Odds & Ends

• And thus, I return to Ireland with Cheddar Goldfish and an entire box of Saltine crackers. If I may, for a moment, discuss Saltine crackers. Has there been a cracker more magnificent than this in all of my days? The answer is no. Not even Carrs can top the glory of Saltines.
  
  
• Sorry in advance to all you redheads out there, but sitting behind you on an airplane is the worst. Each and every one of you always reclines all the way. This particular redhead who sat in front of me on last night's flight was the worst because she would literally bodyslam herself into her seat each time she shifted and I could feel my kneecaps cracking each time. And then looked shocked when we stood up at the end and she saw how much I towered over her. Girl in 30D - you are the worst.
  
  
• Gramma's 90th birthday party was a huge success. I got to sit next to her (score!) but did not have a Coow Woow all night. Rest assured, my brother had plenty for everyone else who missed out.
  
  
• Finally caught up on 'my shows.' I've said it before, I'll say it again - Mad Men is the best show out there.
  

Land of Opportunity

Did you know that they sell powdered Gatorade? You can just pour it into water and voila - Gatorade. Naturally I bought some. Grape flavor, naturally. Any other flavor is for the birds.

I just got back from Target and Best Buy and I'm surprised my head didn't explode at the many many choices laid out in front of me. Sometimes I think this is a bad thing. Maybe we're spoiled for choice.

I will say this - at Best Buy, I looked for the vacuum that the SJC and I currently have, Mike Dyson. And they didn't have it. Score one for the UK, Best Buy! In your face! They did, however, have refrigerators that were taller than me. Score one for Best Buy. The CD section has diminished incredibly. I was looking for the new Tom Petty album (refuse to buy it on iTunes) and couldn't find the Rock and Roll section. Maybe next time, Tom.

Last night was my Gramma's 90th birthday party. Every single person asked me if we were moving back and seemed delighted when the answer was, 'We're working on it!' Then they were concerned about The SJC. How will he adjust? Is he going to be happy? To which I responded, 'How did I adjust? Am I happy?' Which probably isn't a good comparison in the end, and, if going by my own personal experience, means that he'll adjust quickly, but over time begin to resent it and all it's lack of features. Yeah, it's a concern. I'll have to distract him with adventures to the Cape or Florida.

And speaking of concerns, I see the Target embargo on Tylenol is still on. It's a shame because I really needed some Tylenol.

Greetings From The New World

I'm home for the week. I was coming home as a surprise for my Gramma, who turns 90 this weekend. It was all in the works - I'd go to my sister's for a few days, then call Gramma on Wednesday and ask if she wanted to get breakfast the next morning.

But on Monday morning, Gramma came over to my parent's house before I was picked up by Kate. And my Dad blew the surprise.

You see, I was upstairs, wrapping Uncle David's wedding gift when I heard my father say, 'You don't knock anymore?' and a stern voice respond, 'I shouldn't have to.'
Then my Dad told me to come down and say hello to my Grandmother who questioned my father, 'Did you say Elizabeth? She's not here.'

But, I was.

Gramma seemed to be delighted to see me, and I was delighted to see her. Because my Gramma rules in a major way. So, oh well, now she knows I'm here for her birthday. She did tell me it was her best present (SCORE!) which was very nice.

And now I'm at Kate's, living the dream in Central Massachusetts where the leaves are starting to change color, a phenomenon that I've largely missed while living in evergreen Ireland.

It's good to be home.

In Sickness

Somebody call the waaah-mbulance.

I don't feel good. I haven't felt good for about 3 days but today it all came to a head. Puking is the worst. And I am the worst sick person. I think I'm worse than men, who curl up in the fetal position and suck their thumbs and only want their mother.

I'm the 'Put on a brave face' sick person. You know, 'Oh well I'm not feeling great...but I'll manage!' Like a martyr. When really all I want is someone to tell me to go to bed or to make me tea and toast and then tell me to go to bed. Someone who looks all sympathetic when I said, 'I'm not feeling aces.'

Oh woe is me.

But don't you worry about me, I'll survive. I'll pull through. The road to recovery may be narrow, winding, and long, but I will make it. Do you hear me, world? I'll make it.

In the mean time, I'd like some ice cream and a nap. Though this tea and toast that I made for myself is going down a treat.

A Short List

Things I Once Took For Granted, But Never Will Again Because I've Lived Outside of America:

1) Forced hot water. Yes, there is a way to get hot water without boosting the immersion. And if you know what I'm talking about when I say 'boosting the immersion' then you will probably be shocked to learn that in some places, some magical lands, you can turn on the hot water at any given time during the day and there will be hot water. It's a Christmas miracle every day. (This was prompted by washing dishes in cold water after leaping out of the shower approximately 5 minutes before I was finished due to hypothermia.)

2) Big refrigerators. As in fridges that are taller than me. Over 6'. Though there is something to be said for a fridge that is 5'5 - I can lean on it a treat while talking on the phone.

3) A dryer. My fondest memories are of warm, soft towels for use after a shower. However, an air-dried towel is surprisingly good for exfoliation of the skin.

4) Not having to worry about the logistics of carrying groceries over 1 mile. AKA The Many Splendors of a Car. This was made evident to me after this weekend when we stocked up on as much as we could carry at M&S. Like a kid in a candy store. Also, I wouldn't have to plan a day trip to Oxfam to drop off some books that I've been meaning to donate. At this point, a motorcycle with a sidecar would be chalked up to a win in my book. Like Indiana Jones, but modern.

Oh The Places We Went

This weekend, one of our friends rented a car and drove our sorry asses all over kingdom come for no other reason than out of the goodness of his heart.

I've been trying to be more decisive in my life, so I've deemed myself The Decider. And I called the shots on where to go and what to do.

Naturally on Saturday I demanded that we go to Johnnie Fox's for lunch/beers. (You may have seen this pub advertised in Cara, the Aer Lingus in flight magazine.) This turned out to be an outstanding suggestion, not for me, no, but for the two fellas I was with. The SJC and Co. saw a Pitch and Putt across the street and thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I, however, was less than enthused. Do you know what I find less fun than watching paint dry? Watching people play golf.

So back to Johnnie Fox's I went, where I sat at the bar and people watched for about an hour and a half until The SJC and Co. were done playing golf.

People are really weird. Also, some are creative. While I was there, a bachelorette party/hen night (depending on where in the world you're from) rolled up. All the attendees were dressed like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's. This made me realize two things: 1) The SJC and I need to get married again and 2) Probably in a few more years.

Sunday I suggested going to Dundrum or to Liffey Valley. We went to Liffey Valley for reasons unknown and ended up going to the cinema there to see Dinner of Schmucks, or as I like to call it, 'The Worst Movie I've seen in Years.'

I wanted to walk out. It was that bad. Though I can't fault Jemaine Clement, because he was funny. It was a disappointing film. Had such potential, etc etc. Oh well. Then we went to M&S and got enough fruit and veg for the next few days. Why? Because as the decider, I've decided to only follow the food pyramid for awhile. Screw you, Fluff and other processed foods. I'm sticking with the food pyramid. Of course this went badly off track as I'm pretty sure the food pyramid doesn't have 'Apple Cinnamon Crunch' as a breakfast option. I'm sure I'll live.

All in all, a good, yet random, weekend. I especially look forward to this upcoming weekend. I have a very important journey to take on Sunday. Excuse me while I high five myself out of delight.

A Great Day

This day was a great day. For starters, I met up with KD and we got pedicures. Pampering, salt scrubbing goodness, pedicures. I wanted to give everyone a high five, my feet were so happy. There was even an old man in the shop getting a pedicure. I'm not kidding when I say pedicures are the key to world peace. My toes never looked so classy!

(By the way, sister Kate, I went with a light color, not my usual dark purple or sparkles. I thought to myself, 'What Would Kate Do?' and though they didn't have much by the way of nude tones, I went with a light pink.)

Then KD and I went to Meg's for a quick visit with Meg and a guest appearance by Kim who is just back from England. One of my favorite things about being a lady is gossip. Whether it's about Zac Efron or The Real Housewives of New Jersey, it's always a hell of a time.

I got to go back to Meg's later in the day to take Liam the Lion (her son) for a walk. We went to Herbert Park and watched the ducks. I walked him past the US Embassy but he was all "Whatevs" and fell asleep. He even slept through our jaunt past the Italian Embassy. The cheek! Then it was back to Meg's for some mirror time and pizza.

As Ice Cube would say, "Today was a good day."

Wall Art

Whilst Skyping with my sister once, she commented that the apartment looked more like a dorm room. While this may be true, it's mostly because a) we don't own it and b) why spend money decorating when so much is up in the air?

My Mom sent a care package a week ago, I picked it up today. Amongst the goods inside were several maps of various places in the United States, including two maps of the United States themselves. These are for our upcoming road trip around the USA, for planning purposes.

I've added another map to the whole dorm room theme we have going on in this apartment.


Boom.

This is what we will use as the trace map. So far I've figured out how to hit every state from New England to Florida across to California and all the way back until you hit the Mid-West. There will be a lot of zig-zagging.

Of course this whole trip has been inspired by Caitlin who recently went on a road trip across the US. (Thanks Caitlin!)

Special thanks to Mom and Dad for the use of their Honda Pilot so the two tall-asses can drive about 6000 miles in comfort. They've just saved us quite the pretty penny in rental car fees, that is, of course, unless Honda themselves feels like sponsoring this trip... Hint.

All there is left to do is plan where we want to go and what we want to see. Any suggestions?

Friday Bits

• I've had a couple of banner days at ibl, inc, thanks to the many fans of Mr. Rickman. Sadly, I've not seen him since that fateful day, but I'm keeping my eyes out for more sightings.
  
  
• I've been feeling off balance for a few days. The SJC thinks I have vertigo. Whenever I think of vertigo, I think of Liza Minnelli in Arrested Development.
  
  
• Been having odd dreams lately. Zombies one night, an escapee of a niece last night combined with trying to escape a hurricane. Sleep has been no comfort to me lately. Cut the shit, subconscious.
  
  
• I wonder how many people are going to be playing 'Goodbye Earl' by the Dixie Chicks after Hurricane Earl finishes his run on the East Coast.
  
  
• Thanks to a good friend, I'm completely hooked on The Real Housewives of New Jersey. This appears to be a polarizing show, either you love it or you hate it. Like one particular character. That I hate. I just don't care. All that's on TV here is reality shows like Big Brother and X Factor and I really can't stand those types of shows. Thanks, Bravo, for this one.
  
  
• And finally, we're off to Sligo this weekend. Hope everyone has a good one!

I Can't Top This

Obviously I would have the be all and end all celebrity sighting on my way back from the gym. Obviously I would be a red-faced, sweaty mess, with cartoon-like stink fumes radiating from my body, and obviously I'd need run a quick errand before going home to shower. And obviously this would happen today.

I walked into Fresh today and saw a man over by the avocados. I thought to myself, 'Hmm, that gentleman looks an awful lot like Alan Rickman. Then myself said, 'That's because it is Alan Rickman, you fool.' Naturally, my next thought was, 'Ooooh Molly's going to be jealous!'

I remembered hearing that he was in town for a play. I was a little suspect, thinking maybe it was just his doppelganger. So I moved towards the broccoli (we needed some, I promise you) and heard him speak to whomever he was shopping with.

Yeah, it was definitely him.

If he's doing his grocery shopping at my local supermarket, I wonder if he's staying around here. Probably.

Alan, welcome to the neighborhood.

He has now been added to my list of celebrity sightings since moving to Dublin, obviously taking the number one slot in front of Gok Wan, Russell Brand, and Grainne Seoige.