Check tomorrow

Sorry, Folks,

No time to blog today

No Dice and A Lot of Bunk

Good morning, Bloggies,

I have officially resumed my former life. Last night I went to bunko. It was a beautiful night. I was warmly welcomed home as the prodigal bunkette. As usual, we had too many important issues to discuss to play bunko, a dice game. We sat outside at Boone Tavern, drank Bahama Mamas, and had more than a few laughs. We learned of gluttonous mother-in-laws, a new bunko grandbaby on the way, a few husbands/children who need to follow our advice, and of children who are getting educated, educated, and educated some more. Recently we've had our share of violent gulley washers, heat, and humidity, but last night and today are fine days to live in mid-Missouri...Nancy says she knew all my stories from yesterday and if I don't come up with new material, she will stop reading the blog. Well,if that happened, then we could discuss her in detail and I could solicit comments and opinions without worrying about offending her. What do you think? Should we have a forum on Nancy? Please share anything at all you'd like to tell me about Nancy. I need some new material..I am off to prepare my bedroom for the grand arrival of the queen on Saturday --- the queen mattress that is...



Full of bunk,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

The B is Back!

Hi, Friends and Frienemies,

Of course, the "B" refers to the blog, but you knew that. I guess you're wondering what I've been doing the past 2 weeks that is so important that I couldn't blog. So do I. After 2 weeks back in my "real" life, I'm ready for a vacation. Here's what I can reveal. Do I have my life in order? Well, I have yet to find my deodorant or remember to get any at the store, so I've been wearing Old Spice. Maybe I will start a new trend. At least I haven't sprayed Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaner on my hair lately thinking it was hairspray...ah, I've improved since that little incident. I am "unpacking" at about the same rate that I "packed" to come home. In fact, I am officially "unpacking" right now. When I am not "unpacking", of course, I am "organizing" my house. Was the 10 month mail supply as bad as predicted? Yes, there are several laundry baskets full. So far, I have only discovered one insurance policy that has expired and a summons for jury duty. Do we have a mattress? No. Bob and have been sleeping nomadically. Last night we both had beds and they were in the same room! .. Does the oven work? Well, I'm not sure. The girls claim it doesn't heat up to the correct temperature. I'm not sure how they can tell that, but I'm hoping it's true as it would explain a lot. I am really an excellent cook, but my oven has been sabotaging my efforts all these years. It would be the breakthrough that could restore my self confidence which has been suffering ever since cooking was expected of me -- about 34 years ago, by my calculations as our anniversary was Saturday...Well, I must get off and get organized. Furthermore, my two newspaper subscriptions have resumed at bargain rates since I am now a "new" customer (Ha Ha Ha) so I am resuming my old habits of filling my head with useless knowledge. Never fear. I'll be sure to share some of it with you...A big birthday shout out to Megan O'Connell.

Yakking and unpacking,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

The Photos You've Been Waiting For

FMM: 2 mi

Top of the afternoon,

Here they are. The pictures of me and my trusty purple companion. As usual, someone else is trying to get into the act, too. I guess she thinks she's funny. Who is she??...The day has finally arrived. We are packed and ready to head home. Bob has a stack of clothes he may part with but he's still "thinking" and I'm not allowed to touch them until his return. I've spied a blue running jacket from the late 70s as well as the scarf we found in a mud puddle here. I'll keep you posted on the whereabouts of the clothes in question. Let me know if you need a tracking number...I am off to my last Margarita Monday with the American Women's Club... It's been a great 10 months...I will be in Paris, IL without WiFi until next week, so there will be no Blog from the Bog...I do plan to keep up the blog when I return home. Keep checking..

Happy and sad,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Trapping You Once Again

FMM: 2.5 mi

Hello, Saturday Slackers,

Just couldn't stay away, could you? You need to hear me say it one more time, don't you? OK, if you insist...Are you ready?? Here goes: Set your mousetraps! You never know where rodents are lurking. Furthermore, check all suspicious "raisins" before eating them. Don't assume your driver's seat has a back massage you didn't know about or that you suddenly got a back pain that moves around. Always have a chair ready to jump up on. Tim, stay in shape so that you can carry your Megan around when rodents appear. Keep a supply of cheese on hand at all times. Finally, get a cat and applaud her when she proudly meows at your door displays her mouse spoils. Hey, don't blame me for wasting your time; you're the one sitting there reading this drivel....We had dinner at Bewley's on Grafton last night with Jenny and Michael Keane. We had to say another sad goodbye... The girls showered, straightened/curled their hair, changed their clothes a few times, found sunglasses, cameras, money, and the phone, and finally made it out the door by 1:45, an hour earlier than they made it out yesterday. Bob and the girls are off picnicking at Stephen's Green and then visiting a few museums. I am home "packing", of course..Tonight we'll watch the US-England World Cup soccer game. We're told that the Irish will be cheering for the U.S. We'll head to a pub to watch just to be sure... Sorry no pictures. Hope to reclaim my camera from Bob one day soon. We have lost 2 camera cases in the past 2 weeks, so he is currently carrying it around in a sock and can use it as a boomerang as needed.

Slacking and yakking when I should be packing,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Hints of Home

FMM: 4 mi

Good day, Mates,

Since we fly to the U.S. Tuesday, my thoughts are turning toward home. Details have emerged slowly from Molly and Nancy. Nancy let it slip that the stove "doesn't really heat up anymore." Before we left , we threw our beloved 34-year-old mattress to the curb; Molly put hers on our bed. She has since moved and taken her mattress with her, so we are mattress-less. Even the girls' desperate pleas to Dawn for CPR (cardio plant revival) couldn't save the two plants we left behind. Both girls have moved home from the dorm and an apartment and their stuff is evidently stacked throughout the house, with paths to both their beds nearly blocked. Three laundry baskets filled with 10 mos' worth of mail is somewhere. I'm afraid to check the odometer on what was my "new" car. Tim says that a mole has taken up residence in the yard. Oh, and did I mention that Mom is coming to visit for a week as soon as we get home?? If you have further information on my house -- a tree on the roof, a dandelion farm in the front yard, water leaking out the front door -- please keep it to yourself, OK?..In other developments...Jessica and Maura are back from Edinburgh. The girls went to the Arlington Hotel to watch Irish dancing and then back to their favorite Dublin spot: Temple Bar..Bob is off to give his final Fulbright presentation today..We had good bye dinners with friends last night and another scheduled for tonight...Things are winding down...

Trying not to use my imagination,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Taking Stock

FMM: 2 mi

Hello, Ladies (I hope there are at least a few of you who can still call yourselves one!) and Gentlemen,

Have you moved lately? If so, you'll know just what I'm talking about. When you move, you are forced to take stock of your stuff and yourself. You are reminded - sometimes painfully - of what you did and didn't and didn't accomplish. As I've reluctantly emptied the just-in-case-the-water-goes-off-again jugs of water from my bathroom and cleared the refrigerator and the shelves by serving a meal of two pork chops, a bowl of leftover spaghetti, half a bag of nondescript vegetables, and a bag of rice, I've been ruminating. Ruminating or reading books when I should be watching pots has caused me to burn many a dinner; nonetheless, they have led to great moments of self-discovery. I now understand Depression Era Hoarding Syndrome, something suffered by my mother and my aunts. Why did they hang onto countless piles of plastic lids, rubber bands, and scraps of paper? You never know when you might need them. I have hoarded and needed all of the above this year. What else have I learned? Well, I've learned that my sister's adage "In the end, people do what they want to do." is true. Although I brought financial information to read and act upon here and even created a spreadsheet on such before I came, I have yet in 10 months found the time to read it or act upon anything. Nor have I completed the cross stitch Donna sent me, sewn up the hole in my "Bucky" neck pillow so I can take it on the plane, lost twenty pounds, or completed the crossword books Mary sent me. As I claimed to be organizing my bin last night, I ended up rereading and answering a Christmas card, sending a birthday card 6 mos late, replying to a letter from Sister Johnella, my childhood teacher, and reading clippings I had cut out to read "later". What can I say? I am rarely doing what I say I am doing. Just ask my family. If anyone asked, I would say I am packing right now... Yesterday Nancy and I ate lunch at the Shelbourne Hotel, visted museums, and stopped at Starbucks for a finale... Today I really am going to pack and check a few things off my list. At least when I finish blogging, and checking my e-mail (surely one of you is up at 3:45 AM e-mailing me?), and my favorite websites, and....................

Lying but trying,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

One Last Trip

FMM: 2 mi

Hi, Folks,

We are in our usual just-returned-from-a-trip mode. I'm on my third load of laundry (those of you familiar with the size and caliber of my washing/drying facilities are very impressed right now), have cleaned the fridge, prepared packages for mailing, made a list of phonecalls/errands, and have begun stressing over how I'm going to get moved out of here by next Tuesday. Who deserves the full length mirror I lovingly carried a mile? What about my newspaper-covered box/tables? Shall I photograph them for _Good Housekeeping_? Would anyone in this country even want my $6.00 ice cube tray? Would anyone know what it was? Bob and Nancy are sound asleep and not worried about a thing...Bob's cousin invited us to Limerick for her grandson's baptism. We enjoyed meeting more O'Connell relatives. We took the train to Tralee and Dingle where Bob finally got to see the Blasket Islands. We had hoped to take a boat to the islands, but the sea was too rough. We are standing in front of a beehive hut near Dingle above. Monks lived and meditated in them in the 6th century. Sounds quite tempting to me at the moment... Our feelings are bittersweet as we prepare to leave Ireland. We can't wait to see many you, but we will miss the people and the places here..

Afflicted and conflicted,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Sorry I'm Late

FMM: 2 mi

Hi, Everyone,

Our B & B in Tralee had no WiFi, so no blog this morning. We are in Dingle tonight.

Today is a bank holiday. Hopefully, I can post a proper blog with pics tomorrow.

This trip is our last hurrah. I think it's home to packing and organizing after this. We are enjoying our last adventure before we return to reality.

Nancy & co are in Dublin on their own. They must be out of money as they were disappointed that the museums,the only free attractions in Dublin, were closed today.

Happy bank holiday to you, too.

Visiting and TIZiting,*
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

*Can you tell I've had 2 glasses of wine and can't think of anything clever to say?

A Weak Moment

FMM: 2 mi

Hello, Saturday Slackers,

Have you cooked out yet? Watch out for homeless mice who may have squatted in the legs of your grill! Don't laugh. Last year that happened to Tim, and he is still recovering. It was almost as bad as their friends who took up winter residence in his roller blades. Must I remind you once again? Set your mousetraps! Recently, several readers have complained openly about my mousetrap-setting reminders. Can you imagine? Here I am donating valuable time and space that could be spent furthering my lucrative blogging career to provide an important public service announcement to you, the readers. So, get over it. And don't come back until you have set the traps or at least replaced the cheese...All done? Okay, you're wondering about my weak moment. Frankly, I am, too, as I thought I was better than this. I had survived 9 1/2 mos with only one major clothing purchase: a puffy winter coat Bob has affectionately says makes me look like the Michelin man. With only 10 days to go, I broke down and wandered into Arnott's bargain basement. I walked out with 3 tops, a pair of white linen capris, a scarf, and a jacket with wild red flowers all over it. Furthermore, all sales are final. I think I am suffering from spring fever. So, I've decided to dispose of the following in order to fit my new purchases into my suitcase: blue flannel PJ's with puppies on them, a few pairs of underwear that Mom left here that I've happily used since Oct., several pairs of gray socks that I think used to be white, a purple argyle hat that matched my winter coat circa 1989, 4 bumbershoots in varying states of decay, Bob's blue pants from Penneys that I bought for $10 about 15 years ago (he is still fighting me on this one; Molly and Nancy, I've told him that you insist he get rid of them. You ALL know which pair I'm talking about. Speak up!), several books including _Irish Crimes of Passion: Killing for Lust and Desire_, and as many of Bob's shirts as I can spirit away. If you would like any of the above, please contact me immediately to arrange a C.O.D. shipment...Today? We hope to plan one more trip (God help me!) and to keep purging. Tomorrow? Bob's cousin has invited us to Limerick for her grandson's christening. We are excited to meet more of Bob's relatives.

Splurging and purging,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Galway Girls

FMM: 2 mi

Hi, Folks,

I think everyone is gone, but let me check for sure... Okay, I'm alone. The girls took off for Galway at 8:45. Of course, they had the usual last minute complications..where is Jessica's Ipod?(under the bed) Who wants to carry the lunches for the train? (No one. They do want to eat them, but no one wants to carry them. Ever read "The Little Red Hen"?)..Who wants to carry the snacks for the hostel?(No one. Maura kindly agrees although she doesn't think she will actually eat any of the snacks; could I have thrown in a bunch of stale crap Bob and I haven't eaten and need to dispose of before June 15? Never!)...Does anyone have any euros? (not really, but they are young and cute so people will probably take dollars instead without complaint)...I'm sure they are glad to be out from under our watchful -- at least when we're awake -- eyes and ears after a week here. I'm tempted to call the Galway authorities and warn them of their impending invasion by a group of American girls looking for fun, but I have a feeling they've dealt with such invaders before. And they thought the Vikings were bad..It's a gorgeous day. I'm meeting Bob at Stephen's Green for lunch. We are then headed to Arbour Hill for one last attempt to visit rebel graves....Sorry about yesterday. I got involved resubmitting denied medical/dental claims and I was having so much fun that time just got away from me...A big birthday shout out to Julie Magers!!

Still wandering around,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Training Your Kids

FMM: 2.5 mi

Good day, Mates,

The girls went out last night, so I got a little reminder of this mother business. I think I finally went to bed at 2 AM, about 5 hours past my usual bedtime. Since I've been out of the country all year and Nancy has been in a dorm, she is not used to being texted and called every 30 mins as to her whereabouts. However, I had sweet revenge as they were scheduled for an early train to Kilkenny this morning. All 3 were too lazy to carry the tour book; therefore, Nancy called me numerous times wondering what they were supposed to do once they'd toured the castle. Since I was downtown, I finally went into a bookstore, found a tour book, and told her. The good thing about the train system is that the girls can't come home before their scheduled time. I will see them at 6:30. If they had driven, they would undoubtedly be back home on the couch by now. I suspect they finally found something to do... I learned why no one in this apartment complex ever has his/her mail forwarded. Mail from former tenants piles up daily around the mailboxes. It costs 75 euros to have mail forwarded for 3 months...Photos are from two Northern Ireland sights: Carrick-a-Rede Bridge and Giant's Causeway...I think I'll take a snooze until the travelers return..I'm sure they will plot revenge on me when they read this. Perhaps they'll send ME off on a train tomorrow. On second thought..

Napping and yapping,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Tourist Trials

FMM: 3.5 mi
Hello, Ladies and Gents,

Hope you have your grills cleaned and your flags put away.

Photo: We met Brad and Lauren (Grice) Brown and their friend Dustin Dimetrich in downtown Dublin. Lauren and Brad live in Germany. Bunny, I'm happy to report that they are alive, well, and lookin' good.

Today I'm giving you a choice. You can read the short version of the blog, or if you're in the mood for a nice long whine, you can read the long version of the blog. Here goes.

LONG VERSION: We took a bus tour to Northern Ireland to see Giant's Causeway an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is a World Heritage Sight. I thought my work was done when I got my husband and three teen-aged girls to the tourist office by 6:25 A.M. (That included a 1.25 mi FFM.) We waited and waited and talked to tour guides, but the Giant's Causeway bus never showed up. After repeated phoning, someone finally woke up and answered. The bus had left early that morning, thinking all were on board. They had been on the road about 30 min. Derek, the driver, was ordered to turn around. Another tour driver took pity on us and drove us half way to meet our bus. You know we were popular with the other 18 tourists when we stepped on board. Derek never offered a welcome or word of apology, and our day had begun. We didn't know that by the end of the day we would be wishing we had never managed to get on that bus.

We walked across the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and marveled at Giant's Causeway, took photos at Bushmills Distillery and Dunloce Castle. We started home at 3:30. We were due home at 8:00, with a stopover in Belfast. The bus broke down and we sat by the side of the road for four hours. Luckily, a certain friend who has visited me here wasn't along as there wasn't a bathroom in sight. However, we did get to know our fellow travelers. Various options were pursued as to what to do with us, but finally another bus arrived to take us back to Dublin and deposit us near city center at 1:00 AM. It was pouring down rain. Luckily, we flagged a taxi van and we walked in the door at 1:20 AM. Two boys on the trip weren't so lucky. They were staying at a hostel 30 min north of Dublin. The trains had stopped running, so their 3 euro trip home became a 50 euro taxi home. We would've felt sorry for them, except for one fact: they were from Kansas. Just kidding, of course.

SHORT VERSION:

Our tour bus left w/o us. It was NOT our fault!
The tour bus came back partway to meet us.
Everyone on board, including the driver, hated us.
We enjoyed visiting Northern Ireland sights.
The bus broke down for 4 hours.
We got a free dinner of finger sandwiches and vegetable soup, but no stop in Belfast.
We slept for hours in uncomfortable positions.
We arrived home at 1:20 AM.

The Nancy and friends finally got up and on their way at 1:30. I am doing laundry and off to buy us more food.

Touring and enduring,
I remain
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

P.S. Today is a special day: Blogpost # 200!