Andy and I are doing a 10k challenge today, called Hell and Back (www.hellandback.ie) – can’t say I’m feeling too confident about it. The last couple of weeks we’ve run further and longer than ever, but I must’ve read the website and examined the course too much, coz this morning I feel old and tired. Best get my shit together and get on with it… laters.
I am on holiday from work, and following a pleasant week in France I am now hiding from the outside world. Unfortunately living where I do means there is the constant threat of meeting a colleague on the street or in the car park, and being asked a work related question or this delightful illusion that work no longer exists otherwise being detracted from. A careless comment about a current office situation can somehow dilute the restorative effects of the hiatus, shortening the perceived time remaining until reality must once again be faced. Thankfully the positives of this year’s fortnight far outweigh any ‘countdowns’ that were the bane of many holidays over the years. My obsession with the analysis of my own perception of time seems to have been quietened (perhaps with alcohol? Alas no, my allergy to beer is well and truly documented by now – but the wines are ganging up too, with midnight heartburn on consumption of more than less than a generous amount)
In any case, quiet couch time with bloody good books has been a big part of recent days, and I’ve come to realise how much I enjoy coming across previously dog-eared pages. I know there are some who find this practice completely intolerable – but I find the evidence of another’s previous enjoyment most agreeable, with the feint but unmistakeable marker in the top corner, the weight of the books closed pages unable to completely erase it. The memory of once asking someone if they would mind my dog-earing a page, and the subsequent look of horror and superior disapproval on their face, makes me more determined than ever that this shall be the manner in which progress through books of mine shall be marked. And if you are a visitor in my flat you can rest assured that neither my wife nor I will expect anything less. In other words, you can stick your bookmark up your arse.
I think my last update was around the time I was working in Galway, for a company so far up their own ass it would be almost impossible to verbalize. The worst and most difficult installation I’ve ever done, and I’ve done many. There are still some ongoing issues but I’m gonna do my best to make damn sure I never have to go back there. Suffice it to say you can hear the banjos playing from the car park – the 091 area code now fills me with dread when I see it on my phone – I think a change of ring-tone is in order, just for them.
In other news, there are a few new pregnancies in the family – Liv’s is official, but I’m not sure about the other one so best keep it on the downlow. Looks like a couple of new arrivals around Christmas & New Year. Colour me surprised. (Just don’t colour me Bad).
Not gonna talk about the job, coz, ya know, if you can’t say anything nice…
And ‘The Winter Dressing Gowns’ was my wife’s idea.
It’s been a heavy enough week – day off Monday following our big annual tasting with C. Gibney & Co. in Glasthule – managed to get up early & take my kitties to the vet for their booster vacs tho. Chilled for the rest of the day but reckoned my recurring world famous throat infection was in the post & she struck by Monday night. Answered my emails from bed on Tuesday, but no sleep for two nights in a row fucked me up, big time. After an early meeting Wednesday morning on the other side of town (which was empty, due to the Queen visit, who I thought had broken up) and a heavy day of office catch up, I was in no mood to get up at six again today and drive to Galway. But that, dear reader, is exactly what I did. Was just finished up with the customer at 6.30 in the pm when I realised they had locked my laptop into an office and gone home – ‘fiddle-de-dee’ I said to myself, ‘what an inconvenience’ ! A few phone calls later and a little waiting around and I was all packed up and off for a fish supper in Moran’s with Andy B.
This is my last trip to Galway for a while – my installation is now finished and there are no more on the immediate horizon. Moran’s is a great discovery, will try and get down here later in the year with Fi who I know would die for the crab claws fried in garlic - the best seafood I’ve ever eaten anywhere, hands down, and the nicest staff in the history of everything.
I’m terribly popular with ‘Buy Tramadol’ and a few Russian chicks who want to have sex with me, but them’s are the only comments ):
It’s been a really busy April/May with two installations that had me away from home a lot (final trip this Thursday) and generally speaking the work has been all there’s been. We don’t have enough money to get to Aspen, we don’t have enough money to get home, we don’t have enough money to eat, WE DONT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO SLEEP! So we’ve watched all of Trailer Park Boys, including all the movies, I’ve been channeling Bubbles wherever possible. Also bet into Forbrydelsen at the mo, pinching off an episode whenever possible. It’s dark as fuck. But highly recommended. Gotta go, there’s an omelette calling quietly from the other room.
There are a lot of them. Some are SO cool they don’t even put the third ‘w’ on ‘www’, they just say ‘ww’ dot whatever dot com. Now that’s cool.
Wow, i totally remembered my password for adding new posts which is awesome. I also managed to turn up for jury duty at the courthouse today and not get picked for a dangerous driving trial which is a total result. Have to go back next week and go through the process again and I may eat my words for saying this, but what are the chances of getting picked for a jury twice? (I was on one a few years ago in Wicklow) – Pretty slim. Got a lot of work done over the weekend and have almost finished completely refurbishing my “office” – just the desk to arrive on Thursday and a few snags and it’s done. Such a nice place to hang out and have a drink and play video games in now – the Mrs. chose the colours and all the little deets and they’re great. Will post a few pics to the flickr feed when it’s done. But now, pie…
Paddy’s Day is awesome for everyone in the world except us Irish – it’s the one day of the year where you make totally fucking sure you don’t leave the house, and if you do it’s only for a few minutes to replenish critical supplies like water and potatoes. Already the drunks of the town are starting to take over with their vomit and joint rolling and abuse. I plan on spending the day painting, but I got home from my pub night out with Dave to discover that my ladder is down in my sisters house in Dalkey, so already it looks like I’m gonna have to break Paddy’s Day rule No. 1. <sigh>. At least small children live in that house, I’ll be able to call down at 7.30 and they’ll be awake – I might even get a pretty decent cup of coffee out of it.
To be realistic I probably won’t wake up until 11am and feel completely empty inside about totally wasting my morning. And because our town has a totally shit parade all the streets will be blocked off and I won’t be able to get my ladder, and consequently won’t be able to make the kind of progress that would satisfy that part of me that needs a job that has a beginning, middle & end. <double sigh>. OK. I have the power. Going to bed. After TPB Season 5 Episode 6.
Major congrats to my man Colm Creamer and his good lady Elaine on the arrival of their son, Conor James! The official nucular family!
So my Mrs. is not too well at the moment – a chron’s flareup is the last thing we need but that fucker strikes when you least expect it. This ridiculous commute to her temporary job in Harmonstown doesn’t help – we’ve to practically get up in the middle of the night now, even on Saturday, and it sucks ass. My neuralgia pales into insignificance next to the horrible sickness & all-day nausea & inability to eat that she has – think she has finally given into the fact that sick leave is unavoidable.
Saturday night we’ll be out to meet Phil & Pony & Andy & Chris, and maybe Jane & Krust and Roo and a few others – not sure yet – but it’s bound to be a nice reunion of folk who haven’t seen each other in quite a while. In days like these it’s the simple things in life that keep you going. Peace.
(By the way that jibe about not really liking most of the people I know is total crap – you know that, right?)
