Frosting

This morning a thicker layer of frost covered the ground, the trees, and our lovely daffodils. It was cold last night too as Claire, Laura, and I sat in front of the Galway Camera Shop singing and laughing. We headed out at 9:30PM. It would've been a good time and a good spot if the drummers (who are amazing) hadn't also been out and only a block away. Hard to compete with that. Two nice American guys from New Orleans stopped to sit and chat and strum a bit after we had run through our limited repitoire (which we must practice more). They are backpacking from Dublin, to Galway, to Berlin, to somewhere else, and ending at Barcelona (were Laura and I will be going..more later). They are in town for only a few days and they are already broke! It happens, but we discussed the merits of finding cheap food like pb&js or white bread and meats from the market. I tried to run down later with the E8 we had made, but we couldn't find them.

Also joining our group was a very loud, obnoxious, intoxicated, rude, idiotic, vulgar, drooling Irish guy who none of us know. He kept saying a four-letter women-hating c word, yelling at us to not play "that born-again Christian sh(tuff)" and trying to hit on Leli...I told him she didn't speak much English so he'd leave her alone. She generally moved away from him and spoke English quietly. We kept calling him silly in Spanish and giggling. I am very glad that we had the two American guys (Chase and Sorren, by the way and they are brothers) because even in a group of 5 women he couldn't be handled. He eventually sat down and shut up so we could talk with everyone (but ignored him). I wish I would've gotten his name because I would have found him today and told him he owes us money we lost while he was chewing us out last night ...I'm sure he won't remember but the rest of us won't forget it.

Today class was good. I'm at the library now, booking more tickets for Rome. Laura and I are going to Barcelona first, heading out of Dublin on the 4th of April, leaving for Rome on the night of the 8th, meeting up with the others at the airport (they get in 40 mins after we do), sticking around until Easter Sunday morning, and be back in Dublin by noon on Easter Sunday. Yep, we are going to miss Mass, but Maire says the more important mass is Saturday night. She knows what she's talking about so I'm not going to argue. That and I really don't feel like paying over a hundred euros to fly back on Monday (plus our accomodations only last until Saturday night). Mom, please remind me to forward you all of our travel plans so you can keep tabs on me.

Other than that, I've got to get going. Lots to do before heading off to Limerick tonight for a choir competition. Then tomorrow is Pilar's birthday and my paper. Never any rest for the non-working.

Lots of love, Christi

Spring and love are in the air

I saw a couple sitting on a bench kissing, another walking down the street holding hands. I heard birds singing sweetly in the trees as the sunshine-yellow daffodils danced in the light breezes. The green grass is more trampled than before due to people enjoying laying in the sunshine. Yeppers, spring has come and despite the cold now and the possibility of snow this weekend, it is a lovely day to enjoy.

Not much up around here. Claire and I are going to go busking...aka singing on the street corner...tonight. We had planned on it being a small affair, since we need a bit more practice, but it sounds like the whole house wants to come see us! Ack! We aren't ready for a house performance, but a jam session on a street corner where no one knows us is ok. I have a hard time singing well in front of people I know....because I know they'll remember if I royally mess up. Oh well.....I guess I'll just have to get over that. Or sneak out of the house.

Our repitore is not large, but practical. We are going to learn a couple of more songs, like "Black Velvet" and if I can find the chords..."You Raise Me Up" with JOSH GROBAN's lyrics and not Westlife's -- they are an Irish "boy band" (despite them all being married and having kids) and they simply do not do the song justice...at least not like Josh Groban can! People don't believe me, but when they hear JG sing it, they understand why I don't like Westlife's version. It just doesn't have the power, the heart, the soul when they sing it.

Other than that, working very hard to keep things going for our UNIV conference in Rome during Easter. I've got airline tickets booked for half of the group. Laura and I are talking about going to Madrid or Barcelona before Rome but we aren't quite sure yet. We have friends or family of RG housemates living in either city, so we won't have a problem getting a hold of help if we need it.

Classes are fine. My TA who missed last week did show up, although I was the only student who did (RAG week at its finest...sarcastic). We talked for a bout 10 minutes, then he told me next class wasn't next week (he's gone to Dublin) but the week after. I feel like I'm really missing out because things make sense when he discusses them (that is, when we have class).

I watched all of my movies from eBay -- hooray for cheap dvds! Now comes the real fun - writing all of those papers (and without internet resources at my finger tips!).

The best happening of the week was my 12 minute phone call from Alissa! I totally didn't expect to hear from anyone, especially out of the blue like that! It was fantastic to hear a friendly Wisconsin voice. Alissa, everyone says hello and Jessica says "HI!!" :D

Well, I've got class in 15 minutes and I don't wanna be late (since there'll probably be 20 people or less again it'll be pretty noticeable if I'm late!). Lots of love, Christi

I get these all the time

This one's for you Sarah, in response to the e-mail you sent on the 24th that I didn't check until today. Now everyone can know all about me....well, all of my silly answers and my love for Culvers that is.

Subject :
only if you're bored like me...

1. What time is it? 11:22 a.m. / 5:22a..cst
2. What's your full name? Christina Marie Cecilia (my saint name :D )
3. What are you most afraid of? losing another person I love, dying
4. What is the most recent movie that you saw in a theater? The Producers in Dublin on New Year's Day
5. Place of birth? WI
6. Favorite food? Show me a Culver's Butterburger Deluxe w/ no onions!!
7. What's your natural hair color? Brown
8. Ever been to Alaska? Nope, but I know someone who is Alaskan
9. Love someone so much it made you cry? Yes
10. Been in a car accident? Yes, Mom skimmed another car on the bridge in Boscobel
11. Croutons or bacon bits? both
12. Favorite day of the week? Monday, because on a Monday morning I don't have to look pretty or be awake
13. Favorite Restaurant? Culvers
14. Favorite Flower? Roses and daisies
15. Favorite sport to watch? football
16. Favorite Drink? Mt. Dew (I miss you, Mt. Dew!), creamy frothy hot chocolate
17. Favorite fast food restaurant? Supermac's - it's 100% Irish :)
20. What color is your bedroom carpet? light green
21. How many times have you failed your driver's test? never
22. Before this one, from whom did you get your last e-mail? mom
23. What do you do most often when you are bored? watch movies and sew
24. Bedtime? around midnight
25. Favorite TV shows? Alias, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, Commander-In-Chief, and the Simpsons--I don't get to watch any tv here though
26. What are you currently reading? Walter Macken's "The Scorching Wind" and some textbooks when I have the time
27. Ford or Chevy? Honda, but whatever runs is good
28. What are you listening to right now? The sound of computer keys clicking and Josh Groban on the iPod-I've had a rough morning
29. What are your favorite colors? blue, purple, pink, teal
30. How many tattoos do you have? well...
31. How many pets do you have? Buddy, Daisy, Oscar, Preston(?), two fish I've got to go buy
32. Which came first the chicken or the egg? Since the chicken evolved from something else millions of years ago, I would assume the egg because that is how the 1st true chicken would be born
33. How many people are you sending this e-mail to? none, hahahahaha!!

Lots of love, Christi

Diamonds in the grass

I was heading out this afternoon to check the situation on campus (pretty dead) and see if we wanted to go out for some more moneys this afternoon. It had just rained and the sun was shining down on little ol' NUIG. I was boogieing to my iPod and walking through the emerald green grass, which is not only the fastest way to get to the other side, but the funnest as well. When people see me cutting across they give me funny and even rude glances. People just don't understand that there is NOTHING green at home in Feb! I was groovin' while walking...I rarely see people cut across that field, called the President's field (used for informal soccer and rugby matches). When I looked back at the field I had crossed, the sun was directly in the opposite corner (where I had just come from) and the field just shined. Absolutely gorgeous, like little diamonds sitting in a deep emerald cushion. I wished I could've stayed, for the sight took my breath away. Sigh....It was probably best I didn't because more storm clouds are on their way, including a shower I got while walking back from campus. It is sunny again right now, but I'm not sure you can repeat a beautiful moment like that. Why can't we all just go skipping in the grass after a rain shower?? Life would be much less stressful if we did.

Must do something productive, like (gasp!) homework.

Lots of love, Christi

RAG Week begins

I went to the volunteer conference this past weekend in Dublin...it was fantastic. The speakers were great and my presentation went fairly well too.

But now you have got to hear about today!! RAG Week used to be for charities to go around asking for money. Now it's a big drinking week, practically shutting down some parts of campus with all of the missing students. People actually walk around campus with bottles, cans, and cups of beer and vodka and it's not illegal! Not even on State St. do people do that in Madison! In fact, I can only think of house parties, football Saturdays, and the Mifflin St. Block Party that beer outside of the house actually happens. Huh.....

Anyway, we got going around 1pmish...we had spent the morning at the library checking e-mails and printing pictures. Well...that's what I did anyway. We went to campus again, with tee-shirts and buckets. For the first 20 mins or so I was yelling, but my voice couldn't handle much more so I decided to just politely ask the larger groups for a donation...I find it easier to do than the one-on-one approach. On campus you ask the guys more than the girls because they were much more likely to give...spare change in their pockets where the girls generally were wearing such skirts that they didn't have pockets. People were drunk at noon.....a sad sad sight to see. We assumed that as it was RAG Week, it would be fine to just show up on campus. After about an hour, a school official came up to Jessica and Maria and politely said that we should talk to Paddy, the president of the Student Union, because we didn't have security clearance to be there. There were four guards there all afternoon, smiling at us and drinking their own beers and generally there for show. Paddy isn't a problem to get on our side, but he's hard to get to. We left two messages and waited a half an hour before we got a phone call back....he'll talk to the head of the security and get us cleared. We plan on heading back out on campus tomorrow.

It was weird...some people nicely asked us what we were up to....some people like the man with the E10 note just dropped stuff in our buckets. And then there was the girl who said to her boyfriend that he should give the "cute little girl" aka Jessica money and he paid a euro for a picture with his arm around Jessica. One guy was so happy that someone was acutally doing what RAG week was for...he said yeah, sure he was drinking, but that we were really into the spirit of the week. He also gave me a hug. Hahahahaaha...I think Paddy likes that some people are actually doing what RAG week is for and is very keen on keeping us around. I hope we get our notice tomorrow.

We went to Shop St. after leaving campus. We didn't make any money there...we were all too nervous to ask non-students to donate. I did get to go to the library to renew all of my books (despite not having them in hand) and without late fees....thank goodness!!!

I went to choir at 6PM...without the regular choir director we did get a lot done...although we didn't have enough copies of songs we are supposed to sing on Friday...hmmm...he keeps adding pieces but forgets to send them out on e-mail. Either find a friend with them or start learning by ear, I guess. The first-hour replacement was swearing up a storm...IN THE CHAPEL!! The second-hour director was really great - very helpful, calm, and willing to work on whatever we needed to do. I had to leave early because I wanted to get food before heading out to the pubs at night. Laura got a part in the 6-person solos so she didn't leave with me. I got home to find out no one had left yet...not good as we wouldn't get as much from the rowdier people. Out the door by 9PM with buckets in hand, Claire, Jessica, and I started off for the pubs. The first few were a bit slow, so we thought we'd come back to those. We got into an argument with a drunk in the store we went into because Claire needed phone minutes. We just had to walk away because there's no use arguing with a drunk person...they just don't seem to have much common sense and he just wanted to argue. We went up by the Supermac's where a group of guys were more than happy to give us money...if we came a bit closer. One guy wanted a kiss (sticking out his tounge and everything)...ewww...and ended up LICKING me on the sleeve. Before things could get really out of hand, I said my boyfriend (haha) wouldn't like me kissing him and that I should catch up with my friends down the street who hadn't realized I had stopped until about half a block away. I walked (practically running) away from this group. I got a few euros out of them though... The first pub we went to was crazy, although I met another Madtown student who was happy to throw a couple of euros my way....I think he felt bad because I was one of maybe 5 people in the entire place who had to deal with all of the drunks. It took me a bit to get around the donut-shaped pub...I got stuck on the dance floor in a true crush of people....and they smelled really REALLY bad! I totally wanted a shower after that, but I got a couple of more euros....Claire got a shot of beer in her bucket (and had to wash all of her coins when we got back). We left Jessica outside, figuring we'd probably lose her if she made it in. She was just sitting there with a scared kinda smile on her face...she was totally not ready to deal with drunks. She later said that drunks were like older people with dementia...and totally felt bad for offending/insulting the older people who don't do this to themselves and don't know any better anymore. I can see her point though because a lot of people were truly clueless by 10PM. Two guys wanted us to sing with one of the buskers (who we gave a candy bar because he was so sweet and it was hard for him with all of the drunks around) to make money, but we just wanted to go home. I found a man with a Milwaukee Brewers hat, but I was so excited I became noisy and sounded like one of the drunk peoples and the old man just kept walking away. Perhaps in the daylight he'll talk to me if I find him again.

We counted our day's net gain.....E206 for about 2-3 hours of work! Most of it came from campus, so we plan on staying there a lot longer from now on. We also plan on hitting the pubs a bit earlier, when people are buzzed but not sloshed. Buzzed I can handle, in Madison I see it all the time and have some experience handling those types. Completely sloshed...not so good at that. I'd rather punch them, but as I was telling Maria doing something like that would not only be bad for me, but for RG, the UNIV conference, and possibly the school who are going to sponser us...well, let us come ask for money there at least. She hadn't seen it that way before...I guess I wouldn't have either if Jessica hadn't told us the fundraising story of the guy who turned them down and they said thank you and were polite and left. He went and found them, thanking them for being so nice and bought from them...I think he was one of their best customers!

So yeah...lots to do. I'm waiting on e-mail replies to the two companies I asked for bottle donations for our "bottled Irish air" fundraisers. Also waiting to hear from Associated Bank because I can't seem to open my accounts online.

I should go to bed and hope not to have nightmares about licking boy or the terrible smell while being squashed on the dance floor.
Lots of love, Christi