Strange Anomaly #36

There is a definite dog poo problem and their new signs are trying to get people to clean it up or they get fined. I just love what they say! But I am sure if they did have two hands they still would not clean it up themselves.

St Paddy's Day

Since we live in town, we had no excuse to not go to the parade since it is right on our doorstep, literally. The sun was out, Ben had the camera ready, and we met up with our new friend Tori (who is a childhood friend of my collegemate Liz who electronically introduced us). The three of us found a spot right in front of Christ Church Cathedral and then waited. It was great people watching, and definetly helped that the sun was out in full. Not especially warm, but the sun felt good on my face. After waiting nearly an hour and a half, the Simpsons finally made it up the parade route. They were promoting their newest episode that is based in Dublin.

Then we had to wait another half an hour before the rest of the parade caught up. The Simpsons must have been like 'screw this, we're hot, let's get to the pub' and just went as fast as they could. Now I know I have been spoiled growing up with the Rose Festival parades and watching the Macy's Day parade over the years, but this really was a crappy parade. I have heard that everyone else has a better St Patricks Day parade and I now agree. Most of the marching bands were American, most of them were just people walking for a good cause waving, but there were some colourful floats. Well maybe not floats per se, but more things built over a bike moving down the street. We had a good time watching everyone go by, having a small child accost my butt since I was in her way and just the general debauchery of people running around in leaperchan hats.

At least now I can say that I have done all the St Patricks Day fesivites that Dublin has to offer, and I am all about experiences!

Strange Anomaly #35

Strip clubs look like any other storefront. But at night you have people that walk around with signs trying to get people to go in on the footpaths.

Graveyard for Easter Weekend

For the last few months, nothing really has gone on since we were broke due to the recession and due to the recession, our Iceland trip was canceled. There were not enough people coming over from Iceland to make Icelandair do the trip over. Needless to say Tullia, Jen, Ben and myself were super bummed. So instead we did something else interesting here at home!

The weekend of Good Friday and Easter Monday is a 4 day weekend for us. Tullia, Ben and myself went out in what fleeting sunrays we saw and toured the Glasnevin cemetery which is where most of Ireland's famous writers, politicians, Republicans (those who wanted Ireland a free state from England), Unionists (those who wanted Ireland still a part of the Union Jack - the United Kingdom), war heroes on both sides, paupers, babies, rich and poor of Dublin that have been buried since 1832. We had a great tour guide that knew all the histories of these important people and talked about the great restoration work they are doing to make it a national historical monument. The rain stayed away all day, but it was a bit overcast. I will take an overcast day over a rainy one any day! Tullia joined us on our adventure climbing around the old graveyard but Jen did not join us since she decided to head home to Belgium. We got a bit of history on one of Ireland's most important days in history, the Easter Rising of 1916. Many of the men and woman that fought for Independence were buried here. Although Ireland did not get independence directly from the Easter Rising, it did pave the way for the 1922 independence.

One we were done there, we headed over to the botanic gardens. Humongous greenhouses held all sorts of cacti, orchids, ferns, blossoming plants, and a rain forest. The grounds also had all the different types of plants labeled and was great just to have a wander around the grounds to see the blooming flowers. Spring has arrived in Dublin!

Strange Anomaly #34

Grocery store has become a surprise what is there one week may not be there the next. At first it frustrated me, now I like to think of it as a personal game. If I see it, I buy it and cannot expect it to be there next time.

Our Xmas

Christmas in our household was a quiet one. With all our friends away I made a full Turkey dinner for the two of us to eat on before we left for Amsterdam. We did the conference call to my parents in the wee hours of the morning while it was still Christmas Eve for them to open our gifts. We had a poinsette as our Christmas tree and a few decorations hanging from the doorway along with our cards and some lights hanging fro the window. That was our Christmas spirit. Colin met us the dday after Christmas and brought some of his homemade pudding with cusstard. Was a good treat and was nice to spend some of our break with our Dublin friends.

Dublin at Christmas

Tullia and I took a nice cool evening to stroll around the city centre and take some photos of the elaborate store displays and lights up Henry Street and Grafton Street. The displays were sometimes naughty, gaudy, simple and colourful. The naughty gingerbread men and women was my favourite. They really went all out this year on lights, it was good to see the Christmas spirit!

Christmas Office Dinner

For one last Social Committee Event using what was left of our measly budget we went to the Dropping Well just up the street from our office. Everyone headed up just after work for drinks, multi course dinner started a few hours later, with some Christmas Crackers to open. The crackers are these tube things you pull and they go bang revealing some toys and a crown made of paper. Sean was the only boy brave enough to sit at our table with all girls. We had a bit of craic before dinner with several bottles of wine disappearing from our table. While dessert was being served our little surprise came to set up: Karaoke. I know I said I do not do that, well I made another exception. Since no one would do it, I promised Ruth and Denise if they got up there, I would do a duet with them. I knew with how many pints, no one would notice my bad singing!

Sean and Colin sang a few good 80s tunes that got everyone up and dancing. The night ended with nearly everyone dancing, and me dragging the boss onto the dance floor. At closing time (since this was a Thursday) we walked back to the LUAS which runs late during the Christmas season and dropped Vinny off at Ruth's house so he did not have to take the 60 Euro taxi out to his place and she went to stay with her boyfriend. Tutti, Edell and I got into town and we surprised with how packed the city centre was. We were not the only ones that were going to have a rough morning, misery loves company!

Swap Shop

Since money has not been growing on trees here anymore I have to find new ways to getting new clothes and I do not mean stealing. They have swap shops here. It is great! I go in with a jacket I dont want, a few shirts and a tank top and traded them for a jacket, dress and a top. Cost me nothing and I even have a few tokens to spend next time I go. Great since I have new outfits and a few more to get in the future with all new stuff every Saturday!

Strange Anomaly #33

As a registered architect the insurance for design work is super expensive and besides being worked into our contracts we are not allowed to do work on the side. But here, Nixers, or side work, is what people normally do on the side and get paid some cash. I even did a little one on the side, some 3D work. Not bad, especially since I needed the cash!