ah the Irish

well, i tried to post pictures, and then I tried to e-mail pictures, and I've found that is to no avail. Maybe I'll figure it out one day, but till then, I guess I'll just have to keep trying to paint them for you, not literally of course, because i can't pain, duh. Well the engagement party was Tuesday, and it was SO fun. They had a Kaley band there, I'm pretty sure I spelled that wrong. The Kaley band is sorta like ummm.....well the type of dancing is sorta like line dancing, but in bigger groups. It's really lively and tons of fun, although my feet are still killing me from the shoes I wore. I hope to get a picture of my dress on here, eventually. Everyone was there and lots of his friends, and it was just a blast, we didn't get in till 1:30. Then, we had decided to go down to Dublin the next day, and we were leaving on the train w/ some friends at 7:50, being at the train station at 7:30. Needless to say we were ALL exhausted, but went anyways, and slept a bit on the train ride down. We then we to breakfast since the only thing on our stomachs from the night before was alcohol, we decided to have a BIG breakfast...hmmm was it good too. Then, since we ARE in Ireland, we decided to go to the Guiness factory there. Now, for those of you who have no clue what Guiness is, it's a VERY dark, thick beer, more like a solid than a liquid I would say, and EXTREMELY popular w/ the Irish. We went to the place and saw how it was made and they give you this lil glass stone w/ a drop of it in it. Then, when you get done w/ the tour, you get a free pint of Guiness (I gave mine to the boys, I don't really like beer, no matter how much they try and get me to like it, ish). Oh man I'm still sore from going to the gym w/ Helen on Tuesday, and my feet from Tuesday night, ugh, I think she and I are gonna go see a movie this afternoon, nice and relaxed. Well, i'm off! I'll try to get you guys pictures SOOn, they'd be here now, but this stupid computer is too slow to process them. Love you all!

WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!

well, I'll have to say, I was a lil bit down on Christmas Eve not seeing all my family. But, when I woke up on Christmas morning and Dave came bounding in my room and told me to look outside, I was QUITE excited to see the whiteness. It SNOWED! Now mind you Canadians, we're not talking about a couple of inches and especially not fee, we're talking a dusting here, just enough to make it white. It WAS enough to make snowmen and have a snowball fight though, which is exactly what we did...great stuff. So, the biggest question on Christmas is always "whaddya get???" I got some hiking boots, a watch, shirt, manicure set, a knot book and a piece of rope to try them with, things like that, it was a good christmas for me. I really enjoyed giving Dave his gift the best though. I got him the stuff he wanted, climbing cams of course, and a pair of fleece pants, but I also got him a remote control car. It was just a lil thing, but he loved it, a played w/ it immediately...it was fun to see him excited like a lil kid, it was really what made my day. We saw lots of family on Christmas, friends too, and sat in front of the roaring fire lots. We ate lots of turkey and ham, and Christmas pudding as is the tradition over here (great stuff by the way...mmmmm). It was a wonderful day. I missed my family very much, but it was wonderful to have the oppurtunity to share in Dave's family traditions, to see what he holds dear, and to get to know his family better. Well, the rest of the family is out tonight and Dave has cooked pasta for us, then we're watchin Bridget jones, the 1st one. I love and miss you all, hope you're christmas's were as good as mine.

to sleep...to slumber

Friday's lunch went really well. Doug and Mercill were wonderful as usual. We went to a really great place called Rain City (imagine that, in Ireland, rain? NO!). I had roast duck--i don't think i've had roast duck before, good stuff. Then we went back to their house for coffee. Then their oldest daughter Janet came in like a whirlwind. She is just one HUGE ball of energy, and she's 31! Let me tell ya, she's hilarious--she's GOT to get that from her dad. I was in a ball of laughter the whole time she was there! Saturday...ummmm...what did i DO on Saturday...ok that day is lost to me--i have absolutely no clue. Well, SUNDAY then. Sunday the Nelson side of the family came over. That's Robin & Elizabeth, Ken & Jen, and their boys Adam and Mark (MAN I'm getting good at this!). They were a lot of fun. I had met Adam once before in Canada, and it was nice talking to him again, mostly it was nice to have someone in the house around my own age, other than Dave. He brought his digeridoo, THAT was great fun, seeing other people try it and get no sound, or some very interesting non-musical sounds out of it. Monday Dave and I had lunch w/ Adam, then Dave went climbing (I was suppose to go but didn't really feel like it--so he made me go on a walk so I would get some fresh air...more like fresh rain). Then we met his olds, recently married friends, Steve & Amy for drinks that night. It was nice to finally meet some of Dave's friends, see where he gets some of his energy (and Steve's got ALOT of it). Yesterday afternoon Sylvia and I went to the Exploris Aquarium. My favorite part was the seals!!!!!!!! I decided I'm going to have pet seals now--they're SO SO SO CUTE! Anytime you're anywhere around they poke their heads out and look at you, they're very curious! Course the poking the head out may be caused by the fact that they're nearsited when not in the water...but i like them anyways...and i want one...or three. Last night we went to another family's house for dinner. I can't remember their last name, but their kids names (which are a lil older than me I--around Dave's age I guess) are Fiona and Michael, both med. students. That was fun too, but they had Dave and I seated totally separated from each other all night, and he had been working all day, and I get really nervous sometimes meeting Dave's friends alone--so that was the only down side. Today Dave's working from 9 to 9--I'm gonna try to read Chocolat' and go for a walk alone a bit later--easy day. Well that's all really. I'm gonna reply to all your e-mails now--ya know, you REALLY don't have to e-mail the VERY next day, it would be ok if ya waited a few, then I could catch up! That and I've been sleeping crap of late, say barely 5 hours a night, and I can't only get back to sleep around 8 or 9 so I end up sleeping till 11:30...makes me very irritable. Anyways, thought you would benefit from that lil piece of info...ZzZzzzzzzz

a week gone by...

Well yes, I know it's been a little over a week since I've blogged and I'll tell you why, by filling you in on the events of it of course.

So, let's see, I'll start w/ last Friday night. That night the family was over for Chinese take out. The guest list included Ken & Jen, Elizabeth & Robin (guy by the way, for those of you in the USA who only hear the name Robin in female form), And I want to say JoAnn, but I'm not sure that's right...ah jeez, give me a break, I remember the OTHER names! She has 2 little girls, at least, maybe 3, you can correct me Helen. Anyways, that was a nice time, we ate dinner then visited around the fire and decorated tree until close to midnight! Saturday Sylvia and I went shopping for just a bit, then we went to a Christmas craft fair and a lovely old mansion and grounds about a half hour away or so. Sunday was church in the mornin, then the Sunday afternoon walk (Dave worked though). Instead of just going around the usual loop of the neighborhood they took me to see Belfast University and the Botanical gardens close by. Yes it IS cold here, but the plants were in greenhouses, so that's why they were still around. Then we went to a museum that was beside that, and a 50 or so odd instrumental band just happened to be there! They were wonderful--I love good Christmas music. We just wondered around the museum and listened to the music--good day! Then on Monday Dave and I went to see 2 castles (not the Belfast Castle however--all the tours of that have been booked up since August!), a temple, the Giants Causeway (which is all these rock pushed up in a certain shape and pattern by the pressure of a volcano years ago--magnificent, they looked like they were carved!), a beautiful beach looking up to cliffs, and LOTS of sheep. I chased the sheep...although you're not suppose to cause you might scare them to death---literally. But, I did anyways, cause it's funny to see them all run away from you--don't tell the Irish gov.--I might be sent away (they kill dogs that frighten them to death, ISH!). Anyways, that's what I've been doin! I got done w/ my Christmas shopping today! Feels great! Tomorrow we're going climbing w/ Steve, and then to lunch w/ Uncle Doug (he's great I tell ya, makes me laugh all the time, especially when he interacts w/ Mervyn--hilarious!). Well, gotta go--Mervyn is VERY particular about his computer and I'm usin it--so I want to get off before he gets back. I accidentally left the volume on mute yesterday and he about went into fits w/ Dave cause he thought he did it--he NEEDS to unwind I tell ya. toodaloo!

a dreary day

I PROMISE this will not be such a long blog this time, I know they're tedious to read, so I'll keep it short. Yesterday we did go hiking in the Moornes, but it wasn't HALF as beautiful as Tuesday. It was muggy, foggy, cold, and very damp yesterday, so none the less not TOO many pictures were taken (although there were a few). I was feeling VERY under the weather, but I managed to make it hiking all day (although we didn't take the extremely steep route Steve wanted to take, thank God). It was fun to hang out w/ Steve, a blast really. Dave and Steve really feed off of each other, they're hilarious. It was also nice to do something active again, although it would have been nicer if we could see farther than 10 ft. in front of us, and if i wasn't so sick (my nose therefore wouldn't have run like a faucet). All in all--an ok day, we'll go back when it's nicer weather.
Today Dave and I put up the tree we got on Tuesday. He FINALLY hacked it into the shape it needed to be to actually STAY in the stand, and we decorated it (although you can rearrange it if you want Hellen, ¬smile¬). Well, Dave just got back from picking up his mom from school, so I'm gonna get outta here. Have a great gray Irish day!!!!

Hi guys! Well, I'm still standing and I've been in Ireland for almost a week now...ok just 5 days, but close enough. I still have a bad cold, and I get motion sickness every time I get in a car (have you SEEN these lil roads and such! FRIGG! HOW THEY DON'T CRASH AROUND EVERY CURVE IS A MIRACLE!), but other than that it's going well.
I have heard a rumor, only one person can tell me if it's true. There's a person that reads this religiously, more than my family for sure, but who doesn't, who lives in London, but they never post a comment. They feel they know me better through the blog, but I feel I know very little of them, other than comments by others, and would VERY much like to get to know this person. If this person is found...please post of the blog.
On Saturday I went shopping w/ Dave's mom, which was a lil awkward at first and we didn't talk much. But, when I got back here his mom, dad, and I had tea together and talked for a long time (dave worked all day Sat.). I also went to their church, which is alot like ours since its presbyterian too, but a lil more traditional. After that, on Sunday's they always go for walks. So, since Dave had to work, I went w/ his mom, dad, aunt and uncle on my own. We had a great time, his dad, Mervyn, loves to talk to me, so it was nice. Halfway through our walk we stopped at another aunt and unlces house for tea (that's midday, but also happens several times throughout the day). It was nice (although I'm not much for tea, when I'm at Dave's I just drink coffee), the family did a lil bonbarding me w/ questions and things at first, which I didn't mind, and then we just all got to talking. They had to clear up a few things for me, because I can't understand them sometimes, or the words they use, lol. Then we went to his grandparents house (he only has one set--his mother's parents--called Nana and Gaga). ANOTHER one of his uncles just happened to me THERE! He was the funniest of all, I think his name is Doug, he's the only name I remembered all day (maybe it was because he talked the most, lol). Had a great day overall, then came back, picked up Dave from work, and rented a movie (sorta crap movie, don't remember what it was called, the main character died in the end though, so obviously not something i would like, unless they get hit by a bus, cause that's funny--anyone at the movies that night w/ Candice, Dave, Eric and I would know what I'm talking about--mean girls baby). Dave and I went shopping yesterday and I bought a lil black dress and some shoes for our engagement party (i've never had a black dress, so it was fun), then he took me to a proper Irish lunch place and then we picked up his mom from school (she teaches 4 and 5 yr olds) and played Scrabble together till dinner.(I won!) Good day. Today we picked up the Christmas tree and are working on getting it into the stand they always use; which is a hacked out base of a tree...log I guess, but it's very awkwardly shape and proving a long task. tomorrow we're going to for a hike on the Moores....dunno if that's suppose to be capitalized or not...it's quite a good hike, and Steve M is coming along too, --maybe even some rock climbing too. Well, that's all I have to report really, Sylvia and I are getting ready to make dinner since the men are gone for the evening working. The country here really IS beautiful, I'm looking forward to taking some pictures tomorrow. toodaloo!

I'M HERE!

Wow, I finally made it! It's a big suprise to me after the horrible flight I had to get here, let me tell ya about it. Well, I got to the airport in Charlotte, and they told me the weather was horrible in Washington, so I was gonna hafta fly outta Chicago (there's goes another 2 hours onto my already long flight to London). Then I get to London, after only sleeping half an hour, and CONTINUOUS disturbance and having to wear our seat belt because of all of it, we're late to get there of course. So, when I finally figure out where I'm suppose to be going (that airport is HUGE!!!) the guy at the counter tells me my plane is already boarding and I won't make it, he changes my luggage to the next flight, and that's that. I get through customs in about 30 seconds (Dave couldn't believe it, I told him I'm just an innocent looking Southern girl, why would they suspect anything of ME???). I get to the place where I'm suppose to wait, and guess what, I could've made my plane, it was still boarding. But, since my luggage was going later, I had to too. Let me tell ya, I was not pleased with the cute guy at the counter...he is now on my hit list...just kidding if anyone from the Irish government is reading this. So, I finally get to the airport in Belfast, and, as if I expected any more from the day I had been having, all my luggage didn't make it there. However, it came later that day directly to the house, so no harm done, I had my cosmetics in my carry-on. That was my flight, believe it or not, it WAS that bad. I told Dave I was never making that flight alone again. He just nodded.
When saw Dave it made up for everthing. I was a lil nervous, not seeing him for 2 months and all, but he ran up and gave me a HUGE hug and a half dozen red roses (SO SWEET!). Then when I got to the car, there was another bouquet waiting for me on my seat! It was full of wild flowers and yellow roses! He's awesome.
I was exhausted when we got back though. But, when I got to my room he had made me a journal to write all the stuff I see and do here in Ireland in! He even wrote me a lil Irish slang dictionary so I'd know what everybody was talking about, lol, and he put pictures of different things we were going to see while I'm here, and a calender of events we were going to! HE IS SO ONE TH BALL! Anyways, enough bragging about my baby, lol.
Dave and I went walking by Irish Sea yesterday, it was gorgeous. The country here is SO beautiful and green! They ALL drive compact cars because the whole country is only about as big as North Carolina. Today Sylvia (Dave's mom) and I are going shopping this afternoon, and maybe stop by Dave's gear shop to see what it's like (he's working today).
Yes this was an exceptionally long blog...but now you know what alls been happening for the last couple of days! Don't you feel special, informed....maybe complete?!? I thought so. So that settles it then.

I’m writing this before the day of leaving the good ‘ol Southern state of North Carolina for Ireland. However, my blog is being screwy and every time I try to type something is says ERROR CANNONT PROCESS AT THIS TIME. Ugh. SO, I’m typing this in my e-mail, and then I’m gonna post it when I get there. So, yeah…you’re reading this like it’s new, but it’s actually a day or 2 old….you’ll get over it. ANYWAYS, I’m leaving here in a couple of hours. I’ve packed almost everything; it’ll fit promise, once Bethany and I both sit on it I’m sure. It’s a colder day, I prayed for a colder day, I’m wearing a sweater, and for some weird reason the weather in NC is still in the 60’s some afternoons, IT’S DECEMBER FOR PETE’S SAKE! Oh well, that’s how it is here. One day you’re sweating outside, the next you’re wearing your winter coat. I’m still a lil nervous about flying. I don’t really like it. I bought some Dramamine yesterday though, so it’ll just knock me out of the plane. I’m sad about leaving, excited about seeing Dave and his family, but still sad I’m leaving my night conversations with Bethany, my football arguments with David, my in depth conversations with my parents—and I’m leaving for Christmas, my favorite season of the year. BUT, I do get to see Dave and spend Christmas with him, so that’s gonna be great. It doesn’t really feel like any other day though ya know….like I’m just gonna go to work today, and then come home and go to church w/ my parents. OH, it’s 9 am, time for me to get off of here and finish packing, saying my goodbye’s, and so on. Next time I write I’ll be in Ireland! Love you all!