A Portrait of the Dubliners

So now that I'm back in America, I've decided it is time to show you all how Dublin went. Something's really backwards about that, I know. Blame it on me being sick, then finals, then my computer deciding to toss itself off a cliff. But that's a bit too dramatic. It's okay and can hopefully hold on for another couple of months.

Why is it that AP English is everywhere?

Now, Dublin was such a beautiful trip. But I was sick for the majority of it. I suppose I really should have forced my doctor to give me a flu shot. What can you do, really? But the point is, I would get super tired after doing one simple thing, so a lot of the times I was the lame travel companion asking to go back and falling asleep before ten.

I know.

But it was still a super relaxing time and just what I needed to push me through the last few weeks of the semester. And also a nice way to distract myself from the fact that I was not home for Thanksgiving. BAH.

 

This is NOT Ryanair! How exciting!

The plane ride there doesn't usually stick out to me. But the fact that our pilot decided to make it a bumpy ride does. Now, I understand that turbulence is a real problem. But when I am bawling my eyes out because my ears are going to explode (head colds, what are you going to do?) and the plane is not stable, one can panic. Also, when you are supposed to be parallel to the landing strip and the plane decides to land on it's wing, you may grab your boyfriend's hand and get a little nervous. Then at the last second when the plane straightens out, you may feel like a doofus.

Ah well. When we got into Dublin it was WINDY and a bit chilly, but I was LOVING the colder weather. Rome was still hot, and I was jonesing for some weather that actually felt like November. We found our hostel with ease and got our first dose of Irish hospitality. It's a great thing! Of course, then we took our usual nap because traveling really tuckers us out.

After we woke up, it was really just a wander around and take pictures kind of evening. We also ate amazing, amazing curry and potatoes. But. We really just didn't take pictures of our food this trip because we forgot. Sorry.

Outside of some gardens by our hostel.

Hey there, glasses.

 

At the beginning of O'Connell Street

Who knows, really. 

After our delicious meal, we went to bed. But the next day we shopped around Grafton Street and then went to the National Wax Museum! Of course we played with all of the stuff in the science room and the music room, but who would we be if we didn't take funny pictures?

I wish my feet were this tiny.

Biggest indoor clock. Or something to the likes of that.

See how I frolic through the sickness?

And we bought CUPCAKES. :D

This was in the scary room.

I always knew he was a wizard too!

Kicking some butt.

Come on guys, this is gold.

Hahahaha.

Don't worry, he made it out alive.

That night, we also decided to go see Arthur Christmas. Because we do stuff like that. You should really go see it because we both thought it was hilarious and so sweet. We also got heckled by middle schoolers in the back row, hoping that we would make out during the movie. Come on now, kiddos. During a Christmas movie? Get a life.

We then went out to dinner where there was Irish music and Irish dancing! It was so much fun! The food was pretty good, but the entertainment definitely beats it out. Especially this young child dancing. :)

  

 

I hope one day my child dances like this.

The next day was more wandering and the Guinness Factory!

I love it when pictures get photobombed.

Oh, a large pint!

Then we went on a tour of Dublin (led by us, of course) by night. It was really lovely! We stopped to get burgers for dinner because we do stuff like that. And then we had a banana split for dessert and life was good. So besides the sick, it was a really lovely trip! The people were so sweet and the city itself was wonderful. 

GO TO DUBLIN.

50 Little Things (Part II)

As always, I write in parts. Here's Part One of things that make me super happy.


This is coming at a perfect time in my life. First of all, my brain is starting to go on overdrive and obsess about all things Christmas. I'm one thousand percent positive that I would be able to make a 50 Little Things list dedicated to Christmas. At the same time, I really don't want Thanksgiving to slip away from me. Whipping me back into shape.

• Hocus Pocus. Really, Halloween movies in general get me really excited. Because I love celebrating. And movies.

:)

• Getting let out of class early. When your teacher can't figure out how to connect his computer to the projector and the computer guy isn't there. Something might be wrong with your program. But at least you get out of class!
• Going on a run in the morning. I love it. But I guess that's why it's on my list.
• Bike riding. You know I also love it.

We look really good on bikes, don't you think? This is NOT a shameless plug.

• Almonds. Thank you Leann's family.

I want a million of these guys.

• Snuggling in a Snuggie. Again. Thank you, Leann.

Snuggie Love blast from the past.

• Chocolate. Thank you Mom, for the wonderful Snickers. :D
• Old pictures of friends. Watching them on my screensaver in class is a great way to spend my day.
• Justin Bieber. I have no shame.

Mad I missed the video shoot for this.

• Running/fitness helping. It makes me feel good inside that I know what I want to do. :)
• Love. Of any sort or any shape or any size or any color.
• Making wishes. On any single thing. 11:11 11/11/11. Fountains. SHOOTING STARS.

After our first shooting star sighting.

• The sun. I just like it, okay?
• Winning Fantasy Football. Being in a league with five very competitive males that are some of your best friends can be stressful. I really like winning. :D
• Zoning out in class and not realizing that you're being tortured. Especially if your professor is dumb and frustrating.
• Snuggling whilst watching TV when you're sick. The Biggest Loser is my newest TV escapade. Because I have no more HIMYM to watch. Until Tuesday mornings.

Dolvett's my fave. I also love Bob.

• Breakfast in bed. Thanks, boyfriend. :)
• Hitchin' a ride. Free things in general are really, really great.
• Bagels. I believe you've recently come to understand my love for B-A-G-E-L-S BAGELS. The sad thing is I ACTUALLY chant that quite frequently.

Cinnamon raisin. I can dig.

• Theater. I love watching people do amazing things with their talents. I love it.
• Countdowns. I've got a really specific countdown going on right now that I'm getting super excited about (seventeen days), but countdowns make everything more fun.
• Tea Tea. Did you know that Chai means tea? So saying Chai tea means tea tea? And Chai Chai tea tea means tea tea tea tea? I miss my big brother. :(
• Finally being healthy. GO AWAY SICKNESS.
• New friends mixed with potlucks. Thanksgiving is still happening. Don't worry.
• My daddy. Now for a lot of people I know, today is Thanksgiving. I am celebrating in Dublin, currently, but it's really important for me to mention that it's my dad's birthday today. I haven't seen my family in quite a bit now, and I just hope he knows that I miss him very much and I can't wait to see him when my aforementioned countdown expires. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!!!

We're related, that's for sure.

Even though we fight, we still wear Disney hats to solve problems.

AND he likes to go to Phillies games with me. WHAT A GUY!

SO! Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you have a lot of little things to be thankful for. Draw some hand turkeys! Eat some turkey for me! And cracker filling, but I guess most people don't know what that is. AND PIE!!! Lots and lots of pie.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!!!!!

50 Little Things (Part I)

Okay. So the deal here is to write down a little thing that you are thankful for/that makes you happy. It started on October sixth and the goal is to get to fifty. This conveniently lands on Thanksgiving, so that by the time you get there, you'll have fifty things ready at the go to be thankful for. Today marks the halfway point, and I'd like to share it with you, because these are all things that really make me happy. I got the idea for this here, and I think it's great. :)

BULLETS, GO!

• The Penis Game: I am happy it made me shout inappropriately outside of a gelato place in Rome and giggle about it like a little two year old. I'm also glad that I was able to win. Because I'm competitive like that.

These guys revolutionized it.

• Dippy Eggs: I like that they take two seconds to make and that they taste so good. Bonus points if there's hot sauce. I also like that I call them dippy eggs.
• Nutella Mouth: Or nose. I love it when you can tell somebody just ate Nutella. Also, Nutella fingers make me smile too.

So good.

• Naps: Not an original "little thing," but honestly, they can never receive too much love.
• Water: Water is a most brilliant thing. It makes me really happy when I drink eight glasses of water a day. It makes me feel healthy and aquatic.
• Kicking Mid-Terms in the Balls: 'Nuff said.

This is still a large victory for me, even though you've seen it.

• When the questions you know appear on tests and you can officially stop worrying.
• Google: Specifically Googling adventures.
• Actually feeling cultured and appreciating art. As a type of artist myself, I always feel like I should love all art. I am not able to look at it for a long time and I certainly don't like all of it. But when I do, it's nice.

The Lovers of Teruel.

• My Family: The day I wrote this was my cousin's birthday. And even though I was in Madrid, I still thought of her and how I get to see her at the holidays. And I can't wait.
• Fruity Drinks: This is not an allusion to alcoholic drinks. I love my Pink Flamingos.

I can't let go of it.

• Laughing: I love being goofy and I love when other people laugh. Or make me laugh. It's wonderful.
• Making it through a metal detector without being stopped. Apparently that has become a very difficult thing for me to do.
• Little kids dressed in/talking about/playing with/anything related to Disney. This is technically a very large corporation. But it happens so often, I'm counting it as a little thing.

I love Disney around Halloween. :)

• Sleeping In: Sorry, kids, I love my lazy days.
• Coming Back from Vacation: Okay so this didn't technically happen because of the Rome thing. But I like the feeling when you get to come back to your house. Specifically when you get to take your shoes off and feel the carpet. I love it.

• Being A Three Year Old.

We Chubby Bunnied this one hardcore.

• When you're sick and waking up, but feel like your nose is going to explode. But then you stand up and you cough and snot, but there's no more exploding! Gross, but true. See also: I miss my Neti-Pot. 
• Sending Mail: Technically I didn't send it on this day because the ATM wasn't working. But I still loved imagining seeing everybody's faces when they get the mail.
• Cooking Something New: Especially when it succeeds. Stuffed peppers, check?
• Planning Adventures: I've got many tricks and plans up my sleeve. When they follow through? It makes it even better.
• When friends make you feel better about your life, yourself, and everything else.
• Halloween: It's not in Rome, but I'm long distancing this one hardcore. Scary movies, costumes, pumpkins...I want it all.

Most legendary Halloween ever.

• Birthdays: I love giving special treatment to people on their special days.

BIRTHDAY HUGS. 

• Taking care of somebody when they're sick. The fact that they're sick is no good. But helping them is nice! Note: I'm not yet sure if this extends to vomit.

So that's it! Nobody can say I'm forgetting about Thanksgiving, even though I'm listening to Christmas music in Rome. I'm celebrating for two months. :)