They arrived at 13:25 and proceeded through customs, which, when you arrive in Ireland, is a hallway with a machine similar to the one that you put your bags through before you get on the plane to come to ireland except that this one is without proper lighting, staff to opporate it or the machine itself.
Guinness and Baileys bid you Failte (welcome) and you walk right out to the lovely older brother who is holding a sign and holding the keys to the newly rented Fiesta.
Except that the brother is still on the bus because he didn't set his alarm an hour and a half ahead of schedule and was thus on the bus an our later than intended.
Not to worry, they say. I'm sure he'll get here in a moment or two. We'll just look after the car.
you'd like a car
yes. will you be our driver?
pardon me?
stephen, don't be difficult
yes. we would like a car.
right so. you're over 25 then?
yes?
stephen...
no, i am not
right then, no bodder. that'll just be *clickity-clickity-click* an extra fifty euro a day
steve. steve, are you okay. [steve stands back up]
i'm sorry about that, i just thought you said an extra fifty euro a day
i did
hey you! stop doing that. [steve stands up again]
well Leanne, i think we'll just wait for Bird to show up.
Tuesday, August 26
the leanne and the steve
and so it begins. IreTrip '08.
We've one Fiesta, three suit cases, two siblings and an extra body.
We're set to venture about the island for the next ten days, but my day, my morning, started like most others.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. wack. snooze.
(ten mins)
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. wack. snooze.
(ten mins)
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. wack.
Then I sat on the edge of my bed thanking the snooze lord for setting my alarm thirty minutes ahead of my schedule for the day.
Luckily I had mustered up the intension to pack the night before. Unluckily I had ignored that intension and was now scurrying around my room tossing things into a bag.
three shirts. three socks. the pants i have on, the shorts laying right there. camera, computer, wallet, passport.
good. done. sorted. i'm out the door.
back in the door again. toothbrush, deoderant, umberella.
let's try this again.
back in the door. give Jade (matty's replacement in the house) the rent money.
right so. here we go.
good bye cork, see you in a week.
We've one Fiesta, three suit cases, two siblings and an extra body.
We're set to venture about the island for the next ten days, but my day, my morning, started like most others.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. wack. snooze.
(ten mins)
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. wack. snooze.
(ten mins)
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. wack.
Then I sat on the edge of my bed thanking the snooze lord for setting my alarm thirty minutes ahead of my schedule for the day.
Luckily I had mustered up the intension to pack the night before. Unluckily I had ignored that intension and was now scurrying around my room tossing things into a bag.
three shirts. three socks. the pants i have on, the shorts laying right there. camera, computer, wallet, passport.
good. done. sorted. i'm out the door.
back in the door again. toothbrush, deoderant, umberella.
let's try this again.
back in the door. give Jade (matty's replacement in the house) the rent money.
right so. here we go.
good bye cork, see you in a week.
Thursday, August 21
I know what you're going to ask
I know what you're going to ask, and the answer is yes.
I have been to see the new Star Wars: Clone Wars movie. It opened here and in most of Europe on August 15th and saw it just three days ago. And let me be the first to tell you
DO NOT GO AND SEE THIS MOVIE.
Sorry, I don't mean to sound so blunt or negative or agitated or frustrated or annoyed that I spent 5.50 and the better part of two hours (which was actually 98 mins) in a movie that made me feel like I was playing a video game, except that when I wanted to make the player jump off the cliff the controller I wasn't holding on the game system I don't own,let along play, anyways wasn't letting me.
Much to my delight someone at the Globe and Mail agrees with me.
"With its cluttered, relatively rudimentary design, Star Wars: The Clone Wars could be easily mistaken for a demo from Lucasfilm's video-game department." Jason Anderson.
I came home from my lunch shift and said over and over again that we should all rush out the door and go and watch the new star wars film. That day, no one wanted to. The next day I went by myself and was very grateful that I did.
I don't know if I would actually say "don't go see this movie", but I will say don't bother seeing it on the big screen. It is more than enough to see it at home with your star wars figures and your stuffed yoda doll and all those things that I don't have and don't wish I had.
Given the chance I would have seen it again because I do enjoy the films. But even given the chance again I would still likely had told you not to see the film because I still would not have enjoy it.
I would have owed Chris and Matt their ticket price because they both saw that the film would have been a flop.
Your were right, the both of you, Journey is far better than Star Wars and likely in more ways that one hundred and one.
I have been to see the new Star Wars: Clone Wars movie. It opened here and in most of Europe on August 15th and saw it just three days ago. And let me be the first to tell you
DO NOT GO AND SEE THIS MOVIE.
Sorry, I don't mean to sound so blunt or negative or agitated or frustrated or annoyed that I spent 5.50 and the better part of two hours (which was actually 98 mins) in a movie that made me feel like I was playing a video game, except that when I wanted to make the player jump off the cliff the controller I wasn't holding on the game system I don't own,let along play, anyways wasn't letting me.
Much to my delight someone at the Globe and Mail agrees with me.
"With its cluttered, relatively rudimentary design, Star Wars: The Clone Wars could be easily mistaken for a demo from Lucasfilm's video-game department." Jason Anderson.
I came home from my lunch shift and said over and over again that we should all rush out the door and go and watch the new star wars film. That day, no one wanted to. The next day I went by myself and was very grateful that I did.
I don't know if I would actually say "don't go see this movie", but I will say don't bother seeing it on the big screen. It is more than enough to see it at home with your star wars figures and your stuffed yoda doll and all those things that I don't have and don't wish I had.
Given the chance I would have seen it again because I do enjoy the films. But even given the chance again I would still likely had told you not to see the film because I still would not have enjoy it.
I would have owed Chris and Matt their ticket price because they both saw that the film would have been a flop.
Your were right, the both of you, Journey is far better than Star Wars and likely in more ways that one hundred and one.
Wednesday, August 20
What Would You Say
LeRoi Moore of the Dave Mathews Band died Tuesday from injuries he received during a four-wheeler accident back in June of this year? He died in hospital after being readmitted because of complications that had surfaced during his physiotherapy rehab (cbc.ca).
Like Ryan, I don't want to sound like some huge fan after Moore has passed away, but I do want to state that I really liked the music of DMB. Really liked it.
Like many others, my favourite of their songs is grey street. I should listen to i more often, everyday even, because every time I hear it I want to be better at playing the violin.
Of course it takes more than just saying it over and over again to make something like that happen.
I need to be taking lessons.
I wonder if Boyd gives lessons.
I have been thinking about a lot of things I would do when I get back to Canada, which, may I add, is (potentially) getting closer. There are a few ideas of adventures to go on but I have yet to organize them.
One involves France, Munich and Cork again at the end of October. Another involves Cork, Toronto and Seaforth, and another still involves some unknown destinations that I haven't even thought about yet. All, mind you, rely on my working a lot and getting paid more over the next four weeks; the next four weeks because that's just how much time I have left on my work visa.
When I figure out what i am doing come the middle of September, when my work visa ends and three month travel visa begins, I'll let you know.
Until then, lets listen to some really great jazz riffs from a talented musician who has left us.
LeRoi is the big guy with the sax and the backwards hat. The guy with the dreads is Boyd.
Like Ryan, I don't want to sound like some huge fan after Moore has passed away, but I do want to state that I really liked the music of DMB. Really liked it.
Like many others, my favourite of their songs is grey street. I should listen to i more often, everyday even, because every time I hear it I want to be better at playing the violin.
Of course it takes more than just saying it over and over again to make something like that happen.
I need to be taking lessons.
I wonder if Boyd gives lessons.
I have been thinking about a lot of things I would do when I get back to Canada, which, may I add, is (potentially) getting closer. There are a few ideas of adventures to go on but I have yet to organize them.
One involves France, Munich and Cork again at the end of October. Another involves Cork, Toronto and Seaforth, and another still involves some unknown destinations that I haven't even thought about yet. All, mind you, rely on my working a lot and getting paid more over the next four weeks; the next four weeks because that's just how much time I have left on my work visa.
When I figure out what i am doing come the middle of September, when my work visa ends and three month travel visa begins, I'll let you know.
Until then, lets listen to some really great jazz riffs from a talented musician who has left us.
LeRoi is the big guy with the sax and the backwards hat. The guy with the dreads is Boyd.
Sunday, August 10
i learned
I learned that a short while ago I was reading and that I felt as though reading wasn't what I wanted to do right then.
Maybe it was I was bored with my book, maybe it was that I was all read out or maybe it was that I couldn't find my book anywhere despite having not looked at all.
Tomorrow I am going to Galway for three days. I have three days off in a row because there are new staff members coming on board and they need hours to learn how to take my job away from me.
also, i am not bitter. not at all.
In fact I'm not even bitter at all, it's just that sometimes bitter is funnier; although i am sure that what is written above isn't funny at all.
i should stop trying to be funny.
never the less i am going to Galway and visiting a friend. I am staying at her house because she has two empty bedrooms and because she lives in Galway. You might remember Janine from a past post but not really because I didn't name her by name. She was the entity in charge of making all the food for the day. She made a great mom away from home.
she also made a good kosher meal.
I don't really know what I am going to do while in Galway, but I'll tell you a bit about it when I get back.
Also what I'll tell you about is how I am slowly loosing a great deal of friends. Two people left a week ago and another a few days after that. Matty fly's out in a month and his parents are here visiting for a week which means I'm not going to see him. Chris is in France for a series of odd reasons and Connor my American bartending pal had his last work night tonight and will be on the eight o'clock bus to Dublin in ... two hours. Even my auzzie-roommate whom i don't want be around isn't around.
I need to learn how to find more friends, and fast.
Maybe it was I was bored with my book, maybe it was that I was all read out or maybe it was that I couldn't find my book anywhere despite having not looked at all.
Tomorrow I am going to Galway for three days. I have three days off in a row because there are new staff members coming on board and they need hours to learn how to take my job away from me.
also, i am not bitter. not at all.
In fact I'm not even bitter at all, it's just that sometimes bitter is funnier; although i am sure that what is written above isn't funny at all.
i should stop trying to be funny.
never the less i am going to Galway and visiting a friend. I am staying at her house because she has two empty bedrooms and because she lives in Galway. You might remember Janine from a past post but not really because I didn't name her by name. She was the entity in charge of making all the food for the day. She made a great mom away from home.
she also made a good kosher meal.
I don't really know what I am going to do while in Galway, but I'll tell you a bit about it when I get back.
Also what I'll tell you about is how I am slowly loosing a great deal of friends. Two people left a week ago and another a few days after that. Matty fly's out in a month and his parents are here visiting for a week which means I'm not going to see him. Chris is in France for a series of odd reasons and Connor my American bartending pal had his last work night tonight and will be on the eight o'clock bus to Dublin in ... two hours. Even my auzzie-roommate whom i don't want be around isn't around.
I need to learn how to find more friends, and fast.
Thursday, August 7
Chinese Food
The thing about the thing is that recently I haven't been writing very much, about anything. And the thing about that is that I am really sorry.
Really.
I don't think i can apologize enough to make up for not having written anything in the past very long time. In fact, I am sure that if i was to apologize another time I would look a bit pathetic and desperate for your forgiveness; lord knows I don't want that.
So, I am sorry for looking pathetic and desperate.
So this one time, last night, we ordered Chinese. Matty picked it up on our walk back from the car which we had rented to drive around West Cork in yesterday. I know what you might be thinking and I assure you that the story that needs to be told involves the Chinese food and not the road trip and i'll do my best to make you understand that.
So on our road trip yesterday we sort of just drove around. Chris had a valid license so was the only one who could drive and therefore drove us all around all day. All of us included Matty, Jordan (new roommate from Brantford, Ontario) and myself. The four of us just drove around.
In saying that we had rented a car and just drove around I mean exactly that. You may think that
hey, you went to the trouble of taking a taxi out to the airport, filling out all the paper work with the lady at the desk only to find out that your license expired two months ago and you could no longer rent vehicles, let along drive them (only to know that the whole time you were hoping with all your heart to yourself the whole time the lady is filling out the paper work that she doesn't turn over the card and in the 100% chance that she will to look for the expiry date she will, somehow, have forgetton how to read dates written in numbers) and then have Chis step forward and put his license down and hope that she not realize that he wasn't over 25 and having gone through all that trouble perhaps you might have had a plan laid out for the day, a map with you or, at least, a lunch packed.
of course if you thought that you would be of perfectly sound mind and without the comprehension of the conversation that took place the night before.
IT went something like this:
chris: do you want another pint?
Bird: you know what, i'd like to rent a car tomorrow
Chris: me too.
Jordan: I'll have another pint
Matt: .... (he wasn't out because he was in bed because he was resting up to call in sick to work for his 11:30 shift at 10:30 because I was going to ask him to come along at 10:25. It was because he wasn't out that he had nothing to say.)
Now that you have a little idea of what our plans where you might have an idea how the day went; and if you picked "perfect" you would be absolutely right. With no plans made there were no plans to screw up. We saw more than what we set out to see (as we had set out to see nothing) and we had a better day than we would have watching the crap American television that Ireland gets for day time viewing (may I also note that we all get crap American television no matter where we are watching during t
he day, thus it is better to get out of the house and rent a car no matter where you are).
That night we got Chinese food from the place across the road from our house which I had never eaten at before. They give their food out in plastic reusable tubberware and not in those earth-hating styro-foam containers.
Now that, my friends, is news worthy material.
Really.
I don't think i can apologize enough to make up for not having written anything in the past very long time. In fact, I am sure that if i was to apologize another time I would look a bit pathetic and desperate for your forgiveness; lord knows I don't want that.
So, I am sorry for looking pathetic and desperate.
So this one time, last night, we ordered Chinese. Matty picked it up on our walk back from the car which we had rented to drive around West Cork in yesterday. I know what you might be thinking and I assure you that the story that needs to be told involves the Chinese food and not the road trip and i'll do my best to make you understand that.
So on our road trip yesterday we sort of just drove around. Chris had a valid license so was the only one who could drive and therefore drove us all around all day. All of us included Matty, Jordan (new roommate from Brantford, Ontario) and myself. The four of us just drove around.
In saying that we had rented a car and just drove around I mean exactly that. You may think that
hey, you went to the trouble of taking a taxi out to the airport, filling out all the paper work with the lady at the desk only to find out that your license expired two months ago and you could no longer rent vehicles, let along drive them (only to know that the whole time you were hoping with all your heart to yourself the whole time the lady is filling out the paper work that she doesn't turn over the card and in the 100% chance that she will to look for the expiry date she will, somehow, have forgetton how to read dates written in numbers) and then have Chis step forward and put his license down and hope that she not realize that he wasn't over 25 and having gone through all that trouble perhaps you might have had a plan laid out for the day, a map with you or, at least, a lunch packed.
of course if you thought that you would be of perfectly sound mind and without the comprehension of the conversation that took place the night before.
IT went something like this:
chris: do you want another pint?
Bird: you know what, i'd like to rent a car tomorrow
Chris: me too.
Jordan: I'll have another pint
Matt: .... (he wasn't out because he was in bed because he was resting up to call in sick to work for his 11:30 shift at 10:30 because I was going to ask him to come along at 10:25. It was because he wasn't out that he had nothing to say.)
Now that you have a little idea of what our plans where you might have an idea how the day went; and if you picked "perfect" you would be absolutely right. With no plans made there were no plans to screw up. We saw more than what we set out to see (as we had set out to see nothing) and we had a better day than we would have watching the crap American television that Ireland gets for day time viewing (may I also note that we all get crap American television no matter where we are watching during t
he day, thus it is better to get out of the house and rent a car no matter where you are).That night we got Chinese food from the place across the road from our house which I had never eaten at before. They give their food out in plastic reusable tubberware and not in those earth-hating styro-foam containers.
Now that, my friends, is news worthy material.
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