Accident prone... 06/09/2010
 So, yes, I am one of those people that tends to be accident prone (having or susceptible to having a greater than average number of accidents or mishaps)....not usually big accidents but several small ones a day! Here's how I know:
All that said, I'm always in the market for a good home remedy or new way to get some stain out of something. Since moving to Ireland, I've discovered a couple that I have grown to love, and thought I'd share :) Burns: If you burn yourself on boiling water, the oven, or whatever in the kitchen, and don't have the patience or time to hold ice on it for the rest of the day, I found a solution...Vinegar! Simply soak a paper towel with whatever vinegar you can find (I even used a vinaigrette dressing once) and hold it on your burn until the burning stops. Sometimes for burns that are a bit worse, you have to soak the towel a few times and hold it on there for 20 to 30 minutes, but it works. I'm amazed each and every time! It even keeps blisters from forming, however, IF it is a SEVERE burn that broke the skin, I don't recommend this remedy. Oil stains: No matter how careful I think I'm being, if I'm near oil in my nice clothes, it WILL end up on them. So here's the trick! Place a thick layer Dawn or Fairy liquid soap (depending on which side of the ocean you're on) directly on the stain. Let it sit for several hours and then wash as usual. The stain should come right out...even if it's been there for a few days! If it doesn't come out the first time, repeat the process, but make sure you do not dry or iron the garment until it's gone. Hope you find these as successful and life-enriching as I have :) Just thinking... 05/28/2010
By now most of you will know that I recently surprised my friends and family by showing up unannounced for the wedding of a sweet friend. It was a great once in a lifetime bit of fun! Whenever I head back to Tennessee, I am asked MANY times what I miss from the States when I'm in Ireland. When I'm here, I can't usually think of anything (other than friends and family) that I miss on a regular basis, so this time I did some thinking while back in Knoxville...thus results this blog post. These are not necessarily in order of importance :)
Things I didn't even know I was missing... 04/19/2010
 "I think I'd miss you even if I had never met you"...some line from some movie I saw once. When I heard it, I'm sure it stuck in my head for some girlish, entirely romantic reason. But in the last few years I have come to know that it can really happen! Three years ago this month, I became an aunt for the first time. I can remember waiting and waiting all week for the day to arrive for my sister to have her baby. The first time I held Griffin, I knew I would never be the same! I don't think I had ever loved anyone so much... I definitely didn't know you could feel that way TWICE. But, you guessed it, almost two years to the day, Mackenzie joined our world. I viewed it on skype, but still couldn't have been more excited. Holding her 3 weeks later was heaven on earth. I think I held her every moment possible during my visit home :) Things I didn't even know I was missing:
 Bad CAR-ma... 04/05/2010
It's been a few days since 'the incident', but I thought the following events would make you smile :) As many of you will know, I am plagued with 'bad CAR-ma'. Apparently, some time...some where...I made one of my cars VERY ANGRY and now all the cars in the world hate me. I have owned (or been the sole driver) of 9 cars total. Sadly, I seem to take possession of a used car JUST before something major goes wrong with it. Only once have I totaled a car in an accident. So here's the latest in my 'adventures' -- Two Mondays ago, I got up WAY TOO EARLY to pick up a friend and her son at the airport. It was raining and yucky outside, so I was glad to get them home with no incident. Then I hurried back toward my house because traffic was picking up and the only route home is usually a car park during rush hour. It took me over an hour to get home... So as I was sitting in traffic about 30 seconds (no exaggeration) from my apartment, my car decided to just shut off. No warning light, no weird noise. So I took the key out, and put it back in and tried to start the car again. NOTHING. My hazard lights wouldn't even work! I was dumbfounded. Meanwhile, there is a HUGE line of cars forming behind me...and some are beginning to honk at me. I am no longer phased by this, so I get out of my car and move to the footpath to plot my next move. After a few minutes, a couple of guys did step up and help me push my car a couple feet closer to the sidewalk. I call my office to get the emergency phone number for my insurance. This number USED to be printed on the back of my proof of insurance, but sadly not this year. Finally got the number, and called for a tow! I was then advised they would be there in an hour :) No shower, no coffee and stuck in the middle of traffic...for an hour. I needed coffee! So I made a break for Coffee Society just two doors down. Ordered my Americano, got my loyalty card stamped, and then I waited. While waiting for my beverage, I glanced out the window just in time to see a guard placing a ticket on my car window. I rush from the store and explain that I am not PARKED here...my car broke! He showed some sympathy and told me to leave the ticket on my window so no one else would bother it, then he tore the copy of the ticket up in his book. "Go on and finish your coffee!" he said, "no one else will bother you!" So I obeyed...went back and retrieved my coffee. After putting the proper amount of sugar in, I again glanced out the window to find clampers pulling up next to my car! Again, I rush from the cafe, this time with coffee in hand and trying not to spill it. Again, I explain that I have not chosen this awkward spot for parking. MY CAR BROKE! Now I wait...and drink my coffee. The nice man came eventually, and towed my car to the garage. I walked the final few blocks home to get ready for work. Great way to start the week! Found out that evening that my alternator had died. It was replaced and now I'm up and running...at least for now! The Quiet Day... 03/24/2010
 Just this week I had a conversation with someone about moving to a new country. During the discussion, we both came to the conclusion that after our first year away, living in our new location really started to become the 'norm' in our lives. As I walked away, I knew this was why since the summer I have struggled to write posts on this blog! Going the places I go, eating the places I eat, dodging traffic in city centre, and so on are 'just life' for me and feel entirely un-blogworthy :) Today I thought I'd tell you about a day like I haven't had in a LONG time...The Quiet Day. Those who know me best know that quiet and I don't usually mix. I'm not the type to wander away to the mountains with a book and a journal for a day. Much to my parent's angst, I realized early on that even studying was easiest for me in the middle of the living room floor with the TV on, or now in a crowded coffee shop with all the noise and commotion. So how, you may ask, did I end up with almost an entire day of quiet? And what did I do to survive??? Glad you asked! A few weeks ago, my friend Kathi (from California but living here in Ireland) found out she needed knee surgery. With the knowledge that my own mother would kill me if I had surgery this far from home and no one was around for the 'just in cases', I offered my services...and TODAY was the day! My day started early, and after she was admitted, I had about 7 hours to wait around. It was a lovely, quiet hospital, and fortunately, it had a nice restaurant on the 4th floor. So here starts the wandering... Yes, first stop was the restaurant for a coffee and some breakfast. I had completely consumed a whole wheat bagel and some cereal before I realized they were putting out the hot food! It was probably better that way, but I was a little jealous of those able to enjoy the eggs, bacon, potatoes, and more. Following my breakfast, I sat at my table looking out at the Dublin mountains and spent some time writing in my journal. I loved not feeling rushed like I do most days with somewhere to be or someone to meet! Post breakfast, I found a quiet little waiting room with only room for about 4 chairs and worked on finishing the last 200 pages of my book. Before finishing the book, wandered to 3 different waiting areas for a change of scenery. My final spot left me trying to conceal a few tears for the characters in my book...I don't cry so pretty and didn't want to leave the other 'guests' alarmed :) Stomach growling so now back to the little restaurant...potatoes and cabbage were on the menu! After a quick visit to see how Kathi fared under the knife, I had another hour or so to myself while she slept. This time I set out for a walk. To say that the weather recently has been beautiful would be quite an understatement...I regretted not wearing my flip flops today! I followed the walk with another coffee and a Twix...you guessed it, back to the restaurant. I really enjoyed my day! Maybe because I wasn't the one having surgery. The quiet was exactly what I needed and I found being away from my computer didn't nearly kill me. I enjoyed the hospital and the very nice staff. Again I was reminded me of my mom and recalled all the years of wandering around the hospital she worked at. Even the traffic cooperated with our trip home! What a great day! Anybody else having surgery? :) Ok, ok...here's an overdue post! 11/15/2009
I know, I know...I have so let "all" of you down over the past few months with updating my post. In my defense, there ARE several contributing factors. First of all, since my move to Ranelagh, I have had very weak internet access (just ask anyone who has tried to talk to me on the phone). I thought this would be remedied by the end of October, but sadly it looks like it still may be a month or two. Secondly, I think I have felt that I've had nothing exciting to report. This fact may be because I have been here for 16 months, so Dublin life and my new friends, have now become a sort of norm for me :) The summer FLEW by and was packed with action and travel! Autumn has passed a bit slower, and I have found almost a weekly routine as I'm helping out each week at IBI. Winter (or at least winter temperatures) has recently arrived, and I can hardly believe we are looking at only 40 days left til Christmas. Following Christmas, I am GREATLY looking forward to a week back in TENNESSEE for my brother's wedding. Almost everyday, I think about seeing you all and how great it will be to catch up with a few during my whirlwind trip. Can't wait to hang out with the cutest little boy and prettiest baby girl in the world! I AM resolved to keep you better updated on my blog...so stay tuned! Check out my newest photos from a few days in Kinsale (WAY south). I spent a few days hanging out with the Maiden's kids, and took my usual 500 photos while the kids were all in school :)  Before some of you fear I died in the mountains of Spain, I better tell you all about my ADVENTURE! That's the best word to describe it...a few others come to mind (HOT, blisters, laughing, landscapes, cafe de leche, friends, and more) but none encapsulate all that happened quite like 'adventure.' "I'm praying for you..." 06/09/2009
 Have you ever had anyone say that they are praying for you? Have you ever said this phrase to anyone close to you? These are powerful words! Back for a visit... 05/03/2009
 Well, I made it back to the States for my first visit after moving to Ireland! It's funny when you are away from a place for a long time (ten months to be exact), how subtly things change and you even find that you've forgotten some stuff that you kinda miss.  Happily ever after... 04/18/2009
 Today is Justin and Lindsey's BIG DAY! Two of my favorite people and greatest friends are getting married and I'm so excited for them! Since I live thousands of miles away, and won't be able to attend...I decided to blog about it instead :) | CategoriesAll |
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