Until Something Changes Part 1

I've done a little digging around in my draft folder and found this little skip down memory lane. Most of it makes little sense, so I have to guess it was written during my child rearing (aka no sleep) years... oh yeah, I'm still in those. Anyway, it's a travel post about beautiful Ireland. To be continued if I can figure where I was going with it all...


The Sexy Guy and I took a quick, weekend trip to Northern Ireland. The mini-holiday was meant to show him everything I was able to experience the year before.
SG LOVES castles and fine estates. The kids do not, so this couple-only weekend was his opportunity to happily roll around in Irish architecture without any "Can we go now?"s.

Day One: Arrival

We signed for our rental car and promptly left the airport towards the Giant's Causeway. Pretty much anywhere in Northern Ireland is a lovely drive, and surprisingly, it's not all emerald green landscape with Leprechauns dancing on the rolling hills- that must be the other part of Ireland.

Before walking down to see the Giant's Causeway, I convinced him that we should get a bite to eat in the cafe at the top of the trail. Knowing that between the option of paying to ride back up or hike like we were 15 years old again, he'd choose the straight uphill route,  I opted to be well-fueled for the walk.

We had a rich, Irish stew with a thick, dense, dark bread that I would've proposed to had I been on my own.

I hated to leave it.

Sure enough, after traipsing all over the rocks and taking more photos than we'll ever need (and for some reason I am only including this dark blurry image),

SG scoffed at the 162 stair warning (along with the RED coded pathway meant for people who have lost touch with their mental health)...

...and thought it would be loads of fun to run up ahead of me to take pictures.


Photos of the wife hyperventilating. Kodak moment for him.


Umpteen years ago, just before we were married, I decided to take this same man on a hike into the Grand Canyon. I had done it several times and knew that even though I can walk FOREVER, I absolutely HATE going up hill. (Like,

if there's ever a mugger chasing me and we come to a hill, I'll just turn around and give him whatever he wants). 

Anyway, that last mile coming out of the Grand Canyon is switchbacks--going straight up. I hate switchbacks almost as much as I hate going up hills. If have to go up, I'd rather do it mountain-goat style and just get it over with all in one go, not meander this way and that way for what feels like eternity. 

So, I warned him that I would probably whinge the whole way up...and I did. I think I may have threatened to take down a couple of slushie-carrying tourists headed down the trail and just 

                                                      might have told him I was done a few times, 

but he married me anyway. 

OBVIOUSLY , Sexy Guy has a very short memory to think 

I would want to do this walk... and have my photo taken while doing it.

Next stop: Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.

Luckily, there was a young guy doing security who let us go back and forth on the bridge, while bouncing and being silly on it. He told us later about someone who had dropped their iPad off accidentally. That seems like information you'd want to give the silly couple ahead of time...

To get back to the car, we had to walk up more hills.
Ireland is sure a hilly little island.
However, I didn't whinge. I acted like traipsing up steep hills is something I do everyday. I tried not to breathe loudly, but being a mouth breather -with a deviated septum- makes gasping for air quietly no easy task. I'm not sure if coughing (to cover my heavy breathing) was convincing, but I think he bought it. We've been married a while, remind me again why I felt I had to convince him I wasn't older and fatter?
Kind of wishing we had brought some kids. He might've slowed down for them.

To make up for torturing an older, fatter lady, SG took me to an AMAZING dinner in Londonderry. We walked to the restaurant from our room (as you do when you're only a mile from the restaurant).

We went through a beautiful city park, taking pictures and admiring the daffodils (Northern Ireland got the Spring that had bypassed Norfolk). We had been told by our B&B hosts not to come back through the park after dark but to instead, stick to the road. So we did (it's a little disconcerting to walk at night through a city where all of the windows are barred, by the way) and wouldn't you know, lucky me, the entire non-scenic way was UPHILL

I was told the next day that the road we walked up is called Heart Attack Hill. I know why.

I love Derry.

I want to live there forever. Have you ever gone somewhere and thought, "I'm home"? That's what it felt like when we touched down in England nearly 7 years ago. Although I had dreamt my whole life of going to Ireland, I wasn't bothered by the fact that in 6 years of living here, we hadn't made it over.  I figured it was all pretty much the same thing, right? Our calendars were just always so full, I wasn't going to dwell on it. It was SG who finally booked my flight and sent me off saying I would regret it if we made it back to the states having not seen the Emerald Isle. Poor man had no idea what he had done. Within the first few hours of landing in Londonderry, I knew I was where I was meant to be. I can't explain it. It's just a feeling like everything is finally in the right place.

Day One complete, we charted the route for the next day and collapsed exhausted into our bed...

The Annual Checking-In Post

It's almost embarrassing...


how I show up once a year and think you'd still want to talk to me. I've missed you, REALLY missed you! There's so much we need to catch up on...

Like Stranger Things! Are you a watcher? I binge late at night when the dishes are done, kids are in bed and hubby is yet again, thousands of miles away.
(I've seen lots of great things! This Is Us, anyone?  Toby. I loved him at the beginning, now I just find him annoying). It's just me, the dog, the cat and the laptop all snug and cozy in a bed rotting our brain one cell at a time.


To think, I might have used that time more productively, say like posting...

I really have missed our chats.

Pre-Holiday Gloom or Crying in My Eggnog

Aaaand we're back to wearing the stupid plastered smile.

Can I just say, to those of you in traffic, customer service jobs, schools etc... be a little kinder to those people who aren't necessarily giving you trouble. She may be the woman who has said very little at the check-out, she seems pleasant enough;  or the van in front of you that didn't pull forward quickly enough during the green arrow.
You see, she's distracted.
She would prefer to be at home curled up in a blanket, but the demands needs of her family don't stop just because she's sad.

That woman that just passed you at the school pick-up area may be facing one of the worst financial crisis of her married life. She may be mulling over the sad truth that the bouncy, happy daughter who is holding her hand while chattering about her day is soon going to have to be told the truth about Santa, because mom has no idea how to pull off that magical visit. Thanksgiving has already been cancelled.

Words to all of the folks who think the company my husband works for (code for the bad guys) pays so much money to their employees, not true. Sometimes they even give pay cuts, or reduce income based on where they send the employee to live. Sometimes there are so many moves in the employees career, the expenses never really get paid off.

I used to shake my head at the church people or family members that expected us to bring the food, book the flights, make the calls or buy the supplies for activities because they envisioned us "better off" than they. We've got 5 kids and lived on one income for 19 years- surely that was a clue to lack of wealth?

So yes, I am sad. I am unbelievably heartbroken over the state of things at the moment... and yet I live in an area where so many lost everything just a little over 2 months ago- can I really complain that we're not participating in the over indulgent meal of thanks?

PLEASE don't feel sorry for me, that just makes me feel chumpish for confiding. What I would love to hear are some "Oh yeah, been there!" stories to remind me that things get better. Because things will always get better.

Wanderlust

I'm traveling tomorrow.
It's THE absolute, hands down, least prepared trip I have ever not planned.

Time for the 20 year-old me to show up.   SHE never planned anything... and... lots of things went wrong, but WOW! the memories.
Age ( or Hubby's work, or responsibility, or...) steals the magic of spontaneous travel.
Sod all tomorrow,  road trip here I come!

Please tell me the last time you did something that scared the sense out of you.

Just Winking and Blinking and Naught

Why is it I loooong for bedtime, but when 10:00 rolls around, I suddenly find a pile of things that needs to be done?

Surely the quiet, alone time in the house is not as wonderful as a good sleep? Especially when one takes that quiet time and finishes laundry, or dishes, or gets lost somewhere in the Interwebdiol catacombs known as Pinterest.

Perhaps that could be a New Year's resolution? GO TO BED AT A DECENT HOUR or PINTEREST IS NOT ALLOWED AFTER 9PM.

Yes, I did just jump out of Halloween, clearing Thanksgiving and Christmas in one life-rushing bound. One does that when sleep deprived.

In not so many years from now, my bladder will no longer manage to wait until morning to wake me.
Not that many years ago, there were babies interrupting my sleep.
More importantly (and probably the most concern at present) it's nearly flu season and precious sleep may be hard to come by as we pass the cold compress and sick bucket.

WHY do I fight going to bed?

Am I alone? Any other tired soul reluctant to bid adieu to the day?