Dining Delights | Peaches Prattlings

{October 17, 2014} Day Nine in Ireland

I got the sweater…where’s the boy?

Today I got up earlier than ever and then errand my book, showered, packed and headed down to the pub across the street for breakfast. My waitress had just gotten back from three weeks in Spain, why don’t we do holidays like that?

I stopped by the chemist on my way out because I did not want to bring this cold back with me as my souvenir! The sudafed is working wonders! I got on the road and drove and drove and drove, I stopped in Kildare, but realized I am going to be there tomorrow, so I headed on to Dublin.

As the gps couldn’t find things and I stopped using it last week, I wanted to do what I could from memory and I was pretty darn good! I did stop by a hotel at the airport for help, but I got there! Then I chilled for a bit and got on the bus for City Center. I got off at Trinity College and did something I haven’t done since I got here, retail therapy!

First thing I did actually, was get some lunch at KC Peaches, a lovely place with delicious, healthy, home grown ingredients sandwich. Then I headed to the Sweater Shoppe! And I got it! You guessed it! My Irish knit sweater! It was really hard to decide what looked right and felt good where I wouldn’t itch thinking about putting it on! Merino wool is itchy!

Ok, so I have the Irish knit sweater…where’s the Irish boy? Maybe I have to wear it to find him! Then I went into a few stores and picked up a few things, I can’t tell..someone might be reading this!

I walked up and down the streets, it’s a serious bustling city, I love it! It started raining on the way and never really let up. Someone asked me to pick up a tshirt at Hard Rock, so I headed to Temple Bar, http://www.templebar.ie, where all the bars seem to be, well, not all, but chunked together. This is where it happens! The noise, the music, the sites, the sounds, lovely! This is where you go for a bit of craic!

After The Hard Rock, I walked around the area and found…Boxty! http://boxtyhouse.ie, a restaurant that had and knew what a boxty was! OMG! I was in heaven! I ordered boxty scraps which were boxties cut like French fries, yum! And some awful vegetables, when the waitress said they were awful, I should have listened. But…the homeless guy I am sure enjoyed them both!

After dinner, I had the bread and butter pudding, yum! Very light and not a huge portion, easy to enjoy and walk off.

I spent some more time walking around, then found the bus and headed back to the hotel, unloaded the rest of the stuff from the car, brought it to the room, had a quick shower and headed downstairs for my complimentary drink and some live music.

I ended up getting an amaretto and cream, it was ok and I’m working through the effects of the cream, but that’s my problem! I sat at the bar for a while waiting for someone to notice me and ask what I wanted to drink. I saw out of the corner of my eye, a guy down the bar tell the bartender I was waiting. When I caught his eye later, I thanked him. I thought he was waiting for someone, he had a bouquet of confetti roses.

I told him they were pretty and he came over to ask me if I wanted to smell them and then tell me that he bought them at ya the grocers today and would give them to the first nice person he talked to..guess who.

We proceeded to talk for about an hour, I found out all about him, his company and the girl that got away that he’s trying to win back good luck! It was fun talking to him, he’s from Montreal and in Dublin in business.

I also talked to the singer, when he was finished, a great guy who was a lot of fun to listen to. He would ask if the crowd liked someone and I answered, so he directed a bunch towards me! He was funny and very talented and gave me his card, so I could email him to get a few tracks he wrote, lucky me!

Now, here I am sitting in bed writing to you and needing to get some sleep because I’m running a 5k in the morning! Wahoo! A 5k in Ireland! Go me! Something I wanted to do and now I’m going to do it!

Goodnight!

Positivity Challenge – Day #29
1 – I am thankful I found my way to the hotel…sans GPS (with a little help from a very nice person)
2 – I am thankful to have found a restaurant that serves boxty!

{October 15, 2014} Day Seven in Ireland

Only three days left? What? Hurry. Have to do everything!

Kidding! I decided a few days ago that whatever I don’t get to this time, that means that there will be a next time. I remember being physically sick when I got on the plane to go home from Paris, until I made the decision to go back and all was right with the world. Besides, NB and I have a date to keep in Ireland, so I will be back!

Isn’t it interesting, when you have a long trip ahead of you and you think you’ll get to everything and you have all the time in the world and then you’re on the back end of the trip and realize that it’s almost over and where did the time go? Well let me tell you where I went today! Have a seat, it’s gonna be another long one!

I woke up leisurely, well, sort of…the only thing that I didn’t care for at the B&B last night was the fact that I could hear the people talking next door, turn over in their beds and snoring, fun, huh? Other than that, lovely.

The day started very wet, I knew I would not be spending a lot of time outdoors until the rain cleared up and I was wishing I had brought my wellies, but a rainy day in Ireland is better than…well, anything else! I headed out down the road toward Midleton, I was going to go to my brother-in-laws Mecca…The Jameson Whiskey Distillory, yup, me! I had to represent!

It was a fascinating tour, we learned about the process of milling, malting, the kiln, I rang the big bell and we learned that it takes the trees used for the barrels between one hundred and one hundred and fifty years to grow and they only get about two barrels per tree! We also learned that you cannot reuse the barrels for whiskey, so they are used for other alcohol and maybe even made into furniture!

After, we had a choice, straight up shot or cocktail, I had the Jameson ginger lime, it was…yeah, just like I thought, but there will be a video posted soon! And guess who is getting a little something that he wouldn’t be able to get in the states or online! Who’s the rockstar now!

After the tour, I sat down for a bowl of soup and invited a woman to join me as there were no other seats available. She happened to arrange travel for different groups and she comes to Ireland about four times a year and just recently discovered a relative a few miles outside of Midelton! She and the group were from Boston, go figure! We chatted about where to go next as people often do and we were all going in the same direction.

The coach driver, Michael, gave me a recommendation for what to do next as well as where to stay in Kinsale. I thanked them and went on my way.

(I went to a pub/restaurant to listen to some music and now that I’m in my room, they’re finally doing Irish songs and singing along…go figure!)

I decided to go to Cobh, pronounced Cove, formerly called Queensland, http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobh.
It has a fascinating history, Annie Moore, the first woman admitted to Ellis Island left from Cobh, it was also the final port of call for The Titanic, as well as a major embarkation port for convicts heading to Australia, among other emigrations.

There is a lot of rich history in Cobh, not to mention the amazing views, smells and sounds of the water…sigh. I went through the museum and saw some actual things left over from the Titanic, don’t tell, but I snuck a photo or two for EJS, who is obsessed with the ship! I also got her a com reactive coin, I can’t wait to give it to her!

After Cobh, I headed to Kinsale, the Gourmet Capital of Ireland! http://kinsale.ie. it is a beautiful coastal town that I have fallen in love with. Lovely people, views, boats and I have walked the town so much I feel like I could give directions! The hotel I am staying in, The White House is a very nice hotel, the nicest, aside from the Hilton, so far. One of the things I think I may have figured out is if you show up later in the day to a hotel, they give you a better rate because it’s getting late and they may not sell the room otherwise! Breakfast will be included.

I think the host is the former mayor of Kinsale! I believe that was his picture in the paper on the wall! There is a fantastic tribute to 9/11 the driver had told me about and on the way out of town, there is another tribute, a woman planted a tree for everyone who perished, I will check it out tomorrow.

After I checked in, I decided to go for a walk and then look for something to eat. The walk was lovely and then I decided in the Blue Haven for dinner, a very nice carrot, persimmon and ginger soup, wow! After dinner, I went in search of the ghost tour I was told about only to find out I was a week too late, bollocks! I went back to the Blue Haven for a pot of tea, a tart crumble and some great live music.

After a while, it was walk the 100 meters to the hotel, jump in bed and talk to you! Guess what tomorrow brings…Cork and the Blarney Castle…you know what that means!

Until tomorrow!

Positivity Challenge – Day #27
1 – I am thankful to be in a nice hotel across from some pubs and there is live music serenading me tonight.
2 – I am thankful to have met a nice person who recommended this hotel to me.
3 – I am thankful to find a toilet close by whenever I seem to need it!

{October 14, 2014} Ireland Day Six

A fine Irish evening to ya!

I woke up in Waterford, ready to greet the day! I got ready and went out into the town of Waterford, walked around a bit and headed for the Waterford Crystal Museum.

Now, I am not a huge fan of crystal, but to tour this facility and see how they create these masterpieces is a must! First, you find out that it takes eight full years to become a master glass blower/cutter and that the FIRST ever woman is in the apprenticeship program right now!

These blowers and cutters work for years, some even forty for Waterford! They also work from memory, never have a pattern on the piece when they cut, just a grid. If there is a new piece, they memorize the pattern, that’s it. Every single piece is made and cut by hand. It really was amazing! http://www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com
(I made it through without knocking anything over!)

Next, I went to the Medieval History Museum, very interesting learning about the Vikings and the history of Waterford, the entire time, I thought about my GA Renaissance times and friends. I miss them and that time. http://www.waterfordtreasures.com/medieval-museum

After the museum, I went for a walk and went into the Christ Church Cathedral Waterford. It was a very pretty cathedral with a beautiful stained glass window, an amazing organ and I lit a candle for the B and K family, how could I not?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_the_Most_Holy_Trinity,_Waterford

I walked down the bustling street, exactly how I imagined a busy afternoon would be and stopped in a little place for an awesome, fresh made veggie burger and unnecessary chips.

I went back to the car and chatted with the attendant, who asked me if I’d ever been to his home of Scotland, I told him it was next! Then we somehow got on the subject of NY and he said he spent time in Brooklyn and did I know the ….family, nope. He then asked where I was going next and recommended Dunmore, a lovely little fishing village that had homes with thatched roofs, oh yes!

I headed out to Dunmore, it was a lovely drive and there it was, beautiful! Right on the coast and across the way…Hook Lighthouse! I walked down a path to the beach below the cliffs, spectacular!
http://www.discoverdunmore.com/tourism/web

Eventually, I got back in the car and headed towards Cork, I was going to stop in Dungarven and look for the castle, but I kept going and stopped in Youghal, pronounced ‘yall’ http://www.youghal.ie/index.php

I found the Avonmore House B&B, reasonably priced and went in search of food and I found The Quays Bar & Restaurant, one of the few places serving food and settled in in with everyone else watching futbal, Ireland vs Germany and had a nice veggie stir fry.

Back at the B&B to talk to you! Who knows what tomorrow holds after breakfast?

Positivity Challenge – Day #26
1 – I am SO thankful that after Sunday it will be a VERY long time before I smell dung on a daily basis!
2 – I am thankful to know that the US is not the only country focused on breast cancer awareness.
3 – As a granola girl, I am thankful to see that Ireland is number 2 for recycling in the UK!

{October 13, 2014} Day Five in Ireland

What a glorious day! In Ireland! Sorry, can’t help it! I hope my enthusiasm is contagious! Catch it!

Ah…to have no schedule or place you must be..it’s fantastic! I did set am alarm this morning so I could be there in time for breakfast, 8am, but it was all good, I was waking up about that time anyway. I got ready and headed down to breakfast, eggs, tomatoes and I actually asked for mushrooms, what?

It was time to head out and greet the day, remember, I was about 45 minutes away from where I wanted to be, no worries, beautiful drive! Even the highways are beautiful, either side lined with lush green landscape, trees, farms, houses, sheep, cows, horses, a dog here and there, simply beautiful! Did I tell you I saw a rainbow yesterday? A full on end to end bright rainbow! What was waiting for me at the end?

I started off by going to Johnstown Castle and Agricultural Center, http://www.irishagrimuseum.ie. The castle is never opened for viewing, but the grounds are spectacular! Guess what they have roaming the grounds…ok, I’ll tell you, peacocks! So beautiful! I waited and waited, none of them preened, but still, the colors!

I walked around the back of the castle, by the lake to the Irish Agricultural Museum, which was fascinating, showing different forms of farm equipment, tractors, carts, plowing machines and tools, carriages, then bicycles, information about sugar beets, a very depressing exhibit about The Great Potato Famine, very up lifting…then walking through to see different crafts and trades, then up to see hay making tools, other farm stuff stuff, furniture and scenes of life on the farm.

I was a wee bit knackered, time for sustenance, down to the cafe for a pot of camomile tea and a rhubarb torte, yum! The cream was not needed, not flavorful and we know about me and dairy…but it was alright. After that it was time to walk the grounds to walk off the sweet treat and enjoy the scenery and atmosphere.

Back in the car, I was going to head to Tintern Abbey and since I couldn’t find it, I moved on! Add that to the list for next time!

I headed down the road towards The Dunbrody Ship and turned off towards the Kennedy Homestead, the family home of John F Kennedy’s family and ancestors. Someone said it would be informative and it’s important, but slightly uninspiring, I have to admit, I agreed. It was fascinating to see his ancestry, but there wasn’t a lot to it, it’s a home and there are relatives still living there on the property. It took a long time to get there, very narrow road and 7.50 to get in and it was all over very quickly. No regrets for going, but not a place I would go again. http://www.kennedyhomestead.ie/follow-the-journey/

After the Kennedy Homestead, I went in town New Ross and realized I was hungry and found The River View Restaurant and had a yummy bowl of vegetable soup with some French bread, it was lovely. Just what I needed to reenergize.

Then on to The Dunrbody Famine Ship and Irish Emigrant Experience, http://www.dunbrody.com, the immigrant ship. This truly was an eye opening and chilling experience. This is a replica of the original Dunbrody and I had a personal tour as I was the only one there at the time! I went through the little gallery with the posters talking about the Potato Famine, backing up what I learned at the Irish Agricultural Center and this ship took people to the United States and Canada.

Then we walked onto the ship, there were two deck hands cleaning and doing repairs, so excited to be there…one of the cool things was the bell, it is the original bell from the original Dunbrody, which ran aground in 1857, how cool is that!

When we went below deck to see “first class”, captain’s quarters, steerage and crew, all of a sudden, there are two women who came down, one from first class and the other from steerage, it was great fun! After the tour, I went into the museum to read about what happened when the people emigrated including information about emigrating to Savannah, GA, giving explanation about North America’s second largest St Patrick’s celebration, among other things.

I got into the car, called dad and was driving off and realized as I was driving off, I saw something that I wanted to check out, back to a parking space I went! OMG, Anyone who knows me will know this is right up my alley!

The Ros Tapestries, http://rostapestry.com, the history of New Ross in tapestry. This was amazing! Fifteen tapestries in the making, 6×4 each. They tell the story of New Ross and first, they start with a painting on canvas, then trace it onto the canvas using a light board and then one of the 150 volunteers! will look at the painting and attempt to choose the correct color of yard to work on the tapestries. It was fascinating!

When I finished the audio tour, I asked the woman who worked there a lot of questions throughout and she did something special for me! She knew I had a genuine interest! She took me upstairs to show me one of the tapestries in progress and…guess what!!! She let me add a few stitches, OMG!!! I am now a part of history! I am so stoked!

After the tour, I bought the book, since I couldn’t take pictures and I bought a mini tapestry to complete myself, the logo for the town, I’ll show it to you as I go along, maybe I’ll do a progressive album. I can’t wait!

After the Ros Tapestries, it was back in the car and off to Waterford, not a long drive, found the Dooley Hotel, I felt silly, first I dropped the phone and it fell apart, but it’s alright, then I had to call the front desk because this is one of those rooms that you have to put your room key card in the slot to keep the lights on! Too funny!

Now it was time for some supper and I wandered out and found The City Arms Pub and had some scrumptious potato leek soup and lovely brown bread, yum! I might just be “souping” my way around Ireland! A lovely chat with the owner and waiter and back to the hotel.

It was a lovely night for a walk, everyone apparently thinks it chilly, I think it’s brilliant! And as I’m walking, I’m having a moment…why can’t I have a “Midnight in Paris” moment like Owen Wilson, if you haven’t seen the movie, check it out!

After a lovely walk, enjoying the weather, the night and being in Ireland and my new sweater, I got back to the hotel, put on my jammies and now I’m sitting here writing to you!

Are you tired from my day? Looking forward to tomorrow!

Night!

Positivity Challenge – Day #25
1 – I am so thankful to not be on a schedule! I have a list of things I want to do, but no schedules!
2 – I am thankful to be able to find plenty of things to eat, even straight up vegetarian options all over Ireland
3 – I am thankful I have wifi to be able to post every night!

{October 12, 2014} Day Four in Ireland (for real!)

It is day four in Ireland and yup, I’m still giddy!

I woke up leisurely, got ready and went down to breakfast, it’s great, breakfast is included with my rooms, interesting thing, it’s more for a single room than a double, but it’s all good. I did skip the “full Irish breakfast” which includes lots of meat and kept with the eggs grilled tomato and garlic mushrooms along with toast, jam, fruit and tea. Brilliant!

I had the best time talking to the other guests over breakfast, a foursome from Birmingham, UK, who come to Duncannon a few times a year and then a woman came in waiting for her friend and she was telling me about going to Atlantic City every few years!

They all gave me suggestions on where to go and Maureen, the woman who goes to Atlantic City is from Klilenny and was telling me all sort of things to do and where to stay. Then Helen, the owner of the hotel, came in and we all continued talking, I found out that Loftis House, the most haunted house in Ireland and Duncannon Fort were both closed! Pook. But…go go a Hook Lighthouse, it’s a must! Helen pointed me in the right direction, kissed me on the cheek and wished me well!

Off to look at Duncannon Fort, from a distance at least, with a stop at the beach, of course, how beautiful a way to start the day, don’t you agree? I had a nice long walk, walk off that full breakfast, take in some fresh air and smile the entire way, life is good!

NB…this is what we are going to see when we come back together!

I got in the car and headed to Hook Lighthouse and what a wonderful drive it was! There were a few spots where you had ocean on both sides, what a treat! I have to say the only bad thing is the wafting odor of dung (horse, cow or sheep) it’s charming and I’ve been told you get used to it, no thanks! I wasn’t sure if it was in the car at one point, but it wasn’t..so, at one point, fish competing with dung…fun!

The Hook Lighthouse, http://hookheritage.ie. It is the oldest working lighthouse in the world, the grandfather of all lighthouses! It was originally built by monks in exchange for a place to live and pray and then when the monks were removed, the first lighthouse keeper came in. We were able to go almost to the top, to the balcony , all 115 steps, for the faint of heart who might be afraid of heights, this might not be the tour for you! But do not let that stop you from going to the lighthouse at all! The view was amazing, the photos spectacular and guess who I met in the loo…Peggy, from the hotel and we went out to sneak up on Maureen! Funny since Peggy was shorter than me! I then met another friend, who’s son was out front selling pumpkins! What are the odds? So much fun!

I then headed back to Duncannon, I had to go back in that direction, to the hotel to tell Helen how much I loved the lighthouse and then I was off to New across and more adventures!

I drove towards New Ross, no longer using the GPS, I’m happy to say partly because it can’t always find what I’m looking for and the other part is I have figured out where I am going and reading the signs is becoming easier, the signs are great, leading you where you need to go, even on the roundabouts!

I headed to the next recommendation, the John F Kennedy Arboretum, http://www.virtualvisittours.com/john-f-kennedy-memorial-park/. I got there and had a choice, stay on the grounds, after viewing some of the photos in the hall or go back out, take a right, then left and walk up to the view point, Slieve Coillte, http://mountainviews.ie/summit/982/?PHPSESSID=dt6vcdfrqtqnpsmq0ogglv6e10, I
decided view point it was, as it only had until 5pm when the gates close and it was about 3k up and and I am so very glad I made that choice! The hike was healthy and the view from the top was SPECTACULAR!!!

After I reached the bottom, it was about 4, too late to get into any other “attraction” and I was hungry, so it was time to find a place to stay and eat. I finally knew how to use the phone! so, I found a place to stay, she said it was about 30 minutes away…hmmm..more like 45, but it was inexpensive and available! So, I am about 45 minutes away from where I was, but…that let’s me go back tomorrow and see the Kennedy Homestead and Sailing Vessel, so all is right with the world!

I wasn’t in the mood for Asian Fusion, which was the restaurant of the hotel, so I went to the local pub down the street and had…dah dah dah…Fish and chips! Yes…I am in Ireland and I knew I was going to have fish and chips at some point and it was yummy! After dinner, it was back to the hotel to talk to you!

Now it’s time to decompress and think about tomorrow!

Positivity Challenge – Day #25
1 – I am so thankful for how friendly everyone in Ireland is!
2 – I am thankful that the color I picked for my hair is just right! (Everyone I meet thinks I have Irish ties!)
3 – I am thankful that the primary drink here is tea! And every hotel room has an electric tea kettle and tea bags!

{October 11, 2014} Day three in Ireland!

Yup! I’m still in Ireland! And nope, it doesn’t get old!

Today I woke up in Dublin again, as I mentioned last night and got my cell phone, wahoo! I had breakfast and headed out. Since I had pretty much back tracked, it took me about three hours to get where I was going, but with no schedule, who cares?

I headed out towards The Irish National Heritage Park in Wexford, on the way, I stopped, because I can, at a beach, it was wonderful, lots of people and dogs, both walking and running and playing. It was nice, they even have exercise equipment along the path on the road, who needs to go to a gym. I didn’t realize how many health conscious people there were in Ireland!

After I got back in the car, I headed towards Wexford, I’m getting used to, mostly, the roundabouts…and eventually got to the Park. It was a great tour that took about two hours, led by Paul, who was authentically dressed and took us through the park. The cool thing about the park was that everything was recreated the way it was originally built, down to the cow dung as mortar! I can’t wait to share photos!

After the park, I was getting hungry, so it was time to find some food and a place to stay. I got to Wexford and tried to call hotel, after hotel, after hotel, throw in a few B&Bs and you’re there! Every number I dialed was not available, or wrong, what?

At some point, not sure, the mirror was swiped, so I have to call Avis tomorrow, luckily, no other damage! I had had enough of Wexford, the side streets are too tiny!!! I decided to drive in to Duncannon, where there is a fort and the next attraction on my list! I drove around twice, found a hotel stopped and went in.

There was a room, sorry, no singles, ok. Sorry, no view of the ocean, ok. Sorry there is going to be music in the bar until 1am, ok. Do I care? My only question…Do you have a room? Yes! It comes en suite…that means there is a loo with a shower! Go me! There is internet! I’ll take it!

After I checked in, the key is too cool, old fashioned and heavy brass, I took a walk in search of food and found the ocean and beach, how happy am I? (One photo taken with my iPad!)

Now, I am at the Strand Tavern having a wonderful dinner, vegetarian, no less!
Risotto with peas and leeks, yum and a side salad, while I write to you.

Soon, I will head back to the hotel and chill out and get ready for tomorrow’s adventure! I can’t wait to share with you! Next time…come with me!

Positivity Challenge – Day #24
1 – I am thankful that the Garda (police) was just telling me which lane I should be driving in based on my speed, whatever that was!
2 – I am thankful there wasn’t more damage to the car after the mirror got swiped!
3 – I am so very thankful I found one of my favorite things in the word twice today…the beach

{October 10, 2014} Day two in Ireland

I’m still in Ireland! I am a lucky girl!

I fell asleep about 10pm, yes I know, you’re shocked, but remember, it’s five hours ahead here and I only had two hours of sleep, come on, I was tired! I woke up about 9am, literally jumped out of bed like a shot and then remembered where I was and decided to lay back down! It felt great, fully refreshed!

I had breakfast and then headed out to Powerscourt House and Gardens, ranked number 3 on the top ten gardens in the world, impressive! It really was stunning! I wish you could have been there with me! There was a wonderful walk around the grounds including the Japanese Garden, Pet Cemetery, Italian Gardens, just a wonderful opportunity to see some amazing architecture and so many different nationalities enjoying the gardens with me. http://powerscourt.com/house

Next it was on to Glendalough, http://www.glendalough.ie. An amazing place to visit, part of the Wicklow County National Parks. There are the ruins of the monastic city, a long walking path, you can go around or up to the waterfall, you know I went up! I went around two lakes and fields and meadows, passing sheep, deer, ducks, lots of kids (children, not goats!). It was so peaceful, beautiful, breathtaking! I was there until the sun started setting.

I got in the car and headed out, GPS deciding not to work, so I turned left and hoped for the best and it was wonderful, I drove through the countryside, beautiful and green and lush and vast and then, just like in the movies, there were sheep on the side of the road! Am I that easily amused? So cool! I did stop and take pictures! Then eventually, I was in a town I recognized, I know, after two whole days! And I stopped there for dinner at a nice pub, great soup with brown bread and a veggie burger with chips (and for those of you not in the know chips are French fries on this side of the pond).

I realized when I was going to leave Glendalough that I did not have my new disposable cell phone, great…I probably left it in the hotel. So, I decided that I would stay at the same hotel tonight and get my cell phone in the morning so I could call hotels and B&Bs to see about booking rooms. (I love hotel points!)

Now, it is after midnight and I am going to get some sleep, new adventures await me tomorrow!

Positivity Challenge – Day #23
1 – I am thankful I left the disposable cell phone at the hotel and didn’t lose it completely (I’ll get it tomorrow)
2 – I am thankful that by just driving I got to see some amazing countryside and ended up not far from where I needed to go
3 – I am thankful I seem to have really gotten the hang of driving on the left and shifting on the left (I do hope they check the clutch and transmission after I turn the car in!)

{October 4, 2014} Services, cooking, break the fast, lots of people

Yesterday, I told you what Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement, is about and today, we observed.

As I mentioned, we fast for 24 hours, sundown to sundown, some people don’t and it’s not mandatory, but requested. Kids don’t have to fast until they become bar or bat mitzvah age, then they are adults and kind of expected, but it is a personal choice that you make for yourself.

Today we got up and went to children’s services at a different location. The services are a little shorter and more kid friendly, lots of singing, but with a more modern, folk-songy twist, which I like. The sermon that the rabbi gives was great and geared towards kids and parents alike. The services lasted about 1.5 hours, then we went back to the house to start cooking for all the people coming to break the fast, and let me tell you, it’s not easy to cook when you’re hungry!

There were about 40 people coming, kids and adults and we had to feed them all! Everyone brought something to share, but we provided the bagels, lox, cream cheese, as well as egg salad, tuna fish, challah hummus, salad, juice and coffee and monkey bread for dessert. Then people brought a few different koogle, blintz souffle, fruit salad, cheesecake, pumpkin bread, cookies, bars, you name it, we had it!

We started cooking about 12, set up around 3 and then people started arriving about 5 and we dug in about 5:30 and the feast was on! Everyone was so very hungry and it was wonderful to be able to break the fast with so many wonderful people of all ages! The last person left about 8:30 and we were pooped! It was bath, books, bed. Guess who fell asleep after reading to EMS while laying there with her!

Got up, kissed MGS, then went downstairs to hang with GES on the couch for a minute and fell asleep there, now here I am writing to you! It has been a very long day and I need some sleep, I have a 5k in the morning!

Again, I wish you a happy, healthy and sweet year. L’Shana Tova!

Positivity Challenge – Day #18
1 – I am grateful to get to be around wonderful friends and family to break the fast today.
2 – I am grateful that I may have found someone to take the piano i have to get out of my house!
3 – I am thankful that my sister, GES, and I get along so well and make amazing things happen together

{September 28, 2014} What a day!

Have you heard the expression “I need a vacation from my vacation?”

I need to go back to work to get some rest! This has been an amazing weekend and today did not disappoint!

The day started out way too early, as always, ok, not before the sun, fbut it was Sunday and before 10am is too early! About 7:45, I was prying my eyes open, but laying there in hopes they would stay glued shut, no such luck, so upstairs I went, to greet the day and the family. Then cleanup around the house, straighten things and put the toys away, that sort of thing.

Just before 11, we dropped EJS off at Sunday School and headed to J&A’s house for brunch. There we saw their daughter P, who called me Auntie J for the first time! She and MGS are the best of friends. Eventually, their son S was there for a few minutes and a bite to eat. He and EJS are the same age and a perfect fit as friends! ACS’s brother, JS and his wife AS were there as well as other friends who had all gone to camp with my brother-in-law, it was a great time, lots of fun and great conversation and I found a fellow sci-fi geek, truth be told, he might be a bigger one than me! He had himself cast in carbonate! GEEK CITY! I loved it!

After brunch, we left to pick up EJS from Sunday School, order bagels for next week and head home for a minute and a half. Then it was change into bathing suits, swim lessons! Both girls asked me to watch their lesson and to swim with them while the other had a lesson, I love when they fight over me! Swimming was fun, so great to watch them excel and get better! EJS has amazing form! I can’t wait for our next vacation to swim with them!

Then it was home for another minute and a half and then off to dinner. It was great that I was here this weekend so we could celebrate my birthday together as I will be in Louisville on my birthday. We went to a great Italian restaurant called Paparazzi and had great food, great conversation and fun! I got some beautiful presents, a charming ring from my sister’s family, it’s called the Little Black Ring, from Silpada, kind of like the little black dress every woman should have in her closet! I got a generous gift from my dad and a cute Vera Bradley wallet from LaLa. I will post pictures on my birthday [I haven’t taken any yet!] and I loved the cards I got from the family! Thank you!

Home again, home again, jiggity jig! [No roasting of fat pigs!]. PJs, games, books and bed. The wee tots are snuggled in their beds and now everyone else is, except for you and me. Even Jymy is snoring on the bed next to me!

Off to sleep I am…gotta get up in a few hours and head to the airport, back to Louisville I go!

Goodnight!

Positivity Challenge – Day #12
1 – I am thankful I was able to see my nieces at their swim lessons and beam at how much better they are getting!
2 – I am thankful to be close with my sister’s family’s friends and Auntie J to all their kids!
3 – I am so very thankful I got to spend my birthday dinner with my family tonight!!! Thank you!!!

{September 10, 2014} It feels like summer vacation!

I know I am working and all, but there are days it feels like I am on summer vacation. And here is where I will tell you why.

Do you remember when we talked about traveling for work and people thinking that it’s so exciting you get to go to all these different places? That when you are in a city for one or two days it’s “Airport>Client Site>Hotel>Restaurant>Hotel>Airport”, well this situation is a little different.

Ok, so…You know I am all over the place working, first in Ann Arbor for six months and now, Louisville, KY for about 1.5 months. Since I am in locations for more than a few days, I get to go exploring. I get to try new restaurants and experiences and that’s why some days it feels like I am on summer vacation and tomorrow, I will go to school, stand up in front of the class and tell them what I did over summer break.

For example…Today I didn’t have to work! Wahoo! No 12 hour shift for this girl! But..I have to get up in a few hours for my new shift, 5a-4p, who wants to be me? But…I had the day off today, so what did I do?

First, I slept in, ha ha, I was up about 10am, after falling asleep about 4:45, I was really hoping for more, but oh well. I answered some emails and then got dressed, packed and ready to switch to a new room, a bigger one! [BTW..said room I am sitting in right now is having A/C is having issues and I am using a box fan for a cool breeze, new and bigger room tomorrow.

After getting dressed, I headed out and made for the walking bridge to take me to Indiana! It was very cool, a few miles to the bridge, a mile over the bridge and then walk around the little town of Jeffersonville and…got a much needed manicure! Oh my! Navy blue, very enjoyable!

After the relaxing mani, I headed back over the bridge and to the hotel, enjoying my time along the way. There are speakers on the bridge and they were playing classical music, I was in heaven! I meandered a bit and enjoyed the breeze, ok gusts of wind, but it was better than the surface of the sun hot that I have been experiencing since I got here, so we know how happy I was!

I walked back to the hotel, stopping in a few places for a bite to eat, but alas, alack, to no avail. Back to the room where the AC was still not fixed, but I was burning up anyway, so it felt pretty good. Showered and dressed, ran out the door to the car down to Bardstown road to hopefully get a pedicure, goal number 2! I got one, ahhh…much better.

Louisville has some great works of art all over the city and in the different restaurants and I have been enjoying taking those pictures, which, of course, I will be sharing!

Speaking of sharing, two women I met at the nail salon recommended some restaurants and then told me I should blog about my experiences, go figure! Done and done!

After the pedi, I walked down the road to Kashmir, an Indian restaurant for some dinner of “No, it’s not too spicy” by the Indian waiter and his father, never trust an Indian to tell you the Indian food is not very spicy! I won’t tell you how many glasses of water I consumed!

After dinner, it was back to the hotel to write to you, rest up and get a few hours sleep for my next shift.

Fingers crossed my next room has working A/C! G’Night!