Will Walk for Friends

FMM: 8 mi

Good morning, blokes and birds,


I survived my self-imposed walkathon around the Howth Peninsula. (I couldn't have gotten myself invited to join a book club or a bunco club, now could I????)The ocean views are quite spectacular; so are the homes. I walked with four nice ladies in the loosely-organized Peninsula Walking Club. They are serious walkers. Thank God they stop for 3 mins a third of the way, and about 30 min for coffee at 2/3 of the way. Their stated habit is to stay silent up one rather imposing hill, but I stupidly took the floor then. Of course, I had to finish my tale about our wonderful 5 euro tour of the Glasnevin Cemetery and they seemed politely interested. (Although one lady remarked, "My husband would think I was out of my mind if I announced on Sunday afternoon that I was off to tour the cemetery.") However, it nearly finished me off... I did learn that you have to get a passport to take your dog out of the country!.. You animal lovers probably know that. Did you also know that hotels in Switzerland and Austria freely welcome dogs in their hotels and restaurants? That's what they told me...I did enjoy the 1 hour train ride and managed to finish a very good book called _Memoir_ by John McGahern, a popular Irish author. It was an _Angela's Ashes_ type true story of his Irish childhood. I couldn't put it down...Bob has suggested (demanded?) that I find a way to clean the floor in this apt. The only cleaning utensil provided is a push broom which I have occasionally swished around parts of the floor. Evidently, the sun shone in on a rather dusty corner heap last night, and now I'm in trouble. I must remember to keep the curtains closed when he comes home! Anyway, you can think of me dragging home a proper mop (no Swiffers here!) today. I may put on my babuska just for effect. To complete the picture: it is supposed to pour down rain all day today. At least my mop will be all ready by the time I get home... Maybe someone will hire me. They would be sorry...We are expecting company tomorrow. Monsignor Flanagan from Columbia is in Ireland and we will hopefully see him Saturday...

Mopingly Moppingly yours,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

The Irish Rover

FMM: 1.2 mi

Hi,

(Footnote: Pam suggested the "Irish Rover" moniker; I have to give her credit or Floyd might sue me! Also, this way the actual Irish Rovers Band will sue Pam not me.)


Just the slob from the bog here. I am off to walk at the seashore momentarily with a group of ladies. Bob told me not to talk much, and they might invite me back. It worked! I will try it again today. I certainly have had lots of practice not talking... Furthermore, if this keeps up, I have decided I won't have to give up a thing for Lent. Do you know how hard it is for me to keep my mouth shut??? Don't answer that...It is cold and dreary here...Just got off Skype with Nancy. We don't know why she is still up at 2:00 AM. We demanded that she go to bed immediately...She may or may not go to the M0-Neb game tonight, so let her or me know if you need a ticket...Gotta go; don't want to be late for my forced march...

Rovingly yours,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Signing Onto Google, Books

Hi,everybody,

FMM: 6.5 mi


Some of you have suggested that it would be more fun if you were able to post comments on the blog. I agree! All you need to do is set up a Google account with a name and a password. You can even comment anonymously. Please let me know if you have problems doing this, and I will check into it. Come join in the fun that is the Blog from the Bog or whatever you want to call it!... I walked downtown with Bob yesterday and discovered -at long last - the well-known shopping area called Henry Street. It has variety, selection, and even bargains; I would have enjoyed it even more if it weren't pouring down rain all morning.. Never mind, I can take you there when you come visit...Went to Eason's Bookstore and lurked about so long that I think they sent someone to stand beside me! I am a rather sinister looking character. And I was holding a small unpaid-for map of Edinburgh under my mini spiral notebook while I scribbled book titles. I have been scouring the bookstores to come up with titles to order with my Amazon.uk gift certificate that my bunco friends gave me. Ladies, if you're reading this, you'll be happy to know that I ordered 8 books this morning. Thank you!...Since you're all so nosy, here are the titles I've ordered: The Other Hand (Chris Cleave), Born Under a Million Shadows (Busfield), House at Riverton (Morton), Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Larsson), We Need to Talk About Kevin (Shriver), Tethered (MacKinnon), Noah and the compass (Ann Tyler)...Got a nice surprise phonecall from Rita Schulte yesterday. I was thrilled to hear from her. Remember you can call me on my Vonage phone with no international charges. Just dial 573-234-4541

Yours truly (mostly),

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Monday, Monday

FMM: 3.5 mi

I'm marching downtown with Bob this morning, so I'll keep this short...Did my usual wanderings yesterday and managed to wander back to the right address once again...We now have food, books, DVDs, and clean clothes. The only thing missing is you, friends and family! And guess what? Mary and Mom have announced their dates. They are coming here Oct. 26 - Nov. 4. I was so excited that they are coming for a nice, long visit, that I nearly cried. Bob said he wanted to cry, too...Tim and Megan have also announced theirs: Dec. 19 - Jan 2! I am overcome with joy. I am waiting on Molly and Nancy now. Anyway, I am heading downtown to get a map of Ireland (where am I anyway?) so that we can broaden our horizons. It's rainy and bleak - Bob's favorite weather...We're off.

Marchingly yours,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Liz/Elizabeth

All About Nancy

Nancy has threatened to stop reading my blog since I don't mention her. Like most celebrity bloggers, I have tried to shield my family members from publicity, but Nancy prefers to take the Suri/Shiloh route, so I must oblige her... What can I tell you about Nancy? Nancy is 18 and a freshman in college. She has had a few surprises in her classes this year. She has lucked out on a few tests she didn't study for and not lucked out on a few she did. .. She is and always has been very lovable and very likable. She is also very funny. She recently won a spot in her sorority's Homecoming skit due to her ability to impersonate -- are you ready for this -- an Irish accent! She did visit here in 2004, but otherwise has had little exposure to Irish accents. When I try to give her tips on word pronunciation, she doesn't need them. Is is possible to inherit an Irish accent from generations past? I don't know. However, if her career plans in marketing don't work out, I think she could make it as an impersonator. Really. She is an observer of people...What else? Well, she told her father that she bought a pair of Uggs over the weekend. Of course, her father has no idea what those are which is just as well. No father should have to know what they are or especially how much they cost...She also just recovered from a nasty case of the flu. She doesn't think it was swine flu, but she's not sure.... Now if you have comments you'd like to make about Nancy, please log on to the blog and make them. Nothing would make her happier. And, like a rat in a Skinner box searching for pellets, I suspect Nancy will read this blog forevermore as she will think that there just might be a mention of her!!! If you would like to be a featured topic, too, just let me know; I'd be glad to blog about you...What is the saying, "If you want something done, give it to a busy person." Well, luckily, no one gave me anything to do last weekend, as I wouldn't have gotten it done. I had nothing in particular to do and did a whole lot of nothing...However, I did find a real honest-to-goodness mall... I am in search of a jacket, but I had no luck. I think that my standards are just too high. You tell me what you think. Here's what I'm looking for: lightweight, waterproof car coat length coat with a hood that has a tie and several strategically-placed pockets to accommodate my nomadic sherpa lifestyle. It also must be flattering, slimming, fashionable, youthful, affordable yet durable, and in one of my "Color Me Beautiful" colors. Teresa, if you are reading this, maybe Amy (who is studying at the Fashion Institute in L.A.) can design one for me...Oh the other hand, maybe I should search for an army surplus store; I have always looked good in khaki, and I could stick a few rations in my pockets for the next time I get lost wandering around the city...Again, I do know that some of you have to get back to work... I am off to hunt, gather, and do whatever it is I do...

Blogingly yours,

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

Walkin Around Dublin

FMM: 3 mi

Hi, F & F,

Nice to have you back again on a Saturday...At least you are not checking this on your boss's time!... Update: one of the Fulbright administrators heard my plight, took pity on me, and brought me a stack of coffee filters. I'm saved!..Bob and I had another full day among the Fulbrighters yesterday...We toured a Georgian house. Georgian is the era during which three Kings named George - including the one that lost the U.S. for the crown - ruled in succession in England. See, I WAS listening! Tea was very expensive during that time and it was locked in a case with the mistress of the house wearing the key securely around her neck. Somehow I could see Mom doing that even today with her precious Lipton teabags.. anyway, we then had a very lively tour guide who liked to talk more than walk which was fine with me. He took us to see the Oscar Wilde statue in Merrion Park and incorporated in my favorite Oscar Wilde quotation, one I plan to use the next time I cross the border. When Oscar was asked at customs if he had anything to declare, he replied, "Only my genius." (I would make a smiley face now, but "Notepad", the system Tim says I have to write this blog on, doesn't allow such frivolous additions -- it's words and words only and not even a boldface for emphasis can be used!)..Only 3 out of 30 of the Fulbrighters are stationed in Dublin. I did meet one wife who acts like she might hang around with me. We have arranged to go out on Wed. to a Literary Pub Crawl. Do you think I can read _Ulysses_ and _Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man_ by Wed? I think Cliffs Notes are online now, aren't they?...I am now home alone for the weekend as Bob has gone with the rest of the Fulbrighters up to Maynooth for a total immersion in the Irish language...He has been very excited about this as he has been studying Irish for many years on his own. Some of you may be wondering, "Don't they speak English in Ireland?" Well, yes, they do, but certain parts of the country speak Irish or Celtic. All signs here are written in Irish as well as English as are all laws. Students are required to take Irish all the way through school. There is even an Irish language TV channel here. While I'm told that only 30,000 people actually speak Irish soley, it has enjoyed a rebirth of interest, including Bob O'Connell's interest. He hopes he will get to try speaking it when we visit the Dingle Peninsula...So, you're probably wondering what I am going to do with myself this weekend, right? Well, last night I had a bag of candy and a bag of cookies for dinner (remember: Bob doesn't read this blog, so he'll never know I've gone off the health wagon and all evidence will be discarded before his return), watched part of the movie "Away from You" while dozing on the couch, read an Irish tabloid, slept in my clothes, written a few e-mails, watched David Letterman's confession online, read Sue Miller's _For Love_, and generally been a big slob. However, today is a new day and I plan to get dressed any hour now!..

Have a nice weekend!

Yours truly (well, mostly truly),
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Liz/Elizabeth

The Embassy

Hi, Blogites,

FMM: 1.5 mi

I think I OD'd on social interaction yesterday. I am out of the practice of talking to anyone but myself. However, I hit my stride by mid-morning. We met all of the other Fulbrighters in Ireland yesterday...It is quite an interesting group of people and projects which include such things a creating traditional Irish music score for cellos (evidently they have never been used before in traditional Irish music), creating abstract art which incorporates the Irish landscape, studying the rise in obesity among Irish men over 80...well, you get the picture? It was fun to hear about the projects and meet the people... The American Embassy is a modernistic building - it looks like a flying saucer - set among Georgian buildings. When we stepped inside (now don't laugh at this) it looked just like an Embassy Suites Hotel:> Really. The reception room is round and surrounded by three floors of rooms which overlook it. The ambassador was not available, but his deputy greeted us. He had just gotten off the phone with Hillary Clinton's office and he let us in on a secret: she is coming here next weekend. Now you know the secret, too...We went to the Abbey Theatre and enjoyed the world premiere of a play called "Tales From Ballycumber" by a well-known Irish author named Sebastion Barry...You know I can't wait for today's main Fulbrighter activity: a WALKING tour of Dublin! You know I need one of those...not only that but I am PAYING to take this tour.....more later..

Your stand-in here in Ireland (pronounces "R Land" by most people I meet),

Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth

P.S. Nora, if you're reading this, they pronounce your name "LEE HEE" over here.