...and I just collected my Croatian Kuna today. I should be more excited than this, but it still feels so far away. And not real, somehow!
Today is so, so cold! I can't wait to get to Dubrovnik and bask in warmer temperatures!
Turns out that our outhouse, which houses our washer/dryer and second fridge/freezer has an Asbestos roof!!! Yes...that lovely poisonous stuff they used to put in roofs before they realised how dangerous it was. Well, we have one. And it leaks. Badly. So, the builder guy says he can patch it up and put in a new ceiling, but that the landlord probably won't want to replace it. Which is probably true. So I'm being slowly poisoned as I do my laundry. Yay. See...housework is dangerous!!!
On the other hand, the garage roof will have to be completely replaced and we're a bit concerned. We're hoping they won't make us move out while this happens. That's all we need...builders at 8am on a saturday morning...oh the fun!
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Monday, May 16, 2005
10 more days...
I just spent the weekend enjoying System of a Down's new album, "Mezmerize". I have to admit, though, that the first 4 songs aren't that great, and they include the current single, B.Y.O.B., and the pre-release internet song Cigaro. So, if you're not a fan of either, take heart in knowing the rest of the album is much better. My favourite track, at the moment, is Radio/Video.
Still no sign of NIN album With Teeth, which I ordered from CDWOW.ie ages ago!!! Getting annoyed, considering it has been in HMV for weeks now...taunting me!!! Argh!
Patient update: my Mom got home home on saturday and was whisked off in an ambulance, with my Dad, and brought home. Dad, apparently, didn't handle the speed of the ambulance very well, eneded up getting motion sickness, and had to be given medical attention by the ambulance crew. Mom, on the other hand, found it all very amusing - probably the only thing she has found amusing in the past 9 days! John and I met Dad yesterday (Sunday) when he came up to collect the car from the airport. It was good to see him, and finally get to chat without worrying about phone credit running out! John and I will go home this weekend to see Mom, and hopefully she'll have settled into some sort of routine before then. She's going to the medical centre today, to get her foot looked at by Irish doctors, although the medicare doctor on sunday was impressed with the surgery when he saw the X-Rays.
Holiday: I just have to buy a suitcase, collect my Kuna and find decent shoes, and I'm all set for Dubrovnik. 10 more days...
Saw Kingdom of Heaven over the weekend too...very impressive, although Orlando Bloom wasn't quite right for that role. He wasn't nearly as bad as he was in Troy, but there was something lacking in him as a performer...he didn't seem strong enough. Having said that though, the rest of the actors were spot-on, and the set pieces were amazing. I thought the various sides were represented fairly...the Knights were portrayed as greedy, for the most part, the Templers were portrayed as brutes who just wanted to kill the Muslims and get rich, and the Muslims were not portrayed as stupid Barbarians, unlike other Crusade movies. I can't comment on the accuracy of the historical facts, although I do know that the Leper King died before the events in the film took place. It doesn't have the same emotional pull as Gladiator, and the battle scenes aren't nearly was impressive as Helm's Deep, in LOTR: The Two Towers, but it is quite enjoyable, nonetheless.
Still no sign of NIN album With Teeth, which I ordered from CDWOW.ie ages ago!!! Getting annoyed, considering it has been in HMV for weeks now...taunting me!!! Argh!
Patient update: my Mom got home home on saturday and was whisked off in an ambulance, with my Dad, and brought home. Dad, apparently, didn't handle the speed of the ambulance very well, eneded up getting motion sickness, and had to be given medical attention by the ambulance crew. Mom, on the other hand, found it all very amusing - probably the only thing she has found amusing in the past 9 days! John and I met Dad yesterday (Sunday) when he came up to collect the car from the airport. It was good to see him, and finally get to chat without worrying about phone credit running out! John and I will go home this weekend to see Mom, and hopefully she'll have settled into some sort of routine before then. She's going to the medical centre today, to get her foot looked at by Irish doctors, although the medicare doctor on sunday was impressed with the surgery when he saw the X-Rays.
Holiday: I just have to buy a suitcase, collect my Kuna and find decent shoes, and I'm all set for Dubrovnik. 10 more days...
Saw Kingdom of Heaven over the weekend too...very impressive, although Orlando Bloom wasn't quite right for that role. He wasn't nearly as bad as he was in Troy, but there was something lacking in him as a performer...he didn't seem strong enough. Having said that though, the rest of the actors were spot-on, and the set pieces were amazing. I thought the various sides were represented fairly...the Knights were portrayed as greedy, for the most part, the Templers were portrayed as brutes who just wanted to kill the Muslims and get rich, and the Muslims were not portrayed as stupid Barbarians, unlike other Crusade movies. I can't comment on the accuracy of the historical facts, although I do know that the Leper King died before the events in the film took place. It doesn't have the same emotional pull as Gladiator, and the battle scenes aren't nearly was impressive as Helm's Deep, in LOTR: The Two Towers, but it is quite enjoyable, nonetheless.
Thursday, May 12, 2005
Change is in the air...
Today was the first time it actually felt warm, which is about time, considering how far into May we are. But that's not the change I'm talking about. Change in work, change at home, change creeping in everywhere. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes not.
Anyways, not a huge amount has happened since the last post. My mom got released from hospital in Croatia and they got moved to a hotel with no steps that can't be overcome by using the lift. It also so happens that this hotel is much better quality than the one they originally had booked and they're pleased. Mom is still in pain, but at least she's out of that hospital! And she now has a fantastic view of the bay and islands in Dubrovnik.
I got my holiday insurance sorted, so now I just have to collect my Croatian kuna next wednesday. The following day I have to go see Bryan Adams with my sister and cousin..how do I get myself into these situations. Still, it might be fun...revisit my soft rock days!
And my loan is finally paid off...that's the loan I took out 3 years ago to pay for my Graduate Diploma in Computing course. Finally !!! Although I did extend it twice to pay for another course and hols. Still, better the money goes into my pocket from now on, than theirs!
And that's it...still waiting on the NIN 'With_Teeth' album, which I ordered online. I must learn to have more patience. Glad tomorrow is friday but I'm working saturday so I'm not too bothered. I just want my parents home, safe and sound, so that they can start to relax, and Mom to get better.
Eggshells.
Anyways, not a huge amount has happened since the last post. My mom got released from hospital in Croatia and they got moved to a hotel with no steps that can't be overcome by using the lift. It also so happens that this hotel is much better quality than the one they originally had booked and they're pleased. Mom is still in pain, but at least she's out of that hospital! And she now has a fantastic view of the bay and islands in Dubrovnik.
I got my holiday insurance sorted, so now I just have to collect my Croatian kuna next wednesday. The following day I have to go see Bryan Adams with my sister and cousin..how do I get myself into these situations. Still, it might be fun...revisit my soft rock days!
And my loan is finally paid off...that's the loan I took out 3 years ago to pay for my Graduate Diploma in Computing course. Finally !!! Although I did extend it twice to pay for another course and hols. Still, better the money goes into my pocket from now on, than theirs!
And that's it...still waiting on the NIN 'With_Teeth' album, which I ordered online. I must learn to have more patience. Glad tomorrow is friday but I'm working saturday so I'm not too bothered. I just want my parents home, safe and sound, so that they can start to relax, and Mom to get better.
Eggshells.
Monday, May 09, 2005
Eat Penguins.
Another year older...unfortunately...and my birthday weekend was spent going crazy. Ok, going crazier... On Friday my plans for the Ghost Bus Tour fell through, I had to run to O'Connell St to get tickets for Sunday night, I got wet from the annoyingly stupid rain, and I got two birthday cards - one from my sister, the other from Laurence in France, and her future husband, Bruno. Their card was gorgeous...so very sweet. I'm not insinuating that my sister's card wasn't sweet at all, it was, but theirs was extra sweet.
On saturday, after being woken by my housemates, I lazily got ready for town, where I was meeting Breffni. After a quick time change, and Isabel telling my she was going to another persons Birthday celebration, I hopped on a bus into town. I got there at 7.30pm and got a txt from Breffni saying she'd be 15 mins later. Half an hour later, no sign of Breffni and I got a txt from my Dad in Croatia informing me that Mom had fallen, broken her ankle in two places, might have damaged her ligaments, and that she was gone for surgery (he's great at fitting loads of info into one txt!). He then rang to elaborate on this (even more information). She had literally gotten off the bus from the airport, and they were walking towards their hotel with their luggage, and she fell because of a pothole, and not the landmine she was convinced was going to get her! Breffni arrived on the scene and had started to apologise for being late as I hung up the phone, when I had a little 'episode' on the street. I guess just the shock of it all, them being so far away, their holiday being utterly ruined, and my complete inability to help them. So we decided to skip the cinema and went straight to Zaytoons for food and a chat. Breffni was just back from San Francisco so she had loads of news. After Zaytoons we went to the Joy of Coffee for cake. All the while, I was getting loads of texts from Dad and my siblings and then Dad rang twice while we were in the eateries. I know it's rude to give more attention to your phone, but this was an emergency situation. A very restless night followed, partly because I was worried, and partly because I left my phone on and Anne Gail txt me birthday greetings from the Philippines at 3.50am. That was funny. I'm not sure what I wrote back and I hope it wasn't cranky.
Sunday - my birthday - you know, birthday celebrations are highly over-rated. I never liked the whole party thing, and the big meal thing is nice, but not when you try to join disparate groups of friends together for a night of forced conversation and feigned merriment. I prefer having little seperate events with different people. The birthday celebrations are prolonged, the people are more comfortable and I feel less stressed.
Bernie rang, and it was nice to hear from her - it's been a long time. Then I got a txt from Oliver informing me of Siobhan Silke's father's death. Very bad news indeed. It certainly lowered the mood of the day and I was starting to resent my phone being the conveyor of bad tidings. After much restless pacing, I decided to dye a strand of my hair blue, and catch a bus into town to meet Dee. I was very late leaving and Dee assured me she was quite happy frolicking around Easons. I met her at 4pm and after a quick bite to eat of the pastry variety (I saw Gizmo in Tower Records), we wandered around the book store part til 5.30pm, when Lisa arrived.
Fast food in Eddie Rockett's on O'Connell St and then onto the Ghost Bus. Just as we were getting on, Dee and Li made friends with this old, old man. We thought he'd wander on, but he had a ticket and sat himself beside Dee on the bus. Our guide was called James, and he was hilarious. Great yarns, fantastic sights, a crash course in body-snatching, many photos and a T-Shirt prize later, we were happily sitting in the Foggy Dew, recounting all the fun of the evening. It's a tour well worth doing if proverbial You is ever in Dublin.
The Bus!!!
The Most Haunted Steps in Dublin
St Audeon's Church Belltower - oldest bells in Dublin.
Update on Mom...stuck in a Croatian hospital, with a ward sister who is a mini version of Hitler, and staff who take an hour to answer distress calls, and a fellow patient who only speaks French and was denied access to contact her holiday Rep in the next town, and who's puking her guts up. Mom has been on her back since saturday with her ankle elevated and she is very fed up. They're trying to get her home, but it's proving very awkward. We just need this to be over!
On saturday, after being woken by my housemates, I lazily got ready for town, where I was meeting Breffni. After a quick time change, and Isabel telling my she was going to another persons Birthday celebration, I hopped on a bus into town. I got there at 7.30pm and got a txt from Breffni saying she'd be 15 mins later. Half an hour later, no sign of Breffni and I got a txt from my Dad in Croatia informing me that Mom had fallen, broken her ankle in two places, might have damaged her ligaments, and that she was gone for surgery (he's great at fitting loads of info into one txt!). He then rang to elaborate on this (even more information). She had literally gotten off the bus from the airport, and they were walking towards their hotel with their luggage, and she fell because of a pothole, and not the landmine she was convinced was going to get her! Breffni arrived on the scene and had started to apologise for being late as I hung up the phone, when I had a little 'episode' on the street. I guess just the shock of it all, them being so far away, their holiday being utterly ruined, and my complete inability to help them. So we decided to skip the cinema and went straight to Zaytoons for food and a chat. Breffni was just back from San Francisco so she had loads of news. After Zaytoons we went to the Joy of Coffee for cake. All the while, I was getting loads of texts from Dad and my siblings and then Dad rang twice while we were in the eateries. I know it's rude to give more attention to your phone, but this was an emergency situation. A very restless night followed, partly because I was worried, and partly because I left my phone on and Anne Gail txt me birthday greetings from the Philippines at 3.50am. That was funny. I'm not sure what I wrote back and I hope it wasn't cranky.
Sunday - my birthday - you know, birthday celebrations are highly over-rated. I never liked the whole party thing, and the big meal thing is nice, but not when you try to join disparate groups of friends together for a night of forced conversation and feigned merriment. I prefer having little seperate events with different people. The birthday celebrations are prolonged, the people are more comfortable and I feel less stressed.
Bernie rang, and it was nice to hear from her - it's been a long time. Then I got a txt from Oliver informing me of Siobhan Silke's father's death. Very bad news indeed. It certainly lowered the mood of the day and I was starting to resent my phone being the conveyor of bad tidings. After much restless pacing, I decided to dye a strand of my hair blue, and catch a bus into town to meet Dee. I was very late leaving and Dee assured me she was quite happy frolicking around Easons. I met her at 4pm and after a quick bite to eat of the pastry variety (I saw Gizmo in Tower Records), we wandered around the book store part til 5.30pm, when Lisa arrived.
Fast food in Eddie Rockett's on O'Connell St and then onto the Ghost Bus. Just as we were getting on, Dee and Li made friends with this old, old man. We thought he'd wander on, but he had a ticket and sat himself beside Dee on the bus. Our guide was called James, and he was hilarious. Great yarns, fantastic sights, a crash course in body-snatching, many photos and a T-Shirt prize later, we were happily sitting in the Foggy Dew, recounting all the fun of the evening. It's a tour well worth doing if proverbial You is ever in Dublin.
The Bus!!!
The Most Haunted Steps in Dublin
St Audeon's Church Belltower - oldest bells in Dublin.
Update on Mom...stuck in a Croatian hospital, with a ward sister who is a mini version of Hitler, and staff who take an hour to answer distress calls, and a fellow patient who only speaks French and was denied access to contact her holiday Rep in the next town, and who's puking her guts up. Mom has been on her back since saturday with her ankle elevated and she is very fed up. They're trying to get her home, but it's proving very awkward. We just need this to be over!
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
4 Weather day...
This morning it was raining, then it was sunny and very warm at lunch time. The thunder started 5 minutes ago and now we have sleet pouring down outside! Our weather here is so strange!!! Hopefully the thunder will clear away the 'heavy' feeling... my head is about to split open!!!!
After the Bank Holiday
I can't believe it's May...and I can't believe the Bank Holiday weekend is over! I went home on friday on the bus, which turned out to be an ok journey. We got a brand new bus and for the last leg home, I had two seats to myself. The only down-side was that there was no air on the bus. On a plus side, we didn't meet any of the tailback/re-routed traffic from the storage container convoy heading down to Mallow, and Derv rang for 30 minutes, and I was chatting to John for 30 minutes. I don't mind doing the journey - it usually takes around 3 hours, and your body just gets used to it. It knows it has to stay in roughly one position, and that it can't go for a bathroom break. Sometimes it's nice knowing that there's 3 hours whereby you can just sit and listen to music uninterupted. You can't do work, you can't run errands, you just have to sit there. Day-time travel is great because you can look at the scenery, and the journey down to Co.Tipperary is actually quite nice, especially closer to home. During the winter months, I find myself nodding off during the journey. I can't read at all when I bus travel, because of motion sickness. Sometimes even sending text messages makes me feel queasy. So, it's three hours of music bliss!
On saturday I met Helena in town for a drink and some cake, and a little shopping. Then I popped over to visit my grandparents. I met the girls later on at 9.30pm (well, I was late) and we had quite a good night out.
Sunday was spent being lazy, and then on monday my parents brought me back to Dublin via John's new house. Travelling by car is definitely nicer!!! It takes only about 2 hours and 20 minutes by car! When I was in University, it took 3½ hours by bus! Ugh.
And today...back in work, no energy yet strangely productive. I ran up to the bank at lunch-time and ordered my Croatian Kuna...I'm starting to get really excited!!!
Footnote: buying digital camera memory sticks online costs less than half the amount you pay in a shop. Goddamnit.
On saturday I met Helena in town for a drink and some cake, and a little shopping. Then I popped over to visit my grandparents. I met the girls later on at 9.30pm (well, I was late) and we had quite a good night out.
Sunday was spent being lazy, and then on monday my parents brought me back to Dublin via John's new house. Travelling by car is definitely nicer!!! It takes only about 2 hours and 20 minutes by car! When I was in University, it took 3½ hours by bus! Ugh.
And today...back in work, no energy yet strangely productive. I ran up to the bank at lunch-time and ordered my Croatian Kuna...I'm starting to get really excited!!!
Footnote: buying digital camera memory sticks online costs less than half the amount you pay in a shop. Goddamnit.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
