Had issues with power and trip to Limerick, Galway Bay and Cliffs of Moher.  Some of the most incredible pictures were taken today.  Hopefully I can get them up on Sunday when I return.

Broke news to the rents tonight. 

Now the trip home is the true test on how they take it…

St. Patrick Cathedral are up, well 5 of them are. More when I hit the states.

More trip report while I’m on the train to Limerick tomorrow.

sd

Edit: Working on the site in Ireland is harder than I thought, working on it when I get back.

It was the best of times, it was the worst, of times, it was the time that children toiled, it was the adventure to Dingle.  We started at Heuston Station later than usual due to the limited bus/tram/train schedule, which to me seemed stupid.  You have a major holiday and most of the transit workers are off. Never the less, we headed from the hotel to Dublin in a taxi once again trying to get to there well in advance.

When we got to the station there was plenty of time to relax and get breakfast. Unfortunately I predicted Tragedy with Kaila’s unfortunate timing of spilling Hot Chocolate over herself.  Dad and I moved away before the spillage.  We knew it was going to happen and we decided to look at the newsstand.  Fortunately for us nothing was spilled on anything else just Kaila. 

So after a change of clothes, we got on the FIRST CLASS train, which meant comfortable seats. Nothing else, just comfortable seats and we headed to Mallow.  We had to change trains in Mallow to head to Tralee where we had to take a bus to Dingle.  Our bus arrived in Dingle at 3p as it took 6 hours to get to Dingle. 

Now during the trip I had to deal with fighting nieces, screaming because one 6 year old had something the 4 year old NEEDED to have.

I watched a movie and tried to sleep. Tried, because it wasnt going to happen. Everytime I felt comfortable…

“MOMMY, DADDY, UNCLE SEAN!!!!”

It was funny the first 30 times of the trip , now it was ANNOYING.  I think the singing of High School Musical 3 was the straw that broke the camels back. 

We headed off the bus and started up the hill to the Bed and Breakfast.  This was the longest 500 Meters EVER.

“I don’t want to go up the hill, why do we have to go up the hill?”

“Carry me Uncle Sean.”

Now I’ve been telling everyone that I knew thatI would be the pack mule of the trip.  And I was right OOOOOo so right.   I was carrying my Mom’s bag, as well as my stuff up the hill. I’ve been really worried about Mom lately because I think she’s torn something in her left knee.  I’ve tried the entire trip to help her as much as I can, but I think she doesn’t want anyone to know how much pain she is in.  I am trying to do the best I can but she’s being a pain.

We arrived at Greenmount House and what a view it had of Dingle Bay, so beautiful, so Wonderful.  I was ticked that it took so much time to get there, but loved the end result. 

We went to the linen shop that Mom and Kiri visited ten years ago and between the two of them, they nearly bought out the store.  You know that you are spending a ton, when the shopkeeper throws things in for free. I got some stuff and I thought of some people I could get stuff for, but I couldn’t find the “Right Gift”.

We then went to Ashe’s for dinner and planned out how we could spend the next day.

I really hadn’t gotten anything for me this trip, but I had planned to change that the next day.

After a delicious Salmon meal with bread, veggies and mussels and two bottles of wine between Mom, Todd, Kiri and I . I headed back up the hill with kids in tow. Kiri and Dad spent the time argung who would pay for the meal, and I was just trying to leave the restaraunt after we almost had a nuclear winter with Kaitlin breaking her water glass “cause it slipped”.  When the bartender brought Kaitlin a new glass with two straws, a shamrock stirrer and a handle I counted to four in my head.  Kaila looked and looked then started to WAIL! “WHERE’S MY GLASS?”  After going to the bar and getting her an equivilent set, Kaila was mollified for a short time but had reached her tired end.

As she melted down, we walked up the hill, Mom in pain, Todd following, and the kids wanting to be carried up the hill.

When we almost reached the top of the hill I had the kids look for the cows in the dark, since on the way down we saw three cows.  Then as we approached the B&B last 30 meters I had the kids run. They weren’t allowed to run all day, but now, RUN! So as I ran and they chased me Mom followed with a semi forced smile.  I knew then we were in trouble.

We got the kids in the bath and Mom and I waited for Dad.  We talked about Joanna and what our plans are. 

That nightmare over I headed to the room and while everyone got changed, I just watched the water. The dark skies and the incredible stars everywhere was amazing, I thought I was in a planetarium, but in the end it was just Dingle.

Dearest Joanna,

I’m doing well, been having fun playing poker with the free internet from the hotel, oh , the trip report.  OK, since you asked…

We all loaded into the plane to Ireland and my heart started to race as when the call went out that the plane was ready to leave the gate and all the green clothed Irishman and wanna be Irishmen all cheered.

I was able to get some sleep on the flight, I was happy because on the flight DFW-ORD, I was “forced” to let a family sit together since she was in my seat when I got to there, I was “reallocated” to a seat that I enjoyed alot.  It was between two middle aged women who were as excited as I was to get to Chicago as I was to get to Ireland.  Luck was on my side because the other person in the window had a baby that cried the entire flight.   KARMA SCORE GOAAAALLLLL!!!

But let’s return to the Chicago – Dublin flight.  I was so excited and then terrified, since we would arrive at 7:45 in the morning.  I know my parents and family, it’s not relax after the trip, it’s let’s get a ton of stuff done.

And we did.

But first, I had to check into my room.  Pictures of room #1 and everything else when I return.

The converter that I brought on the trip was broken enroute and TSA removed a tube of toothpaste from my checked bag with the “We’ve been in your luggage and you just found about it now SUCKER” card in my bag.  So I’m conserving battery until I can get a new one. And for the record, the hotel lobby doesn’t have any “Too often they are stolen,” my front desk woman Jessica told me.

So after I walked into my non smoking room, I discovered that someone HAD been smoking in it. So back to the lobby again where I was able to get to another room. My sister who wasn’t until the last minute was going to be able to go had to wait to get a room. I was happy because I really don’t need a great room, just somewhere to hang my stuff while I’m discovering the Emerald Isle.

Then it was taxi to the train and train into Dublin.

I will mention here that Dublin-Bray Ramada is nowhere near Dublin, 20 min away and that the concept of the Euro just sucks.  Everything is overpriced here.  4 Euros for a freaking Big Mac.  NEVER MIND!

I have been amused by the Euro-trash that the Irish have to put up with.  I have also been amazed at the total friendliness of the Irish people.  Directions? Sure.  Taxi Stand? Let me show you.  It makes the trip amazing!!!

We went and did the Hop On, Hop Off tour today and I got to see the Guiness Storehouse, the Book of Kells and the outside of St. Patrick’s Cathedral.  Picking Sunday for the Hopping probably was a bad idea, especially since my brother in law couldn’t keep his eyes open for more than 5 min.

We came back to the hotel and I’ve gotten you and Ryan something to remember Ireland by.  Now Shelby, that’s my challenge.  I’m probably getting her something in Dingle.

Well, even though its 4p there, I’m going to sign off.

5A wake up call for Blarney and Cork tomorrow.

I am so glad I was able to talk to you today.  Even though it was for  5 min, it was the best 1.5 Euros I’ve ever spent.

I’ll see you soon and I Love You!

Your love,

Sean

Um, a little help please...

I’ve been thinking alot…and I’ve made some mistakes in the past.

And I admit it.

I’ve had some fun, and I admit it.

But the concept of what I am now needs to change.

Some factors of who I am , I enjoy and I will try my best to maintain.

But today , I let the darker side out and just didn’t like what I saw.

I’ve decided that it is almost time for me to get a new puppy.

Not yet, but close.

…

As for Radiothon preparations, I am nowhere where I NEED to be, but this weekend I’ll get there.

I’ve been putting things off, but I’ll get there.

I’ve been lucky to have a good woman who is by me supporting me, encouraging me.

And because of her I’ll get there.

…

I’ve let myself down by trying to make excuses, but I’ve been wrong.  I’ve had my personal defcon set to 4 for too long.  I’ve let people in my life that have hurt me and have taken advantage of my willingness to help.  They’ve taken something I’ve loved and destroyed it. So I’m going to work on this project after I get back from Ireland.

Hopefully when I return, I will have found the will to take back The Castle and finally get it on track to publishing it.

I’ve got to thank my family, Joanna, Rich, Jim, Dusty, and the people who’ve had my back.

…

But since I’m making progress on losing weight, seeing a number on the scale that I haven’t seen since before I got divorced, I’m going to keep going, keep pushing myself.

I know I’m hard on myself, but I have great hopes, dreams and wishes.

That will all come true.

…

I talked to my life coach today and he made recommendations, some will come easy, some will be hard to achieve.  But every little goal I’ve set, I’ve made.

Now it’s time to stop hiding and make those goals that I can only dream of achieving.

…
Every day I talk to Shelby I realize that she is no longer my little girl, the one I palmed in my hand, the one I gave baths in the kitchen sink.  She’s a tween, and asking me questions that I am not qualified to answer and I feel uncomfortable thinking about.

But I miss her.

When Ryan wants to talk to me, which is still few and far between, as he is momma’s boy, he is a motormouth, he just jabbers away.  Then there are other times where he is quiet and withdrawn, with one word answers and crying.

I miss him.

But I am approaching the hardest decision of my life…

and I’m so confused.

I wish I could tell you about what it is about, but I know that the blog is monitored and I just can’t sacrifice my privacy for your input.

…

3 weeks from Ireland and Mom sent me 4 new polo shirts so I “have clean nice things for the trip”. You can watch a boy become a man, but to a mother, he will always be a boy.

I’m scared and yet excited, I check my passport every day. It amazes me that I’ve gone 38 years without even sniffing leaving the USA but now with the passport I think of reasons every day to leave.

I could go visit my friends Mark and Chris in Canada.  I could see the city of London, Rome, I’ll pass on Paris for now.

I just have to step out of my comfort zone.

…

I guess that’s what this post has all been about.

I’m stuck.