Thursday, December 2, 2010

Snow? In Dublin??

So, prior to moving over to the Emerald Isle, I asked Derek about weather as I was keen to get away from anything severe - tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes - and the conversation went something like this:

Me: So, does it snow in Dublin?
Derek: Snow?  No stupid.  Where do you think we are?  The North Pole?

Ok, so maybe it didn't go just like that, but that's the gist that I got.  Now, this is my 3rd winter here in Dublin (well, County Kildare actually but Derek won't admit that to himself) and I'm pretty sure that it has snowed every one.  And especially heavy last year and this year.  Enough last year that our friends couldn't even get us all of the way home on NYE.  We walked home and I lost my iPhone somewhere between the hill over the train tracks to the house...ahhh the memories.  From what I understand, this year is record-breaking here in little ole Ireland.  The airport has been closed for 2 days, and it seems we have enough salt but not enough money to pay the workers to put it down.  Give it to me!  Oh, and did I mention that not only does Ireland and Louisiana have corrupt politics in common, but also the same driving skills in snow.  It's not good!

Just because it snows, that doesn't mean that the errands get to stop.  So, I had to trudge my way through the snow to the bank and grocery store in the village.  This is a decent size walk in good weather.  Hills included.  A few snaps from the journey:


Dixie in her winter coat.



Catching snow

The house blanketed.

Where's me feet??

Maybe if we run, it won't be so cold.

Winter Wonderland - the field across from the house - high school at the end.

Oscar in his winter coat.




Good one!

First hill to climb - nemesis of many.

It ain't lookin' good for getting out of this neighborhood in any vehicle.  Everyone parks up at the top of the hill shown above.

Right on Dublin Bus.  A for Effort.

Come on big guy.  Cut us a break.



Da Village.

Um, pretty??  One big mess.

Alright you bitch of a hill - bring it on.

Help is on the way!


Thank you Lord for putting a decent grocery store within walking distance of my house.

Hello car.  Looks like we won't be going anywhere in you.  And you need a bath!

There's that same field and our house.  Taken from behind the high school.




Lots of folks having a Duvet Day as they like to call it here.

Ah well.  I made it in the end, complete with wine and the makings for an apple pie. 

 

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Where have I been, you might ask....

Let's see...what has happened in the last year...  I'll order the biggies chronologically:

  1. Got a big ole fancy ring.
  2. Became a house-girlfriend.
  3. Got another little puppy (Molly) for Oscar to play with.
  4. Brought Oscar and Molly in for the snippy snip and Molly didn't wake up  :(.
  5. Went to the US and got MARRIED! 
  6. Had a drink-filled celebration here in Dublin.
  7. Got another puppy for Oscar to play with (Dixie).  Intend to have no more bad luck in this area...
  8. Took a leap into my next career - I am full to the brim with fitness knowledge.
As you can see, the beginning of 2009 was a few smiles short of a kiddie birthday party.  But we are on the way up!  And of course, the most important update:

Lauren thought Sheila was back, but it was really Sheila's sister who had surgery to look like Lauren.  They kidnapped Jana and Lauren and started confusing everyone else, including Crazy Patty who had her own little surgery to look like Emily.  Of course the crazy look-a-likes met and hatched an evil plan.

So there you have it - your very own Young & the Restless update - now all of your dreams have come true.

At some stage I'll need to put aside the distractions of blogging, facebooking, and watching English and Irish actors doing their thang in the 1500s (The Tudors), to actually study a little anatomy.  What's that you say?  Don't I remember that from Mrs. Lemaire's class my junior year in high school?  If only....

Friday, May 7, 2010

My back yard is like a comb over hairdo

When you cut it short, all of the bald spots are revealed. I made a HUGE mistake in waiting 2 whole weeks before cutting it again. It is ridiculous - my dogs can recreate Tropic Thunder out there. They get completely lost back there and, as a result, insist that they go to the field across the street to do their business. This is sometimes inconvenient for me at 5:30 in the morning after I'm awoken to a complete spit facial (Dixie, not Derek), so I decide to put on my long pants and sweatshirt and head out to the tropical rain forest that is my backyard.

What's that you say? Sweatshirt to cut the grass?? Oh yes my friends. It's something like 55 degrees and misty raining every morning but the grass still insists on growing. I will say, though, that there's nothing better than hearing a lawnmower going on a sunny Saturday because that means......SPRING IS HERE! Oh, unless you're in Ireland. Then it's just the next phase of winter.


p.s. - Joe that one's for you. And considering you have decided to relieve yourself of all of your hair, I can't even make a bad comb over joke. Pffft.