The past couple weeks have been pretty subdued. To be honest, I've really been in a bit of a depressed funk to have come down from what an incredible high I was on for 3 months and back to the reality of work and a 'normal' life. I'm still a bit down, but there may be a light at the end of the tunnel, for now.
My primary focus for now is on finding a place to stay. With all due respect to my dad and family, living here for even just a few weeks has been a somewhat detrimental arrangement. To go from such a ridiculous level of independence to living back under a parents' roof is a very jarring adjustment, nevermind the fact that I'm working from here, I have a step-sibling who is home most of the day, and I really don't even have more than a bed to call my own here. My bags are still barfing their contents on the floor where I dropped them three weeks ago when I got back.
So, to expedite improving my situation, and to allow for the possibility that settling back in Michigan isn't quite something I'm as ready to do as I had long imagined, I've decided to put off buying a house just yet and rent for 6-12 months and see where I am then. There's still questions to answer...roomates vs. no roomates, apt. vs. house, in town vs. out, etc, but I hope to start resolving those pretty quickly over the next couple of days and ideally will have a lease signed by the end of the week. That's the first and most important step to trying to get back on the happy side of life.
Of course, trivial pleasures will always help as well, and tonight came a pretty big one that'd been long-anticipated, but never quite certain until now: the commitment of the star of this highlight video to be a part of Michigan's incoming class of football recurits next fall. He's been quite the internet sensation for several months now with highlight videos that have been the most eye-popping thing since those that floated around of a pint-sized high schooler named tearing up the competition in upstate New York four years ago. (You might've heard of that kid, too... Mike Hart, anyone?) But for now, ladies and gentlemen, I present, the newest Wolverine, Sam McGuffie:
Monday, July 30, 2007
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Pulse check
Just a quickie to let everyone know that I (and this blog) am still alive and well. I've been meaning to put together a post on my first week (now crawling into week-and-a-half) back, but to be honest, so far there just hasn't been all that much that's been terribly exciting. It's a lot of indecisive ponderings about living arrangements and the future in general, with a bit of mixed contemplativeness on the past, both recent and otherwise. But not a lot of entertainment value, really.
Plus, I am back to work, albeit only half-time so far, so that's obviously cutting into my blogging time. Although I was working when I started this thing and found time for it, so that shouldn't be too much of an excuse.
So yeah... my week in a nutshell:
Went sailing with Dad and Judy my first full day back. That was great, except for a little engine mishap that led to us being towed up the Clinton River at the end of it. Not so great. Nothing like being welcomed home with a three hour tour. A three hour tour.
I got to spend some good quality time with my nephews, and have been gradually reconnecting with friends that I haven't seen in a while, too. Oh yeah, and I made it to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on opening night. Let's just say I hope I enjoy Book 7 more than Movie 5.
So yeah... nothing exactly comparable to spontaneously deciding to take off and fly to the Aran Islands for a couple of days, or planning a few days in France... But some big stuff should be in the works soon with living arrangements, so I'll keep you posted as I start to figure that out.
Plus, I am back to work, albeit only half-time so far, so that's obviously cutting into my blogging time. Although I was working when I started this thing and found time for it, so that shouldn't be too much of an excuse.
So yeah... my week in a nutshell:
Went sailing with Dad and Judy my first full day back. That was great, except for a little engine mishap that led to us being towed up the Clinton River at the end of it. Not so great. Nothing like being welcomed home with a three hour tour. A three hour tour.
I got to spend some good quality time with my nephews, and have been gradually reconnecting with friends that I haven't seen in a while, too. Oh yeah, and I made it to the midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix on opening night. Let's just say I hope I enjoy Book 7 more than Movie 5.
So yeah... nothing exactly comparable to spontaneously deciding to take off and fly to the Aran Islands for a couple of days, or planning a few days in France... But some big stuff should be in the works soon with living arrangements, so I'll keep you posted as I start to figure that out.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Home.
Back at Dad's house in Dearborn. Very long day. Nearly 24 hours since I woke up in Galway. Drive back from Chicago was uneventful, save for getting my Taco Bell fix on. HUGE thanks to Emma and Dad for providing transport to and from airports today, respectively, despite them both being substantial drives!
I hardly slept at all on the plane, so I'm crashing now, finally. Looking forward to spending some time (sleeping) on the boat tomorrow while trekking it up to Mt. Clemens, then seeing the rest of the family on Sunday!
More later when I'm a bit more rested.
I hardly slept at all on the plane, so I'm crashing now, finally. Looking forward to spending some time (sleeping) on the boat tomorrow while trekking it up to Mt. Clemens, then seeing the rest of the family on Sunday!
More later when I'm a bit more rested.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Shutting down now. Again.
We were supposed to have left almost 2 hours ago. Word is our plane has at least finally arrived, though. Ran into a friend from sessions in Chicago though who is on the same flight, so between that and chatting on Messenger, have killed the time okay.
But at this point, I just want to be on my way......... You may have noticed that the "Rambling" clock above has stopped. I set it to stop when we were supposed to leave. I guess I'll have to add about 2 hours... heh.
Anyways, next post should be from back on American soil.
But at this point, I just want to be on my way......... You may have noticed that the "Rambling" clock above has stopped. I set it to stop when we were supposed to leave. I guess I'll have to add about 2 hours... heh.
Anyways, next post should be from back on American soil.
A Different Destination
Around the time I was finishing up the previous post, another column of US soldiers--all Marines this time--appeared in the waiting lobby.
I offered my laptop to a few of them to check and send email, but they politely declined. Spirits seemed high. I grabbed a sandwich and had a seat near another group, including an older officer--a colonel, I believe--just as a page came over the terminal intercom for 'Mike Hunt'. The colonel shook his head and laughed, and with a chuckle, I asked "that was one of your guys, wasn't it?" He just smiled and nodded.
Given the spirits, and that the last group I ran into here was homeward bound, I guess I assumed the same. Still, I leaned in and asked one of the other fellows if they were "heading over or back home".
"No. We're going to a different destination" was the reply.
Lump in the throat.
I finished my sandwich and as I got up to use the restroom, I wished them good luck and thank you. They all replied in kind, and one of them, seeing my hat, offered up a "Go Blue".
Lumps.
Best of luck, men. As they say over here... Slan Abhaile. "Safe home".
I offered my laptop to a few of them to check and send email, but they politely declined. Spirits seemed high. I grabbed a sandwich and had a seat near another group, including an older officer--a colonel, I believe--just as a page came over the terminal intercom for 'Mike Hunt'. The colonel shook his head and laughed, and with a chuckle, I asked "that was one of your guys, wasn't it?" He just smiled and nodded.
Given the spirits, and that the last group I ran into here was homeward bound, I guess I assumed the same. Still, I leaned in and asked one of the other fellows if they were "heading over or back home".
"No. We're going to a different destination" was the reply.
Lump in the throat.
I finished my sandwich and as I got up to use the restroom, I wished them good luck and thank you. They all replied in kind, and one of them, seeing my hat, offered up a "Go Blue".
Lumps.
Best of luck, men. As they say over here... Slan Abhaile. "Safe home".
So What Happens Now?
Well, this is it. The end of the Great Adventure. I'm back once again at Shannon Airport. My bags are checked and I'm through security. Hopefully they all make it through intact. I could still turn around one more time, but if I did so now, I'd be returning to Galway with nothing but the clothes on my back, my laptop and my pipes, whistles and harmonicas. Hmmm.... come to think of it, that's not all that bad. Heh.
No, all great things must come to an end, and this is a good end. Staying last week was the right decision. So was shuffling things around again to come back today rather than in another two weeks. My last week was good, and my final night last night was just right. Not going out with some crazy bang, but certainly not the near-literal whimper that my last "last night in Galway" was.
I've been thinking a lot for a while now about not only what life is going to be like for me after I get home, but also specifically, what purpose this blog will hold. It's easy to imagine that it will not be as interesting reading about some schmuck living and working back home in Michigan. I'm sure for a bit, I'll still fill it with reflections and memories, but it won't take long for that content to dry up. As to how I will rectify that in the long run, I'm still trying to figure out.
But, I have figured one thing out.
This entire trip, as much as being an adventure, has been an accomplishment. It was a goal and a dream, and I made it happen. So what to do after accomplishing something like that?
Do it again. Find another goal. Fulfill another dream.
One other thing that I've long believed is that I have a book in me. Or a screen play, perhaps. My next Great Adventure is to find it, excavate it, and get it published.
I have a lot of ideas, including fiction and non-fiction. Certainly I have ideas and inspirations I can take from this trip, but I have many other passions in life that have been little touched upon in this space that I can tap into as well.
The possibilities are endless. But among whatever else I keep track of here, I plan to continue to chronicle my progress on this next goal here, or in some similar follow-up site.
Stay tuned!
No, all great things must come to an end, and this is a good end. Staying last week was the right decision. So was shuffling things around again to come back today rather than in another two weeks. My last week was good, and my final night last night was just right. Not going out with some crazy bang, but certainly not the near-literal whimper that my last "last night in Galway" was.
I've been thinking a lot for a while now about not only what life is going to be like for me after I get home, but also specifically, what purpose this blog will hold. It's easy to imagine that it will not be as interesting reading about some schmuck living and working back home in Michigan. I'm sure for a bit, I'll still fill it with reflections and memories, but it won't take long for that content to dry up. As to how I will rectify that in the long run, I'm still trying to figure out.
But, I have figured one thing out.
This entire trip, as much as being an adventure, has been an accomplishment. It was a goal and a dream, and I made it happen. So what to do after accomplishing something like that?
Do it again. Find another goal. Fulfill another dream.
One other thing that I've long believed is that I have a book in me. Or a screen play, perhaps. My next Great Adventure is to find it, excavate it, and get it published.
I have a lot of ideas, including fiction and non-fiction. Certainly I have ideas and inspirations I can take from this trip, but I have many other passions in life that have been little touched upon in this space that I can tap into as well.
The possibilities are endless. But among whatever else I keep track of here, I plan to continue to chronicle my progress on this next goal here, or in some similar follow-up site.
Stay tuned!
Back... to the Future
So here I am, enjoying my last few days in Galway and I heard this pop and a roar and look out my window and see a set of flaming tire tracks running down O'Connaire Rd. Probably not the strangest thing I've seen over here, but it's up there.
There's a knock on the door. Then I remember I sent myself ahead in time to ask me about my time here three months ago. I wonder briefly how I knew to wait an extra week.... :)
Looking back, I really nailed the answers to several of these.
So I says to myself I says to me..............
(Original speculative answers from three months ago in blue)
Q: Did you find a job? Are you going to be staying, or returning shortly?
I've acquired a permanent position as a Guinness taster. Unfortunately, I won't ever be returning home because I am unable to pick myself up off the floor of the pub. Kidding. In all seriousness, this is a bad question to start off this interview with, and I'm going to have to break character already because I really have no sense at this point for whether I'm even going to want to try and stay longer, let alone, whether I'll be able to. There's still a lot of great things to be had about staying for 1 year, but the goodbyes I've said in the past few days have been rough enough. Coming back in July only to have to turn back around and leave for a longer period of time would be much worse. Not to mention the fact that I likely have a very promising employment situation that will likely be waiting for me in 3 months. It's questionable whether it'll be there for me in a year. But still, the rich experience of living here for an entire year and seeing all the seasons cycle through with all that brings with it is an enticing draw.
No. I'm looking forward to resuming my services to Synthesis Technology, who made this all possible. Furthermore, there are no seasons in Ireland. Only varying levels of rain and temps in the high versus low 50's.
Q: Where did you end up living?
Galway, in a house with three other fantastic people.
Yup. Except that it was five other fantastic people, though never more than three at any one time. Aoife was here the whole time (sans when she was out of town, which was frequently), Conal for about the first six weeks, Kesstan for about three weeks when Aoife was in Sligo, Emma for about the last six weeks, and Julia for about the past month.
Probably the biggest surprise of the housing situation was that of the five other people who lived here during my time, four of them were American. Only Emma was a native Irish girl, and even she was from the other side of the country.
I think the main reason for that was that the primary means our landlord (who lives in NY, btw) has used to advertise the space is craigslist, which just has not gained critical popularity over here, despite there being a Dublin site, anyways.
Q: What other countries did you end up seeing?
Italy, Germany, England, Scotland. Didn't make it to Wales, France, Poland, Spain or any place else I was hoping to hit, unfortunately, but that'll save something for next time. Particularly bummed about Wales.
All true, except that I did make it to France. Wales will be very high on a return trip priority.
Q: What did you miss the most?
Family and friends.
Of course.
Q: Okay, so maybe that's a given. What trivial aspect of daily life did you miss the most?
Hi-powered laundry dryers.
Not gonna lie, that is certainly up there. Spending sometimes a day or more trying to get a load of laundry dry in Ireland's climate can be frustrating, not to mention how air-dried clothes tend to get stretched out and crunchy.
For the first two weeks, though, the answer would definitely be "internet access". I really couldn't believe how much it was driving me crazy to not have constant, immediate, hi-speed net access up until we finally got it installed here at the house.
I also missed some sports. I would've loved to have hung out with friends and family watching the Wings and Pistons during their playoff runs, as well as the Tigers. I'm definitely looking forward to getting out to Comerica Park and/or Wrigley Field when I get back.
Q: What was one thing you missed more than you thought you would?
Work. Seriously.
Wow. I have to admit, this is one I was dead wrong on. I really thought I would miss having a daily routine and expectations and such. I honestly did. While I miss the folks at work and some of the office banter and atmosphere, I can not honestly say that I missed working at all. I did do some while I was over here, and while the hours I put in were very limited, it took much effort to get even that done.
I should add, though, that this probably would have been true, had it not been for really maxing out the side-adventures. The amount of time I spent not only travelling outside of Galway, but preparing for said trips, and reporting on them when I got back really did take up a lot of my time here and kept me from having too many days when I had nothing to do.
Internet (see above) would be a better answer, and another one I didn't think of is "dishwasher".
Oh, but the number one answer: Drinkable tap water. Yes, the cryptosporidium contamination is still an issue here in Galway, and looks like it will be until sometime in the fall, so we have not had potable water my entire time here.
Q: What was one thing you missed less than you thought you would?
American junk food.
Actually, I'm going to go with TV shows here. While I did spend this morning finally catching up on what was left of season 1 of Heroes, which Justin brought over for me last week, and I'm looking forward to catching up on The Office and what was apparently the final episodes ever of Veronica Mars when I get back, it didn't really bother me at all to not be able to keep up with them as they were broadcast. The way my TV viewing habits had changed in the past year or two, I had expected that I would've really missed seeing my shows on a regular basis.
I didn't miss junk food all that much, but it was mostly because it's all pretty readily available here, not because of some newfound discipline.
Q: What will you miss most about Ireland?
The friends I've made here.
definitely true. But also...the sessions, and the scenery, and the vibe, and the relaxed, laid-back nature of things, and the easy access to other European destinations, the breakfasts, and the weather... well, maybe not the weather so much, but I'm sure when I'm sweltering in 90+ degree humidity back in the States, I'll be longing for a cool mid-afternoon shower and temps in the 50's again.
Oh yeah, and ready-made Indian food!
Q: Meet anyone... special?
Ummm... you do realize this is still me you're talking to, right? Even three months in the future?
Everyone I met was special.
But as has been already tipped here: Yes. But it ultimately was not meant to be anything more than friends. I'm glad that it worked out that way in the end.
Q: So how are the pipes coming?
Meh. Got some great pointers and had a chance to do some quality practicing, but it's a long, slow road to learn to play the uilleann pipes, and three months is but scratching the surface.
This is pretty much true. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't manage to find a teacher here in Galway to continue lessons and sort of gave up on practicing the latter half of the trip, even. However, when I was in Dingle trying out the practice set that was for sale in the shop down there, the shop owner asked me how long I'd been playing, and when I told him just a year, he sounded very sincere when he said I was doing pretty good for that. Considering how little I've put into it compared to what I should be putting in if I ever want to become proficient, that really made my day.
Of course, he was trying to sell me a 2000 euro practice set, too.
I'll also add though, that I've gotten enough of a confidence boost from certain friends who have heard me play, and even did take them to my would-be last session at Richardson's and played my small handful of tunes that I semi-know on them, and it was appreciated and enjoyed by those there, so I think there's still some hope...
Q: And the whistles?
Pretty good. Learned a few new tunes, anyways, and feel like I've improved overall.
Again, that's pretty much right on. The main reason I kind of stopped practicing the pipes regularly was because I was about half-way through my time and hadn't played in any sessions yet. I knew I wouldn't be taking the pipes to any sessions soon (which turned out to not be completely true), so I wanted to knock the rust off my whistle. It was also about this time that I discovered the "improvers" class and session at Richardsons on Monday night, so I started to put a lot more focus on the whistle.
I'm feeling pretty comfortable with it now, though I definitely still have a ways to go. But I'm comfortable enough sitting in on most sessions, if only for a tune or two. Probably the biggest change and improvement is that I am getting over my self-consciousness about playing solo in public, as evidenced by my busking outside Blarney Castle and playing for the backpackers on the hill at the base of the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye. Also, that I've gotten up the courage to sit in on sessions at not only Richardson's, but The Crane, An Pucan, Taaffe's, the pub on Inis Meain, and even that session in Scotland.
Q: Favorite single memory? (25 words or less)
*bzzzt*crackle*static*What was that? I didn't copy*bzzt* Damn sunspots... (Did I say something about a DeLorean? I meant that I was communicating with future me via an old ham radio. Yeah, that's it.) Either way, looks like we'll just have to wait until June to see the answer to that one.
Just one? Road trip to the North my would-be last week here.
Q: Who came to visit you from home?
Met up with Jen C in Italy, and Justin G in Scotland. Russ, Justin B and Mom all talked about coming to visit in June, but it didn't end up happening.
Again, I pretty much nailed it. Justin G's trip ended up being in June instead of May, and he brought along his brother.
I also got to meet up with Traci from the Grafton Pub in Chicago when she and her fiance were over here visiting his family, and I did meet up with Raeanne from Memphis when I was down in Kilfenora, if that counts.
Q: Any hassles with immigration?
Only getting back in the country from the UK after the England/Scotland trip.
Actually, not even then. In fact, the officer was talking on the phone while checking passports and he didn't bother to look at any other pages in my passport, or even ask me a single question. Rather, he gave me a stamp and wrote in the date that I have permission to stay until:
September 1st.
The first of many signals that led me to decide to extend my trip, if only for a bit.
Q: Worst thing that happened to you?
Got drunk and passed out in a pub, woke up with an atomic wedgie, a shaved chest and my wallet replaced with a stinking dead fish, after dreaming all night that I was stuck on the evil boat ride from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (original version, but with Johnny Depp's creepy glasses staring at me the whole time).
No, not that. Really, nothing too traumatic happened at all. I mean, what's a little heartbreak amongst friends? :)
Q: When are you going back?
:)
Gonna have to leave it at that, for now. I have definitely left some things un-done, though not many. I still have not been to the "sunny southeast" of Waterford and Wexford. There's a "Magic Road" in the Comeragh Mountains down there I'd love to find, though after the past month, I'd find any place in Ireland that can claim to be regularly "sunny" to be just as magical and unbelievable. I also have somehow managed to circumvent County Monaghan in all my travels, I believe. I'd have to check the map, but I believe Monaghan, Wexford and Waterford to be the only 3 of the 32 counties of both the Republic and Northern Ireland that I have not been to now. But there are still plenty of specific spots... Valencia Island, Clare Island, the other two remaining Aran Islands, the Bluestack Mountains, the peninsulas of West Cork, not to mention tons of spots to explore further where I have been.
If I have some particular goals or ideas, though, I'd love to return for about a month around this time of year and take in the Craiceann bodhran festival on Inis Oirr and piggyback that with Willie Clancy Week (piping-focused general music festival) in Miltown Malbay.
There's a knock on the door. Then I remember I sent myself ahead in time to ask me about my time here three months ago. I wonder briefly how I knew to wait an extra week.... :)
Looking back, I really nailed the answers to several of these.
So I says to myself I says to me..............
(Original speculative answers from three months ago in blue)
Q: Did you find a job? Are you going to be staying, or returning shortly?
I've acquired a permanent position as a Guinness taster. Unfortunately, I won't ever be returning home because I am unable to pick myself up off the floor of the pub. Kidding. In all seriousness, this is a bad question to start off this interview with, and I'm going to have to break character already because I really have no sense at this point for whether I'm even going to want to try and stay longer, let alone, whether I'll be able to. There's still a lot of great things to be had about staying for 1 year, but the goodbyes I've said in the past few days have been rough enough. Coming back in July only to have to turn back around and leave for a longer period of time would be much worse. Not to mention the fact that I likely have a very promising employment situation that will likely be waiting for me in 3 months. It's questionable whether it'll be there for me in a year. But still, the rich experience of living here for an entire year and seeing all the seasons cycle through with all that brings with it is an enticing draw.
No. I'm looking forward to resuming my services to Synthesis Technology, who made this all possible. Furthermore, there are no seasons in Ireland. Only varying levels of rain and temps in the high versus low 50's.
Q: Where did you end up living?
Galway, in a house with three other fantastic people.
Yup. Except that it was five other fantastic people, though never more than three at any one time. Aoife was here the whole time (sans when she was out of town, which was frequently), Conal for about the first six weeks, Kesstan for about three weeks when Aoife was in Sligo, Emma for about the last six weeks, and Julia for about the past month.
Probably the biggest surprise of the housing situation was that of the five other people who lived here during my time, four of them were American. Only Emma was a native Irish girl, and even she was from the other side of the country.
I think the main reason for that was that the primary means our landlord (who lives in NY, btw) has used to advertise the space is craigslist, which just has not gained critical popularity over here, despite there being a Dublin site, anyways.
Q: What other countries did you end up seeing?
Italy, Germany, England, Scotland. Didn't make it to Wales, France, Poland, Spain or any place else I was hoping to hit, unfortunately, but that'll save something for next time. Particularly bummed about Wales.
All true, except that I did make it to France. Wales will be very high on a return trip priority.
Q: What did you miss the most?
Family and friends.
Of course.
Q: Okay, so maybe that's a given. What trivial aspect of daily life did you miss the most?
Hi-powered laundry dryers.
Not gonna lie, that is certainly up there. Spending sometimes a day or more trying to get a load of laundry dry in Ireland's climate can be frustrating, not to mention how air-dried clothes tend to get stretched out and crunchy.
For the first two weeks, though, the answer would definitely be "internet access". I really couldn't believe how much it was driving me crazy to not have constant, immediate, hi-speed net access up until we finally got it installed here at the house.
I also missed some sports. I would've loved to have hung out with friends and family watching the Wings and Pistons during their playoff runs, as well as the Tigers. I'm definitely looking forward to getting out to Comerica Park and/or Wrigley Field when I get back.
Q: What was one thing you missed more than you thought you would?
Work. Seriously.
Wow. I have to admit, this is one I was dead wrong on. I really thought I would miss having a daily routine and expectations and such. I honestly did. While I miss the folks at work and some of the office banter and atmosphere, I can not honestly say that I missed working at all. I did do some while I was over here, and while the hours I put in were very limited, it took much effort to get even that done.
I should add, though, that this probably would have been true, had it not been for really maxing out the side-adventures. The amount of time I spent not only travelling outside of Galway, but preparing for said trips, and reporting on them when I got back really did take up a lot of my time here and kept me from having too many days when I had nothing to do.
Internet (see above) would be a better answer, and another one I didn't think of is "dishwasher".
Oh, but the number one answer: Drinkable tap water. Yes, the cryptosporidium contamination is still an issue here in Galway, and looks like it will be until sometime in the fall, so we have not had potable water my entire time here.
Q: What was one thing you missed less than you thought you would?
American junk food.
Actually, I'm going to go with TV shows here. While I did spend this morning finally catching up on what was left of season 1 of Heroes, which Justin brought over for me last week, and I'm looking forward to catching up on The Office and what was apparently the final episodes ever of Veronica Mars when I get back, it didn't really bother me at all to not be able to keep up with them as they were broadcast. The way my TV viewing habits had changed in the past year or two, I had expected that I would've really missed seeing my shows on a regular basis.
I didn't miss junk food all that much, but it was mostly because it's all pretty readily available here, not because of some newfound discipline.
Q: What will you miss most about Ireland?
The friends I've made here.
definitely true. But also...the sessions, and the scenery, and the vibe, and the relaxed, laid-back nature of things, and the easy access to other European destinations, the breakfasts, and the weather... well, maybe not the weather so much, but I'm sure when I'm sweltering in 90+ degree humidity back in the States, I'll be longing for a cool mid-afternoon shower and temps in the 50's again.
Oh yeah, and ready-made Indian food!
Q: Meet anyone... special?
Ummm... you do realize this is still me you're talking to, right? Even three months in the future?
Everyone I met was special.
But as has been already tipped here: Yes. But it ultimately was not meant to be anything more than friends. I'm glad that it worked out that way in the end.
Q: So how are the pipes coming?
Meh. Got some great pointers and had a chance to do some quality practicing, but it's a long, slow road to learn to play the uilleann pipes, and three months is but scratching the surface.
This is pretty much true. I'm a little disappointed that I didn't manage to find a teacher here in Galway to continue lessons and sort of gave up on practicing the latter half of the trip, even. However, when I was in Dingle trying out the practice set that was for sale in the shop down there, the shop owner asked me how long I'd been playing, and when I told him just a year, he sounded very sincere when he said I was doing pretty good for that. Considering how little I've put into it compared to what I should be putting in if I ever want to become proficient, that really made my day.
Of course, he was trying to sell me a 2000 euro practice set, too.
I'll also add though, that I've gotten enough of a confidence boost from certain friends who have heard me play, and even did take them to my would-be last session at Richardson's and played my small handful of tunes that I semi-know on them, and it was appreciated and enjoyed by those there, so I think there's still some hope...
Q: And the whistles?
Pretty good. Learned a few new tunes, anyways, and feel like I've improved overall.
Again, that's pretty much right on. The main reason I kind of stopped practicing the pipes regularly was because I was about half-way through my time and hadn't played in any sessions yet. I knew I wouldn't be taking the pipes to any sessions soon (which turned out to not be completely true), so I wanted to knock the rust off my whistle. It was also about this time that I discovered the "improvers" class and session at Richardsons on Monday night, so I started to put a lot more focus on the whistle.
I'm feeling pretty comfortable with it now, though I definitely still have a ways to go. But I'm comfortable enough sitting in on most sessions, if only for a tune or two. Probably the biggest change and improvement is that I am getting over my self-consciousness about playing solo in public, as evidenced by my busking outside Blarney Castle and playing for the backpackers on the hill at the base of the Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye. Also, that I've gotten up the courage to sit in on sessions at not only Richardson's, but The Crane, An Pucan, Taaffe's, the pub on Inis Meain, and even that session in Scotland.
Q: Favorite single memory? (25 words or less)
*bzzzt*crackle*static*What was that? I didn't copy*bzzt* Damn sunspots... (Did I say something about a DeLorean? I meant that I was communicating with future me via an old ham radio. Yeah, that's it.) Either way, looks like we'll just have to wait until June to see the answer to that one.
Just one? Road trip to the North my would-be last week here.
Q: Who came to visit you from home?
Met up with Jen C in Italy, and Justin G in Scotland. Russ, Justin B and Mom all talked about coming to visit in June, but it didn't end up happening.
Again, I pretty much nailed it. Justin G's trip ended up being in June instead of May, and he brought along his brother.
I also got to meet up with Traci from the Grafton Pub in Chicago when she and her fiance were over here visiting his family, and I did meet up with Raeanne from Memphis when I was down in Kilfenora, if that counts.
Q: Any hassles with immigration?
Only getting back in the country from the UK after the England/Scotland trip.
Actually, not even then. In fact, the officer was talking on the phone while checking passports and he didn't bother to look at any other pages in my passport, or even ask me a single question. Rather, he gave me a stamp and wrote in the date that I have permission to stay until:
September 1st.
The first of many signals that led me to decide to extend my trip, if only for a bit.
Q: Worst thing that happened to you?
Got drunk and passed out in a pub, woke up with an atomic wedgie, a shaved chest and my wallet replaced with a stinking dead fish, after dreaming all night that I was stuck on the evil boat ride from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (original version, but with Johnny Depp's creepy glasses staring at me the whole time).
No, not that. Really, nothing too traumatic happened at all. I mean, what's a little heartbreak amongst friends? :)
Q: When are you going back?
:)
Gonna have to leave it at that, for now. I have definitely left some things un-done, though not many. I still have not been to the "sunny southeast" of Waterford and Wexford. There's a "Magic Road" in the Comeragh Mountains down there I'd love to find, though after the past month, I'd find any place in Ireland that can claim to be regularly "sunny" to be just as magical and unbelievable. I also have somehow managed to circumvent County Monaghan in all my travels, I believe. I'd have to check the map, but I believe Monaghan, Wexford and Waterford to be the only 3 of the 32 counties of both the Republic and Northern Ireland that I have not been to now. But there are still plenty of specific spots... Valencia Island, Clare Island, the other two remaining Aran Islands, the Bluestack Mountains, the peninsulas of West Cork, not to mention tons of spots to explore further where I have been.
If I have some particular goals or ideas, though, I'd love to return for about a month around this time of year and take in the Craiceann bodhran festival on Inis Oirr and piggyback that with Willie Clancy Week (piping-focused general music festival) in Miltown Malbay.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
About to hop in the shower...
...and speaking of such, Caelus just asked in the comments below about my experience with showers over here.
Glad you asked, because it reminded me of one more small observation I've been meaning to post about since I got over here.
But first, showers in general... Caelus and his wife just returned from Italy, and found the showers to be roughly the size of a small phonebooth. Yes, my friend, that is very common across Europe. I think the smallest shower I had was in my room in Venice. The entire shower plus bathroom was smaller than many closets back in the US (and FAR smaller than the mid-sized cave that was my closet in my room in Chicago for those who were familiar with it). But many others in Ireland, Scotland and other places are not any different.
I'll add that size aside, the best shower I had in my entire time over here was at the Bayfield Backpackers Hostel in Portree, Isle of Skye. Clean, great temperature control and water pressure like a firehose!
The other interesting thing about showers over here is that most of them are electrically operated. There's often a switch on the wall (often *outside* the bathroom) that has to be turned on to operate it, then a dial or button to turn on the water. Some, like ours here at the house, make this gawdawful racket when they're operating. The room I was in until Conal left was right against the shower wall, and when someone turned that sucker on in the morning, there was no more sleep to be had.
Now, one more bit about our shower here that has amused me on a nearly daily basis:
Our shower is not tiny. Not huge, but not a phonebooth, either. Rather, its a normal (well, okay, smallish) tub, with a shower unit on the wall. The shower unit is on the back wall, near one end of the tub though, rather than being on the end wall like you might normally find it. The result being when you're standing in the shower with your back to the unit, you're facing out staring at the shower curtain, instead of the other end of the tub.
Our shower curtain has fish on it. Fish with assorted colors and patterns. This is the fish that is directly at eye level such that I spend most of my shower staring at it:
Notice anything funny about the pattern on the crown of his head, particularly? Now, wanna tell me this whole thing wasn't just meant to be???
Glad you asked, because it reminded me of one more small observation I've been meaning to post about since I got over here.
But first, showers in general... Caelus and his wife just returned from Italy, and found the showers to be roughly the size of a small phonebooth. Yes, my friend, that is very common across Europe. I think the smallest shower I had was in my room in Venice. The entire shower plus bathroom was smaller than many closets back in the US (and FAR smaller than the mid-sized cave that was my closet in my room in Chicago for those who were familiar with it). But many others in Ireland, Scotland and other places are not any different.
I'll add that size aside, the best shower I had in my entire time over here was at the Bayfield Backpackers Hostel in Portree, Isle of Skye. Clean, great temperature control and water pressure like a firehose!
The other interesting thing about showers over here is that most of them are electrically operated. There's often a switch on the wall (often *outside* the bathroom) that has to be turned on to operate it, then a dial or button to turn on the water. Some, like ours here at the house, make this gawdawful racket when they're operating. The room I was in until Conal left was right against the shower wall, and when someone turned that sucker on in the morning, there was no more sleep to be had.
Now, one more bit about our shower here that has amused me on a nearly daily basis:
Our shower is not tiny. Not huge, but not a phonebooth, either. Rather, its a normal (well, okay, smallish) tub, with a shower unit on the wall. The shower unit is on the back wall, near one end of the tub though, rather than being on the end wall like you might normally find it. The result being when you're standing in the shower with your back to the unit, you're facing out staring at the shower curtain, instead of the other end of the tub.
Our shower curtain has fish on it. Fish with assorted colors and patterns. This is the fish that is directly at eye level such that I spend most of my shower staring at it:
Notice anything funny about the pattern on the crown of his head, particularly? Now, wanna tell me this whole thing wasn't just meant to be???
So that's what Irish ex-pats feel like on St. Patty's Day in the States?
Well, not quite for sure, but it was a just slightly tweaked experience, if only in its seemingly forced-gratuitousness-yet-ultimately-ignored sort of way.
I went to the premiere of Aoife and Emma's short plays tonight at the Bank of Ireland Theatre on the campus of the NUI Galway. They plays, two original shorts produced by the company that Aoife and Emma are founding members of, were brilliant, by the way. Aoife directed both, Emma acted in both. But that's an aside for now.
Afterwards, we went to the "College Bar", which is, in fact, a bar that's right on the campus, next to the theatre. The campus is very much isolated from the city pub scene, so think of it as like a student union, but with beer (any Wisconsin grads reading this, think of it as like your student union, but without the lake).
Anyways, up on the walls surrounding the bar were red, white and blue balloons and streamers. There were two large, flat panel TVs on the wall above the bar, and a large projection screen at the end. All three were looping a video which kept projecting "4th of July" in large, cartoonishly star-spangled letters, followed by clips of fireworks and assorted images from around the US, the first of which was unmistakeably, in a paradoxically intriguing twist to my observation basis, the Chicago river, dyed bright green for St. Pat's.
For what its worth, I did not notice any particularly pro-American stuff in any other places around town. I suspect the college bar did it out of respect to the very large portion of the student body that are American. Not like the other day when a quick look around Shop Street revealed that about every fifth person had a Canadian flag painted on their face.
I went to the premiere of Aoife and Emma's short plays tonight at the Bank of Ireland Theatre on the campus of the NUI Galway. They plays, two original shorts produced by the company that Aoife and Emma are founding members of, were brilliant, by the way. Aoife directed both, Emma acted in both. But that's an aside for now.
Afterwards, we went to the "College Bar", which is, in fact, a bar that's right on the campus, next to the theatre. The campus is very much isolated from the city pub scene, so think of it as like a student union, but with beer (any Wisconsin grads reading this, think of it as like your student union, but without the lake).
Anyways, up on the walls surrounding the bar were red, white and blue balloons and streamers. There were two large, flat panel TVs on the wall above the bar, and a large projection screen at the end. All three were looping a video which kept projecting "4th of July" in large, cartoonishly star-spangled letters, followed by clips of fireworks and assorted images from around the US, the first of which was unmistakeably, in a paradoxically intriguing twist to my observation basis, the Chicago river, dyed bright green for St. Pat's.
For what its worth, I did not notice any particularly pro-American stuff in any other places around town. I suspect the college bar did it out of respect to the very large portion of the student body that are American. Not like the other day when a quick look around Shop Street revealed that about every fifth person had a Canadian flag painted on their face.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Apple pie and baseball
A few quick thoughts on things I'm looking forward to in the days, weeks and months ahead, in no particular order...
Chicago style pizza. A fresh load of laundry warm right out of the dryer. A glass of tap water. Going to Comerica Park to see the Tigers. Sailing on Lake St. Clair. BBQing with friends, and meeting some new additions to their families. Decent burgers. Catching up on TV shows. Poker games. Sitting on the deck of the boat sipping a dark-n-stormy. Weather warm enough for Teva's and shorts. Wearing the rest of my wardrobe. Greenbacks (and making some again). Monday Lunch Meetings. The Grafton, and bringing some new tunes to the session there. Hitting up the session at Conor O'Neill's. New Harry Potter--movie 5 and book 7. Buying a house. Ann Arbor in the fall. Gameday weekends at my new house in town?
And of course, seeing the look on my nephew's face when I first see him again, and the disbelief in how big he and his baby brother have gotten in the past three months. And joyful embraces from the rest of my family as well.
Chicago style pizza. A fresh load of laundry warm right out of the dryer. A glass of tap water. Going to Comerica Park to see the Tigers. Sailing on Lake St. Clair. BBQing with friends, and meeting some new additions to their families. Decent burgers. Catching up on TV shows. Poker games. Sitting on the deck of the boat sipping a dark-n-stormy. Weather warm enough for Teva's and shorts. Wearing the rest of my wardrobe. Greenbacks (and making some again). Monday Lunch Meetings. The Grafton, and bringing some new tunes to the session there. Hitting up the session at Conor O'Neill's. New Harry Potter--movie 5 and book 7. Buying a house. Ann Arbor in the fall. Gameday weekends at my new house in town?
And of course, seeing the look on my nephew's face when I first see him again, and the disbelief in how big he and his baby brother have gotten in the past three months. And joyful embraces from the rest of my family as well.
Final change in plans. For sure this time.
Yes, that was an intentional bit of foreshadowing when I re-iterated my indecisiveness in my last post. I had to check some things, but it's now official:
I'm coming home on Friday.
Staying last week was the right decision. I had to see about some things. They didn't work out, and I guess I at least thought it'd take a bit longer to find that out, but things go the way they go. But I'll never regret staying to find out out, regardless. And, for what its worth, the situation is ending on a mutually amicable and respectful note, rather than one of bitterness and anger, as it very easily could've.
But now, it is time to come home. Staying another two weeks is not going to change anything, and my overall mood has been one of a longing to be home. I really now think that was the reason I was meant to stay--to want to come home. Last Friday, I didn't want to leave. While I'll still be sorry to see this fantastic chapter of my life come to a close, I won't be dragged kicking and screaming from it as I would've been had I left when I had originally planned.
For those of you who know me in real life... family, close friends, co-workers... I can't wait to see you all again very soon. For anyone who I don't know, but who has enjoyed reading this, drop me a line if you're ever in the Port Huron, Dearborn, Ann Arbor or Chicago areas, as I expect I'll be spending plenty of time between those locales... I'd love to meet all of you and would be glad to share some tales from the road in person.
And if any of you happen to be a beautiful, young, single woman who would admire a well-travelled, introspective, funny, creative, passionate, hopeless romantic who would literally turn around just yards from the bus stop with all his luggage in tow before hopping back across the globe on the mere chance that there could be something special... well then, what the hell are you waiting for???
I'm coming home on Friday.
Staying last week was the right decision. I had to see about some things. They didn't work out, and I guess I at least thought it'd take a bit longer to find that out, but things go the way they go. But I'll never regret staying to find out out, regardless. And, for what its worth, the situation is ending on a mutually amicable and respectful note, rather than one of bitterness and anger, as it very easily could've.
But now, it is time to come home. Staying another two weeks is not going to change anything, and my overall mood has been one of a longing to be home. I really now think that was the reason I was meant to stay--to want to come home. Last Friday, I didn't want to leave. While I'll still be sorry to see this fantastic chapter of my life come to a close, I won't be dragged kicking and screaming from it as I would've been had I left when I had originally planned.
For those of you who know me in real life... family, close friends, co-workers... I can't wait to see you all again very soon. For anyone who I don't know, but who has enjoyed reading this, drop me a line if you're ever in the Port Huron, Dearborn, Ann Arbor or Chicago areas, as I expect I'll be spending plenty of time between those locales... I'd love to meet all of you and would be glad to share some tales from the road in person.
And if any of you happen to be a beautiful, young, single woman who would admire a well-travelled, introspective, funny, creative, passionate, hopeless romantic who would literally turn around just yards from the bus stop with all his luggage in tow before hopping back across the globe on the mere chance that there could be something special... well then, what the hell are you waiting for???
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
This weather is starting to drive me nuts
Seriously.
I didn't know that I'd sold my soul to the devil to get the fantastically, improbably dry April that I had when I first got here. Or maybe someone else did it and brought us all down with them. But we're now going on at least 2-3 weeks since there's been a single complete day without any rain. It's really a bit of a bummer.
And frustrating too, because it's so spotty. So many times recently I've left the house without my umbrella or rain jacket because it seemed like it was going to be nice out, only to regret it later. Or else I take it along and end up carrying around town for no reason. There's no winning.
Just now I was down at a coffee shop and overheard one of the girls at the counter telling the other she'd read in the paper that this was the wettest June here since 1950. And in Ireland, that's really saying something.
Walking out of there, I was going to wander around town some more, but the wind and the rain kicking up made me decide that coming back to the house to get long sleeves would be a good idea. Of course by the time I got back to the house 5 minutes later, it's sunny and warm and long sleeves would be overkill.
Indecisiveness seems to be a strong common theme in my life here recently, and the weather is no exception.
I'm not sure I'd ever believe that I'd be longing for the nasty, humid heat of a midwest summer...
I didn't know that I'd sold my soul to the devil to get the fantastically, improbably dry April that I had when I first got here. Or maybe someone else did it and brought us all down with them. But we're now going on at least 2-3 weeks since there's been a single complete day without any rain. It's really a bit of a bummer.
And frustrating too, because it's so spotty. So many times recently I've left the house without my umbrella or rain jacket because it seemed like it was going to be nice out, only to regret it later. Or else I take it along and end up carrying around town for no reason. There's no winning.
Just now I was down at a coffee shop and overheard one of the girls at the counter telling the other she'd read in the paper that this was the wettest June here since 1950. And in Ireland, that's really saying something.
Walking out of there, I was going to wander around town some more, but the wind and the rain kicking up made me decide that coming back to the house to get long sleeves would be a good idea. Of course by the time I got back to the house 5 minutes later, it's sunny and warm and long sleeves would be overkill.
Indecisiveness seems to be a strong common theme in my life here recently, and the weather is no exception.
I'm not sure I'd ever believe that I'd be longing for the nasty, humid heat of a midwest summer...
Monday, July 2, 2007
Tons of new photos are up
I'm not going to link all the sets individually, as there's about 11 new sets encompassing the remainder of Nathan and Justin's visit to Ireland, our time in Scotland, the Salthill Airshow, and my road trip to Dublin and Northern Ireland last week.
There are some really cool shots in there, IMHO, particularly the Isle of Skye set and the Road Trip Part II set, so it's work a look:
Flickr Me!
There are some really cool shots in there, IMHO, particularly the Isle of Skye set and the Road Trip Part II set, so it's work a look:
Flickr Me!
Recap
So yeah. I'm still here in Galway. This was not a creative ploy, cute practical joke or a strange dream. I seriously changed my mind at the last second and decided to stay and re-booked my flight for July 19th.
There were a whole myriad of reasons and signs telling me that staying was the right thing, and in the end, I'm sure it was. The biggest of them though is something that's rather personal and I'm not comfortable going into a lot of detail in a public forum, at least not right now. But that's also been pre-occupying most of my thought process lately, and since this space is normally just a place to dump out that thought process, it's left me with little to write about here. We'll just say it involves a girl and a what appears to be a much longer shot chance than it should be, and leave it at that.
But at the end of the day, at least I can say I tried and what a story it will make someday.
In the meanwhile, I've been trying to make the most of my extra time here. I played in a session at the Crane the other day, and for a bit last night at An Pucan, another great trad pub that I hadn't even been to previously. I'm also trying to ween myself back into being ready for some real tech work by helping update the web site for my housemates' theatre company, as their next production goes on stage later this week.
Give it a look and if anyone in Galway happens to read this, I strongly encourage you to come out and support the folks in this production:
Mephisto Theatre Company
There were a whole myriad of reasons and signs telling me that staying was the right thing, and in the end, I'm sure it was. The biggest of them though is something that's rather personal and I'm not comfortable going into a lot of detail in a public forum, at least not right now. But that's also been pre-occupying most of my thought process lately, and since this space is normally just a place to dump out that thought process, it's left me with little to write about here. We'll just say it involves a girl and a what appears to be a much longer shot chance than it should be, and leave it at that.
But at the end of the day, at least I can say I tried and what a story it will make someday.
In the meanwhile, I've been trying to make the most of my extra time here. I played in a session at the Crane the other day, and for a bit last night at An Pucan, another great trad pub that I hadn't even been to previously. I'm also trying to ween myself back into being ready for some real tech work by helping update the web site for my housemates' theatre company, as their next production goes on stage later this week.
Give it a look and if anyone in Galway happens to read this, I strongly encourage you to come out and support the folks in this production:
Mephisto Theatre Company
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
