My boss emailed me a link she found on a forum today: http://notalwaysright.com. It’s totally hilarious, especially since she (someone who is completely un-funny) sent it to me.
My dryer crapped out on me on Monday. Repair guy came, said it was the motor, and will be back tomorrow to fix it and take $360 (WTF). I now have two loads of wet clothes moldering in the washer. Awesome.
We have put down a deposit for the location and the photographer and chosen most of the menu for the wedding.. progress! Unfortunately I still have no idea what I’m going to wear and am stumped on the design of the wedding site. How hard can it be? VERY, FREAKING HARD.
The Chop is working late again tonight, so the dog is currently sitting at the door, making sad, whiny pitiful sounds. Where is Daddy? Why isn’t he here? I DON’T LIKE YOU AS MUCH AS HIM. The feeling is mutual goob.
About a month ago we found out that the best breakfast place in the area had closed and it’s unclear whether they’ll open again. It’s a crazy story: the renter (owner of the breakfast place downstairs) apparently had issues with the landlord (owner of the dinner place upstairs). The renter had been planning to move to a new location down the street, but was having trouble with getting a liquor license and zoning from the town. But then the renter allegedly ran over the landlord’s King Charles Spaniel “accidentally” and didn’t realize she had done that and drove away (the dog died). She claimed she didn’t hear it or feel it (but she was in a Prius… a silent, small car… wouldn’t you think you’d feel it?), I guess that compounded with all sorts of other things, and the next thing you know, their lease wasn’t renewed.
The week we got back from vacation, we heard another of our favorite spots had closed. It appears now they might be reopening in a few weeks, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed.
Last night we headed to another fav and yep, closed. They claim they’ll be open in two weeks.
This morning we drove to get coffee and cars were at a small restaurant that had opened last summer (seasonal, so it’s been closed now for almost 6 months). We stopped to ask when they were opening, and yup, they’re closed permanently. Didn’t make enough money last year, and just can’t take the risk in this economy.
Oh and did I mention my company (who had told us in December there would be a) no bonuses in 2009 and b) no 401K match, among other things), called everyone into their office (and some of us on the phone) and said that in order for them to survive, everyone was getting a 15% pay cut? Across the board, no fighting it, it starts on Monday.
GODDAMN MOTHERFUCKING RECESSION.
I woke up this morning to the lovely sound of chainsaws… and it continued until 2PM. Granted they also brought in a backhoe and a tree grinder (chopper? thing they crush shit in?), so really it was a wondrous cacophony of noise that I got to work with today. And yes, it was as crappy as it sounds.
We’ve been back over a week now—I still wish I was there, the Chop just wishes he wasn’t going in to work, lol. We had discussed (for the past several months) eloping in Ireland—getting it out of the way in a gorgeous country. Why not, right? Sadly my mom is dead set on having an actual wedding, and between her normal level of craziness and the menopause, I had to give in. Sigh.
I’ve finally come out of the sheer mountain of work that awaited me when I got home—for more fun I caught some sort of nasty cold on the flight—and now I’m back to wedding plans and work. No fun.
We slept in this morning (thereby missing the tour to Newgrange) and instead bummed around Dublin. We visited the Book of Kells at Trinity College, did some shopping and sat on a bench in the park, which is really the only way to end a vacation.
The best part of the evening was enjoying the live music at Oliver St. John Gogarty’s—and being highly entertained by the (possibly high) businessmen doing a very weird booty dance. We left when dreadlock boy in front of us decided to take off his jacket and nearly bowled us over with the BO. I shit you not, it was potent.
It’s almost midnight and we just got in—I’m drinking tea and Chop is having his nightly whiskey. We’ve become old farts, lol.
On Tuesday we drove north to Connemara and visited Clifden and the Kylemore Abbey. Connemara is gorgeous, even though it hailed on us and the sheep wouldn’t let me pet them (so rude). On Wednesday we drove south to the Cliffs of Moher and the Ailwee Cave, and it snowed on us a bit and was quite cold on the cliffs… we ended up buying hats in the gift shop before climbing up.
The Chop now has a video of me driving along the roads in Ireland, careening around tight curves in our impossibly tiny car, rock walls to each side. Driving in the Irish countryside is slightly terrifying, lol.
Yesterday we drove into Dublin, drove around St. Stephen’s Green unable to spot the hotel (finally found it—was on the corner and really needs a larger awning), rushed to return the car after checking in to the hotel and then went to my all-time favorite place in Dublin for dinner. It’s an all-vegetarian juice bar with really yummy vegan and tofu dishes. 🙂
We walked all around the city centre of Dublin today, went to Dublin Castle and attempted to make it to the Kilmainham Gaol before it closed. I seemed to have forgotten how far outside of the main city it was.. we walked for a good hour and by the time we made it, it had closed 45 minutes before. Sigh.
Tomorrow we’re heading to Newgrange and going on a musical pub tour. 😀
And no cousin, we sadly have not eloped. We also realized that we are quite old and don’t want to stay out all night drinking—well, Chop might, but my liver can’t handle it, lol.
Our flight left on time, was ridiculously underbooked (and therefore the easy trans-Atlantic flight I’ve ever had) and got in early (little under 5 hours flying time).
As it turns out, the Chop and I both turn completely goofy/silly without sleep, so we’ve been entertaining ourselves since we landed—which is good, since he’s a little scared of how easy it is for me to adjust to driving on the wrong side. 🙂
We took a walk while waiting to get into the room and it only took me one turn down a side street to know exactly where I was—nothing has changed since ’05, which is awesome. Same restaurants, pubs, everything.
I do not expect to be very sober for the rest of the week. I LOVE VACATION.
Seriously New England? A Nor’easter? The NIGHT I AM SUPPOSED TO LEAVE?!
As if the buckets of snow already this year weren’t enough, now it has to happen when I’m trying to catch a plane. It’s falling pretty thick where we are, with about an inch on the ground already, but I swear to god, I am leaving this country tonight!
