Irish kids, shopping sprees, blustery days, bad chick flicks

My, my. For a couple of days of not working, I do have much to write!

I went to work yesterday, and my boss sent me home in just over an hour. I thought that I'd be okay with the pain killers and the nausea medicine, but I really could feel like my head was hurting and clouding over. I thought I could power through it though, even if I had to do it really slowly; I felt too badly about missing so much work.

Lisa was really super nice about it, though. She just asked randomly, "Ingrina, how are you feeling?" And I think I had looked over semi-weakly and said, "I'm okay." And she immediately just said, "Go home!" What could I do? She was very very insistent upon my going home, and even that I take today off and just go in next week. I do hope my head is better because this is just so so strange!

I'm doing what I can to help this tension headache. I was so weirded out by how long it's been lasting that I even went to the doctor on Tuesday to see if I had meningitis or something. Luckily, nothing was alarming, so I guess I just need rest and time away from reading and the computer screen, which have been my life. So I'm not reading anymore on the train, and I'm taking naps, going out for walks, and went for a run yesterday. I do feel better, but the headache lingers.

Speaking of the run, yesterday I went out, and was running by four people on a walk. It was a straight path, so they saw me coming, and I was wondering all the while I was staring at them whether they'd move out of the way. It seemed like they were trying, but then this little kid walked behind them towards my side, and just kept walking. I could have moved on to the grass, I suppose, but I was getting annoyed at dumb Dubliners who won't get out of your way and bumble about on their own slow way.

Anyway, as I passed this group, this kid yelled, "BANG!" in my ear. WHY WHY WHY would he do that?! and in front of his mother? But I highly doubt his mother did anything - that's why all these Irish kids are all screwed up. I apologize if I offend anyone, but I was pissed. I didn't do anything, though; I'm too scared of these Irish kids. They intimidate me.

On that note, as well, yesterday was super windy. It was obnoxious. While I was walking, running, or waiting for the train/bus, I just kept thinking, STOP BLOWING! and it wouldn't. I succumbed to getting some hot chocolate from Butler's to get a warm beverage inside me, and all I wanted was to get indoors to warmth. Blah. It felt like Boston again....I know you guys have really cold weather right now. We've been totally weakened by Dublin!

Laura and I watched "Down to You" yesterday on the telly. Horrible! I don't think there's a worse chick flick out there. The guy tried to commit suicide by drinking the girls shampoo when they broke up! The girl thought a cardigan was dressing up nice! The guy thought it was so cute when the girl scratched his tummy?! Horrifying.

I'm so ready to leave this culture, in all truth. Much as I love the country landscapes and buildings, this Irish culture is slowly getting to me (I'm not talking about Northern Ireland). The literature we've been reading is good, but they're ALL ABOUT THE SAME THING! They're all depressing and full of hatred towards the British, and I love the Brits - I can't take such strong words against my beloved people.

When I think about it, I guess I do have a lot on my plate. I'm working around the clock on something - travel research for internship and my two upcoming trips and my job search. So I guess my body is telling me to relax.

But during the day, all they have is Smallville and One Tree Hill. Bleh.

Bum, Bum Bum Bum

Second day taking off work because of this dumb headache.

On Wednesday, I realized that I was feeling awful and asked if I could get off work early. I left at around 12:15pm. Lisa told me to just let her know if I need Thursday off as well, and I didn't think I would need it; I just took off early because I was thinking I needed a bit more rest for class later that night. I didn't go to class, either.

Then Thursday I woke up and realized I should probably try to work at home. It was minimally successful, but I think not having to stay in that poorly ventilated office helped. I love going in, but I do hate that room to pieces.

Friday was a blessing with that guest lecturer who only kept us in for about an hour. I think it could have potentially gone longer, but she had told us of an accident she had that morning, and she DID look all bruised in the face. I have a feeling that we were all too worried that she was going to faint and wanted her to go to the hospital ASAP.

The weekend was great. Going to Downhill for the day to see a tranquil tourist location. It's not actually much. Just a ruined building and a round temple, but there was a really nice serenity to the surroundings; it was a relief from all those tourist-y places that have been filling my life thus far. I just wish it were a little less windy.


My house, after it's restored!


But to be fair, we had a lot of blue sky:




Then after chilling out at the house for a bit, we went to catch the sunset at White Rocks beach, where Alan made me climb a sand dune. AND made me go all the way down. Slowest descent ever, as he says, but I don't want to die!




On top of the sand dune!





We went to Morelli's for some ice cream. It's apparently a tourist attraction for their ice cream creations. HA. Have they ever seen Coldstone's?! If they're all crazy about that place, they would absolutely freak out when they see Coldstone's, or even J.P. Lick's! I miss J.P. Lick's. =(

Then my headache got worse on Sunday. Medicine had helped me so that I could do all that on Saturday, but on Sunday, I just wanted to lie around. Blaaah. Traveling on the bus did not help too much, either.

So here I am, in the room like a bum. I need to get off the computer some time and let my head rest, I think. Maybe I can go out for a walk to get some fresh air. I haven't properly exercised in almost a week because of time and my health. At least I got some walks and uphill climbs/hikes in, but I know it's not nearly enough, especially with the glutton I am becoming. =)

St. Patrick's in Ireland!

...which I spent alone in my flat! YEAAAAH.

Hahaha...now, don't get ahead of yourselves. I was invited to go out, and I did want to, but I had to keep my head in order.

First of all, I really wanted to sleep in because I've been absolutely exhausted, as my previous post has suggested. I got a beautiful 8.5 hours of sleep in by waking up at 9am instead of 7am!

Second of all, I had to get on this building-my-future-career business. So I sat in and updated my resume, then searched for open jobs and applied for two. I know that's not that many, but there aren't very many companies looking for non-senior-level employees. At least i have my resume and a general cover letter done, so now it's all about changing them up a bit according to the specific positions and just crossing my fingers.

Travel planning didn't get very far, but that's okay. The job applying was really hanging over my head, and I'm glad that I have a bit of a start on it.

Other than that, I don't think I wanted to join in on the drunken merry-making today. I did that all in Boston last year - saw the parade and went out for my green beer. I think that's good enough, actually. Here, even though people from all over the world come to participate in the festivities, I do wonder how much really goes into honouring St. Patrick. The man brought Christianity to Ireland; Christianity was Ireland most influential contribution to Europe (I forgot the era, my apologies). I don't know...it all just seems a bit skewed. Funny how so much of your attitude can change in a year, eh?

Anyway, but I can't deny that today was really pretty. I can't say it was gorgeous because of the slight chill that kept breezing by, but it was pretty. I went out for a walk in the park to get some fresh air, did my quiet times, and then walked around praying and thinking. It was nice to be able to just relax and do that, without having to rush back to make dinner, or to finish an assignment and get to class, or to go to sleep for work the next day. Granted, I still have to do that tonight and the next few days, but the smallest lull in that routine can sometimes be all that you need.

I also went out for a little run later, and ooohh...I can feel the effects of my nonstop eating. I think I'm becoming a glutton lately. All I can think about is the next meal. I have a feeling that it might be because I see meals as time markers of some sort that help time pass by. This especially helps at work, when I'm looking constantly at the clock and wondering when I should take my lunch. This is a huge thing because if I eat my lunch too early, then time goes by a lot more slowly. I have to eat it at just the right time so that I don't snack too much, and that my day can be split up just the right way.

I'm weird, I know.

So now, a play to read!

By the way, press on Monday was terrifying. I barely spoke because everyone was so tense. I thought it would be exciting, but it was just scary. I just cowered in my corner and did my thing as everyone stressed out to get all the PDFs signed off on time. It did allow me to do some more of my own thing, though I was dreadfully distracted!

Anyway, enjoy your St. Patrick's day, but do remember who the guy really was.

Exhaustion

Why does life hurl so many mixed feelings all the time?!

I feel too tired/lazy to go to work tomorrow, but I know it will be exciting because it's going to be the printing day. It'll be a great thing to see and understand during these next few weeks. And by the way, if any of you are flying Aer Lingus next month, my name should be in Cara!

Well, I guess it helps that I had a fantastic weekend. =)
- Pleasantville
- Manchester Utd v. Liverpool game (sorry, Alan, about your loss)
- Bewley's
- Travel plans
- Walking around Temple Bar and eating at Gourmet Burger Kitchen
- Walking along the Liffey
- Chilling out
- A couple hours of discussion/fellowship (ahhh...finally!) in Starbucks
- Crepes for lunch
- Walking around the pretty St. Stephen's Green =)
- Talking, chilling out, having laughs and deep discussions


But I forgot about the editorial that I need to do for work!

Annnd...things still to do:
- Travel plans with the parents
- Resume and applying for jobs/sponsorships
- Reading for my literature class
- Travel plans with the boy

Yes, my days just fill up. I am very, very tempted to just sleep in on St. Patrick's Day and not bother with the craze of crowds on Tuesday. As exciting as it would, I feel like an old woman who just needs her rest and quiet. I don't think I can stand a bunch of drunk foreigners all dressed in (puke) green watching something I probably can't see.

I know; I'm lame.

On a completely different note, I really want to protest against commercials for horror movies. Those commercials really are little horror films in themselves. Usually I can catch it with the first creepy little child's voice in the beginning seconds, but what if I'm in the bathroom when it comes on?! What if I can't come out to change the channel?! Here come the nightmares...

Anyway...so! It looks like I'll be seeing...
Paris, Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands

And then...
London, Prague, Salzburg (SOUND OF MUSIC!), Florence, Venice


I'm exciiiited!

Here's the something-something bridge over the Liffey:

OHH....A Weekend Post!

Apologies for being MIA. You've probably guessed that this more routine--and more filled--schedule with an internship and class has really begun to get to me. It's nice; it makes the days pass by pretty quickly, which is both good and bad.

The rest of the week was a lot, lot better, suffice it to say. I got to work in good time, but began stopping by Mark and Spencer to pick up my lunch. So this week's lunches were vastly better than last week's. I've also bought some biscuits, tea and coffee for the office so that I could somehow manage to stay awake; I've found that walking outside from time to time also helps.

But...I think I'll have to remember blogging my blunders. It seems as if every day I have a couple. You know, I was resigned to being a klutz, but I didn't know I was this much of one!

I've forgotten many throughout the week, but yesterday will be a good enough example, all taking place at the National Library.

1) Butterfingers
When we began our tour, we all had a bunch of readings that our lecturer just handed out to us for next Friday's readings. I had also snagged some National Library brochures as souvenirs (no, I'm not sure if I'll remember to keep them), so I didn't want to risk dropping anything. It seemed like a stiff enough stack to just shove the entire thing in at once, and I tried that. I got some in, but there was a point when I thought, "This isn't gonna work, Ingrina. Just let them go because they're going to fall." And I let go/dropped all the papers. A bit of a scene...

2) Bumper Purse
When we walked from case to case during the tour, we had to crowd around our tour guide. There was one very narrow hallway, and I realized that I could move in a little bit more to give other people seeing room. So I did, and on my way, my purse knocked against one of the exhibition cases. Our tour guide had told us earlier on that if you knocked too hard against the case, an alarm resembling the obnoxious car alarms of Ireland will sound off. There was nothing immediate, so I breathed a bit. And then...woo hee woo hee woo hee. BAH. Then the lecturer asked if that was me. He didn't make me feel bad, but the alarm went on as a reminder for about 10 minutes before they turned it off and everyone's ears breathed a huge sigh of relief.

3) Chirping Mobile
As if the first two blunders were not enough, during the tour we all heard this bird chirping noise. It was soft, but we could all definitely hear that it wasn't part of the general ambiance. Our guide stopped and said, "Is that someone's phone?" My lecturer said, "Yeah, it's sounds like birds chirping." No one said it, and then the thought occurred to me that my phone had that ring tone. You see, it was the American phone I brought to the US that I was(am) temporarily using because I need to charge the Irish phone. I don't remember the ringtone, and I remember that I had to be a bit startled by it before in London.

But the first two blunders were already enough for me so I didn't admit to it, knowing it was too soft for anyone to be trace it to me. I later checked, and yes...I had a missed call. I think it was my boss. WHY. No one EVER calls me!!!


After the class departed everything got loads better. The security guy talked to me about Korean/Chinese food in Ireland, and I had a good mocha and scone in the cafe. I also walked around Temple Bar and realized how many cute cafes I had been avoiding (yes! I shall try you!), and then looked through a portrait gallery. =)

Oh, another blunder could be added: When I went to Tesco to buy groceries, I stopped in to see if I could find some clothes to buy. I do need a new wardrobe, me thinks. After 45 minutes, I just failed. Everything either didn't look right or was too expensive to entice me into buying.

But, my dinner was delicious! And I have Nutella! And jam!

Annnnd...my boy is here for the weekend. Pleasantville was a good movie. =)


By the way, a side note before I'm off: My life is consumed by travel research. I research upcoming events, places to go, etc etc for travellers on Aer Lingus flights during the day, and when I come home, I continue for my parents' trip, and then soon will be my and Alan's trip.

It's fun, but...now every place has begun blurry in my brain...

An Eeyore Type of Day

Terrible day. Where shall I begin?

08.30 - It was nice to be able to sleep a little longer to try the new route. I knew I'd be late, but Garrett insisted that I try that route.
09.30 - It took about an hour to get to the Clontarf DART station, though I was assured it would take 15-20 minutes for a bus to travel 3 miles.
09.44 - Pulled into Connolly Station from Clontarf, and find out that something happened at Lansdowne, which shut the services down. Had to get out and walk the half mile to the 46a bus stop. I did stop along the way to fetch some tea and coffee biscuits, coffee, and my lunch.
10.00 - Bus finally came. I fell going up the stairs...embarrassing...
11.00 (ish) - arrived at work, realized I forgot my work pass... And got no reading done because the sun shining in my face made me tired.
Some time around lunch - figured out I lost my hat. Must have dropped it from the bus stop at Baker's Corner.
And I figured out that my biscuits just crumbled and were useless. BLAH.

17.00 - off work, but waited 20 minutes for the bus, while seeing three other 46a buses going the opposite direction during that period of time. Oh yes, and it was...you guessed it! IT WAS RAINING.
18.03 - Finally arrived at Connolly, rush to the bus stop
after 18.30 - Arrived at DCU, walked back briskly in the rain.
close to 20.00 - close to a little snappy with everyone


Bad day.

But i'll get through it. I just need to hang tough for six more weeks...I guess I'll be quite a traveler by the end of this!

Check, Check, Ummm...Next Time?

Dublin welcomed me back from London with some rain. I wonder why I expected anything different.

I don't know what else to say except that London was good, and I need to go back. But before I get carried away with all this longing, here's the usual Ingrina lists:

FRIDAY
1) Departure at 16:30, but got to the airport super super early, so just chilled out for a while
2) Arrived in London at about 18:00, but did not arrive at our hotel until about 20:00. But we successfully checked into our 4-star hotel. It was so nice, complete with an iMac and everything. So yes, I do admit I could have update over the weekend, but I did not care to.
3) Ate a super late dinner at around 21:30 (decided for a very very long time about where to eat, as nothing was open around us)
4) Sleep!

SATURDAY
1) Woke up at 7:30 to go for a run along the Thames. Nice nice, though I think my stomach was not happy with me...
2) Went towards Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guards ceremony, but without breakfast. =( I know, sad, right? We couldn't find anywhere to eat
3) Got tickets for the 14:30 'Billy Elliott' show.
4) Buckingham Palace = mass chaos
5) Lunch - hoarding a long-awaited panini and chocolate cake
6) Buckingham Palace again for better pictures
7) Strolling around St. James Park taking pictures of birds and flowers. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY
8) Billy Elliott!
9) Central London, which was dead, little did we know. And we walked around for a very long time starving... (why were we always starving?! Finding food is obviously not our forte)
10) Bumped into Josh, Jimmy and Danny at Ye Olde Chershire Cheese and they took us to Pizza Express. YUM.
11) Met up with the guys again at The George for a pint of ale - also fetched Jin some time.
12) Picadilly Circus = Times Square of London! Not sure if I was too impressed, though. I guess comparing it to the real Times Square really makes it sort of...bleh.

SUNDAY
1) Breakfast at our hotel. Yummy fruits. =)
2) Westminster during the day for pictures of the buildings, Big Ben, etc etc
3) Trafalgar Square, National Gallery
4) Airport


So there was my weekend. I really enjoyed it, despite not having seen a bunch of things. It was a good pace, albeit sometimes a bit too slow. All in all, it was a good weekend for taking in the atmosphere of London. Next time I go I'll do more, I think, but over a longer period of time.

Anyway, another Ingrina-blunder: I couldn't find my pajamas, so I slept in my jeans both nights. VERY uncomfortable, I'll tell you that much. Then this morning, I was awake early and just doing some thinking, and I realized that I DID pack my pajamas. I just didn't look hard enough. So as soon as I got the chance, I dug through my backpack and found my pajamas. Sad story, I know.

I am glad I lost a bit of sleep on Saturday morning to run along the Thames. There's something about water that just calms me and relaxes me. I've since made a goal to run along as many bodies of water as I can...provided that I don't have to run on sand. But who knows, if I get all fit and tough, maybe I just will! So I've got the Charles and the Thames. I'll try the Seine when I'm back there in April, and then maybe along some canal in Venice. =)

This weekend in London made me wonder more if I should have done the London program instead. I love the English accents, the British humour, and of course, the British writers.

BUT. I always like a bit of change here and there, and Dublin was that change. I get to learn about Irish literature, and experience a culture with which I am not as familiar. I've learned quite a bit, and I can't synthesize all my feelings into words just yet, but I have learned. I think that in itself makes the trip.

That still doesn't change the fact that I'm going back to that wonderful city. =)

DAH

That sums it up pretty nicely. Just take it for the positive and negatives aspects.

The commute to and from work is pretty much insane, and it all ends up that I only have about 5-6 hours to do everything that I need to do for myself within a day. These ongoing mini-projects include:

1) Fixing up resume and sending out to employers
2) Researching trip for parents
3) Researching trip after parents leave
4) Homework for Lit class
5) Mmm...this personal project???
6) Run more consistently

Believe me. Because they are supposed to be ongoing projects of some sort, they are quite time-consuming.

This is going to be a quick post, which means...BULLET POINTS!

- I am researching art festivals, new bars/restaurants/hotels, and Ireland events all over the world. Doing this kind of thing makes me want to go to all these places. I wish there were a way I can do that for a living.
- My bosses are really cool. They're efficient, busy, but at the same time very laidback!
- But YO. Now I can't tell whether Lisa is English or Irish. Her accent is different, but it's not quite English, not quite Irish. There are inconsistencies all over her speech! She says she has to "go to the loo" and refers to someone as a "wench." But! Her "r" sounds don't sound quite English, and her last name is Goughran = sounds Irish. CONFUSION.

I bought a traveling backpack today. It's those hardcore looking ones that extend at the top! I'm excited for it, and it was a pretty reasonable price at 32 euro. Although after I opened it, I realized that Ireland's flag is printed on it boldly. BAH.

OMG OMG OMG. THE CHARLES DICKENS BAR AND RESTAURANT. You got it. I'm GOING. You don't know how excited I am. You think you know, but you really don't. You have absolutely no idea how much this means to me. I think I need to get a picture of me with his head sculpture, and I also need to purchase something with his disgusting face printed on it.

Oh yes, I'm going to London for the weekend, if you haven't gathered that already.

I need to wake up early tomorrow morning to do packing. I'm fried.

Sunrise, Sunset

I had a 13-hour day today so I reserve the right to give a little rant.

I went to bed at midnight, aiming to wake up at 6:20 a.m. to go on a run, which wasn't too ambitious, I don't think.

Then I started getting angry that I was still up at 1 a.m., and still longer after that since I had to listen to music for a little while to lull me to sleep.

Oh, but just before that, right after I got my iPod to listen to, I hid my head against the semi-shelf just above the head of my bed. Now I have a sore dent in my head, which throbbed the night through. I mean, it might have helped get me a little more drowsy to get me to sleep, but I felt tired the whole day and I still feel a little throb from that bump.

I raced to the bus stop, I raced to Connolly Station, I raced from the bus stop to my workplace.

Well, the rain could have been partially to blame. LIKE THAT MADE IT ANY BETTER.

Remember my saying that I succumbed to buying an umbrella after resolving to go through the semester without one?

I reached Connolly Station with 10 minutes to spare, so I decided to sit down and read some more. As I sat down, I placed my umbrella next to me and after a while thought humorously to myself, "Watch me forget this umbrella." I thought this because I realized that as I was reading, I had completely forgotten that I had an umbrella - so used to not having it was I. So I thought, "DON'T FORGET THE UMBRELLA, INGRINA."

Then when I got off the DART in Dun Laoghaire, I realized, I forgot my umbrella in Connolly.

Sad, sad story.

And THEN it decided to pour rain right before I was off. Good thing my boss drove me to the train station to prevent my having to wait outside for the bus. She's nice. I told her about Alan.


Work today was just researching a bunch of art festivals in Aer Lingus city destinations. I had to email a bunch of PR people, and a lot of them got back to me! Yahoo! My slapped on title, "Editorial Assistant" really worked!

I rushed to grocery stores to grab some things before heading back, shoving in my dinner and heading off to Modern Irish Literature.

Not bad! But while we were introducing ourselves, I said that I had only read Beckett as Irish lit because my strength was in English literature. But I think I was misunderstood as I thought "Waiting for Godot" was English lit because the lecturer said it was written in French. DANGIT. I probably looked so stupid. I meant BRITISH LITERATURE man.

Another sad story is that I made coffee twice today and forgot about them, slash I didn't have time to drink them. I am determined to have some tomorrow, provided that I get to SLEEP at a decent time.

Oh...so much to do still in under an hour!

Quick quick quick

I'm going to fly through this post because I now know that time will be of absolute essence in the coming weeks.

SATURDAY
1) Bush Mills Distillery
2) Hang out with James and Gail, playing Guitar Hero and Articulate

SUNDAY
1) Church
2) Lazy afternoon, then to Belfast to get back to Dublin
3) Lucky that my buses weren't on strike
4) Book London hotel

MONDAY (Today)
1) Leave at 8:05 a.m. for internship
2) Arrive at work at 10:15 a.m. - Oh yeah, gotta love that 2+ hour commute
3) Hang out in the city since I was let off early!
4) Queen of Tarts
5) Skype with the parents to figure out TRAVEL PLANS!
6) Research travel
7) Little bits and bobs


The day was really chill. My boss, Lisa, is incredible chill even though she seems to have a million things to do. I love it how she shows up in a loose shirt and boots and jeans. That means I can pretty much wear whatever I want and be completely comfortable with it. I met Ray in the office, and he's nice, and new like me! So I do get along with them a lot. I can swear that they're English because their accents are completely different. But they support Ireland in Rugby? Confusion up the wazoo.

Didn't do anything really exciting at work today. I just did some word editing and some data entry into an Excel spreadsheet. Well, now I can at least say that I'm getting more practice and experience with Excel. I spent a lot of time trying to make it look nice - you know the aesthetic look is kinda important. Not really. No one really sees it.

Anyway, so how about that commute? It's not so bad, I guess. I do get some serious reading in, but it's unfortunate that my free time in daylight is basically robbed. Oh sun, please begin rising earlier and setting later. Pretend it's the summer and it'll all be grand.

I'm aiming to sleep before midnight and wake up at 6:30 a.m. to go for a run. Maybe it won't be too dark or too cold! One can be optimistic.

Looks like these next few weeks are going to fly by. I think I do have something booked for basically every weekend!

Ohh...time's a-tickin' away!

But I'll leave you with this beautiful sunrise I woke up to this morning!