Guinness is Good for You

This time I actually have a legitimate excuse for my hiatus. My macbook crashed and had to get a new hard-drive. It was pretty scary thankfully it was free because I had applecare (even my computer has a better health care plan than me!) and because I am now becoming a more responsible adult I backed up all my important things before the crash.

In my last rant I somehow left out Rick Santorum. Argh! That's all I'm going to say about him, he is not worth wasting my time or energy.

Now, onto bigger and better Irish things!

I finally got my visa sorted out and renewed so I can stay here for another year! I have rekindled my love affair with Ireland now that this has finally been resolved, it's like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders. This great news came the day before St. Patrick's day which made for all the more reason to celebrate! I went to the parade again which has this old world, steam punk feel to it which I really like. Then because I have become a true ex-pat and I wanted to avoid the annoying, drunk tourists I went to a pub outside of the city where I could watch the rugby match in peace. Ireland played England. On St. Patrick's Day. They lost, badly. I was gutted.  There should be a rule that Ireland cannot lose on St. Patrick's Day, right? Then I did some Irish step dancing and poured my own pint of Guinness. A truly quintessentially Irish day that most people would have to shell out the big bucks for, but just a normal day for me!

I poured this pint!

The sun has been shining the past few days and it's gorgeous! I hope that this is not it for our whole summer!  Because the warm weather is a bit rare you can always spot who lives here and who's a tourist because the natives shed their sweaters to bask in the sun while those who are usually visiting from warmer climates are still bundled in their coats looking at the others as if they are crazy.

I'm keeping busy with the theatre company, a few auditions, lots of acting workshops (which are great but leave my body feeling like I've been hit by a truck!) and I'm going to be an extra in a film on Monday. I have been meeting up with some of the people I met during the film festival to talk about helping each other/collaborating on work and that has been exciting. Last night we had an official reunion which was fun but has left me very tired today. I think I'm getting old. This is how it starts, right?

I have been thinking about changing the title of my blog since I have been here for more than a year and I appreciate accuracy. I have a few ideas but anyone out there have any thoughts/suggestions?

Be back with more witticisms soon!

Poli-dicks

Ok. So I said I was avoiding discussing politics (or should I say poli-dicks?) and world events but I cannot hold it in any longer. America! What the fuck are you doing? I leave you for just over a  year on your own and you cannot keep your shit together, seriously! Ari-fuckin'-zona who do you think you are? So first you want to overturn Roe v. Wade and now you want to make it so I cannot use birth control  as a contraceptive? So basically, as a women, I have no choice regarding having children and my own body. A man, on the other hand, can have access to all the Viagra likes (but I bet he is taking that for non-sexual reasons).   I cannot comprehend how the U.S., a so called democracy based on principles of freedom and equality, has become a women-hating-gun-toting-god preaching-capitalistic-narcisstic society. Oh wait. Sorry that's  Republicans. But somehow they have been given the power to spin out of control. And that is everyone's fault (mine included) because we have grown apathetic and sat behind our laptops/ipad/whatevers (yes I realize I am currently utilizing  a laptop, the irony is not lost on me) and now it has come to this. As an American living abroad I am able to see what other people and countries think of the U.S. and it is not easy trying to defend my country (and try to point out the positive things) when every time I see the news Mitt Romney or Ron Paul is spouting some ridiculous agenda. To make things worse Europeans think it's funny, that there is no way these men could actually do anything or win the election. Sadly, there are people who would vote for these men and there are states like Arizona who will strip a citizen of their rights. That scares me and it infuriates me. What really bothers me is how little I have seen of what is being done to counter these outrageous bills. Ladies, speak up!  Men speak up for your ladies! Regardless of where you stand politically, the bottom line is people's basic human rights are at risk!

This brings me to the next topic in world news that has me in a tizzy. KONY 2012. I am sure by now you have re-tweeted, Facebook posted or re-pinned something on this topic. My question is why? Why now? Surely you cannot be so ignorant as to only be aware of this man and Uganda till now? Oh, wait that's right, I forgot you're trapped in your cyber world so of course you did not know. It's not like you have access to the news or you have ever read a history book. Kony is a terrible man and what he is doing is a travesty but simply re-tweeting is not going to change anything. That's talk but no action. The Congo, Darfur, Sudan and Rwanda are also countries in Africa that have suffered from years of civil war and genocide. But you're not tweeting about them or about the many other countries involved in war or human trafficking, just the one that is currently popular on all the social media sites. By next week you'll have forgotten and move on to the latest meme. Why is no one setting the internet abuzz over the latest bills being pushed in Arizona? Or the war in Syria? Some people believe that social media is the latest platform to promote change, I have yet to be convinced. Prove me wrong. Go!

Over and Out.

Saturday is St. Patrick's day! I will be back with you soon with humorous and more light-hearted insights on living in Ireland soon but this was important to get off my chest.

Artsy Fartsy

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival is over. I am very sad. But it was great! I met some wonderful people and saw some beautiful films! Now I just have to wait till next year. The other films I was able to see were Chicken with Plums,  Your Sister's Sister and Death of a Superhero. All of which I highly recommend. Especially the last one. The big hit at the festival was The Raid so if you have a chance to see it, do.  Yes, I am a film buff now, and if I were Irish I would say "fillum" because they do not really know how to speak here (or what is often referred to as a charming accent). I met and spent the afternoon with Peter Bach, director of Flanagan's Wake, he was a lovely, very interesting and inspiring individual so if  his film comes to a cinema near you give it a go!

The theatre company has been busy, this week we were in Wexford doing some performances and workshops.  I had never been to Wexford before and on the way back I saw a dolphin swimming in the bay! I hope this is a good omen.

The sun has graced us with its presence, the tulips are out and all I want is to have a nice day outside eating lemon tarts. Sounds ridiculously quaint, huh? I also would really like some avocados but it is impossible to get ones that are actually ripe here.

Tomorrow I am going to an acting workshop, I am very excited as it has been a while since I have been able to, well, act!

In the world of rugby (far from the world of arts) Ireland beat Italy!

And I'm not going to dedicate anything to politics/world events in this post because it just makes me angry and upset (I'm looking at you Syria and Rick Santorum). Perhaps when I am feeling more irate I will purge my feelings.

Alright, that's all for now!