Slea Head Drive...

Sunday I spent the day driving around Slea Head. It was a facinating, beautiful drive. 

Not only were there gorgeous beaches and farmland around nearly every bend but also some ancient history as well.

I walked on the beach...

Saw bee hive huts.....

Stopped for apple pie at a lovely cottage along the road...

 







Hiked down to another beach....

Visited the Blasket Island Center and learned lots of cool stuff...no pics for this place but it was really cool. And they have yummy scones!

Saw more awesome views...pics later...


Stopped at the Gallardo Oratory...a stone building about 1300 years old. Its dry rubble masonry, so no morter just a bunch of stones stacked up on top of each other. Its about 8 m long, 5 m wide and 5 m high. After the stones were stacked they were trimmed so the interior and exterior are pretty smooth - no rocks poking out here and there. Its pretty amazing to see. I will work on uploading the pictures later... They are being really stubborn! 

More awesomeness...and then I went for fish and chips, its own kind of awesome!!

Monday drove the Ring of Kerry....more on that later...

Beautiful....

I don't have words, so here are some images... enjoy...

And We're Off..

We are on our way.... first stop....Beautiful Denver, Colorado!!!!

This is the view out the window by my next gate. It was sooo beautiful on the approach. I forgot how really fabulous Colorado is...

Next stop....Newark, NJ. As soon as the clouds cleared and I was able to see anything of our approach atall , this is what I saw...

Fall in New England. Its gorgeous and not too far from New York...the city....The Big Apple....

Now,you know Bob, I'm a little geographically challenged so I didn't realize Newark, New Jersey was just across some water from NYC!  My first real clue, I'm very sad to say, was the Statue of Liberty! 

I'm only sorry because I have to admit to my total lack of consciousness about where I am!!! Oh, well, cat's out of the bag now.

The pictures here are of New York and Newark. It is pretty remarkable sight! The pictures don't do it justice. There is so much packed in here! Its crazy! 

I really believe that every place has its own unique kind of beauty, and I can definitely see the beauty here... But I wonder...how do people breathe here?

Back on a plane and headed for final destination...Shannon, Ireland!  Overall not a bad trip at all....long but nice. Arrived in Ireland at 6:15 am. 45 minutes ahead of schedule!  It was completely dark so I didn't get any pictures. 

I waited until it got light outside before driving anywhere...didn't want to combine my total lack of sense of direction with the dark and driving on the wrong side of the car and the wrong side of the road!!!  

As it turns out...driving is easy peasy!!!  I spent many wonderful hours just driving around this beautiful country!! Made a few wrong turns but it didn't matter! Below are some pictures I took along the way. And finally made it to Dingle and the B&B. I was so tired I could hardly stand it! 

This is where the pictures should be. I just spent nearly an hour trying to upload them with no luck! I'm going to try to find a stronger connection but for now...sorry no more pics...
I'm off now to explore this wonderful little town...

P.S. the WiFi is really weak so takes me forever to get this loaded....maybe you will only hear from me every other day!! 

A little secret...

Good morning Bob! 

I'm going to let you in on a little secret....I'm a little nervous about our trip! No, don't panic! I'm not nervous enough to not go, just....apprehensive. You know, fear of the "Great Unknown"! 

Here is a sampling of what keeps running through my head:

" What if....I get there, get scared and never leave my room?" This is so not likely to happen I can't believe it even enters my mind! It's not even not likely, it's just plain not going to happen! Forewarned is forearmed! Sorry scaredy cat Shawn! You gave yourself away!

"What if....I get lost while driving and panic?" This one is a real possibility, Bob. I am, well to put it delicately, directionally challenged. And not just a little bit! However, the whole point of the trip is to see the country and really experience it.  So, what better way than off the beaten track, right? Remind me of that when I get us lost and start to panic, would ya Bob?

"What if...I forget to drive on the left?" Okay, Bob, another possibility here. But, I have been reading for months about what to expect when driving on the "wrong side of the road". I think I'm ready! The first few traffic circles, and these things are EVERYWHERE, will probably ruffle my feathers a little, Bob but don't be scared. I can do this.  I found this great travel website, www.ricksteves.com. I have spent a lot of time on this website in the last several months. One of the most recent gems I gleaned is to make the scary, frustrating traffic circles into a game. I'm paraphrasing here, Bob but basically, he says to go around once and scope out all your options. Then if you find your road, take it on the second time around. If you're still not sure...go around again! Laugh at it, take your time and stay happy! I'm going to take these sage words to heart, Bob. But, give me a little nudge if I need it okay?

Wow...that was a lot about traffic circles!

Here's the big one...and really the most ridiculous...

" What if...I lose my passport, all my ID, all my money, my suitcases and my toothbrush?!?!" Wow I feel better just telling you, Bob! Its totally silly to worry about losing my ID...I have copies! As for losing my clothes...hopefully I'm not naked when said clothes go missing so at least I'll have what I'm wearing, right!?! And, really, the toothbrush! Come on.... The money thing...that would be a little concerning... but I have skills! I can scrub pots and make beds, among so many other very useful things, so I'd work it out! And, if all else fails...call home!!!

I  know these things are not going to happen. But if, on the off chance any, or all, of these do occur, I can handle it, Bob.  Rest easy, we will be fine! Great even! 

Wow! I really do feel better now! Let's get packing...I'm putting in an extra toothbrush!

It's still about my birthday....

Well Blog, I'm checking in to share more birthday goings on! Did I happen to mention that I LOVE birthdays?

Last Saturday my lovely sisters BBQ'd for me. Our wonderful friends joined us and we ate and laughed for hours!  It was so much fun! 

Here are some pics of me and my sisters. Goofy as heck and I love them all very much!! 

Since every girl should have flowers on her birthday...Deb and Steph each brought me a beautiful bouquet on my actual day! Sunflowers are my favorite! And the top pic is me...the birthday girl complete with pointy birthday hat!!  I got several other bouquets on Saturday as well but failed to get pictures. 


Here is a shot of the birthday cake! It was really pretty and pretty good! Lemon pound cake, raspberry filling and lemon Cool Whip frosting.

Yes...I'm 46...Birthday candles were forgotten so we improvised! It was AWESOME!!  

Sunday was spent doing not much of anything...seems it takes longer and longer to recover from a little party!

So, really great birthday!

Now I am spending every free moment thinking about our trip! And some moments when I'm really not free! Makes for a very distracted girl at work!

I have started gathering what we will need and want and I am just SO excited, Blog!  I have to get back to work now but I'll fill you in more on preparations later.

Bye for now....

P.S. I think we need a better name for you than plain old generic Blog....from now on I'm going to call you...Bob!

Good to see you!

Well....Hello there blog. Haven't seen you in awhile. Thought I'd drop in and leave you a line or two to let you know what's happening with me....

Just celebrated another year on this beautiful planet yesterday! I don't know if you know this about me but I LOVE birthdays! Its the one day in the year when everything is all about you and you don't even have to feel guilty about that! Its a wonderful time to celebrate self and life!

And....I get to eat whatever I want for dinner! My most favorite thing! Last nights birthday indulgence was four cheese Mac and Cheese from Trader Joe's. Or maybe it was three cheese....anyway BEST mac and cheese I have had in a very long time.  We, and by we I mean my sisters, cut up ham steak and brocolli and mixed it in and man was it GOOD. We also had a beautiful green salad.....just doesn't get much better than that!

No birthday cake...I'm saving that for the BBQ this weekend. Instead we went out for ice cream. Cold Stone Creamery.....YUMMY.

It was a GREAT day!! I have a heck of a food hangover today, though. I know you can relate...I'm sure you overindulge in the alphabet from time to time....leaves you feeling all draggy and blah, right?

So that was last night. Now I'm getting ready for my big trip to Ireland! Can you believe it, Blog? I'm going to Ireland....by myself....for two weeks!!!! Insert squeek of excitement here!!

I will be staying in a small B&B and have rented a car so I can explore to my hearts content!  Truth be told, Blog, this is the real reason I'm stopping by today... To get you warmed up for the big trip.

I guess I'm not really going by myself - I'm taking you with me! You will be my link to our family and friends while we're away. Aren't you excited??  We'll take pictures and share them here and write about our adventure! It will be so much fun!!

So....are you feeling warmed up? You still have a few weeks so I'll visit again before we go to be sure you're all loosened up and ready for the trip!

Don't worry about packing....I'll take care of that!!