time, time, time

Sorry that this blog is not ending up as detailed as the last one, I've been spending the very few spare moments I have to myself writing notes for my future best selling novel in my red notebook. But even that I have had to force in rarely. Most notes I take on my mobile, on the go, shall we say, because something is ALWAYS happening. Last night I went to sleep at half five. I've seen more sunrises here than sunsets, probably, or at least maybe I take the sunsets for granted. Rain, of course, has come to say hi, and hopefully one of these days my jumper, purse, and bottoms of my pants will dry out. It's so funny to watch the relationships between different groups of friends and different groups of colleagues here. You have the boys from the hotel - Jacob, Willy, Robert, Michael and Peter. At Hylands it's Gary and Steve (And Ula). Monks is Lockey, Joe, Curnan, formerly Chris (till the day I arrived and since then has never gone back no matter what any of us say), Florent. You have the lads at the house (Ciunas, Curnan & Chris), you have the englishmen (Stu, Barry), the wanderers (me, Clancy), the mates from Kinvara (Shane, Nang, Paul, McCooke, Jesse, Louis, etc.) The original girls at monks (Tara, Bloned), Ana from Logues, and the two new Australians in town at Hylands and Monks (Jacinta and Amye). those up from the college (Laura, Joe, Robert, Gwen). People living/working in town (Ailsa, Jason, Mikey, Mitch, Pat, Jonnie). The American students (don't know most of their names). And then you see how they act when theyre around certain others, alone, with their mates, or with those they secretly don't like or those who they used to dislike but now think are sound. I feel like I'm watching waves ripple over the water, the line sways and breaks and reforms. Even though it's tourist season and there are SO many more people in town, (and maybe it is because I am constantly surrounded by those actually living, not going to school, I feel that with the exception of the new students, we're all part of this big family. Sometimes we don't get along, but if someone from the outside were to come in and start really causing trouble, you'd have so many to back you up. It's those that stay or those that come back that have some weird kind of bond. Friends of friends become your friends and everyone is so amazingly different. Sometimes we're assholes, each and every one of us, but for the most part we're all sound, and it makes me so happy to know that there are people like this in life. I don't know if this place changes you or if it takes a certain kind of person to be here all the time. Whatever it is, this place would be a shell of itself without the people in it, and the people are better for having been here, at least so far.


end of rant.

photo journal part 2

Our table outside of the hotel... we filled it, so we moved to another one in another patch of sun. then there's Dumbdumb, one of Shane's dogs. Stu, Justin, Mark and Tim at the end of the pier where we went swimming. next is the sunrise Joe and I watched from the wall outside of Monks. next is a view back from the pier towards the cottages. after that is Nange's new house. and lastly, Ciunas, on the ground, during extreme wind skateboarding challenge in the driveway.

i'm sooo happy to be back in ireland

hanging out behind the house with ciunas, conan, chris and ziva.









Galway bay ^


More galway ^


Waiting room in the train/bus station ^




Roger rabbit. Ziva and Shane's dog Misty found it and brought it to us and then we went and put it back and covered up its hole and were walking back up to the house and then Misty (the german shepherd, not the lab, that's dumbdumb) got it again but that time she accidently punctured its neck and it was so sad and gasping for air so Shane had to put it down :( We were both very upset.


I LOVE YOU IRELAND
there is nothing i love more than your fresh air and sitting on a couch out back of the house in the sun, going swimming down at bell harbor, went out to shannon and doolin, met tons of new friends, and met up with lots of old ones.

thing

hd to put this up temporarily so i can get it onto mum's computer.

HELLO IRELAND

I just need to pick out of 2 days once mummy gets here, but I will see you in a week! give or take a few days!
just got off the phone with conan.
have a place to stay at least till the end of the month and i'll figure out after that, well, after that.
I'M SO EXCITED.
i miss everyone and i miss ballyvaughan

this time is going to be a bit more of adventure i think, but i'm up for it!

stuff

So I just finished working out. I've got a bunch of work to do today. I keep wanting to go to borders to obtain the gnostic gospels, but never get around to it. Instead, I've been working on Richard Dawkin's 'The God Delusion,' which I borrowed from Jess. Also trying to get my hands on a copy of the book of revelations, if anyone happens to have a copy. I suppose I could borrow a bible, but if you have a copy of just that book, it's be easier to tote around. All this arises thanks to my Renaissance-1855 class, because you really can't talk about Ren art without religion coming into it, since for a good portion of the time (pre-iconoclasm of the Reformation) it focuses on just such. I learned some interesting facts about Michelangelo's lewdness and symbolism. Turns out to be a really fantastic class that I actually look forward to (besides that my hand hurts every day from taking so many notes and our midterm is in 4 days and i have to write a 6 page paper by the 10th....) but at least it's interesting~! and now that I have re-read Ayun Halliday's 'No Touch Monkey!' and finished Bill Bryson's "Neither Here Nor There," it gives me some new reading material.

An Pointin Stil

I went out last night with Sara (Paris Sara) and Travis to An Pointin Stil, this great Irish Pub just down York road maybe 2 blocks away from Padonia station. So THATTTS how you spell potcheen.

I'm really impressed by their website actually - http://www.thestill.net/ . The food is AMAZING and they have Smithwick's, (american) Guinness, Murphy's & Killian's on tap. Supposedly they have Potcheen too. And Middleton's, not that I can afford it.

Seriously though, I never saw Bangers & Mash except in England.... but they do have fish & chips, irish stew, shepherd's pie, etc. & Galway mussels. and really good sea food. And both an indoor and outdoor bar, both of which you can eat at instead of tables.

They have music every night, some bands, some cover singers, blues, or open mic night, and when we were there, some random guy at the bar picked up a guitar and we all ended up singing along "Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard". Killian's was only a (US) dollar a pint, as they were celebrating their new sign.

We reminisced about Paris and love of travel and promised to go on another adventure in the near future. She's moving up to Providence, so I'll have to go visit there. Made me miss Paris a lot. And Kyle!!! Oh, good times.

I'm going to have to get creme brulee one of these days. ;)

Thousands plan to party on Tube

ITN - 32 minutes ago
Thousands have signed up for a final drinks party on the London Underground the night before an alcohol ban takes effect.

From Sunday, drinking from, and carrying, open containers of alcohol will be banned, with the aim of making travelling on London's public transport network a safer and more pleasant experience for passengers.

The ban, announced earlier this month by new London Mayor Boris Johnson, applies to the Tube, London buses, Docklands Light Railway and tram services and stations across the capital.

Over 4,000 people have signed up to groups on facebook in support of the alcohol party.

On "Circle Line Party - Last Day of Drinking on the Tube" they say "this has to be done... to celebrate our freedom to drink". On the Facebook site of the group, "One Final Tube Booze Party", it says "lets all party together and have fun!".

Union leaders have attacked the plans saying it was "irresponsible" to organise a party when alcohol played a part in many incidents on the Tube.

The party is due to be held on a Circle Line train on Saturday evening, with websites telling revellers to bring their own cocktails.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the The Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union, said that the ban on alcohol on Tube trains was "half-baked" and could put staff in greater danger of assault.

"We are concerned that London Underground does not intend to put on any extra staff on Saturday night as it will be our members who will be in the front line and at risk from aggressive drunken behaviour," he said.

A spokesman for Transport for London said: "We understand the organisers of this event are asking all those attending to act responsibly and to consider their fellow passengers.

"We would echo that advice and will be monitoring the event to make sure there is no disruption to other passengers or Tube services," they said.

TfL also said The British Transport Police will have an enhanced presence on the Tube due to a number of events happening in London on Saturday.

yawwwn

life has settled into somewhat of a routine....
waking up... going to school... coming home... working out... drinking a 2nd bottle of water.... followed by sitting out on the balcony for a few hours... followed by a shower... followed by reading a history textbook.. followed by sleep. maybe having a sandwich in there at some point. mm...yeah.

...only 9 actual class days left! I have to go to the Walters' museum at some point.. someone should go with me because I hate going there alone and also can never figure out where it is.

We watched a great film today about the Medici family. Free popcorn and all. This class is pretty decent, yea?

Since I attacked with Spic and Span I have not seen any actual ants coming from the bathroom, so that has left me with high hopes for that warfront.

Okay, yeah, nothing else is new. It's pretty boring 'round here in fact. Oh well!

Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder

Happy memorial day....

My summer class has started. It's pretty enjoyable and I like the teacher a lot (Kim Anderson).
I don't like the ants in my bathroom that I am engaged in an epic battle to destroy.

Sean and I got sushi at Edo last week, that was fun, although their seared ahi is not as good as at Houston's so next time I will have to try something different. I'm also hoping to do something that involves the aquarium, museums or rollercoasters in the near future.

I spent the weekend up near york at Dan & Tyler's, where I proceeded to get horribly sunburned on my left upper arm and shoulders/back. Dan found Carlsberg for me, so that was exciting. Washed the puppies. Poor Chunkamunks did not like getting a bath. Lacy wasn't so happy either, but she did better than fatty.

Apparently I do not do so well at air hockey when I'm drunk, due to slow reflexes and lack of air to my brain when I can't stop laughing. Also I get confused by sliding doors and try to open them like they're on normal hinges.

Mum called from Maine so I talked to her and dad for a bit while I drove home this morning. Also talked to Grandma. Jaye invited me to go to Canada with her in late july, so I said maybe, if I wasn't back in Europe then. Or, I dunno. I'm not going to plan anything until my classes are done and then I'll just have to see. Julien said a bunch of his friends took the TEFL course and really liked it so....

Anyway, time for me to go put some more lotion on sunburn and make myself a snack, possibly nap, do some textbook reading and listen to Nada Surf. Also a big thank you to yahoo.ie for that article about the cheese.

Medics ready for annual cheese rolling race

AFP - Monday, May 26 10:08 am
LONDON (AFP) - Scores of foolhardy competitors were on Bank Holiday Monday gearing up to pitch themselves down a steep hill in pursuit of an eight-pound cheese as part of Gloucestershire's annual cheese rolling event.

Entrants will take part in one of five events, all of which involve scrambling, slipping and sliding down a very steep 200-metre slope in the hope of being the first to grab hold of the coveted Double Gloucester cheese.

Medics were on standby for the inevitable spate of injuries resulting from the chase down Cooper's Hill in Brockworth, which in places has a 1:1 gradient.

Following heavy rain over the weekend, conditions were likely to be wet and muddy.

The highest number of people injured during the event, which dates back at least 200 years, was in 1997 when medics treated 33 people for injuries ranging from sprained ankles to broken bones.

Each race will include up to 20 competitors, with one race set aside for women only.

Winners are presented with a double Gloucester cheese.

Double Gloucester is an unpasteurised, semi-hard cheese which has been made in Gloucestershire since the 16th century.

all you need to NGO

apparently a lot of local NGOs and some larger ones want photographers.
sound.
more options.

slowly getting back into being social again... slowly. sean & i are going to grab some sushi tonight for dinner, should be fun.

i spent the entire morning cleaning the whole apartment listening to arctic monkeys. it's rainy and grey out. but at least now the rugs are vacuumed and all neat.

j. maarten troost is my current favourite author of the week. I finished "The Sex Lives of Cannibals" and am now onto "Getting Stone With Savages" which is funny because the first book has less to do with cannibals than the second one, and the second one isn't all that much about getting stoned with savages so much as it's about living on Vanuatu and Fiji.

i've got a whole of 2 paragraphs written that i haven't erased.
school starts in 2 days.
3 weeks from now will be no more school and i'll have to figure my summer out.
hopefully ireland but we'll see how everything pans out..

uhm.. in the meantime... anyone want to go on some rollercoasters???

list

Cross Cultural Solutions

New Zealand

Kiwi Internships

Global Vision International

i-to-i

Conservation at a big cat reserve in Costa Rica

Planetedu listing

Animal Sanctuary in FL

The Penguin Book of Ghosts

By Peter Griffiths Reuters - Friday, May 9 11:24 am
LONDON (Reuters) - From screaming skulls and headless horsemen to murdered brides and phantom farmers, English folklore is full of spine-tingling ghost stories.

(Advertisement)

Terrified witnesses speak of seeing ghostly armies marching through the fog, spirits searching for hidden treasure and bells ringing from ruined churches.

Authors Jennifer Westwood and Jacqueline Simpson have sifted through centuries of myths, legends and local tales to compile a county-by-county guide to England's ghosts.

"Readers may be surprised to see that a tale they had thought belonged to one place is found elsewhere," the authors say in the foreword to the "Penguin Book of Ghosts."

"Folktales and legends are in constant slow movement, like an iceberg," they note.

The village of Prestbury in Gloucestershire has a good claim to the title of England's most haunted place, the book says.

Its entry includes:

* A headless Civil War soldier galloping down a lane on horseback. Legend has it that he was a Royalist executed after being caught by Roundheads camped in the village.

* Ghosts of shepherds roaming with flocks of sheep.

* A "Phantom Strangler" at Cleeve Corner, where a robber strangled a young bride for her jewellery.

* The ghost of the late owner of Walnut Cottage appears, saying: "Here's Old Moses. You see, I likes to look in sometimes."

Many of the tales have a strong moral tone, like the killer called "Skulking Dudley" who haunted the village of Clopton in Northamptonshire. It is said his soul could not rest because of a murder he committed in 1349.

A corrupt magistrate who executed a humble farmer and his wife to steal their land in Cumbria was haunted by two screaming skulls, according to an account from the 1880s.

Animals also feature regularly.

One ancient tale says King Arthur turned into a raven when he died. Shrieking birds are said to represent the cries of dead babies, while dogs are seen as an omen of death.

Some of the stories arrived in books from abroad before being spread by word of mouth, while others have their roots in local legend or Norse myth, the book says.

While many are chilling, a few owe more to humour than horror.

One tells how the villagers in Stanney, Cheshire, were regarded as simpletons because they were too scared to walk down a country lane where a duck lived.

Finally, some of the local men decided to ambush the bird and cut off its head. But that only made things worse.

Villagers then complained they were frightened to use the lane ... because of the ghost of the headless duck.

* The Penguin Book of Ghosts is published by Allen Lane

letter in the mail from photographer's forum

So, although not the "winner winner" of the Nikon photo contest, a finalist nonetheless, my photography will be featured in The Best of College Photography Annaul 2008 on page 262. If you would like a copy, they're $65. If you DO want one, let me know so I can add it to the order form I have to send back in.

I got an A in my independent study photo class with Tom. Jack approved my Mixed Media and Time Arts credits, so all I have left is to work out that last academic elective and i'm home free. Also Tom suggested I think up a project for Thesis that I could start in europe but could add on to once I'm back. So.... I'll have to think very hard about this.

Hopefully I can go see Iron Man with parents this coming week, I REALLY want to see it. I saw a preview for it in the Tuschinski in Amsterdam when we went to go see No Country for Old Men.

Pounding headache, hopefully it goes away soon.

Uhm, not really much else to report. Oh, I did get to use my orange umbrella today since it was raining and crappy out!

London Pigeon Wars is Finished

now on to Last of the Donkey Pilgrims.


my first thunderstorm in about a year.
strange.
strange.

things accomplished today:

-signed new 6 month lease with Dorothy (and listened to her drone on and on about American Idol)
-returned unfitting item of bathing suit clothing to Target
-mailed dvd & letter to Ireland
-began organizing photos into series for Tom
-read another chapter in The London Pigeon Wars
-discovered I no longer love Taco Bell
-restrained myself from strangling small child across the hall who is -excruciatingly- learning to play "Mary Had A Little Lamb" over and over on what sounds to be a tin whistle


all and all a productive day, and it's only 5pm, still time for more magic

$10 international phone cards

only last for 17 minutes.
which basically means, 10 dollars for every quick phonecall.
LAME!!!


anyway
today:
visit dorothy with 6 month lease request
return unfitting item of bathing suit clothing to Target
mail dvd & letter to Ireland
organize photos into series for Tom
read The London Pigeon Wars

Call Me's

I just learned how to send a Call Me text! Finally!
I love o2!

cheer up mommy

you know i'm going to finish school.
that goes without saying silly.
and the trip was definitely a good thing, my problem is i'm constantly worried about the future and how i'm gonna make money post-college etc, rather than just thinking about college itself. i'm just bummed that now i have no brilliant ideas for senior thesis. i'm sure once i come up with one i'll be excited again.

and there's always clint eastwood.
i'm sure once that starts i'll be a lot more enthusiastic.

i just hate dealing with advising people coz it's such a joke and puts me in a bitter mood.

but enough of that.
everyone be cheery
you're going on vacation
then i'm going on vacation
and we'll get to trade photos afterwards.

life is good and filled with adventure. take it when it comes.
tell dad you should still go back to ireland this summer but make sure you get to Kerry!!!

okay, i'm sorry

i'm aware that was really cranky.

but an hour and a half and a nap later, i am in much better spirits. sometimes we just need naps in life!

okay i'm still not THRILLED about fall, nor am i THRILLED about the east coast, but oh well, that's just the state of affairs, and the state of affairs will have to be dealt with.

anyway i do have a terrible headache, but a nice chat with Marissa is balancing that one out. what an amazing girl. also heard from Julien, my friend from Limerick and told him to come visit me if/when I go back to Ballyv this summer.

well, I finished another book (Smile While You're Lying, about the travel industry) and now have started reading The London Pigeon Wars.

cheers!

all dressed up and nowhere to go

I'd like to take a few minutes to vent, if you'll excuse it.

My god this country is boring when you have two weeks to kill before your daily 3 week history course commences. It's been ages since my days haven't been packed with goings-on or at least something entertaining and cheery to fill the day with. Not that next week won't be packed, but it isn't the same.

I went and had my meeting with my advisor today which turned out to be her saying, "Well, you probably know this is just a formality since you already did your scheduling." "Yes." "How was your trip?" "Fantastic." "Good, well, e-mail if you have any questions." "Thanks." "Have a good day." "You too."

The mind simply swirls with the intelligence of that little rendezvous.

I also saw Tom, showed him photo album upon photo album. Talked about Amsterdam (and how he thought it was funny that I didn't pick up on his "Is the coffee still good in Amsterdam?" joke. I DID get it Tom, I just wasn't sure you actually meant it haha.

So I was back to the apartment by 10am, errands fulfilled. Conan was online, and had a brief conversation with him, which was good, to know he's still alive and all.

I'm going back on Friday to get Jack to sign my papers and to show Tom all my digital files and hopefully get a decent grade for my "Independent Study" that I did with him this past semester. Thanks, Tom. Now I just need to e-mail teachers about my academic elective ind. study, unless I decide to just take another credit in the fall, which is now possible due to Tom crediting this semester with the class with him. I'd rather do my ind. study though, so I'll send off a few e-mails today and see what is possible.

Friday night I have a "date" with Brittany after she gets off at work at 6. Kyle may come visit since he is unexpectedly out of a job since his employer has unexpectedly been incarcerated, which he found out when he unexpectedly got a call from his boss's wife this morning. Then up to Jaye's to spend the night in South jersey and up to mum's on Sunday to celebrate mother's day. Spend the week in jersey, see Mary Murphy for lunch, maybe hang out with Mazur again, maybe Lessard, maybe Candace and Sarah and Kayla after their school is over. Then back down to Baltimore for another half week of boredom until classes start, which leads to actually only 2 and a half weeks of daily history classes.

I want to say I'm torn about what to do after that, but really I'm not. Even if everyone I know has left, I probably would still want to go back to Ballyvaughan. It feels like home. I can sit by the pier and watch the bay. I can walk down the street without having to worry about getting mugged and I won't have to pay attention to the "Campus Safety Alerts" telling me that apparently the SAME 6 foot tall African American teenager has mugged another MICA student or that another girl has been raped 8 blocks from campus. I can work part time and spend the rest of my time in the pubs I know, where frat boys don't hang out and pints aren't served in half-pint plastic cups and I can sit on the grass anywhere I please and write to my hearts content.

I'm not going to lie. I'm not incredibly excited about fall semester. I just want to get it over with. I'm so close to finishing it, I might as well. But it doesn't mean I have to be happy about it. No, I don't really know what I'm going to do afterwards, so don't ask, trust me I'm thinking about it but as far as I've gotten is wanting to go to some "third-world" country and do volunteer work or attempt to get an artist's residency in Europe (which I will also be discussing with the Career Development office on Friday).

I'm so uninspired.
I have no idea what to do for senior thesis because Tom says it should be an "on-going" thing that I can go back and reshoot multiple times. But there's nothing here I want to really take photos of. All of it lies across borders somewhere. Or at least across state lines. So that isn't very helpful. Oh joy.

Also bummed because my friend in Paris is now moving to New York, oh city I loathe above most others.

In other news, I finished yet another book, so now moving on to the 4th one since my return.

CSS? No, CCS...

So, I may or may not have mentioned in passing that there is this huge scholarship/grant I am going to be applying for to do a photo project in a country of my choice that I have to write a paper proposing including a budget, etc., and why it is important for me to go and photography there. And I also may or may not have mentioned my interest in documenting the life of the women who sell flowers on the beaches and the poor children who beg and do menial tasks for the smallest bit of money in India. And my intention of creating a photo book that I would sell and have part of the proceeds go to helping these people.

Well, okay, so if I didn't mention it, there it is. Just an idea.

Here's another idea - http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/
Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Morocco, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Tansania, Thailand. I think there should be something interesting in at least one of those choices. And through fundraising (which is apparently how most of the volunteers get their money) cost shouldn't be an issue. Also you can go as groups, so if anyone else in interested (nudge nudge, Becca, Brittany, Derek nudge nudge) that would be interesting as well. Also interesting to note that if you have a particular field of interest and proficiency that is not noted in any of the regular programs (photography art and writing were some examples) then they will work with you to find you a suitable way to use those skills while you're there. Also they take you sightseeing and to cultural landmarks, museums, etc. Basically it sounds like any other time abroad, except you're volunteering as well, and can choose how long you stay for.

HMMMM.

Anyway, it's an option, and I like to keep my options open.

the Peace Corps is not an option because I really can't commit to 2 years in the same place for the same organization. Plus CCS seems more geared toward students and 20-somethings, although absolutely anyone can participate. But 2-12 weeks seems a bit more manageable than 2 years, and also as a non-profit and non-U.S. Government funded program they're not funded by any specific country and have no ulterior motives etc.

well apparently I do still exist over the ocean

I heard from Ailsa tonight, which really cheered me up.

okay so super quick recap

parents came, we went to Bohola, decided we didn't like it, spent the next night in Clifden, explored a really neat abandoned friary (Ross Errily) then they dropped me back off in Ballyv and went off by themselves and ended up fishing in Cong and stuff like that. I got to experience Xhavid's last night at the hotel which turned out to be one of his last nights in town. and by night, i mean I fell asleep on the couch and we only all left at half 6 in the morning. quality time with the lads out on the lash. some more fingers ended up getting cut, megan had to go to the hospital, and another window was jeopardized. Ailsa and Chris drove me to the hotel the night before I left. the entire flying experience was extremely stressful. I did get 2 bottles of Cork gin and a stuffed donkey in Duty Free, however, and that was a plus. Actually the real thing is that the next time I go anywhere I'm bringing one bag plus cameras and that's it. I'll buy everything else once I get there, it isn't worth the hassle.

Back to Newark. Rainy and disgusting.
Larry picked us up and we went to Grandma & Grandpa's, picked up my parents car and drove home to Blairstown. We listened to Aimee Mann and Elefant on the way. Didn't really do anything that night, went to sleep early.
Tuesday I got my new license and we dropped off my film at the camera store in PA. That night I went to visit Mazur after work and saw his mom and Madison and Nadia. We stayed up talking till 7 am my time (2 am EST) and I slept on the couch, with the smaller of my two donkeys haha.
Wednesday Mazur and I went out for breakfast, went to a strange Native American store with scary painted mannequins, and then I drove home and mum and I did more running around.
Thursday we went to the elementary school and I gave Karen the book I had gotten for the library from Eddie. I actually forget what else we did, but I don't think we did much. Oh, we went to eat and the beehive (2nd hand shop) and I got some new dresses.
Friday we picked up my film and ate breakfast and talked about living in Europe post-graduation and then I drove down to Maryland. Jess helped me unpack my overflowing car and I stayed up late starting to clean/unpack.
Saturday I spent mostly cleaning. Jess and I went to Deadalus (really cool discount book warehouse) and Record & Tape Traders. Then went home to make a sandwich for dinner so we didn't have to spend any money, and then to Target for a (minimally expensive) but extensive shopping trip. (Laundry basket, new sheets, bowls, plates, and the like). Stayed up late cleaning/reading. We went into the Padonia Station Liquor store since I still hadn't gotten to get anything from one in the states and felt like I should have that experience. It was a huge letdown. Very boring. And they had no Carlsberg or Smithwicks or anything I could find akin to Bulmers, and not even cans of Heineken, so I got bottles of Heineken. At least there was that. But still. :/

I finished reading "Round Ireland With a Fridge", which I had gotten in Borders while waiting for Mazur to get off of work.

Sunday we went to the Towson Town festival which was basically like any street in Dublin/Galway etc where its all pedestrian, except this was a festival so there was a lot of really terrible and overpriced food and tons of people who stopped directly in front of you causing logjams. Annoying. But the weather was warm and I wore a dress and we meandered along without any rush. We ran into Asian Ryan, Chris & Nick, said hi, and then went to go meet up with Kristin. We didn't really feel like going to the overcrowded "beer garden" (or what called itself one) so we went to PVCs and sat in a booth and talked while K10 had some Coronas and I stick to Heineken. Jess asked if being in there made me feel more at home since it was a bar and it was green (ha ha). Not really. Too many annoying frat boys, and they didn't even offer proper pints, only small plastic cups, so I stuck to bottles. But anyway, that was the first time I had my ID checked to go into a bar (in the States, anyway. I'd done it in Dublin). Some random black dude came up to me and was like "Ohh you're drinkin Heineken? Nice!" and gave me his fist to pound. Why it was so amazing to him, I'm not really sure, but there you go. I was wearing my black boots I'd gotten in Galway and a random biker lady told me she liked them. There you go again.

After that we went home and I cleaned some more, until very very late, listening to the Arctic Monkeys.
Then I started to read a book I got in Deadalus called "Jesus Weed" which is a rather humourous travelogue by some crazy New Zealander. Strange. Very, very strange. But a good read, especially for 4 USD.

I currently have enough money to go over to IRE so now I just have to wait for my summer classes to be over.
And with working over there, I won't have to ask for ANY money from my parents.

I'm meeting with my advisor and hoping to see Tom Baird as well on Wednesday.

Today I've just been cleaning some more, and then wrote this, and then I will go back to cleaning.
Last night I rearranged my ENTIRE room so it looks pretty much nothing like it used to. It is much more pleasant this way, and aesthetically pleasing.

After the rigorous room cleaning is ended, I will be moving on to the kitchen/living room for just a tidy up and then I'm going to start organizing all my digital photos.

I'm still waiting to hear back from Chris as to whether he received the mail I posted to him, before I attempt to send anything else.

I decided I'm just going to keep this blog as a running thing. So there you go.

the state of the nation address

Stuart put's butter into his soup and unhurriedly announces,
"Isn't that funny, Ciunas is putting butter onto his bread. It's much easier this way, in't it? Still goes on the bloody bread."

I do scheduling monday. Hopefully it all goes well. I e-mailed David Sterritt about possibly singing me into his Visual Culture class so I don't have to wait until the 28th when I'm sure it will be full.

I'm going to e-mail Jennie Hirsch, Mikita Brottman and David (not sure who would be best, but all seem like hopeful possibilities) about doing my academic elective independent study.

I need to decide what to do for my Ind. Study with Tom (photo) that I will complete over the summer but count toward the fall so there's no extra cost.

I got into the Ren through 1855 class. 22 May to 10 June.

I'm saving up money. I'm thinking about my senior thesis and what it should be. Should I come back to Europe to take the photos?

I have a job offer if I end up coming back. Pays well (especially well since it's in euros), fairly easy, not too, too many hours, so I'd be able to get a lot of photo work done. Possible free place to stay... Must think about this. Would definitely cover any leftover flight costs and food costs.... unfortunately (or fortunately) the cheapest dates to fly (by hundreds) are the furthest days apart... IF (and i say IF with caps) I did do this.... mummy and daddy, I will spend all of may with you up until my summer classes start... yeah?? (you're gonna be gone in august anyway) haha. we'll see. you'll see what i mean when you get here and don't want to go back home either!!!! but maybe i won't spend THAT much time away... oh so many things i want to do and so many places. oh my oh my.

i'm so so so tempted to just buy a one-way ticket and figure life out from there. or at least a month or two of it haha.

Tomorrow is the opening. All ready! Party at the hotel afterwards to celebrate that and my birthday and Xhavid's 35th birthday and Carra's 20th birthday. Pat says he will still make me finger food even though the kitchen's technically closed and he will find out about music.

Chris just got out of work at Monk's and we're going to eat dinner in the hotel probably. I hope so because my stomach is eating itself!!! and talking to Marissa online, so that's nice. I do miss my lovely California girl!

Places that I'd like to go before I die (preferably soon):

(visiting, not dying)

STATES:
-Alaska
-back to Arizona
-back to California
-Colorado
-Georgia
-Louisiana
-Minnesota
-Montana
-Nebraska
-back to Nevada
-New Mexico
-North Dakota
-Oregon
-South Dakota
-Texas
-Utah
-Washington
-Wyoming

MEXICO
-(Mexico)

AUSTRALIA AND OCEANA:
-Micronesia
-New South Wales
-Northern Territory
-Queensland
-South Australia
-Western Australia
-New Zealand
-Palau
-Papua New Guinea
-Solomon Islands
-Tonga
-Tuvalu
-Vanuata

AFRICA:
-Botswana
-Burkina Faso
-Cape Verde
-Chad
-Egypt
-Eritrea
-Kenya
-Lesotho
-Libya
-Madagascar
-Morocco
-Namibia
-Seychelles
-Somaliland
-Zimbabwe

CANADA:
-Alberta
-British Columbia
-New Brunswick
-Newfoundland & Labrador
-Northwest Territories
-Nova Scotia
-Nunavut
-Ontario
-Saskatchewan
-Yukon Territory

COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AMERICA:
-Belize
-El Salvador
-Guatamala
-Honduras
-Nicaragua

COUNTRIES OF WESTERN EUROPE:
-Andorra
-Austria
-Belgium
-Denmark
-back to England
-Finland
-back to France
-back to Germany
-Iceland
-back to Ireland
-Italy
-Liechtenstein
-Luxembourg
-back to Netherlands
-Norway
-Portugal
-San Marino
-Scotland
-Spain
-Sweden
-Switzerland
-Wales

COUNTRIES OF THE WEST INDIES:
-Antigua and Barbuda
-Haiti
-Saint Lucia
-Trinidad and Tobago

COUNTRIES OF EASTERN EUROPE:
-Belarus
-Bosnia & Herzegovina
-Bulgaria
-Croatia
-Cyprus
-Czech Republic
-Estonia
-Greece
-Hungary
-Malta
-Montenegro
-Poland
-Romania
-Russia
-Slovenia
-Turkey
-Ukraine


CENTRAL ASIA:
-Afghanistan (maybe, pending future stability)
-China
-Japan
-Kazakhstan
-Kyrgyzstan
-Mongolia
-Tajikistan
-Turkmenistan

COUNTRIES OF SOUTH AMERICA:
-Argentina (esp. Patagonia)
-Bolivia
-Brazil
-Chile
-Ecuador
-Guyana
-Paraguay
-Peru
-Suriname
-Uruguay
-Venezuela

COUNTIES OF CAUCASUS AND THE MIDDLE EAST:
(also dependent on political factors at the time)
-Armenia
-Bahrain
-Georgia
-Iraq
-Jordan
-Lebanon
-Oman
-Qatar
-Saudi Arabia
-Syria
-United Arab Emerites
-Yemen

COUNTIES OF SOUTHERN ASIA:
-Bangladesh
-Bhutan
-Brunei
-Cambodia
-India
-Indonesia
-Laos
-Malaysia
-Maldives
-Myanmar (Burma)
-Nepal
-Singapore
-Sri Lanka
-Thailand
-Timor-Leste
-Vietnam

MISCELLANIOUS:
-Galapagos Islands
-Canary Islands (esp. Tenerife)

eh

i feel ill even thinking about leaving.

hmm...

Random Thoughts

-I do think that Damien Hirst is absolutely brilliant:





"This diamond encrusted skull is the latest work of English artist Damien Hirst. It is called ‘For the love of god’, consists of platinum and 8,601 flawless pavé diamonds weighing a total of 1,106.18 carats. The price is 50 million pounds and it’s already reserved. The skull is part of the Hirst exhibition ‘Beyond Belief’ at White Cube gallery, London, 3 June - 7 July 2007."



-Currently I'm listening to news coverage about the Tibetan protests in London (trying to distinguish the Olympic torch in protest of China). 15 arrests so far. In related news, there were two people in the hotel two nights ago who had actually met the Dalai Lama.


6 April 2008, 50 mins ago:

DHARAMSALA: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama on Sunday said that protests in Tibet contradict the Chinese "propaganda" about people there enjoying a prosperous and contended life and made it clear that the issue "can no longer be neglected".

"The Chinese authorities have been making false allegations against myself and the Central Tibetan Administration for instigating and orchestrating the recent events in Tibet. These allegations are totally untrue," he said in a statement.

"The recent protests all over Tibet have not only contradicted but also shattered China's propaganda that except for a few 'reactionaries', the majority of Tibetans enjoy a prosperous and contented life," the spiritual leader said.

The protests have made it clear that Tibetans in the three provinces of Tibet, U-tsang, Kham and Amdo, harbour the same aspirations and hopes, he said in a statement.

"These protests have also conveyed to the world that the Tibet issue can no longer be neglected," he said.

Demanding a probe into the unrest in Tibet by an "independent and respected international body", he said "I am sure this independent body will uncover the truth. If the Peoples Republic of China has any basis and proof of evidence to back their allegations, they need to disclose these to the world. Just making allegations is not enough."

The Dalai Lama also talked about the "mutually beneficial Middle-Way Approach" to find a solution for the future of Tibet.


(that was from The Times of India)
.


the story about the torch incident is on skynews right now but hard to find news articles online for some reason. maybe it's not up yet?? this is what i've found:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7332942.stm

eh, give it a few hours. maybe this channel is just doing breaking news and there's nothing written up yet.
ahh, skynews/yahoonews:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/skynews/20080406/tuk-loud-protests-at-olympic-torch-parad-45dbed5.html
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/skynews/20080406/tuk-olympic-torch-relay-runs-into-protes-45dbed5.html

there we go.


i feel sicky, but chris got me some tea with lots of lemons in it. i can't decide what to eat off this menu. Pat isn't here today to make me whatever my little heart desires hahaha. Xhavid is telling me about his working schemes and ways of good business.


On facebook you can play scrabble with other people every time you log in you can check if it is your turn or if you're both online at the same time you can keep going back and forth. This is so amazing!!


I'm not ready to leave Ireland.
So not ready.

Dad, I forgot to ask, is there any way we can plan it so that on the way back to the airport or whatnot we can stop through Ballyvaughan? There's way too many people I need to say goodbye to right before I leave.

Also did you see my note about rates at the hotel? is that alright with you two?

i do love

talking to my mother on ichat.



last night was crazy.

i do love my friends so very much though.

Tram Map

our houseboat was between the Azartplein and C. van Eesterenlaan stops on the 10.

Anyone who loves cooking/cooking shows:

Gordon Ramsay!!!!

is currently in the pub here. at the New Hotel. he's in the restaurant part. he just walked passed us. He gave Ashling kisses and signed her book earlier today.

You know, Hell's Kitchen and all that.
Look him up on youTube if you don't know who he is, it's hilarious.

I can't believe he's here haha.

There's also his film crew and another film crew in town working on a movie.
Hotel's full.
Bar's packed.
Nice.

Seriously. Tell Melissa. And anyone else who loves cooking, or Gordon Ramsay.
Whaaaaaat.
Haha

Amsterdam Photos (part I - more to come!)