Whine and Cheese

It's rare for me to dream about having super-powers, and when I do, it's usually never a surprise while I'm in the dream. The dream started out with me literally flying over a large body of water. It was raining and I was actually loving it. I zoomed over the water until I came to the coast in Ireland.

At some point I came upon a castle or a large complex. I knew I wasn't supposed to be there, but I wanted to get to the top and take some photos of the landscape. I was leaping from ledge to ledge. Leaping heights seemed to be more uncertain for me as I kept misjudging the distance. Why I didn't just fly to the top, I don't know.

While sitting on one ledge, I found a notebook and pencil. Before I could check out the book, I saw an audio recorder that was kicking on and off. It looked an old walkman and I worried that my moving about was triggering it. I took the pencil for some reason and leaped down to leave.

I ended up in a pub, having a fun conversation with the barkeep and the other locals. It was a weekday as "The Price is Right" was on and everything was in Euro prices. The barkeep was shutting down for a few minutes to go do something. I started gathering my stuff, but everyone was staying. I remember looking at a local map on the wall, debating on where to go next.

The next thing I know, I'm naked, in a separate room. I strutted back into the main pub area and everyone was still there. Several folks were surprised, but I just walked to my table, grabbed my clothes and started dressing.

After getting my clothes back on and putting my backpack on my shoulder, I stopped by the door to say goodbye to everyone. A lady at the bar with a beer was laughing and commented that I should have kept up the show. She asked me if I had a girlfriend. I replied that I didn't and that I didn't have a boyfriend either. She looked surprised and asked if I swung that way. I told her that I was gay. She told me that the barkeep wasn't a fan of gay people as he thought they were "wicked" (I can't remember the exact word used, but it was something like this). I told her that I did just streak through an Irish pub, something I always wanted to do.

The lady at the bar told the barkeep that I was gay. The look on his face was one of surprise. We had been joking for a long time while I was there, so I guess that he never figured it out.

I never got his full reaction as Milo the Cat head-butted my chin to wake me up and feed him.

Watch on YouTube

I'm on the last leg of my trip, the last stop being here in Bunratty, Co. Clare, Ireland. The Bunratty Castle is literally right across the street from my hotel, which is a really cool sight. I love castles. I took a tour at the castle and the folk park that surrounds it, which are constantly being patrolled by a gaggle of roosters that crow all the time (as evident in my video above).

No big write-ups this time, but the photo gallery for the castle and grounds is here. The end of the gallery has some bearded bears visiting the castle along the time I was there, including a cutie for cincycub. Heading home on Friday.

James the Tour Guide at Reginald's Tower
Click the photo for the gallery
I didn't make it to the Kilkenny Castle today. I went to bed late, some jerk decided to bang on my door and run as a gag at 3 AM, so I didn't get up until noon. After hearing about the lack of photography I hadn't had much desire anyway. I got dressed, ate lunch and decided to visit Reginald's Tower instead.

( The rest, cut for the uninterested )

As requested by snowboardjoe, here's my very first video post, totally unrehearsed.


I'm squinting and blinking a lot because it's windy and raining in my face. I'm looking away because there are some weird skater dudes nearby... and well... lots of "ummmm's" as I wonder what to say. It's as real as it gets.

I hope everyone in the home area is doing okay after getting a bit of shake today, I hear.

And does anyone know how to change the preview shot on the video. Geez, I look like I'm about to spit up...

Last night was interesting. I went to the hotel pub for a pint and a sandwich that I basically had to go get myself. Not a good start for the hotel pub, seeing how it's the first visit this week.

I went to bed around midnight and was snoozing heavily when I heard this pounding in the hallway. At first I thought it was a kid or something in the room next door and I patiently prayed it would quit on its own. It kept going .. and going.. and going. Finally, I looked up and saw it was 3 AM. So I threw on my PJ bottoms and opened to the door to find some bleached-blonde chick in a pink dress that was so short that we'd call it a halter top in the States. She was continuously knocking on the door across from me.

At the same time, a lady from across the hall had opened her door and asked what the hell was going on? The blonde was pounding on the next door and asked if one of us would call the room.

"Umm.. honey.. that's what the reception desk is for!" I said groggily.

The lady across the hall relented and called. We heard the phone ring in the room with no answer. The sleepy lady across from me told her to quit pounding and waking up everyone and just go to the desk.

I shut the door and tried to go back to bed only to hear a car alarm go off in the parking lot outside my window. I thought, darn her, that blonde has tried to get into the car next. The next sound was that of a police car siren, very short and to the point... then silence. I hope they took her in.

The drama of life, it is everywhere. Even at freakin' 3 AM.

It's been a long week and I admit that I'm thankful it's finished. Work has been long days and have extended into several hours each night. It's not left me a lot of time for anything else.

Last night I went out the company folks for a pint and an Indian dinner which was incredible. My diet has gone to hell this past week, though I tell myself I've been compensating by hitting the gym at least a half-hour every day. I'm off to walk to Swords, a nearby town today for some shopping and a movie. It's about 2 miles away, but I need the exercise after last night's pigout.

The oddest thing about the trip so far has been my apparent lack of perception of time. I left my watch at home and my cell doesn't work here, so I've left it off for the most part. My internal clock may be adjusting, but my awareness of the time of the day is still fouled up, especially with it getting darker later here due to being at a higher lattitude.

Okay, this is a pretty boring post. I'm buying internet time at the hotel today, so I can post the photographs I've taken so far later tonight.

I'm up and staying up. I can't risk going to bed as the time change will be murder, so I'm on my 24th hour being conscious. I did close my eyes a few times on the plane, but I really couldn't call that sleeping. Just remember, I'm five hours ahead of most of you now.

Just the highlights as internet costs here are astronomical. My hotel charges 10 Euro/24 hours. That's about $17/day, if I want to use my computer in my room. If I want to use the one in the lobby, it's 1 EURO for 8 MINUTES! Good heavens... Luckily, there is an internet cafe down the road, where I am now, that charges 2.50 Euro/30 minutes, which is still high, but at least manageable. Sadly, my posts will be fairly limited until I get to my next destination in Waterford. Their high speed is complimentary at least.

Highlights from the flight:

• Young hip Indian girl with fresh Tinkerbell tattoo on her shoulder (covered in petroleum jelly or something) spills apple juice in my lap on my way to Newark.
  
• Handsome Asian guy in a business suit keeps looking back at me from his seat one row up. Not sure why, but he was cute.
  
• Lavatories on the flight to Newark are just tall enough for me (I'm 5'8"). If you are taller, like say, chrisglass, I have no idea how you'd fit in them. And as for mile high stuff, only contortionists could make it happen.
  
• Newark flight ran late, mad dash for flight to Ireland in airport. Good thing I wore my tennis shoes.
  
• Young cabbie who drove me to the hotel was wearing more perfume than a French prostitute. I had to roll the window down to breathe.

Okay, heading into downtown Dublin for lunch and sights. I'll post photos when I can.

Click above for more pics

In response to some requests from my LJ friends, I went through my 350 some pictures from my Ireland-England trip and found a few more worth posting. These are some odds and ends really, but I liked the quirkiness of some of them. Enjoy...

I spent the majority of yesterday working on reports. I have to force myself to remember that I'm not over here on holiday. Still, I can squeeze a bit of sightseeing in when possible. On my walking around yesterday, I finally found the internet cafe, in this little dive of a place with a counter clerk who spoke almost no English. It was a bit creepy, I think I prefer the visitors centre.

I also found part of a 14th century lookout tower on my way back to the hotel last night. It was being slummed by some local teenagers, so I held off visiting until this morning. It's really quite impressive considering it's age, but sadly the local teens have taken to leaving their trash about and some minor graffitti graces it's interior.

So, I dropped off my laundry at a cleaner for about $10, which is a bargain compared to what the hotel charges. Just a few odds and ends to deal with before packing tonight for England. The traveling I admit is starting to wear on me a bit, I'm starting to long for home, but that's typical as the third week is about to begin.

... and thankfully, there are now three bearded daddy bear types in the visitors centre right now... sigh... :)