Motherland and Friends '09

Early stages...it's all talk right now....

Motherland = Cro
Friends = Turkey and Greece

I'm stepping my international travel game way up.

...and here's hoping it's not all talk and no action. No one like a fraud.

Real World Labelle

Blueberry Lake was a slice. Bomb chalet, fantastic company, ridiculous food and enough belly laughs to harm a small child. The weather was perfect for sitting inside. I had big dreams of going snow-shoeing (until I discovered that they're not those fun tennis rackets - more like half-skis), cross-country skiing (until it started raining) and tubing (until the weather turned brutal and windy). Instead, I was part of the quartet that drove down the mountain into the town of Labelle in search of tonic water, milk, frosted pink lipstick, toothbrushes, crazy glue, contact solution and joke fodder. We found all of that and more.

It was a weekend of firsts - played proper pool (proper = not using my hands), tried pomegranate vodka, and started a fire (in the fireplace). I'm a big girl now.

Fats Domino

found his thrill on Blueberry Hill and this weekend I'll find mine at Blueberry Lake. A select group of us are packing it up and taking the party to Blueberry Lake, spending the weekend at a luxury chalet. If you recall from my experience flying first class to London, I've stepped my lifestyle up and will only partake in A+ events. Yeah, right! The weekend will involve outdoor activities (like steaming our pores in the hot tub and building snow forts), eating like kings and queens and dressing up in 80's cast-offs. Hotness.

Lost again

This time it's my FOB. This is the second (or third?) time I've misplaced it and I refuse to shell out another 50$ for a replacement. It's really because I'm too embarrassed to call the condo corp again and tell them I need another replacement.

I wouldn't normally care, but I use the gym there to work out. So much for that.

Lost and found

I found my swipe card. It had fallen behind my desk...wedged between the filing cabinet and wall. Someone pushed it back there and it wasn't me. The papers strewn across my desk are like little Gremlins and I wouldn't put it past them to grow arms and mischievously hide the card where I sure as hell would never find it.

Also found in the same location was the temporary card I had to get while I searched high and low for my own.

Swipe card still at large

But I have found a particular hair clip that has been missing in action for a while. It was on the floor by my computer, probably exactly where I dropped it many moons ago.

Now if only the two waterproof Revlon eyeliners, NARS lipgloss and MAC lipglass would reveal themselves. Oh and my HBC points card. Seriously, where does this stuff go? My place isn't big and I use one handbag. I should tie these items to my wrist with string - for sure I'll never misplace them again.

Alert the Ghost Hunters immediately.

My swipe card at work has been stolen. Somewhere between using it this morning to get into the office and right now, it has been lifted from my possession. I've checked the kitchen, bathroom, desks of colleagues, not to mention my own, my bag, jacked, hat and gloves (it won't even fit in my gloves, but I checked any way).

This sort of thing has happened to me before. Enough times that it worries me. Sure, I've misplaced things and claimed that an unknown power or other person has taken it, only to find it where I last left it. This isn't the same thing - I sense something sinister in action. I'd like to hear from any clairvoyants out there that can see exactly what happened to aforementioned card.

Tania says

Kelly has implored me to stop adding posts to this blog. Naturally, I can't. Clearly, GoGreenIreland is wrap and my daily trips to Tim Horton's don't evoke the same imagery.

Both Am and Killah have Cro on the brain. Amy is the latest addition and I hope it works out. Trifecta! [Little known fact - trifecta is one of my favourite words.]

One month and one day ago

I was tossing back beautiful vodka at a sketchy bar in Belfast while Kelly attempted to pace me. Awww...the memories.

One month ago, Kelly and I were crying like suckholes on our return British Airways flight. We attribute this to our lack of sleep because we wouldn't cry otherwise - we aren't babies.

Motherland '09 requires that Kelly learn some key Croatian words. I think it would be fun for her if she learned and communicated with the Croats on her own.

New travels!

To Montreal. It's all tentative (and mostly all in my head), but we are all going to pack up, get in an automobile and make out way to Juhee's (so...Juhee, what are you doing in two weeks?). I imagine it will involve shopping (only national sport I participate in), eating and imbibing.

From Ireland to Quebec...we are nutty! What's next?

Travelling today

to the downtown core. My trainer has resurfaced and we're meeting at my gym downtown. He will be sorely disappointed with my behaviour. Will he quit me? Will I quit him? Stay tuned.

An aside: Am missing life on the rails. Kelly, are you?

Completed

a repeat of yesterday's Tim Horton's performance. Just returned from a brisk walk to Timmy's on Woodroffe and Medhurst with a large double double in hand. Interesting, no. True story, yes.

Hit up the Tim Horton's

on Merivale and Meadowlands today (sidenote: they have Timmy's at some choice Spar locations in Ireland!) and ordered a medium double double with a triple-toasted bagel + cream cheese. Ottawa's finest.

I'm not travelling overseas right now, but one can consider leaving my home and getting in the car to get to point 'A' techinically travelling.

Motherland '08

is a wrap. It was an outstanding 12 (11?) days spent in Ireland, Kela's homeland. Heartfelt thanks to Kelly for bringing yours truly and the same to Leah for the opportunity.

Killah and I are tossing around ideas for Motherland '09. Croatia is on the agenda and we'll throw in another country - maybe Italia? There will be a blog for that, too. We'll probably update this one because we're used to it now and we don't want to disappoint our fans. I know there are more than the 8 of you that are following this blog. Those 8 are the die-hard fans that don't have to pay membership fees.

Back to reality..it ain't cute..

Oh, where to start? I'm at my mom's house sitting in front of the computer just absolutely missing Ireland. I almost have tears swelling in my eyes. The Country has made such an impact on me that I had a slight breakdown on our flight back home yesterday, the tears just couldn't stop rolling down my face (some into my mouth, whole new meaning to water works). I guess the reason why is the reflection of what Tania and I had experienced and how lucky we were to experience them.

Belfast was amazing. The history that holds this city together is outstanding, the fact that the history is still their reality to this day is mind boggling. I don't need to tell you about the segregation of the Catholics and the Protestants (Tania has already given you a snip it of it), but it's so intense that you can't even ask a local what their religion background is in fear that someone may overhear you or their answer. As your walking down the streets, you see the police "walking the beat", you can feel the intensity that this city isn't a joke. The flip side of Belfast is that you can go for a day trip and view the Causeway which is over 5million years old or visit the shipyards where the remains of the Titanic is resting or take in the history that lays right in the city center.
Belfast is just in the beginning stages of rebuilding itself. They're hoping that in 5 years the city will rejuvenate itself in being one of the most sought after cities to visit. I say, go now, so you can see how beautiful it is before they overbuild it with high rises and department stores. Once this happens, visitors will not be that interested in the history that is so thick in Northern Ireland.

Our last day was one of our favorite day's. I was able to finally get my families name tattooed on my back with the memory of my father. It was a emotional day. Full of energy and excitement and the fact that I met someone doesn't hurt either ;p
We spent the better part of the day trying to explain what I had invisioned to be written:

' T.Kelaher
Oct.11,1944-June 12,2005'

But it didn't come out like this....a few times. The handsome shop owner Erik may of had a hard time explaining it to Andor who didn't speak English very well. The final design is absolutely beautiful and I love it.

In closing, this trip has opened my eyes to something that I am sure I will be infatuated with for the rest of my life. Traveling is meant to open your eyes, to learn how someone who is just like you has lived a completely different life. People's lives are so rich with what we hold so dear.. ancestors, past history and the makings of new history.

I am surely blessed that I was able to see Ireland and relay the experience through my eyes of what my father had dreamt of his whole life. I didn't cruise the country in a Winnebago like he had imagined but view with my dear friend Tania.

Thank you to the people who have been following this journey with us. There are more plans in the works to see Tania's mother land Croatia in the near future..stay tunned.

This is Killer K signing out xo