Sail Tale

We traveled by boat and train to London yesterday. It turned out to be an arduous 13 hour journey, so I composed this on the way --


The Sea and Me


I got upon the ferry with my books and all my mags,
I swear I didn't notice those ubiquitous barf bags.
Into my mouth I popped a sweet and salty snack,
Got out my book and pillow and leaned my body back.

I thought it would be fun to cross the Irish Sea;
How was I to know what the sea had planned for me?
The captain told us plainly, "This will be a choppy trip"
I didn't realize he meant the sea would let her rip!

At first I thought a cannon had exploded up on deck.
What else could cause that shaking and sensation of a wreck?
We surfed the waves with a zig and a zag,
I would've surrendered if I'd had a white flag.

We cruised along for three long hours
My innards liked it not.
They thought they were in _Poseidon Adventure_,
And they didn't like the plot.

One daughter watched the waves;
While one slept the whole way through.
My husband?
He deemed it all an adventurous thing to do.


But me? I grabbed a barf bag
And held on for dear life.
The rocking and the rolling added to my strife.

At last, the journey ended,
Thanks be to the Lord.
You'll never hear my say again,
"I wish I weren't so bored."

Celebrity Stalking

FMM: 4 mi

Hi, Folks,

We're still at it - hanging out, sitting on the bed under blankets surreptitiously reading each other's e-mails, Facebooks, or Googles. (Disclaimer: Bob does not take part in this foolishness; he minds his own business and continues his plod through _Ulysses_). Later we pull out the air mattress, plop in front of the TV with yet more blankets and pillows, and continue to watch the BBC series _Doc Martin_. We will be lost when it is over...Of course, we do all this wallering only AFTER we have completed our Forced March for the day. Yesterday we went to Dalkey. Dalkey Castle was closed, but we found a few summit to climb, a foggy seashore to stroll, an island to photograph, and a few celebrity homes to stalk. Bono and Enya live there as does a very popular author. Molly is still laughing at my response to locating her home after interrupting an unsuspecting restaurant worker's cigarette smoke in a back alley. Molly claims she had never seen me so excited. This proves once and for all that I am a very shallow person. After raising my fist in victory, I "God blessed" the bloke who Molly had sheepish eye contact with as I (MOM-) ran from the alley to --okay I'll tell you -- Maeve Binchy's home. We took a few pictures in front of her house and deemed our stalking a great success. I know Marianne J is most excited at this moment and will demand a replay when she comes to visit.

We are going by boat and train to London tomorrow. We'll meet Tim and Megan. I am not sure of my computer or WiFi access; blogging is iffy. So, I will wish you all a Happy New Year today! May you enjoy a few hours of wallering yourself.

Walking, Stalking, and Gawking,
I remain,
Mom/Tizmom/Tizzie/Tiz/Liz/Elizabeth

Mom/Tizmom/Tizzie/Tiz/Liz/Elizabeth

Shopping and Straightening

Happy Monday, Mates & Mateys (still don't know if that's a word; do you?),

We are still cocooning here in Dublin. We have solved our most pressing problem: we have officially purchased a European hair straightener. The girls can now go outside without scandalizing Dublin and perhaps all of Europe with improperly coiffed hair. Me? I much prefer the puffy bob look which my velcro curlers provide quite well, thank you. Another beauty secret: I've always dried my hair mirrorless while reading a book. So, who says timeless style and beauty must be costly or complicated?..We went shopping and to the National Museum yesterday. Alas, the turquoise leather gloves I had eyed to match my new hat and scarf were gone so I can't complete my look. I do love to match. However, I have noticed that the average age of the women wearing my hat style is 10 - 20 year older than I. No mind, I will singlehandedly make it fashionable for the "younger set". We are almost keeping up with the laundry and definitely keeping up on the eating. Are you?
Today we're off to Dalkey Castle.

Mothering away,

I remain

Mom/Tizmom/Tizzie/Tiz/Liz/Elizabeth

The Morning After

FMM: 12/24 : 7 mi

FMM: 12/25 0 (Does waddling count??)
Happy birthday to the Christmas baby, Bob Bridwell!!!

Hi, Party On-ers,

You must be dying to know how our Christmas was, so here goes.. Christmas Eve we ate seafood (okay, Nancy had a cheeseburger)at The Bloody Stream (nice name for a restaurant, don't you think?)in Howth. It was bitterly cold and wet, but that didn't stop us from an invigorating walk up the hills to a cliffside view of the ocean. We didn't mind; after all, we are the mighty O'Connell Clan! Actually, Molly DID mind, so she and I had hot tea at The Summit Inn instead. Once she heard everyone describe the views, Molly decided that she DID want to see them, so she and I eventually climbed to the top. After 6 miles of forced marching, we came home, ate chili, got dressed and went to 11:00 PM Mass at St. Teresa's near Grafton St. It took Bob a while to figure out what all the bright lights, cameras, and free candles were all about, but eventually - with our help - he deduced that the Mass was being televised throughout Ireland. He wasn't too mad. Afterward there were no taxis available, so we finished our day with another invigorating walk. You'll understand why I did the unthinkable on Christmas morning: I slept until 9:00 AM! My family got to witness many of my Christmas morning antics that I usually keep hidden: things like spilling raw turkey juice all over the countertops and discovering I've gift wrapped 3 socks for Megan and just 1 for Nancy. You surely keep such secrets from your family, too, right? Somehow we had gifts to open, food to eat, and a few laughs along the way. We watched the movie _Michael Collins_ and the kids enjoyed seeing many Irish places they've visited...We are very sad to see Tim and Megan go to Scotland today.

Hope you are enjoying the holidays with your loved ones. Write and tell me all about it. I care! And I LOVE to waste time.

Wasting time, but not wasting away,
I remain

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

The Day B4 Christmas

FMM: 2 mi

Good morning, Bloggies,

Now today I KNOW you should be doing something else today, but welcome to Tiztalk aka "The Blog from the Bog" (p. mandell credit)anyway. Slackers do love company. It is pitch black at 8:30 AM as I stand in my tiny kitchen typing this. So far no one has awakened and actually made me do anything. Last night we went to O'Brien's Pub where Nancy downed two beers in quick succession. Molly and I looked on in horror and disgust. Today we are headed to Howth to walk along the seashore and eat fresh seafood. Tonight we'll go to 11:00 Mass at a church near Grafton St., a very popular area. Everyone but Bob knows that the Mass is being televised throughout the country. Won't he be surprised? At least the music should be good...

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Living Better Electrically

FMM: 1.5 mi

Hi, Frost Bunnies,

The O'Connells of Ireland are alive and well, thank you. In fact, we are improving every day. Tim has set the Irish time on my phone, so now I know what time it is; I just need to figure out where I am. He has also retrieved all of my phone messages since last Sept. Thanks to anyone who called. He is threatening to set my computer to Irish time -- like I can figure out what time 14:27 is! Luckily, I have Mom's old watch and I know how to set it and read it quite well ..Molly and Nancy have informed me that my hairdryer is totally substandard (although my remarkably lush and thick hair has been dried quite satisfactorily for 4 mos) and when Megan leaves with hers we will have a major crisis on our hands. Molly is her mother's daughter as she managed to burn out the new $33 electrical converter for the hair straightener the very first day , so an even bigger catastrophe (no HAIR STRAIGHTENER!!!) is looming when Megan leaves on Saturday with her working converter. We have had a few electrical Adapter Wars, but so far our batteries and our patience are holding out, even in the direst of circumstances -- a 5 min delay in checking one's e-mail on one of the 4 laptops...We did take a tour of the Wicklow Mtns yesterday and managed to survive the bus trip without producing any evidence of our widespread carsickness. We braved the bitter cold to hike at Glendalough. Molly and Nancy think they've died and gone to heck (my kids read this you know) with all the forced marches in the bitter cold; however, we all know it's not cold down there, so I think they're wrong. Anyway, Bob is waiting for me to hike to the post office and pick up a Box of Love from Mary...Tim is threatening to teach me how to post pictures and use boldface on the Blog from the Bog, so watch out! The future is at hand!!

Walking and talking,
I remain,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Shopping and Singing

December 21 blogpost

FMM: 2 mi

Hi, Lads (they seem to use that here like we do "guys", so I won't add "lassies"),

If you talk to my daughters they will probably insist we walked 50 miles instead of 2. It could have something to do with their failure to wear warm clothing and to cover their heads. They were freezing, but they looked great. Meanwhile I was bundled up like the Michelin man; I looked adorable AND felt great. The girls enjoyed the Irish fashions. Nancy was most willing to change her "look". However, Molly determined that the clothes made her look like Elton John, Ellen Degeneres (I LOVED the black blazer), or the worst of all: Me!... Tim and Megan were off on a 6 hr bus ride to the Rock of Cashel only to discover that it was closed due to frost. I think they managed a good nap on the bus. Bob was doing what all good dads do when given the choice: sitting on the couch and reading a book while we were all out... We went to the Arlington Hotel for an Irish Dinner and Music/Dance Show. Nancy volunteered to get on stage and dance a reel and Bob was singled out for his sing-a-long prowess. The performers were right: the entertainment got better as the Guinness flowed. Anyway, we all made it home and only Molly is still suffering from jetlag...We are off to the Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough today.

Boozing and schmoozing,
I remain

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

A Day Late and a Suitcase Short

FMM: 4 mi

Hi, Ladies and Gents,

Our progeny has arrived. The girls enjoyed a night at the Clarion in Atlanta and had to wash their hair with a bar of soap, an indignity I think they minded more than being stranded for 24 hours. Molly was astounded at the passenger responses to the airline delays and now understands _Lord of the Flies_. The girls were upgraded to First Class (How come that happens to everyone in my family but ME??). Nancy didn't know what she was supposed to do with a hot washcloth, but she figured it out...So far, we (well, not actually ME) have completed a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle, caught up on our calorie intake with the help of some nice sweet surprises sent over the ocean by Teresa F and Kim L, watched the riveting finale of _An Jig Gig_, the Irish dance contest, been to the Guinness Brewery, where Tim got a little tipsy finishing off everyone's free glasses of Guinness, and enjoyed a fine lasagna dinner. The girls claim Bob and I snore explosively (we deny it), so they moved their comfy air mattress to living room about 2:00 AM... Tim and Megan are off to the Rock of Cashel, girls and Bob are asleep, and I am planning to go claim the bathroom for my alotted time.

It is freezing cold here!

Funning, but not sunning,
I remain,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Always Carry Clean Underwear

FMM: 2 mi

Good morning, Perennial Procrastinators,

Thought you'd check the blog before you got started on on those things you really need to do, huh? Maybe she blogged today anyway even though she said she wouldn't? Although my apartment is clean, the cookies are baked, the lasagna is thawing in the fridge, my children are NOT here. In fact, Molly and Nancy are currently in an unspecified motel in Atlanta as their plane was delayed in Memphis and they missed the flight to Dublin by 4 minutes. We don't know their new travel plans yet. Nancy was worried about no makeup, change of clothes (she is 18, after all), and underwear. At least she has the two most important items: an Ipod and a laptop. Another nice Christmas surprise we got was an extra $100 luggage charge for the girls, but that's another story. Tim and Megan WILL be arriving in a few hours, so we are heading to the airport. Frost and sleet are predicted, so I'm sticking a pair of granny panties in my bag just in case...


Always good for a laugh,

I remain,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Sample post with pictures!

This is a practice post to see if I can put some pictures in my blog. My kids are also trying to show me how to use bold and italics!

Here is a picture of me in my first month in Dublin:



Looks like it was a success. There may or may not be pictures in future posts. Stay tuned...

A Dublin Christmas

FMM: 0 mi - never left the apt

Hi, Harried Holidayers (I've always loved made up words, haven't you?),


In about 24 hours, I will no longer be an anonymous (purple) bag lady wandering the streets of Dublin. No, I will be that most cherished of creatures: dear old Mom. At the airport, my children's faces will shine with delight when they spot me. We'll hug and talk all at once and try to make up for the 3 months we've been apart. We'll sit by the peat fire with mugs of hot cider and the children will listen enthralled at my tales of Christmases past. We'll sing a few of our favorite Christmas carols. Bob will carve the goose while everyone smiles and looks expectantly down the table at him. Finally, with my family happy and well-fed, I will raise a toast, "God bless us everyone."

Or something like that...Do you think I've watched too many movies??

Before this idyllic scene takes place, I have a few tasks to complete today. I am dragging Tim & Megan's bedspread down 4 flights to shake it out. Then I'll drag it back up again. Hopefully, it won't be raining and I will remember to take the apt keys with me. After that, I will be dusting, adjusting, cleaning, leaning, scrubbing, rubbing, drying, (crying), folding, holding, sweeping, (weeping), spraying, praying, wiping, typing, making, baking, walking, not talking, shopping, flopping, wrapping, napping, wrapping, napping, wining, and dining!

I'll try to post a few pictures while Tim and Megan are here to show me how or better yet do it for me. In fact, I think they just posted one. I probably won't blog much for the next few weeks while the kids are here.

Have a wonderful holiday and I'll see ya next year! Thanks for reading.

Having Christmas delusions,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Elizabeth/Liz

Tizmom's Kids Are Coming to Town

FMM: 3 mi

Hi, Elves,

Here I am doing what I do best: blogging when I should be cleaning dust bunnies from under the beds. I should be able to bake today, but I already miss my traditional background music: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas CD's. I'll have to sing or hum to myself I guess. I may just sing this little ditty while I work away around here:

Tizzie's Kids are Coming to Town

I'd better not cry,
I'd better not shout
I'd better watch out
I'm telling you why

'Cause my kids are coming to town.

I'm making a list
Checking it twice,
Should I be cheap or should I be nice?

'Cause my kids are coming to town.


I'll see them when they're sleeping
I'll them wide awake
I'll see them when they're up all hours
So I'd better go and bake

I'll try not cry
I'll give them no flack
I'll be a jolly mom
So they'll want to come back

Hooray! My kids are coming to town.


Singing and swinging,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

The Dog Ate My Blog

FMM: 4 mi

Hi, Fans & Foes,

Yes, the dog ate my blog. That's why I'm writing it 12 hours later than usual. Of course, most of you know I don't have a dog, but you fell for it anyway... I have been busy completing reservations and running -- or should I say WALKING - a few errands. I got us tickets for the ferry and train from Dublin to London. It was an arduous process that saw the price fluctuate by hundreds of dollars. I finally got 4 tickets at a "reasonable" price, and now I feel rich. I know Dad would not approve of my reasoning, but nonetheless it always feels better to think you got a bargain even if you didn't..I have been supplying and resupplying Megan's dark chocolate for her Christmas stocking. I don't know why it keeps disappearing...Bob and I went to hear a mostly bluegrass band at Bewley's Cafe. It is interesting to hear Elvis and Woodie Guthrie sung with Irish accents. We have heard more country western music here than we ever did in good old Missouri...I also wrote out a few Christmas cards. This year only I'm only sending them to people who don't read the blog. So, if you don't read the blog, let me know and I'll send you one. Gotcha!...Off to cook and clean or at least intend to...

Meaning to clean or meanly cleaning,

I remain

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Day Off

FMM: 3 mi

Hi, Everybody,

I'm taking the day off today. Catch you tomorrow!

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Am I Really This Old? (Answer Below)

FMM: 5mi

Happy Monday,

Yes, I had a nice birthday. Thanks for asking. I'm sure the rest of your cards will arrive today. My partner (no one says "husband" or "spouse" over here) was overjoyed to find soccer in a park only about a mile away. The teams were U14 & U16. The U14 team had a foul-mouthed coach who probably would have been banned for life from Cosmo Park. Soccer appears even more serious here than it is in Columbia, MO. We also got the schedule for a professional rugby team that plays nearby. So, my future is bright I guess... My partner proved that he is not in shape for the rigors of shopping as he complained of his back, legs, feet, AND knees -- not to mention his billfold -- after what I - and most of you reading this - would term a very mild shopping trip. I took the opportunity to point out what I have saved him from the past 34 years...We went out for buffalo chicken wings, French fries, beer and wine.

I'm off to inflict myself upon society for yet another year.

Answer: Yes

Aging and Raging,
I remain

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Christmas Spirit

FMM: 4 mi

Hi, Weekend Wasters,

Shouldn't you be writing out Christmas cards or stringing up lights instead of seeing what blarney I come up with today?..Yesterday was gorgeous here and I walked around coatless downtown amid shoppers, decorations, music, and food booths. The only thing missing was a friend or two to share the fun and atmosphere. Nonetheless, I endured my own company for another day and I'm pretty sure I didn't talk aloud to myself. I bought a guidebook to London as we are going there after Christmas. Send me me your London travel tips. Bob and I enjoyed to a choral concert last night...Bob is threatening to get a haircut today and go to a boys'soccer game. I'm threatening to bake some lemon squares and Christmas goodies and try not to eat them. You all remember what TOMORROW is, don't you???


Elbow deep in batter and blather,
I remain,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Talkin' Turkey

FMM: 2 mi

Good morning, snowbunnies,

Happy birthday, Sis! Keeping warm? It doesn't look like it online...I've discovered that frozen turkeys are a rare commodity here. I can get a fresh fresh turkey only if I pay in advance and sign up for the day I plan to pick it up! I can get a goose if I prefer. I have even received a coupon in the mail for a tub of goose fat. I didn't know I needed any, but maybe I do. There is no such thing as Crisco, canned chicken broth, or spray-on PAM or Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix here. My family will discover just how little I know about actual home cooking. I have kept my secrets sooo long. My family thinks Pepperidge Farm stuffing with Swanson chicken broth IS real stuffing. Verlin, are you sure you can't fly over Christmas eve and rescue me from myself??..I don't quite have all the travel arrangements made, but I have managed to further confuse and annoy more than one taxi service, tour operator, restauranteur, Bob's Irish cousins-he-has-never-met, and Timegan...Today is the day I will get organized once and for all for Christmas! How about you??

Confusing and annoying everyone I know,
I remain,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

A Poet Prepares

FMM: 4 mi


Greetings, Eskimoes (Can I still use that word?)

It is currently -12.6 Celsius in Columbia. I'm not quite sure how that converts, but I know it's cold...I'm continuing to prepare for the state visit from my children. Yesterday I bought 5 umbrellas. The average life expectancy for an umbrella here is anywhere from 10 minutes to 10 days. I have composed a little ditty to illustrate the sad life of an umbrella here in Ireland. Are you ready? Are you sure the boss isn't peeking over your shoulder? Here goes...

The Death of A Dropstopper


My bumbershoot died today;
It passed in the usual way.
I walked out the door
Up toward the moor
And the wind did take it away.

I chased it down the walk
A few began to gawk.
I picked it up and held it tight
I tried my best to make it right.

It changed its shape,
I cannot lie;
It even tried its best to fly.

Alas, it did not reach new heights
At dumpster’s edge,
It got Last Rites.


I think my kids will be begging me for a phat hat/haghat/sonnet bonnet/Maude's Melon Bag/ Granny Poncho/ Blue-hair protector/Plasto-bonnet/ Hair condom/Little Clear Riding Hood before their visit is over.


I am not walking with the Seashore Ladies today. My goal is to complete my travel agent duties. As you can see, I'm not getting too far since I spent the last 45 minutes composing a poem about a bumbershoot. Nonetheless, I have that "creative urge" out of my system for the day and am ready to get down to business. Really! By tomorrow morning, I will have all the tickets purchased, phonecalls made, websites checked, and itineraries updated. You can count on me.


Planning, playing, and poeming,
I remain,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Friends & Fun

Hi, Shoppers and Should-be Shoppers,

FMM: 2.5 mi

Did that greeting just stress you out? Never fear. There are still 16 days (actually 6 hours fewer from where I sit) until Christmas. However, I have considered adding a motor to my wheelie cart if time gets too short.. We did ensare an unsuspecting couple to visit us last night. We dined on Victoria sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream, popcorn, wine, tea, and Hershey's Kisses (Sorry, Mary, I was weak and opened up the bag you sent us to have for Christmas..). Unfortunately, they are heading back to the states next week, so Bob and I will be back to talking to ourselves and each other once again. They gave us their air mattress, so Molly and Nancy now have a bed. Kids, I am currently taking reservations for the bathroom during your visit. Please contact me ASAP with your preferred dates/times...My friend has invited me downtown to a live nativity display today and we will also stop by the famous General Post Office (GPO) to view the nativity scene there...Otherwise, I'm just hanging around waiting for you to e-mail or call me.

Waiting or wandering,
I remain

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

World Record Set?

FMM: 4 mi

Good day, mates and mateys,

Did you think I had forgotten you? I had to leave the house early this morning to get to Mass. I suspect that a new world speed record was set as Mass started at 8:04 and finished at 8:23. That's 19 minutes for those of you who aren't
awake yet. Yes, it takes considerably less time to go to church over here than it does in the U.S. Today they cut the readings down from two to one, and eliminated the Gloria, and the Sanctus. What will they think of next?... For those of you who didn't get the joke yesterday (you know who you are) -"tooth hurty"... Bob's still dragging himself through _Ulysses_ and won't let me turn on the TV at night. So, give me a call and wake me up from my evening couch sleeping... I have new snail mail! Jan H sent me a card of questionable taste, but I didn't mind. Donna Y sent me a nice card and even a new book to read: Patrick Taylor's _An Irish Christmas_. I can't wait to get started on it...Nancy will think today's blog is boring, so I'll write about her. Unfortunately, she has a bad cough that was just diagnosed as pneumonia and is studying for her first round of FINALS. She would appreciate any and all attention and encouragement...We are having company tonight, so I need to go count my clean cups and saucers.

Counting, cooking, cleaning, and complaining,
I remain

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Castles, Coadys, and Crackers

FMM: 3.5 mi

Good morning, Strangers and Strange Folks,

I will start the week with 2 jokes. One I personally tried out on an unsuspecting dental receptionist, but I just couldn't help myself. She gave me a card with my appointment on it and, lo and behold, it allowed me to use a joke I've been harboring for years. The appointment time was the perfect time for a dental appointment: 2:30. I enunciated, "Oh, my appointment's at 2:30? The perfect time for a dentist appointment!" Then I attempted to stifle a chuckle. She looked at me blankly...On to my other joke. Bob asked a man on the bus if he had lived in Ireland all his life. His reply, "Not yet."...Yesterday we took the train to Malahide Castle. Like the Coadys, the Talbots of Malahide Castle were French Normans who arrived in Ireland around 1100. And like another Coady I know whose family has lived at 509 Marshall since 1896, they liked where they were and managed to keep the castle in the family for 800 years! Next we wandered into a church bazaar and bought a most exciting gift: a mirror for a euro. Bob thought it an unnecessary purchase, especially as he had to carry it for 2 miles, but Megan, Molly, and Nancy will be delighted to have it next week...We learned about a popular custom here: Christmas crackers. No, you don't eat them, they are like little firecrackers filled with gifts that you and another pull apart at each end and little to the "crackle". The word "Christmas crackers" seems to refer to just gifts, too, but we're not sure..

Making wisecracks wherever I go,
I remain,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

A Friend and Some Fun

FMM: 4.5 mi


Top o'the Morning/Afternoon/Evening to you,

Shouldn't you be out scraping off your car windows or putting up your Christmas lights? Why are you sitting around reading this blog?...Oh, well, I'll help you waste your time... My newfound and soon-to-leave-the-country friend and I had great fun having tea and pastries at her house before wandering a giant art and craft show for hours. I got a lovely hand woven scarf and my friend showed me an innovative way to tie it around my neck. If I can remember how to do it, I will look great. If not, nobody's looking at me anyway. She also gave me her air mattress, so now my children can fight over who gets to sleep on it and who gets to eat the box of macaroni and cheese Mary sent. Don't you all want to come visit?...Bob and I went to the Irish music/dance hall. It reminded me of the American Legion Hall in Paris. It's a private Irish Culture Club in an old white mansion and has a bar with several rooms in the basement for Irish music and dancing. Bob finally got the Irish music he has been craving. It seems that anyone can come in, sit down, and join in the music. In fact, we didn't know any better and found ourselves sitting right in the middle of the gathering band. We didn't dance the jig, but we might next time. Luckily, we made the 11:30 bus home after standing in the -- you guessed it -- rain for 30 mins. I'm pleasantly exhausted from so much interaction, stimulation, and excitement in one day.

Further Suggestions Submitted for my plastic tie-under-the-chin rain hat:

The Sonnet Bonnet (would one of you like to write a sonnet to my bonnet? I promise to publish it right here on the Blog from the Bog; my standards are VERY low, as you can see.)

Hag Hat (incribed with "I am an old hag and I don't care what I look like" all over it)

Bloody Bonnet

Blog Bonnet

I must make a correction, too. Megan is NOT a slacker. She did, in fact, send in the correct response to what the 2nd or 3rd most spoken language in Ireland is. Do any of you remember what it is?? I thought not.

Time to make a list of things to do and then not do them anyway.



Saturday slacking,

I remain,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

A Big Day in the Bog

FMM: 1 mi


Good morning, Friends and Foes,

Today is a big day for me. I've even gotten out my "good jeans" and ironed them! I actually have a friend who has invited me to a lunch and a craft show. Really. I don't know if I can remember how to talk to anyone but myself, but I'll try. She is going back to the U.S. shortly, so if I blather all day it really doesn't matter....I had a dentist and a doctor appointment yesterday. I must say that both doctors were very talkative and friendly. I wouldn't have been surprised if they had offered me a cup of tea. This happened even after I opened the wrong door and interrupted the doctor in his office dictating his notes. He should have locked his door if he didn't want little old ladies peeking their heads in! Nothing serious is wrong with me, but feel free to send me flowers, cards, and candy anyway ...Tonight Bob and I are going to Monkstown to an Irish music dance with friends of his from work. Perhaps I will be doing the jig by the time you read this. I don't know if I can take all this excitement in one day, so I'll get off and rest...

Blabbing and bloggiing,

I remain

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

All in a Day's Non-Work

FMM: 2 mi

Greetings, Gang,


Question (answer at the bottom): Can I see a palm tree growing outside my apartment?


Nancy's blog comment deemed yesterday's posting "the most boring one ever", I hope I don't top that today. Maybe she would like to be my guest blogger for a day...Yesterday I walked to nearby Grafton St. My walking friend recently asked if I'd been into Brown Thomas yet. I told her that since it has a doorman wearing a top hat that I usually don't feel qualified to walk in there in my daily garb. Somehow it doesn't seem like a granny jeans tennis shoe waterproof tote bag type of place. She insisted I should go on it. Well, I did wander into Brown Thomas and no alarms went off. However, in case you are alarmed, rest assured that I did not have my wheelie cart with me to cause suspicion. While no one stopped to give me a perfume sample or offer me a makeover, I did feel quite welcome. I've now decided to visit every store on Grafton St. For you non-Dubliners, Grafton is the highest rent retail district in Ireland and possibly in Europe. I'll take you there if you come.




Answer: Yes, there are palm trees here. They thrive in the rainy environment.

Boring everyone I meet,

I remain

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Slackers and Snowflakes

FMM: 2 mi

Hi, Slackers,

Shame on you! Of all of the thousands of you reading Tiztalk (aka The Blog from the Bog) only ONE of you did your homework! Did you use the excuse Cara Magers Clapper used in preschool when her teacher would demonstrate circles, triangles, and squares and then ask the kids, "Okay, which one is a circle?" Cara would never answer, and the teacher finally asked why. Her reply, " You already know the answer so why are you asking?" Just because I know the answer to my questions doesn't mean that I don't want to con you into e-mailing or commenting below. In fact, that's just exactly what I'm trying to do. Only one of you gets a gold star today: Marianne Bilyew. She correctly noted that the 2nd or 3rd most spoken language in Ireland is Polish. That's right. During the Celtic Tiger, a 15-year period of unprecedented prosperity in Ireland, many Polish people immigrated here. Many of them are still here...Speaking of homework, I got mine done yesterday and I was the only one in my class who did. In fact, most of the class didn't even show up. Therefore, I had to read my "Favorite Childhood Memory" aloud. The teacher said that it had good rhythm as my sentences were mostly the same length. I didn't know I used this literary ploy, but I will pay attention from now on and count my words...I've put my legal case against my mailman on hold as as he DID deliver a heavy box to me today. It was a care package from Mary. She is convinced that I can't or won't feed my children when they come to visit, so I have received Jell-o, macaroni and cheese, Stove Top Stuffing, and Crystal Lite, etc. That sounds like Christmas dinner to me!..Have fun with holiday rush. Mary sent me some snowflake window clings, so I have an afternoon project now...

Clinging to snowflakes,
I remain,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Social Life Update, Reader Challenge

FMM: 2 mi


Good morning/afternoon/evening, friends/relatives/peoplewithnothingelsetodo,

It must be December 1 because I have plugged in my new 2' (.609 meters/609.6 mm/60.96 cm/and .00038 mi) fiber optic (Timegan know what that means) Christmas tree. It is quite lovely. I also lit a red candle, so I am now officially decorated for Christmas. Whew! It's such a good feeling to have that completed; I think I'll sit down, put my feet up, and have a hot toddy. I wish you could join me... I did find ricotta cheese yesterday, but no shredded mozzarella. Oh, well, cheese is cheese, right? Our guests Michael and Ginny did show up, and my lasagna was a hit as were my Betty Crocker brownies. In fact (I am not making this up!), Ginny asked me where I got the mix. So, you see, I am making you proud over here and spreading the American way of life...We went to the National Concert Hall for a choral and symphony concert. One young violin maestro in the strings group looked just like my young Columbia next door neighbor; he smiled all the way through and thoroughly enjoyed himself. This made us smile, too, and put us in the Christmas spirit. We also heard the Mass beautifully sung in Latin. Bob was able to sing a long. They also sang songs in Irish (Gaelic), German, and the # 3 (or # 2 depending on your source) language that is spoken in Ireland? Don't know what that is? The first person to e-mail me the correct answer will receive adulation in tomorrow's blog. What is the most spoken language in Ireland after English and Gaelic? Get googling! I think you'll be surprised; I was. The concert hall has a unique system of drink ordering. I haven't been to enough concert halls to really compare this to others, but I know that Jesse Hall in Columbia, MO does NOT have a system like this. You order your drinks for intermission (it's called "interval" here) before the show starts. At interval, you go out and check the cubby with your number on it and there are your drinks! It saves a lot of time and lets lots more people drink without waiting in line. Our friends insist no one ever comes along an steals your drinks from the cubby..Well, despite 2 weeks' notice I have not yet completed my HOMEWORK for tonight's creative writing class. And I thought my kids were bad. It's supposed to be rainy, windy, and cold all day, so I hope to get inspired. I can always start with "It was a dark and windy day.."

Sitting here waiting for you to e-mail me so I can put off my HOMEWORK a little longer,
I remain

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth