Ireland ~ What a shite hole...

Feb 21st we flew out to Dublin from the USA. We worked on our small business and got to know Dublin pretty well over three weeks. Signs like. 'Probably the best pizza in Ireland' still haunt our memories.

March 16th we left Dublin to travel around Ireland by rental car. Mike got sick immediately and did not stop having diarrhea for approximately 10 days. Something nasty.
Somewhere in that time we saw Casper and Nadine in Cork, on St Patricks day no less, we were offered accommodation but declined due to Mike's potentially infectious pooh.

The highlight of the 10 day trip [Other than poohing a lot] had to be watching an Irishman drive his car on a beach. He was obviously having a great time doing donuts, and tempted fate twice by driving into the ocean. The third time he wasn't so lucky, he got stuck and a set of waves rolled on in and pummeled his precious Honda Accord. Much to many on lookers delight. [What a dick] Even when onlookers ran out and tried to convince him to leave the car, he wouldn't. More waves rolled in, this time lifting and spinning his now worthless Honda Accord. We were positioned on a hill overlooking the beach, so we had a perfect view of the events, especially how he kept his hands, white knuckled tightly on the steering wheel as the car got spun around. At some point he must of got brave and let go long enough to flick the window wipers on as waves literally crashed over the bonnet / hood of the car. The futile wiper blades where no match for waves but it did give us a brief glimpse of a terror stricken facial. Eventually a Land Rover pulled his sorry arse out of the sea, with his worthless scrap metal in tow. 15 seconds later another wannabe was doing donuts no more than 15 meters away, obviously showing him up.

March 26th we left Dublin by ferry for Wales, then by train to London for a few days, before we departed for Aruba in the Dutch Caribbean for Heather's brothers wedding......

Ireland was an interesting experience to say the least. The Irish drink and they fight. Usually in that order.

Well.... Two months now. Here's what we have been up too.

• Some tripping around West Virginia, but there was no snow. Some hiking, they don't do tramps here. (Alas) We tramped anyways - a cross country ski trail, that had no snow, actually it was stream most of the way so I was pretty ex tactic about that - we biv'ed the night in the rain without a fire, because we are such dicks, and forgot matches... and could not make fire with our - ur um, sticks...
• A trip up into Connecticut, Brrrr.... But no snow. Mike got very sick and stayed in close proximity to the porcelain for three days...
• We started a business in the USA - It's called UNeepe, Inc - Distributing Touchstones.
• A visit to NYC. Cost us $35 USD to park the car for 24hrs. That's a bargin eh! Our Hostel also cost a total of $35 USD for both of us - Go figure.
• We have exhibited in a trade show. Good learning experience. Will do that again very soon!
• We have stood on the battlefield at Gettysburg and witnessed the reincarnated soldier spirits in the form mental juvenile woodpeckers, doing fierce battle in wind chills of approx -20C. Frightening stuff!
• We too have stood in this cold, barefoot by the BBQ, in snow (finally some snow now!) at a log cabin in West Virginia. Fortunately we had a roaring log fire to retreat too.
• Have spent a good amount of time at Terri's place, Heather's, [insert American accent] Moms place, playing with the pets, Shadow the dog & Simba the bird 'green cheeked conure'.

Of course those are just the highlights, there have been some very long days on the interstate listening to some very cool audio books, such as Enders Game, Speaker for the dead, Gates of fire, Star tide rising, Sundiver, and The uplift war to mention a few. Gates of fire and Enders Game I highly recommend. (Mike)

We fly out to Dublin 20th Feb.. My goodness... Guinness awaits us. (Dam Pelican)

Avrival in the USA

So I have been in the US (Fairfax, Virginia. Washington DC) for almost a month now, whoa, where's the time gone! I arrived on Dec 11th and have been shown the most gracious hospitality and kindness by all of Heather's family and friends here. (Especially Thad and Pamela Lurie, Heather's bro & sis in law) Between Monty Python quips and Dark Crystal quotes it goes without saying that I feel very welcome.

I guess a few of you have been wondering whats been happening seeings how I have neglected to write or call, well we have been busy, taking a break! I think the best way to share it is with some pictures, and the odd description / story to accompany it, and if I remember correctly it might even be chronological...

Mike