Ireland - Day 1

We arrived safely, and Arlene didn't even throw up or anything. I haven't been to a country where they drive on the left side of the road, since I was 13 and we visited Japan--and never since I became a driver myself. Takes a little getting use to. Arlene is quite proficient at it, so she did great. I'm the one one who kept jumping every time a car would show up to the right.

Since we flew into Shannon, we drove to the Bunratty Castle. My knees were killing me after we climbed all four towers to view the restored rooms. I can't imagine what it would be like to have to fight attackers going up those skinny, spiral staircases or to be a woman in a long dress trying to navigate them. Ugh!

Here's Arlene outside one of the Bunratty cottages.

 Here's the Bunratty Castle.

When we went inside this cute little farmhouse, we talked at some length with this delightful lady who was making apple pie for the teahouse.

This is us by the Dolmen Tomb, which is older than Stonehenge. It was really windy.

Baby Lucy

Erin sent me a couple of pictures today of Lucy via telephone. Isn't technology a wonderful thing? First Erin sent a text message that said:

I think Lu's going to be a giant. She's wearing 3 month clothing and none of the others ever wore bigger sizes than their age.

Isn't she adorable?

Writing

Most of you know that I have a new obsession. It's writing, and I'm having the time of my life. I heard back from one a member of my critique groups, who read my first book. She said she hasn't cried so much since the 7th Harry Potter book. I guess I must be doing okay getting the emotions down then.

I've been focusing a lot of my time and attention on writing because I'm really trying to get this thing done--I'm such an SJ on the Kiersey personality sorter. I'm going a little crazy since I have two half finished manuscripts and now I've got ideas for two YA works, one contemporary and one fantasy. There just aren't enough hours in the day.

As for the family close to home, Paul and Kelsey are still house hunting in the area. No where yet. Their limitation is their two dogs, which are like kids to them. Robert, Michelle, and little Davey are living with her folks in West Jordan. Robert doesn't like his new job, but he's hanging in there. Perhaps something else in the field will open up for him or he'll figure out a major for college. Adam's doing well with his college courses. He's got all A's this semester. That's always good for the GPA.

I'll have to schedule my time to get in a little shopping, since I need another pair of shoes (it rains in Ireland, did you know that?), a windbreaker, and a couple more pairs of jeans.

At work, we're finally about settled in. I'll have to post some pictures. Right now, there's snow coming down outside my window. The offices are too warm because the energy upgrade is still being installed. We either freeze or fry.

Moving

 

We've been "moving" at work for months now. Kinda. The lease is up for the attorneys later this year, and the city has to either fork over a huge amount of money to rent the dismal basement space or find a new home. The cost savings in conjunction with a federal grant to improve the lighting, heating, and cooling in the old building made it possible to remodel the multipurpose room for us, so the attorneys can have our offices. 

Why didn't they just remodel the multipurpose room for the attorneys and leave us alone? Um...there's more of them. And some of them pack weapons.

I'm so getting a Glock for sure now.

But it was even more complicated than being ousted from our offices. After we got the area designed (we are being combined with another division in our department), we found out another group would need to use our space (and our new office furniture) first, while their ceiling and heating ducts were being taken care of.

It only makes sense. Who can work while people are doing stuff to your ceiling? (the two ladies in the other division had to, but that's neither here nor there) Once the first group got done using our space the PTBs realized another department needed to move so they could continue their operations, while the construction was going on. They have a lot of foot traffic.

Another situation that made sense. While we've been feeling bad about having to wait while other people got to use our new stuff, we almost forgot about the poor attorneys and their staff who are still waiting for us to get out so they can move over. They'll have windows now. It's a heady feeling. I've got a lovely view from my new window. Fourteen years I'ved worked for the city, and this is the first time 'Ive had a real window view. And what a view.

We've been moving the last two days, and my feet hurt. They were throbbing earlier. Of course that could relate to the same problem that makes my jeans so tight right now. But I won't go there. We'll have to wear jeans again on Monday to finish up the last little bit of moving we need to do before the painters paint over us. 

Jeans on a Monday. That's a silver lining.

Ireland

My dear friend, Arlene, has a hubby, who is a medical engineer. Sometimes his company sends him to Ireland. Arlene invited me to accompany her this time, so we're leaving on March 31st and will return on April 11th. My maternal grandfather's people are from Ireland, so I'm really excited!

Tribute

My father died yesterday. Click here to read my tribute to this wonderful man.

Sunday Ramblings

Outside my window: The sun is shining and there's just a smithering of snow left. I'm glad the six inches we received Thursday night were gone by the time I got home from work. That's one nice thing about late winter storms. They don't last that long. I'm ready for spring.

I am listening to: Harmony Grove by Greg Maroney and Resta Con Me by Ludovico Einaudi. I love their music.

I am watching: Well, not right this moment, but I watched National Treasure 2 with Ed last night, while I worked on editing A Change of Plans.

I am thinking: I should probably go do my hair before church.

I am grateful for: So much. My husband, my children, grandchildren, other family members, friends, a good job, good people to work with. And of course my Savior.

I am reading: I just finished reading Fire Study (the third book in the Poison Study trilogy) but I need to focus on reading some of my books about writing. I'm going to start first on Characters and Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card. I read it a year ago, but I'm getting old enough I need lots of refreshers.

I am creating: Literature. I've really got to finish this rewrite of A Change of Plans, so I can get it to an editor for input. My mind is starting to ship back to my SciFi tale. I need to finish one thing before I start another or it makes me nuts.

I am hoping and praying: that Grampa Hanson's tentative knee surgery will go well, that my kids and grandkids are safe and well, and that Ed and I will survive until his birthday so he can retire. He had a wonderful break while we were in Hawaii, and his pain was manageable. Now that he's working again, he's paying for it.

On my iPod: I'm listening to The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson again -- and taking notes this time. I'm such a nerd.

Around the house: I am hoping Ed will finish the downstairs bathroom as I'm tired of showering with plastic draped around me. Ed got a spa tub to help with his arthritis (what kind of bad luck is it to get BOTH kinds?), and he decided he wanted to put tile around the shower. Plus, it's narrower than our old tub. Nothing like making me feel fatter than to have a smaller tub. O_o

From the kitchen: I cooked hamburgers last night. Aren't you proud of me? I don't cook much anymore. Ed prefers beef and I need chicken most of the time or they'll have to bury me in a piano case. So I usually compromise and have a bowl of cereal.

One of my favorite things: This is another one of those things I wish for more of. I have too many favorite things. I love talking and playing with my grandchildren. We haven't been able to see little Davey since we got back from Hawaii because his parents were sick. Maybe this week.

Something fun I did yesterday:  When I was at Costco I noticed there was a book signing scheduled for 1 p.m. and it was an author I met last week at the Life, Universe and Everything writing symposium at BYU. I tweeted about it and my VT companion Brenna, who is the cutest dang 18 year old, is a fan and said she wished she could go. I volunteered to drive her, and we got there early enough to chat. The author is Bree Despain and her books are The Dark Divine and The Lost Saint.

Plans for the week: I'm finally really flying through the edit/rewrite for A Change of Plans, and my goal is to have it done by the end of next weekend, since I have Friday off. *crosses fingers*

Well, that's what's up in my life. What're you doing?