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
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
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
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
Saturday, December 5, 2009
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
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
Thursday, December 3, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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
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
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
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