Wet Shopping Bags

This morning we went out to get a few things for Mira and her family. The girls had class later in the morning but mine had been cancelled so I thought I'd spend the day out. I went to the 2euro store and found cheap paper for scrapbooking (yay!), a couple of frames (one is broken and must go back), and some candy bars for the trip. Next stop was the photo store for a couple of copies of pictures. Then I wandered into Brown Thomas to check it out as I've never been in there before. In my jeans, crummy teeshirt, and hiking boots I really didn't look like their kind of customer. One saleslady was really nice and answered my questions. I'd buy from her if I knew what I wanted. I went to Penny's, the cheapest clothing store in town, for some socks as I always seem to be running out (I got some black ones that I'll have to mark and a pair of pink ones with monkeys on them..hehe). I had hoped to find a skirt (a pink one!), some nylons (cheap too!) and a white undershirt (two white and a black one too). Then I went to Dunnes Stores to look for a white button down top. Found the nicest black skirt....probably my most expensive clothing buy since.......my white sneakers? About the same price too. Thank goodness that it looks really good on me or I would've never ever bought it. Found two nice tops, one more of a funky bohemian feel for when I'm in a funky mood (twas on sale) and one nice white button down. Now I realize that I don't have any shoes! No worries, I'll go shopping for those later :) I went to the library to drop off a cd, where I got caught in a downpour. I tried to keep from shop to shop to keep my three paper bags from breaking. I wandered into a second-hand store to stay dry and found a beautiful purple silk button down shirt and a really warm teal jumper...sweater for real cheap. I went to the music store for a guitar string (for one of the guitars downstairs) and ended up going 1/2 of a block before I realized that I had forgotten another guitar thing. I'm glad I didn't bring the actual guitars with me because it was really really windy and just pouring. I made it to the cathedral and stayed in there for a bit just to stay warm. I lit some candles (for a good trip, world peace, etc.) and thanked God....I really am very lucky. Here I am with my three bags full of things that I love in Ireland sitting in a beautiful cathedral with lunch waiting hot and ready at home. Only thing missing is the sunshine. My one bag's handles did break before I got back to the house and that bag bursted when I set it down on my bedroom floor. Hooray, I have lots of nice clothes so I don't have any reason to look like a slob. ..... wait, maybe that's not a good thing. I'll acutally have to spend time worrying about my appearance...

although right now I need to worry about getting ready to go as we are leaving in about 1/2 hour!

Lots of love, Christi

The Night Before...

I finished my paper, due today, at 1:30AM. I wouldn't have had such a problem with it if the control key hadn't frozen, turning the entire keyboard into a useless hunk o' junk. You don't realize how important the keyboard is until you don't have it. Basically you can play games and music. No internet, no picture downloads (well, you can't label them anyway), no paper writing. Go figure. Anyway, I pulled off the key in the morning and tried pulling the key itself with a tweezers. No luck. I took it back into the computer services (4 times in 4 days!), where the silly thing worked just fine. I think I bumped it when I was running across the street. I looked like such a dork..again. The guy remembered my computer because the background is a picture of the Irish Sea and a bit of foreground and he made fun because you can't see any garbage...I didn't go close enough to the edge for that. Oh well, the paper is done and gone. I think I might've paid my professor if he had refused to take it.....printer credit used, time at computer services, time trying to fix it myself, 5 hours of sleep...it all adds up into one annoying project that I just really wanted to get rid of. Two weeks until the next few are due, so not much time to breathe. At least there's the Germany trip and St. Pat's to lift my spirits.

We are heading for Germany TOMORROW!! Ack! The cook has been sick so everyone has had to fill in for her. This means that only half of the laundry got done...and my clothes weren't in the clean half! I've got to wash about 2 loads tonight in order to pack anything! I'm half tempted to just buy new clothes in Germany so that I don't keep running out. Life can never just be simple, huh?

In case you are curious:
GOING OUT
From Shannon(SNN) to Dusseldorf Weeze(NRN)
Thu, 09Mar06 Flight FR1156 Depart SNN at 19:05 and arrive NRN at 21:55

COMING BACK
From Charleroi Brussels(CRL) to Shannon(SNN)
Mon, 13Mar06 Flight FR2835 Depart CRL at 09:55 and arrive SNN at 10:35

Oh yeah, I saw a guy today sitting at a computer lab computer PICKING HIS NOSE. I'm seriously suprised he didn't eat it...it was sooo gross. I had to wonder-do they disinfect the computer keyboards? I kinda doubt it........I shudder. Hallelujah that when my computer's working like it is supposed to (haha...whenever THAT is) I don't have to use THAT computer lab! It was great, I could print directly from my computer and didn't have to wait a half an hour to get it done either!

I should go check the laundry. Lots of love, Christi

Need Inspiration

I've got about 700 more words to go on this paper. It's not too bad, I do have plenty of sources to look at and an outline already prepared that I've just got to fill in. Just no oopmf, ya know? I want to surf the internet, watch a movie, finish Sarah's gift, CLEAN MY ROOM! Sigh...I head off to Germany on Thursday afternoon...I'm exicted and nervous at the same time. What if I forget something super important? Thankfully my class that morning has been cancelled so I have plenty of time to pack....which I'm sure I'll procrastinate and not do until I'm rushing out the door. Nice to think that I'll have time though.

Did I tell you that I got my first paper back and I got a good grade? Yeppers, VERY good :) Hooray, because it's 40% of my grade! What ever happened to a participation grade here? I'm a good participater!!

I think I'm going to leave the library. Perhaps I'll be inspired back home.....and I'll be able to go to the bathroom. I've given up snacking between meals for Lent so I drink a lot of water when I get hungry. A lot. Of water. All the time. It's really annoying...this morning I got up at quarter to five because I drank too late at night. Grrrr.....

Well, must pack up and head out. Did I tell you that I got hooked up to the campus wireless system and now can print documents on wireless printers from my own computer? That's right, I don't have to wait in line for 30 minutes just to get onto the world's slowest computer to print 5 pages. Hooray!

Lots of love, Christi

Pilar's Birthday

Yesterday was Pilar's birthday, so we had breakfast at the beach. Ahhh..the beautiful sunshine, cloudless sky, and frolicking waves were a joyous sight to behold while eating chocolate chocolate chip muffins. Afterward I had to head off to the library for some important research for my paper due tomorrow (Monday). I started to nod off while reading....none of the books that I wanted were there so I had to get creative in finding needed articles. I found plenty, but it was closing time too soon and I had to leave. I wanted to check out two books but one didn't have a bar code. On the weekends they don't have regular library staff, but this check-out machine. Well, in order to inquire after the book I decided to stick it into the library sensor and have someone come to me! Man did she practically run while I quietly waited for her. I told her I had done it on purpose because I had a question. It turns out that you can't check out anything without a barcode, but she held on to it for me so I can look at it today. I don't understand why they can't stay open a bit later near midterms-time like UW Madison does....no one was being any trouble and everyone there was researching for projects, so why not stay open a couple of hours later? Today they are only open from 10AM to 5:30PM so I'd better get going so I can get some work done. I've gotten 1,448 words out of 2,000 but I feel like something's missing. Hopefully I can figure it out fast because I've got to finish this paper today and get moving on the next one!

Oh yeah, Pilar's party last night was very nice. I didn't help in decorating as I fell asleep after i got back (my eyes were hurting me) and I didn't wake up for an hour and a half! I have lots of cute pictures from the day which whenever the internet is stable enough I hope to put online for you to see. We did a Spanish/Cervantes (the author of Don Quijote) theme with bright reds, guitars, and Niamh (Neif) as Don Quijote with a feather duster as a sword. Hilarious. After dinner Maria and Leli were teaching the others "servietas" (sp?), a Spanish dance. I left to go write the bulk of my paper.

I wrote this before getting back to writing my paper. "I tried mussels tonight. They look really funny because it literally is the whole animal that you are eating. Maria said to try not think about what it looks like, but just to eat it. I did that, and it tasted familiar, but not like chicken! I will continue to taste them as I keep burping them up though." I can still taste them faintly!

Well, I really have to go now or I'll never get this paper finished!

Lots of love, Christi

P.S. I am (probably, still not 100%) going to be in catering this summer and I CAN'T WAIT!!!! I'm going to do either a phone or e-mail interview with Fran (my boss' boss) sometime this week. To be employed and making money again...hooray!