Following My Bliss

New Dana Life Rule: When feeling odd/homesick/PMSy/out-of character, I will not drink and go online to talk with everyone and their brother. I will EITHER drink OR go online. These two things from here on out are mututally exclusive to one another.

Good news is I am out of said weird funk and hindsight is totally 20/20. Mmmm, clarity. I was a dramatic, over-emotional mess. I said uncertain things to waaaaay too many people. I was looking to manifest emotions in the wrong way in the wrong people. Of course, my real friends will know to take everything I said with a grain of salt if it was about a 'serious' topic. Was I sloppy, fall on my face drunk? Negative. But I was just in a happy/emotional/loose place where the filter was broken and my head was all 'Oooo, shiney!!!'. In all honesty, the way I felt Friday night I do not feel whatsoever today. I think about Friday night and go 'Really, Dana? You're an idiot'. I let myself get the better of me, no doubt.

Also, I now know what friends I should take advice from and which ones I should ignore with my fingers in my ears going 'La la la la la la!'.

I just need to grow up. Plain and simple.

That being said, I'm going to pretend Friday night just didn't happpen. You can either do the same or not, your choice, but I'm telling you right now, I pressed the delete button on that shitshow yesterday. It meant nothing and therefore will recieve the nothing treatment of nothingness.

No more country music for Dana for a long time. That stuff brings out the worst in me! LOL ;P

New topics: Only working two days this week. Next week two definitely, maybe three. Friday & Monday are bank holidays (Good Friday, Easter Monday) so my week is automatically shortened.

We moved the groups to the day time because the young people are on Easter break for the next two weeks. Tonight's group wasn't moved (the older girls) so I'm working 5-9. Also with tonight's group we're going to hopefully get the other side of last weeks discussion where the girls that did come told us their group isn't fun anymore and they feel like it's losing it's purpose. It was seemingly out of nowhere and the leaders (who've worked this group for ages) were really hurt by it (understandable). Maybe it was just an off week for them? Maybe it's JUST them? We'll find out.

As for this week, we're leaving Thursday for Doolin/Aran Islands(Inishmore). Going to see the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. Also going to watch the sunset and drink beers with Elizabeth and write down my thoughts and read my book and just BE. Cannot wait to just go and see and be and relax. I'm really excited to see these gorgeous places and take too many pictures and just laugh. Hopefully, we'll just laugh that is. Really sick of the drama that doesn't go away for some people.

They're doing kitchen inspections this week as well. Usually our stuff happens on the first day but still they haven't shown. It's spotless out there (I made sure of it and the boys surprisingly cleaned a ton before they left Fridaay. I was impressed for real). I'm giving them another half hour to get here then I'm making my dinner and they can get pissy at me for 'leaving dishes in the strainer', even though that means their clean and isn't that better than them sitting on the table dirty and getting moldy? Somethings just don't make sense in these apartments. Actually, a lot doesn't make sense in these apartments.

Enjoying the 2 weeks to have the apartment to myself though, not gonna lie. I like being able to watch what TV I want to watch whenever I want. It's nice to not feel like I'm intruding on Emma and her boyfriend (who mind as well just be called roommate #4 in apartment 118 at this point).

I need to go dry my hair, prepare for work after the hellacious Friday night DVD-drop in, and make dinner.

Peace, love, and learning ya'll!!

EDIT: Home from work. Was asked/told not to be in group tonight because the other leaders are obviously taking this very seriously and I'm still the new girl and my presence may effect how open the girls/leaders can be with each other. A little sad but totally understandable.
Instead spent an hour and a half with Louise bitching about DVD night from Friday and going through old pictures of those in the SHY. Best part? I'll get to write I spent 8 hours in today for that! Boom baby!
Now I will make spaghetti & sauce and watch Mythbusters, complete with announcer redubbing of a British man.
Passed kitchen inspection. They appreciated the effort. Good deal.

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see
That I want and I'm needing everything that we should be
I'll bet she's beautiful, that girl he talks about
And she's got everything that I have to live without

Drew talks to me, I laugh cause it's just so funny
That I can't even see anyone when he's with me
He says he's so in love, he's finally got it right,
I wonder if he knows he's all I think about at night

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do

Drew walks by me, can he tell that I can't breathe?
And there he goes, so perfectly,
The kind of flawless I wish I could be
She'd better hold him tight, give him all her love
Look in those beautiful eyes and know she's lucky cause

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do

So I drive home alone, as I turn out the light
I'll put his picture down and maybe
Get some sleep tonight

He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar
The only one who's got enough of me to break my heart
He's the song in the car I keep singing, don't know why I do
He's the time taken up, but there's never enough
And he's all that I need to fall into..

Drew looks at me, I fake a smile so he won't see.
Taylor Swift - Teardrops on My Guitar




I don't know what I want, so don't ask me
Cause I'm still trying to figure it out
Don't know what's down this road, I'm just walking
Trying to see through the rain coming down
Even though I'm not the only one
Who feels the way I do

I'm alone, on my own, and that's all I know
I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh but life goes on
I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in
This world

Got the radio on, my old blue jeans
And I'm wearing my heart on my sleeve
Feeling lucky today, got the sunshine
Could you tell me what more do I need
And tomorrow's just a mystery, oh yeah
But that's ok

I'm alone, on my own, and that's all I know
I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh but life goes on
I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in
This world

Maybe I'm just a girl on a mission
But I'm ready to fly

I'm alone, on my own, and that's all I know
I'll be strong, I'll be wrong, oh but life goes on
I'm just a girl, trying to find a place in
This world
Taylor Swift - Place in This World




Cory's eyes are like a jungle
He smiles, it's like the radio
He whispers songs into my window
In words nobody knows
There's pretty girls on every corner
That watch him as he's walking home
Saying, does he know
Will you ever know

You're beautiful
Every little piece love, don't you know
You're really gonna be someone, ask anyone
When you find everything you looked for
I hope your life leads you back to my door
Oh but if it don't, stay beautiful

Cory finds another way to be
The highlight of my day
I'm taking pictures in my mind
So I can save them for a rainy day
It's hard to make conversation
When he's taking my breath away
I should say, hey by the way

You're beautiful
Every little piece love, don't you know
You're really gonna be someone, ask anyone
When you find everything you looked for
I hope your life leads you back to my door
Oh but if it don't, stay beautiful

If you and I are a story
That never gets told
If what you are is a daydream
I'll never get to hold, at least you'll know

You're beautiful every little piece love,
and don't you know your really gonna be someone ask anyone.
and when you find everything you looked for,
I hope your life leads you back to my front door.
oh but if it don't will you stay
beautiful beautiful beautiful
beautiful beautiful beautiful
la la la
Oh, oh oh oh,
oh but if it don't,
stay beautiful
stay beautiful
Na na na na na
Taylor Swift - Stay Beautiful





Friday night beneath the stars,
in a field behind your yard,
you and I are paintin' pictures in the sky.
And sometimes we don't say a thing;
just listen to the crickets sing.
Everything I need is right here by my side.
And I know everything about you
I don't wanna live without you.

I'm only up when you're not down.
Don't wanna fly if you're still on the ground.
It's like no matter what I do.
Well you drive me crazy half the time;
the other half I'm only trying to let you know that what I feel is true.
And I'm only me when I'm with you.

Just a small town boy and girl
livin' in a crazy world.
Tryin' to figure out what is and isn't true.
And I don't try to hide my tears.
The secrets or my deepest fears.
Through it all nobody gets me like you do.
And you know everything about me.
You say that you can't live without me.

I'm only up when you're not down.
Don't wanna fly if you're still on the ground.
It's like no matter what I do.
Well you drive me crazy half the time;
the other half I'm only trying to let you know that what I feel is true.
And I'm only me when I'm with you.

When I'm with anybody else it's so hard to be myself.
Only you can tell.

That I'm only up when you're not down.
Don't wanna fly if you're still on the ground.
It's like no matter what I do.
Well you drive me crazy half the time;
the other half I'm only trying to let you know that what I feel is true.
And I'm only me
Who I wanna be
Well, I'm only me when I'm with you
With you
Uh huh
Yeah
Taylor Swift - I'm Only Me When I'm With You





There's somethin' 'bout the way
The street looks when it's just rained
There's a glow off the pavement
Walk me to the car
And you know I wanna ask you to dance right there
In the middle of the parking lot
Yeah
Oh yeah

We're drivin' down the road
I wonder if you know
I'm tryin' so hard not to get caught up now
But you're just so cool
Run your hands through your hair
Absent mindedly makin' me want you

And I don't know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don't know why but with you I'd dance in a storm in my best dress
Fearless

So baby drive slow
'til we run out of road in this one horse town
I wanna stay right here in this passenger's seat
You put your eyes on me
In this moment now capture it, remember it

Cause I don't know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don't know why but with you I'd dance in a storm in my best dress
Fearless

Well you stood there with me in the doorway
My hands shake
I'm not usually this way but
You pull me in and I'm a little more brave
It's the first kiss,
It's flawless,
Really something,
It's fearless.

Oh yeah
And I don't know how it gets better than this
You take my hand and drag me head first
Fearless
And I don't know why but with you I'd dance in a storm in my best dress
Fearless

Yeah
I don't know how
Oh yeah yeah
Taylor Swift - Fearless





Hey Stephen, I know looks can be deceiving but I know I saw a light in you
As we walked we were talking and I didn't say half the things I wanted to
Of all the girls tossing rocks at your window
I'll be the one waiting there even when it's cold
Hey Stephen, boy you might have me believing I don't always have to be alone.

'cause I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help I if I wanna kiss you in the rain so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
I can't help myself

Hey Stephen, I've been holding back this feeling
So I've got some things to say to you
I seen it all so I thought but I never seen nobody shine the way you do
The way you walk, way you talk, way you say my name
It's beautiful, wonderful, don't you ever change
Hey Stephen, why are people always leaving
I think you and I should stay the same

'cause I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help I if I wanna kiss you in the rain so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
I can't help myself

They're dimming the street lights
You're perfect for me why aren't you here tonight?
I'm waiting alone now so come on and come out and pull me near
Shine, shine, shine

Hey Stephen I could give you fifty reasons why I should be the one you choose
All those other girls, well they're beautiful but would they write a song for you

'cause I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help I if I wanna kiss you in the rain so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
I can't help myself

'cause I can't help it if you look like an angel
Can't help I if I wanna kiss you in the rain so
Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you
Can't help it if there's no one else
I can't help myself

Myself, can't help myself
I can't help myself.
Taylor Swift - Hey Stephen




I don’t think that passenger seat
Has ever looked this good to me
He tells me about his night
And I count the colors in his eyes
He’ll never fall in love he swears
As he runs his fingers through his hair
I’m laughing cause I hope he's wrong
I don't think it ever crossed his mind
He tells a joke I fake a smile
That I know all his favorite songs
And..

I could tell you his favorite color's green
He loves to argue, born on the seventeenth
His sister's beautiful, he has his father’s eyes
And if you asked me if I love him,
I’d lie

He looks around the room
Innocently overlooks the truth
Shouldn’t a light go on?
Doesn’t he know that I’ve had him memorized for so long?
He sees everything black and white
Never let nobody see him cry
I don’t let nobody see me wishing he was mine

I could tell you his favorite color's green
He loves to argue, born on the seventeenth
His sister's beautiful, he has his father’s eyes
And if you asked me if I love him,
I’d lie

He stands there then walks away
My god if I could only say
I’m holding every breath for you...

He’d never tell you but he can play guitar
I think he can see through everything
But my heart
First thought when I wake up is
My god he’s beautiful
So I put on my make up
And pray for a miracle

Yes I could tell you his favorite color's green
He loves to argue oh and it kills me
His sisters beautiful he has his father’s eyes
And if you asked me if I love him
If you asked me if I love him
I’d lie
Taylor Swift - I'd Lie




Font size determines what’s true and what’s not. Chalk one up to wine night, for real.

To be perfectly honest, I don't understand how my self works most of the time.

I thought I had this figured out. I thought I knew what I wanted, where we stood, and all that jazz.

But tonight... Maybe I'm just homesick, nostasglic, lonely... I don't know what it is to be honest but I find myself wanting to be with there more than anything at this moment. Maybe it's because when I'm home they've always been there in some sense. Maybe just being so cut off from constant communication with them has finally gotten to me. I miss the reliability, the consistency.

I don't know what it is that's put my head in this 180 tailspin of 'What ifs' and 'Why nots'.

How do I know what I feel if I've never felt it before?

I hardly noticed Valentine's Day this year. Not only in the sense that it told me I'm not in a relationship, but it's also the day I found out about my dad's cancer. Usually I hate it more than anything for both reasons. This year...didn't even care. Progress or regression?

Words sit on the tip of my tongue, but how do I mean them? Do I mean them on the surface or in a much deeper meaning?

I might just be scared to throw caution to the wind. I may just be being stupid and tomorrow none of this will matter.

Just know I miss you. More than you miss me. Trust me.

It has been a country music kind of night, in a lot of ways. Carrie Underwood gets it (or at least her songwriters do) and so do Rascal Flatts.

Love, it can weather any storm
Bring you back to being born, again
Oh, it's the helping hand
When you needed it most
The lightouse shining on the coast
That never goes dim
When your heart is full of doubt
As you think that there's no way out
Rascal Flatts - Unstoppable

They take one last drive around town
And man it
Already looks different
He bangs the wheel and says
'Life ain't fair
And this growing up stuff man I don't know
I just don't wanna let you go'
Carrie Underwood - The Night Before (Life Goes On)

I thought about calling you when I got off the plane
Every time I see this city through the clouds I get that way
Call me crazy for missing you like this but I do
Rascal Flatts - Then I Did

I know there's a blue horizon,
Somewhere up ahead, just waiting for me,
Getting there means leaving things behind,
Sometimes life's so bitter sweet.
Carrie Underwood - Starts with Goodbye

I woke up this morning
With this feeling inside me that I can't explain
Like a weight that I've carried
Been carried away, away
But I know something is coming
I don't know what it is
But I know it's amazing, you save me
My time is coming
And I'll find my way out of this longest drought
Rascal Flatts - Feels Like Today

It's so easy to get lost inside
A problem that seems so big at the time
It's like a river thats so wide
It swallows you whole
While you sit around thinking about what you can't change
And worrying about all the wrong things
Time's flying by, moving so fast
You better make it count 'cause you can't get it back
Carrie Underwood - So Small

I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on
And learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I wanna leave something here
Go out on a ledge, with out any net
That's what I'm gonna be about
Yeah I wanna be runnin'
When the sand runs out
Rascal Flatts - When the Sand Runs Out

There's once in a lifetime
And there's once in a while
And the difference between the two is about a million miles
Oh, you might get lucky while the moon is looking up
But in the truth of the morning, the stars will be long gone
Carrie Underwood - You Won't Find This

Cause when push comes to shove
You taste what you're made of
You might bend, till you break
Cause its all you can take
On your knees you look up
Decide you've had enough
You get mad you get strong
Wipe your hands shake it off
Then you stand, then you stand
Rascal Flatts - Stand

Suppose I called you up tonight
And told you that I love you
And suppose I said I wanna come back home
And suppose I cried and said I think I finally learned my lesson
And I'm tired of spending all my time alone
If I told you that I realize you're all I ever wanted
And it's killing me to be so far away
Would you tell me that you love me to
And when we cry together
Would you simply laugh at me and say...
I told you so
Carrie Underwood - I Told You So

What do I do now that you're gone?
No back up plan, no second chance
And no one else to blame
All I can hear in the silence that remains
Are the words I couldnt say
Rascal Flatts - Words I Couldn't Say

It's twisted, messed up
And the more I think about it
It's crazy, but so what
I may never understand it
I'm caught up and I'm hanging on
I'm gonna love you even if it's wrong
Carrie Underwood - Twisted

Sometimes two hearts
Just can't dance to the same beat
So I'll pack up my things
And I'll take what remains of me
Rascal Flatts - Winner at a Losing Game

Maybe it's the way that the stars are aligned
That's makin' me feel this way tonight
Maybe it's the words you left unsaid
Maybe it's the stardust in my hand
Carrie Underwood - This Time

I come around all broken down and
Crowded out
And you're comfort
Sometimes the place I go
Is so deep and dark and desperate
I don't know, I don't know
How every day
Every day, every day
You save my life
Rascal Flatts - Every Day

And you should know, please believe me
I've picked up the phone a thousand times
And tried to dial your number
But it's been so long, it's never easy
It's like trying to spin the world the other way
What can I say?
Carrie Underwood - What Can I Say

Give all you've got
Like it's your last day
Your heart and soul
Before it's too late
And pull them in so close
Enough that they can feel it
With every single breath that
You're breathing
Breathe it in again and again
Love who you love
With all that you have
And don't waste the time
That flies so fast
Love who you love
And say that you do
Hold on as tight as they'll let you
Love who you love
Hold on, hold on
Rascal Flatts - Love Who You Love

Gosh I’m behind on updating. Whoopsies? Just haven’t been motivated. No one has been really as of late. I think we’re hitting the mid-point lull. I’m only going to highlight important stuff instead of going on about stuff that is trivial at best.

Kirsten & Kerri Visit, March 5-12, 2010:

Fabulouusssss!!! They got in early Saturday morning and after a nap, we made tacos for dinner. Went to Doolan’s that night to listen to the Irish band. Gotta say, I’m beginning to learn the words to songs and can sing along. Pretty fun. Left there and tried to go meet up with everyone else at Ruby’s. Went in and it was PACKED. The worst I have ever seen it. Literally body to body crushed together packed. Took us ages to get across the bar and to Woodman’s, which was equally packed. What the hell?? So we left there and decided to go to Mason’s for the first time. Compared to Ruby’s, the place was empty. Had a drink or two, talked with some guys, and danced to ‘Sweet Home Alabama’. I’d say it was a good night. :D

On Sunday we went to Tramore beach. It was really, really cold out but sunny and well hell, we were on a beach so can I really complain?? We even made lunch to sit and eat while looking out over the water. Awwww. Tried to walk and find a castle but no dice. Ended the day sitting in the diner drinking tea and talking. Good times. Stayed in that night and Kerri made us chicken parm & spaghetti. DELICIOUS. Way to go on the cooking thing Kerri, way to go.

The girls spent Monday in Cork/Blarney/Midleton while I spent it at work. They enjoyed their outing, kissed the stone, drank some whiskey, and had fun (or so they told me).

Tuesday we spent all around Waterford. First we headed down to the Waterford Crystal building only to find it CLOSED. WHAT? I swear to God when we got here the visitor center was still open! (Later on I went on the website and it quite literally just closed a week prior, and a new center is opening in June just after I leave. Of course it is!) We went on a crazy shopping spree in Penny’s, picking up tons of stuff from dresses to jewelry for really cheap. I’m talking like 14 pieces for like €75. I could NEVER do that back home, ever. The girls loved it, which was probably the most important. Headed over to Doolan’s for pub lunch. Good stuff. Shopped around a bit more, finally finding a place to buy Waterford Crystal. I got mom a shamrock and Kerri got her sister a wedding present. Did some more walking around a shopping at Dunne’s (three more items for like €25, holla!). Finally went to meet Diane (my social work advisor from Brockport that was over on vacation/’visiting’). Met her and her daughters at the Granville Hotel and shared a drink and a chat. Afterwards, headed back to the apartment.

Wednesday & Thursday I worked while the girls spent one day in Dublin and another in the room catching up on schoolwork. Good deal. We spent one night sitting in my room reminiscing about high school and sharing current gossip on people from high school. We realized that we can name like 7 guys who turned out to be gay from our class (not saying that in a bad way, just an odd realization). Also waaaay too many people getting married or having babies (rarely do they do both). We decided by still being in college, without babies and without husbands, we are the normal ones.

Friday the girls went off to Kilkenny while I went off to work. Unfort their bus would get back while I was at work, keeping them locked out of the apartment. So when I got back at 10, I figured maybe they’d be waiting, but they weren’t. I kept going downstairs and outside every 15-20 minutes until about 1AM with no sign of them. Finally I decided to go to back, and just hope for the best.

Not fifteen minutes later do they come stumbling in. And I mean stumbling. They were TRASHED. Apparently they decided to have a couple drinks while waiting for me, which turned in to meeting some Texans, and having people buy them lots of drinks (beer to shots). Any attempts at telling me things (including stuff about buses?) was against their better judgment because neither of them made any sense. I did get out of them that Kerri “puked all over Waterford” and Kirsten “spoke Spanish for a while”. Kerri pretty much just passed out on the floor. Kirsten got changed and attempted to write an email on my computer, all the while falling every which way all over the room. At the time I was more upset because I had been so worried about them, but now it’s effin’ hilarious the state they were in. Holy sweet baby cheese & rice were they drunk!!!

Next day the girls weren’t as in rough shape as I thought they’d be. However they did (finally) manage to explain to me that because they were flying out of Shannon and buses don’t run frequently on the weekends, they’d have to leave today and stay the night up there because there wasn’t an early enough bus on Sunday. Pretty bummed out we weren’t able to go horseback riding then (which we had booked for 2PM and their bus to go to Shannon was at 4PM). Instead we went out to Sumatra cafe for breakfast (soooo good and cheap and I can’t wait to go back) and then came back to pack up everyone’s stuff. My souvenir suitcase was full :)!

On the way down to the bus station, Kerri and I went in to McDonald’s to get our first Shamrock shakes of the year. While in Ireland. It was yet another one of those moments that made me go ‘Yea, coming here was in fact a great idea Dana, good call’. Elizabeth & I saw them off, and I was definitely sad to see my little slices of Americana go (as I took to calling them).

St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2010:

Got up and ready. Decided to wear my Ireland ‘Pub Crawl’ t-shirt I bought in Galway (been dying for an excuse and today seemed like a good one). Went up to Jen’s room and opened my bottle of wine at 10:30AM.

Garrett showed up and the drinking games started a bit. Learned and played Asshole and King’s Cup. Pretty fun/funny. By about noon/noon-thirty Marlee and Chris finally arrived. Eventually headed off to the parade with a decent buzz going on (I didn’t finish the bottle of wine, but came pretty damn close, and had a Bud to cap it off).

The parade sucked. My coworkers told me it would, but I still wanted to go cause, oh yea, we’re in Ireland and it’s St. Patrick’s Day and I’m going to take part in the festivities!! But seriously, it sucked. It was pretty much just every children’s sports team or organization marching along. A couple bands. Like two floats. Some cars that were supposed to be vintage but definitely weren’t. And did I mention no one was throwing candy to us??? I wanted a tootsie roll, dammit!

After standing there for a bit, we started to walk down a ways towards the quay. When the parade finally finished we decided to go get lunch at a pub. And apparently so did everyone else. After checking out three separate places, all which were packed, we went to (surprise) Doolan’s! And of course we got a table right away. Hanne met us here and we got lunch. I got bacon and cabbage (though it was more like ham & potatoes), and it was awesomeeee. Not Grandma’s corned beef & cabbage, but I’ll take it because it was made in Ireland and it was St. Paddy’s Day.

We left and headed over to Wacky Apple’s, picking up cards on the way. Did a shot of Baby Guinness before going upstairs. Ended up sitting in Wacky’s for at least two hours playing drinking games and acting like fools. After a bit decided to head back to the Manor hoping to make it to a party in Manor Two, but missing it by a bit. Instead went back to Jen’s room and continued drinking & playing card games with her roommates. I played DJ with iTunes (and I'll brag, I was great at it).

I decided to go to back to my room at 9:30 or so once some drama started and it became apparent despite what they were saying no one was going out to the bars. Instead changed clothes, put on Boondock Saints, and fell asleep.

St. Patrick’s Day was good by me.

Truly bizarre part of the day though was children in pubs/bars. WTF? At Wacky’s a woman quite literally had a baby in a stroller a mere five feet from the bar. What.The.Hell??? Also while we were upstairs her older child was up there yelling at a group of lads for moving a table saying she was going to tell her mother on them. It was insane!!! Apparently the law is children can be in the bars till 9PM on St. Paddy’s Day but no one really follows it? Or something? I don’t know. It’s really fucking weird all around.

Nothing else major to report. We’re planning a trip at the moment to go away for Easter weekend to Doolan, Cliffs of Mohr, and the Aran Islands. Assuming the ferry is running, we have it all good to go with hostels and the like. Really excited to get out of Waterford for a few days and just relax in one of the most gorgeous areas of Ireland. Though to be fair I haven’t really found a part of Ireland I haven’t found gorgeous just yet. Probably because it’s all new to me.

Traveling so much here, and talking to coworkers, has actually given me a better appreciation for America. A lot of the places we visit here in Ireland the people who have lived here for decades haven’t been too. They talk about visiting this and that in Europe or in America. And I realize through this that there are a TON of places in America that I’d like to see and appreciate. I’ve been to a few cities and such, but I want to do more. I want to go to New York City or Down South or to the Mid-West. Chicago? Nashville? Dallas? Seattle? Yes, please, all of the above.

I tried beans on toast today (a “staple” Irish food). Didn’t taste bad, but wasn’t amazing either. However, though my taste buds allowed it my insides are not agreeing with it. Not.Good. In fact, feeling reeeaaaaallllyyyy shitty (double meaning, anyone?). Ugh. The things I do for my kids at work, seriously.

Who am I kidding, I love those little shiests to bits. :D

Love,

Dana

Love,

Dana

This is going to be really, really long because these stories require as many details as I can remember to make them legit. And also, we just did a load of stuff in Galway.

Friday, February 26, 2010

So ended up having all of the day off (no sense in coming in for just an hour to work). Slept in, took a shower, finished getting packed, and all that jazz. Met up with Garrett and headed off to the city. Had to go to an ATM, hit up the €2 store, and finally got to McDonald’s. Ate a quick lunch, with Elizabeth getting there from work as well, and then went off to the bus station

Bus Éireann was running a discount for students where you sign up online and get a €10 voucher emailed to you. So obviously we all did this. I had trouble printing mine at work so Elizabeth tried at her place. Well she couldn’t get the picture of the voucher to show up so she still printed the email to show I had it. Well the lady at the ticket window refused to accept this. She just HAD to see the picture of the voucher on the paper or no discount. So despite the fact that the email said my name, said ‘here’s a voucher’ with a space for a picture, and was identical to Elizabeth & Garrett’s emails, she wouldn’t give me the discount. This is called being a bitch in my book.

Well despite this we got on our bus almost immediately. It was one of the nicer buses we’d ever been on and off we went. The scenery on the way was absolutely gorgeous; true Irish countryside with hills. Got to watch the sunset on the way which was so cool. Because it’s a really long journey we had to change buses in Limerick. So we went in to the bus/train station to freshen up and grab a snack. Coolest station ever! Just looked awesome and had a vibe about it. After a few minutes, we got on to our second bus and off we went towards Galway.

Both of our bus drivers turned out to be crazy men because they definitely got us to Galway at least a solid hour ahead of schedule. No complaints. Upon arrival, the quest for our bed & breakfast began. We asked where a certain road was, thought we understood the directions, and off we went. Turns out we didn’t understand the directions. Definitely ended up walking around for about a half hour, having to ask again for information, before finally finding our way up to our B&B. Got checked in and LOVED IT. Cute little room with a queen bed & single bed. Nice bathroom with a legit shower. We even had nook!!! It was grand.

Decided to go out and get some food and then explore. Hit up Supermac’s (it’s supermacular afterall!) before venturing off in to Galway. From the start it was pretty clear they had a real night life going on. We walked around a lot in to the city centre, which is the biggest and best of any of the cities thus far. Eventually made a decision and headed in to a bar called Taffe’s. Turns out in the back was an Irish band. It was really crowded but we stuck around. The fife player was also an Irish dancer so in between playing notes, and sometimes while playing notes, there was stepping and high kicks. Pretty freaking awesome.

The band definitely played ‘The Fields of Athenry’ and this is definitely #2 in my life to hearing ‘The Green Fields of France’ live at a pub in Ireland. Irish music, let’s be BFF4L kay?

Eventually the too-cramped atmosphere got to me and I requested we leave. Seeing as Garrett was still wearing his ‘track pants’ (and Ireland actually has dress codes for some bars/clubs) we were denied a few places. None of the places we could get in to actually made us happy either. So we ended up trucking it back to the B&B so he could change in to jeans. And off we went again.

Found our way in to a bar called Coyotes. Guess what kinda bar this was? An American bar. Yea, you read that right. The first part was based on Coyote Ugly (complete with dancing on the bar & a singing bartender), the back part had a Scarface theme (the pool table area as well), the downstairs dance floor was meant to be glammed up Hollywood like, and then in the back was a mechanical bull to ride.

The Americans WOULD find the American themed bar in Ireland. facepalm. Though I will say it was kinda nice in a way to see license plates on the wall from back home and empty cans of Milwaukee’s Best and Colt 45 along the top of the bar.

Well it was nearing 2 or so at this point so we decided to stick around because it was still open and a lot of the other places would be closed. We mingled, walked around, and people watched quite a bit. Talked with some boys and then talked with some others.

Met the owner of the bar. We happened to sit at the table he had left his drink at. Got to talking to him a bit. He bought us a round of shots because they “love Americans”. Apparently on St. Paddy’s day they do an American themed celebration. WTF? In Ireland, they do an American celebration for an Irish holiday? I still find this information really bizarre and not easy to comprehend.

Anyways, one guy at some point was very insistent I dance with him when he came back from a smoke and I gave in. So Elizabeth & I headed to the dance floor. The music they play in Irish clubs KILLS ME. Total 90s flashbacks. Too funny. Definitely recall dancing to Wham, Britney Spears, House of Pain, and other really random old-school and new-school jams. Hilarious each and every time.

Eventually lost my original dance partner only to find a cuter one. Elizabeth went between some boys, and one was rather drunk and weird and stalking her, so it was a game to keep him away. After a good solid half-hour of shaking it and bouncing around (in a hoodie) I was sweaty and tired. My dance buddy asked to buy me a drink so we headed back upstairs.

To this moment, I do not know how the following happened because for the life of me 60% of the time I could not understand what this boy was saying to me. (Side note: The Irish are always saying how different parts have different accents and up until now we didn’t notice it. In Galway, we noticed. And damn were they hard to follow sometimes!) Anyways, said dance partner ended up kissing me. He called it ‘Irish kissing’ and wanted to know if it was better than American, which he said was too aggressive/intense. Oookkk…kinda see where he was going with it and kinda don’t, but I just played along. After some solid kissing for a few minutes finally got that drink (yea, no shame!).

Ended up talking with him for a bit. He was really funny and sweet. Told me I had a good personality and was really pretty. Apparently Americans have a rep for being kinda bitchy, and he was surprised how not that I was. Well gee, I just try oh so gosh darn hard! For the parts of his talking that I understood, he was funny and sweet as well. And cute. Did I mention cute?

This following funny story needs to have a back-story first. Right now in Europe there’s these twins called Jedward that were on some talent show. They sing a mash up of Queen & Vanilla Ice, complete with bad choreography, and even though they’re really not that good, they’re famous. Like, selling out stadiums famous. In their music video, Vanilla Ice makes an appearance. It’s weird, I don’t get it, but hey, that’s Europe.

So anyways while at the bar talking to the cute make-out dance partner boy this Jedward song comes on. Well there are twins at the bar, blonde like the real band, and they decided to get on the bar and put on a show. Like, dancing around, taking off their shirts, and trying to ‘be’ Jedward. It was awkward to say the least because they were cute but not that cute. The guy I was with was all 'Doesn’t bother me if you look’ and I was all ‘I don’t want to look at those weirdos’. It was funny on some levels and just dumb on others.

It became obvious that it was getting late (like past 3AM, which is super weird because places have last call at 2AM usually) and I needed to find Garrett & Elizabeth. Went outside to Garrett who was having a smoke and we decided to call it a night. Went back inside to track down Elizabeth who was back on the dance floor with some cute boy who was wearing her jacket. Really funny. Told her we wanted to head out soon and went back upstairs.

Garrett and I are standing around upstairs waiting for her and suddenly FIIIIIGGGHHHHTTT!!! The owner has some guy in a reverse headlock and is trying to escort him from the bar. A glass in broken in the fray and other security guards are required to get this drunk guy out of there. Intense moment. So we head outside so he can have a final cigg and finally Elizabeth makes an appearance.

As we’re about to leave a fight restarts with the drunk guy. There’s a girl, a friend of the drunk guy or his sister (still don’t know which), trying to get him out of the situation and she ends up getting punched in the side. So Elizabeth and then I rush to check on her while Garrett kinda meanders over to the guys to help out if he can. So we’re talking with her a bit, as she’s really upset over all this, and the drunk guy just can’t leave well enough alone.

He ends up instigating the security guards as well as other people around. Another friend of his tries to get him in a cab, and after a lot of bullshit, does. But within moments the cab stops a few feet away and the drunk guy gets out. Wonderful. The girl, LuLu, is still trying to talk him down and keep some way of peace in the area but it’s just not happening.

The drunk guy starts instigating a HUGE guy across the street. (We eventually nicknamed this guy Sloth, like from the Goonies, and it was for a reason.) So drunk guy goes across the street and is all up in Sloth’s face and swings at him. At first Sloth doesn’t react but then he goes all Hulk and just SNAPS. He’s trying to get to the drunk guy who is now being shoved back by his friend for safety. Garrett and others (including security guards) runs across the street because this is about to get BAD. They’re holding back Sloth and others are shoving drunk guy further away. Sloth is like roaring and grunting and punching the buildings and windows. Next thing Elizabeth & I see is LuLu on the ground against the buildings because she got in the middle of drunk guy and her friend so we run over as well.

We help her get back up and get her shoes on. Drunk guy is now in a fight with his friend (Sloth is being contained by others further down the road). Drunk guy is instigating his friend, trying to get him to throw a punch, and his friend is holding back for the most part because he doesn’t want this shit right now. Garrett is trying to keep them a part a bit and we’re trying to keep LuLu from getting in the middle again. Well this doesn’t work and suddenly the friend is kicking the utter shit out of the drunk guy. He gets him on the ground in the middle of the road and lands legit kicks to his face. We HEARD the kicks connect.

Garrett gets the friend away and Elizabeth & I run to drunk guy because LuLu is FREAKING OUT. We try to get his attention and he finally comes around and snaps at us to ‘stop touching him’. We back up before he gets violent, because we had no doubts he would swing on us (and not only would Elizabeth or I swing back, so would Garrett). So eventually he gets himself up off the road and Garrett & others get him to one side. His friend who he just fought actually listened to us and kept his distance from this point. LuLu uses one of our phones to call someone to come pick up the drunk guy.

Well we get them all walking away from the bar and from the scene and here comes the Garda. Fabulous. The Garda instantly go to the drunk guy and start talking with him. I get LuLu to calm down a bit before going to talk with them because as I explained to her, she doesn’t want to go to jail with him no matter how much she loves him. So she goes over to talk with the Garda and my phone rings for her. I give it to her and it turns out it’s her Dad who’s on his way, within moments. The Garda are good with this and just talk with them till her dad gets there. The drunk guy gets even more pissy and ends up ripping off his shirt and throwing it in the road before getting in the car (still don’t understand why that was necessary). 

Once we see they’re all in the car we head off back to our B&B, officially exhausted, sober, and wishing we didn’t have good hearts to care for people.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Woke up and got a bit ready for the day. Headed out to the dining area for our Irish breakfast. Puuummmpppppeeeddd. There was toast, tea, juice and then the main meal. Sunny-side up egg, pork&beans, 3 types of sausage (black & red pudding (yea, it’s meat with seeds in it) then just regular fat links), and a slice of ham. YUMMY. The black & red pudding were odd for sure, and the black definitely didn’t win the taste test competition but I ate it all anyways because it was a full Irish breakfast for €5 and I was hungry.

After getting fully dressed & ready we headed off in to Galway City. There was a market going on that morning so we went off in search of it. It was more of a farmer’s market with food but there were some crafts & odds/ends for sale. I actually ended up buying my mom a necklace here which is super pretty and handmade by the guy.

We stumbled upon a historical site during this time. It’s a stone wall with a window where some man actually hung his own son out of because his son had committed a crime (I think murder?). It was kinda bizarre to be like ‘I’m standing where a dead man hung’. Also bizarre because it’s in the middle of random buildings & roads. History is legit everywhere in this country.

Seeing as we had minimal real plans for the day we just walked and stumbled upon stuff. Watched a man perform as a living statue (he was really good at it!). Went in to a few stores. Ended up at the waterfront and it was GORGEOUS. We sat with our fair-trade coffee & tea from a cute little cafe and enjoyed the moment. While we were sitting there we realized we were in front of the Spanish Arch. Oh hey, Arch, way to not stand out. We walked down the stairs on to the stones and stood at the water for a bit just taking in it. Such a beautiful day.

Behind us was a museum and Elizabeth was determined to get a picture of a statue in a museum and wanted to see if it was that one. Turns out, it was. The statue was right there. Cool thing about Irish museums: Free Entry. Take note America, you should want everyone and anyone to be able to take part in learning and culture; and not take their money to do so!

Walking around the museum was pretty cool. Learned a bit about Galway and it’s incredible art history. Learned about ‘skin boats’. Went through an art exhibit of graffiti art which was just amazing. I was seriously in awe of the work and how insanely great it looked. I wanted to live in that exhibit. We ended the museum by going through an exhibit on Ireland’s history of wars. Intense, enlightening, and eye-opening. All in all, a great museum.

Decided to head over to the Galway Cathedral. Amazingly gorgeous. High domed ceiling, stained glass, huuuuge inside. Loved it. Felt very at peace inside. Walked around for at least a half hour in it. Unfortunately the church store was closed for lunch at the time. So we headed outside for a bit to walk around the water before going back. Bought some souvenirs for family members before heading out.

Elizabeth wanted to stop in a clothing store to see if she could find a dress to wear out that night. No dice. However I did notice behind us a Spanish restaurant and we decided to go for lunch. Any place that advertises having ‘gringo’ food is a go for me. Turns out, the food was KICK ASS. Not only was it delicious, it was huge. Those Irish ladies knew their Mexican/Spanish.

After stuffing ourselves, decided to walk back through town and then over to Claddagh. Guess what? It’s just a normal residential town. So after not finding anything interesting (or cheap rings) we headed back in to the city centre of Galway. Did some shopping; lots of souvenirs for our friends & family. You’re welcome.

Took a walk down along the river to the area we hadn’t been before. Ending up walking the whole river side, and out on to the walkway which takes you out to some fort or something. IT WAS GORGEOUS. The views were incredible. Water, mountains, sunset… Amazing. Just breathtaking really. Galway definitely wins Most Beautiful Views.

Ended up heading back to the B&B exhausted from our day out. Took a nap before getting up and getting ready to go out.

We killed a bottle of Huzzar by doing shots & also mixing it with orange and pineapple juice. When we finally headed out, we were all feeling pretty good. I was wearing my Drunk Dress as I call it (I have never worn said dress and stayed sober). I deeefinitely kept the tradition going.

So this is the part where if you still want to view me as a good kid you should stop reading because I get sloppy, and it gets ugly.

Anyways, we head out to the bars. Garrett decides he wants to go in to one he had been denied the night before due to his track pants. So we go right in. Order a beer each and a shot of some apple something or another (shots were on special). Continue to drink a bit and somehow meet two guys.

Next thing you know drinks are being bought all around. I somehow end up taking more shots. I pass off the whiskey to Garrett and end up with a beer. The guys we met, Dave and John, turn out to be 20-something and 30-something respectively. They’re apparently fisherman who were supposed to go out on a trip that night but due to weather the trip was postponed. Lucky us.

So at some point we go outside for cigarettes and fresh air. John, Garrett, and myself get back in but Dave and Elizabeth get shut out. WTF? We have no idea either. So the three of us continue on in the bar while the other two head down to Coyotes.

I told Garrett earlier in the night that if we were to finds guys to buy us drinks, we’d make them buy him drinks too out of fairness. And who stuck to it? Me. I totally pulled it off by playing coy & sweet and saying I couldn’t leave my friend out of our talking/drinking. John ended up buying Garrett more Guiness than he knew what to do with. So they chat & drink and I stand around being pretty.

I started to feel the alcohol at this point. I know it’s not good. I excuse myself to go outside. And surely, I begin to spit up a bit. The funny part is there’s some guy out there who in between my mini-vomming decides to start a conversation with me! It’s like “Hi are you ok?"’ [spits on ground] “I’m grand.” “Oh, you’re from America?” [a little vomming] “Yep, New York.” His friend appeared at this point and the first guy tried to take me off with them for food. Now I may have been DRUNK but I’m not dumb. I promptly said no thanks and my friends were coming out.

Things get really, really fuzzy here. I do know John & Garrett appeared moments later. I know I told them I wasn't OK. I know I was hammered beyond comprehension.

And that’s all folks.

Somehow I ended up in an alleyway. Laying on the ground, not really conscious. Elizabeth & David came back (after frantic phone calls from Garrett) to my rescue. I ended up passed out on the sidewalk next. Elizabeth peed in the alleyway before laying down with me. Apparently I couldn’t breath/knew I was in a bad, bad way and requested an ambulance. Elizabeth tried to count 1,2,3 with me to calm me down but no dice. David called for assistance. Apparently I had already been down for the count for about an hour a this point. John kept referring to me as 'sunshine' and even in my trashed & scattered state I hated it (crappy nickname, seriously).

The next thing I actually do remember is my arm being ripped at by the Garda going ‘Get up or I’m arresting you!’. I ripped my arm back from him and yelled ‘Don’t fucking touch me!’. I was told later that David got in said Garda’s face and told him to not touch me like that and such. Everyone hauled me up and decided to get a taxi.

I remember getting in the taxi and the driver going ‘She’s not going to throw up in here!’ and me going ‘I’m not gonna puke in your fucking cab!’. Yea, oops. We got barely up the hill when I felt it coming on. I grabbed at the handle going ‘Stop, stop, I’m gonna puke!’ and the taxi driver slammed the car to a stop just as I got the door open and stumbled out (I literally just missed falling out of moving car). I ran across the road and to the half stone wall thing and proceeded to puke over it.

Elizabeth joined me, kneeling in front of me (WTF?) and even in my state I told her ‘I’m gonna puke on you down there!’ so she moved her legs a bit. Awesome. Finally Garrett guided me back to the B&B with Elizabeth opening the doors before we got there.

I immediately headed to the bathroom and plopped on the floor. It’s a small bathroom, so my legs were in the shower, while I cradled a trash can (why I did that, I don’t know). Garrett came in after a few minutes of being back and puked in the toilet behind me, while I puked in the trash can.

Garrett & I now refer to these moments of simultaneous vomiting as our “bonding experience”. That’s what being in rough shape after a night out in Galway is like. It was only a matter of time, Ireland.

I passed out in the bathroom around this time I’ll assume. Elizabeth assures me it was hilarious, what with me half in the shower and half out. What can I say, I'm a classy broad. I don’t know for how long I was out but at some point I woke up. I changed my clothes, took out my earrings, and crawled in to bed with Elizabeth.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Woke up to the sounds of someone opening & closing our room door.

…whaaa? …where am I…? Who the eff is in bed with me!?!? Oh...hey, Elizabeth. Garrett. What up guys!

Turns out it was past 11. Gonna guess we were supposed to be long gone by then? Also missed breakfast (but still had to pay for it). Our bad.

I felt eh, all right upon waking up. Definitellllyyyy tired. Recounted some of the night’s tales with everyone. Shared quite a few good laughs and ‘I did WHAT’ moments. Shit. I was apparently quite the sight to behold. Ah, well, can’t go back now.

Started to try & get up and get ready. Um, yea, apparently I was worse off than I thought. Literally had to do one task at a time with breaks of laying back down in between. At one point I crawled on the floor across the room because standing wasn’t an option. I also passed back out on the bed, toothbrush & toothpaste in hand.

That’s where shots of apple whatchamuhcallit will get you. Feck you Huzzar!!!

Around this time I realized my wristlet wallet was missing. My camera was in the room, but my wallet wasn’t. This held my IDs, credit cards, cash, and phone. Shit shit shit!!! After tearing the room apart, it’s not there. Then Elizabeth remembers that after the taxi and after I was over the half-wall getting ill, I was given my wristlet. I asked who the fuck gives the drunk girl her wallet! They said I was asking for it! Still, you do NOT give the drunk girl valuable things to carry whilst drunk! Anyways, Garrett took a walk down there and by some miracle (or sheer effin’ Irish luck) he returns with my wallet, everything intact. That’s my pot o’ gold, right there.

Finally, after more sulking and dragging of my entire body, at 1PM we were off. They wanted food so we went to Supermac's. I pretty much passed out there, being barely conscious laying on my bookbag. I felt like I was going to throw up on multiple occasions, prompting me to find bathrooms very quickly, but it never happened. Elizabeth & Garrett needed to pick up some last minute souvenirs so I decided to seek refuge in McD’s and attempt to eat.

It took me (no joke) one hour to eat 6 chicken nuggets, some fries, and drink a Coke. I literally had to choke down every bite, amidst Elizabeth telling me ‘Eating will help’.

David (from the night before) called Elizabeth and ended up coming down to McD’s to say goodbye. Upon seeing me he declared ‘Jesus, you look rough’. Yea, no shit Sherlock. I didn’t say much but they talked a bit. John (who I found out was actually the skipper of the boat and apparently makes him kinda a big deal) ended up calling him and asked to talk with me on the phone. He too came down, even though we only had a few minutes before we had to head out.

Who felt awkward, hungover, and disgusting? This girl right here. Thankfully they held none of the prior night's actions against me, and even still seemed to like my company after the fact. Good guys. They tried to get us to go share a drink with them but we definitely had mere minutes till the bus. So we had to say our goodbyes and head off. They did however promise to take us out fishing if/when we came back to Galway, so that’s a plus.

Headed off to the bus. Took my motion sickness medicine and said a prayer to every higher being I could think of. Got on and settled. And off we went towards Limerick and eventually Waterford.

But no, the story doesn’t end with a ‘And we rode off in to the sunset and made it back safe & sound’ because this is Ireland dammit and I had a hangover!

Instead, the story continues with after about an hour, me getting sick. Really sick. And did I mention there was a hole in the bag I was vomiting in? Who ended up with her own vom on her legs, seat, and floor? Me. I did.

IT SUCKED.

After expelling the McD’s (yea Elizabeth, eating wasn’t such a good idea!) I probably looked really pathetic. Actually I know I looked really pathetic because I felt really pathetic. Garrett graciously offered his white T-shirt for me to clean up a bit with. I asked Elizabeth to hold up my jacket as a curtain while I changed in to my sweat pants. Put the nasty clothes in one of my bags, sat in the other seat, and tried to not think about it.

Finally arrived at Limerick bus station. Thankfully got off the puke bus. Got a chance to go to the bathroom to just wash my mouth out. Got a couple small snacks and liquids at the store before heading out to our other bus.

Had no trouble on the next bus back. Rested a bit actually. My body was pretty much just worn out to the extreme so it couldn’t even get sick again if it wanted to probably. Got back to Waterford. We were standing around outside the bus getting situated when the nice bus driver offered to take us over to our building instead of us walking. Hallelujah small favors!

Back to Manor Village we went. Took a shower, cleaned the clothes a bit in the sink, and went to bed happy I survived.

All in all, Galway, you were an experience, and definitely a story to be told in mixed company. Thanks for playing along.

Love,

Dana