You Can't Persuade Him That Black is White

I'll get that translated, originally uploaded by crau1971.

The irony of this is only now becoming clear.

I took this picture the first night I was in Galway, wandering around, looking at shopfronts and pubs and people, and I loved this sign. As the original caption for the photo reads, "I'll get this translated." It's a pun, and a nice one, where Guinness is involved. It's the "can't persuade him" part where the irony comes in for me.

Later in the trip, our group went out to this pub with Donal, and we had a lovely time. One afternoon after class, I was wanting a quick drink before running off to dinner and work on my paper, so I stopped in to this pub, McSwiggans, to have one. While at the pub, I was invited to join a group of three local guys, around my age, who noticed I was writing in a journal at the bar. I made a nice connection with one of them, Andrew. He and I spoke the same language--obsessive knowledge of music and bands--and we talked for a good portion of that afternoon. He drew me a picture in my journal and left me a note as well. "Keep writing, keep doing what you do. Welcome to Galway, Andrew". He asked me to join them at another pub in Eyre Square, but since I already had plans, I said, "I'd love to come, but I already promised my friends I'd meet them, so I have to say no." He hugged me, I said goodbye to everyone else, and we went on our merry ways.

Later on, looking at the picture and the note again, I realized his email was at the bottom of the note, but I couldn't read part of it.

Out with my friends the next night, I bumped into one of the other guys from the bar, and asked him to "translate" what I couldn't read. He did, and I emailed him.

No response.

I couldn't persuade him, I guess. ;)

However, it's really not a tragedy. I was only in Galway for another week and a half at that point, and had a pretty full schedule to boot. But, despite the missed connection, this was one of my favorite afternoons in Galway. Away from the group, being totally and completely me, talking music and lightly flirting with a decent looking chap who was also talking music and lightly flirting. It was a great moment in time.

Thanks, Andrew. :)

Making Something "Yours"

Best snacks here, originally uploaded by crau1971.

This is the side wall to Ward's Corner Store and Sandwich Shop, which was on University Road, right in between NUI-G's main gate and the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed Into Heaven. I discovered this lovely little spot my first day of classes, and I think I went there for lunch almost every day we were on campus. The staff were super friendly, the food was delicious, they had these great €2.99 sandwiches on baguettes that were the perfect cheap lunch. Plus, they sold candy, snacks, water, other little staples like that, and you could sit outside on their patio when the weather was good, eating and watching other Galwegians come in for their favorite sandwich.

I found myself missing Ward's terribly yesterday, when I couldn't figure out what I wanted for lunch, and realized I was craving the chicken tikka with rocket leaves sandwich.

One of many little things I loved about Galway.

Squint Your Eyes And Look Closer

My life is my adventure. When I remain open to the fact that it is an adventure, I remain open to beautiful, wonderful things.

Not every adventure involves swinging from rafters or death-defying escapades. Sometimes the adventure is simply in the newness of the experience.

I am such a creature of my emotions, and this is ok. I don’t need to control them in all cases. In fact, sometimes letting what I’m feeling flow uninhibited brings great people into my life.

People like me for who I am, full of contradictions and attitudes and aptitudes that belie my professional bio. People who haven’t sung the changes of my life as the decades have come by think I’m pretty damn cool, and nothing like they thought.

I like me for who I am, full of contradictions and attitudes and aptitudes that belie my professional bio... ;)

I still miss you.

There are angels in my life, and they traveled with me, and helped me remind myself during every rainstorm that I cannot let the fact that it is raining deter me from doing something I want to do. This is both a literal and figurative revelation.

I’m not ready for a relationship. Possibly not willing. I would sit and listen to colleagues talk about boyfriends they needed to check in with daily, or define their experiences in terms of what the partner thought, and I realized I liked this reality of being not tethered to someone. I liked that my life was my own, and that the only person defining it is me. I’m not a pretty bird in a cage; I need room to fly. I may not need to fly far all the time, but I need to fly. Until I meet someone that understands that, I’m staying single. I’ve already deleted one dating profile; the second one goes today.

My life is not easy, and my job is not easy, but my job is not my life. Having said that, I love both of those and wouldn’t wish them any different.

Everyone I know challenges me in someway that I need to be challenged, and I missed each and every one of you while I was gone, and I am so glad to be back.



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Today marks year six of this blog. She almost didn’t make it to this point. I left for Ireland spent and tired and needing a perspective reset. Having to present yourself to total strangers and spend three and a half weeks with yourself will certainly accomplish that reset. I’ve had two people in the last 24 hours, people I consider adventurous in spirit and in life, tell me they were jealous of my adventure, and that spoke volumes to me.

So I think the chronicle will stay, for a while longer. There are more stories in me to tell.Slainte...

For the entire set of Ireland pictures, go here.

17th Century Emoticon

17th century emoticon, originally uploaded by crau1971.

Found this on a slab on the floor of a ruined Cistercian monastery in The Burren.

Horrible, rainy, cold day, the worst weather yet. However, this little guy reminded me, quite clearly, to say "Feck it, I'm in Ireland." The bus to the airport in Dublin picks us up at 8:00 am on Saturday. Only a few more days to soak in it all.

So, smile, Courtney; you're in Ireland. And it's changed your whole perspective.

We Have Lingered in the Chambers of the Sea...

My friend Corey posted on Facebook that there were no words to describe the beauty of Inishbofin Island. And whereas I understand the sentiment that caused her to write that, I think I can come up with a few...

Crashing...



Delicate...



Dangerous... (particularly when hiking down INTO that cave)



Rugged...



Hallowed...





Breathtaking...



For more photos from Inishbofin, and other Ireland highlights, go here.