And the countdown gets serious-almost

Well –we’re getting close to the serious countdown for the American trip. At time of bashing the keyboards it is something like 17 days-well if you count the overnight in Dublin pre flight it is 16 days. Whenever I finished my ICS holidays some Americans, along with the farewell hug said “And if you’re ever in the states –call and see me/us.”

I never thought I would be doing this-AND I am meeting up with 2 people out of my top 6 favourite people I have met on these trips-and I have met a LOT of people over the years on these holidays. There is one person-who is actually in New York I have lost touch with (despite my attempts to get back in touch) I think I have her email address somewhere and I think I know were her business is. I am not sure if trying again and letting her know I’m coming over would freak her out or not-so am holding back. Maybe, like in the movie “Serendipity,” fate and the powers that be will throw us together –what was it April said to Adam in “The Hot Tub Time Machine” –“Maybe the universe will bring us together again...” (don’t ya just love ellipses ? I can’t get enough of them… )ANY WAYS where was I? Yeah-maybe fate will throw Connie and me back together again-romantic old sop that’s me. Maybe this USA  trip could also become a regular thing-maybe stick in the one place for a whole week next time? Or even a meet up and a usa version of an ICS holiday? Maybe I’ll even meet a new Connie and soon I’ll be saying Connie? Who’s Connie?

So now I’m working out what I want to buy and do over there. Hope to get a new camera lens, graphic novels, cds,bobbly hats and tacky stuff-maybe a shirt or two. Of course see the sights, do a tour on bus and all that. And being the culchie that I am, I’ll be complaining about the exorbitant prices I’m paying for a coffee and a sandwich, and will walk up somewhere like Central Avenue looking around at the shops/stores mumbling “Jeez, I might as well be in Derry.” You never know I could make new friends there too. Might even take a couple of bags of the red taytos or our chocolate or  chocolate kimberlys? Also wondering what lenses to take with me-mind you the current kit lens which has a battle scar –so embarrassing/typical gerdy hoe it happened-will be left behind somewhere in NY/DC.

Hope to recover from the terrible 2013 cycling year and get more miles in this year. Also want to give the Irish Language holiday thing another go too, but hope to get back into my normal time for holidaying which is August. But it’s too early for me to be thinking about summer-let’s get NY and DC out of the way first-things can change.

Right good,bad, and the ugly

GOOD

Obviously the American trip-excited and scared about this.

The year of culture in derry-did not see a lot of it-but what I did catch was great. The all Ireand Fleadh was outstanding. I got to see one of my rock idols, Elvis Costello live-managed to catch one song on movie mode. And I actually met and spoke to the members of one of my favourite bands Bell X 1 when they did a free acoustic pop up gig in my local record shop-got them to sign the current album and got some photos and filmed one song too.

The Irish language/culture holiday was new and very different-by coincidence Carolyn from last year’s cycling holiday was on this too and she coaxed me in to doing the set dancing classes –which was great craic, a number of people told me I was actually good at it too.

The rambling club had a great year too-over at the Lake District again-weather not the best-in fact on first day we had rain of John Ford western proportions-but the craic was 90. And some great walks on the home island too. And I’ll explain the rock story when I am in NY and DC.

Music wise-the David Bowie surprise album “The Next Day,” Prefab Sprout’s “Crimson/Red,” and John Grant’s “Pale Green Ghosts” were all excellent-Bowie’s is as good as the stuff he was doing around the time of “Ashes to Ashes”. The Prefab Sprout one is basically Paddy McAloon on his own now-but this one is up there with the likes of “Jordan The Comeback.” Paddy is pretty ill at the moment, terrible problems with both hearing and eyesight. And music in general-got back in to my music last year-said it countless times before but to say my taste in music is eclectic is an understatement.

We’ve passed the shortest day of the year-so technically the days are getting longer. We won’t really notice until the end of this month-but hey. That’s not that far away.

BAD

The Tayto chocolate-cheese n onion crisps. Crisps and chocolate together-very bad idea here. Just did not work. Did not taste good to start with-but that after taste that stays in mouth when done was somewhat nightmarish.

The whole flag (pronounced fleg) carry on here. Should never have started in first place-made the situation here a laughing stock-makes me laugh any way.

2013 cycling year for me was a non event-hope to make up for it in 2014-if it was not for the rambling club I would have got no exercise at all.

Internet connection where I am-nuff said.

On a serious note, life in general. But then bad things do happen. We’re not immortal and life comes to an end sometime. But for some people it seems to come a little too soon. In the book “The Princess Bride” it finishes with the line “Life isn’t fair. It’s just fairer than death, that’s all.” Reason for this is because a cycling buddy of mine is pretty ill and it’s not looking good-sorry folks

The ugly

Selfies –fed up seeing and hearing about these things-but in saying that will no doubt do one or two when in the states.

The mud on my mountain bike- but will wash after next mtb ride.

Technolgy-just when I have the money gathered up to get the new canon 7D they will announce the 8D-which will be even more better than the 7 –as long as they just don’t bring out a replacement for my sony personal minidisc for a while I’ll be ok.

Currently hooked on that minefield game on computer-on the middle level at minute-soon as I do a complete one I’m on to the hard one-and am doing pretty good at minute.

Reading over these things and correcting mistooks is a pain.