousness in there too. He said at first he though I just really like lobster and already inhaled it. With a second glance he corrected my mistake with "hey, what are you doing? That's some of the best meat in there!"
Yesterday we hiked at Acadia for three hours and were extremely disoriented upon exiting the labyrinth of a forest...we followed the trail to a possible end but were still unsure of our location and the location of our vehicle. Luckily I worst fears didn't come true that we were miles and miles away, and as we rounded the bend in the road that ran alongside the rocky shoreline of the Atlantic, we realized we were only 500 feet or so from where we parked our car...We're on our way to Vermont now.
Good times. I love waking up and knowing I'm going to see something new today, that I'm inevitably going to run into one or more of my suitees in the kitchen and end up sitting and talking the night away, that Travis and I get to share this experience together. I hope the next eight weeks are just as great as the first eight have been. I have no reason to doubt that they won't be.
There are a few people I'm really missing at home, but I know our time will come again, and soon.
My homies and I at the always interesting Temple Bar...I've seen a guy limbo under flames, an awesome street band and a guy who fiddled with his feet, a 40 something woman carried on the back of a guy, and then laughed so hard she peed her pants....and we saw this guy that same windy night...
yes, I do believe that is a lovely floral pattern embroidered on his sweater...I don't believe that my close-eyed stumble or Colleen's pouty face compares to the very essence of random guy's being.
'Tis all for now.
mile 8852
We're still in Maine, though not for too much longer. All the Maine license plates we pass on the road brag about being the #1 vacation spot, but I am going to have to agree. I loved everything from the sweet smell of the ocean in the air to the distant but constant sound of water that surrounds you.
I'm glad The Pines turned out not so swell because instead we discovered The Bluff House B&B in Winter Harbor. It's a beautiful recluse facing west toward the ocean and remains to me to be the ultimate place to watch the sunrise and set. That is of course if you don't mind being eaten alive by mosquitoes, but I hear if you eat enough garlic, you'll smell like a vegetable to them and they won't bother with you. I am unbeliever until I try it next time.
Over breakfast in the morning , we watched as a hasty squirrel ate all the bird feed, while finches anxiously awaited for any seed left unshelled...Hummingbirds held my attention with both their flitting and fleeting nature. I hope the pictures we took of them feeding come out well...it's always at the very moment you are shooting the picture that they take off, leaving you with a blurry dot flying away...
The other creature that captured me was the baby raccoon that Mary, the B&B owner, rescued from being trapped in a fireplace. His name was Taddy and he made snorty little purring sounds to display affection for his new adoptive mother. The raccoon is nature's bandit.
As I mentioned before in some earlier entries, Travis and I couldn't visit Maine without trying the lobster, even though we both tend to shy away from the usual cheesy tourist stuff. Luckily, our place-mats had directions for getting a shy lobsterto come out of its shell. Also, it's a good thing we wore those plastic bibs with the giant lobster on it...not only were they essential, but they added to the experience. I'm sure Travis would want me to note the fact that upon receiving our lobsters and in the early stages shelling, I tossed my lobsters claws into the plastic bucket they gave us for discarding anything we found not consumable. I didn't realize that there was deliciousness in there too. He said at first he though I just really like lobster and already inhaled it. With a second glance he corrected my mistake with "hey, what are you doing? That's some of the best meat in there!"
Yesterday we hiked at Acadia for three hours and were extremely disoriented upon exiting the labyrinth of a forest...we followed the trail to a possible end but were still unsure of our location and the location of our vehicle. Luckily I worst fears didn't come true that we were miles and miles away, and as we rounded the bend in the road that ran alongside the rocky shoreline of the Atlantic, we realized we were only 500 feet or so from where we parked our car...We're on our way to Vermont now.
Good times. I love waking up and knowing I'm going to see something new today, that I'm inevitably going to run into one or more of my suitees in the kitchen and end up sitting and talking the night away, that Travis and I get to share this experience together. I hope the next eight weeks are just as great as the first eight have been. I have no reason to doubt that they won't be.
There are a few people I'm really missing at home, but I know our time will come again, and soon.
My homies and I at the always interesting Temple Bar...I've seen a guy limbo under flames, an awesome street band and a guy who fiddled with his feet, a 40 something woman carried on the back of a guy, and then laughed so hard she peed her pants....and we saw this guy that same windy night...
yes, I do believe that is a lovely floral pattern embroidered on his sweater...I don't believe that my close-eyed stumble or Colleen's pouty face compares to the very essence of random guy's being.
'Tis all for now.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
"When Things Fall Apart"
I stumbled across something today that left a lasting impression on me, you could say that maybe it changed my life, or at least my current perception about my present state of mind. I'm sure anyone that reads my journal notes that at times, these entries appear filled with sadness, uncertainty, questions upon questions about why my mindset skews to the point of despair, why the world seems like such a bad place, and where my place lies within it...
...trying to make sense of it all.
And isn't that all what we're trying to do? Don't we all have inner demons? I've always considered this notion, as long as it has prodded at my sanity, to be the very thing that separated me from everyone else who seems to be getting along just fine. But in fact, isn't this the very thing that links me in the human connection? Haven't we all hurt? And don't we all find utter discomfort in that damned feeling, because I know I do.
So my initial response, aside from that other damned feeling of wanting to drown myself in a drink or in a great hit, is to try and find a happy place again, or at least a wave of contentment---that I can ride until I crash again. Trying to ignore the sinking feeling until I can get a grip on things, and get things in order, and rotating in attempted failures of keeping things in perspective.
But maybe it's not something to be ignored. Maybe it's myself that needs to resonate the proverbial light in an otherwise dark tunnel. And then there's the possibility that this sadness, like every person I meet and relate to, is here for me to learn from. It reminds me of pouring syrup in the individual squares on a waffle, each one overflowing until it all runs together.
In knowing this, and in wanting to further discover the truth, maybe I won't have such a hard time moving past all of the things that leave me here, progressively standing still.
And to think earlier today, I was just flipping through O magazine, my absolute guilty pleasure, completely unknowing of the lightness that would follow after reading the insights of Pema Chödrön , an amazing woman who found her solace along the path in the spiritual guidance of Buddhism, after experiencing an extraordinary amount of suffering during a depression that she couldn't find her way out of. Pema became the first American woman to become an ordained Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition and has written many books addressing the universality of sadness, and that getting to know yourself on that extremely personal level, you are getting to know everyone. Essentially, can you be angry at someone who is no more guilty than you for having anger, whether or not it be misguided, or immaculately tucked away, or denied to have existed at all? Knowing these things will present us with the opportunity to be receptive rather than resistant, because we know where they are coming from...where they are reacting from.
So many things that she spoke of in this interview shook me to the very core. It took my self-loathing and turned it into a quest to take these negative feelings, which undoubtedly has an affect over my life, and learn about them enough to be able to shake them off and to put them in perspective, so that it doesn't interfere with living in the present...because let's face it, the future never arrives in the form of the future.
I realize the putting into action process may not be as easy as in reading and identifying with the words I reveled in today. But my spirit is lifted anyhow at the possibility.
...trying to make sense of it all.
And isn't that all what we're trying to do? Don't we all have inner demons? I've always considered this notion, as long as it has prodded at my sanity, to be the very thing that separated me from everyone else who seems to be getting along just fine. But in fact, isn't this the very thing that links me in the human connection? Haven't we all hurt? And don't we all find utter discomfort in that damned feeling, because I know I do.
So my initial response, aside from that other damned feeling of wanting to drown myself in a drink or in a great hit, is to try and find a happy place again, or at least a wave of contentment---that I can ride until I crash again. Trying to ignore the sinking feeling until I can get a grip on things, and get things in order, and rotating in attempted failures of keeping things in perspective.
But maybe it's not something to be ignored. Maybe it's myself that needs to resonate the proverbial light in an otherwise dark tunnel. And then there's the possibility that this sadness, like every person I meet and relate to, is here for me to learn from. It reminds me of pouring syrup in the individual squares on a waffle, each one overflowing until it all runs together.
In knowing this, and in wanting to further discover the truth, maybe I won't have such a hard time moving past all of the things that leave me here, progressively standing still.
And to think earlier today, I was just flipping through O magazine, my absolute guilty pleasure, completely unknowing of the lightness that would follow after reading the insights of Pema Chödrön , an amazing woman who found her solace along the path in the spiritual guidance of Buddhism, after experiencing an extraordinary amount of suffering during a depression that she couldn't find her way out of. Pema became the first American woman to become an ordained Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition and has written many books addressing the universality of sadness, and that getting to know yourself on that extremely personal level, you are getting to know everyone. Essentially, can you be angry at someone who is no more guilty than you for having anger, whether or not it be misguided, or immaculately tucked away, or denied to have existed at all? Knowing these things will present us with the opportunity to be receptive rather than resistant, because we know where they are coming from...where they are reacting from.
So many things that she spoke of in this interview shook me to the very core. It took my self-loathing and turned it into a quest to take these negative feelings, which undoubtedly has an affect over my life, and learn about them enough to be able to shake them off and to put them in perspective, so that it doesn't interfere with living in the present...because let's face it, the future never arrives in the form of the future.
I realize the putting into action process may not be as easy as in reading and identifying with the words I reveled in today. But my spirit is lifted anyhow at the possibility.
Monday, February 18, 2008
the inner spinner
I am ill at ease. One may wonder how I could possibly be, seeing as how I escaped the brutal winter and bitter cold and instead am basking in the (sometimes) sunlight of those rolling green hills...that are right outside of Dublin itself. I fell asleep and awoke with this same discontentment, of the self-loathing and is it change or the lack thereof that has put me in this mental jumble yet again? I can't shake it.
But how do you change things that perhaps have never changed? How can you decipher changeable to ingrained to learned behavior to self-destructive behavior to needing to change because the world is always changing? All these questions that I have answers to, and the ones I don't, continue to float around in my head without resolve.
Back in the day I would soothe this particular ailment perhaps in writing a poem, or sitting with some friends in the coffee shop...friends that use to be my best friends, whatever that means anyway. But I've grown up enough in the last few years to realize that drinking and rolling a j is much more healthy than writing and talking about your feelings.
Note the sarcasm. Note the defeat.
I'm not sure if it's luckily or unluckily that my system doesn't take well to alcohol, but I know that it definitely doesn't solve my life's conundrums, it provides me with just enough comatose to be able to ramble on. Or it makes me sociable enough to only be considered borderline antisocial as opposed to completely.
This is a web of a mess. How to dismantle it or will it continue to grow forever, becoming more and more intricate the more and more I spin it?
But how do you change things that perhaps have never changed? How can you decipher changeable to ingrained to learned behavior to self-destructive behavior to needing to change because the world is always changing? All these questions that I have answers to, and the ones I don't, continue to float around in my head without resolve.
Back in the day I would soothe this particular ailment perhaps in writing a poem, or sitting with some friends in the coffee shop...friends that use to be my best friends, whatever that means anyway. But I've grown up enough in the last few years to realize that drinking and rolling a j is much more healthy than writing and talking about your feelings.
Note the sarcasm. Note the defeat.
I'm not sure if it's luckily or unluckily that my system doesn't take well to alcohol, but I know that it definitely doesn't solve my life's conundrums, it provides me with just enough comatose to be able to ramble on. Or it makes me sociable enough to only be considered borderline antisocial as opposed to completely.
This is a web of a mess. How to dismantle it or will it continue to grow forever, becoming more and more intricate the more and more I spin it?
Thursday, January 31, 2008
the only time i didn't like eggs
So my weekends here start on Thursdays!!! Whatever Irish person thought up no school on Fridays is a bloody genius! (Or a bloody drunk!) It's amazing how applicable that statement is here!
Today I had my Irish cinema class, taught by the always enjoyable Colum, and we talked about Ireland's history and what consititues Irishness and how it is a socially constructed notion...he asked each of us (all three of us in the class) three things we knew about Ireland before we got here...mine were friendliness, drunkeness, guinness.
Were they correct?
Absolutely! The one thing I wasn't expecting was all the puke on the sidewalks, but I guess it makes sense. He also asked why we chose Ireland. I said because they speak English, and that it seemed less dismal weather-wise and is more affordable than England. I'm surprised how comfortable and happy I feel here. Every school day I walk about 15-20 minutes to the college and back, if not more to head over to Henry Street to pick up fresh fruit, veggies and meat from the sidewalk markets for dinner with my suitees!!!!
This seems like a great time to introduce my suitees...aka my first roomies ever! First of all, my decision to study abroad relied heavily on whether or not Travis and I would be able to live together, since we live together at home, for f's sake. The woman in the International Office must have just been hell-bent on getting two more study abroad students, so she possibly streeeettttccchhhhheeeddd the truth a bit, to the point where it was a not-truth! Also a not-truth was "the lovely apartments you'll be staying in," but I'll get back to that.
So we get off our plane on Jan 3rd and are dropped in front of our building and are assigned two seperate rooms!!! Boo! Hiss! But we somehow ended up together, first in a single and now in a double...Travis has 5 female roommates! It works out well because anytime we all start talking about our rags he'll just go clean something. There is myself, Meghean from Hudson Valley, Colleen (my little suitee!) from VA Beach, Chrissy from Boston, and lovely Miss Bridget from Texas!
We've all have only lived together for almost 2 weeks now, but it feels like we've known each other forever! I am so f'in lucky that I got some good roommates, because there'd be shit everywhere from it hitting the fan. I have such a great time cooking for them...delicious dinners everynight in 105!!! and playing KINGS! Never have I ever played Kings before!
Always a grand time, especially when we have visitors, surprise style...namely Peter and Armando aka Guatemala...
Okay, I just tried to get some photos from facebook, but it's not happening, so maybe next time.
Yeah, so we live in the ghetto here, pretty much. Thanks again, International lady!! I didn't realize our dwelling location was sketchy until one night a group of us were walking to a pub and we got egged by some little fuckers outside of the projects!!!! These kids definitely aren't old enough to shave. At the same time of the these kids were playing this practical yolk on us, they also egged a woman who was pushing her kid in a stroller. And then proceeded to run away, laughing all the way to government funded housing. Travis and Peter chased after them into what Travis described as an abyss, where Peter got pegged in the face! Did I mention my coat was covered?! At least you don't have to pay for dry cleaning on your face! He chased after them until the harsh realization that these little asshats more than likely have older brothers that we did not want to deal with.
So, they told us. We now know whose turf is whose. They should pick on somebody their own size. And their mother's should pay for my dry cleaning with their welfare checks. But my guess is that their mom's don't care and that is the real problem.
We've been trying to find the perfect revenge without getting incarcerated for it. An eye for an eye and an egg for an egg, perhaps?
My other great story concerning the ghetto that is Buckingham Street is when we came home one day to see a car parked on the sidewalk, literally in front of our building's door. Did I mention that there was a rock thrown through the windshield?
Now I heard rumours when I got here that we may see a burning car or two in this neighborhood, but...I was definitely unbelieving. It didn't happen this time, luckily someone called the Guarda (piggies) to watch in the meantime until it wasa towed....but this was after some angry young man came by with a screwdriver and proceeded to smash every window of the car! You'd think that this gentleman was after something inside of the car, but it appears that everything was still intact. Just getting out a little frustration, I s'pose.
I mean, that's exactly what I do when I get angry.
Whatever happened to punching a pillow??
Ok, gotta go make some dinner for my roomies.
the living room (not featured is the ever-growing wall of shame!)
teeny tiny kitchen
view from the top!
sunny view from the top!
oh, i forgot to mention that tonight's dinner features my first Irish potatoes!! thank lawd the famine is over.
Today I had my Irish cinema class, taught by the always enjoyable Colum, and we talked about Ireland's history and what consititues Irishness and how it is a socially constructed notion...he asked each of us (all three of us in the class) three things we knew about Ireland before we got here...mine were friendliness, drunkeness, guinness.
Were they correct?
Absolutely! The one thing I wasn't expecting was all the puke on the sidewalks, but I guess it makes sense. He also asked why we chose Ireland. I said because they speak English, and that it seemed less dismal weather-wise and is more affordable than England. I'm surprised how comfortable and happy I feel here. Every school day I walk about 15-20 minutes to the college and back, if not more to head over to Henry Street to pick up fresh fruit, veggies and meat from the sidewalk markets for dinner with my suitees!!!!
This seems like a great time to introduce my suitees...aka my first roomies ever! First of all, my decision to study abroad relied heavily on whether or not Travis and I would be able to live together, since we live together at home, for f's sake. The woman in the International Office must have just been hell-bent on getting two more study abroad students, so she possibly streeeettttccchhhhheeeddd the truth a bit, to the point where it was a not-truth! Also a not-truth was "the lovely apartments you'll be staying in," but I'll get back to that.
So we get off our plane on Jan 3rd and are dropped in front of our building and are assigned two seperate rooms!!! Boo! Hiss! But we somehow ended up together, first in a single and now in a double...Travis has 5 female roommates! It works out well because anytime we all start talking about our rags he'll just go clean something. There is myself, Meghean from Hudson Valley, Colleen (my little suitee!) from VA Beach, Chrissy from Boston, and lovely Miss Bridget from Texas!
We've all have only lived together for almost 2 weeks now, but it feels like we've known each other forever! I am so f'in lucky that I got some good roommates, because there'd be shit everywhere from it hitting the fan. I have such a great time cooking for them...delicious dinners everynight in 105!!! and playing KINGS! Never have I ever played Kings before!
Always a grand time, especially when we have visitors, surprise style...namely Peter and Armando aka Guatemala...
Okay, I just tried to get some photos from facebook, but it's not happening, so maybe next time.
Yeah, so we live in the ghetto here, pretty much. Thanks again, International lady!! I didn't realize our dwelling location was sketchy until one night a group of us were walking to a pub and we got egged by some little fuckers outside of the projects!!!! These kids definitely aren't old enough to shave. At the same time of the these kids were playing this practical yolk on us, they also egged a woman who was pushing her kid in a stroller. And then proceeded to run away, laughing all the way to government funded housing. Travis and Peter chased after them into what Travis described as an abyss, where Peter got pegged in the face! Did I mention my coat was covered?! At least you don't have to pay for dry cleaning on your face! He chased after them until the harsh realization that these little asshats more than likely have older brothers that we did not want to deal with.
So, they told us. We now know whose turf is whose. They should pick on somebody their own size. And their mother's should pay for my dry cleaning with their welfare checks. But my guess is that their mom's don't care and that is the real problem.
We've been trying to find the perfect revenge without getting incarcerated for it. An eye for an eye and an egg for an egg, perhaps?
My other great story concerning the ghetto that is Buckingham Street is when we came home one day to see a car parked on the sidewalk, literally in front of our building's door. Did I mention that there was a rock thrown through the windshield?
Now I heard rumours when I got here that we may see a burning car or two in this neighborhood, but...I was definitely unbelieving. It didn't happen this time, luckily someone called the Guarda (piggies) to watch in the meantime until it wasa towed....but this was after some angry young man came by with a screwdriver and proceeded to smash every window of the car! You'd think that this gentleman was after something inside of the car, but it appears that everything was still intact. Just getting out a little frustration, I s'pose.
I mean, that's exactly what I do when I get angry.
Whatever happened to punching a pillow??
Ok, gotta go make some dinner for my roomies.
the living room (not featured is the ever-growing wall of shame!) teeny tiny kitchen view from the top! sunny view from the top!
oh, i forgot to mention that tonight's dinner features my first Irish potatoes!! thank lawd the famine is over.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Cheers!
Sooo! Cheers from Ireland! It's been a fabulous time so far...been overseas almost a whole month now, about two weeks here in Dublin and another two in Italy. Italy was fantastic...it was like one big long date with Travis, and oh yeah, the group too...but luckily we had plenty of time to ourselves as well. Went to Rome, Florence and Milan...same three places I visited last time I went abroad, but it was great to be in those places again...never thought I'd make it back there! Never say never, I suppose! This time I know I'll be back....the food was o0o00o0rgasmic!
Mmm salmon pennette at Hotel California in Rome! I have a ton of pictures from Rome, but this is the one I chose today...ok, one more..
You may recognize this as St. Peter's Square (even though it looks quite circular to me!) We climbed over 500 steps to get to the top of the basilica...it was worth it, needless to say. Did I mention we had mass with the Pope? That was definitely something to write home about.
I wish I kept up more on my journaling this past month, so much to post!
Here's a picture of the Arno River in Florence....this spot in particular is one of my favorites in the world.
It's so charming in Italy. My friend Jess said it best, "They way they celebrate life over there is spectacular." Sure it's just as dirty as any city, and gypsy-ridden, but anywhere you look is immactulately picture-esque...and incredibly romantic, I must say.
Perhaps I am quite partial to the romance in Italy because Travis and I went ring shopping in Milan, at his request that he wanted to buy me one...Is it terribly cliche to say I have never been so sure of anything in my life?? Not that I didn't already know he is my companion for life...After a lovely little dinner together, we took a walk and passed a jewelry store that had a pretty eclectic selection of new and vintage jewelry...I saw one I liked in the window, so Travis said let's take a walk to the hotel to get the debit card, just in case. That was 10 to 5. I told myself (and the butterflies in my tummy) that I'd take it as a sign if they were still open when we returned. On the way out of the hotel we ran into a kid from our group who wanted to stop and chat with us, and I remember thinking COME ON! WE'VE GOTTA GO!!!
They were still open. The tried the ring in the window and it was a little too big, and didn't make my heart go pitter-patter...so we kept looking. And, oh! That one is pretty...is that vintage??? Guess what?!
A perfect fit. My heart was beyond pitter-patter at this point. We paid and Travis tucked it away in his coat, and I was unsure of when I'd see it again, but still enthralled nonetheless! Was this really happening?! So we meandered through the streets, as the sun was setting, hand in hand...picked up a bottle of champagne and headed back to the room where we celebrated with our bubbly and a lovely game of Scrabble...
Cut to two days ago...Sunday afternoon in the park, St. Stephens Green here in Dublin, feeding the duckies (my favorite!!) our stale pitas and watching an extremely playful dog chase his boomerang in and out of the water...Travis knelt in the mud and said "honey, I'm ready..."
The spot where he popped the question
Our first photo as an engaged couple!
This is one is pretty self-explanatory.Well, guess what! I'm ready too!!! Just talking about it is so exciting...making plans and all that...
I guess 'tis all for this entry, hopefully more soon to come...there is so much more to write about our experience in Dublin so far, and Italy too!
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