Debbie Does Dublin

It is our birthday again-happens every year....we both turn the same age on the same day!

Today I went out to lunch with Shyam and some of his co workers and then went shopping. Probably not a wise idea-the shopping but it is my birthday and things can be returned. If things were going perfect at the moment, I would have been in town staring at a Chanel Grand Shopping Tote. I would be staring because even if things were going perfect, I am pretty sure Shyam would actually blow up if I purchased that bag.

What do I want-genuinely for everyone in my family to be healthy, for the there to be no more FTP chaos, and for me to be celebrating my birthday next year in Dublin (it is ok to yell WTF).

Happy Birthday Shyam and thank you to everyone for the lovely birthday wishes!

As summer has now ended, the weather is turning back to the typical Irish weather. I can only describe it as miserable because it is essentially wind, rain, cold, and then more wind. Nothing good comes from it and at it's worst it brings snow-which they haven't yet figured out how to master after 3 winters in a row with the evil stuff. This year's weather might be easier to deal with as no baby is due to arrive and both girls can walk-so at least we won't be housebound.

While the summer weather was mostly nice, the summer itself was a bit stressful. It was made much more tolerable with our trip home to visit family in June and then a cruise with Mickey in the Mediterranean at it's conclusion. However, in the back of my mind has been the ever looming question "What the heck is going on?" This is in reference to the online poker indictments that affected Shyam's work. Like all the poker players online, we don't know the specifics of what is going on. While I despise all the negative comments (especially the ones specifically directed at individuals who have no control over what happened or is happening), I am just as guilty as coming up with crazy speculation about what happened or will happen. I understand that no one knows what is going on-that is frustrating for everyone. All I do know is that the people Shyam works with (current and former) are intelligent and nice people with a genuine love for poker. They generally enjoy their jobs...I am saddened by all the hateful remarks made at their expense (especially former and current employees who can't see how their online comments affect people still working there and who may have had nothing to do with their gripe with the company).

As the chaos continues for the moment, I am taking classes to refresh my skills and knowledge so that I can work, either in Ireland or Los Angeles (or where ever we end up). A lot of people have inquired why I am doing this given the issues at Shyam's work.....why not? I sat around for a bit hating Ireland when we first moved here-harping on how it all sucked and didn't really get involved. To be fair, I will never be Ireland's #1 cheerleader but I have at least reduced my whining to once a day. Interviewing, taking classes, and getting involved in my professional community can only benefit me here and back home. Worst case scenario, I move back with my whole little family of 4 to be with my extended family.

I know it isn't in my DNA to be optimistic, but I am going to try to remain that way until I get news that is based in fact and on paper.

This was a draft from September and it still applies....even with all the chaos at the work place......AND YES WE ARE STILL HERE.

The sun is outside. It has been outside quite frequently the past few weeks. Along with the sun is some warmth AND clear skies. This fantastic weather is making any adventures outside more than tolerable. We even did some outdoor spring cleaning so the girls could play in their sand box contraption.

I did try to eat outside the other day while meeting a friend for lunch (on Good Friday)....but it started to sprinkle. Not a big deal as I am not much of an outdoor eater even in Los Angeles but that has to do more with the fact that there are crazy people and it is usually freaking hot outside.

Perhaps if it keeps up, I might attempt my couch to 5K running experience outdoors......perhaps.....

Before you pee your pants with excitement for us-we are not moving (at least I am not aware of any plans). My title refers to my core. You say "WTF?" Core as in my core abdominal muscles. I have been pilatesing (that is my new word of the day) it up in the Stillorgan, Dublin, Ireland. Stillorgan is about 10 minutes away from my house and has business there that does reformer pilates classes. It involves a large piece of equipment with boxes, springs, pads, handles, and other painful sounding stuff but I loooove it.

I love pilates. I walk in anxious about how I am terrible at it because it requires you to work on balance and coordination (which if you have ever seen me dance you would know is something I totally lack) but I walk out in pain and happy. My stomach and some random body part always hurt in the evening but it makes me feel soooo great.

I am on a scheme (oh so Irish) of unlimited classes for one month so I am trying to get as many classes into a week as I can. Next month I will add my couch to 5K running program and reduce my pilates to 2-3 times a week.

Perhaps by the time we do actually move, I will be strong enough to carry our stuff back home!

It is a new year and we have returned from our fun adventures to the States. After a month, it took a little while for us and the girls to adjust back to Ireland. I never thought I would say this, but it is nice to be back-mainly because I missed my bed. It is big and currently sleeps only Shyam and myself....no jet lagged babies.

While we were home, we were asked "the question." When are you coming home? Well we will be heading back in late Spring/early Summer for a wedding but we are staying in Ireland for a big longer. What is a bit? I don't know....but this is where we are for right now.

Since we are back for a bit, it is now time for Ms. Zoey to go to creche like her older sister. She has been going for about two days now and she is not so much a fan of the experience. To be fair, she has been home with me for the past year and getting to eat her favorite food wherever and whenever she wants. Unfortunately, her food source is me and I have things to do.....so she will have to eat the food at creche. I am sad when we pick her up and she is crying but she settle quickly and forgives me by the time we arrive at home.

So Zoey is in creche and we are here....what am I going to do? Clean my house....organize my house...declutter my house. Once that is finished, I will move onto projects I had planned before the girls arrived, complete my nursing continuing education units for my license, and look for a job.

So everyone who knows me knows that I despise with a passion living in Ireland. Did you know it is a beautiful place to visit? I could buy a huge house if I was given a euro penny every time some well meaning person said this to me. Yep it is beautiful. Very pretty green landscapes. People can be very welcoming. Guinness is really yummy. However, I freaking live here.

If you live somewhere, you do often look past the landscape. I grew up in the Valley-I think that is a beautiful place. I went to school in the mountains above Chatsworth and grew up next to a reservoir. The difference between Dublin and the Valley is that the Valley accommodates modern day living. Example-we drove home tonight and had to pull to the side of the road while we passed a bus pulling up on the shoulder because the freaking road was too narrow. That is a funny vacation story not so much an enjoyable daily occurrence.

There are very nice people here and since I have obviously had a very bad day (thus the anti Ireland/Ireland sucks rant), I will refrain from my hostile generalizations (only to be fair to the actually nice Irish people and not the ones that make cute small talk with tourists).

Guinness is really yummy. Well that will always be true and one thing that is not better in the States.

Seriously I hope tomorrow is better because at this rate I am not going to make it to December's vacation.

Seriously time passes quickly. Zoey is coming up on a year old in January and it was just January when she was born. The year is flashing by.

Dylan is going to be 3....it was just yesterday that I was concerned I might miss eating Thanksgiving lasagna because I would be having her/complaining that I was not having her soon enough.

But most scary of all-I am 36!?!?!?

We are currently in Los Angeles visiting my favorite food....and some family and friends. Alright, I do actually miss the family and friends more than the food. Our actual intention for the visit was to attend a family wedding in Northern California-which we did and it was lovely. Dylan had such a great day that she decided a nap wasn't necessary but dancing well into the evening was(which FYI for a toddler is in the 9pmish range). Zoey was the most awesome sleeping baby during the wedding day-so she became an accessory to my black dress.

The remaining days of our trip are going to be spent visiting people we can and gradually falling harder and harder off the weight watcher's wagon. Our trip will culminate with Zoey's baby naming the day before we leave. Once again our visit home highlights just how much I miss Los Angeles-earthquakes, 405, and collapsing city budget-all of it.

It might be total coincidence but Dylan has become a crazy talker since we landed on our "AIRPANE!" and Zoey has slept through the night according to the definition created by the crazies on my online mother message boards. I believe the smoggy air just makes them happy (except for the level 10 temper tantrum Ms. D threw at the outlet mall).

Today the Irish celebrate their national holiday in honor of St. Patrick-the guy who brought Christianity to Ireland a long time ago. Based upon the recent, ongoing, and neverending craziness that is the Catholic church child abuse scandal, I am surprised people want to celebrate this guy. Certainly most people don't really know or care about why this guy was given sainthood but most (except for the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, and idiot lemming priests) are appalled at the behavior of the church over 50 years ago and presently.

Enjoy your Irish themed meal, parades, and green beer-but don't forget the little children and young teenagers that were abused by the Catholic Church......because it appears that the Irish government/Catholic church have.

Awesome. Fabulous. Lovely.

This is how I felt when I found out my entire blog got wiped due to some computer page hosting whatsawhoseit thing. So all my ramblings about my love (cough cough) of Ireland are lost. Fortunately, I never tire of complaining and Ireland has a never ending list of things to complain about-can't fault my positive outlook on this situation.

To be fair to Ireland-it is sunny outside, there is no snow not being cleaned up for me to complain about, and it appears that the Irish are just as fed up with their country as I am.....Perhaps their voices can make some changes-well at least their votes since I am allowed to pay taxes but not vote nationally.

Looking forward to sharing my thoughts in the 2010....