man hands....

Why do all of the things that I aspire to do with my life require me to cut my fingernails leaving me with masculine looking hands? Guitar, and now pottery classes. It seems I am destined to go through life with man hands... that is if I want to achieve the greatness that I am sure is latent within me. I had my first pottery class this evening, and I think it was my nails that were holding me back... I am sure that there is not a lack of talent -- the ideas in my head are beautiful... which only leaves execution, meaning the nails must go. Tonight Sonia and I made pinch pots. Very elementary, but that is where we are in our skill level. I am not sure that I am very proud of anything that I made tonight, but next Thursday we get to get on the wheel. I am sure that there will be a post worth reading after that! Regardless, I am having a good time. I have always wanted to take a pottery class, so here goes! Below is a picture of the pot that someday may find its way to a craft sale and go for a pound or maybe even a pound fifty. I can't tell you how much the pottery class cosst, or you would think that for pottery that couldn't be sold at pound stretchers,.. I have made a poor investment. To that I say, it is not the pot that is formed, but how the pot forms me. Discuss.. discuss.

Word of the day --

Thought I'd mix it up and put it on the other side today!
Today's word is ...

MINGING -- adj. rotten, disgusting; pronounced mingin'

My rice krispie treats were minging without staypuff marshmallows.
Enjoy using it, and I hope that your day is not minging.

a vicious cycle...

Yesterday I journeyed to TKMaxx... almost identical to TJMaxx at home to make a quick run in for a pan to make Rice Krispie treats and a little something for Grainne's sister for her birthday. I have traveled to this area before, but later on a Saturday and not when the store next door was having some kind of half-off sale. It was like the mall the day after Thanksgiving. I pulled into the parking lot... with my new found driving skills and there were cars parked in every direction. Right away I began to regret coming, and I was debating whether I should just drive home and save my treats for another day, and make a visit to Joanne on her actual birthday. But being the brave adventurer that I am, I decided since I was already there I should stick it out and find a place to park the car. So I drove slowly among the people darting about through the parking lot. I think I made a total of 6 trips around the parking lot, before returning to my roots of OSU stalking for a parking spot. I finally got behind a person and swooped into their spot. By this time, however, I was bitter that I had spent 15 minutes of my life looking for a spot, to run into a store for 15 minutes -- so I was determined to take my time and make the time I spent looking for my parking spot worthwhile. So as I walked toward the building I thought to myself... this is a vicious cycle... there are no parking places so people are frustrated and when they finally find one, they aren't going to let it go-- which contributes to the problem of no parking places... and causes others to be irritated... so I bought a pair of shoes and called it even...leaving my parking space for some other new driver that just wanted to park the car so she could run in.
I did make Rice Krispie treats, but it was an adventure in itself... baking supplies here are hard to come by... at least at the grocery stores by my house, so when I went in for marshmallows I wasn't sure if I could even get them. I finally found a small bag of pink and white marshmallows in the baking isle... well it is more like the baking shelf... and decided that I would give it a go. It took several of these small bags, which were not cheap to make the necessary amount for the recipe. I wasn't even sure that they would work... but I went home to make my pink rice krispie treats. From what I understand most people make rice krispie treats with chocolate... more like haystacks? It is no wonder... there is plenty of chocolate... but not much else... if anyone has any great recipies for treats with chocolate as the main ingredient feel free to pass them along. Not that I am complaining about the chocolate... imagine if I would have gone to a place with no chocolate...now that would have truly been a problem! I bought myself a cookbook, and it seems to have recipies that I can find the ingredients for locally, so hopefully my baking attempts from here on out will be more successful. The rice krispie treats (for all of you just dying to know how they turned out) were just not quite right -- not quite the same without staypuff!

Word of the day--

The word of the day today is less word -- more lingo.

Your man... or Your woman...

Although the use of the word your would imply a personal relationship with the audience of the speaker... that would be a false implication.
Your man or your woman could also be translated: that guy...
Used in conversation might sound something like....

Your man... who was in that movie with your woman Angelina...

Enjoying using the word, but be careful not to accidently say your momma!

molding pancakes and other unexpected things

I am continually surprised by the things that catch me off guard...molding pancakes in my cupboard were the culprit this morning. Now you may ask yourself, what were pancakes doing in the cupboard, and I too had that thought initially. But here, they don't make pancakes, they buy them in little cellophane packages, and I am not sure if you are supposed to put them in the toaster or the microwave.. but I have yet to see anyone eat them with syrup... more exploration of pancakes is forthcoming. So anyway, Grainne's mom had purchased pancakes for my arrival and placed them on the top shelf of my cupboard. She pointed them out, and I made a mental note that I needed to get syrup. I looked at the package to see the expiration date... 3-9-05 and I thought to myself... there are only a few foods that should have that long of a shelf life, and pancakes are not one of them... twinkes and ho hos are the first to come to mind. Anyway... I failed to get syrup the last two times at the grocery, and so the pancakes sat. This morning I was desperate for something to take with me to eat for lunch and so I pulled the pancakes off the top shelf thinking that maybe I could find butter or jam or honey... something... and what I pulled down was a package of pancakes with greenish blue sploches all over them. So, I was shocked that with such a long shelf life they were molded... and then I remembered oh yeah, I am in Belfast the month and day are switched... just one of many small adjustments that I have had to make. Needless to say... I still don't know what packages pancakes taste like.... take a trip to IHOP or Bob Evan's and have a big stack for me with oregon berry and whipped cream.. mmmmm mmmm... those aren't packaged... are they??????

Word of the day--

I know that I have used this before, but it is a very used word in Belfast so I thought that I would put it in the word of the day.
CRAIC -- good times, fun
What's the craic?
Note that you cannot say have A craic... who knew!

... happy birthday Mr. President

Marilyn Monroe did not attend my party last night, but most of the people in Belfast that are quickly becoming good friends did. I was quite surprised because I have thought that I was just having dinner with Nuela Ni and her husband, but it turned out that all of the girls that I hang out with on Mondays and their significant others were there. It was a lovely restaurant. It felt very cottage like... with a warm fire that I really appreciated. It is starting to get cooler here. It was neat... you sit by the fire, enjoy a drink and they come and take your order... then when your food is ready they take you back to your table for your meal. The food was fancy...I had duckling... the guys had springbok, Sonia had lamb. It was all delicious. I am really enjoying all of their company. I feel myself with them all already. There was talk about maybe taking a weekend trip to Dublin as a group, which would be great fun, and they said we could go to the Guinness plant... which I think I ought to do to satisfy all of your Guinness curiosity! It really was a lovely evening. I was thankful that I didn't have to resort to a tub of ben and jerry's ice cream... and sappy music (cue..All by myself... don't want to be... all by myself--- anymore) sob, sob. Thankfully, life in Belfast is turning out to be quite good.
These are my new friends - minus Damien. He is the one taking the picture.

carry the water...

Did I mention that my friend Sonia and I took a belly dancing class on Saturday. It was completely accidental... we were looking for a hip hop dance class, and the ad clearly said that hip hop was one of genres taught, but when we got there -- no hip hop just a women wearing pink sparkley pants with spangles on them. They were captivating pants. Except that they were spandex right around her thighs so that knocked them out of my wardrobe right away. I would have like to have kept the belt I got to wear that made noise when you moved even a little, but I am sure that she would've heard me if I tried to lift it:) Since we were there, we decided to pay our 3 pound and take part. It was actually a lot of fun once we got started... not really quite enough fun to make me want to do it as a continual hobby, but a good Saturday in Belfast activity. We met a lot of interesting people... and learned some new moves -- like the one in the picture that was carrying the water flowing into snake arms. Okay-- so the pants would have really helped but it was our first time. I hope that you enjoy they picture... I am the one in green!

Word of the day--

Today's word is SCUNDERED.
Scundered: to be extremely embarrassed.
I 'm scundered. (apparently you would not say why you are embarrassed, but you can also be scundered for others.)
Hopefully you are not scundered when you try to use this in your next conversation.

peace train take me home again

This is a bus that was hijacked and burned. Lots of people say that the riots are a distraction so other illegal activities can take place... drugs and crime lord kinds of things. I don't know.






This is what I encountered on the road to work on Monday.



I wish the peace train would come through Belfast so that I can get home from work in the evenings. The rioting seems to have subsided, but the PEACEFUL protest that have left the city in gridlock aren't over. My usual drive to work takes about 20 minutes, and I have spent 4 hours in the afternoon over the last two days waiting in traffic. I am so glad that my friend Eimher has been driving to school with me, because both days we have been redirected from the motorway to other roads. Sadly I only know one way home (up until yesterday I was feeling pretty good that I at least new that!) and the protestors were on the streets there. So the police in their riot gear came out to send people the wrong way around the roundabout. Finally, and easy right turn in Belfast! I have managed... without stalling (well only twice) to spend 4 hours in stop in go traffic... including an hour of hill starts... yes.. I am looking for affirmation! I also went and got groceries all by myself... I am such a big girl! Seriously though, this rioting has not been good. Most of the people say they haven't seen it like this in decades. It all started because the protestants wanted to march through the Catholic neighborhood, and the parade commission said no. So of course they had to make petrol bombs, and shoot at police, and generally reek havoc on the city, or at least a good part of it. Thankfully I live in an area that isn't being effected. I think that is one of the strangest things about this past weekend. The city continued as it usually would while this craziness happened. It is sad that such a small percentage of people are responsible for such a large disruption. I was also amazed at how many children are involved in the protesting, some maybe younger than 10. What hope is there when children are being trained to hate? I was also shocked that the leader of the Orange Order didn't condemn the violence... You can read a really general piece about it at http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/09/12/nireland.riots.ap/index.html. This evening on my way home from work, I saw three children walking down the street with about 30 bottles in hand... I am guessing they were not recycling. So there is a good chance that tonight might not be any better. I am certainly praying that it will subside and life can become normal...I'll let you know when I know what that is!

Word of the day--

A quick word to increase your Irish vocabulary:
Knackered: to be tired or exhausted
I am knackered after a short night of sleep and a long week of work.

Enjoying using your new word!

it's no walmart but...

Although Walmart tends to have great prices and a wide selection, I tend to avoid it because I can't stand the way people behave inside it's walls. In Belfast, Walmart doesn't exist... the clientele however, does. I decided to venture out on my own for my first attempt at a drive. It is Sunday afternoon, so I'm not sure what will actually be open, and I am not confident enough to venture out of my circle of roads that are familiar to me. I decided to go down to the end of the road (even though the hill at the top has become my nemesis) and travel a relatively short distance down the road to none other than our very own McDonald's... I know, I know, I don't know what possessed me to go there. I was talking to Sonia the other day, and it got me curious if it was the same here. So I pulled in.. Successfully-- and parked. I avoided the drive thru, and I think that I will continue to in the future... they take your order and 60% of the cars were directed to park in this parking spot that would have been a driving nightmare for me at this moment... where I would have to back up in to the oncoming drive-thru traffic, across the crosswalk of people seeking out their vittles. So I parked... where there were no other cars, and looked for the entrance to McDonald's. It was not obvious... and when I found it I realized I was entering a sea of children under the age of 15. I took a deep breath and joined the long line of people hoping for fries. The line had a least 15 people in it so it gave me plently of time to observe the chaos in the restaurant. I think that there was a 9 to 1 ratio of child to adult. Honestly I don't know who was responsible for the children that were having a food fight in the corner. And the parents that were with their children were screaming across the restaurant.... ah, Happy Meals in a Happy Place. It was some of the longest minutes that I have spent in Belfast... I collected my food as quickly as possible... although the girl taking my order could barely hear me shout over the noise, and when I questioned that what was on my receipt wasn't at all what I order, she just shook her head and said it would all work out. So in the end, it was close to what I order... the fries were pretty much the same.... the burger and diet coke were horrible. I don't know what it is here... but I had a diet coke at Burger King at the airport in London and it is awful... I supposed that is one way to kick my caffeine addiction, or at least transfer it. So I have eliminated diet coke from fast food restaurants... and after today eliminated the McDonald's at the end of my street for a potential place to dine. I did however make it up the hill and around the corner without stalling and I am sure that is mostly because there were no adolescent boys to provide an audience for me. Anyway-- my first driving experience (alone) was less eventful (thankfully) than I had anticipated, but I have plenty of other follies to report from the rest of the weekend in my next posting. Check back in...

If you look really closely you can see the golden arches in the distance!

I'll admit in pictures the hill looks downright wimpy... but Grainne's car would beg to differ and as you can see no adolescent boys to torture me.

long lean sally

I was walking downtown this afternoon, and I saw this store long lean sally.. and I thought if they were naming a clothing store after my body type.. what would they call it... this is rhetorical thinking no need to post. Downtown at a little after 5 is eerie in Belfast. All of the shops close and they have big garage door gates that come down over the entire store front, and many of the streets clear out completely. It gives you that creepy your alone horror movie feeling. Thankfully I didn't have to walk around in that for too long. Sadly however I will have to try again later this week to get a bank account, I was completely unsuccessful today. Like the car insurance, I was just not a candidate for their company... and of course they weren't sure who i was suitable for... I think that it is odd how the banks and and many other companies operate here. I am sure that I will get it settled, but these are the things that I wish the program just set up for you.
There is a big football match tonight N. Ireland vs. England, and which could mean potential problems. The police in the riot vans were herding a large pack of singing drunk men through the town singing irish football cheers. I am not sure where they were coming from, but they were clearly fans,.. green faces, football jerseys and loud voices... it caught me off guard when I came out of the bank. It reminded me of buckeye football on Michigan weekend.
I was sitting on the bus today listening into a conversation of 6 guys on their way to a pub to watch the match, and one guys said are we going to that pub up there on the corner. The other guy looked up at the pub covered in Irish flags and nervously laughed shaking his head no. There is still some signs of unrest, but I do feel safe. There was some rioting the other night -- I couldn't tell you where exactly. Somewhere between my home and school (because we had to take an alternate path to get to school) and there were several police riot vans parked at the round about between the protestant and the catholic communities. But I have been told by several different people that they are organized riots to occupy the police so that drugs can be moved -- it sounds more like gang stuff than political and religious unrest. I have actually had several interesting conversations with different people about politics... thankfully I am just an outsider so I don't feel the need to side -- it is quite interesting. It would make quite a study if every decided to go back to school for sociology. I am learning a lot -- and I am aware of how simplistic and naive my little mind is.
On a brighter note... today is the first day I felt like myself in the staff lounge. I think that I found a few ladies that would like to play Texas hold 'em (again no replacement for my poker girls). It was just nice to feel normal not guarded.
Anyway-- I am getting ready to go to a friend's house for dinner. I will blog later.

a short drive and a little walk

I went to my friend Claire's house again tonight with two other friends Nuala and Sonia and we went for a wee walk. I guess a wee walk is 4 and half miles. Funny how that word wee means so many things. I didn't mind at all actually. The weather is quite nice right now, even with the morning showers. The temperature is perfect autumn in Ohio, but I am sure that it won't last. I came home this evening and was beginning to feel quite good about myself settling in --- not turning on the heat. The first few days required a lot of heat. I think that my system was in shock, so I endured a few sly comments from my friends about the temperature of my house. Now I am not freezing and I am actually adjusting well. I had my fourth driving lesson with Sonia... day one -- very bad. I actually got yelled at by a driving instructor. I guess that is what happens when you miss a light 4 times here in Belfast. In my defense.. the light was relatively short, and it is a lot of pressure being followed by a learner driver, when clearly the experience level is similar. The last few days have been better, although I am still not completely smooth on hill starts. It will come...I am supposed to try my first day of driving to school on Wednesday...not sure if I am ready for that, but I might give it a whirl. We drove out through the country to Claire's house on winding twisting roads.. very pretty not so fun in the dark. It was a smooth ride home, although I am still not oriented. A few good road signs would be helpful. I am sure that my first trip on the motorway, and the first time I venture out alone will be quite comical so check in... I'll try to post. Goodnight.

My first attempt...

I finally have broadband and so I can post with ease... Nothing yet has been done with ease. I knew that this would be the case when I left, but it is still amazing me how long simple things take when you are a foreigner. I have pretty much taken care of everything now, except my bank account, which hopefully will be arranged on Monday... it may have to wait until Wednesday simply because everything closes at 4:00. I think that is where the term bankers hours came from... I can't get over it. I am so used to at least an early morning Saturday to accomplish things, but government and banks -- closed. I asked someone how anyone gets these things done, and they said lunchtime... the lines must be insane, and they must know where they are gong! Oh, and they probably are confident drivers... both are lacking in me at the moment. I swear everything looks the same here. And there are not clear road signs to tell you where you are going. And the roundabout... ugh... I did practice the other night with my new friend Sonia... actually she is a good friend of Grainne's who has kindly adopted me as a friend as well. Thank goodness that she did... she has been fantastic. I really think that I would be in quite a state without the people that are taking care of me. Grainne's mom and sister Joanne, and Eimher that has become the teacher at school I can ask for help (especially help getting to and from school-- she's picked me up everyday!) So all in all I am adjusting. Everyone keeps asking me if I miss home, and I do, but not like I thought I would... and it has only been a week! I think when I don't have to think so much about daily stuff, then I'll have more time to miss all of you... as it is, I am a little overwhelmed with the dailies... but I do think of you, and I am especially missing Sunday night poker. I may have to start inviting people over and teaching them how to play. Although I think that Sonia and I are going to take Salsa dancing on Sundays... we'll see. I will post pictures soon. I need to get an adapter for my camera. Pass the word that my blog is up, in case I missed someone on the list.