Today's Random Pic...

In the News... (here)

- EU foreign ministers are divided over the question of boycotting the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. The ministers began two days of talks in Slovenia today and are discussing sending a strong message to China over Tibet.

- Millions of tourists may have kissed the wrong Blarney Stone in an effort to get the gift of the gab, according to a new study. The authenticity of the Blarney Stone, kissed by about 400,000 tourists each year, has been questioned by Mark Samuel, an archaeologist and architectural historian, and Kate Hamlyn in a new book. According to legend, kissing the stone at Blarney Castle, Co Cork, endows the person with the gift of gab, but the authors say the present stone only came into use in 1888 for health and safety reasons. Up until then, visitors wishing to kiss the stone had to be dangled from the castle by two people holding their ankles. Today visitors lie on their back, holding on to an iron railing and lean backwards to kiss the stone.

- Dr. Diarmuid Martin, The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, has announced that Dublin is now a 'mission territory' for the Roman Catholic Church. "A few years ago, many would have thought that type of affirmation somewhat exaggerated, but today, so many of those who were baptised as Christians no longer really know Jesus and their way of living demonstrates that the message of Jesus touches their lives only in a marginal way... our consumerist world needs an injection of idealism and generosity. Our world needs God" he said.



- The weather forecast for Ireland:
Rain will spread to all areas early tomorrow, turning heavy and persistent. Brighter weather with showers will follow. Continuing windy, with highest temperatures of 46 to 52 degrees F.







Source: http://www.rte.ie/

Today's Quote...

I really feel like updating today... so here is a quote & picture that I love...





"When anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees.
Maimed, stark and misshapen, but ferociously tenacious."
~ Edna O'Brien (1932- )~

Today's Random Pic...

This picture is taken in one of our favorite places. The 13th century castle (which was once owned by the Guinness family) is now a luxurious hotel where the cheap rooms cost around 300EURO a night. The gardens, however, are the best bit and are open to visitors. Dee and I love coming here to walk the countless paths and trails that lead from garden to garden... through woods... and along a lake. If you are there at the right time you can observe people and birds working/practicing at the falconry school, or you can enter into the walled/secret garden that is full of fruit producing trees and vines. My favorite thing to do is to walk along the portions of the old castle walls. I love walking inside them and exploring where their tunnels will lead me.

This picture was taken from inside one of the castle's walls when Dena and T were here visiting.

An update...

There is not much news here. We had a very quiet Easter weekend. Dee started to not feel well on Friday and has gradually gotten worse each day. Thankfully... I am much better... The only real problem is that I have still have the cough of someone who has smoked for sixty years.

Today I have decided that I have been in the house too long. I need to get out and be around people. I grabbed my journal and headed out to my favorite coffee shop for a quick fix of caffeine and community. The hour that I spent there was truly refreshing and therapeutic. Dee and I have learned a lot about ourselves by living here. She gets her energy by being alone. I get energy by being around people. So... we are still on the road to recovery but thankfully I can get back out (in limited doses)!

Today's Random Pic...

In honor of Good Friday...

While I am sick...

Here are a few more pics from the parade. I have to admit that although the parade is nice... it is not what I really enjoy. I love to see the massive crowds of people celebrating their irishness. I love seeing the smiling faces... the laughter... and the cheer. I did take pictures of the parade... but my favorite pictures are those of the people watching. Here are a few... hope you enjoy.

The Funk...

Wow.... I don't know what kind of flu/virus I've got... but it is bad. I have been sick with sinus problems for the past two months. It comes and it goes... it once got so bad that I lost my voice for a few days... but I got better. Well... after a very long and wet weekend it has come back, and it is really ugly this time! It started with a bad cough all day on Monday... but it was not enough to really slow me down. It got really bad Monday night and then morphed into what it is now on Tuesday. I have a huge weight on my chest, and it hurts to take deep breaths. If I do anything at all (including talking) I start having a coughing fit that will take me to my knees. I have not run a fever... and other than this I feel OK.............. Dee is taking good care of me.... and she is working overtime with a group of students that are here so that I can stay in and rest. I am going to see a doctor, but it will be tomorrow before they can see me.... so..... feel free to pass on any thoughts... prayers... or home remedies....... I don't know the last time that I was this sick!

St. Paddy

We had a great St. Paddy's day yesterday! The weather was wonderful for the first time in 5 years! We met up with another couple that Dee knows from her painting class and we decided to spend the day together. The parade was shorter than usual this year, but the atmosphere was great! It is amazing what a little sunshine will do to lighten up the spirits! Here are a couple of shots from the parade.... As always... more to come soon!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!!!!

Dee and I getting ready to head out to the parade! Every year this is day is a miserably wet and cold day. It is currently sunny and no sign of rain!!!! We will be taking pictures and posting soon! In the meantime here is a short video about St. Patrick. I don't know if you have ever seen it... but it is well worth a watch!

In the News....

It is time to straighten up and fly right!

I don't know if this has made the news in the USA, but it is all over the news here. The pope has added to the infamous 7 deadly sins. The original list has been around for a long time and consisted of such things as:
lust
gluttony
avarice
sloth
anger
envy
and pride.

These sins are considered to be mortal sins – the gravest kind, which threaten the soul with eternal damnation unless absolved before death through confession or penitence. Sitting here and looking at that list I wonder (and you might also) what else can be added? These really cover a lot... most of which are matters of the heart... Well, because you asked... The new list consists of:
polluting
genetic engineering
being obscenely rich
drug dealing
abortion
pedophilia
and causing social injustice

I am not trying to be sarcastic... after all... these are all things that I am against! But there is part of me that does not really understand a couple of them. After all.... what does it mean to "pollute"? Does having a SUV now damn people to an eternal hell? Or is someone who works at a polluting factory guilty of the sin.................? "Genetic engineering"........? I'm not sure if I could commit this sin even if I wanted to! "being obscenely rich"....? I'm not sure that I understand this one too...... after all... I have been to Rome...... I have seen the obscenely rich treasury of the Vatican..... I have seen the millions of dollars tied up in their art collection.... I've seen the extravagance of St. Peter's...... Is this not obscenely rich? if not... what is???? These are just a few of the questions that a friend and I came up with over coffee this morning... Is there anyone else out there that is as confused as I am?

Today's Random Pic...

Today's Random Pics...

the gang:






Nick on a wall:

A Sad Update...

I awoke the other day to the sounds of cows mooing. The strange low moo was very unusual.... The cow kept repeating the same sound in a rhythm and pitch that sounded like a mobile phone vibrating. One of our neighbors went to investigate and discovered that Brownie (the new calf) had died in the night. Needless to say..... we are really sad....

A Few More Pics...

We played "sardines" in a ruined friary yesterday. Sardines is where one person goes out and hides... everyone looks for them... and then when you find them you join them in hiding. The last one to find the group is the loser. I have to say... it is a bit disheartening to have everyone disappear and for you to be looking on your own. The old Friary was a great place to have some fun.



This is us hiding:




Here is a picture of the Friary (that I took back in December):








Also - here is a pic of the gang... It hasn't been rainy and cold the whole time they have been here!

Today's Random Pic...

Nick in a tub

Visitors!!!

Dena, TJ, Nick, and Ellen got here safe and sound on Saturday! We have had a good time getting to hang out and catch up! Here is a quick picture from their first day.