Once Upon A Time, In An Irish Shire

You have all been wondering what lies behind the unique and colorful doors of Ireland...and I am here to tell you.  The answer is *magic*.  Spending some time in Irish countryside is probably the best thing you can do for yourself.  It was beautiful...and there were lots of sheep (LOTS) so I felt right at home.  Kara, Kylie, Kristen, Emily and I flew into Ireland on Thursday evening and we flew out on Saturday evening so we had to get down to business right away.  This was made easy because our hostel was right in the beating heart of Dublin.  I will also note that this was my first hostel experience.  It was interesting.  My conclusion is that men in Europe smell just as bad before they shower as they do after, probably worse.  It kind of made me sick to my stomach, but I didn't let it ruin things for me.  

The first night, we went and watched live Irish dancing, fo' free!  What a  gold mine.  Those dancer were out of control. And sweaty.  One of the male dancers had so much junk in his trunk!  He totally rivaled me, so that was pretty shocking.  

Some advice from me: if you ever make it to Ireland, definitely visit some pubs.  There isn't much else to do, anyways.  This is especially important if you ever have a case of the blues or are feeling unloved, because that can easily be cured by taking one step into an Irish pub.  This probably would only work for those of the female gender, but I promise you that in 5 seconds flat your self-esteem will increase ridiculously because drunk men love girls, and drunk Irishmen love girls even more.  And they love for you to sing with them... so go for it.  I have never been hit on my so many men (ranging from 20 - 50).  One time, I was scoping out the landscape, searching for some strapping young men and as I looked over the heads of people, trying to see across the room and around a wooden pillar, I suddenly noticed that a very aged and wasted man was in front of my face, moving in line with any direction of my vision.  When we made eye contact he smiled really big and raised his eyebrows.  At that point, I just stopped looking.  

We took a tour to Glendalough, it is a small town / village where there is an old monastery (when I say old, I mean medieval old)  So we hung out in a Celtic grave yard and saw some ruins. The best part was making videos in the graveyard...no regrets.  Along the way to Glendalough, we stopped at lakes and movie locations (think Braveheart and P.S. I Love You).  We also learned a lot about Irish history... so if you have any questions, I am your girl.  The tour guide informed us about current Irish events, as well.  Apparently, Ireland has been hit especially hard by the economic crisis and is experiencing a 20-30% unemployment rate (ouch).  They will probably be calling in aid from the IMF next year and are on the verge of being third-world status!  That's enough to make a man cry in his Guinness, so say a prayer, make a wish or find a four leaf clover and dedicate it to Ireland.  

Lucky Lucky (Twice)

Just some photo's to catch up on ...

This is me and the band in front of the Opera House.  I did what felt natural and played the air flute. 

Photo shoot in front of the Arc de Triomphe.  Sometimes looking like a tourist is unavoidable. 

I promised a special someone (you know who you are...i hope) an image of the Champs Elysees so here it is.

Pretty classy stuff..

Ciao

Je Blague

Combien des boulons sont dans la Tour Eiffel? (How many bolts are in the Eiffel Tower?)

Just un bout long! (Just one long point!)

An old man in Le Jardin du Luxembourg told a group of us that joke.  He loved it.  He was just dying laughing.  Aah...it kills me.  I love the French.  I don't know what people are talking about...they are hyper (pron. "ee-père" et pas "Hi-per".) cool.  

I'm telling you, they are very, very nice.  Maybe on the inside they think "stupid American"...but even still, they are kind enough to keep it to themselves and I appreciate that.  B

ut really, absolute strangers will go out of their way, even if they're obviously in a hurry, to stop and help you.  I've seen it many a time.  Je blague pas, and I have only been here a week.  One time I was in the metro and there was a girl having trouble with her metro pass.  There was also a lady who passed through at the same time and you could see in her face she was in a hurry.  The lady was absolutely torn between whether to help this person get into the station or reach her deadline.  The lady paused three times to check and make sure the girl was ok, and on the third time, she turned around and helped the girl, who was clearly a tourist, get into the metro.  It wasn't her job to help at all and she was not bothered to do it either.  Afterwards she gracefully said "Je vous en prie" and was on her way.  I was very impressed.  

(Notre Dame - It didn't click that Notre Dame means Our Woman until I came here. I guess I'm not always what you would call quick.)

Also, I am very grateful for how patient the French are with people learning the language (i.e - ME).  They are very encouraging.  If you don't know or aren't sure how to say something they say, "Well, just try".  And if you don't get it right, they correct you, but in a kind and respectful way.  So what I am trying to say is the experience is certainly worth it, even considering the pee filled subways and dog dropping filled streets.  

Aux Champs Elycees

Wishing you... 

were here...

New Idea For Theme of Wedding

I have a lot of friends who are getting married at the moment and so I have read my fair share of wedding magazines and I have been checking out what Martha has to offer.  Maybe I even made a log in for theKnot.com and registered at Pottery Barn (It was fun).  But, of course, it was all done in the name of friendship......This post was really not supposed to get this personal.  ANYways,  after mulling over wedding themes...I discovered the perfect one.

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ALBINO WEDDING

I'll just leave you to think about it...

Yamagata Update

Apparently 30 Rock's Jane Krakowski (AKA Jenna) was also at City Winery for the Rachael Yamagata concert.  I did not see her...but this means we breathed the same air.

I did not see very many celebrities while I was in New York, but I must have some underlying psychological connection that drew the people of 30 Rock to me because I also saw "Frank" walking down 5th avenue.  And I strolled by 30 Rockafeller several times...soooo if that doesn't prove that I am destined to be best friends forever with Tina Fey, then I don't know what does. It just makes sense because we are both SO funny...ahem, joke. But really Tina, Amy & Maggie.  Sounds good. So many great monikers...TAM, ATM...then MAT..that would be the slightly less attractive model. Stanger things have happened.

From the words of Ms. Yamagata - "Permission to Obsess"

Don't file a restraining order just yet...but still, as much as I liked Rachael Yamagata avant the concert...that love has grown exponentially post concert. She made my New York. I know...most of her music is dark and dreary..but her personality is certainly not. She was charming. I was charmed. She was witty, flirty with the audience, interesting...everything you could ask for. She was completely comfortable making fun of herself so it just made for an enjoyable, at-ease kind of show. It is always fun to hear the stories behind the songs and she was really light about the whole song development process. Her songs clearly pack a wallop, but that's where she seems to put it, into the songs. When she was describing the evolution of "Elephants" she joked about it along the way for the sake of keeping things from getting too deep and awkward (just a little bit deep)...and then concluded, "I don't know....It could be a load of s--- anyway. You tell me." And really...if you think "Elephants" is beautiful and moving via recording...you should experience it live. It was incredible. You will be changed, and that is a promise. I wont go into detail for fear of entering realms of clique-ness..but I will leave you with on word -- "raw".They did some incredible instrumentals, too. They incorporated a mini-trumpet, clarinet, cello and did some funky work with the guitar that I really liked.

Co-preforming was Dan Wilson. Never heard of him previously, sorry to say. Apparently he recently earned himself a Grammy, so go him. He was pretty funny as well and his music was not too shabby. For the most part, since the concert I have been listening to his song "Sugar" on repeat. The lyrics are grand.

So, to say the least it was a very intoxicating experience...both because of the exceptional music and the thick smell of wine in the air. Not complaining about either.

Sealed w/ a Kiss

Tonight I leave for NYC. Thank you life for kicking my trash right up until departure. I needed that.


Top of the To Do List:

1.) SNL (mon rêve) / The Daily Show Tapings
2.) Yankees vs. Cubs Game (new Yankee stadium)
3.) Shopping (anywhere)
4.) Museums: The Frick / The Met
5.) Eating? (See #3)
6.) Rachael Yamagata
7.) Broadway showing: TBA
8.) Buildings: 30 Rock/ Empire / Chrysler
9.) Running in Central Park (weather permitting)
10.)Easter Mass as St. Pat.'s.

It's gonna be BIG.

Water March

I may not be Catholic...but this year I pretty much did lent...just minus 9 days and the religion part (but I not saying it was not a spiritual experience). For the month of March (you should note that March is 31 days..not 28, 29 0r 30) my amigos and I opted to nix all liquids besides water. I threw in no cereal w/ milk as well, just for good measure. Cereal is one of my loves (your Vanilla Special K (w. bananas and rasberries) is my heaven) so to make it extra challenging, I decided the serious sacrifice needed to be made.

My friend Tim suggested that I continue the tradition, but dedicate future months to other liquids...for example Hot Chocolate. As much as I like a challenge (and strictly consuming hot chocolate in the month of July would certainly be the greatest challenge of anyone's life. I don't care what you've been through.) you can just assume that that will not happen in my near or far future.

Anyways, finally April Fools rolled around, but there was no funny business. We broke Water March at Cafe Rio (where else?). On the menu: Me - DP, Andie - Diet Coke, Renee - The hard stuff. Raw Coke. It was overwhelming for my palate. So much flavor. Afterward, it was like Forrest Gump when he goes to the White House for the first time after he is an All-American football player. He drinks 13 Dr. Peppers and when he meets the president he says "I gotta go pee"...very similar.

So...that's all I have to say about that.

Paper Raped

I am pleased to announce that my friend Renee Bush has officially been published. Location: Urban Dictionary. I am not surprised, it was bound to happen sooner rather than later. You are lucky to have her UD. She has been honored for her canonization of the phrase "paper raped". We are all very proud of her and a certainly support all her endeavors, in urban literature and otherwise.

This is the product of her labors:

1.	paper raped	1 thumb up
	it is a situation one finds himself or herself frequently in college, when two or more papers are due in different classes in a short period of time. This results in staying up late, putting off everything else, and writing paper after paper until you feel like quitting school. How to use this term: You: "Sorry man, I can't do anything this week. I have two papers due today, one tomorrow, and one the next day." Me: "Dang, you are totally getting paper raped right now." You: "Yep, it sucks..."

I gave it a thumb up...you should too. http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=paper+raped xoxo - M