Thursday, May 31, 2007

I Want To Stay In Bed

I want to stay in bed and sleep like this Kangaroo. He has the right idea. How cute is that!
Why does the bed always feel so comfy and inviting when you have to get up so bloody early.
And its even worse when you have to leave someone behind in your bed.
I just love these two.

Well, time for me to head off to work. Everyone enjoy your day, or if your just going to bed, hope you have someone to warm your bed with you.








Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Something to make you Smile!

I love smiles, so hopefully this will bring one to your face. This video is perfect with this song.


All Boy Time

The girls are gone now, heading back to the States. It is quiet around here now. It was a fun visit. They say they all had a blast and loved Dublin, London, and Paris. So I'm happy. I think one actually found some puppy love with a French man she met in Paris.

For me, its now time to get back to the normal life again, which means its back to being all about the boys again. I can finally have some alone time with me new man. I also get me bathroom back.

I think I will pop out for some breakfast and then come home and get some much needed sleep. Me new man has been such a good sport about all me friends, when he gets off work I am going to take him out for a nice quiet dinner, just the two of us.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Men Kissing

Why is it woman are fascinated by two men kissing? I guess its like when two straight men see two woman kiss, but I just never thought woman would be into that. But apparently they are because my girl-friends that are visiting me think its hot when they see two guys kissing. At the picnic yesterday, there were other woman there and a couple of gay men couples. Whenever one of the gay men couples kissed, the straight woman were making remarks about how nice and sexy that was for them to see. I never realized that many woman would find two men kissing to be sexy. I don't get turned on when I see two straight people kiss, so I have no clue why straight people want to see two gay people kiss.

The girls have been playing on my friends computer finding videos of guys kissing that they think are hot and these are the ones they liked the most.

Girls, you know I love you and its been great that you have been here for the week, with me 24 hours a day, even when I was getting a shower you felt the need to keep me company. (I couldn't even get a good wank could I?) For a week did I mention that? After seeing these videos, I am ready for some alone time with my man. What time does your plane leave? Want me to check for an earlier flight? No really, its no trouble. Oh lets see, there is one leaving in 1/2 an hour! Whats that, that flight is to the Congo? Well, whats a little detour? You can get a nice suntan there before heading back home?

If they read this before they leave, I am going to get pounded.





From my favorite movie...Plata Quemada


My second favorite gay movie - All Over the Guy




Top Blogs

French Music Video

Here is a video of a French singer of a song we heard a lot while in France the last few days. Apparently he is something like their version of a Idol franchise. The video is stupid now that I see it, but the song was fun to listen to while traveling around Paris site-seeing. So I thought I would post it. The girls like it, they are all singing and dancing behind me to it, its a scene here right now. Now I am getting hit in the head by their boobies. Geez.



We just got back from eating dinner and having a few pints. As we walked home, me friend had a bottle of water she could not get open. She handed it to me to open and I got it opened, but when I did it squirted all over. It was the most funniest thing and I will be laughing about that for days whenever I remember her surprised face. Classic!

Some views of Paris

This is the second time I have been to Paris and I loved it both times. Its nothing like the bad stories you hear all the time. The people remind me a lot of Americans. They react a lot like Americans in that they seem aloof at first, but once they understand what you are about, they warm up quickly to you. Yes, there are some in stores who are very snobbish, but I have seen that attitude in many places, not just in Paris.
View from Eiffel Tower
We are now back in Dublin, Ireland. Its good to be home again. Its funny to me that I now think of Dublin as my home. For a good while I was not sure what I thought of the place and now I am finding myself happy to be back in Dublin.

View at Night from Eiffel Tower
My friends leave to go back to the States tomorrow. We have had a great time. It will be quiet around here without them. Back to a normal life again, no travel plans for awhile. Although I still have lots to discover about my area here.


Moulin Rouge club
I had bought plants for my apartment, but most have died. I do not have a green thumb. So my guy is going to take me out this weekend to get new plants and he is going to help me repot them and hopefully they will do better with his care, than on mine alone.


I want to thank my cousin and his friends for the hospitality they showed me and my friends this weekend. We all had a great time and the girls wished for me to say thank you once again. Let me also add they all have the hots for my cousin and I once again and kicked to the curb. Sigh, such is me life.

Monday, May 28, 2007

Memorial Day in France

Early this morning we traveled from London to meet up with my cousin and some of his friends in France. We toured the Somme Cemetery and Memorial. The Somme was a battle from the Great War in which there were over a million casualties. It was the single greatest loss of British life at the time and many do not realize this, but there were thousands of Americans assigned to British regiments who also perished in this battle. Also, the Ulster Brigades of Ireland played a big role in this battle.

Touring this cemetery and the area was a somber, sad experience. Its really hard to comprehend how many men gave their lives when you stand and look over the fields of crosses that stretch as far as the eye can see. I grew up around Gettysburg, PA and I am very familiar with battlefields and cemetery's for soldiers. But every time I visit a memorial cemetery, I can't help but wonder who was lost in the battle, what could that person have done to change the world if he had lived?

We then traveled to Paris to have a cookout at my cousins place he shares with a friend in Paris. We enjoyed a lunch of hot dogs, burgers, steaks served with Champ which is an Irish dish of potato's with scallion onions mashed in, Yorkshire Pudding, and some French Pommes Au Four, which is a dessert of apples baked in an oven, and two chocolates cakes, one made the American way, one made the French way. Plus lots of local french berries and some French wine and Jello shooters. We also had some good old American cherry Kool-Aid. No picnic is complete without Kool-Aid.

Now we are all headed out to explore France. My cousin and his friend are taking my girl friends from the states out shopping. I love them all, but I don't want to spend my time in France shopping at woman's clothing stores. Me and my guy are going to head off and see some of the sites of Paris. I do love Paris from what I have seen so far, so I can't wait to see more of it. Speaking of that, from the sound of things in the other room, it appears everyone is ready to head out. Have a good Memorial Day to those back home and to my friends in Dublin, I will be back Wednesday. See you soon.

A Day of Remembrance


Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing. Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there. I do not die.
The American Flag
Never Forget
The Last Goodbye
Amazing Grace
The Battle of the Somme

Sunday, May 27, 2007

London with the girls

Its been a rainy day in London. We did the British Museum. An awesome place. I recommend everyone visit the museum if you are ever in London.

The girls wanted to see Buckingham Palace, so we did that. Of course being Americans, we don't like to carry umbrellas. So none of us had an umbrella. For me, just give me a baseball cap and I am good for the rain. Did the girls enjoy the rain as much as I did....not so much. Their puffed up hairdo's have now gone flat and we have had to head back to where we are staying at for some more primping.

We are leaving London early tomorrow morning and we are going to meet up with my cousin and a couple of his friends in Paris. He is going to take us to see the Somme American Cemetery and Memorial to pay our respects on Memorial Day the date in which Americans honor those who have served and fallen for the country. It is about a two hour drive northeast of Paris.

Then when we get back to Paris, we are going to have a cookout at my cousins place. A good old American cookout of burgers and hot dogs. Of course there will be some English and French foods mixed in and rightly so since they were our allies in the wars. Then after lunch, the girls are going to go out with my cousin and his friends shopping. But I have plans to sneak off with my new love and do some site seeing of Paris with just the two of us. Paris is the city of romance.

Saturday, May 26, 2007

Clubbin in Dublin

Three of my girls from the States are here. We are about to go back out to finish our night off at one of the local pubs. It has been great seeing them again. We have had a great time so far. But I have to say, having three girls share my place is a big adjustment. I wake up and I see boobies everywhere as they get washed and dressed. I thought they would be more modest, but these girls have no shame. My bedroom smells like baby powder and my bathroom looks like a drag queens makeup dresser. There are curling irons, hair dryers, makeup kits, eyeliners, powder puffs, and things like the little bag beside the toilet that I don't even want to know whats inside.
We went to the pub down the street last night and Dana met this one guy. I heard him tell her she was sexy. She replied, oh I look awful, I just threw myself together tonight. Threw yourself together! Honey, you took an hour and a half to get ready. Woman lie!!!!! The guy told her he would meet her there today for lunch. So we went back and he never showed. Hmm, guess men lie too. We just did the Guiness Brewery tour. The lushes loved that. Now they want to go to a couple pubs and whore themselves around for the night. First we had to stop by my friends house so they could "freshen" up, so I figured I have time to write a blog post. They have kidnapped my boyfriend to help them freshen up. I don't even want to know the horrors he must be seeing right now. If you knew him, you would know how scared he must be right now. I better go save him.

To all the girls friends back home, they are having a great time and we will keep them safe. Tomorrow we are going to London in the morning and then Paris for Monday and coming back Tuesday. My cousin who has dual citizenship between the UK and America, is having a Memorial Day party since we Americans celebrate that holiday on Monday. We are planning on visiting some of the war memorials in France, which I am excited to see even though I know it will be very sad and solemn.

Have a great weekend and a great Memorial Day.





Thursday, May 24, 2007

4 o'clock in the morn

I am really annoyed with my work hours in the morning now. I can't take getting up this early anymore! I am tired all day long, but at night when I lay down in bed, I am having trouble falling asleep. I keep thinking of something, its always something and I can't fall asleep. Then I finally manage to fall asleep and before I know it the alarm goes off. 4:00 am.

I have to wake up before the sun comes up so I can get to work on time. I am tired of going to bed early and then waking up early. I am tired of watching the sun rise. Yeah, it was nice at first walking to work and seeing the sun come up, now its like bloody hell whatever.

Everything is starting to irritate me right now because I am not getting much sleep. I am so tired right now. I just want to crawl back into bed. I just took a shower, but it didn't wake me up. Now I am sitting here in my towel, still wet, still tired, and now cold and irritated from being cold and tired. I want my bed.

It wouldn't be so bad if I could just go into work and hide at my desk until I wake up. But every morning there is someone at my desk wanting to chat, tell me about their night, or go over some project. Then I have to pretend I am listening to whatever they are talking about and nod my head to indicate a yes or no reply or shrug my shoulders if I suddenly pop back into the conversation and I feel that is needed at that point in the conversation. But in my head all I am thinking is dear God stop talking and let me lay down on my desk and go to sleep.

Now I have friends coming from the States, arriving later tonight. Which means no rest this weekend and very little sleep. Well, time to get dried off and dressed and start my trudge to work. Another day begins.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

London and Paris

Both cities were very nice to visit. Don't think I could live at either one though. Too many people, too much traffic. I am not used to that. Plus, everything and I mean everything is way overpriced. But all in all, it was a nice trip. I had a great time seeing my cousin. I went to my first soccer(football) match and my first rugby match. Great times. My cousin and my new friend got along great. So thats a plus to keep this guy around a little longer.

I didn't get to see too much of either city this time, so I plan on going back with my friends this weekend to check out some sites in France. Since its Memorial Day weekend in the states, I want to go see some of the world war one and two memorials and battlefields. I am fascinated by that kind of stuff and I think it is very important to remember what happened on battlefields and remember those who gave their lives for what they believed in. I am looking forward to that this weekend and seeing my three girl friends who are visiting from the states.

Not sure when I will get to posting again, but I will soon. I have to get my arse in gear now and get to work. Have a good one all.

To my friends in PA without the server that is still down, next time you complain, just remember I am using dial up right now. So I don't want to hear it. Smile!

Friday, May 18, 2007

Testing a New Camera



Server Down in PA

To everyone in PA calling me, yes I know the server is down. I can't do much about it right now. I have called Marcus to look at it. I am waiting for his reply. Until it is fixed, you will need to log off and back on using your normal work ID or your own individual ISP account.

Now obviously if you are reading this, you have already done this. So please pass this on to those who are still having issues. Tell them to stop calling me and running up my phone bill!

I will email everyone that I know has access when the issue is fixed and please tell them to chekc with Marcus. I don't mind helping Marcus fix the issues since I still use the server too, but I don't work there anymore so he has to handle the issue. Please contact him, not me. Thanks.

Thursday, May 17, 2007

London


We are in London right now. It was a longer trip than I thought it would be to get here. I am tired. My friend is wide awake. I must be getting old. But then again, I was the one up early for work this morning. So I am ready for bed.


Barrick has Irish roots...who knew!


Documents unearthed by an Irish vicar show ancestors of Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama may have arrived in the United States from a tiny village in central Ireland as early as the 1790s.
"They're old parish records going back to 1799," Canon Stephen Neill, rector for the parish of Moneygall, told Reuters.
"They're in remarkably good condition and we have constant applications from Americans chasing their ancestors."

Genealogy Web site www.ancestry.co.uk asked Neill, whose father is Anglican archbishop of Dublin, to check parish records after discovering documents indicating Obama's great-great-great grandfather arrived in New York in 1850 before settling in Ohio.
"Like most of us he has an interesting mix of ancestry, including some impressively early all-American roots," said Megan Smolenyak, a spokeswoman for the Web site.
Between 1845 and 1851 over a million people left Ireland on 'famine ships' to escape mass-starvation caused by potato blight and ancestry.co.uk says passenger lists show Obama's great-great-great grandfather Falmuth Kearney was among them.
Subsequent research into the parish records provided by Neill revealed not only that the Kearneys hailed from Moneygall in County Offaly but also that other family members may have crossed the Atlantic before him in the 1790s, the Web site said.
Born in Hawaii to a white American mother and Kenyan father, Obama's European connection means he can also join more than 30 million of his countrymen in claiming Irish descent.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

Another Rainy Day

I just made plans to go to London and Paris this weekend. I am going to do some site seeing, visit my cousin, and do lots of shopping. He is going to get to meet the new man in my life and see if he meets his approval. Alrighty then Dad! I have not bought much since moving over here, so I need to buy some summer shirts and shorts.

I also received news that three of my girl-friends from the states may be coming to visit me and whore up Ireland. (They are going to punch me when they see me for that one!) Hopefully by Memorial Day weekend. Make sure you let me know as soon as you get it all finalized. It will be good to see you.

Another rainy day, such is life in Ireland. Off to work. Have a good day everyone.

Not much to say today, so I will leave you with this song. A dedication to someone special.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Teachers Pet

I have an online friend that attends the University of Kansas. He has been my online friend for almost a year now. I met him at a chat site he moderates and one that my cousin was a member. At first I didn't think I would talk to anyone much on the site except my cousin.

While on the site I stumbled across one guy that my cousin had sometimes talked with. I became intrigued and asked about him and I left him a couple PMs, not thinking he would really write back to me. But he did and we struck a nice friendship. He has a lot of the same interests as me and it was very easy to talk with him. We shared lots of laughs together. We have managed to keep in touch even though I can't access that site anymore since I use a computer from work and that site is not allowed.
My friend also has a blog and it is linked to my blog. It is called Budajsguy. So please click and check him out if you havn't already.
He has been able to get really good grades and I tell him all the time that he is Teachers Pet. That he must be wearing a tight shirt, buttoned down to reveal his chest. He flexes his muscles at the teacher when she walks by and drops his book on the floor next to her desk so he has to bend over and pick it up allowing her to sample his fine booty.
He has finals this week, so I just wanted to post this to my friend to say wish you luck, I know you will get good grades. Enjoy the summer that is coming. Here is a video just for you.


And.......since your last t-shirt I borrowed got all mucked up in the woods, though I don't remember quiet what happened, it was all a blurr, I have finally been able to replace it for you. This is on its way for you to wear this week to class.
And I even got Yashe one so you two can match!
And the item below is for when you are kept after class for extra credit!

Irish Dolphins have their own brogue

I did not feel good all day yesterday. Still feeling a little rundown. I popped a bunch of pills and got lots of rest. So much rest that I now can't sleep. So I thought I would get up early and post something for a friend of mine. I will post that in a minute. But first I wanted to post this story I heard about today.

It seems the Dolphins that live around Ireland, have a different speech than other dolphins. I found that very interesting and the science geek in me wonders why?

The idiot geek in me keeps thinking of another dolphin swimming around the ocean minding his own business and meeting an Irish Dolphin and hearing something like "Cad is ainm duit?" or the ever popular "Yaknowwhorrameyan?" and the dolphin pausing for a moment wondering what the hell was just said! I have been in that situation a couple times here, so picturing this is funny to me. Of course it could be all the medicine I have taken.
When I picture this I can imagine being with all my PA friends and making this comment. You would all stop and think about if for a moment and then everyone would laugh because it was so stupid. I am laughing right now just picturing you all laughing at my stupid comment. And I already know that a certain someone in PA will read this and she will say, "I didn't know Dolphins spoke Irish." (There is always one of them in the crowd) And then someone will point out to her that they can't really speak the language and then she will say, "Then I don't get it." Which makes me laugh right now, because you know she will do this and now when she does, you will all be laughing at her when she does it. Ah, the good old days. Think of me when she does it. I miss you guys.

____________
http://www.shannondolphins.ie/

DUBLIN (AFP) - Irish scientists monitoring dolphins living in a river estuary in the southwest of the country believe they may have developed a unique dialect to communicate with each other, they said Monday.

The Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation (SDWF) has been studying a group of up to 120 bottle-nose dolphins in the River Shannon using vocalisations collected on a computer in a cow shed near Carrigaholt, County Clare.

As part of a research project, student Ronan Hickey digitised and analysed a total of 1,882 whistles from the Irish dolphins and those from Cardigan Bay in Wales on a computer and separated them into six fundamental whistle types and 32 different categories.
Of the categories, he found most were used by both sets of dolphins -- but eight were only heard from the Irish dolphins.

"We are building up a catalogue of the different whistle types they use and trying to associate them with behaviour like foraging, resting, socialising and the communications of groups with calves," project leader Simon Berrow told AFP.

"Essentially we are building up what is like a dictionary of words they use or sounds they make."
Berrow, a marine biologist, said the dolphins' clicks are used to find their way around and locate prey. The whistles are communications.

"They do a whole range of other sounds like barks, groans and a kind of gunshot," he said.
"The gunshot is an intense pulse of sound. Sperm whales use it to stun their prey.
"When I first heard it I was surprised as I thought sperm whales were the only species who used it. We can speculate the dolphins are using it for the same reason as the sperm whales."
References in local legend indicate there have been dolphins in the Shannon
estuary for generations and they may even have been resident there as far back as the 6th century.

They are regularly seen by passengers on the Shannon ferry and an estimated 25,000 tourists take special sight-seeing tours on local boats to visit them.

Monday, May 14, 2007

So Glad to Be Home

I was able to get out of work an hour early today. It feels so good to be home. I am not feeling well. I am going to go lay down for an hour and rest, then get something to eat. I think this is a good day to get caught up on some movie watching.

Hope everyone else is enjoying their day.

Kelly, I loved the pictures you sent me. Thanks for sharing them.

Remembering the Weekend

Its morning already. What the....I swear I just went to bed twenty minutes ago. Where did the night go. I was having a really good dream, really good if you know what I mean. Ugh. Another day, another week of work. I have a feeling this is going to be a long week. I am already counting down the moments until next weekend.

To my friend in Dublin, I had a great time with you this weekend. Thank you for sharing the trip with me. I will always remember sitting on edge of the cliff in your arms as we watched the waves roll into shore. Getting mobbed by the geese as we fed them. The old guy at the pub that spoke a mix of rough Gaelic and broken slang Irish, and when he sang Danny Boy was the only time of the night I could understand him. Thank you for being my interpreter!

I will always remember the dance we shared to the song below as we danced under the Japanese lanterns at that wonderful, little out of the way place. The sound of your nervous laugh as I looked into your eyes and you held me close is burned into my heart. There is more I could mention about you and this weekend, but that is secret and private between just us.

I found the note and the gift you hid in my travel bag. What a nice surprise to find. It brought a smile to my face and I have been thinking of you since we parted.


Sunday, May 13, 2007

Happy Mothers Day

In tears we saw you sinking,
And watched you pass away.
Our hearts were almost broken,
We wanted you to stay.
But when we saw you sleeping,
So peaceful, free from pain,
How could we wish you back with us,
To suffer that again.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
But you did not go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day God took you home.

If Roses grow in Heaven,
Lord please pick a bunch for me,
Place them in my Mother's arms
and tell her they're from me.
Tell her I love her and miss her,
and when she turns to smile,
place a kiss upon her cheek and hold her for awhile.
Because remembering her is easy,
I do it every day,
but there's an ache within my heart that will never go away.


You may be gone from my life now, but you are always in my heart and I carry you with me wherever I go. With love, your son.


A Brave Little Hero

I just heard this story and had to post. Rest in Peace little hero.

WELLINGTON (AFP) - Nine-year-old Jack Russell terrier George is being honoured with a posthumous bravery medal for saving five New Zealand children from an attack by two pitbulls.

The medal from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) comes after US Vietnam veteran Jerrell Hudman said he was sending his Purple Heart medal to George's owner after hearing of the dog's bravery.

George, who had a heart problem, won fame after defending five children from the pitbulls in the small North Island town of Manaia a week and a half ago. The two pitbulls rushed at the five children on the street, prompting George to charge the much larger dogs as the children escaped.

The Jack Russell was badly mauled by the two pitbulls and later had to be put down because of his extensive injuries. The two pitbulls were also put down.

The SPCA medal is usually awarded to people for their bravery in defending animals.

"George was a very brave little dog who almost certainly prevented severe injury, if not death, to at least one of the children," SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said.

"It's truly tragic that he paid with his own life for his instinctive act of courage."

Hudman, 58, of Austin, Texas was a US Marine for 30 years and said he decided to send his Purple Heart to George's owner Alan Gay after reading the news on the Internet because the dog was "a little warrior".

The Purple Heart is awarded to those killed or injured fighting for the US military.

Back Home


We made it back home. We are tired and I am wishing I had one more day off to just rest. We spent some time in Sligo yesterday and this morning. It was rainy and foggy for most of the time there. My friend told me I need to go back when its a sunny day and see it again in all its brillance. I did get to see the big Westfork mansion that Shane of Westlife built. But I did not see Shane, so I did not get locked up or cause a scene.

It was a little over a three hour drive back to Dublin. It feels so good to be home. I was ready to get away when we left and now I am ready to be home again. So it was a good break. Now it will be back to work again.

I am tired, I will answer emails later if any of my friends wrote to me. I heard this song on the radio and liked it. So thought I would share it while I get a shower.

Mark Ronson featuring Daniel Merriweather:





My friend has the CD of Mutya Buena and we listened to it as we drove. I fell in love with her music. She is formerly of the Sugababes.


Saturday, May 12, 2007

National Famine Monument



Today we drove from Galway to Sligo. Along the way we stopped to see the National Famine Monument. This piece of art by John Behan is called "Coffin Ship". It is an impressive monument showing a ship full of skeletons as a symbol to remember all the people who died on the ships to America 160 years ago when they wanted to escape Ireland's potato famine in the 19th century.

Irelands population declined from 8 million to 4 million during the famine. When the young people left Ireland for a new start and a chance at a better life in America, the family and friends would gather together and have a wake-a funeral. This was done because the ones that were staying behind, knew they would never see their loved one(s) again. Half a million Irish families were forced from their homes by unscrupulous landlords.

The first coffin ships leaving Ireland, sailed for Quebec, Canada. The three thousand mile journey, could take up to three months. On board there was little food and unsanitary conditions for those packed aboard the crammed hulls. Upon arrival in the Saint Lawrence River, the ships were supposed to be inspected for disease and any sick passengers removed to a 150-bed quarantine facility on Grosse Isle, a small island thirty miles downstream from Quebec City. In spring 1847, 40 ships with 14,000 Irish immigrants arrived.

Stretched beyond their capacity, the medical staff took five days to see a patient. In the meantime, the Irish immigrants were left on the open beaches or put into make shift huts were they died by the thousands. There is the famous story of one little orphaned Irish boy who said he was tired and wanted to sit under a tree to rest. Shortly after sitting down to rest, he died where he sat, exhausted and alone.

Many pauper families had been told by their landlords that once they arrived in Canada, an agent would meet them and pay out between two and five pounds depending on the size of the family. But there were no agents. Promises of money, food and clothing had been utterly false. Landlords knew that once the paupers arrived in Canada there was virtually no way for them to ever return to Ireland and make a claim. Thus they had promised them anything just to get them out of the country.

Montreal received the biggest influx of Irish during this time. Many of those arriving were quite ill from typhus and long-term malnutrition. Montreal's limited medical facilities at Point St. Charles were quickly overwhelmed. Homeless Irish wandered the countryside begging for help as temperatures dropped and the frosty Canadian winter set in. But they were shunned everywhere by Canadians afraid of contracting fever.

Many of those that survived the journey, walked across the border to begin their new lives in America. They had no desire to live under the Union Jack flag in sparsely populated British North America. They viewed the United States with its anti-British tradition and its bustling young cities as the true land of opportunity.

Americans, unfortunately, not only had an anti-British tradition dating back to the Revolutionary era, but also had an anti-Catholic tradition dating back to the Puritan era. America in the 1840s was a nation of about 23 million inhabitants, mainly Protestant. Many of the Puritan descendants now viewed the growing influx of Roman Catholic Irish with increasing dismay and they would have to endure more hardships in their new homeland.

I actually sat for about an hour near this monument reflecting on my ancestors. I wondered how many had to say goodbye to their home, their loved ones, the way of life they knew as they took the chance of a better life in America? I also wondered how many suffered and died on the journey, their families never knowing what happened to them. Obviously since I am here now, one of my direct ancestors made it to America and made a life. Now that I have returned to Ireland, the family history, the journey has come full circle and I can't help but be touched by this monument and this land of my ancestors.

Friday, May 11, 2007

West Coast of Ireland - Galway

We are in Galway on the west coast of Ireland. It has been a nice drive and feels good to get out and about, away from Dublin. It was a little over a 3 hour drive, but we made it longer because we stopped at several places along the way.
Its still a little strange for someone from the States to be able to drive from one side of a country to the other in this short amount of time. Back home, it took twice as long to cross my home state of Pennsylvania than it did to cross Ireland today.



We had a couple drinks in the afternoon, ate a small snack, and went for a walk about the area. There are lots of shops to browse, several local artists out on the street playing and singing Irish tunes and putting on a little show for the passers by. Some of the musicians were really good, others would not want to meet Simon Cowell!
This is a beautiful area with lots of brightly colored houses. It is located next to the Atlantic Ocean. It makes me remember the times I stood on the beaches of the States and looked across the Ocean wondering what was out there on the other side. Now I am on the other side and looking back knowing America was on the other side was really surreal for me.
Galway reminds me of the NJ and Delaware beach towns back in the States. A mix of tourists and locals amongst the architecture of old and new.

Its been a little cloudy today, raining off and on. We have had moments where the sun shone through, but tonight they are call for thunderstorms and rain. We are headed out tonight to eat dinner at Schooners on the Bay. I am ready for a nice meal, some red wine, and great conversation.

Its Friday night, which means its the weekend. For anyone taking the time to read this, remember that no matter where you are from or where you are going, Friday night is a wonderful place to be. Enjoy the weekend.

Thursday, May 10, 2007

The Kiss

To my friend....

Hold me like you have never held me
One kiss to know your lips
And hold them forever in my heart
So kiss me, like you have never kissed me

Two Days Off

I have the next two days off plus the weekend. I am going to take a road trip to the west coast and see the beaches, countryside, and Sligo. I am told it is beautiful country and I can't wait to leave and take it all in.

Time for me to get to bed, its late. I am usually about to wake up in another two hours. My eyes are tired, dry, and my pillow is calling my name. See you all soon.

In the meantime, I leave you with this video.

Condoms to big for Indian men

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Unionists and Nationalists

I had a friend mention that he had no idea what I was referring to on the Northern Ireland power sharing that I mentioned in a previous post. Just to touch on that a little bit, here are the details. Hope this helps all not familiar with the Northern Ireland struggle to understand it a little clearer and help understand why this is such an historic moment for Ulster.

Northern Ireland, which is comprised of six of nine counties from the Ulster province, has been embattled for decades in what is locally called "The Troubles" or "The Civil Rights Struggle". It was a civil war, between Protestants or Unionists and Catholic or Nationalists. To sum it up, Nationalists want Northern Ireland to be unified with the Republic of Ireland. Unionists want it to remain part of the United Kingdom.

In general, Protestants, who are the majority in NI, consider themselves British and Catholics see themselves as Irish. What happened on May 8 was that the bitter enemies have at long last joined forces with a new Northern Ireland government.

Protestant evangelist Ian Paisley, long known as "Dr. No" for his refusal to compromise with the Roman Catholic minority, has formed an administration with Sinn Fein deputy leader Martin McGuinness, a veteran commander in the outlawed Irish Republican Army.

They will jointly run a 12-member administration that took control of the territory's government departments from Britain. Their new shared agenda: improve hospitals, schools, roads and other services and formally cooperate with the neighboring Republic of Ireland.

Power-sharing was the central goal of the U.S.-brokered Good Friday accord of 1998, a pact rejected by Paisley's Democratic Unionist Party at the time because it included Sinn Fein. Britain and Ireland toiled to bring the factions together after 2003, when voters made them the dominant parties in the Northern Ireland Assembly, the foundation stone for cooperation.
Paisley's conversion to compromise became possible because the IRA finally convinced him it would no longer try to oust Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom by force. The IRA renounced violence and disarmed in 2005, has not been implicated in significant violence since. This year they have agreed with its Sinn Fein allies to accept the authority of the Northern Ireland police.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair' who made brokering peace a top priority since rising to power in 1997, paid particular tribute to Paisley — noting his stubborn stand had forced the Sinn Fein-IRA movement to go farther than many thought possible.

"I lost count of how many times I was told he would never accept sharing power," Blair said of Paisley. "But he told me, in the right circumstances, that he would. He said he wanted to see Northern Ireland at peace and would not flinch from doing what was necessary to get that peace — on the only terms that he thought would endure. I believed him, and he has been true to his word."

Paisley's Democratic Unionists hold five Cabinet posts and Sinn Fein four, while the moderate Protestants of the Ulster Unionists got two and the moderate Catholics of the Social Democratic and Labour Party one. Positions were allocated on the basis of each party's strength in the Assembly.

Even though all of Northern Ireland knew for weeks this day was coming, it still stunned observers to see Paisley, 81, and McGuinness, 56, smiling beside each other alongside Blair and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

Paisley shared the amazement.
"If you had told me some time ago that I would be standing here to take this office, I would have been totally unbelieving," Paisley told a crowd of jubilant, even giddy politicians and other dignitaries, including U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy, packed into the lobby of Stormont Parliamentary Building.

"From the depths of my heart, I believe Northern Ireland has come to a time of peace, a time when hate will no longer rule," Paisley said. "How good it will be to be part of a wonderful healing in this province. Today we have begun the work of planting, and we will all look for the great and blessed harvest."

McGuinness, renowned as an organizer but not for oratorical flair, said the road ahead for Northern Ireland will bring "many twists and turns. It is however a road which we have chosen."

Turning to Paisley, McGuinness wished his new partner "the best as we step forward towards the greatest and most exciting challenge of our lives."

Back in the 1960s headwaters of the sectarian conflict, Northern Ireland was governed exclusively by Protestants — and Catholics were demanding equal rights in housing, jobs and the vote. Extremists on both sides opted for violence.

Paisley, dismissed in those days by most Protestant politicians as a lunatic bigot, led Protestant mobs against Catholic marchers, while his hate-filled speeches fanned support for outlawed Protestant paramilitary groups.

He spent time in prison for organizing illegal protests, but rebounded to build a Protestant party, the Democratic Unionists, that campaigned on a promise to "smash Sinn Fein." He was known for thundering "Not an inch!", "No surrender!" and "Never!" when urged to compromise.
McGuinness, a high school dropout and apprentice butcher, joined a revived IRA that developed new tactics, particularly car bombs, to ravage Northern Ireland and reduce the territory to near-anarchy in the early 1970s, the bloodiest years.

He spent three years in prison for IRA membership, but emerged to become a senior commander committed to making the IRA an unbreakable force of small, secretive cells.
Throughout the conflict, about 3,700 people died and tens of thousands were maimed in Northern Ireland, England and the Irish Republic before Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, McGuinness and other senior IRA figures persuaded the underground organization to cease fire in 1997.

The Good Friday accord of 1998, supported by Sinn Fein even though it contained a target for the IRA to disarm by mid-2000, foresaw a future of compromise centered on Protestants and Catholics sharing power. It assumed traditional moderate parties would stay solidly in the majority.

But when the IRA initially refused to surrender any of its Libyan-supplied arsenal, Protestant support faded for Nobel Peace Prize laureate David Trimble, the Protestant pragmatist who led power-sharing, and toward Paisley, who decried the Good Friday pact for conceding too much to Sinn Fein.
A 2003 election for the Northern Ireland Assembly produced twin triumphs for Paisley and Sinn Fein, a seemingly impossible combination.

But Blair and Ahern coaxed the two sides together in a seemingly endless series of summits, bluntly telling Sinn Fein leaders they must meet Paisley's demand for a cast-iron end to the IRA. Eventually, it happened to Paisley's satisfaction.

With the IRA fading away and Sinn Fein helping govern part of the United Kingdom, Blair — who is expected to announce his retirement from office this week — called on the crowd to remember the horrors of Northern Ireland's yesteryear's.

"We need to remember what it was like — to marvel at how it was changed," he said.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Historic Day for Northern Ireland


"Its a glorious day" and "May peace finally settle into the hearts of our Irish sons" are two of the comments I have heard today, on this historic day. People are hugging, crying, laughing, and remembering those that have fallen during the troubles. It has been a long, hard, deadly road, but finally peace seems to be falling over the land to the north.

I called my cousin in England who was born here and who lost family during this conflict. We laughed, we cried, we remembered. This is a scene that is happening all over this great land tonight.
I am going to go out with some friends in a few to have a drink or two for the people, for the peace, for those not forgotten.
_____________

Northern Ireland has a new power-sharing government in an historic day at Stormont.
DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness took their pledges of office as devolution returned.

Five years of direct rule by London-appointed ministers has ended. Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern witnessed the creation of the new executive. Mr Paisley said: "Today we are starting upon the road which I believe will take us to lasting peace in our province."
He added: "I welcome the pledge we have all taken to that effect today... that is the rock foundation upon which we must build.
"From the depths of my heart I can say I believe Northern Ireland has come to a time of peace, a time when hate will no longer rule.
"How good it will be to be part of a wonderful healing in this province."

In an interview for the BBC, Mr Blair was asked about the morality of some of the decisions he made to bring about the restoration of devolution.
He said: "There are people who still think that the compromises that were made along the way were unacceptable. But sometimes politics is about that in order to achieve a better end - and there are always two kinds of people in politics - those who stand aside and commentate and those who get their hands dirty and do.

Another day of work


I am going to be so late today. Just not motivated. Of course living on the street and being hungry motivates me to go to work. Not much to say this morning, too tired to think. So I shall leave you with this nice picture to look at until I return.

Thought for the Day


Can vegetarians eat animal crackers?

Sunday, May 6, 2007


Its been a lazy day this Sunday. First time I have really just hung out and done nothing during a day since being here. My cousin is hooked on the series Robin Hood. I have always loved Robin Hood stories myself, so he sent me the series that is currently being produced by the BBC. I spent all day catching up on the series and I must say I am now hooked. What a great program.

I found this video to post with my story for anyone not familiar with the series. Please check it out. Who doesn't love a smart, handsome, funny lad who steals from the rich and gives to the poor? Ok, well the rich, but hey you can't please everyone.

But its the side story of this show that I find compelling. How each character is looking for love. For someone to love and to be loved. Isn't that what each of us really wants out of life? I mean everything else we do, all the things we accomplish, the journeys we take, the people that come and go from our lives, isn't it all to one day find that love of all loves? The one that stops your heart in a moments time when you see their eyes, their smile. When you laugh by their side and cry when they are gone. All this we seek and we hold onto when we love someone. The human dramas are what make this program different from all the other Robin Hood shows I have seen before.



I called my cousin to let him know I finally watched the show and to talk about it. I mentioned to him that I was looking for a video to post on my page. He sent me this link below. He says it is one of his favorites and I have to admit it is a nice song, so I thought I would include it in my post.



Well, back to my Robin Hood series, I have 6 more episodes to watch. Ah, a lazy Sunday, I love it.

Body Clock

Ok, this sucks. I can sleep in today and my body clock, which is now used to getting up early in the morning during the week for work, has kicked in. I made it home around 2:00 am, and here it is 6:00 am. I should still be sleeping.

I thought I would post something quick, hoping it will make me sleepy again. I had a great time on my date. We had a great dinner, I was stuffed by the time we left there. We went to the pubs and I met lots of great people, heard lots of great stories. The old guys once drunk, sung a few Irish songs. By the time we left the pub, I was all loved up and feeling good. Thank God for taxis!

When my date and I said goodnight (yes, I am a good boy and I don't go all the way this soon, I'm cheap, but not easy, lol)we shared a nice kiss goodnight. It was chilly out and I did not have a coat. So he put his arms around me and wrapped me in his coat and being that close and feeling the warmth of his body was really nice. But almost as nice was the feeling of my bed and blankets when I crawled into them. Once my date called to tell me he made it home alright, I was ready for a nice long sleep. But does that happen, no! Four hours later I have to piss like a race horse and now I am wide awake. I look like shite, I feel like shite. I am going to turn the telly on, lay on the couch, cover up and force myself to get some more sleep.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

Cinco De Mayo



Tonight I have a second date and we are going to start the evening off celebrating Cinco De Mayo by having dinner at Cactus Jacks in Dublin. www.cactusjacks.ie/
Then we are going to the Temple Bar area to the pubs in the tourist area of Dublin. This area still has its cobblestone streets from medieval times. Its here that one can meet a variety of people from all over the world and share a pint and hear lots of interesting stories.

Unborn Child

Everybody is talking about the case of the 17-year-old girl who wants to go from Ireland to England, where abortion has been legal since 1967, to have her four month old, brain-damaged fetus aborted. Reports are the fetus will be born with only part of its brain and skull and will die within three days. Abortion is illegal in this predominantly Catholic country and the Irish government is trying to stop her.

The girls lawyer has said, and most people I have talked to, have agreed that requiring the girl to carry the fetus to full term only to watch it die almost immediately would "be most inhumane."

Since March, the girl has been in the care of the Government. She was removed from her mothers care, presumed because her mother also wishes to have her daughter seek the abortion.

Ireland's attorney general has appointed a separate legal team to represent the rights of the unborn child. The attorney generals office says it wants to ensure that the 1983 constitutional ban on abortion is upheld.

This could be a landmark case for Ireland. If she is not allowed to go to England or receive an abortion in Ireland and she is forced to carry full term the baby and watch it die within days, how will that mobilize the Irish people to respond in the future to ensure their woman will have the right to say what happens to their bodies? If the girl is allowed to abort the baby, what kind of precedent will that set for other woman in Ireland to challenge the law of the land? Either way this case is resolved, it could be the beginning of a long battle in Ireland between abortion rights and abortion opponents.

Friday, May 4, 2007

Westlife Concert - Dublin

Here is a video of the concert last weekend that I attended in Dublin for Westlife. This is for one of my friends in Kansas, USA who is also a big Westlife fan and hopefully one day he will get to see them live. Time for me to head off to work again. Everyone enjoy your Friday. The weekend is here.

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Missing My Friends

I just called back home and talked to some of my friends in the USA. They said I have picked up the Irish accent and they had some trouble understanding some of my words. It was a fun conversation and now I am missing them even more than I was earlier in the week. I am starting to get homesick and I will have to plan a visit back there soon. So to all my friends in real life and online who bring a smile to my face and I hopefully I bring one to yours, here is another video.

Freedom Of Speech


Today is World Press Freedom Day. But while most of the free world celebrates the freedom of speech, there are still many being opressed and silenced. They are tortured, jailed, and even murdered for their right to speak and think freely. Abdel Kareem Nabil Soliman, a 22 year old Egyptian student, blogged under the name "Kareem Amer". Within a year he was being watched by Egyptian authorities. His crime, speaking openling and honestly and denouncing attacks he personally witnessed by Muslims on Coptic Christians. He denounced extremist views being taught at Al-Azhar University in Cairo, risking his life in the process.

In May 2006, Soliman wrote, "It causes us to cry, be grieved, and be struck with frustration to find ourselves threatened with death. Not because we kill. Not because we loot others property. Not because we trasngress the limits of our freedom. But because we think!"

In February, Soliman was sentenced to three years in jail for "insulting Islam" and one year for insulting President Hosni Mubarak. He has been disowned by his father who says he should be executed under sharia law if he does not repent.

The Human Rights Council has recently passed a resolution urging the world to ban public defamation of religion, specifically Islam. While it may have been passed with good intentions, it can now be used by those seeking to opress their citizens right to freedom of speech.

So please take a moment of your day, on this day when the world celebrates the freedom of the press, and remember those like Soliman who have been silenced and who have lost their freedom and maybe their lives.

http://www.freekareem.org/

Why Do I Love You

Here is another song to get me going. I am going to be soooooo late.

Another Early Morning

I am really tired this morning and cannot get motivated to leave the house. Its still dark and cold outside. My bed is so warm and inviting. Although there are two people outside my window arguing, or laughing. I cannot tell if that is laughter or crying and I don't really care. I just wish they would go somewhere else and make their noise.

The week is going by really quick and I am ready for the weekend. I have not had any alcohol in days and it feels great. But the weekend is right around the corner and I know it won't last.

Well, I better get out of this chair and get to work. Its going to be a long day.

Wherever You Are

Maybe we're different, but we're still the same
We all got the blood of Eden, running through our veins
I know sometimes it's hard for you to see
You come between just who you are and who you wanna be

If you feel alone, and lost and need a friend
Remember every new beginning, is some beginning's end

Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life, you made it this far
Welcome, you gotta believe
That right here right now, you're exactly where you're supposed to be
Welcome, to wherever you are

When everybody's in, and you're left out
And you feel your drowning, in a shadow of a doubt
Everyones a miracle in their own way
Just listen to yourself, not what other people say

When it seems you're lost, alone and feeling down
Remember everybody's different
Just take a look around

Welcome to wherever you are
This is your life, you made it this far
Welcome, you gotta believe
That right here right now, you're exactly where you're supposed to be
Welcome, to wherever you are

Be who you want to, be who you are
Everyones a hero, everyones a star

When you wanna give up, and your hearts about to break
Remember that you're perfect, God makes no mistakes