Friday, May 29, 2009

Here We Go Again

So, I'm preparing for the blessed event. And I do mean TRAVEL! I love to travel... what's life like without it? Pretty bland. I get to have my history fix and my *stand in amazement at what man has done over the centuries* fix and my *something brand new and shiny* fix. Who wouldn't be excited?

My only sadness is that this is such a short trip. I wish it could have been longer.

Ah well, must get back to look for work, yanno. My contract ends soon.

So, I've been going through my belongings and prepping for packing. Travel hairdryer with adapter - check, passport - check, itinerary - check, tickets - check check check.

I just hope I don't forget clothing! LOL

A dear friend of mine just sent me London and Scotland "For Dummies"... how thoughtful. I wonder what he meant by that. *wink*

Oh, and I am on a quest to locate clotted cream in the Austin area. So far:

Central Market - tiny TINY 1 oz jars for $2.00 (won't do that again)
HEB at the Arboretum - Zero jars
Does anyone have a suggestion?

Seeya soon!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Magical Michael

I have magical friends. You know the kind... they are colorful. Maybe so far out of the ordinary, you'd expect the guys with butterfly nets to stop by any moment... but, still, the magical ones roam freely.

Take Michael, for instance. He was my hydrotherapy teacher in massage therapy school. Michael never had a thought he couldn't materialize. He built his own house. He sews his own clothes. Grows his own food. He's probably the most brilliant hydrotherapist you'll ever meet.

And he believes that reptilian aliens are about to take over the world.

God, love 'im.

But he said something that kinda caught me the other day. We were chatting, and he stopped me, very excitedly, and said:

"You were English in a past life! I saw it!"

Now, I've not told many people this (certainly Michael didn't know)... but if there are such things as past lives, I'm sure I was English. His blurting wasn't news to me.

Here's another oddity. I was driving to work one day listening to classical music on the radio when they began "Brittania Rule the Waves"... and out of NOWHERE... I was smacked with such an overwhelming sense of national pride. It was so distinct and so deep that it almost frightened me. Why would I feel that? I'm American, not English.

And yet another instance...

I was taking a trip to the UK. Landed in Gatwick as per normal. Took the express train to London. On that trip, it hit me - just as the national pride thing did...

The smell of ancient earth. The overwhelming sense of history, culture and tradition. The lichen-covered stone walls whizzed past on either side of the train with intermittent glimpses into the back yards of row houses.

Why did all this seem like home to me? I only lived here three short years. Perhaps, I was merely recalling a very happy time in my life. Maybe all this past life stuff is just hooey.

Someone once told me not to be so open-minded that my brains fall out. *chuckle*

Well, we'll see. I'll let you know how it feels to be back when I go this year.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

May the wind always be at your back!

I do hope this trip to Dublin will be a fun (though rushed) event. I'm posting my schedule here for you to view. Let me know what you think!

Dublin

Leave Friday, June 5, 2009

Depart: 11:55am Austin, TX Austin-Bergstrom Int'l (AUS)
Arrive: 2:30pm Chicago, IL Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

Depart: 7:15pm Chicago, IL Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
Arrive: 8:35am Dublin, Ireland Dublin (DUB)



Saturday, June 6


Hotel:
www.townhouseofdublin.com
The Townhouse, 47- 48 Lower Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
Telephone: +353 1 8788808
Fax: + 353 1 8788787
info@townhouseofdublin.com

The Wicklow Mountaineer, Ballykissangel (Avoca) and
Glendalough


Railtours Ireland
Our office is opposite the train station Railtours House 16 amiens street you can buy a ticket here last minute or you can buy a ticket from our rep wearing bright yellow jacket in the train station at 11.15am.

Tour DC08 - Half Day Tour

Check in Dublin Connolly station (gate
for platform 4) for 11.35 departure of
train to Arklow. Check in 11:15, return 6:30 pm.

Sunday, June 7

Historical Walking Tours of Dublin
11:00 am, Trinity College Front Gate
Lasts 2 hours

Jeff Wayne's The War of The WorldsThe O2
Dublin
Sun 7 Jun 2009, 18:30

Return Monday, June 8, 2009

Depart: 10:35am Dublin, Ireland Dublin (DUB)
Arrive: 12:35pm Chicago, IL Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

Change planes. Time between flights: 4hr 55min
Depart: 5:30pm Chicago, IL Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)

Arrive: 8:10pm Austin, TX Austin-Bergstrom Int'l (AUS)