Starting over

I don't know any other way to tell you that I've started a new blog. I decided to go with kalliope's suggestion and it's called importing guinness. Do I just post the url? It's here, I think. We'll try that out.

Back and busy as ever

Just a quick post to say I'm still alive. I got to Seatt1e last Tuesday and I don't have internet connection long enough to do what I need to do and blog. Now I found a funky little wireless coffee shop and I can have my coffee AND get online for free. But I still don't have a lot of time. Funny how that is.

What I've done since I've been here:
-found a gym and started working out on trial membership. jury is still out on this one.
-gotten an offer of a contract job from my old boss in the Bay Area to do some work for her.
-met my next door neighbors in my new house and are they cool?!
-changed addresses on everything, joined Costco, called about car insurance
-went to the cabin this past weekend with my roomie and her boyfriend
-got my library card (one hour free internet at the library, til I get my house set up!)

Gosh, it doesn't sound like much. Huh. I have felt really busy! Still much more to do, so not a lot of time for being online. I just wanted to let you all know I was still alive!

You can tell you're in the northwest when....

you get the best thai food that you've had in years.... I don't know what it is about the Bay Area but in the eight years I lived there, I could never find a good thai restaurant. I had a great one when I lived in Seatt1e but there is definitely an absence of thai spice in the multicultural area known as Silicon Valley. But I pulled into Eugene, 0regon after 9 hours on the road today, stopped in my hotel to check email and wandered down the street to a thai restaurant I'd seen on the way in. I had probably the *best* thai meal - gosh, the flavors, the HEAT - that I've had in years..... it was gorgeous and I'm thoroughly satisfied. Sigh...

(edited to note: how many times can YOU use the word thai in a paragraph! and is it meant be Thai?)

Tomorrow I take off for my new home. I can't wait to see my new house!

Decisions, decisions...

What am I going to do? I can't exactly call my blog "Living-Irish" anymore, now can I? As Ang said, I have to update my profile. But I won't be able to change the name, will I? Hmm. I'll have to think about this....

Will write more later.....

Last roadtrip in Ireland

A few days before I left, M and I took a roadtrip down the east coast of Ireland and around to a place called Tramore. We took a few photos, mostly for M's dad since he's from there, and I had a few moments to get them uploaded to yah00! So here it is... Some of them look the same but I am just too lazy to pick and choose.

Been home a couple days now. I'm finally starting to feel normal again. I've had some Santitas white corn chips, which I have to say I was dying for, served with some nice guacamole, which is always fitting down here in Southern Calif0rnia. It's good to be back.

Back in the U.S.S.R...

Well, in the USA anyhow. I had a great flight out yesterday after a not-too-sad farewell. I am too excited about our future to be sad, really. We have so much happening to us.

Do I miss Dublin? Well, there are people to be missed mostly but the city itself, is just another city. Once it becomes familiar, you see the ugly as well as the beautiful. Still, we went into town on Saturday, just wandered around taking it all in. We walked through Temple Bar, watching the buskers. We had lunch in the Elephant & Castle (actually the best burger I've had in Ireland), wandered down by the Liffey and looked around in amazement at all the people. There was a parade/march/protest on, supporting the release of IRA prisoners and honoring those that died. I have my own opinions about that but I enjoyed watching the bagpipe band, the sound of those are so haunting to make you cry...
After that, we went out to Rathgar and stopped for my last lovely pint of Guinness. Only it wasn't that lovely, truth be told. It wasn't as creamy as I liked and I was a bit disappointed. Since I only can have one, I felt cheated. But such is life, sometimes. I'll miss that, even though I don't have it much. There's nothing like it in the world.

So new life starts now, a few busy days with the parents, then up to Seattle I go, Miata packed to the roof and CD player blaring. I love a good road trip.

Small hiatus...

Probably a week or two. I need to get packed and say my goodbyes to everyone here before I leave on Monday. I won't write much until I get back on US soil.

Looking forward to our future. I never thought I'd say this but I'm looking forward to getting back to work. lol

Til later...