Leavin' on a jet plan...

But I will be coming back in 8 days... boo! I want to be gone much longer than that. How bad is it when my vacation hasn't even started and I am already dreading coming back to work. Gah! Sometimes I hate my life and the decisions that I have made. Then I have to sit back and think, if I hadn't done things the way I did, I wouldn't be going to Ireland (leaving tomorrow), have met some of the greatest friends (in Teh Dalles of all places!), have gotten my Magster, or made so many friends in far away places.

Sleep is not something that is on my side right now as I have been awake since 3 am, muddling my way through the early morning hours here at work. I am hoping to be awake enough to drive the 1 1/2 hours to Portland tonight without incident. I am lucky enough to have family in P-town that is driving my butt to the airport so I don't have to pay those ungodly parking fees. I am flying all by my lonely to and from Dublin. It shall be interesting. I just hope I don't get stuck sitting next to some huge, hairy, greasy dude who doesn't know how to use deodorant, some whiny snot nosed brat who can't sit still, worse yet one sitting behind me kicking my seat, or some lady who doesn't know how to not bathe herself in old lady perfume. In general I love flying and don't tend to have any major issues. I wonder what movie they will have for us... good thing I have my iPod. WOOT!

I will be on the plan in 26 hours and 30 minutes! YAY!

10 days and counting!

So, for those of you who don't know, I am going to Ireland October 6th! Oh yeah.. I am friggin' going out of my mind with what to do whilst there! I have 4 or 5 book, maps, tips from friends who have been, and countless hours logged at the computer surfing numerous sites giving me info as to where I should go and what I should avoid. I don't know if my mind is completely wrapped around the fact that I will FINALLY be traveling to Europe. Ireland is on my top 6 places to visit before I die. Number 1 on my list is France, then Italy, Ibiza, Amsterdam, Australia. Oh sure there are PLENTY of other places that I must visit before I die. Those 6 just happen to be tops. I have already been to the best place on earth imo (in my opinion)... NYC. I LOVE it there and SOMEDAY I WILL live there.

I really feel that in order to travel to these other countries that I must have a basic understanding if not be fluent in their language. This is probably the reason that I haven't been anywhere other than Canada and TJ (Mexico). I can at least as for a bathroom in Spanish and for "dos cervezas por favor" (2 beers please). What else would I need to know??? However in France and Italy I want to completely immerse myself in the culture and to do so I think I must be able to speak the language. It always seems that when foreigners are here in the states "we" assume that they should know English, so yeah same basic principle to me anyway.

On to the trip at hand. I have had people requesting I take photos of certain statues, etc. I know that I will hit up some of the tourist trap kind of places. I used to hate the term tourist, but that is what I am gosh darn it! I want to see the country and experience it, ie: TOUR. I am also pretty set on getting my first tattoo while there. I have a basic idea of what I want, just have to decide where it will go. I haven't even began to think about packing either. Hmmm, maybe I should put some thought into that.

Weekend in review

I have a bit of catch-up to do it seems as I haven't blogged since last week and it is already hump day! Eeee gads! I had a fantastic weekend went with some friends on a drive to what is called the "Fruit Loop". Basically a 40 mile loop in Hood River, OR, that highlights 20+ farms, orchards, etc. We stopped and picked apples at 35 cents a pound was a steal, went to a lavender farm whose outhouse was painted lavender and called the "Lavender Loo", went to an old fashioned general store that had fresh huckleberry shakes, pepper jellies galore, and homemade jams from every possible berry imaginable, the last stop on the 3 hour tour was a wonderful treat where cookies grew larger than dinner plates and they had scrumptious fruit pies a plenty. Here is a link to the pics taken, feel free to comment.

Fruit Loop--10.2007

If you are ever in the NW part of Oregon anytime in the spring through fall/ early winter you really should stop along the fruit loop. Pick up some fresh fruit and support the local farmers.

Later in the evening after having stuffed myself with apples we decided try one of the 3 Chinese food restaurants in town. I was so spoiled living in Portland where I could have Chinese (and good Chinese too, not this wannabe over fried, nastiness that I have now), Thai, Japanese, Korean, you name it and it was available. Now I have to suffer with bad, worse, and no f*ing way will I go there. It is sad really. Small towns like the one I live in need some diversity, it is their residents that really hold them back. The people who grew up in the small town who doesn't like change and all the "big city" folks taking over. I ask you, what is wrong with a little bit of culture. What is wrong with some diversity and change? I digress, the food on this Saturday night was actually quite good. I have a lovely orange chicken which wasn't too overly breaded and had a very distinctive non fake orange taste. Dare I say I would order it again?! Yes, I do believe I would. The pot stickers, chicken friend rice, cashew chicken, and Lo mein, were also very well done. I think I have to take back the choices of Chinese, it is now Good(almost very good), horrible, and still no f*ing way.

Sunday was nice and relaxed, got to go have breakfast at my fave little pancake place with friends. So, we have all decided to do our own "Biggest Loser". Seems there is about 30 of us who have pitched in $30 each and at the end of our designated time (sometime in December) we will split the pot between the person who loses the most weight and the one who loses the highest percentage. I am really hoping to win at least one of them if not both. It is a huge motivator to lose weight and workout. With all that said, Sunday was my last day to enjoy those yummy pancakes and highly greasy eggs and bacon.

That is all for now, I should get back to work, I think I should anyway. I will be back later to update you more on the week, who I am, and those off the cuff thoughts in my little mind.

-Peace :)