Monthly Archives: May 2008

Lost Puppy has finally found his home..

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As I sit here in me room waiting for me water to boil, I conjure up the best moments of the day.  It has been a magnificent day here in Dublin.  I walked about 25km today.  My feet are sore but it was worth it. 

The past two days were a bit rough due to jet lag and too much alcohol.  It generally takes me two or three days to get used to a new place. I met the loveliest people today.  Never say that the Irish are not friendly, because that is simply not the case.  Sure, I’ve ran into my share off arses here, but most of them were Poles.  If you don’t mind me enquiring, what’s up with the Poles?  250,000 of them I’m told!  My stepdad is a pole!  :)  

After a glorious Irish Breakfast, I set out on the town.  I went and had a lovely chat with James Joyce and Oscar Wilde.  Whilst walking through council park, where Oscar Wilde’s monument is, I discovered an elderly lady with ashen grey hair.  She asked me if I was okay.  I said yes and thanked her.  She proceed to say that I looked like a lost puppy that had finally found its home whilst smiling.  She then asked where I was from, and I told her.  She didn’t believe me!  She said she’d never met a Yank like me before.  I told her that "The Picture of Dorian Grey", by Mr. Wilde was the starting point for me, and that everything I am today and my love for the arts and for writing started with that book.  We had a lovely chat and I went on about my business. 

After a touching stroll through Phoenix Park, I went to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.  You cannot help but get in touch with your spiritual side, when you walk through those magnificent doors.  I am a very respectful mate.  I’d never do anything to offend anyone, if I could help it.   I remained silent, as I walked down corridors snapping over fifty shots inside the Cathedral alone.  And, I took some really cool RAW shots that’ll take me a while to compile. 

About an hour after I arrived, they closed so I went on yet another walkabout thinking that I could find my way back to the Temple Bar district.  I was way off base!  :)   I was getting a bit worried whilst moseying down some shady streets, when a lovely chap dressed in yellow stripes and a smile passed me pushing a buggy full of garbage.  So, I said, "Pardon me, sir…Might I ask if you can direct me to the Temple Bar area?". 

He moved his arm around like an old beeping radar machine, and muttered, "Ah, gash, you’re a bit away from temple bar".

"I don’t mind the walk."

"Ah, well then, go down here…about 400 metres and turn right at the light…That should get you there in a brisk ten minutes", he said whilst pointing in the general direction.

"Much obliged, sir..Thank you for the help, I said, as I shook his hand in gratitude.

"Where you from, mate?"

"The states."

"No way, I’ve never met a Yank that sounds like you", he muttered, as he was taken aback a bit.

"Ah, yeah, I’m from the states, all right…Can’t deny that."

"What part?"

"Southern…South Carolina to be exact."

"Carolina, aye…Brilliant….Now you have yourself a lovely time", he said whilst going back to work.

I finally made it to Temple Bar and had a pint of Bulmer’s.  A lovely cider/beer stuff that is excellent!  And then, as I was walking down the cobbled stone streets of the Temple Bar district, my eyes fel upon a gorgeous redhead playing the guitar for a few Euros.  She was playing some American song.  I don’t know which one.  I had other things on my mind.  :)   I asked if I could take a wee picture and she laughed.  She asked if I was a photographer and I said yes.  She playfully still didn’t believe a word I said!  She said I was a typical ‘Merkan and full of it.  I love this woman!  :)   I like a woman with spunk and by god, these women have it!  :)   None of these women believe any of the hyperbole coming out of my mouth, and I really love that. 

I’m going to the Cliffs of Moher on the morrow.   I booked the tour with Paddy Wagon tours.  I’ve heard good things about them from a brilliant blogmatey-ess.  Speaking of blog matey’s, I ran into an Irish blogger on O’Connell Street today.  It was the oddest thing.  There I was passing Eason’s, and I saw this lad taking pictures.  I will not say who he is unless I am given permission to do so, but I walked with him to the bus stop and we talked about cameras, of course.  :)

Anyway, I’m off to have a pint before or with supper.  :)

saint_patricks_falcon saint_patricks_arches james_joyce oscar_wilde

Leaving on a Jet Plane…

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May 15th, 2008: 17:21 EST

Welp, I’m sitting at the airport awaiting my flight.  There is no Internet so I can’t keep you up to date but perhaps once I get to Atlanta, I can.  It is a particularly brisk afternoon here in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. Indeed, it is pissing down outside, but the good thing about it is that there is no wind, just huge wobbly drops of water that sting the skin when they bust into a million atoms. 

I am totally excited.  I couldn’t sleep at all last night.  I stayed up listening to the Pogues and the Dubliners.  :)   I attempted to do the Irish jig but faltered a wee bit.  Life is so short people.  It is imperative that we enjoy ourselves in whatever it is that we do.  I am enthralled by the fact of meeting so many great people in Dublin and elsewhere on my travels.  I only wish that I could stay a bit longer.  Two weeks just isn’t enough to get the feel of the place or inhale its ambience. 

 

Anyway, I’ll update in an hour or so.  Have a grand day!  :)

May 17th, 2008:  19:45 GMT

A lot has happened in the two days since I wrote the first bit of this post.  Little did I know then that I’d be delayed twice and have myself and my baggage searched by Homoleland security.  One other poor chap was searched as well.  The weather was absolutely terrible when I left Atlanta Georgia.  It was a bumpy ride ’til we got over the Atlantic. 

I spent most of yesterday walking about, snapping pictures as I went along.  It was a bit windy but absolutely gorgeous.  I met the most beautiful Vodafone sales lady.  The aggravation of the phone not working at first was well worth it.  :)   She has the the most brilliant azure colour eyes that I’ve every laid eyes on.  :)

After hanging out at the Store on Grafton Street, I walked in and out of the shops and went to Stephens Green.  St. Stephens Green is the most serene park I’ve ever seen! 

After supper and what not, I came back to the hotel and relaxed.  About eleven o’clock, I receive a phone call from an old blogmatey/podcast pal.  So, I got up and went drinking with him.  We had a lovely time (what I remember of it).  But, being that I couldn’t hold my beer, I unfortunately lost me supper along with me pride.  We had a blast though!  He is a lovely chap and one hell of a friend. 

I shall write in more detail later tonight, but I must go for now.  Have a grand weekend all.  :)

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Cantaloupe of Hope

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My love for cantaloupe started when I was a lad. I really began to appreciate the luscious melon about ten years ago. It was a blisteringly hot July morning, when me, my stepdad, and a couple of his friends went deep sea fishing 80 miles off the coast of South Carolina. At the time, I was being a good lad and not drinking any alcohol; in fact, I had bought a twelve pack of sodas to take with us before we left.

After a three and a half hour boat ride, we arrived on the fishing grounds in the Gulf Stream. I had been deep sea fishing before, but this was an all day gig. I baited my hook with the slimmest squid parts I could find and as soon as the weights hit bottom, I had two Red Snappers yanking on the rod and reel. I battled it out with Red Snapper, Grouper, Trigger fish, and Amber jacks until I tired.

The drunks got drunker, and I got dehydrated in the afternoon sun. I went into the galley of the boat, where the drinks were being cooled, and found nothing but case after case of Bud Light, an American Beer. I went back outside to find one drunk pulling in an Amber Jack and two others puking over the side.

After a minute or two of looking around aimlessly on a boat that I was not familiar with, I asked the Captain and first mate if they knew where the sodas were. They were both clueless. The first mate offered me his last soda, but I declined even though I was extremely parched.

So, I went and knocked back a beer and laid down on the small couch in the galley. That was a major mistake. It didn’t take long for the rolling waves in my stomach to match the five foot waves of the Atlantic Ocean.

I went back outside and joined the drunks vomiting over the side. The first mate checked on me yet again. I managed to get together enough energy to fish some more while we trolled with live bait. I managed to snag myself a lovely amberjack that weighed in at around 25lbs. Not long after I caught it and another bloke caught an even larger one, and we started the long journey home.

All of the drunks decided to go lay down, so I stayed on deck with the first mate. I was so dehydrated and exhausted by this point that I could barely talk or keep my eyes open. He went to a cooler that was concealed by seats and pulled out a huge cantaloupe. He cleaned his fish knife off in the salty Atlantic and whacked it in half. Then, he preceded to hand me half of it. I kindly whispered a thank you but I’m fine remark, but he gave it to me anyway. I kindly thanked him and ate every bit of that melon without one utensil.

cantaloupe

Every time I eat a cantaloupe, I think of that day. I might have fell over dead in a few more minutes, if he hadn’t of demanded that I take the half. It is a marvelous fruit of nature that holds so many nutrients. It is my favourite food in the summer time. It captures my imagination with its knotted ropes over a lush green surface rind. Well, everything captures my imagination. :)

Cantaloupe Chunks

What say you? Do you dig Cantaloupe? What is your favourite summer fruit or vegetable? :)

Hot day in Camerico

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Today, I moseyed down to the local Wolly World, or as I like to call it, Camerico super store. They have everything there included really rude and obnoxious cashiers. I was over in the pet area getting a new collar for me mutt, when I heard a lady screaming at another lady. She was laughing as she hollered at the poor unsuspecting old woman that was just wanting assistance. I was watching the entire incident unfold, when the squawking woman turned to me with her hands on her hips and asked, “What are you looking at, white boy?”

The JD from three or four years ago would have just said nothing; I’m sorry, and walked away, but not now. Racial tensions in America are only worsening with every day of the presidential campaign for ’08. I am not a hateful person, but I am sure as heck not going to take crap from anyone just because of something my forefathers may or may not have done. The old me was ashamed of his name and the original man behind it. Now, I could care less if a person hates me because of my name or not. That, in and of itself, is a form of racism. To judge a person by his or her name is as bad as judging a person by their skin colour.

Mr. Obama has only made things worse. His message may be about change, but all that he has done is bring more Neo-Nazi nuts to the forefront. And, if he doesn’t win the democratic nomination, I’m afraid that African Americans everywhere will retaliate and start burning cities as they have done in the past. Yeah, that’s a good way to solve a problem. Scare the living shite out of the white man! :)

Anyway, back to the witch in the lawn & garden department.

“Who do you think you are screaming at?”

“Are you talkin’ ta me?”

“There was no reason for you to holler at her”, I exclaimed.

“Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?” She enquired, whilst walking towards me with her hands crossed across her broad chest.

“Hollering at old women is not part of your effing job”, I hollered.

“Boy….Jamar, Eddie, this cracker is running his mouth”, she screamed, as she waved for a couple of guys to come over.

“Oh, that’s very tribal of you”, I laughingly said whilst smiling.

“Whah…Are you saying….”

She came towards me as if she was going to hit me, when Jamar came running up and asked what the deal was. She told him I was trying to tell her how to do her job. Then, the manager came over and said, “If I catch you running your mouth to customers one more time, you’re fired”.

She continued to curse me, as I walked away, laughing.

Yet another reason to love Mexicans, Senoritas especially! :)

Jefferson Davis b&w

Rainbow Falls

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I am too exhausted to write about how much fun I had this afternoon hiking a 22km (roundtrip) trail.  I’ll do a real post consisting of detail and more pictures on the morrow.  :)