today i did some more christmas shopping. and by christmas shopping, i mean i bought gerry some more presents. until this weekend i had some coffee for his parents sent here by rachel, from tim horton's, a bodum for them, and one present for gerry. all purchased last week. this weekend i got a secret snowflake present. umm... yup. that's about where i was with all this.
i'd love to list what i got for gerry today, but then he'd know. and that spoils the fun. needless to say, i hope it works out grand.
i either sprained or completely bruised or f'd up my finger somehow. in any case, it's killing me. could have been the heavy bags. i was going to sleep at my own house tonight (for the third time) but once i got to gerry's i was zonked. so i'm just going to sleep here. i just spent the evening wrapping christmas presents and chatting with sharon... that and teasing her about what her present is. mwah hah hah.
also new, msn for macs. i just put up a pic of me, and i don't know if you can send funny things like on the pc one, but it is new, and i have got my pic up there. test me out next time you see me online.
oh! it's my last week of training at work. eek! well, until we do travel training. i've decided (on the advice of one my trainers) to not go for the customer service job being offered. she thinks i'll be making heaps of cash so i shouldn't lose that opportunity by going into a job like customer service where the pay is the same as taking calls, but you don't get any extra money.
i almost got to take my first call. but no one called while i was listening. the woman i was listening in on calls with was like: here, why don't you take a call. so after freaking out, i said okay, and then no one called before her break, which really was only in the space of 4 minutes, but still, it would have been great to get that first call out of the way.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Monday, December 19, 2005
synchronised safety
i forgot the funniest part of the whole trip.
on the plane last night the steward and stewardesses were doing the safety routine and it was f'ing hilarious because they were literally in synch.
they pulled the mask in demonstration exactly twice, and when they were pointing to the exits, it was just so perfectly in synch it was amazing. i loved it. i suggest that they become synchronised swimmers cause they're already really good at doing it out of the water... they just need to learn the routine IN the water. it would be amazing.
i loved the show.
on the plane last night the steward and stewardesses were doing the safety routine and it was f'ing hilarious because they were literally in synch.
they pulled the mask in demonstration exactly twice, and when they were pointing to the exits, it was just so perfectly in synch it was amazing. i loved it. i suggest that they become synchronised swimmers cause they're already really good at doing it out of the water... they just need to learn the routine IN the water. it would be amazing.
i loved the show.
everybody was kung foo fighting
okay, i was just writing a mass emails about london. something is f'ing up with gmail. weird. anyway, currently there will be no mass emailing. there will however be this gem of a blog.
last friday gerry and i went to see the foo fighters in london. other than a slight panic attack with the whole flying thing (i have no idea how i managed to get to ireland) things went well.
friday night we got to london and basically went to bed.
saturday we went to portobello (yeah, believe it) market and shop shop shopped. we also went to oxford circus, hamley's (a giant toy store where gerry could barely control himself, and there was a cool Narnia staircase) and then went to the foo fighters concert. if i had known the foo were playing in such a big stadium, i wouldn't have booked the tickets in the summer, but it ended up being better than other stadium concerts, so it was fun. it's weird to think of where i am now and where i was in the summer when trying to decide if i should even get the tickets because who knows what'll have happened at this point. our feet were sooooo brutally killing us at this point. well... my feet were, and i think gerry's legs might have been. don't ask.
sunday (lower extremities still killing) we did more shopping and even saw the science museum (and an imax film, walking on the moon) and went on the london eye. i also bought a toque and arm warmers (they are knitted and crocheted, and have fleece lining so they don't itch) because it was so f'ing freezing there i was almost crying. anyway, it was lovely. we then went to the airport and got home (despite me thinking we were going to die while landing).
today i did not feel like doing my last role-playing test for work. i totally f'd up, but swindled a pretty good mark. i have no idea how. seriously. anyway, one more written test and training will be mostly done. there are a couple of spots that have opened up in a more admin position, and i'm thinking of applying for them. usually you need to be there a min. of 6 months before, but they're opening it up to the training class too. so there's less money involved, but the hours are way better (m-f nothing later than 6 i think).
oh! we're doing secret snowflake at work, and i found this adorable little over the shoulder bag made out of red vinyl in london. the max was €5 but i spent £5. but i found a loop hole. everyone calls euros and pounds quid. so basically, i spent 5 quid! it was way too cute to resist. i think i'm going to introduce the stewart gift steal to my class. i think they'll like it.
i'm sort of resisting it feeling like christmas, i kind of want it to, but it kinda makes me sad at the same time. goals include: holding it together at the gainford house, getting through the season, and having some fun with it too. wish me luck.
last friday gerry and i went to see the foo fighters in london. other than a slight panic attack with the whole flying thing (i have no idea how i managed to get to ireland) things went well.
friday night we got to london and basically went to bed.
saturday we went to portobello (yeah, believe it) market and shop shop shopped. we also went to oxford circus, hamley's (a giant toy store where gerry could barely control himself, and there was a cool Narnia staircase) and then went to the foo fighters concert. if i had known the foo were playing in such a big stadium, i wouldn't have booked the tickets in the summer, but it ended up being better than other stadium concerts, so it was fun. it's weird to think of where i am now and where i was in the summer when trying to decide if i should even get the tickets because who knows what'll have happened at this point. our feet were sooooo brutally killing us at this point. well... my feet were, and i think gerry's legs might have been. don't ask.
sunday (lower extremities still killing) we did more shopping and even saw the science museum (and an imax film, walking on the moon) and went on the london eye. i also bought a toque and arm warmers (they are knitted and crocheted, and have fleece lining so they don't itch) because it was so f'ing freezing there i was almost crying. anyway, it was lovely. we then went to the airport and got home (despite me thinking we were going to die while landing).
today i did not feel like doing my last role-playing test for work. i totally f'd up, but swindled a pretty good mark. i have no idea how. seriously. anyway, one more written test and training will be mostly done. there are a couple of spots that have opened up in a more admin position, and i'm thinking of applying for them. usually you need to be there a min. of 6 months before, but they're opening it up to the training class too. so there's less money involved, but the hours are way better (m-f nothing later than 6 i think).
oh! we're doing secret snowflake at work, and i found this adorable little over the shoulder bag made out of red vinyl in london. the max was €5 but i spent £5. but i found a loop hole. everyone calls euros and pounds quid. so basically, i spent 5 quid! it was way too cute to resist. i think i'm going to introduce the stewart gift steal to my class. i think they'll like it.
i'm sort of resisting it feeling like christmas, i kind of want it to, but it kinda makes me sad at the same time. goals include: holding it together at the gainford house, getting through the season, and having some fun with it too. wish me luck.
Friday, December 16, 2005
london calling
this evening we leave for london! yay!
tonight we'll get in and probably go straight to bed.
tomorrow will involve hyde park market, shopping and probably some museuming. tomorrow night will be the foo fighters.
sunday we will probably go shopping some more and then we return to cork.
it's been a few years since i was last in england, so despite knowing that i don't want to live there, it will be a nice return. especially since i spent so much time in london when i was at the castle. i want to go back to some of my favourite places, including the tate modern. i'd love to see another royal shakespeare company production, but there isn't time for that, with work and christmas and such.
anyway, london's only 45mins on the plane, so i'm sure it will be grand.
(i hope it's not any kind of sign to have spelled "london's" as "london't". eek.)
tonight we'll get in and probably go straight to bed.
tomorrow will involve hyde park market, shopping and probably some museuming. tomorrow night will be the foo fighters.
sunday we will probably go shopping some more and then we return to cork.
it's been a few years since i was last in england, so despite knowing that i don't want to live there, it will be a nice return. especially since i spent so much time in london when i was at the castle. i want to go back to some of my favourite places, including the tate modern. i'd love to see another royal shakespeare company production, but there isn't time for that, with work and christmas and such.
anyway, london's only 45mins on the plane, so i'm sure it will be grand.
(i hope it's not any kind of sign to have spelled "london's" as "london't". eek.)
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
more testes
we've been having tonnes of tests and quizzes at work. it's totally like being in a class. which is fine... i had been thinking of taking a class while here.
sunday night gerry helped me study for my region codes (you need to know them when you're searching for a resort for someone). anyway, i'm doing well on all of the tests, but the last three role-plays i've had the guy. OHMYGOSH. i hate him. he takes off marks and then when you're like why did i lose a mark for that, we were told that if you don't book something for a person you don't need to offer to transfer them to a travel specialist. his answer? well, you still did really well, so it doesn't matter. as if! doesn't he know that he is destroying my chances of having perfect scores!!! okay okay, 98% isn't bad, but let's face it, it's no 100%. AND he's so non-challant about it. JERK!
oh another note, i went to the gym today. now my arms and legs and abs are sore. it was a good workout. there's a stronger shower in there too, so i'm excited to use them everyday. i think i have a crush on the stronger showers.
i've had a bit of contact with b.c. in the past couple of days. lately (since i started work) it's been fairly minimal, much like my blogs. but it was really really nice to touch base. sometimes i love ireland and think that i'm really lucky to have fluked out on a choice. sometimes i hate it and wonder what the f i'm doing here, and can't wait to get back to b.c.. if i was home, i'd probably want to be back. :o) grass and green.
i am fairly desperate to play catan or carca. but since i'll be in london this weekend, i doubt i'll get a chance until more solidly holiday times... even then, i think we're going to monaghan almost the whole time... oh! maybe new year's day a game can be set up... and maybe i'll borrow gerry's computer and we can play wancatan! whoot! let me know if you're interested.
sunday night gerry helped me study for my region codes (you need to know them when you're searching for a resort for someone). anyway, i'm doing well on all of the tests, but the last three role-plays i've had the guy. OHMYGOSH. i hate him. he takes off marks and then when you're like why did i lose a mark for that, we were told that if you don't book something for a person you don't need to offer to transfer them to a travel specialist. his answer? well, you still did really well, so it doesn't matter. as if! doesn't he know that he is destroying my chances of having perfect scores!!! okay okay, 98% isn't bad, but let's face it, it's no 100%. AND he's so non-challant about it. JERK!
oh another note, i went to the gym today. now my arms and legs and abs are sore. it was a good workout. there's a stronger shower in there too, so i'm excited to use them everyday. i think i have a crush on the stronger showers.
i've had a bit of contact with b.c. in the past couple of days. lately (since i started work) it's been fairly minimal, much like my blogs. but it was really really nice to touch base. sometimes i love ireland and think that i'm really lucky to have fluked out on a choice. sometimes i hate it and wonder what the f i'm doing here, and can't wait to get back to b.c.. if i was home, i'd probably want to be back. :o) grass and green.
i am fairly desperate to play catan or carca. but since i'll be in london this weekend, i doubt i'll get a chance until more solidly holiday times... even then, i think we're going to monaghan almost the whole time... oh! maybe new year's day a game can be set up... and maybe i'll borrow gerry's computer and we can play wancatan! whoot! let me know if you're interested.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
the lion, the witch and the wardrobe
we saw the first episode of the chronicles of naria tonight. it was amazing. great. grand. fun.
see it.
see it.
christmas in cork
last night gerry and i had christmas dinner for some of his friends and for his housemates. gerry's department was the turkey (chicken), ham, meat stuffing and roasted potatoes. i was in charge of dessert, veggie stuffing and mashed potatoes. it went really well. i think people left over-full and having had a good time.
work was busy this week. we had two tests. both of which went well for me. but the girl beside me failed one test (89% is a fail) and despite passing her retest, decided she didn't like it. which is fine, but she was really nice. i will miss her. i think we're going to get together for drinks after our last day before we leave for christmas... we're all looking forward to that day. no more tests. and we'll have been paid. so it's gonna be sweet.
my house is still freezing, and other than two nights, i've been staying at gerry's. i did meet one more of my housemates on friday. until then, i had only met the guy from poland... whose name i can't understand, so i've mostly been refering to him as my housemate, cause he was the only one i knew. *laugh* i'll be meeting the other guy after christmas, i think he's gone to do some training and then home. so he won't be back until then.
to remedy the cold house problem, and the not being able to sleep because it's so cold, i've bought a heating blanket that you can sleep on all night. it was a recommendation from one of the ladies in my class. i haven't tested it out yet, cause i got it on thursday. but i'm sure some time this week i will.
i saw transporter 2 during the week. i can't remember the day. it was good. a total action movie... like, don't go in thinking it will be realistic, but i think it was great. fun. and that guy is über hot.
we're tossing around the idea of seeing narnia tonight. i really really want to see it. i've heard great things, and what i've seen looks great.
i've been trying to blog at work, but the computers we're allowed to use for internet have not been allowing me to blog. i'm working on it, but so far, i can only blog at gerry's. and i don't think i can get internet at my house, cause we don't have a phone. e veryone and their grandma has a cell phone, so no one has land lines really. sorry, i've been slack, i'll try to be more consistent int he future. email works, just so you know. :o)
work was busy this week. we had two tests. both of which went well for me. but the girl beside me failed one test (89% is a fail) and despite passing her retest, decided she didn't like it. which is fine, but she was really nice. i will miss her. i think we're going to get together for drinks after our last day before we leave for christmas... we're all looking forward to that day. no more tests. and we'll have been paid. so it's gonna be sweet.
my house is still freezing, and other than two nights, i've been staying at gerry's. i did meet one more of my housemates on friday. until then, i had only met the guy from poland... whose name i can't understand, so i've mostly been refering to him as my housemate, cause he was the only one i knew. *laugh* i'll be meeting the other guy after christmas, i think he's gone to do some training and then home. so he won't be back until then.
to remedy the cold house problem, and the not being able to sleep because it's so cold, i've bought a heating blanket that you can sleep on all night. it was a recommendation from one of the ladies in my class. i haven't tested it out yet, cause i got it on thursday. but i'm sure some time this week i will.
i saw transporter 2 during the week. i can't remember the day. it was good. a total action movie... like, don't go in thinking it will be realistic, but i think it was great. fun. and that guy is über hot.
we're tossing around the idea of seeing narnia tonight. i really really want to see it. i've heard great things, and what i've seen looks great.
i've been trying to blog at work, but the computers we're allowed to use for internet have not been allowing me to blog. i'm working on it, but so far, i can only blog at gerry's. and i don't think i can get internet at my house, cause we don't have a phone. e veryone and their grandma has a cell phone, so no one has land lines really. sorry, i've been slack, i'll try to be more consistent int he future. email works, just so you know. :o)
Saturday, December 03, 2005
S-M-R-T
yesterday we were informed that our class was going to have the test in the afternoon that we had earlier been told was going to happen on monday. i admit, i was a bit nervous... my class hadn't been able to practise taking calls while really being on the phone yet because we got moved into a classroom without phones. anyway, we were going to be tested in a couple of hours. i figured i'd be fine, cause really, how hard can it be? so we got back after lunch and a girl in my class was like: you're going to be first. two seconds later a trainer came in and was like: ursula, you're first. burn. anyway, i did the call and the b freaked me out by asking me to do something that we hadn't been taught yet. i gave her the info and was like, i'll do that for you now if you like. i guess she realised that we couldn't do that yet, so she changed her mind. obviously i was like: crap... i think i didn't do so well.
so we got our marks, and my tester was like: you did it perfectly! you sounded so calm and if i didn't know better i would have said you'd been working here for years! i got 100% and am feelin' grand!
i had been talking to this guy about the test earlier and he said that he bets people will be like: what did you get? what did you get? i said i don't think people do that after highschool. clearly i was wrong. the oldest guy in the class was the worst! but i wouldn't tell him what i got. i did however say: how many people do you think got 100 out of 50? you know, like 200%? because i'm evil.
i can't believe it's saturday. finally. tonight's my christmas party. last night was gerry's scuba club's christmas party, at the dog race track. i've never seen dog's race before. i lost every time. luckily i was only betting 2 euros at a time. gerry however won almost every time. i can't believe it! it's amazing!
i hope i win at my staff party tonight. you win vouchers for free vacations. :o)
so we got our marks, and my tester was like: you did it perfectly! you sounded so calm and if i didn't know better i would have said you'd been working here for years! i got 100% and am feelin' grand!
i had been talking to this guy about the test earlier and he said that he bets people will be like: what did you get? what did you get? i said i don't think people do that after highschool. clearly i was wrong. the oldest guy in the class was the worst! but i wouldn't tell him what i got. i did however say: how many people do you think got 100 out of 50? you know, like 200%? because i'm evil.
i can't believe it's saturday. finally. tonight's my christmas party. last night was gerry's scuba club's christmas party, at the dog race track. i've never seen dog's race before. i lost every time. luckily i was only betting 2 euros at a time. gerry however won almost every time. i can't believe it! it's amazing!
i hope i win at my staff party tonight. you win vouchers for free vacations. :o)
Thursday, December 01, 2005
i liked being semi-retired
i woke up this morning and immediately asked gerry why he can't get two jobs and let me go back to being semi-retired. i mentioned that i would be more than happy to bake him cookies, in the house that one of his jobs has afforded us to live in. he simply replied that i'm supposed to be moved up to management in the next 3 months and be supporting him... while he doesn't make cookies. fair comment, but totally *not* what would happen! :o)
i'm on day four of training. it's been boring as hell. i realise that most training is, but this has been particularly bad. we've had days where there have been more breaks than class time. and the 'review' time is really more like, review and then chat... i am slowly learning people's names. i'm so brutal at that, but with all the breaks, that's been a bit easier.
i do still plan to go to the staff christmas party. there are wicked prizes that i plan to win. i already want to go on vacation, and looking through those vacation books is not making it easier. it's the worst kind of punishment, because we're all bored out of our heads, looking at these gorgeous places to visit.
last night gerry made me dinner and then we went to jim and tara's for cards and drinking. it was really really hard to get out of bed this morning... hence my little: 'i hate not being semi-retired' tantrum. i could have still been a bitter about the thrashing jim and gerry gave tara and me at cribbage. jim and gerry play better drunk. tara and i don't. :o)
today, after work, we're going to meet in town and shop for a duvet and some bedding for my big move on sunday. (and maybe some black shoes for the christmas party tomorrow night) finally, i will not be living out of a suitcase. and finally, i can not be worried about my shit taking up too much space in gerry's room... to be fair, he's been totally nice and easy-going about it, but i'm sure it'll be nice for him to not have the three bags that don't match today's clothes under his desk.
i'm on day four of training. it's been boring as hell. i realise that most training is, but this has been particularly bad. we've had days where there have been more breaks than class time. and the 'review' time is really more like, review and then chat... i am slowly learning people's names. i'm so brutal at that, but with all the breaks, that's been a bit easier.
i do still plan to go to the staff christmas party. there are wicked prizes that i plan to win. i already want to go on vacation, and looking through those vacation books is not making it easier. it's the worst kind of punishment, because we're all bored out of our heads, looking at these gorgeous places to visit.
last night gerry made me dinner and then we went to jim and tara's for cards and drinking. it was really really hard to get out of bed this morning... hence my little: 'i hate not being semi-retired' tantrum. i could have still been a bitter about the thrashing jim and gerry gave tara and me at cribbage. jim and gerry play better drunk. tara and i don't. :o)
today, after work, we're going to meet in town and shop for a duvet and some bedding for my big move on sunday. (and maybe some black shoes for the christmas party tomorrow night) finally, i will not be living out of a suitcase. and finally, i can not be worried about my shit taking up too much space in gerry's room... to be fair, he's been totally nice and easy-going about it, but i'm sure it'll be nice for him to not have the three bags that don't match today's clothes under his desk.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
back home
okay, i'm not really home, and i'm not just back. gerry and i got back to his place on sunday night. i was a hit with his family... at least that's what i think. i couldn't understand his dad more than 10% of the time and was mostly trying to piece together a few random words and make up my own comments. sometimes i was right, sometimes i was wrong. sometimes i just didn't answer.
his family was lovely. oh! i think it was saturday that i used the word grand. and today i said it was a day for the dogs.
here's a picture of my bag that we picked out on thursday, except mine's in chocolate brown. i also got to meet sinead for the first time, and sinead and conor's darling son, David Patrick (aka DP). oh! and it snowed on friday morning. but it didn't last until gerry got back to the house, so i couldn't kick his ass canadian style at a snowball fight. we did have a great dinner, complete with squash buttered and cooked with maple syrup; all vegetarian, and no mushrooms.
saturday we went to monaghan and went to the engagement party for gerry's brother, thomas and amanda. we got them cranium and mindtrap as a present.
sunday it was back to cork via every roadworks zone possible. BUT i did drive. gerry is either totally crazy, or just super nice and supportive. cause he was like, oh want to try driving? so i did. there was only one time when i turned right that i started driving on the right-hand side of the road and he was like, ummm... otherside. so basically it went well. *laugh* in other words, we are both still alive and the car wasn't damaged in any way.
oh, we were going to stop at a house for me, at 8pm, but there was a text left at 7.47 from that bitch sandra saying the room was taken. i was so frustrated with looking for a place, that last night when i saw a decent, as in: clean and smoke-free house i told the land lord, i'd take it. so as of saturday/sunday i live with three boys that i don't know, but who appear to be tidy, rarely home, and non-smokers. and if i ever meet sandra i will be mean to her. bitch.
today was day two of training. my next blog will be bitching about the bus service. but i wanted to let you know that i did start my job, and it's going well.
his family was lovely. oh! i think it was saturday that i used the word grand. and today i said it was a day for the dogs.
here's a picture of my bag that we picked out on thursday, except mine's in chocolate brown. i also got to meet sinead for the first time, and sinead and conor's darling son, David Patrick (aka DP). oh! and it snowed on friday morning. but it didn't last until gerry got back to the house, so i couldn't kick his ass canadian style at a snowball fight. we did have a great dinner, complete with squash buttered and cooked with maple syrup; all vegetarian, and no mushrooms.
saturday we went to monaghan and went to the engagement party for gerry's brother, thomas and amanda. we got them cranium and mindtrap as a present.
sunday it was back to cork via every roadworks zone possible. BUT i did drive. gerry is either totally crazy, or just super nice and supportive. cause he was like, oh want to try driving? so i did. there was only one time when i turned right that i started driving on the right-hand side of the road and he was like, ummm... otherside. so basically it went well. *laugh* in other words, we are both still alive and the car wasn't damaged in any way.
oh, we were going to stop at a house for me, at 8pm, but there was a text left at 7.47 from that bitch sandra saying the room was taken. i was so frustrated with looking for a place, that last night when i saw a decent, as in: clean and smoke-free house i told the land lord, i'd take it. so as of saturday/sunday i live with three boys that i don't know, but who appear to be tidy, rarely home, and non-smokers. and if i ever meet sandra i will be mean to her. bitch.
today was day two of training. my next blog will be bitching about the bus service. but i wanted to let you know that i did start my job, and it's going well.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
yesterday was my birthday and it was grand
i was a bit worried that i might end up a bit emotional and stuff, being away from home, and it being the first birthday without my mom's phone call singing me happy birthday. but it turned out to be great. better than i had hoped even.
i got lovely lovely phone calls, and lovely lovely emails, and even a lovely lovely haiku. presents, which really are the least important part, i like the phone calls and emails best, but are still super great and fun include a peanut butter daisies from danielle, a bath set with things i chose not to bring to ireland, for space reasons (like a loofah, and a bath puff) from jim and tara, a cute cheese serving set from Mam, and from gerry, a hot water bottle that fits inside sylvester the cat, and a furla bag *yay*, to be picked out today in dublin at dundrum (or something) centre. all very nice.
we went out for cocktails (my first cosmo in ireland) and then for dinner at cafe paradiso. 4 out of 7 people loved it. 3 probably wouldn't return. i wish i had had enough room in my belly for dessert, but there was no way i was going to be able to eat another bite. it was delicious.
oh, and for lunch, gerry took me to the gallery for lunch and art viewing. very nice. then we ran into his boss and co-worker and i apparently told his boss off for the hours gerry works. i'd guess he hears it all of the time from his wife, because he didn't seem surprised at what i was saying.
all in all, a wonderful day. thanks everyone!
today we leave for dublin, and then to carrick for gerry's brother's engagement party. note to self, do not mention gerry's snoring, or jokes about babies. or will come back to cork married.
i got lovely lovely phone calls, and lovely lovely emails, and even a lovely lovely haiku. presents, which really are the least important part, i like the phone calls and emails best, but are still super great and fun include a peanut butter daisies from danielle, a bath set with things i chose not to bring to ireland, for space reasons (like a loofah, and a bath puff) from jim and tara, a cute cheese serving set from Mam, and from gerry, a hot water bottle that fits inside sylvester the cat, and a furla bag *yay*, to be picked out today in dublin at dundrum (or something) centre. all very nice.
we went out for cocktails (my first cosmo in ireland) and then for dinner at cafe paradiso. 4 out of 7 people loved it. 3 probably wouldn't return. i wish i had had enough room in my belly for dessert, but there was no way i was going to be able to eat another bite. it was delicious.
oh, and for lunch, gerry took me to the gallery for lunch and art viewing. very nice. then we ran into his boss and co-worker and i apparently told his boss off for the hours gerry works. i'd guess he hears it all of the time from his wife, because he didn't seem surprised at what i was saying.
all in all, a wonderful day. thanks everyone!
today we leave for dublin, and then to carrick for gerry's brother's engagement party. note to self, do not mention gerry's snoring, or jokes about babies. or will come back to cork married.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
some pics
this is a pic from germany, when anne and i went to the hockey game for the german cup and raised some hell in the usa section.
cork is trying to deal with their gum issue. i think they should deal with their spit issue. it's everywhere.
the corner where i meet people for lunch, shopping and havoc.
the view back to where i stand, in the shopping district.
cork is the cultural capital of the EU for 2005. just ask budweiser.
i really like the view as you walk over the bridges. the water's nice, and everytime i walk over one of the bridges, i think: yeah, this is great.
(this pic is coming, it's just taking forever to upload).
cork is trying to deal with their gum issue. i think they should deal with their spit issue. it's everywhere.
the corner where i meet people for lunch, shopping and havoc.
the view back to where i stand, in the shopping district.
cork is the cultural capital of the EU for 2005. just ask budweiser.
i really like the view as you walk over the bridges. the water's nice, and everytime i walk over one of the bridges, i think: yeah, this is great.
(this pic is coming, it's just taking forever to upload).
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
pizza pizza
last night i made dinner for the house.
i made pizza and fixed up a salad. the pizza turned out well. actually, really really well, considering the second one had to be cooked at an angle because the pan wouldn't fit into the oven. i'm not even talking about a big pan here. i bought the smallest one that looked decent enough to use... thinking it could be used for other things as well. the tray's probably 13 inches square. maybe that big. and no, no, that won't fit! i was pissed!!!
luckily they're getting a new stove, so it's not a huge deal that some of the sauce cooked off the pizza. the first pizza cooked well, the second one would have turned out better if it hadn't been cooked at a 45 degree angle. that said... it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
oh, when i was downtown yesterday i went back to brown thomas to visit my bag, and look at shoes. and go to clinique. i got a liquid face wash from clinique, so i can transport it easily, although i did almost buy these tiny little travel bars, which come with a tiny little travel case. it's just the bars don't have time to dry out that well, when traveling. and i tried on some shoes that were good, but not perfect.
across the street, i bought a marie claire to help me celebrate my do-nothing day tomorrow.
i made pizza and fixed up a salad. the pizza turned out well. actually, really really well, considering the second one had to be cooked at an angle because the pan wouldn't fit into the oven. i'm not even talking about a big pan here. i bought the smallest one that looked decent enough to use... thinking it could be used for other things as well. the tray's probably 13 inches square. maybe that big. and no, no, that won't fit! i was pissed!!!
luckily they're getting a new stove, so it's not a huge deal that some of the sauce cooked off the pizza. the first pizza cooked well, the second one would have turned out better if it hadn't been cooked at a 45 degree angle. that said... it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
oh, when i was downtown yesterday i went back to brown thomas to visit my bag, and look at shoes. and go to clinique. i got a liquid face wash from clinique, so i can transport it easily, although i did almost buy these tiny little travel bars, which come with a tiny little travel case. it's just the bars don't have time to dry out that well, when traveling. and i tried on some shoes that were good, but not perfect.
across the street, i bought a marie claire to help me celebrate my do-nothing day tomorrow.
12 hours 40 minutes and counting!!!
YAY! it's almost my birthday.
it is almost time for me to move into my last year of the 20's. i'm pretty excited about putting my 28th year behind me. i will fully admit to some wonderful things happening in that time... i mean, i wouldn't be where i am if not. but i am so glad to be putting that shit year behind me, it's crazy. and this year is supposed to (according to fortune teller ana) be the best year of my life. now, if that doesn't get someone excited about a birthday, and soon after a new calendar year, i don't know what would!
word on the street is that a woman's 30's are supposed to be fantastic. and in time, it will come. i'm not worried about turning 30 (once you get past 25, it's a pretty common topic at birthday time, i have a feeling it will be even more prevelant at 29). i don't even care about the number. i feel like i deserve 30! if i was any younger, i would not be the person i am today... and mostly i'm okay with that person. i will always be a project to be worked on, but nirvana's not an easy journey.
birthday plans
gerry's taken tomorrow off and we've plans to go to cafe paradiso with some of his friends who are kind enough to join in the festivities. it's a gourmet vegetarian restaurant. i've checked out the menu and it looks great. i'm so excited about great vegetarian food! i made pizza last night, but that deserves its own blog entry. also, i get breakfast in bed, and i don't mean the chocolates that danielle sent me... they'll be gone at 12.04 am. :o) otherwise, it will be mostly a day of relaxing. maybe we'll go downtown, if we feel like it. maybe not. on thursday we're going to dublin and we will go shopping there. to the posh mall. and i think we're staying at conor and sinead's. on saturday we're going to carrickmacross, for gerry's brother's engagement party. i have a good feeling i'll have some blogs about that. there have been comments about my inability to understand gerry's father, so we've come up with a signal system, but i won't know if gerry's taking the piss out of me, or genuinely helping... it's pretty much a gamble either way.
stay tuned.
it is almost time for me to move into my last year of the 20's. i'm pretty excited about putting my 28th year behind me. i will fully admit to some wonderful things happening in that time... i mean, i wouldn't be where i am if not. but i am so glad to be putting that shit year behind me, it's crazy. and this year is supposed to (according to fortune teller ana) be the best year of my life. now, if that doesn't get someone excited about a birthday, and soon after a new calendar year, i don't know what would!
word on the street is that a woman's 30's are supposed to be fantastic. and in time, it will come. i'm not worried about turning 30 (once you get past 25, it's a pretty common topic at birthday time, i have a feeling it will be even more prevelant at 29). i don't even care about the number. i feel like i deserve 30! if i was any younger, i would not be the person i am today... and mostly i'm okay with that person. i will always be a project to be worked on, but nirvana's not an easy journey.
birthday plans
gerry's taken tomorrow off and we've plans to go to cafe paradiso with some of his friends who are kind enough to join in the festivities. it's a gourmet vegetarian restaurant. i've checked out the menu and it looks great. i'm so excited about great vegetarian food! i made pizza last night, but that deserves its own blog entry. also, i get breakfast in bed, and i don't mean the chocolates that danielle sent me... they'll be gone at 12.04 am. :o) otherwise, it will be mostly a day of relaxing. maybe we'll go downtown, if we feel like it. maybe not. on thursday we're going to dublin and we will go shopping there. to the posh mall. and i think we're staying at conor and sinead's. on saturday we're going to carrickmacross, for gerry's brother's engagement party. i have a good feeling i'll have some blogs about that. there have been comments about my inability to understand gerry's father, so we've come up with a signal system, but i won't know if gerry's taking the piss out of me, or genuinely helping... it's pretty much a gamble either way.
stay tuned.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
the epitome of self-control
i'm not supposed to open the gift from danielle until my birthday. good thing she said something, cause, in case you haven't read the previous couple of entries, i was about to tear into that thing! instead, i am now practicing control that hasn't been seen since rocky 3.
so, it sits there. and i sit here.
i won breakfast in bed from gerry last night. but, total burn, he has nothing to eat here. we're going grocery shopping today, because i'm going to make pancakes with maple syrup tomorrow. buttermilk pancakes. with lots of maple syrup. and lots of butter. awwwwwww yeeeeaaaaahh!
i can't wait for tomorrow. maybe i should have pancakes for dinner instead... or supper, as it's called here.
i checked out martha for a recipe. and day-amn those buttermilk pancakes are looking good. i'm hungry.
so, it sits there. and i sit here.
i won breakfast in bed from gerry last night. but, total burn, he has nothing to eat here. we're going grocery shopping today, because i'm going to make pancakes with maple syrup tomorrow. buttermilk pancakes. with lots of maple syrup. and lots of butter. awwwwwww yeeeeaaaaahh!
i can't wait for tomorrow. maybe i should have pancakes for dinner instead... or supper, as it's called here.
i checked out martha for a recipe. and day-amn those buttermilk pancakes are looking good. i'm hungry.
Friday, November 18, 2005
gettin' paid
yesterday i went to a walk-in interview for a job that i had decided i wanted. i got the job fairly quickly. mary, the woman who interviewed me, adored me. and said as much. i think it helped that i spent so much time unpacking, trying on an outfit, packing, trying on something different, deciding that when i bought every item, i clearly hadn't thought about the other items for matching and style. and then decided on a pair of brown pants and burgandy top with three-quarter length sleeves. and brown shoes.
anyway, i basically had the job within like 5 minutes, and she ended up selling the job to me, and insisting that despite starting at an entry level, there would be a chance for me to move up, and that usually they want people to have 6 months experience before they move around in the company, but for someone like me, they make exceptions, although it would be great for me to get the experience and then apply for new positions. she showed me around the building, which has 2 free internet stations, a relaxing area, a cafeteria, a free gym, and basically no dress code. i get to go to work in jeans. :o) then she made me take the "are you a psychopath" computer test. she didn't give me the results of that. there was also a logic and maths component, which i would like to point out, i think i rocked.
what's this job? well, it's basically a call centre that people who have time shares call to book their time. you have to arrange it, or a suitable alternative, and then you try to up-sell them on getting the flight, car rental, etc. through you. easy peasy. did i mention the health care benefits are great? oh, and employees get 4 weeks holiday in a time-share of their choice.
to celebrate, gerry and i went out for dinner to another favourite restaurant. this one has more of an italian influence. it was quite nice. had some wine. then met up with his friend, rob, who is an american with a sometimes irish accent because he's been here for 2.5 years, and went to a pub where there was a fußbal tournament. however, we were all drunk enough and had waited way too long for it to start, and it was moving so slowly, that we decided home was a much better idea.
good times.
now i'm going to look at another house... this one gerry said is in a better location to get to work, and hopefully it's as nice as yesterday's.
anyway, i basically had the job within like 5 minutes, and she ended up selling the job to me, and insisting that despite starting at an entry level, there would be a chance for me to move up, and that usually they want people to have 6 months experience before they move around in the company, but for someone like me, they make exceptions, although it would be great for me to get the experience and then apply for new positions. she showed me around the building, which has 2 free internet stations, a relaxing area, a cafeteria, a free gym, and basically no dress code. i get to go to work in jeans. :o) then she made me take the "are you a psychopath" computer test. she didn't give me the results of that. there was also a logic and maths component, which i would like to point out, i think i rocked.
what's this job? well, it's basically a call centre that people who have time shares call to book their time. you have to arrange it, or a suitable alternative, and then you try to up-sell them on getting the flight, car rental, etc. through you. easy peasy. did i mention the health care benefits are great? oh, and employees get 4 weeks holiday in a time-share of their choice.
to celebrate, gerry and i went out for dinner to another favourite restaurant. this one has more of an italian influence. it was quite nice. had some wine. then met up with his friend, rob, who is an american with a sometimes irish accent because he's been here for 2.5 years, and went to a pub where there was a fußbal tournament. however, we were all drunk enough and had waited way too long for it to start, and it was moving so slowly, that we decided home was a much better idea.
good times.
now i'm going to look at another house... this one gerry said is in a better location to get to work, and hopefully it's as nice as yesterday's.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
hermione's not such a weird name
i'm coming across some gems, in my search for a house/job.
today's special name:
Gobnait
enjoy.
today's special name:
Gobnait
enjoy.
last night gerry and i went for japanese food. there were no rolls involved. gerry had a noodle dish, and i had a curry dish with rice and some breaded veggies. we also had edamame and veggie gyoza... which were the best gyoza i've ever had, strange, considering i hail from b.c.. it was kind of a modern japanese restaurant. you sit at a long shared table, that kind of thing.
it was really tasty and one of gerry's favourite restaurants, and i was not disappointed.
also not disappointing is that i have a package waiting for me at gerry's office. a package labeled CHOCOLATES!!! from a Danielle N. Barnes. chocolates + Danielle = PURDY'S!!! i'm gonna be sick tomorrow. i wonder if i'll be able to hold off not eating them all at once? it's a good thing they're not here, because i have that interview to go to, and i wouldn't want to have a tummy ache, just because i have no control. normally, having purdy's would equal calling danielle over for some cribbage/nintendo or a movie... but she's a bit far for that. so d, i hope you saved yourself some chocolates, so we can have an internet date, play some cribbage online, and eat some purdy's... maybe not together, but sort of.
speaking of cribbage... i skunked gerry last night. it was sweet because i needed 10 points to go out, and he counted first. i pegged the points. just. and tara gave me a brilliant, a cruel, but brilliant, idea for a bet. thanks tara.
it was really tasty and one of gerry's favourite restaurants, and i was not disappointed.
also not disappointing is that i have a package waiting for me at gerry's office. a package labeled CHOCOLATES!!! from a Danielle N. Barnes. chocolates + Danielle = PURDY'S!!! i'm gonna be sick tomorrow. i wonder if i'll be able to hold off not eating them all at once? it's a good thing they're not here, because i have that interview to go to, and i wouldn't want to have a tummy ache, just because i have no control. normally, having purdy's would equal calling danielle over for some cribbage/nintendo or a movie... but she's a bit far for that. so d, i hope you saved yourself some chocolates, so we can have an internet date, play some cribbage online, and eat some purdy's... maybe not together, but sort of.
speaking of cribbage... i skunked gerry last night. it was sweet because i needed 10 points to go out, and he counted first. i pegged the points. just. and tara gave me a brilliant, a cruel, but brilliant, idea for a bet. thanks tara.
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
gifting
both of my sisters have birthdays in november... as do i. we are born in proper order: november 7, is annemarie, november 19, is heidi, and i'm the 23rd... we were even named alphabetically. annemarie got some stuff for her house from ikea. heidi got a necklace, made/designed or all of the above in ireland. it was a recommendation from sharon. i can't remember what the name of the designer is...in fact, i would have liked to spend more time with it and examine it more, but i needed to send it to her asap. as it is, it will probably be at least a week late anyway. it's cool, it's silver and kind of looks like viney/firey hanging down bits. *lmao* ummm... great description, i know.
i did *not* visit my bag, because i think i need to not obssess and i should probably think about the options that chocolate brown present. i did however buy a pair of miu miu sunglasses. they were on sale, and as i mentioned to gerry on saturday as we were driving from shannon, i need new sunglasses. oh, and if you will recall, before i left vancouver a couple of months ago, i was trying to find some new ones. so there conor. :op and if you're not careful, i *won't* buy that furla, instead, i will fly danielle over here with the savings and have her beat you up, or just kick your ass at N64. how would that affect my karma? mwah hah hah!
i did *not* visit my bag, because i think i need to not obssess and i should probably think about the options that chocolate brown present. i did however buy a pair of miu miu sunglasses. they were on sale, and as i mentioned to gerry on saturday as we were driving from shannon, i need new sunglasses. oh, and if you will recall, before i left vancouver a couple of months ago, i was trying to find some new ones. so there conor. :op and if you're not careful, i *won't* buy that furla, instead, i will fly danielle over here with the savings and have her beat you up, or just kick your ass at N64. how would that affect my karma? mwah hah hah!
an f'ing dilemma
the furla... i was talking to gerry about my day last night, and i'm willing to admit, despite being totally calm two seconds before... as soon as i started talking about having found the furlas and the guccis and the pradas, i got crazy excited. i might have to go back to visit it today. it really was special. maybe i should take a look for shoes to match. hmmm... maybe i'm in love with an orange bag. i hope i brought my brown turtleneck sweater... that would be sweet. oh, or if i brought my green one, that might work too... WARDROBE!!! maybe i should look at the furla store in dublin... they might have a chocolate brown bag. hmmm... so hard to know... should i hold out and see if there is a chocolate brown bag? is that more special, or just more functional? because really, i do have a special green furla. eek!!!
maybe i should wait. but maybe the orange is more umph. i will visit it again today... with shaz. but for now, i need to work on my resume.
p.s.
cheryl: totally fine... i got what you meant... no offence taken.
d: if you were here, or it was chocolate brown, it would be mine already... i already thought about that.
maybe i should wait. but maybe the orange is more umph. i will visit it again today... with shaz. but for now, i need to work on my resume.
p.s.
cheryl: totally fine... i got what you meant... no offence taken.
d: if you were here, or it was chocolate brown, it would be mine already... i already thought about that.
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