Days 2 & 3: views from the monkey

In side car lingo, the passenger on the side car is called the monkey.
As I have zero desire to drive on this trip, I am the monkey.
Happy to hold that title.

So the monkey hears-sees-and smells things that maybe the driver doesn't experience..

Side cars are a novelty here in Ireland, and as we pass through little towns, I hear shouts and cheers, feeling a bit royal...should have worked on the royal wave!  Cutest things are what the little kids call out:  twice I have heard a parent reply to their kid "Yes, it is like the motorbike from Wallace and Gromit"

As for seeing, besides the photo worthy castles-churches-and cliffs, I have also seen plenty of cows (close enough that we give each other a stare down), a few sheep, and of course a  few close encounters with the curbs (not really, hubby has done a fabulous job of juggling the host of hazards that await us Americans when we take to the narrow roads, with always presents round abouts from the other side of the  road than we are familiar with)

And as for smells...oh my, the sea mist, the dense forests and even those cow fields provide me with an ever changing stream of olfactory treats.

As for my initial thoughts of riding in the sidecar:  I say keep it coming, being a monkey is way cool here in Western Ireland!

And we are off...Ireland Day 1

What  a difference a day makes:   Yesterday we left Colorado and now some 24 hours later, I am sitting in the cozy sitting area of a lovely bed and breakfast in the town of Adare, Ireland.  Hubby is taking a siesta, fighting off jet lag, and I am enjoying the down time before we head out for dinner.

Earlier today we picked up our rental Royal Enfield side car motorcycle and hubby and I will spend the next week or so, touring the western coast of Ireland.  I shall leave the technical talk to hubby, but suffice to say, we are both looking forward to where the road will take us.
First stop is Adare, a town that boasts being one of Ireland's friendliest and prettiest towns, it gets it's name from the Irish Ath Dara which translates to the ford of the oak. It sits along the River Maigue, and the castle ruins date back to the 13th century when the Normans invaded the area.

  While maybe not on everyone's must see list, Adare has served as a perfect start point for our adventure.   The rental company, Retroventures, has its' home office nearby and today they celebrated the grand opening of their motorcycle shop where they will sell motorcycles (specializing in the Royal Enfield brand) and accessories.

With a quick test ride to Limerick (and to get ourselves situated with Irish SIM cards, as this is a working trip for hubby), we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the small village.   We took a brief tour of the Desmond Castle.

 This castle, with its Norman origins, is considered one of the best preserved ruins, and our guide Vera, shared a wealth of knowledge of the castle and the efforts to restore it.    What a contrast to last summer's tours, today it was a group of just 4 plus the guide.

The town is also known for the Adare Manor, when in the 1820s, the Earl of Dunraven took it upon  himself to design the village.   Said village  includes thatched cottages and a manor house.   Unfortunately, the manor house is undergoing a multi million dollar renovation and is closed to
visitors.   Oh well, just another reason to consider a return trip?

Meet Ellie, the B&B owner's adorable dog...keeping me company while I blog!

Looks like hubby has awoken from his snooze, and we shall take a stroll into town, in search of a pint, or two...until next time!

Testing things out...

One reason/excuse that I tell myself for falling off the blog wagon is that getting the pictures I take sent to a location that is accessible to the blog is a cumbersome process.  But I am coming to appreciate that the technology is there, it is more that this old dog hasn't figured out how to use the tools of the trade....

However, since  hubby and I have a big adventure coming up real soon, I am determined to figure this phone-2-blog sequence.   Even if it kills me in the process...  So far so good...let's how this turns out...

This little guy...

Is now a high school graduate....

Where has the time gone?

It was a special treat to have my dad, my sister and brother in law in town for the celebration...

While we celebrated on Friday (with more pictures to follow, gasp, I didn't take a single photo at the graduation, instead opting to soak in all the joy of watching Thing 1 March his way through this milestone, leaving the picture taking to others...letting go, it ain't as easy as it sounds...)

Saturday we took off for the city, showing my family the sights that make up Denver

Thanks family for helping make this a truly memorable Memorial Day weekend!

By George I think I figured it out...

Right Now: May Edition

RIGHT NOW

• I am listening....to the quiet sounds of a Monday morning.  Granted, it is Memorial Day Monday,  but just the same, I am enjoying the quiet that comes with the start of summer vacation.    Time to turn off the alarm, unwind from the worries of work and start to process what's next on the horizon.    I spent a lot of time this spring, listening and reflecting on my current job assignment.   And in the end, the sound I heard most was "it's time for a change"

 Last Wednesday was a bit bittersweet when I left this cozy little clinic that has been home for 6 years,

Saying good bye to colleagues....

and teachers ...

who all helped make this an incredible adventure...

• I am thinking that....it was a good month spent connecting with friends both old and new.  These connections which ties us to the past, helps guide us on future adventures and really is a key ingredient to staying sane in this crazy ride we call life....
  
  
  
   Friends from way back...college buddy for Dom and military match-makers for Dom and Martha
  
• I am loving that...through the years, the Things have grown up into handsome young men, 
  
   who still cooperate with their mom's obsession with picture taking...
  \
• 
  
  
• I am needing...to wrap up this blog entry (yeah, that seems to be my go-to exit strategy).   But honestly, I mean it this time....if I don't I will be late to coffee club with the ladies...And while I always tell myself I'll come back and finish things later, clearly, it  appears as if the best I can do for this blog is a once a month-quick as I can update...Until next time...Take time to enjoy the Ride!

Right Now: April Edition

RIGHT NOW...

• I am listening ....to the t.v, with Shrek playing as background noise, singing about changes...and I'm reflecting on the changes coming up these next few months.   Graduation, travel, new job opportunities.   Yes, plenty of busy stuff coming up these next few months, it's rather relaxing to just sit and savor the quiet of Sunday afternoon...  

Seems the only thing that hasn't changed is the weather....

There was the BIG storm on April 16th...

with Thing 2 fretting over whether the 18+ inches of snow would force him 

to cancel his plans to attend a concert down town...

(for the record, nope we let him go downtown..

freaky weather meant the roads downtown were essentially dry)

•  I am thinking that Spring will never find it's way to our home...
  

As yet another storm settled in this past weekend...

• I am loving that...I had the opportunity to take a little road trip to Chicago...
  
  
  
   Where I recognized that while our selfie skills leave much to be desired...
  

we can always ask a random stranger to help us get the right shot!

and I'm loving that I'm not the only one who enjoyed some traveling...

I spent an evening hearing our friend Eric tell tales of his

 adventures to  the Base Camp of Mt. Everest

Selfie skills not much improved...

I'm loving that Hubby got his road trip fix as well

 sneaking out between spring snow  showers to spend 

some time in the majestic beauty of UT..

where he demonstrated mastery of the Selfie Skills

• I am wanting more hours in the day, and more leisurely weekends.   I still can't wrap my head around the reality that Thing 1 graduates later this month.  Yes, as in graduates from high school.  Time has flown by in that regard.     Graduation announcements are just about ready to mail , and so far, all he's said he wants for graduation is balloons!   Yeah, fear not, when it is Thing 2's turn, I'm confident we won't get off so easily!  
• 
  
• I am needing to wrap up this blog entry....with nothing really clever to share here at the end...

Until Next Month....

Right Now: March Edition

I vowed after struggling to complete my annual  family photo album this past year , that I would try to be more diligent about blogging.   It seem like one way to do that is to try my hand at these "right now" recap type posts.   So here  it goes, my first attempt at what some bloggers create with ease...

RIGHT NOW....

•  I am Feeling  energized..   Spring Break,  served up with an extra helping of 2 snow days will have that affect on you.    That brought our total for this school year up to 5 days....an unprecedented amount that has a couple of us pondering if we'll have to make up those days?   for now, I'll not worry about it.
•  I am watching....My Big Fat Greek Wedding with my coffee club ladies.   A huge Thank you to Shelley B who rounded us all up for a ladies night out....on (gasp) a SCHOOL NIGHT?!   It was lots of fun to reconnect with characters from the first movie, and see ourselves in the dilemmas facing Toula as she enters the era of parenting the older teen while being the dutiful  daughter.   The struggles are real, and actually pretty funny if you stop and think about it...

Thanks Shelley B for getting us all together...

 Has it really been 14 years since the First Big Fat Greek Wedding? 

 A funny move made funnier when enjoyed with some of your besties....

• I am struggling with the reality that I'm old enough, for the babysitter to have had her first baby?!  
  
   Little E. and Mama C...both such sweethearts
  

Thanks for coming by to visit us on your quickie trip home from PA

• Listening to...My practical side and saying I need to stick with this gig for a little bit longer.  This past month I've felt myself questioning more and more why I'm working full time.   The emotional toll it takes on my body is hard to describe, but the things I deal with on a daily basis really gets to you after awhile.   Suffice to say, with each passing year, I am finding that there is a growing mental health crisis in today's teenagers.   Not only have I listened to that practical side and realize that full time brings a certain amount of stability to our family budget and long range retirement plans, but I am also listening to these great kids, and I listen to my heart.  

       Yes, I'm tired and weary, but I am making a difference in these kids lives and so I shall continue to soldier on....   

 Anyone from work reading this?  Yep, you are stuck with me!

• Celebrating...  

From the big things....to the little things

We had so many reasons to celebrate at this year's Annual Easter Lunch

After a year of some health struggles,
 Gma and Gpa R were able to rejoin us this year...
And Thing Two made a special appearance...
and really seemed to enjoy being part of the fun!

We enjoyed the standard guests....

 And the standard photo ops...

Served  the traditional Treats...

And added in some new and special guests this year...

And in the end....we simply celebrated..

 the gifts of friendship that grows over time...
and ends up being just like family!

Wishing E. a safe and exciting trek to Base Camp of Mt. Everest!

How's that for a recap?  Not bad...this format might just work...stay tuned