I'm blogging about this

Today I was talking to the MOH of my wedding, my older sister Kate, who is also the mother of my favorite niece, Darcy. We discussed many things, including the recessive blue gene, ears you inherit through other family members, and my upcoming second wedding to the same husband. This second wedding thing is not something I've blogged about often on this blog, but it is happening and it's starting to take over most of my life. Which is just fine by me, because usually my life is occupied with laundry, Judge Judy, and staring out the window wishing it would quit raining and or staring out the window figuring out where I can get enough lumber to build an ark.

I've been doing trial makeup runs because I refuse to pay someone to do my makeup - not because I'm cheap, but because I do it better. And I already know how I'm doing my hair, another thing that I refuse to hire someone to do for the very same reason. I have confidence in my abilities, yes, but mostly I want to look like myself on that day of days. The focus today was on bridal headpieces. I'm going to wear a veil, but I'm not a tiara kind of gal. I do, however, enjoy headbands immensely. Right now I'm looking for a headband similar to this:


Courtesy of Google Images

It doesn't have to be flowers, it can be beads such as fake pearls.

The trouble is that these things are pricey and, well, I'm unemployed. I remembered that at one time I moonlighted as a necklace maker and thought 'Hey I can make one of these myself.' I almost got ready to go to AC Moore until I realized there is no AC Moore in Ireland and then figured there had to be something similar. Then I looked out the window/on Google and saw no craft stores that I knew of within a 10 mile radius and thought 'oh hell.' So I brought this issue up with my sister Kate today and she said that I should blog about it and write, 'Rachel, can you make this? Kate says you're very crafty.' My other alternative is to look for something similar, but TII.

So, how about it, ATL? I'll make it worth your while.

Future Plans

Lately I've been giving a lot of thought to how I will spend my millions once I win the lottery. I like to stay grounded in reality, so I know it may take a few weeks for me to get to the winning point, but it will happen. Also, I think I'll probably win about $500 million because anything less, well, just isn't worth it.

Aside from paying off my Goddamned student loans, the biggest investment will be property. And in this weak economy, buying property (if you can afford it) is a good deal. So, being realistic, I went on realtor.com and did a search for houses in Key Largo, FL for a princely price range of $1 mil and $30 bil. I figured aiming high with $30 bil will help include all the properties that realtor.com wants me to see. Why Key Largo? Because I like the sun and Key West may be a bit over populated with roosters and Hemingway's kittens. Also, it features in a Beach Boy's song. That alone would make property in Key Largo a must have.

And I was right.



Isn't she lovely? I'd call her 'Wealth' or 'Luxury' if I were one to flaunt my riches, but I'm not, so instead, I call her 'Home.'

Behold the kitchen:

I intend to film my Food Network show here. The show will be called 'Cooking with Liz' and will feature things made by someone who can't really cook but likes to pretend. The menu will include fajitas, spaghetti mess, grilled cheese sandwiches, and how to make a rum and coke. Later I'll write a book with all my recipes, which will sell millions of copies and be popular amongst college kids. And with that money, I'll buy a yacht and go yachting with Puff Daddy on the weekends. As you do.

Hey look! A place for Dad to live!

I'll definitely put him up in that house as a thanks for being the landscape architect. Thanks Dad!

And finally, the reason the house had me at hello, the bathroom.

Umm, it has a chair. Did these people think of everything? The answer is so obviously a YES.

I think I'm going to call and make an offer this afternoon. My offer will be 'I will buy this once I get a huge cash windfall from the lottery.' And I think their counter offer will be 'Sounds good.' Wish me luck.

Metropolis in Pictures, Part 2

Lil D's (aka Squiggs as in Squiggo as in squiggly) Christening continued.


Keeping it real and fist bumping her Godmother


Squiggs entertaining her mother and Godmother

The Christening was such a great day. Squiggs is adorable and lovely to be around. I miss her so much but I'll see her again soon. It was great to be home because I could actually SEE her growing (well, she looked bigger every day) and I think she likes her Aunt Bee (she better.) Squiggs, I miss you.

Metropolis in Pictures

Day One: Lil D's Christening




Gumpy, get me the hell out of this gown!

Ted Kennedy

My on going love affair with my home state of Massachusetts encompasses all that is great about the state. All Massachusetts natives I know have an incredible love for their homestate, myself included. I'm sure out of staters think that's weird, but I don't care - you should try living there. You'd feel the same way too. I love the Bay State because it has state-wide healthcare for everyone, it was one of the first states to pass the law which allows marriage equality for all, and Massachusetts has been represented in Congress by a one Mr Edward M Kennedy since 1962.

When I first registered to vote in 1997 (the day after I turned 18 my Mom took me downtown. We would have gone the day I turned 18, but that was Christmas), I was excited because I could finally start voting for my favorite Senator, Ted Kennedy. The first time I got to vote for him I was so excited to draw the line that connects the arrows my hand was shaking. You see, the Kennedy's are much more than just a family. They're a dynasty (like the Patriots.) They are beloved and respected. I've seen the Kennedy Compound in Hyannis and personally think that Natick deserves a Robbins Compound (make it happen, Dad!)

Ted Kennedy was the man. Progressive, liberal, and he fought for what he believed in. How many politicans do that now? I even talked to his office in DC last year and was treated with nothing but respect and kindness. I wanted to send them Edible Arrangements but, as they will tell you at Kennedy's office, I was a bit strapped for cash at the time.

A few years ago I was flicking through old photographs of my parents and came across a picture of my Mom wearing a shirt that said, 'I'll wait with Ted' on a day she met him at Natick High School (this wasn't the first time.) I remember being like, 'Yes, I will to, nice one Mom,' because even when I was a kid I thought he'd be a great president. And the US needed a great president. Then Bill Clinton rolled along and we got our great president for my generation (Sorry Barack, get back to me in 4 years.) My Mom also had a green VW Bug with a vanity plate. Normally I'm against vanity plates (that's a whole other post), but this vanity plate said 'EMK 80.' She tried to tell us it was the first initals of her children but we all knew what it really meant. I believe we had a picture of JFK hanging in a room in one of our houses, it could have been Jesus, but that's easy to confuse since the two have a similar type of following.

I was raised in a state that loved the Kennedy's and in a family that was already progressive and liberal, so the two tied together nicely. So when the SJC came in this morning to tell me that Ted Kennedy was dead, I was overcome with grief. Who's going to run Massachusetts now? He died so soon after his sister? Can't that family catch a break? His death is a major blow to my beloved home state - it kind of feels like we're without a captain to steer us in the right direction. I hope whoever fills his position will be at least half the man Teddy was.

Edward Kennedy, you will be missed. Rest in Peace.


Photo courtesy of Boston.com

Like Two Airplanes in the Night

I'm heading back to Dublin today as my friend Beth is heading to Boston. We'll be like two airplanes passing each other in the night, but really in the daytime, and probably not two different planes, but the very same one. Aer Lingus! Direct! Woohooo!

I hope Beth has a fabulous time down the Cape. I leave Massachusetts in her capable hands. Leaving is very bittersweet. The bitter is that I'll be saying goodbye to all my family (Mom, Dad, Kate, Jay, Darcy, Molly, Mark, Gramma, etc) and friends (Tom, Pam, Jenn, etc). The sweet is that I get to see the handsome face of the SJC and spend time with him singing 'The Safety Dance' or having dance offs in the living room. SJC, are you ready??

So while I pack up all the things I've purchased over the last few weeks (ice cube trays, honey mustard, combs, toothbrushes, as you do,) I'll be thinking about all the good stuff I'm returning to. And seeing KD, young Meggles and hopefully Aisling soon, that'll be awesome. And I'll be keeping busy with wedding planning, so it won't be that bad. It's just hard to say goodbye to a wonderful family and the weather. Oh the weather. In the 80s and sunny - my kind of weather. Everything is lush and green and warm. So warm you don't even need a jacket or a scarf. I'll try not to be too disappointed when we start our descent over Howth and all I can see are rain clouds and people wearing jackets (because my vision is that good.)

But all is not lost, we'll be home again in 2 months for something and then 2 months after for something else called my 30th birthday. And then it'll be 2010.

Well I'm off. See you tomorrow morning at 5:15am, Dublin (even though most of you won't be awake.) And TSA, please enjoy pilfering through my bag yet again.

Hurricane Bill

Hurricane Bill is coming. Another ace of a name for a Hurricane.




I found that online - and I love it.

I'll Miss This

On Aliens, specifically this guy:



'Why is his collar up, I wonder?' - Mom
'Future.' - Dad

Well that ties up that nicely.

Look at the skies

It's dusk. Night is about to fall and you're outside on your patio. You feel a slight shift in the breeze and goosebumps threaten to make an appearance on your arm. Something catches your eye and you look up. Over in the tree line is a wisp of cigarette smoke and the bright red ember of a cigarette being inhaled. Slowly, an old man takes one step through the trees and looks up at you.

'There's a storm comin.' he says. And slowly takes one step back. Suddenly the bright red ember of the cigarette is gone - almost as though it was never there. You feel something hit your arm and then hear 'plink' on the floor next to you. It's raining. A flash of light signals you to get inside.

The storm is here. But hey - something had to break the heatwave.

On Facebook

The back story is that yesterday I made my sister a Facebook page. She had been holding out for a long time - a noble boycott. However, the combination of myself and her good friend Rachel caused her to cave slowly. And yesterday she caved completely. So already she has 9 friends, which is a lot for one day, considering when I started my Facebook page back in 2005 (go ahead and re-read that, I was also a Gmail early adapter) it took me about 3 weeks to get 9 people.

So I told my Dad. And the rest is a conversation.

Dad: What the hell is Facebook about?
Me: You keep connected with friends and family.
Dad: Why would I want that?
Me: To see my pictures. I take a lot of them.
Dad: No. But you should set up a Facebook for your mother.
Me: No.
Dad: (Walking up the stairs) Why not?
Me: Because she'll call me every day to ask questions about it.
Dad: (talking to my Mom) Eliz is going to set you up with a Facebook.
Mom: What?
Dad: A Facebook.
Mom: Why?
Dad: So you can see her pictures.
Mom: No, I don't have time for that.
Dad: Facebook is for Communists anyway. Should I turn on the Air for you?
Mom: Ummmmm. Not yet.

As you can see, in the Robbins household, conversations ebb and flow like the wind or a current. And they rarely make sense.

Fin.

The Tally So Far

I've been here for a week and have accomplished many things.
Here goes.

Number of:

Thin Mint Blizzards: 2
Wedding Dresses: 0
Times Mom has been a Darcy Hog: Countless
Times Mom has proclaimed she 'no longer swears': 30
Times Mom has sworn: 31
Times Mom asked, 'Seaport Blvd?': 5
Times we said, 'NO! Atlantic Ave!': 5
Times Mom got lost finding the parking garage: 2
Glasses of wine we got for free at the UMass Club: 3 (each)
Glasses Mom drank: .5
Wasted glasses of wine: 0 (we drank them for her)
Monetary value of goods purchased at Sephora today: $80
Monetary value of cash I spent at Sephora today: $0 (gift certificates)
Monetary value of left over gift certifcates to Sephora: $50
Number of diamonds we are about to try on: Who's to say

So far so good.

Well that's.... Awesome.

Today I traveled to the bright lights of Danvers, Massachusetts for my very first dress fitting for my very second wedding to the very same person I married the first time around.

We got there early (as per usual) so I went to CVS (YAY!) and then to Dunkin Donuts (double yay!) and then walked into the store to collect the dress. We then brought it upstairs where they opened it and hung it on a coat hanger for me to see that...

Gadzooks, it was the wrong dress.

Yes, they ordered the wrong dress. They were off by one number, and as it would happen, it was a pretty important number. The number that means you get an ugly dress with ugly sleeves rather than a pretty pretty princess popularity dress that was the one I originally wanted.

So there was much scrambling around to find out how the error was made and if they could re-order the original dress that I wanted, but we had to wait for California to wake up. Because in all my wisdom, I thought that living in Greenwich Meantime but planning a wedding that was to take place on Eastern Standard would be simple. How could I forget Pacific Time? Well you showed me today, PT. I'll never forget you again.

Turns out they could re-order the dress with a 'rush' on it, meaning it'll be here in 10 weeks rather than 16. Which then means that the original dress I wanted will be in my hands to try on for my first fitting on October 11th.

FYI The wedding is October 17th.

Yeap. That's awesome.

Connecticut, you may be alright after all.

I've had a long standing feud with other states in New England thinking they're the best, particularly Connecticut. It seems to me they can't make their mind up on who they should side with: New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and CT) or 'The Tri-State Area' (CT, New York, New Jersey.) Connecticut seems to side with the Tri-State Area when the going gets tough and will quickly reunite with New England when things are awesome, like when all the states are like 'Hey, everyone should be allowed to get married, not just heteros!'

I like to think that Connecticut is a fair weather friend, often referring to it as 'Patheticut' since everything around here closes at 8pm and the state has always seemed like a lame duck to me.

And then my sister moved there and I knew I had to give it a chance. I didn't want to, but I knew that eventually I'd have to go there and visit. I knew I couldn't cast glares or shoot daggers with my eyes at all the residents because my parents brought me up better than that. So with a long exasperated sigh, I crossed the state border into Connecticut and fumbled with my rose colored glasses until things came into view.

Some of the perks of Connecticut are as follows:

• My niece lives here and she is the most adorable little baby in the world. Seriously, how did I go from 'Hmm kids are okay' to 'Wow babies are awesome' in the span of two days? Today Kate and I took Lil D to the Sink Salon for a wash and a dry, and she loved it. She hated coming out of the salon, but was soon appeased with an aperitif.
  
  
• They have Dairy Queen here. I know Dairy Queen is scattered throughout the US (and possibly even in Guam) but it's about 10 minutes away from where Kate lives. Normally I look at DQ with a passing glance, but last night we went for a treat. They have Thin Mint Blizzards. I guess they're sponsored by the Girl Scouts? Well let me inform you know - Thin Mint Blizzards are a delight. I never thought ice cream could be perfected, I always thought something better would come around the corner, but nope, my mind has been changed. Thin Mint Blizzards are the wave of the future. I firmly believe that Mom and Dad would go to DQ every day after just sampling one, and they don't even like DQ.
  
  
• There is a CVS and a Dunkin Donuts within walking distance of Kate's house. And I use the term 'within walking distance' to signify meaning. It means it's within US walking distance, not Irish walking distance, which means it's within 2 miles. It's within a half a mile or so. Amazing. Brilliant for your late night leg stretch, your mid afternoon exercise regime, or to wake yourself up during the 3pm slump.
  
  
• There seems to be a channel on TV that is dedicated to the Doppler Radar. Weather aficionados take note. We could see the thunder storm coming over from New York before it hit us. And the channel doesn't flash - perfect for late nights when you need a little light to get you from the stairs to the bathroom, but don't want to be caught in the midst of a Twister-esq lightning storm.
  

I'm sure there are more reasons to enjoy Connecticut, and after this trip, I look forward to discovering them.

In conclusion, Connecticut, you may be alright after all.

I'm blogging about this

It's been a great few days in America. I've spent 2 days in The Commonwealth of Massachusetts and 2 days in Patheticut. I took a bunch of pictures at the Christening and everyone will thank me when they're older. I went around taking pictures with everyone as though it were for my MySpace profile page in a series I like to call 'MySpace Shots'. I have to Picasa them (yeap, I used it as a verb, like Photoshop. You're welcome Google!) before I can post them, and I look forward to posting them eventually. I just have to figure out how to recharge my camera battery via sunlight, duct tape, a tube sock, and a paper clip.

Lil D is holding up nicely with another human that is specifically NOT HER MOTHER OR FATHER in her house. I would like to thank Rachel for paving the way for me. Thanks Rachel! PS She asked about you the other day. She looked at me and said 'Hey where's Rachel? I like her.' It was just like Look Who's Talking - amazing, yet true.

I also want you to know it's been in the 90s the past few days. Coming from mild yet rainy Ireland, you'd think this would be a shock to my system. Luckily babies are weak and small and have to stay inside with the air conditioning for most of the day. My sister is a wonderful mother. I mean, we all saw this coming, considering we had two of the best examples of parenting growing up, but it's nice to see it in action.

Today we are going to Target and possibly CVS. It's a dream come true.

Insert Song Lyric Here

I'm Shipping up to Boston/Getting Closer to my Home/Love that Dirty Water.

I'm heading out of here in about 15 minutes to catch an Aer Lingus flight home for a couple of weeks. Posting will be light, maybe. Who's to say.

It'll be a quasi-family reunion since Smalls will be in from Chicago and Lil D will be pledging her allegiance to God in the fight against the Devil. Just another weekend at the Oak!

Quote of the Day

'She's obsessed with Kara' - Liz
'WHY?' - Meg
'Thanks.' - Kara

Summer Vacation

My favorite thing about Summer Vacation is that I get to talk to my Mom and Dad every day. You see, my Mom is a teacher and has summers off. That perk is almost enough to make me think I should also be a teacher but then I remember there's a lot of other crap you have to put up with, like parents wanting to sue the town because their kid got a C+ on their midterm. Because it's the teacher's fault, not the kid's fault. God forbid it's the kid's fault. But I digress.

I like talking to my Mom every day because I can hear what my Dad is doing in the background, grumbling and making remarks, or talking about his garden. And I can close my eyes and imagine the scene at the Oak as it unfolds while I'm on the phone. The tea kettle is going off and they're about to have their morning cup of tea. I'm sure CNBC is on in the background, or if Mom is upstairs, Bob Dylan. I really miss my parents and living at home, but every cloud has a silver lining.

That silver lining goes by the name of Simon. Sometimes I find myself staring at him and pinching myself to wake up from this dream. The staring creeps him out, but he accepts it as he accepts me. What did I ever do to be so lucky? I was walking home from meeting KD for lunch today and thought of him. I thought about how much better the days are when he's back from work and how I look forward to the weekend just to spend time with him because he makes me laugh, and that's all I ever needed. He is all I ever wanted and more.

So in two days I'll be going on my own summer vacation, back home to my parent's house, where I will probably be calling the SJC every day if not Skyping with him. And once again absence will make the heart grow fonder, though to be honest, I don't know how much more fond of him I can get.



I'll only be gone for 2.5 weeks, and in the days of yore we went for 2 months stretches of being apart, but still. I'm really going to miss him. The love of my life.

Knowledge is Power

I'm back from a weekend in Sligo where I learned one very important lesson: I get very angry when a gun is pointed in my face.

Let me clarify. My sister in-law and her husband were also in Sligo and they happen to have a daughter and a son, a 9 year old lad who enjoys fake guns. Specifically a yellow, orange, and florescent green shot gun that shoots nerf-type darts that stick to wood and glass, if you're lucky.

The lad kept pointing the shotgun in my face and I got increasingly angry. Perhaps this is because I don't believe in guns and feel that there are better ways to go about things. Perhaps because I don't think children should be allowed to play with fake guns, no matter what. Perhaps because I'm a Pacifist, I don't know.

I'm sure before he started sticking the gun in my face he thought I wouldn't mind because I'm an American, and, you know, we all own guns and kill people on a regular basis. Only that's not so true. And after I told him to, 'get that gun out of my face' for the 2nd time (I learned you can't swear around children in my early 20s), he must have found it funny, because it went right back into my face at least 7 more times. After a series of increasingly idle threats, my favorite being 'I will crush that gun in front of you and laugh while you cry about it,' I finally grabbed the gun out of his hands and put it on top of a shelf above his reach.

Oh the glories of being tall.

He whined (or whinged, if you're reading this in Ireland) about it but found no sympathy in anyone. And off we went to the cinema to see Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

It was a good movie, and by the way, had no guns.

Now I know something important. I don't like guns, real or fake, and if I'm ever in a hostage situation, well, I feel bad for the people keeping me hostage. Because if they go around waving their guns in my face, I will rip the guns out of their hands and place them on the top shelf. A tough lesson to learn indeed.