The weather has improved so for the moment I can't really complain. Also, I've heard there is a terrible forrest fire in Colorado reminding me to be very grateful for rain. Hopefully Colorado will get some rain soon. If I could send it there I would. It's been a quiet week here for me, but at least the sun has come out and I have enjoyed the feeling of a warm summer night. Have you ever noticed that everything smells different? More pungent maybe. It isn't necessary a good smell, especially if it's city aromas and not flowers, but I kind of like it which is a bit weird, I know.
Another thing I like about living in a European country is the laid back life style(unless you live in Germany or Switzerland, so I am told). Admittedly sometimes it's really frustrating when people or trains or buses run late but in the summer, like last Friday when I met a few friends for tapas and wine on a casual night that lasted for hours, it was quite lovely.
I had an audition on Saturday but it didn't pan out so let's not talk about that! In other news I will be writing for this art blog so that's exciting. I will let you know when I've actually written something. Stay tuned!
Remember when I said that I had donated to Obama's campaign? Well, of course, I'm glad I did but now I am on the campaigns mailing list and the emails I have been getting are causing serious anxiety. Romney is going to outspend him 10-1? That is disgusting. More importantly un-democratic. So if you have spare change give it to Obama and if you don't have any cash then volunteer some time for his campaign or at least spread the word. In the very least vote. Just not for Romney. OK thanks. Then maybe I won't be so anxious. Also, did you know that the Salvation Army stated that gay people should die? They will never be getting my money again. Too bad.
I am still running! I am five weeks in and coming down the home stretch. Friday is the big day I have to run for twenty minutes without stopping. Eeek! I hope I can make it, I think I can! I have noticed a lot of people running it seems to be the latest trend. Sometimes I get annoyed when big athletic men run passed me, but somehow screaming, "Oh yeah well you couldn't do this on your period!" is not good sportsmanship or classy. I like to keep it classy. Especially since I noticed a sign the other day that says the park has been in existence for 250 years. Another cool thing about Europe: shit is old. Who else can run in a 250-year-old park?
Friday I am going down to the home-place (an Irish colloquialism I've learned) with the Irishman. The town is having a festival and as his father is the Lord Mayor of the town (I know, right? Posh) there is sort of an obligation to go. I am excited, hopefully the weather will be nice!
Alright, I think that's a wrap. There is some apple-crumble ice cream that is calling my name...
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Trying to be Prolific
The project launch was a success and I had a really great time at the All Ireland Arts Conference in Belfast on Friday. I even had my own name badge and felt very important. I learned a lot about social media and producing theatre and saw some very exciting work. Especially this:
This is one of the reasons that I really enjoy living in Ireland because of its close proximity to the rest of Europe. I can meet people from England or France and pop on over to London for a play (which I am doing in October!)
I spent Father's day with the Irishman and his family. It started out civilized with tea and scones and then ended in the local pub with Guinness and whiskey in what I now refer to as his family's initiation process where they see how much I can drink. Oh dear. I did, however, persevere in my running despite a hangover and for that I think I should be commended.
During my time with the Irishman's family I was introduced to an old Irish custom (I'm assuming it's Irish, maybe it is done elsewhere, I don't know). You see, the Irishman's sister in law is having a baby any day now and it's very exciting but nobody know if it's going to be a boy or a girl. So the Irishman's mother took a needle and tied it to some thread and held it over the pregnant belly and if it spins counter clock-wise it's going to be a girl and if it spins clock wise it's going to be a boy. I think. Or is it the other way around? I don't know. Anyways it was determined it will be a boy. We shall see!
I have also been having some thoughts about the future of this brave new world. (Bonus points if you caught that reference. Hint: Not Aldous Huxley) Anyways, while at the conference I attended a session on using social media and one of the media heads impressed upon us just how much of a role technology already has in our lives and how much it will have in the future. It's true, there's no denying it and sometimes it just makes me stop and think about the world and life and things (like being more eloquent). I am having a hard time putting what I am feeling into words, perhaps because I am not yet sure what it is I am feeling. Nostalgia, maybe? I was talking to the Irishman's mother the other day and she was telling me about when she was growing up they would go to the pictures (her words, not mine) for only 20 cent. It's at least 10 euro now. I remember my own mom telling me about getting a burger for a nickel. I paid 2.50 for an iced tea today (it was nice and it was sunny out!). I don't know what this means or what I'm trying to say but if I leave you with one thing for this week-live life and love life.
Oh yes, and in case anyone was waiting to know, I did decide to make chocolate chip banana muffins. And they were delicious. As was the pesto, goat cheese, prosciutto and caramelized onion pizza that I made. May the culinary adventures, and all adventures, continue! Oh, and sorry I don't post photos of food on here cause this isn't really a food blog and I usually end up eating food before I think to take a photo. Oh well.
Till next time!
This is one of the reasons that I really enjoy living in Ireland because of its close proximity to the rest of Europe. I can meet people from England or France and pop on over to London for a play (which I am doing in October!)
I spent Father's day with the Irishman and his family. It started out civilized with tea and scones and then ended in the local pub with Guinness and whiskey in what I now refer to as his family's initiation process where they see how much I can drink. Oh dear. I did, however, persevere in my running despite a hangover and for that I think I should be commended.
During my time with the Irishman's family I was introduced to an old Irish custom (I'm assuming it's Irish, maybe it is done elsewhere, I don't know). You see, the Irishman's sister in law is having a baby any day now and it's very exciting but nobody know if it's going to be a boy or a girl. So the Irishman's mother took a needle and tied it to some thread and held it over the pregnant belly and if it spins counter clock-wise it's going to be a girl and if it spins clock wise it's going to be a boy. I think. Or is it the other way around? I don't know. Anyways it was determined it will be a boy. We shall see!
I have also been having some thoughts about the future of this brave new world. (Bonus points if you caught that reference. Hint: Not Aldous Huxley) Anyways, while at the conference I attended a session on using social media and one of the media heads impressed upon us just how much of a role technology already has in our lives and how much it will have in the future. It's true, there's no denying it and sometimes it just makes me stop and think about the world and life and things (like being more eloquent). I am having a hard time putting what I am feeling into words, perhaps because I am not yet sure what it is I am feeling. Nostalgia, maybe? I was talking to the Irishman's mother the other day and she was telling me about when she was growing up they would go to the pictures (her words, not mine) for only 20 cent. It's at least 10 euro now. I remember my own mom telling me about getting a burger for a nickel. I paid 2.50 for an iced tea today (it was nice and it was sunny out!). I don't know what this means or what I'm trying to say but if I leave you with one thing for this week-live life and love life.
Oh yes, and in case anyone was waiting to know, I did decide to make chocolate chip banana muffins. And they were delicious. As was the pesto, goat cheese, prosciutto and caramelized onion pizza that I made. May the culinary adventures, and all adventures, continue! Oh, and sorry I don't post photos of food on here cause this isn't really a food blog and I usually end up eating food before I think to take a photo. Oh well.
Till next time!
Monday, June 11, 2012
Birthdays, Gray Days, Good Days
I had a birthday! I am now twenty-four. Celebrations kicked off last Saturday night and went into the wee hours of Sunday morning. Sunday (my actual birthday) was pretty quiet as I was tired (yes, already showing signs of getting old!) and it was gray and cold. All day it felt like something was off, like it wasn't really my birthday and I couldn't quite put my finger on it, and then suddenly it all become clear. It was June and freezing, which in sunny New Mexico would never happen. Birthdays of past were spent in swimming pools or picnics outside and here I was bundled up in a coat and scarf trying to keep out of the rain. So on Monday the sun came out and I declared to the Irishman that it was a do-over of my birthday as the weather was more appropriate and we had a lovely day starting with brunch and ending with an incredible dinner at Shanahan's on the Green. The restaurant's moniker is "an American steakhouse" and is very fancy and prestigious. We arrived early and went to the downstairs bar known as The Oval Office, adorned with photos of U.S. Presidents, large leather chairs, and carpet with the seal of the U.S. The atmosphere begged for a whiskey and that's just what I ordered. I saluted Kennedy, Clinton, and Lincoln and sipped away. Dinner was, of course, steak and it was hands down the most delicious steak I have ever had. I don't even really like steak. It was also the largest steak I have ever seen but I somehow managed to eat the whole thing along with a side of sweet creamed-corn and mashed potatoes. I ordered a pistachio-raspberry something-in-French for dessert. Then the waiter brought this over with some champagne. I really am spoiled, I know.
The Queen had her Diamond Jubilee over the weekend and all I can say is that off all 365 days in the year she chose my birthday, clearly a sign of how those born on June 3 are of royal prestige or something like that.
I am going to be volunteering in a gallery space over the summer and last week I gave my first tour. It's fun talking about art and meeting new people. Plus I was given two books on art and some bananas. Not too shabby.
We are still apartment/house/whatever we can get hunting. At this point I simply find the whole thing frustrating. Being an adult is so complicated! Why does no one ever tell you that? The weather has continued to be tempermental-cold and rainy one day and sunny and 60 degrees the next (or hot as the Irish call it). Now, I'm sure you're thinking why is this silly girl always complaining about the rain? Surely she must be used to it by now. Surely she knew what she was getting into when she up and decided to move to Ireland. Yes, I did know that it rains here but I was also tricked. The first two times I came to Ireland it was summer and was lovely! Not as warm as New Mexico but not cold and raining either. So, I foolishly assumed it was like this every summer and the rain was mostly a winter thing. Oh, if only.
I am still running, I start week four of nine this week which means I'm almost have way there. My green monster smoothies now represent an appetizing shade of green as I have adjusted the spinach to non-spinach ratios.
Last night I went to a reading of work of one of my favourite authors, Jeanette Winterson. Her latest book is titled Why be Happy When You Could be Normal? I have read almost all of her work since I first stumbled across her books in college. You could say I have a literary crush on her. That and her love of organic farm-fresh food practically means we should be best friends. Of course all I could say to her as she signed my copy of her book was "You're amazing" or something to that degree of ridiculous, dumbfounded glee. I was too afraid to say anything else for fear of coming off as incredibly ineloquent, as she is someone for whom eloquence and wit seem to be second nature. Oh well, I'm still delighted that I was able to meet her and here her speak about her life and work. Maybe I will visit her organic food shop/cafe in London.
Tomorrow I am going to Dundalk with the theatre company and on Friday to Belfast for the International All Ireland Theatre Conference! Now, I must go on my run, while the weather is still amicable. By the way, running in the rain and puddle jumping should be the next Olympic sport. I am also pondering making banana bread with the several browning bananas I have.
 |
| They even spelled my name right! |
The Queen had her Diamond Jubilee over the weekend and all I can say is that off all 365 days in the year she chose my birthday, clearly a sign of how those born on June 3 are of royal prestige or something like that.
I am going to be volunteering in a gallery space over the summer and last week I gave my first tour. It's fun talking about art and meeting new people. Plus I was given two books on art and some bananas. Not too shabby.
We are still apartment/house/whatever we can get hunting. At this point I simply find the whole thing frustrating. Being an adult is so complicated! Why does no one ever tell you that? The weather has continued to be tempermental-cold and rainy one day and sunny and 60 degrees the next (or hot as the Irish call it). Now, I'm sure you're thinking why is this silly girl always complaining about the rain? Surely she must be used to it by now. Surely she knew what she was getting into when she up and decided to move to Ireland. Yes, I did know that it rains here but I was also tricked. The first two times I came to Ireland it was summer and was lovely! Not as warm as New Mexico but not cold and raining either. So, I foolishly assumed it was like this every summer and the rain was mostly a winter thing. Oh, if only.
I am still running, I start week four of nine this week which means I'm almost have way there. My green monster smoothies now represent an appetizing shade of green as I have adjusted the spinach to non-spinach ratios.
Last night I went to a reading of work of one of my favourite authors, Jeanette Winterson. Her latest book is titled Why be Happy When You Could be Normal? I have read almost all of her work since I first stumbled across her books in college. You could say I have a literary crush on her. That and her love of organic farm-fresh food practically means we should be best friends. Of course all I could say to her as she signed my copy of her book was "You're amazing" or something to that degree of ridiculous, dumbfounded glee. I was too afraid to say anything else for fear of coming off as incredibly ineloquent, as she is someone for whom eloquence and wit seem to be second nature. Oh well, I'm still delighted that I was able to meet her and here her speak about her life and work. Maybe I will visit her organic food shop/cafe in London.
Tomorrow I am going to Dundalk with the theatre company and on Friday to Belfast for the International All Ireland Theatre Conference! Now, I must go on my run, while the weather is still amicable. By the way, running in the rain and puddle jumping should be the next Olympic sport. I am also pondering making banana bread with the several browning bananas I have.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Ramblings and Rants for the Week
It's been a long week. Over the weekend I enjoyed the last few days of sun (it has since turned muggy and gray). I perused the food market and read a book in the park. I have also completed my second week of running, seven more to go! The other day while on my run I saw a herd of at least thirty deer, it was incredible, especially because for the past year and a half that I have been here I have always been told that there are tons of deer in the park but I had never seen them until now. I guess that makes me a true local.
Ireland has just voted on a referendum. To be honest I have no idea what the implications of the referendum are aside from the fact that it has to do with money and the EU. And Merkel. There are signs everywhere; half of them say vote yes and the other half say vote no. Hmm. I am not eligible to vote so I did not really have to worry about making sense of it all. The results are in and Ireland has voted yes. Is this a good thing? I honestly don't know. What I do know is that from the people I have spoken with it was very unclear to them as to what exactly the consequences of voting or not voting for the referendum were. Further, only a little over one million people turned out to vote, out of a population of over four million. That's terrible! I think part of the problem is that there are so many Irish living abroad (due to the recession) and Ireland does not have absentee voting, in fact they still count the ballots by hand. Putting that aside for a moment, however, I want to know why only a quarter of the population voted?! Were I actually a citizen here and truly affected by EU policies I would be infuriated that so little people bothered to take part in their civic duty. Instead I am mildly perplexed, although as I think on it further I am becoming more and more frustrated. I am especially irritated because I am constantly criticized over US policy and challenged to debates, and while I am not responsible for every action my country makes I can at least say that I vote and choose an active role as a citizen. Regardless of which country you are in, if you are not going to vote then I don't see how you can criticize policies you disagree with if you have not even attempted to exercise your rights and take a stand. Voting is a right and a priveledge. Ladies! Your grandmothers and great-grandmothers fought for you, don't let their fighting be in vain. Many people in many other countries are still not able to vote, you should not take the right to vote for granted. Humph! Alright, time to get off my soapbox again. P.S. I just donated to Obama's campaign, he needs our help!
I saw two plays; first The Chairs by Ionesco and then Pigeon, an original work performed en mask. The Chairs is an absurdist play and while I do like absurdism I have realised that it can be a bit like seeing a film in another language or a play in Elizabethan English, it takes a few moments to adjust and get into the different rhythm (side note: that has to be one of the most bizarrely spelled words in the English language). I also think that at times absurdist plays are no longer as affective as they used to be now that theatre has gone completely post-modern and contemporary, which is actually a bit sad. I'll take some good Beckett any day! Pigeon was done in the style of Lecoq using masks and gesture, the actors did not speak. I am always impressed when masks are used effectively as I know from my little experience with masks that it can be very challenging.
Tuesday was dramatic when one of the people in the community drama class fell and hit her head quite hard, there was blood. Thankfully my first aid classes that I took in ninth grade came in handy and I made sure a compress was applied with pressure. The paramedics were called and took over and said she would be fine after a stitch or two. Oh and I didn't get squeamish or faint or anything! So if I ever decide to go into medicine I guess I can handle other people's blood, just not mine.
On Wednesday I had an experience that has made me realise I am slowly growing up (although I was singing I Won't Grow Up a la Peter Pan in the shower this morning. Yes, I know all the words). The Irishman and I are going to move in together (yikes!) and so I went to view a potential dwelling. I really liked it so now I have to view it again with the Irishman to see if he likes it. Fingers crossed!
My birthday is on Sunday, I will be twenty-four. That means this is the last time my ramblings will be that of a twenty-three year old. I think it will be a good year, I like even numbers. Today, as an early present to myself I got a manicure and pedicure. The woman complimented me on my natural tan (yes, I apparently managed to get a tan for probably the first time ever over this last week of sun). Then she asked me if I wanted my nails shaped square, oval, or squoval. What? Apparently this is a word meaning square and oval? I have not had a manicure in years, I guess the jargon has changed. Anyways, I now have pink squoval fingernails and taupe square toenails. They look very pretty I can't really get over how perfect my nails look. I should be a hand model, clearly.
Well, that's all for now! Be back with some twenty-four year old eloquence (whatever that means)!
Ireland has just voted on a referendum. To be honest I have no idea what the implications of the referendum are aside from the fact that it has to do with money and the EU. And Merkel. There are signs everywhere; half of them say vote yes and the other half say vote no. Hmm. I am not eligible to vote so I did not really have to worry about making sense of it all. The results are in and Ireland has voted yes. Is this a good thing? I honestly don't know. What I do know is that from the people I have spoken with it was very unclear to them as to what exactly the consequences of voting or not voting for the referendum were. Further, only a little over one million people turned out to vote, out of a population of over four million. That's terrible! I think part of the problem is that there are so many Irish living abroad (due to the recession) and Ireland does not have absentee voting, in fact they still count the ballots by hand. Putting that aside for a moment, however, I want to know why only a quarter of the population voted?! Were I actually a citizen here and truly affected by EU policies I would be infuriated that so little people bothered to take part in their civic duty. Instead I am mildly perplexed, although as I think on it further I am becoming more and more frustrated. I am especially irritated because I am constantly criticized over US policy and challenged to debates, and while I am not responsible for every action my country makes I can at least say that I vote and choose an active role as a citizen. Regardless of which country you are in, if you are not going to vote then I don't see how you can criticize policies you disagree with if you have not even attempted to exercise your rights and take a stand. Voting is a right and a priveledge. Ladies! Your grandmothers and great-grandmothers fought for you, don't let their fighting be in vain. Many people in many other countries are still not able to vote, you should not take the right to vote for granted. Humph! Alright, time to get off my soapbox again. P.S. I just donated to Obama's campaign, he needs our help!
I saw two plays; first The Chairs by Ionesco and then Pigeon, an original work performed en mask. The Chairs is an absurdist play and while I do like absurdism I have realised that it can be a bit like seeing a film in another language or a play in Elizabethan English, it takes a few moments to adjust and get into the different rhythm (side note: that has to be one of the most bizarrely spelled words in the English language). I also think that at times absurdist plays are no longer as affective as they used to be now that theatre has gone completely post-modern and contemporary, which is actually a bit sad. I'll take some good Beckett any day! Pigeon was done in the style of Lecoq using masks and gesture, the actors did not speak. I am always impressed when masks are used effectively as I know from my little experience with masks that it can be very challenging.
Tuesday was dramatic when one of the people in the community drama class fell and hit her head quite hard, there was blood. Thankfully my first aid classes that I took in ninth grade came in handy and I made sure a compress was applied with pressure. The paramedics were called and took over and said she would be fine after a stitch or two. Oh and I didn't get squeamish or faint or anything! So if I ever decide to go into medicine I guess I can handle other people's blood, just not mine.
On Wednesday I had an experience that has made me realise I am slowly growing up (although I was singing I Won't Grow Up a la Peter Pan in the shower this morning. Yes, I know all the words). The Irishman and I are going to move in together (yikes!) and so I went to view a potential dwelling. I really liked it so now I have to view it again with the Irishman to see if he likes it. Fingers crossed!
My birthday is on Sunday, I will be twenty-four. That means this is the last time my ramblings will be that of a twenty-three year old. I think it will be a good year, I like even numbers. Today, as an early present to myself I got a manicure and pedicure. The woman complimented me on my natural tan (yes, I apparently managed to get a tan for probably the first time ever over this last week of sun). Then she asked me if I wanted my nails shaped square, oval, or squoval. What? Apparently this is a word meaning square and oval? I have not had a manicure in years, I guess the jargon has changed. Anyways, I now have pink squoval fingernails and taupe square toenails. They look very pretty I can't really get over how perfect my nails look. I should be a hand model, clearly.
Well, that's all for now! Be back with some twenty-four year old eloquence (whatever that means)!
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