Back to reality

I've been back just a week now from my amazing trip and had a birthday, jumped in to several crazy work projects, had a boss leave on maternity leave, and quite a bit of change and shifting in that short amount of time.

I'm a true cancer in many senses, not least of which is that it takes me a long time to be ok with change.  So to say that this week has been really hard for me is a bit of an understatement.  The other thing I've learned about myself in recent years is that I'm really bad at not being ok.  I get angry with myself when I'm sad or depressed, I don't do well with not doing well. I know this seems a bit backwards and like I'm being hard on myself but it's true. Overall I am happy with my life and I know, and feel, that I am truly blessed in my life. Blessed by things that were given to me, like my family, and by things I chose, like my friends. This doesn't mean that there aren't things I can work on or things I wish were different - it just means that the big picture still looks pretty good.

One of my closest friends has moved very far away, a friend that I thought I would be living near the rest of my life (yes I realize this sounds codependent) and raising our kids near each other. She moved to be with someone she believes can make her happy, which is really all we want for our friends right?  Meanwhile, I'm battling toddler like feelings of abandonment, sadness, and anger. Only made ok by that fact that we've been able to talk about all this and I know this isn't the end it's just a change. However, this truth doesn't yet make me feel better about the situation.  I'm sure I'll get there.  I hope I get there soon.

Also I just had my birthday which means my 30th year is complete. It was satisfying to complete so many projects and take on a year of celibacy. I can't help but feel frustration at the fact that after a year of "action" I can't help but feel so stagnant. Expect more projects and activities as I distract myself from missing my people and figuring out what my forward is.

Sorry for the heavy post but as the 90s so eloquently put it - reality bites (sometimes)

(clearly I did some Pinterest searching of sappy happiness quotes - please indulge me)

The Galway Girls

Sorry for the delay. We've been galavanting girls in Galway for the past two days. 

We made it by train on Saturday afternoon and after plotting on the map how to walk to our hotel and hoping we can find it, we come out to find it's literally backed up against the train station! Impossible to get lost

We wandered to the recommended fish and chips place and had a tasty dinner. 

Later on we went out on the main street and we're overwhelmed by what we encountered - to put it mildly. In every direction we looked we saw stag and hen parties, and these folks go big.  All the hen parties had themes, such as all Disney.  Theoughout the night there were multiple blowup dolls of both genders, blowup penises (penii?), and more drunk people than we could imagine. It felt like we had dropped into the jersey shore of Ireland. Needless to say, without our miniskirts and 5" heels we were underdressed, though it was quite a show. 

Last night, determined to find something a bit more our speed we took the advice of dear old Lon O'Neil ( thanks dad) and walked over to the Crane Bar where we had three hours of amazing local traditional musicians all playing and singing. We'd found our place!! It was everything I imagined from pubs in Ireland including a local gentleman who joined in with stories and poems in between the songs. 

Today (after almost oversleeping!) we went on a tour of Inishmoor, the largest of the Aran Islands. Definitely one of the top things we've done on this trip. Incredible coastlines, Viking forts, and church ruins. On an island that is 18 km long and up to 5km wide there are over 7000 miles of limestone walls.

And! We passed the house that was in the moving Matchmaker - those who know how much I love that movie can imagine how excited I was.

We stuck our feet in the water, felt like home!

Danielle ate berries off the side of the road - raise your hand if you're surprised. No one? That's what I thought. 

We met an amazing woman on our tour who had studied history and archaeology of Ireland and gave us some amazing in depth info and invited us to stay with her the next time we come!!

I probably shouldn't reveal this but if I ever run away I think I might run to this island and stay, did not want to leave at all. This only starts to cover all that we saw today but I'm back at the hotel room exhausted and this will have to do for now. 

One more night in Galway before we head back to Dublin. 

Observation

The Irish are not afraid of sweat pants. The men where sweat pants around like American girls wear leggings. Expect some covert pictures to be forthcoming...

Farewell to Dublin's Fair City

Though excited to see friends and family, I'm significantly less excited about leaving Ireland.

Yesterday we spent the day checking off the rest of the tourist destinations that we wanted to see in Dublin. 

In the morning we went to the Trinity College library and saw the Book of Kells.  Both it and the library we're amazing. I wanted to stay and enroll right then and there!

From there we pressed on to the Museum of archeology a free and fantastic museum. They had a treasure room with the cross of conf which once held a piece of the original one true cross.  And, what excited me the most, big bodies!!  These were bodies that we're buried in the bogs in medieval times and have been mummified and amazingly preserved. Granted, I love mummies but these we're really neat. My friend didn't love them as much as I did. 

The museum also had a great Viking exhibit which inspired this: 

After a brief but lovely picnic lunch in St Stephens Green (purloined from the hotel breakfast buffet) we went next to the Chester Beatty library housed on the grounds of Dublin Castle. 

This is an amazing personal collection that was donated to Ireland after his death of an incredible amount of illuminated texts from all over the world. Definitely worth wading through the school groups that we're there that day. 

Last stop of the day was Christ Church. It was a stunning church, as expected. 

But I was more interested in the crypt - sensing a theme here? This one had quite an amusing tea shop in the crypt taking any remaining creepiness out of it and providing a great juxtaposition, to me at least.  

They did however have a mummy, much to my surprise!  Two actually. A cat and mouse found mummified in the same organ pipe, appearing trapped in a never ending game of cat and mouse. 

Exhausted after a wonderful but long day, we went to have a Guinness at Eamon Rea's Lounge right near our hotel. A pub we had been sent to from San Francisco because it is owned by the brother-in-law of my coworker. It must have been fate because we caught him just as he was leaving! He stayed as had a Guiness with is and shared some stories, a perfect way to end our last day in Ireland!

We are now on the bus back to the airport and back to reality. 

In the navy

There is a gathering of retired Irish Navy men here at the train station and it is wonderful. Mild disappointment that they are not on our train with us but I did snap a quick covert pic of them heading to their train.

A limerick for Limerick

Now that we've made it to Limerick 

We're not quite so sure about this pick

Out on the streets there are no people

Not even by the church and steeple

Still, I hope this trip doesn't go too quick!

Ok so I may need a bit of work with my Limerick skills but who could resist!

We were pretty skeptical about this stop on the trip because in spite of being the third largest city in Ireland Limerick was nowhere to be found in our Rick Steve's  guide book. 

On our train ride we met a nice gentleman - older and we think autistic - who was full of wonderful facts and information about all the cities we'll be visiting. He even woke us up to make sure we didn't miss our stop. 

When we arrived in Limerick outside the train station was cute and we were told  that it was about a 10 minute walk to our hotel.  So, off we went. Within a few blocks It reminded us both, almost instantly of our time in Ketchikan, AK. Those of you who have heard some of the stories about that know what I mean. An odd little town with a combo of lovely and adorable paired with rundown and gritty all covered with a bit of confusing.

Only serving to reinforce this feeling, we shortly see a poster informing us that Limerick has been awarded the City of Culture 2014 Award for Ireland. This was made hilarious and strange by the fact that the banner was hung on a run down building with some panels missing. You would think they'd hang it in a more strategic place.

In the evening, armed with a list of potential "hot spots" from our hotel front desk we went out to find a good time.  We did find a delicious dinner at a pub close to us. However, after that we wandered to check out some of the other spots and found eerily quiet streets and anything that was open had barely anyone in there. Odd to put it mildly. 

There is a castle and a cathedral in town but we decided to book a day trip out to the Cliffs of Moher and they we're absolutely incredible!  We were slightly worried about the trip to start with but it far surpassed our expectations. That is actually putting it mildly in my opinion. It was an all day bus tour around County Clare and the areas surrounding the Cliffs as well  it was great to get out of the city and into the countryside. 

For my family, we passed right by Dromoland!  The tour guide even talked about it!

We're taking a break now and eating a grocery store dinner in our hotel room.  Haven't even mentioned yet our hotel yet. This hotel is a bizarre super modern hotel in the medieval part of the town, feels like an airport hotel but nowhere near an airport.

Still deciding what to do tonight, the town is having a 4th of July celebration but that just seems wrong...

Then there was this...

As mentioned in the earlier post, Limerick is an odd "city" that reminds me and my traveling partner of the months we spent living in Ketchikan. Namely, bizarre and never making total sense, also both are the third largest city in they're respective areas.  

Then, after a befuddling but overall good (we think) night, we got back to our room and there was this...

Forgive the photos they are of the tv screen. This not only completely confused us but was also a bit terrifying. A short bit of research later revealed that this is a show called Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy http://www.channel4.com/programmes/noel-fieldings-luxury-comedy

I only recommend this if you're ready for a heady mix of confusion and fear. 

You've been warned. 

Where are you Molly Malone?

Wonderful day again!  This morning started with complimentary breakfast in our hotel then off to jail!

Several people recommended the Kilmainham Gaol. The jail housed and executed the leaders of the Easter 1916 revolt. Really a great tour of a jail that was restored by a restoration group in the 1960s including some who we're imprisoned there themselves. 

After that we grabbed the hop on hop off bus to take a tour and jumped off at Trinity College. Didn't go in today but it's still on the list. We ate a lovely three course meal at Farm, which was good but not quite up to our discerning Bay Area palates. But it was a lovely leisurely dining afternoon. 

Next on to the search for Molly Malone, or at least her statue. We found it on the map, we found those streets in real life but no Molly. Cut to us circling the block twice and finally realizing that there is a sign marking where she should be but isn't. She's away being cleaned. So while disappointed we were glad to realize that it was not that we can't read maps. 

We also found O'Neills pub one of the oldest still operating public house. Please ignore the "incorrect" spelling we're all family!  Shockingly I was not the only one of us to find our last name on a building. 

Back now at the hotel resting before venturing back out to pubs tonight. I'm looking for some live music I think!

Tomorrow we catch a train to Limerick and start the next chapter of our trip. So happy to realize that today is only our second day!

Tea for two!

Had a lovely afternoon strolling Dublin. We walked from our hotel at the west end of the city along the Liffey river. We wandered through some of the neighborhoods along the way.

We stopped for dinner at a lovely tea shop called The Queen of Tarts where we had tea, delicious food and a strawberry rhubarb crumble per our waitress's recommendation. It was tucked away on a walking street and we sat outside and enjoyed this amazing weather!  It's the perfect kind if warm that is warm enough to sit still but not too hot to move around.

We walked off our dinner on the way back to our room. Plan for the night is to keep each other awake for a bit longer and watch the World Cup game as we plan our day tomorrow. 

Off again

Sitting at the airport waiting for my flight and getting more excited by the minute!

One of my best friends and I are off to Ireland, first stop Dublin. As an Irish lass by heritage it is amazing as I look around the gate at how many people look just like my family. Slightly unnerving actually. 

Also, my people have a lot of babies. I knew this but really. 

See you on the other side of the pond!

Autumn Equinox

This is where I spent my weekend, with two great friends, celebrating the autumn equinox.  In usual fashion, I did not check the weather before heading up to the lake - why ruin the mystery? - and packed for the weather we've been experiencing here at home.  At home, not up in the Rockies, in late September...

Packed in my overnighter was one pair of jeans, shorts, flip flops, slip on sneakers, t-shirt/tank, two bathing suits, in case I swam so much I wanted to wear a different one, and on a whim a pair of sweat pants and a thermal shirt.  Thank god for that whim.

On our drive up there was pouring rain, and the occasional slush, and by the time we reached our friend's cabin it was 45 degrees out and my shorts seemed pretty laughable.  Lucky for us our friend was better prepared and had the fire above roaring to welcome us, as we bundled in what we had, borrowed socks, and pulled out our books and our (in my case) knitting.  It was an incredible way to celebrate the fall equinox, including a midnight stroll to the lake to see the harvest moon, with two important people in my life.

On a side note, inspired by a friend of mine who asked about knitting chevrons I embarked on an attempt to see if it would be something I could teach.  It's not too bad, but I'm still working out some kinks.

Gorgeous Wedding

I spent the weekend catching up with family, swimming in lakes, and celebrating the nuptials of my cousin. This wonderfully welcome break was in Sisters, OR and could not have been more gorgeous.  I've always somewhat envisioned a beach wedding, if not a backyard wedding, but this almost sold me on a setting in the mountains or woods.

 

 
This is where we were staying, an incredible lodge on an amazing lake.

Then the ceremony, at a different location, blew that out of the water!

      

   



It was such a wonderful setting for a wonderful couple.  Had a fabulous time with extended family and it made me, for just a minute, want to run away to the mountains and live, working on art, and ignoring city life.

I remember Alaska and I'm not sure I could do it long term but it is tempting...

The wind blew it back

So remember the ex that was continuing to bring out Crazy Girl?  Yeah, that one.

Well on this recent road trip about love and living we were in Louisville overlooking the great muddy, murky Ohio River and D suggested we each spit out something we want to let go of, something we need to let go of, literally and metaphorically, into the river.

So I did, I contemplated it, I didn't feel ready to do it but know that I should and I did it.  It was a pretty good launch too but the wind blew it back and it ended up hitting the concrete river bank and not the water.  Assured by my ever loyal girlfriends that it would still work we went on our way...

I didn't really think about this again, but was generally doing better at letting it go, until yesterday.  I opened my email and got a fist in the gut because there is an email from said ex.  Air left my lungs in a gasp and I just stared and the unopened email for a few minutes.

The wind blew it back!

After avoiding opening it for an hour or so - isn't it nice when work distracts you - I finally bit the bullet.  It was a reply to a mass email I had sent to all the people I cared about in my life following the Boston bombing in April!  He replied to an email from fucking April! A mass email from April!  It was one line and a flirty signature.

Are you f**king kidding me fates?  I finally get the chutzpah to act like an adult and work to actually get out from under this and you blow it back!

Now what?

At least it's not St. Louis

Home after an amazing and enlightening week on the road with two fantastic ladies.  As I mentioned, I jumped into a 30 dates and 30 states road trip with two wonderful friends of mine for the last week, leading up to my 30th birthday.

In the six days that I was traveling with them we hit 4 different states, starting in Nashville and flying home from Chicago.  The south, as usual, did not disappoint and was an amazing host.

Being home is a bit of a let down because I'm back to where I was with limited dating opportunities and the state where I was losing a bit of hope.  However, I think after this trip I'm a bit more optimistic and definitely willing to be more proactive and if nothing else I learned that at least it's not St. Louis (oof, that was a rough stop for us).

Things I learned this week:

• how to scuba dive in Kentucky
• it's totally ok to consider making out with the 20 year old
• dating is not that serious so just go for it
• collect people
• Nashville is a good time - all the time
• OkCupid blows up in the South - unlike here at home.  Nothing boosts a girls ego like logging into OkCupid and having upwards of 90 visitors each time!
• I can survive in heat
• Nick the Chef in Louisville is beautiful (crush alert).  We went to an amazing restaurant, thanks to our foodie D, 610 Magnolia and the food literally blew my mind. We also had an incredible waiter, Chad!

Most of all, I think its time for me to be ok to focus on dating.  In the past it kind of felt like I was being superficial or not focusing on "important" things like education, work, friends - all of which I have in order - now its time to refocus.

There was talk of attempting to match the girls date for date as they continued along.  After I catch up on some sleep I may consider doing just that and see how it goes...

Kentucky Divers

Yup!

That's a thing. 

So I finally went on my first date as part of this road trip and it was scuba diving in Louisville, KY. 

It's now the morning after and we still can't laughing and being in awe of all that happened. I will post the link to the real blog post once it's up. 

Amazing

Update:

This gets more amazing as the days go by!  Here is the full blog post by the lovely ladies whose road trip I joined - http://30dates30states.blogspot.com/2013/07/cougar-town-ky.html

And now?

Now I'm home and happy to have a weekend to rest before jumping back into work and our conference in two weeks!

I'm sitting in front of a laundromat as my horribly dirty clothes hopefully go back to resembling something that look/smell like clothes and I'm really happy to be wearing different clothes than the few options I packed! Oh my dear over crowded closet, how I missed you and your array of options!