Flight Confirmation + Lack of Passport + new camera = reality is I'm Dublin bound

Certain things about this entire "move" event make it more and more real and make me say "Oh My God" everytime they happen... First there was the paperwork signing; then sending away my passport for a Visa; then answering a gazillion questions from my new boss; then getting a camera and Ireland atlas for my birthday; and today we have a new level of OMG! Today, the travel reservation was made and confirmed.

I fly into Dublin on 4/29. This means I fly out of Seattle at 12:30pm on 4/28, land in Chicago and get on a bigger plane and then take off again for Dublin. And at 8:30am (Ireland time) 4/29 I'll be on the ground and in shock and hoping I didn't forget anything (like my passport, visa or teddy bear).

Yup - it's still official!

Northwestern Ireland Hike

So, I'm thinking that if anyone comes to visit this summer who's up for an extremely long (16 mile) hike, well, this would be a good place. CNN Article about Blacklion Ireland However, I'm figuring that cutting down the route would be in my out-of-shape-body's best interest. But hey - it looks pretty. Thanks for the article, Ali!

Am I excited about Dublin?

So, people keep asking me "are you excited yet?" or stating their jealousy factor. Frankly, I'm still in shock after signing the papers commiting myself to at least 6 months in Ireland. And I haven't had time to digest the news really since my current psychocrazyscheduledproject is eatting my life, soul and brain. But when it launches, I plan to be thoroughly obsessed.

Now, don't get me wrong. I got 2 books (Culture Shock! Ireland (Culture Shock! Country Guides: A Survival Guide to Customs & Etiquette) & Lonely Planet Dublin) for my upcoming adventure for myself and was gifted 2 more (Lonely Planet Ireland & Gutsy Women: More Travel Tips and Wisdom for the Road). I've finished reading all the sections I feel like completely devouring before I go of LP Dublin and Culture Shock Ireland is one of my beddy-bye books that alternates with good ol' fantasy standbys.

Now - all I have to do is make it to the point where I can be obsessive more than I am. Meaning: finish project!! Back to work for me!

And we have a tentative date.....

Apparently, my first day of work in Dublin is April 17. This means I'll be leaving around April 15 - just in time to do my taxes!!

FAQ [email]

Q: WHAT?
A: I'm going to Ireland... didn't you get the e-mail?

Q: WHEN?
A: The date hasn't been finalized by any means. The time frame is late April for my departure.

Q: What's up with this 6-9 months thing?
A: My new boss is already trying to bribe me into staying through Q4 (aka "the holiday madness") so that they have someone experienced over there.

Q: Can I come visit?
A: Duh!! YES!

Q: What about your housing in Seattle?
A: My roomies rock and we're still working out the details, but I won't lose my pad here - verymuchsoyay!

Q: Will you fall off the face of the planet?
A: No, I'm just going to Dublin... I'll be camera crazy and will post the pics to Flickr; and I now have this blog.

Q: Do you like Guiness?
A: No, but the brewery is literally right across the street from the office, so this could be funny. And apparently Irish Guiness is different from that which we drink here - so you never know.

Q: Are you coming back?
A: I plan on living in Seattle for a very long time - this is just me being insane and doing something fun for a change. Seattle is my home - this is my adventure. So yes, I'm coming back to Seattle. Then again, Irish boys do have cute accents..... (Now someone in NY, make sure my mother's still breathing after that last sentence)

Q: How are you doing this?
A: I'm signing papers, reading stuff, talking to people, packing my stuff and getting on a plane when my ticket tells me to.

Q: What will you be working on in Dublin?
A: Short answer: cart stuff. Long answer: training and mentoring new hires; being the lead engineer to start with until someone with more overall experience can join me in that role; working on improving the cart on a confidential project that I'm very psyched about because it's hard but lets me interact with all these cool new parts of the company and actually lets me use a lot of what I've already learned and all my existing connections; being oncall (ouch!)

Q: Where is the office in Dublin?
A: In the City Centre - right across the street from the Guiness Brewery if you find that on a map.

Q: Are you going to travel at all?
A: Yup - I already know I'm spending a weekend (at least) in London and probably a week in Paris. Plus I'll be taking train trips around the rest of Ireland on my other weekends and exploring Dublin like mad.

Q: Do you like pubs?
A: Umm - yes - verymuchso.

(some of this was blatantly stolen from my e-mail to peeps - if you want on that e-mail list, then e-mail me and ask)

earlier entries are being transferred from my old blogger account I just found

I just found my old blogger password which I'd previously forgotten. So I'm moving all those posts (with their old dates) over into the beginning of this blog with the intention of keeping this blog going even when I head back to the States in August.

-- written 25 July 2006

the power of e-commerce

There are a lot of people surfing the web today browsing e-commerce sites. I am absolutely amazed by how many donations Amazon has taken on behalf of the Red Cross for disaster relief after the tsunamis. I just refresh and watch it count up and watch the numbers grow. I am wow-ed by it.

One day more! Another day another destiny...

"One Day More" - Les Miserables the musical

VALJEAN
One day more!
Another day, another destiny.
This never-ending road to Calvary;
These men who seem to know my crime
Will surely come a second time.
One day more!

MARIUS
I did not live until today.
How can I live when we are parted?

It is another day till we are parted: my students and I. Tomorrow I teach my last class indefinitely. Tomorrow at 8:05 I take my last attendance and cheerily wish the kidlings a goodmorning to their grumbles and glowers. Tomorrow is a great class (hopefully!)

I shall have food and guests and robots and kids tomorrow. It's scary to invite the entire school to your last class ever. It's fun to know they're interested. I've made it.

Today I bid my last 9th grader adieu, and the quietest girl was the first to say goodbye and wish me goodluck. Today I interviewed another candidate for my position; tomorrow another phone interview with a different candidate.

Tomorrow I stop being on a school schedule. Tomorrow I take on a "real adult" schedule. Tomorrow isn't the last day of school, it's just the last day of classes. Which in reality is so close to being the end of the end. I can count on one hand my remaining responsibilities at school (grade ET ads, grade robots, write advisor comments, meetings & other prof obligationy goodness, & tech workshop).

It's nearly the end of teaching indefinitely (yes, I do still wanna go back - I love the kids). It's nearly the beginning of my new job. I'm on the brink of moving to Seattle to become a Software Developer. One day more... of teaching and being a role model for kids... Another day another destiny.. a new job as a developer leading me to my next phase and role in life... letting me grow and live.

I'm sad; I'm excited.

See you tomorrow!

Eating in the Upper River Valley

Dartmouth is surrounded by excellent venues for dining. Of all sorts. There is not enough time in my 4 day retreat here to eat at all the establishments that I would like. There are even lovely new venues - two of which I've tried. However, this subtracts time I can spend eating in the old. However, last night I had a fusion of new and old in a very long eating jaunt.

The new:

• The Canoe Club - bar and funky resteraunt. A bit overpriced, but the food was delicious - especially the chocolate raspberry martini (alcohol) and the chocolate martini (dessert - mousse). And the live music and ambience were wonderful.
• The Wrap - all sorts of wraps which you can get with all sorts of options. And smoothies. Good option all around.

The old:

• Murphy's - one of my favorites - an Irish pub. The bread bowl of clam chowder or stew - so yummy!!
• Molly's - the one that I think I've been to the most - brick oven pizza, burgers, sandwhiches, pasta, and $2 margaritas that are very tasty.
• Ramunto's - new york style sauce, garlic knot pizza - 'nuff said.
• EBA's - also known as Everything But Anchovies is the local pizza joint - not as good as Ramunto's but caters to the college student. Everything's big and tasty and cheap and greasy and served late. They even cater to the fact that Dartmouth is so internet-friendly by having the best service given to the web site orders.
• Lui Lui's - yummy italian and brick oven pizza.
• Firestones - even better italian.
• Sweet Tomatoes - yes, even better Italian - the great thing is that these 3 are very different in options and atmosphere.
• India Queen - smile at the owner and look like a poor college kid to get free samosas. Order communally for 4 and you'll have enough to feed 8. So yummy. Chicken Shahi Korma babay!
• Yama's - Korean deliciousness.
• Jessi's - steakhouse goodness
• Lou's and Lou's Truck Stop - diners owned locally that are DELICIOUS!

So we can definitely say I'm having trouble choosing food options. Which is why I let my friend's choose and just tell them that I won't repeat a resteraunt during my stay. Fair? Mk - time to eat. Yama's is next!

*sing* bzzz bzzz bzzz went the cicada!

The cicadas are here. They emerge every 17 years in Baltimore (except the pathetic lil' guys who emerge early / late).

Cicadas have a very pathetic life: sleep for 17 years, come out of ground, fly around blind whacking into things and if you don't get stepped on by an annoyed animal (or eatten by a dog) then you have one round of sex, lay eggs if female, and die.

Being reincarnated as a cicada means you pissed the big guy off. And you did the pissing off with such style that you get to be taunted with one quickie in your life.

I haven't been "freaked out" by the cicadas, although one did try to freak me today. He flew up my skirt. He was a rude lil' bugger and I gave him the smack down and stomp out. I'd feel sorry for him if he wasn't such a player.

Cicadas create this humming sound that I can't accurately describe - sometimes it sounds like a lawnmower, sometimes not. I hear it constantly at work and it's "coming closer" to my apartment. I didn't notice it at first since it's a very "background" noise.

And did I mention that these bugs are ugly and stupid? They can't see but they have stereotypical red bug eyes. They're fat and they fly like drunken blind bugs. Poor pathetic cicadas.

I play softball tomorrow. I hope that the cicadas don't decide to join the game.... although if they did, I might actually catch the ball!

SPF 50???

Today I went to Hershey Park with the 9th graders. It was a day with much fun spent riding roller coasters and listening to the girls clamor to tell me something new. I also saw just how "mature" 9th graders are attempting to be - scary stuff.

In the meantime, I managed to get sunburnt even with only being outside for 4 hrs, and putting on 2 seperate and complete applications of SPF 50. Yo yo yo - I am a white girl!

Go me! I'm badass - 9th grade cool, red and white! Meaning, my official theme colors must be pink, red and white.