Nollaig shona!!!

Oh yes - went for the real tree, thank you very much. It was a cold day and we were tired, so we only went to 2 spots. We knew it wasn't good when the tree out front, advertising the place for people to spot and want to visit, was the saddest looking Charlie Brown tree. We go in, tell them we want a full tree, and with all seriousness, they pull out a tree, shake it out and offer it up. I'm pretty sure I could see 85% of the trunk.

Anywho, we end up with this lovely tree. And the best thing about it is that it's straight up and down and fits perfectly in the impossible hole created for it - a span of 3 feet between a chair and a BIG ASS TV.

Awwww....look at us - we're so festive.

Yep - I can fit my whole head in a "gap" without hitting a branch!! Ahhhh....Christmas.

My first trip home in 7 months!

It was a fly by for sure - 6 days on the ground and 3 cities in 2 states to visit. It went something like this:

Thursday - Drive to San Marcos

Friday - Make Black Friday blacker

Saturday - Visit friends in Lafayette

Sunday - More of the same

Monday - Drive to NOLA - visit more friends

Tuesday - Fly back.

PHEW! I'm tired just thinking about it. But it was invaluable and a much needed visit with family and friends. A few key shots:

Me ma:

Me da:

Oh hells yeah - BUMPER CARS!


Maybe next year fellas:

To Kristie, Aimee, Meredith, Mary Clayton, Isabelle, Eva, and Pam:


It was so great to see your beautiful faces!! Your turn to come here to me! See you soon...

The best show around

Last Friday a few of us went to see Des Bishop stand up at Vicar Street. I've seen a few of his DVDs since I got here and the show lived up to all of my expectations. His comedy is perfect for any American living in Ireland since he's American himself. A half-breed really: apparently he came to Ireland from Queens in his early teens.



And you better believe that we waited in line for a pic and a signature. Ok, ok - so by the time we finished our drinks when the show was over and they started making us leave, the line had died down to maybe 5 others. We were lucky.

When all of you come to visit me in Ireland, we'll plan it around a Des Bishop show. So, Des you may want to amp up the schedule in the spring. I'm just sayin'.

Anyone have any red and blue paint??

A little blurry, but it's just what it looks like. That's the Treasury building. I know what you're thinking - that makes perfect sense.



Here he comes...

LOOKY!

Purty...

The recession has definitely hit

And is even affecting Christmas decorations:

Meeting of the "big ass Christmas tree committee" comes to order:

Committee member #1: We've hit hard times. I think we may have to just have a regular tree this year.

CM#2: NOOOO! We HAVE to have the big ass tree! The public would suffer otherwise.

CM#1: Ok ok... Then we'll just have to reduce down to one set of lights.

CM#2: Done.

I'm pretty sure that's how it happened. The rest of Grafton looks pretty good:

Back in the pit, oh yeah

This weekend we went to the Fratellis concert. The concert was in a theatre called the Ambassador Theatre which, besides the balcony, was standing room only. Which means at my age, I was back in the pit. I have been in 2 pits before, one at the Guns n Roses concert and another at the 311 concert. I was in high school for GnR and in college for 311. Both times, well under the age limit of pit-going.

There were kids in there who were half my age - yes, half (ugh - I'm going to throw up). They probably thought we were narcs. Look to the left, right - "does that kid have 15 year old shiny metal braces???"

But any of you who know how I love to bounce, this was the best place to do so! The Fratellis have the most bouncy music around. Chances are if you think you don't know them, you probably do once you hear a song or two. I think one of their songs was on an iTunes commercial and definitely in the movie Run Fat Boy Run.

I've attached a few pics and even a video taken at the concert that was SO FUN!! Talk about a workout. If the Wii had a game called the Fratellis concert, I would look like one of those girls on the shows on the CW.

Anywho, here you go:

This is the opening band: The Flaws. Apparently they are a well known Dublin band and have even made it onto the iTunes list. Not too shabby!

This is my attempt at taking a picture of us myself (at arms length):

And this is Derek. He wins:

Shot of the Fratellis. The lead singer is the one on the right. I think it's interesting that he doesn't set up in the middle - maybe he actually wants attention on everyone. Awww...shucks.

The lead singer. Shirt makes sense as I've been saying that a few songs remind me of the Beatles.

Not a bad shot, if I say so myself:

Once I can figure out this blogging website, I'll post a video...