The Curious Case of Richy McCusker...

Richy has to be one of the most curious people I know! With that being said I get to see some really cool and interesting things because of Richy's curiosity.   This week we were both off so we went up to Cavan to help Richy's sister and her husband paint their new house.  On the way up Richy planned a fun day out for us!  Looking back over the pictures I realized I had the perfect blog title for this set of pics......Enjoy!

Here we are at the "Hill of Tara" Where the head king of Ireland used to sit.  Richy loves these kinds of places...to me it is just a pasture with weird little hills and lots of sheep sh**. 

Richy going to all the little hills to read about them!  I only braved a few because of the mud everywhere.  I mean I had mud on my knees..how does that happen!?

My day was made when I saw this momma with her babies..I was only brave enough to snap the pic from this position.

Give Richy the camera and we get much closer.  Momma is getting a bit nervous though.  We realised quickly that the babies are only a day old. Cause when little baby got up it could barely walk and had it's umbilical cord still hanging down!

Curious people get better pictures! :)  Isn't this baby too cute?!

As we were leaving we could see this old church remains from the road so we went off the path to find it!  Glad we did.  Richy quickly found a way into the site, that i probably never would have noticed!

This pub was across the street.  Such a cute little Irish Pub!

I turn my head for one second and someone is on top of the darn thing!

"what else can I climb?"

On to the Belinter House Hotel!  Such a cool hotel in the Irish country side.

In the parking lot. Curious Richy found a "cool" American Van...so naturally he opens the door...

Oh my Gosh!!!!

I am completely prepared to tell the owner of this van that Richy is touched and it is his day out of the institute! HA! Luckily no one was in the parking lot! GEEZ!

I wanted to put up pics from inside this Belinter House, but my Internet is kinda slow!  Maybe my next post!  It was beautiful inside! 

Hopeful!

Well here is our latest recssion fun! Make cool posters of ourselves!  yay!  Anyway with all the doom and gloom around it is hard to remain hopeful, but with a little faith I think it is totally possible! :) Got this cool idea from Andrea Knights blog!  Thanks girl!

What are your favorite quotes or Proverbs?

Just thought I'd do a blog on some things I find interesting about Ireland.

4,062,235 is the population of Ireland. The size of Ireland is just a bit bigger than West Virginia.  I feel that going to college at the U of A has given me connections all over Arkansas..meaning I can drive somewhere and go oh yeah I'm in Lonoke...Shea's parents live here...and so on and so on.. Well I feel Ireland has the same thing going..Everyone knows of everyone else..

Arkansas's population as of 2000...so I'm sure this has grown is 2,673,400.  Just to put # of people in perspective.  

Some odd facts...or at least I find them odd.

• Presidential contender Barack Obama’s maternal great, great, great grandfather Fulmuth Kearney came from Moneygall, in County Offaly. Mr. Kearney came to America in 1850.

(and they don't let you forget this one lately!)

• One of the most popular radio shows in rural Ireland is still the weeklybroadcast of local obituaries
• The vikings founded Dublin in 988 (old old old)

And a few Quotes by notable Irish 

"All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed."
- Sean O'Casey

"You know it's summer in Ireland when the rain gets warmer."
- Hal Roach

"This is one race of people for whom psychoanalysis is of no use whatsoever."
- Sigmund Freud (speaking about the Irish)

"A wise man should have money in his head, but not in his heart."
- Jonathan Swift

"Failures are finger posts on the road to achievement."
- C. S. Lewis

Now some Irish Proverbs!

If you dig a grave for others, you might fall into it yourself.

Cheerfulness is a sign of wisdom.

"Maireann croi eadrom i bhfad."  
A merry heart lives long.

May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.

"Nil aon tintean mar do thintean fein."
There's no fireside like your own fireside.

Anyway what are your favorite quotes or proverbs?!  One of my favs is by Henry David Thoreau,

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined."

Happy Birthday to ME!

I had a fantastic Birthday on the 21st of January! Mom and Dad surprised me with a 9am my time phone call, that means they had to get up at 3am their time! I spent the day walking around Dublin and shopping (note buying and shopping are two different deals)  I had a nice little chat with Leah on her way to work and got to talk to other friends as well.  I was excited to find out that Lauren and Daniel Rew had their baby boy Jackson!  Yay I'm so excited we get to share our birthdays!  Then Richy was home and we had some yummy wine and cheese before heading to dinner.  I absolutely loved the restaurant Richy took me to!  It is a fabulous Pizza place called Miller's Pizza!  The gourmet pizzas are definitely something to write home about!  Then we had an after dinner drink at the Dylan Hotel! Very posh!  I love the interiors of this place so it is just a treat to walk inside for me really. www.dylan.ie check it out! 

Thank you for all the birthday well wishes!  I have the best family and friends! :)

Not Your Normal Sunday Drive

Sunday we decided to take a drive to South County Dublin.  I quickly realized this is the Hollywood Hills of Ireland.  So many beautiful mansions overlooking the Irish sea.  Stunning!  Lots of famous Irish film directors, authors, and band members live in this area.  We had a great time just wandering about, even though you can probably tell it was quite windy.  Notice how green everything is!  We entertained ourselves all afternoon and ended the outing with fish and chips in a quaint little pub.

Today I have one more test to finish up the semester and then I have a two week break until the next semester starts.  During this time I am going to spring clean (so I don't have to do it in the spring...office quote here) I am going to create Richy a website, use my gym membership, read a new book, and look for a part time job!

GET THIS!

Notice to any "artists" out there!  If you move to Ireland and create original work you are not taxed on your income.  I can see where this idea was good in theory.  Preserve the arts and help struggling artists get going...fine! As you know I am a huge fan of original art, but I think this law is being taken advantage of.  Artists like Bono, Collin Farrel, and many other Irish stars aren't paying taxes in Ireland.  Everyone in Ireland has their ideas about how to get out of the recession and who should be taking pay cuts.  Here is mine...tax the millionaire "artists" their 40% like the rest of the Irish public are paying and I think we'd see a large surplus of money! Imagine if Hollywood didn't pay tax?! Don't think we would let that one fly...esp with Obama about to take office : )

(note I am not claiming to be an economist, or an expert on Irish culture, but I just can't get over this one.  I know there are loads of nutsy American laws as well! )

Fayetteville get together!

I forgot to put up pics from our Fayetteville Holiday party at Molly and Coy's house!  So wonderful catching up with everyone!  This crowd all are doing such different and interesting things right now!  I have to say though when we get together it is as if nothing has changed!  Sometimes we act like big 16 year olds! ha! Thanks Molly and Coy I really enjoyed getting together with everyone!

Some things I have observed!

Here are a few things that I have found to be interesting while being in Dublin.  Also I got lots of questions when I was home so here are some answers to common questions I got!

 Drinking age is 18 here! Driving under the influence is taken more seriously here in my opinion.  Richy won't drive after two beers.  I also have to say that I don't think the Irish people I surround myself with drink anymore than friends and family back home.  The drink thing would be a stereotype here in Ireland I believe!

Irish young people going "traveling".  It is very common for a person to graduate get started in their profession and then just stop for 6 months to 2 years to travel the world.  We're talking all over and nearly every continent.  When questioning the expense of it all, I am told most take out loans.  Which leads me to the next big observation.

If you are Irish and you go to a public college (kinda like a state school..ie U of A) you don't pay for college.  I'll repeat.  College is literally free here.  Of course you have to have the grades, etc.  My friend Clair went to a well known college in Dublin and said she paid a 700 euro registration fee. ( think I'm right on that number) The education is great here too!  So since students aren't burdened with student loans, whats taking out money to travel the world!  Probably the best education yet!

We spell word different than Irish and UK people.  For example Color and Colour.  Favorite and Favourite.  I learn more nearly everyday!  Weird!

This just might be me, but do most of y'all have a mini trash can in every room? Kitchen , bathrooms, laundry room, bedrooms?  well most of the homes I've been in have one trash can.  This American can make some trash!  Richy had to give me a lesson on recycling and I thought I already went above and beyond! 

Anyway enough random thoughts for now! Happy Saturday!

A few more home pictures!

Christmas eve at was at Mom and Dad's this year.  We change between ours and the Gramlings!  Anyway probably my favorite time all year!  Loved getting to catch up with old friends and new friends! 

Here are a few more pics from being at home!  Our Harry Cat was so happy to see me as well (he didn't even care how horrible I looked after traveling all day!) This family pic was taken probably 8 times til everyone was happy with their looks and position of the tree.  ha! Here is Dad chillin like a villain by the lovely wine bar.  Leah and I on Christmas day. I'm sure there will come a day when staying in our PJs all day won't work, but we're gonna do it as long as we can!  Thanks everyone for the best Christmas yet!  I loved being home and can't wait for my next trip!  

Lots to blog about!

So I'm a bit behind on my blogging!  I got to go home for a while which was so so so nice!  I loved getting to spend time with family and friends.  Luckily Fayetteville had warm weather too so that was an added bonus!  

Where to begin!  Well you've seen my posts visiting with Rachel and Leanne and Emily.  Then I was off to Little Rock for our "friends 7th annual Christmas party"  Ashley hosted this year again and did a lovely job!  As we all spread out it is nice to come together for some much needed time with the girls! : )

Here we have Sarah (Memphis, TN) Courtney (Fayetteville) Kandace (Little Rock) Ashley (Little Rock) Cristin (Providence, RI) Jessica (Conway) Mandy (Little Rock) Annie (Little Rock)

Yours Truly (Dublin) Shea (Charlise, AR)

After being back in the ville I had a fun night out at Bordino's!  Thanks to Sarah Clark for moving tables and we were all able to sit in the front bar! ha! Bordino's half price wine bottles made for a fabulous night out!

Molly, Emily, Joanna, Theresa, Leah, Suzanne, Lindsey

One more night out with some friends who happen to all go to my church. Mallory joined us as well!  I was having a serious Mexican food craving since it is few and far between on this side of the pond!  Sometimes I dream about cheese dip! 

Mwah, Brandy, Jo Kaye, and Kristen....Jo Kaye your house looks fab by the way! : )

I loved getting to see everyone, but the best part about being home was just being home!   Dad, Mom, Leah and I had the best time!  Besides Leah and I being messy...haha! We went on nice walks around campus, went shopping, went out to eat, went to the movies! Played games (Dad you loved them) ha! What a vacation?!

Okay so gotta get back to my studies...lots more pics to come! 

Happy New Year!