The Holiday is Over

Craig went back to work yesterday and now I am left to my own devices during the day. Yesterday, I explored the city center. It's about a 20 minute walk down the Shankill. It wasn't too bad despite my anxiety of getting lost. It was a weird feeling walking down the Shankill Road. Maybe it was just my paranoia, but I felt like all eyes were on me and I clearly didn't belong here. This is a protestant area and catholics are strictly prohibited. I'm Catholic and even though Craig says that I don't count because I'm not Irish, I still feel unwanted here. I walked with my head down and focused to my destination praying that people don't find out that I'm a Catholic even though I don't really count in their eyes. I'm just an American. It's the Irish Catholics they hate. I can't help but feel the hatred.

Even the peace treaty was signed a few years ago, there is still tension in the air. And you can see it with union jacks flying from almost every household and murals that are a constant reminder of the hatred between the two religions (pics later I'm too lazy...I always say this). Religion is weird.

On the household front, Craig and I are doing well relationship-wise but this trip has been a true test. Ever since it has started it has been falling down like dominoes. The motorcycle crash, the trip to the west has been one farce after another, and now our living situation has taken a turn for the worst. His stepfather, out of the kindness of his heart, said we can take his empty house rent free at least we'd have privacy and our own space. It was an ideal situation until we saw the place. The fusty smell was unbearable and seems like it hasn't been cleaned for years. Mold and mildew on the walls. The kitchen unappetizing and the bathroom was disgusting! We stayed the night and I just had this icky feeling like I wanted to take a shower 20 times to watch off the stench of the smell. I didn't want to touch anything! All I can do was put my head in my hands and sleep. Craig wasn't too happy about it either but he has a stronger stomach than I do.

So back to his mom's house. Both of us can't sleep in his tiny single bed so he gave it to me and he's sleeping in the living room. It's sad but that's the way it goes. No hanky panky.

So we're looking for a room/apartment to rent for two months. We visited a nice hip lady in a well to do area of town. She has a double room to rent but the room is so small there's barely enough room for our stuff. This will be our last resort. His coworker said he saw a bunch of room for rent signs in Lisburn. We're going to check those places out today. If we have no luck with this, we'll call the lady with the double room tonight. Fingers crossed!

I feel like a vagabond. Coming in and out of places. No place to put my feet up and relax. Oh well...

In Deepest Darkest Ireland

I am in Fanore typing on the boy's mobile and watching a movie in front of a cozy fire. Alot has happened. Got into a motorcycle accident and experienced the NHS first. Consequentially, relied on public transport sitting on trains, buses, and taxis to reach our cottage in the burren. Loved Galway! Tomorrow off to Doolin and Aran Islands for a day!

Daily Report Card

I've been here in Belfast for a week now and it has been action packed. Thought I would do a brief update on what I've been doing so far...

1) Settled in sweetie's abode on the SHANKHILL! (More on this later)

2) We shopped for groceries together and WE cooked our first meal, spaghetti bolognese! He seems to enjoy cooking with me and is a quick study! I taught him how to make American french toast which he loves! He eventually wanted to try his hand at it alone the next morning, he made me breakfast in bed. Awwww!

3)I met his friends A&J, a lovely couple who live 20 mins from Belfast! (More on this later) It was the first time I was on his motorcycle in a very long time and I was shitting in my pants.

4) Met his friend Micheal who owns a vintage clothing store. Sweetie had to buy new jeanw cuz he's getting fat. LOL!

5) Took a lovely ride along the coast and now I have lovely hemmorhoids. I have a few pics but I'll upload them later. Too lazy!

Now it's time to accompany him to his doctor's appointment and experience the NHS which basically consists of sitting in the waiting room for 8 hours until you are called (that is if you're not dead by then). FUN! FUN!

Mad World or I Hate Packing

See! I'm not the only one that hates packing...

Daily Activity Report

I got my eyebrows shaped and a haircut! I look and feel fabulous! :D

I called all the credit card and cellphone companies to confirm I can use my cards and cellphone abroad. Thank god it was quick and painless!

I refilled my prescriptions.

I bought snacks for the plane ride and toiletries.

I just received my new camera! A Canon Powershot S5 IS. This sucker is one bad ass mofo! Lots of bells and whistles. It's easy to use right out of the box and so far it has taken amazing pics! The adapter and wide angle lens didn't come in yet. I hope it arrives on time. Check out these pics I took in the backyard.





I got my Dainese shirts. I officially look like a cool girl biker. Now sweetie doesn't have to be embarassed being seen with me. He does have a reputation to uphold you know.

Left on my to do list:

Get documentation in order
Buy more jeans, tops, underwear
Replenish bare escentuals makeup
AA Batteries and Battery Recharger
2MB SD flash Cards
Pack

I think I'm on the right track. Still dreading packing though.

Starting to Sink In...

I'm moving to another country with 12K in my pocket. I am restless and losing sleep. There are a lot of "what ifs" going through my mind. What if our relationship doesn't work out in the end? What if I'm flat broke? What if I get sick? What if...what if?

If "what ifs" prevented us from doing the things we wanted to do, then what's the point of living your life? Living in fear is a terrible way to live. What a waste of time thinking of what may or may not happen. Especially things that you have on control over and for the things that you think don't have control over, chances 10/10there is a solution. Just think there are other people who have a worse off and don't have this kind of opportunity extended to them. And here I am bitching and whining. I tend to magnify the negative too much. If I keep focusing on the negative it will get to Craig (he hates it when I'm like this) and will ultimately be the main cause of the downfall of our relationship. Just think a year and half of hardwork, tears, longing put into this relationship because of my irrational thoughts. It would be a damn shame because what we have so far is damn good.

What happened to the girl who spent a year living in Africa and travelling to Cuba?I have seemed to lost my sense of adventure and vigor for life somewhere in the midst of the daily mundane. Sitting in endless hours commuting on a bus to work and endless hours lost in a sea of cubicles. Doing what people expected me to do despite the fact in my soul and heart, I didn't want to do them. It just wasn't me.

Whatever happens at the end of this journey, good or bad, at least I'll look back and say that I lived my life the way I know I should. I hope it will shed insight into who I am and what I really want without outside influence. Maybe this journey will never end and it will be full of little discoveries along the way where I share my happiness, discoveries, trials, and tribulations with someone who I wholeheartedly love.

What's For Lunch?

Sweetie has been sending me pics of his lunch and makes me play a guessing game. I don't think he himself knows what they are. Entrees at his work cantine have been a running joke and chefs are cordon bleu flunkees. Much of it is questionable at best and the combos are interesting at the least. Gordon Ramsey would have a field day!

Hurm...Fish Sandwich w/ Crab Salad on Top? I wish! Chicken Sandwich with I dunno?




Left over chicken sandwich tossed with lettuce. You can tell the chef took painstaking thought in this one.




Fish and Chips with Baked Beans?!? I think I just threw up in my mouth!



And the piece of resistance (literally)....

Whatever it is had sweetie sitting on the bog for three days!

Math Dilemma

Flippin' Yank: Baby, my motorcycle gear which excludes helmet and boots weigh 13lbs. I am assuming the helmet is about 5lbs and the boots about 4lbs. That's 22lbs! My baggage allowance is 50lbs. This only leaves 28lbs for clothes! Therefore limiting my fashion options and this does not include SHOES! *whimpers*. $125 for each luggage over the free baggage allowance. Is it worth it?

Craig: Find out what it would cost to ship your motorcycle stuff here and see if it's less than the extra baggage. But make sure you can get it here for when you arrive. Remember you are saving a shit load on the trip as a whole anyway so even if you do have to pay extra for baggage you're still saving :-)

This is why he has a 129 I.Q.

Bittersweet Anticipation

Nine Days until I see my sweetie! I can't tell if I am excited, scared, happy, sad...I am feeling a whirlwind of emotions right now.

I was crying all night because I was missing him. May sound cheesey but my heart felt like it was about to explode thinking about him. How we laugh together until our sides hurt and can't breathe, running my fingers through his 'bear suit' (how I affectionately refer to him being a hairy guy), watching him sleep and looking at how cute his unusually big toe is, motorcycle rides and how at stoplights he reaches behind with his left hand to caress my calf, eating out and sneaking tastes off each other plates, the list goes on...

I love him fiercely and intensely but why so morose? If anything, I should be jumping for joy that I will see him VERY soon. Not just visit but live with him for a few months.

Why the tears and longing? It just doesn't make sense. Maybe I'm setting myself up for the impending heartbreak for when I leave which is always the way it ends when see each other.