here's what's happening-kind of

For the two people that are interested, I am doing lunch with a buddy next week and, (hopefully) amongst other problems I am going to discuss the pros and cons about my on/off American trip.I actually have made a list. I have other problems that I have been carrying around for a number of years and I feel I really HAVE to get them out of my system. To be honest it might take a couple of pints, or even talking to a professional, but I really do need to talk to someone.

My spoiling myself plan (new year's resolutions) is actually taking shape. Some are trivial little things but-it still counts as treats. So far (and I DO have a list made) I have got the following

1 A denim jacket

2 Two pairs of DMs (well I kind of needed new shoes any way, so does it really count?) but these are great footwear.

3 A graphic novel-got a Batman one-not as good as I was led to believe, but has got me back into the graphic novel mode again.

4 A tripod for my camera

 5 A funky new lens for the camera- a sigma 28mm f1.4

6 New hiking boots and gaiters

7 New cycling glasses

I am thinking about getting a personal radio. And I may do a photography course. I did have one booked but cancelled it as travel times to get to it proved most awkward.So may try another in May.

I'm  sure I could get some other stuff if I make it to America-but the chat next week will decide that. I have sized up the fors and againsts for that. And I’ll let yous 2 know next week.

I’m kind of off Face Book for lent and I may go with tradition (well it is with us Irish) and log in on Saint Patrick’s day to see what’s going on and to see if I'm missing it or not-so far I’m not. I know I can log this on there without having to log in myself.

Marnie-I’ll send you an email next week.

Incidentally Friday is traditionally treat day with me and amongst them is a packet of free state tayto cheese n onion-but I’m off the crips for lent-arrrgh
Incidentally Marnie thank you for your comment on the last blog-glad you liked the humour.

lent

Lent. Ah got to be the 2^nd most important  conversation  period after Xmas (ok Christmas). After the question “What’s Santa bringing you?” the runner up is “What are you giving up for Lent?” Now it’s not “What are you doing for Lent?” It’s “What are you giving up?”

Lent is a very Catholic thing, although I do know one or two Protestants who do the the Lent thing too mind you. Although I rarely go to mass I do do the Lent thing.

I have noticed that it has it’s unofficial rules,obviously invented by the Irish-we’re good at get out clauses.

1 You can be too young/old to give something up

2  As some people give up “the drink” for Lent and St Patrick’s Day falls during the “holy period” You are allowed to break you Lenten fast on this day.This also applies to sweets,cookies, whatever etc I personally think this clause is for wimps-and never adhere to it.

3 If your birthday falls during the period this is also an excuse.I mean how can a child have a birthday party without the goodies and how can you go to a friend’s birthday party and not indulge in the feast of goodies.

4 Bending the rules-some children would give up sweets but not crisps (potato chips, or as we in Derry say crips) And some parents would allow the offspring to eat sweets on a Sunday-as “Sundays were not lent” (I remember my sisters hording the weekly sweet collection and at the stroke of midnight on Saturday evening it was a dive into a multitude of enamel rotting delicacies)

5 –Rather than give up sweets. We would give up swearing,dodging homework-or just something we should not be doing in the first place.

Like I said I do do the lent thing-and I’m good at it. One year I gave up sweets and chocolate and I actually  managed to stay off for three years. What started me again? A very attractive new girl at work who I was flirting outrageously with offered me a square of chocolate and I fell off the wagon. Another time I gave my self a real challenge and added meat to my “off” list-including chicken. Now this was a real struggle for the first week. I was even having nightmares about it.One I remember vividly involved a very sexy woman from a car advert offered me herself or a plate of steak and chips-yep I took the steak

And the whole forty days and forty nights thing. What’s with that? Somebody told me this was a rough translation from a Hebrew word that basically meant “a long time”

So when the great flood was forty days and forty nights this could have been 100s of years.And when Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights it might just have been five or six hours. I mean they had no watches then-had they?

Some people say the Lenten going off stuff is the easy way out and we should be doing something good instead. A woman at work says I should be going to Mass every morning at 7:00 am or at night during Lent-like I said they are trying to bring religion into everything now! Even though I am anything but devout the Lenten habit is just that –a habit. And helps get rid of some excess weight too  For me I think the Lent thing for me is more of  a personal purge that a spiritual thing.And maybe it’s easier to not do something than take on a new challenge.

ruts -can't live without em

“You can be addicted to a certain kind of sadness”

“When something goes right

   Well it’s apt to confuse me

   It’s such an unusual sight

   Oh I can’t get used to something so right”

Couple of song quotes for youns there.From songs by Gotye, well Gotye (featuring Kimbra) if ye must be pedantic about it, and Paul Simon. And pray why am I quoting these? I have these (kind of) and Marni to thank for making me realise something about me. My rut is a comfort zone.

Yes if things are generally not messed up or generally bad- I think something is wrong and it doesn’t feel right.

A couple of three examples. Much that I love cycling I have no great speed. Longevity-yes. I could cycle all day if my life depended on it-but cross the line first in a race? No chance. I was taking part in a quadathlon. Now this was a town council run relay race with 4 clubs in the town :- canoeing,running,cycling and swimming (in that order).The teams were chosen as a draw,so that there would be no superteam. In my team we had a very good canoeist, a good runner, me and a swimmer. Now when it was my turn to start my bit,we had a very good lead-I could not figure out why nobody was passing me.I only realised my lead when I was just over half way on the return leg and I met the first cyclist. My team actually won-no prize just my photo in paper holding a free t-shirt(that all entrants got) The t-shirt just had the 4 events,did not mention it was a relay race-so I had great fun misleading some gullible women into thinking I did all 4 events. Incidentally the next time i did the race things were back to normal and i was only 3rd off and 2 cyclists passed me.The third time doing the race it was a very wet and miserable day and i was so peeved i forgot my number and called out the wrong one when i arrived at the pool. I just grabbed my free t shirt, threw my bike in my car and made my gettaway and showered at home.

I was taking part in a cycling race 6 laps over a pretty hilly route. It was handicapped, and me being the weakest that night I was off first.This was my 3^rd time on this course and I had only just sussed out the knack of handling the route. Normally the other riders would catch me half way round the 3^rd lap and lap me on my 5^th . But this time I was half way round the 4^th lap and they had not passed me and I thought something had gone wrong and the race was cancelled. They caught me just as I went into the 5^th lap. After the race one of the guys in the scratch group came over to me and gave me a big pat on the back. He was confused why they did not get me at the usual spot, and thought I had dropped out, and said that he was really surprised when he saw me up ahead when he did-I told him I thought THEY had dropped out and I was on my own.

Now in that race I was doing pretty good.I was getting stronger (believe you me the hill was a toughie) AND I had learned how to be strategic (or something).But like I said,rather than think that I stood a chance of doing well-even win. It just did not feel right and I breathed a sigh of relief when the main bunch passed me.

At work my boss was giving me a very good annual report-I asked him to tone it down a bit as I did not fell comfortable with so much praise.

Ruts can get too comfortable. So comfortable you can’t live without them.Someone in a tv show said that if you don’t expect anything good to happen you are never disappointed. Home Simpson said  "Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is: never try."

Henry Ford or somebody else –who’s name escapes me said that whether you think that you can or or whether you think you  cannot do something you are right.

SO to cut a long and un-understandable  story short. I have sussed out probable flight times.Someone has suggested a different end to my holiday-I can easily (I think )add on a couple or three days to the itinerary. And anyway I could have a new comedy routine if it does go bad.

So it looks like the usa trip is definitely on. Unless of course that is, if Connie sends me an email to say that I stole her heart too and that she is coming back to Ireland to meet up the same time I am heading out there. But then-how in the name of cody jarrett’s mother could I handle some so good as that?

answers please-usa visit in jeporday

One or two or three  of you know I am in the process of planning a trip the the u s of a in May/June. Now the planned cities are Washington D C  and Philadelphia-not necessarily  in that order .

Now to say that I can be contrary is an understatement. In fact in the dictionary the definition of this word is Gerard Carton.

Much that this will be a big adventure I am going out of my way to find an excuse out of this. The only one that makes any sense is that I don’t like the idea of being airborne for that long a time. In  saying that, on my holiday last year I bussed it from Derry to Cork.Admittedly there was a 2 hour gap in Galway-and someone who flew from America that morning arrived in Cork an hour or two before me.But the bus is different-it is one the ground and I can see the scenery changing. One of the silly excuses is that my brother needs a loan to buy a car-now if I lent him the money that would mean I could not really afford the holiday-well actually I could,but I would convince myself that I couldn’t. Another reason is that a woman at work said that I was brave doing such a journey on my own, and not that is playing on my mind.Another is that if I can’t fly from Shannon instead of Dublin I’m not going.But I AM visiting travel agents to see what i can get and on saturday i will have a serious long chat will local travel agent.

Now to be honest I would much rather be hiking/cycling in Ireland.And I actually can afford the usa trip and do at least one cyling trip in the Burren (where I want to hike as well)

So someone please convince why I should go to amerrykay ? Another woman at work is egging me on to do the trip with the “you’ll be dead a long time” reason. And another woman who does not usually appreciate my warped humour laughed and gave me a “y’know you’re the sort of person who would do that” look when I told my scheme if I get a day in new york.

Remember the famous connie who’s picture I put up on another blog? I googled her shop –so I know the address. I was going to stand outside the shop –wait until she turns to look out the window –I would wait 2 seconds and then I would turn and walk away. Now that would really freak her out-serves her right for stealing my heart.

So like I said I would be much happier cycling/hiking in Ireland drinking ales that I like,munching crips that I love and hearing music that I adore, and   ( well most of the time) cycling on the left side of the road.

So would somebody please convince me why I should go to America? please?

new year's dodas

Well we’re almost through January and it’s time for a first look at my new year’s thingymiboggers. Right let’s see.

1. Stop lending money to family members-well nobody has asked yet so I’m ok there, BUT my brother’s girlfriend had a baby a couple of weeks ago and I have decided to start a trust fund for her. Something she’ll get when she’s 18-and also will give them a little something as a pressie to get some stuff now. My other brother’s daughter will be 21 in June and as I am her god father I’m going to give her a good present and let him off with the rest of money he owes me-as long as he uses it to get her a present.
2.  Stop lending books. That is going to be very easy, BUT I am yet to get 2 books I lent to a cousin last summer-but then I have not seen him in a while to ask for them back.
3. Big holiday other than my usual ICS trip.Welllll to be honest I really like the ICS trips so I might do a special holiday AS WELL as one of these,as there is a chance of a possible reunion with some people this year. I am considering America or a cruise. The cruise would be good craic as the grumpy cynic in me would have field day here complaining.
4.  Learn how to use photo shop properly.Wellll I have discovered a one day course that could help me here-and will be signing up next week when that savings thing matures AND there is also a landscape one in which I can learn some exposure tricks-so looks like I’ve done ok with that one.
5. Relearn the computer stuff I did at the night classes –ummm still a non starter.
6. Find my smile again-I am trying, so here’s hoping
7. Sort out all the free cds and record the good stuff. Wellll  I’ve listened to 3 or 4 of them so far. But to be honest not sure if they are worth recording. Then I will start on those free cds I got with some camera mags.
8. Be good at my job-I AM trying. And I am cutting down on my sneaks at internet at work and try to just use it on breaks.I have warned everyone to expect stupid questions from me too-so I think I’m doing ok here too.

Spoil myself a bit more.Well as you know the savings thing matures at end of this week and I have  made a list of things I want

    A new hiking boots

     B new gaiters

     C  Tripod

      D Holiday abroad

     E   money for the 2 nieces

    F    new cycling glasses

     G  a personal radio

     H new headphones (may be)

     I   a cheap suit (or 2)

     J   suggestions welcome

But as I said, knowing me I’ll probably find an excuse not to do this. I think the cruise would be an experience. But to be honest I’m not sure if I would enjoy it. A trip to the states is very tempting I must admit. One or two of those things I would probably be getting anyway-so maybe they don’t count as treats. ANY WAY I AM going to try to enjoy as much of this money as I can-no doubt the sensible side of me will find some serious use for it.When I started it 15 years ago my aim was to go on a splurge.It’s worked out at about £4000-so we’ll see.

As for the other new year’s stuff-stay tuned

another facebook blog

I am intrigued by  the many view points about the mighty Facebook. And reasons people have for NOT going on to it.

Me? I think it is handy, but at the end of the day-I think I could manage without it.

I have often wondered if Mr Zuckerthingy started charging a membership fee how many people would still use , it. I suppose if he just charged $1 or £1 a year he would still make some money..

I must admit it was via FB I got in touch with a couple of people I lost touch with.

And through one of them I “met” someone who is most entertaining, and is actually keeping me on the blasted thing

But if seems to rule people’s lives. People use it to communicate instead of emails.They even announce where there are-“jack is currently in Debenhams” and it shows a map of which branch he is in. I half expect to see “Jack is in the 3^rd cubicle from the left in the toilets in the Foyle Side”

I hear a few stories of people hacking into FB members accounts and doing nasty things –but then this can happen anywhere.

I don’t see the point in putting on people you see everyday in real life as friends as I would far rather have real conversations, be it on the phone or face to face.

On the other hand I like it when someone makes a comment and other people respond to it-be it serious or funny.

Someone in my rambling club requested me as a friend. On his info page he had 2000, yes 2 thousand friends. I was curious about this and he explained that he was playing a game and to get help on it you had to take people on as friends. Not for me.

Like I said it IS a nice way to keep in touch with people far away-I did get in touch with 2 people –well 3 –but one of them has Spanish as a first language-she lives in Miami or somewhere-and despite her being serious eye candy I just could not understand her comments. Another one was always putting up notices to join clubs like “click like to save little doggies called Brian being kept outside the house.”

There are some people I would like to see on FB as I know I would like their humour.

But it’s the way it seems to take over peoples lives that gets me. And Oh! I recently “liked “ a page for a tv show that I like. One of the comments about something I asked was in Spanish-I ticked the box to translate it and it was one of those chain things that said if I did not repost and get more than 25 likes, and if I deleted it I would die painfully that night. Hmmmm.

In saying that and digressing –via facebook I found out about a record fair in Derry in 3 weeks time and some interesting things about a cycling magazine I like. So it’s not all bad.But Jack I don’t really need to know your every movement. And my brother’s girlfriend recently had a baby-I was emailing my other brother her name and he said that he already knew as she had it on her facebook page-not long after the birth.

To conclude when used right Face Book can be good fun. But it can take over your life.

Now Twitter is another thing.When I started that I seemed to see a plethora of comments on what people where eating.But discovered that following famous people is much more fun. Even following road traffic reports is good fun too.

That’s it.

happy new whatever..i suppose

Happy new year and all that sort of stuff. Can’t see what all the fuss is about. The world is suppose end this year too-if you believe/understand what you read, I can safely predict that it will end on 12^th December 2012-well it has too with a date like 12/12/12 and  if doesn’t well then we’re safe for another 10 odd years when it will end on 22^nd February 2022.....maybe

A recent Dilbert cartoon I saw (which is probably 2 or 3 years old by now) summed up the whole new year thing for me in this line “I don’t celebrate the magical thinking that says one point in the space-time continuum is somehow special”

And the whole new year’s resolutions baffles me too-why change/stop habits that have been bringing you pleasure for who knows how many years just because it’s January 1^st?

Any way new years resolutions never seem to last more than a couple of months any way. And besides Des McDonald said “every day is a fresh start. No matter what happened the day before ,approach today with a clean slate”

Now this brings me on to Lent. Lent is a catholic thing( although I do know one non catholic who does it). Lent is good way of giving the failed resolutions another go. Despite being agnostic, I take lent very seriously (kind of) I can go off something and stick to it for the 6 weeks. Once I went off sweets and managed to stay off them for 4 years. One year I gave up meat-but in the 2^nd week I was having nightmares. I remember one in which a very sexy French actress came up to me with a plate that had a juicy steak on it-she told me I had the choice of the steak or her-yep I choose the steak. Never realized how much I liked my meat. A very catholic woman I work suggested that instead of giving something up I should go to mass every morning during the 6 week period-yeah,no fun in that.And i got i very stern glare when i asked her if there was any totty out at mass at that time.

Fifteen and twenty five years ago I took out 2 savings plans the 15 year one matures at end of this month and the 25 year one matures in June. The 25 year one I must be sensible with. But the 15 year one I am going to use most of it to spoil myself-to maybe a big holiday abroad. But knowing me it’ll just be the usual cycling holiday(s) in Ireland-and be sensible with more than I intended. Suggestions most welcome. I have thought of a cruise-but I would spend most of time criticizing the entertainment and rip off excursions-to be honest I would be in my element there

So here’s my new year’s resolutions-most of which I’ll not keep

1 Stop lending money to family members (no chance of keeping this one)

2 Stop lending books that I want back (pretty good chance here)

3 Treat myself to a big holiday-a change from ICS (very slim chance)-ideas welcome

4 Learn how to use photoshop properly (no chance –been saying this since elements 7)

5 relearn the computer stuff I learnt on that course I did 2 years ago (ha ha)

6 find my smile again(no chance tried this last year-did not last long)

7 go through all the free cds and record all the good stuff and dump rest(too much like hard work)

8 try to be good at my job (now THAT I am going to make an effort at)

9 Spoil my self more(will no doubt find reasons not to)

10  Swear blind I never made this list (most definitely)

11 try to inject more humour in these blogs

Incidentally Des McDonald is a chef-just thought what he said made a bit of sense 

suggestions for the big holiday still most welcome