FMM: 4 mi
Hi, weekenders,
Hope you enjoy raking your leaves today. I'll be thinking of you..I did get my book order and now I have 8 brand-new books awaiting me..It is like having a giant chocolate cake on the counter. However, I am finishing_Away_ by Amy Bloom before I dig into my book stash...Bob and I went to this great new restaurant last night. It's called TGI Friday's; ever hear of it?? :).. Anyway, we enjoyed the advertised "American" fare. Bob even had a Miller beer, not a Guinness. However, he did have a little mishap while trying to swat a gnat. He knocked over his full glass of beer...and you thought only I did such things...Today we plan to look for a coat for Bob. He liked his co-worker's coat and made note of the brand: North Face. (Aargh! Where is a sale at Kohl's when you need it??) Anyway, there is rumored to be a North Face outlet here (don't tell Molly, Nancy, or Megan), so we will go on a forced march to find it today... Some of you have asked if I have found myself a coat. Sadly, no. At this point, I am in a 6-year-old light green hooded coat of undetermined origin; Bob is in a blue Gap windbreaker that I got him for $6.99 years ago. (Tim used to have one identical to it, but I suspect Megan has gently encouraged him to throw it out by now)..Enjoy some R & R. Go, Mizzou!
I remain,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
TV Licence
FMM: 8 mi
Hi, Friends O'Mine,
I survived another hike along the coastline...I even stayed quiet walking up the hill this time. See, I'm learning! At coffee, one lady asked me what I missed the most about the U.S. I thought for awhile and proceeded to tell her how much I missed English muffins (I'd even take an Irish muffin at this point if there were such a thing) and Pepperidge Farm cinnamon bread. She looked at me rather strangely, then said, "Don't you miss your family?"...Oops, why do I always give the wrong answer? Of course, I miss my family more than I miss English muffins! I would like to have BOTH right now!..It seems that these ladies are lacking in their knowledge of sensational crimes. Probably because not that many occur over here. I was able to share a few crime tales that probably kept them up last night. And you all know I have more where those came from...Today I am off to walk 3 miles (who's counting?) to the post office to pick up my Amazon book order (thanks again, bunco friends!) AND to pay our television licence (that's how they spell it here) fee of $240. That's right. One must pay a fee of $240/year per television or risk a fine of $1,000 or even jail time. They actually come and knock on your door to see if you have a television! Even though we don't own the TV in our apartment, we must pay the fee. We were kind of ignoring the whole thing thinking that perhaps we could escape the fee for nine more months, but alas, we received a rather threatening letter yesterday which has prompted me to run to the P.O. this morning and pay the fee. All this for the privilege of watching EuroNews in Russian! It did occur to me that my blog would be considerably more interesting if I were imprisoned for not paying my TV tax. Do you think the U.S. embassy would come to my aid? .. Would you contribute to my defence (that's how they spell it here) fund? Just wondering... I went to a doctor's office yesterday and I thought I had stepped back in time a generation or two...Seriously, it was like walking into Mom's house and having her give me a flu shot in her bedroom while talking on the phone. Well, I must say that they don't waste a lot of time on paperwork (like who I am, my medical background, what side effects the shot might cause..) or fancy offices here. I pulled my shirt off in front of an open window that looked over the backyard garden, she gave me a shot, she had never heard of the medicines I'm currently taken for my cough, prescribed a few more, and sent me on my way...I guess I'm okay...
Well, it's time for my morning march.
Alive and (I think) well,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
Hi, Friends O'Mine,
I survived another hike along the coastline...I even stayed quiet walking up the hill this time. See, I'm learning! At coffee, one lady asked me what I missed the most about the U.S. I thought for awhile and proceeded to tell her how much I missed English muffins (I'd even take an Irish muffin at this point if there were such a thing) and Pepperidge Farm cinnamon bread. She looked at me rather strangely, then said, "Don't you miss your family?"...Oops, why do I always give the wrong answer? Of course, I miss my family more than I miss English muffins! I would like to have BOTH right now!..It seems that these ladies are lacking in their knowledge of sensational crimes. Probably because not that many occur over here. I was able to share a few crime tales that probably kept them up last night. And you all know I have more where those came from...Today I am off to walk 3 miles (who's counting?) to the post office to pick up my Amazon book order (thanks again, bunco friends!) AND to pay our television licence (that's how they spell it here) fee of $240. That's right. One must pay a fee of $240/year per television or risk a fine of $1,000 or even jail time. They actually come and knock on your door to see if you have a television! Even though we don't own the TV in our apartment, we must pay the fee. We were kind of ignoring the whole thing thinking that perhaps we could escape the fee for nine more months, but alas, we received a rather threatening letter yesterday which has prompted me to run to the P.O. this morning and pay the fee. All this for the privilege of watching EuroNews in Russian! It did occur to me that my blog would be considerably more interesting if I were imprisoned for not paying my TV tax. Do you think the U.S. embassy would come to my aid? .. Would you contribute to my defence (that's how they spell it here) fund? Just wondering... I went to a doctor's office yesterday and I thought I had stepped back in time a generation or two...Seriously, it was like walking into Mom's house and having her give me a flu shot in her bedroom while talking on the phone. Well, I must say that they don't waste a lot of time on paperwork (like who I am, my medical background, what side effects the shot might cause..) or fancy offices here. I pulled my shirt off in front of an open window that looked over the backyard garden, she gave me a shot, she had never heard of the medicines I'm currently taken for my cough, prescribed a few more, and sent me on my way...I guess I'm okay...
Well, it's time for my morning march.
Alive and (I think) well,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Things I Like About Ireland
Hi, Blogaholics,
FMM: 2.5 mi
There are lots of reasons Ireland is such a popular tourist attraction. It's not just that there are more people of Irish descent in the U.S. than there are in Ireland! Here are a few things I've discovered...There are beautiful, colorful flowers everywhere. I am reminded of New Orleans and some of the extravagant beauty associated with ordinary porches, windowsills, and even lampposts...Everything truly is green. The leaves haven't really started to turn yet..The classic buildings are consistently in exceptional condition. There aren’t blocks where some buildings are torn down and some remain. I have almost become inured to them after only a short time here. They are the essence of picturesque with their classic mostly Georgian style and brightly- painted doors......There’s a store called Argis in the mall at St. Stephen’s Green. Not only has it relieved my mind of where I to find items like a cordless LANDLINE (GASP) phone. You just look through the catalog, write down the number, and they get it for you from the back room. It’s very quick and efficient like the old Service Merchandise. With no Best Buy, Target, or Wal-Mart or any facsimiles of them in sight, this is HUGE!....There is no tax added to purchases. The price you see is what you pay. It’s nice to not have to figure out “about” what your meal cost....The bus service is very efficient. The buses are clean and there are plenty of them. Of course, I have no real bus service to compare them to since I’ve never even been on a bus in Columbia....The people read a lot. There a several thriving (or so they seem to me) daily newspapers. The bookstores are busy. There is an big emphasis on books and book reviews in the newspapers. There are a lot of author-celebrities here which I think is less common in U.S. Sorry I missed the chance to see Ozzy Osbourne signing his autobiography at Eason's on Sunday, but I hope to encounter a few authors before I depart the Emerald Isle. I do know where Maeve Binchy lives so I guess I could stalk her...I wish I had had my camera yesterday as I saw an older man (those are getting harder and harder to find, by the way, can somebody explain that to me??) stopped in the middle of the sidewalk intently reading the evening newspaper. I don't recall ever seeing a similar scene in the U.S. Of course, there are lots of sensational headlines even in the "mainstream" newspapers over here. The TV news shows also show you the front pages of each newspaper every day and read them to you; I find this a bit unusual...Well, that's my travelogue for today. I'm sure Molly and Nancy stopped reading this several sentences ago, but those of you who made it to the end, I thank you for sticking with me...I am off to hike the oceanside cliffs in Howth with a group of ladies who haven't tired of me (or changed their days, times, and location for walking) yet. I will try to keep my mouth shut!
Hikingly yours,
Tizze/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
FMM: 2.5 mi
There are lots of reasons Ireland is such a popular tourist attraction. It's not just that there are more people of Irish descent in the U.S. than there are in Ireland! Here are a few things I've discovered...There are beautiful, colorful flowers everywhere. I am reminded of New Orleans and some of the extravagant beauty associated with ordinary porches, windowsills, and even lampposts...Everything truly is green. The leaves haven't really started to turn yet..The classic buildings are consistently in exceptional condition. There aren’t blocks where some buildings are torn down and some remain. I have almost become inured to them after only a short time here. They are the essence of picturesque with their classic mostly Georgian style and brightly- painted doors......There’s a store called Argis in the mall at St. Stephen’s Green. Not only has it relieved my mind of where I to find items like a cordless LANDLINE (GASP) phone. You just look through the catalog, write down the number, and they get it for you from the back room. It’s very quick and efficient like the old Service Merchandise. With no Best Buy, Target, or Wal-Mart or any facsimiles of them in sight, this is HUGE!....There is no tax added to purchases. The price you see is what you pay. It’s nice to not have to figure out “about” what your meal cost....The bus service is very efficient. The buses are clean and there are plenty of them. Of course, I have no real bus service to compare them to since I’ve never even been on a bus in Columbia....The people read a lot. There a several thriving (or so they seem to me) daily newspapers. The bookstores are busy. There is an big emphasis on books and book reviews in the newspapers. There are a lot of author-celebrities here which I think is less common in U.S. Sorry I missed the chance to see Ozzy Osbourne signing his autobiography at Eason's on Sunday, but I hope to encounter a few authors before I depart the Emerald Isle. I do know where Maeve Binchy lives so I guess I could stalk her...I wish I had had my camera yesterday as I saw an older man (those are getting harder and harder to find, by the way, can somebody explain that to me??) stopped in the middle of the sidewalk intently reading the evening newspaper. I don't recall ever seeing a similar scene in the U.S. Of course, there are lots of sensational headlines even in the "mainstream" newspapers over here. The TV news shows also show you the front pages of each newspaper every day and read them to you; I find this a bit unusual...Well, that's my travelogue for today. I'm sure Molly and Nancy stopped reading this several sentences ago, but those of you who made it to the end, I thank you for sticking with me...I am off to hike the oceanside cliffs in Howth with a group of ladies who haven't tired of me (or changed their days, times, and location for walking) yet. I will try to keep my mouth shut!
Hikingly yours,
Tizze/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Irish Television
Hi, Bloggies,
FMM: 3.5 mi
I guess you don't have anything better to do today than I do...I am enjoying my creative writing class. Last night I was paired with a young Polish man. He devised a much more exciting plot (about a policeman letting a criminal go free) than I would have cooked up for our story. He has lived here for four years. In fact, due to the Celtic Tiger, a reference to Ireland's formerly booming economy, there are many eastern European immigrants here. For several years, Ireland was the only country in the European Union (includes 26 of the 40 countries of Europe) that would allow eastern Europeans to immigrate. Guess what? Lots did, and many are still here. Many of the service jobs are held by immigrants....I know my kids are impressed that I know how many countries constitute Europe and even where Europe is...Now onto more important topics like Irish television...Our basic cable package seems to include mostly channels that are "off the air" or in another language. We pay to get EuroNews in French, Italian, Russian, PRT (which I think is Spanish) as well as an Irish language channel... People seem to actually go to bed over here, so many channels shut down, too...So, if you are planning to come visit and have some "happy tube time", as we call it in our family, be prepared! Again, no wonder the Europeans aren't fat. No fattening food, no endless choices of trash TV, and did I mention small portions at restaurants?? Nonetheless, I am becoming an expert on all these things and will help you through...I am becoming smarter, thinner, and I'm sleeping more.. Today I am carting myself off (I WISH someone would put me in my cart and push ME) to the SuperQuin for groceries and searching for a place to get a flu shot. Wish me luck!
Getting smarter by the minute, I remain..
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
FMM: 3.5 mi
I guess you don't have anything better to do today than I do...I am enjoying my creative writing class. Last night I was paired with a young Polish man. He devised a much more exciting plot (about a policeman letting a criminal go free) than I would have cooked up for our story. He has lived here for four years. In fact, due to the Celtic Tiger, a reference to Ireland's formerly booming economy, there are many eastern European immigrants here. For several years, Ireland was the only country in the European Union (includes 26 of the 40 countries of Europe) that would allow eastern Europeans to immigrate. Guess what? Lots did, and many are still here. Many of the service jobs are held by immigrants....I know my kids are impressed that I know how many countries constitute Europe and even where Europe is...Now onto more important topics like Irish television...Our basic cable package seems to include mostly channels that are "off the air" or in another language. We pay to get EuroNews in French, Italian, Russian, PRT (which I think is Spanish) as well as an Irish language channel... People seem to actually go to bed over here, so many channels shut down, too...So, if you are planning to come visit and have some "happy tube time", as we call it in our family, be prepared! Again, no wonder the Europeans aren't fat. No fattening food, no endless choices of trash TV, and did I mention small portions at restaurants?? Nonetheless, I am becoming an expert on all these things and will help you through...I am becoming smarter, thinner, and I'm sleeping more.. Today I am carting myself off (I WISH someone would put me in my cart and push ME) to the SuperQuin for groceries and searching for a place to get a flu shot. Wish me luck!
Getting smarter by the minute, I remain..
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Trip Planning
FMM: 3 mi
I am planning Mary and Mom's upcoming visit. I have been making big decisions like "What would be more fun -- listening to an Irish storyteller or watching an Irish music show?" I'm also trying to figure out how to get us to the other side of the country (Ireland is about the same size as Missouri) in order to visit my grandmother's birthplace: Kenmare, County Kerry. She was born there in 1874. I'm told it's now a very exclusive vacation destination, so maybe we'll just settle there for good. Knowing Mom, she can probably come up with a deed that shows we own a prime piece of real estate there. If there ever was one, I'm sure it's still at 509 Marshall Street.. I got Bob to watch his first episode of "The Office: An American Workplace" (as opposed to the original British version of
"The Office "). He wondered why all the characters keep looking at the camera. How does one explain that? He didn't find it too funny...I was thrilled to find a show I recognized; I'll probably be back to watching camogie (that's Irish girls' hurling for those of you who weren't paying attention yesterday) tonight...Visited the library. I got a digitally loaded MP3 of Bram Stoker's (a Dublin writer) _Dracula_. I'm told that all I have to do is put in my earphones and listen. You can think of me listening to it as I go about my business (a very loose term, I know) today. Hopefully, I won't scare myself to death or shriek or jump as I walk down the street. I don't think anyone would notice as I talk to myself all the time walking down the street now and no one pays a bit of attention...Anyway, I'm all blogged out.
Vamping away,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
I am planning Mary and Mom's upcoming visit. I have been making big decisions like "What would be more fun -- listening to an Irish storyteller or watching an Irish music show?" I'm also trying to figure out how to get us to the other side of the country (Ireland is about the same size as Missouri) in order to visit my grandmother's birthplace: Kenmare, County Kerry. She was born there in 1874. I'm told it's now a very exclusive vacation destination, so maybe we'll just settle there for good. Knowing Mom, she can probably come up with a deed that shows we own a prime piece of real estate there. If there ever was one, I'm sure it's still at 509 Marshall Street.. I got Bob to watch his first episode of "The Office: An American Workplace" (as opposed to the original British version of
"The Office "). He wondered why all the characters keep looking at the camera. How does one explain that? He didn't find it too funny...I was thrilled to find a show I recognized; I'll probably be back to watching camogie (that's Irish girls' hurling for those of you who weren't paying attention yesterday) tonight...Visited the library. I got a digitally loaded MP3 of Bram Stoker's (a Dublin writer) _Dracula_. I'm told that all I have to do is put in my earphones and listen. You can think of me listening to it as I go about my business (a very loose term, I know) today. Hopefully, I won't scare myself to death or shriek or jump as I walk down the street. I don't think anyone would notice as I talk to myself all the time walking down the street now and no one pays a bit of attention...Anyway, I'm all blogged out.
Vamping away,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
Monday, October 12, 2009
Irish Potpourri
FMM: 5 mi
Happy Monday! Sat. we toured Kilmainham Gaol (Jail), a prison famous for being the site where the 1916 Easter Uprising rebels were killed by firing squad. We also had a short visit with Monsignor Flanagan and his niece. Msgr was in Ireland for a funeral...Bob now watches Irish sports including soccer, rugby, and even camogie (the female version of hurling). He doesn't know a thing about the NFL except what one of his officemates, who is a big fan of the NFL, has shared from watching games on the internet. We did watch Ireland tie Italy in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday. The World Cup stuff seems like the NBA in that the playoffs go on forever..We toured the James Joyce Centre yesterday. That visit inspired Bob to get back to _Uylsses_. He is now on page lxiii of the introduction which goes up to page Lxxxxxii. After that, he can begin the book which only has 933 pages. I was going to include the last line of the book for you just in case you ever get on "Jeopardy", but when I looked, it appears to be over 30 pages long. Seriously, there's not a punctuation mark or even a paragraph indentation for 33 pages. Therefore, you can check it out yourself if you're interested..Bob and I went to Bewley's Oriental Cafe, a well-known landmark, for their "world famous sticky bun". I had read about it in a travel book and had my hopes up that finally something truly sweet and tasty would cross my lips after a 6 week dry spell... Alas, they don't make the sticky buns on Sundays! I had my pick of an almond croissant, a currant (you kids know THAT is my favorite fruit!) scone, or a kind of danish. I chose the danish but it did not satisfy my craving. In my opinion, they need to add at least another cup of sugar to every pastry..no wonder the Europeans are so thin!..Anyway, my search continues..As I've reported before, they do speak English here, but it has its own distinct pronunciations. Here are a few I've encountered: Ireland = R Land; funding = foonding; numbers = noombers; film = fil um; Van Gogh - Van goff (really!);he - your man; predecessor = preedecessor; and finally, Barack Obama = Barack (as in "attack") Obama (as in "Alabama")...All my observations for today. Happy Monday!
Searching for sugar,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
Happy Monday! Sat. we toured Kilmainham Gaol (Jail), a prison famous for being the site where the 1916 Easter Uprising rebels were killed by firing squad. We also had a short visit with Monsignor Flanagan and his niece. Msgr was in Ireland for a funeral...Bob now watches Irish sports including soccer, rugby, and even camogie (the female version of hurling). He doesn't know a thing about the NFL except what one of his officemates, who is a big fan of the NFL, has shared from watching games on the internet. We did watch Ireland tie Italy in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday. The World Cup stuff seems like the NBA in that the playoffs go on forever..We toured the James Joyce Centre yesterday. That visit inspired Bob to get back to _Uylsses_. He is now on page lxiii of the introduction which goes up to page Lxxxxxii. After that, he can begin the book which only has 933 pages. I was going to include the last line of the book for you just in case you ever get on "Jeopardy", but when I looked, it appears to be over 30 pages long. Seriously, there's not a punctuation mark or even a paragraph indentation for 33 pages. Therefore, you can check it out yourself if you're interested..Bob and I went to Bewley's Oriental Cafe, a well-known landmark, for their "world famous sticky bun". I had read about it in a travel book and had my hopes up that finally something truly sweet and tasty would cross my lips after a 6 week dry spell... Alas, they don't make the sticky buns on Sundays! I had my pick of an almond croissant, a currant (you kids know THAT is my favorite fruit!) scone, or a kind of danish. I chose the danish but it did not satisfy my craving. In my opinion, they need to add at least another cup of sugar to every pastry..no wonder the Europeans are so thin!..Anyway, my search continues..As I've reported before, they do speak English here, but it has its own distinct pronunciations. Here are a few I've encountered: Ireland = R Land; funding = foonding; numbers = noombers; film = fil um; Van Gogh - Van goff (really!);he - your man; predecessor = preedecessor; and finally, Barack Obama = Barack (as in "attack") Obama (as in "Alabama")...All my observations for today. Happy Monday!
Searching for sugar,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Interior Design
FMM: 5.5 mi
Hi, F & F,
You'll be happy to know that I did buy two mops, carried them home in the rain, and even used them yesterday. Not only that, but even I rearranged the furniture and created a little work of art. I covered a carboard box with _Paris Beacons_ and placed the full-length mirror atop it which simultaneously covered up about 10 power cords which used to greet you when you walked in. Who says I have no artistic talent? Bob loved it! Really. He said so. I knew there was a reason I had married him. His approval so inspired me that I stuck a greeting card from the girls on the windsill for added effect..I am working every day to get this place ready for when you all visit. Bob and I went out for pizza then attempted to find "real Irish music". We did find the music, but the place was so crowded we couldn't hear it. We will have to try during the week next time...Happy Saturday to all of you.
Artistically yours,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
Hi, F & F,
You'll be happy to know that I did buy two mops, carried them home in the rain, and even used them yesterday. Not only that, but even I rearranged the furniture and created a little work of art. I covered a carboard box with _Paris Beacons_ and placed the full-length mirror atop it which simultaneously covered up about 10 power cords which used to greet you when you walked in. Who says I have no artistic talent? Bob loved it! Really. He said so. I knew there was a reason I had married him. His approval so inspired me that I stuck a greeting card from the girls on the windsill for added effect..I am working every day to get this place ready for when you all visit. Bob and I went out for pizza then attempted to find "real Irish music". We did find the music, but the place was so crowded we couldn't hear it. We will have to try during the week next time...Happy Saturday to all of you.
Artistically yours,
Tizzie/Tiz/Tizmom/Mom/Liz/Elizabeth
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)