Day 21

Today was a fun day for Chelsea and i. So I slept in. As the Benadryl took it out of me. To give you an idea on how tired I was, Chelsea wool up before me!! Lol. I slept until 11:00. That's the nice thing about being on vacation. You can sleep in if you would like to. ;) although I don't like skipping service. Cuz now I have to make up that day. 

Ok. So Chelsea and I leave the house around lunch and head off to the big city.  Were kinda excited to head out for ourselves for a bit. Don't get me wrong. I like going out in service and all but I so miss my sports. Hockey and track days. I'm gonna need a new sport when we get back.   

   On the way to the city we stop at a castle. I don't even know how many we have seen now. It's too hard to keep up. But this castle was pretty cute. It was on the river like most. We went walked into it and left.  

   Then we went to the English market. It's a really old fresh market. Even the queen visited a couple years ago. It was so cute!! Lots of weird fish and pigs heads. It smelt kinda funny. But there was so many nice fresh things. And I don't typically even care about this type of stuff. I wasn't planning on spending any money as well but it was so much fun. Lol. We waked around and got 3 types of cheese. Two Irish cheddar. One very aged and one middle aged. So middle aged that the cheese went thru a mid life Crisis. Jk. Also this a goat cheese guda. Oh wow. These where so good. The guy said we shouldn't do crackers but we should do bread. So we. Went and got some sour dough bread. Not like in the states. It's alot less strong here. 

Well we have cheese and bread so we need wine! Well that's next. We get some wine to drink with it. Also in the market we see a stand of olives. I take a few samples and find this one that was so spicy!!! Mmm woe. It was so good! So the guy said that it would be good with tomatoes. I tried a few samples and got some sundries tomatoes. They were so fresh and tasty. Chelsea doesn't even like them normally. But these... She wouldn't get here hands off my tomato bag ! So good. 

   After shopping. We found a sausage stand. Grabbed a few of those and went to the park across the street and ate our lunch. Such a fun day. Btw parking for 2 hours was €7.00!!! Isn't that crazy.  Haha. It was worth it. We had lots of fun. Oh ya and driving in the city was a blast. I was flying in and out of cars. Even scaring people who would try and cross the street by J walking. I was honking my horn and oh. It was so much fun. You had to be there. I guess I could say I was driving like a local. And starting to feel comfortable. 

   After that we went to the shopping mall here in cork. It was pretty lame. And it's funny. We didn't even recognize any of the stores. Everything is so different. We walked around. Went in a few stores and left after getting a muffin. Then we went home ate some food and watched some Hulu. Since we got it working. You take those things for granted. Having tv in your own sense of humor. Lol. 

Anyway. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed. 

Here is one pic of boringness this is a nice day everyone was saying. Just cuz there was no rain. 

Pics aren't really posting from the computer. Only ones from my phone. But I keep forgetting to take pics on the phone. :) I'll try and take more pics on the phone. 

Day 20

Blog blog blog.... Lol. 20 days is a little too long. Don't miss working yet. But I do miss my service calls. I Hope they don't forget about me. Lol it would be nice to live and never have to work. Can't wait for the new system. It's gonna be fantastic. Never work just travel without paying for tickets and gas. 

   Ok so lets get into the blog. Hum. So guess what we did. Haha... Just take a guess. Service!!! Yay  today wasnt a long day tho. You will find out why it was a short day. 

   We get to the group like I said at 10:00.  So funny how late it is! Anyway. We get there and EVERYONE had plans already. It's alot diff here. I would assume the only way to pioneer in this hall is to go out everyday. Or go out by yourself. Seems like everyone has there own group and plans. Like there were alot of ppl who showed up. But what was the point? Ya know? Ppl just got in there cars by themselves and did calls and took care of themselves. All I'm saying is I'd never move here. Lol. Not complaining about the way they do it. Just seems a little weird. Lol. 

   So we went out with this one sister. She was cool. I liked her. We worked for I think 1 hour. One full hour. Gaga. Then went and got tea at the sisters house. We had cookies and tea and talked. It was raining. Like crazy. So everyone pretty much called it quits. I'm so tired of the rain. It just rains all day every day. Non stop. Lol. 

   So I've kinda been sick. Not like sick sick. But like sneezing all day! I wish I had a counter and counted every sneeze. So annoying. I think it's the damp weather and maybe like mold outside. So at night I took some Benadryl and passed out while Chelsea watched some downton abbey. But before I went to sleep we ate and I worked on my new website. So far it's coming out pretty good. I'm happy with it. Btw tmrws blog will be alot better. I hope... ;) 

Look at this! I filled this tiny car with gas. And it wasnt even on empty yet! €65.75!!!  That's $88.57!! That's crazy huh? I'm so glad I don't live here. I'd never drive anywhere. Lol what would have happened if I waited until the light came on. Or if I was actually empty?? 

Day 19

Today is a long service day. Let me tell you what. It's very exhausting to go out in the ministry all day. I can work a 12 hour day and come home and be fine. But you go out in the ministry and it will take it out of you. Lol. After service we went to bed really early! Your super tired I'm sure because its actually mentally exhausting. It takes more to use your brain then it does to move your body. Well at least it is the case for me. ;) 

   Ok so by the way service here starts at 10:00 not 9:00. That's because people in Ireland like to be late and sleep in. And if you go out door to door people will still be asleep. 

   In Mondays people in Fermoy don't go out in the ministry unless you make special arrangements or have calls to go on. So since we didn't do that we went to cork to the next congregation over. It's about a 30 mins drive. First, this group is huge. Like 25-30 ppl going out. There are 4 special pioneers! And lots of other pioneers. The congregation has 97 publishers and 94 bible studies I was told. In the city there territory is hardly worked enough. There is a big need. They send people to this congregation if someone wants to move to a greater need. 

   Second, I found this very funny. The group guy said, "we have to do some far distance service today." So... How they do service is this. They all meet at the hall. And then go to the territory and walk or drive house over house. Your are assigned to a partner and your with them all morning. Anyway. So he said were going to far territory. Well... We all get in our cars and drive 10 mins!!! Haha. 10 mins? Seriously? That's far out? 

   Third, service in the city I would expect it to be bad reception.  But no. Everyone was really nice. The JW's don't come by too much I guess. I placed 14 mags in one day. That's normally more then I do in a full month back home! I mean it's not the best service. Cuz there are places in the world were people are begging for bible study's. but it is deff way better to go out in the ministry in Ireland then in the USA. 

   Fourth, I heard that there were special pioneers in the hall. But I didn't know who they were. So in the afternoon after we meet with the group I got paired with these two other couples. Chelsea got pulled with someone else. Anyway. After walking from door to door all afternoon I would get asked to switch with the two brothers working together. And the two sisters worked together the whole time. Does that make sense? If not oh well. Anyway after going out I found out that they were the special pioneer couples. I had no idea. Now I wish I wouldn't have said some of the things I said. :) just kidding. I didn't say anything wrong. I guess there is a first time for everything. 

   Ok so time to go home. It was a great day for service. But we get home at 7:00. Some vacation huh? Lol. Seriously. I was pooped. Had loads of fun but really tired. Well that's it for the blog. Ttyl! 

Here is a pic of me in service! 

Here is a pic of the hall in the city. 

Day 18

18 days... Been a long time. Slightly starting to get just a tad homesick. It's a good thing I love it here. Cork is so much nicer as far as weather. Co. Mayo is colder and it rains alot more. 

Today's blog is another boring one. Sorry my life hasn't been so eventful for you! Haha. But really. It makes you have writers block when there is nothing to write about. 

One thing I was thinking about. I was thinking about moving out of the country right? Well it doesn't depend on where you move to. Our brothers and sisters is what makes it. You can move all the way across the world in some ho dunk town and it's going to feel like you are at home. Except everywhere is better then at home because the grass is always greener right? By the way this hall has 40 publishers and I think 16 pioneers! Isn't that crazy??? In our hall we have over 80 publishers and I think 12 pioneers. So as you can imagine being in the hall will be alot of fun and working in the ministry will be easy. ;) 

I don't know where I'm going with this. But I did want to give you guys these small little tid bits. I haven't even started telling you about what went on today! Haha. Ok. So it's Sunday so what does that mean? Meeting day!!!! I'm excited to go to the meeting because it will be the first time going while we have been here in cork. But the meeting is at 10:30am and I'm used to getting up at 10:30 for meeting. So I have to adjust. I woke up at 8:00 and studied my watchtower. All tho I should have gotten up at 5:00 because there is so much information on this study lesson. So much extra research. 

Ok so we get to the meeting. And it's really cute. Really small and everyone was saying hello and making us feel welcome. They all knew we were coming because of the jones's letting them know. I feel bad I let them all down. Lol were not nearly that special. But still it was nice. Meeting was nice too. The brother I worked out in service on sat did the watchtower lesson. He used to be in the army and into some crazy things. Now that he found the truth he is so happy and he has this crazy smile and is so happy!!! His expressions are fantastic and is so enthusiastic. I need to be more like him. :) so one day I would like to be like that while giving a talk or conducting lessons. 

After meeting we go home. Chelsea takes a small nap and I literally start writing my new website. Nathanial has been such a help. I could never do it without him. 

You know how when someone asks you where are you from? And you say... Idk fl. Then they say oh your from fl? Do you know this person? Haha. Well someone in the hall said that. They said your from the states? Do you know this person? He actually goes beyond that!!! Haha he brought them over the the jones's house. Haha. Idk. They were these old weird people. I think there was 4 of them. And they talked the full time!!! Seriously. I tuned them out and kept quite. You know that's not normal. No wonder people don't like Americans. Haha. These old people are giving us a bad name! 

Ok that's all I got to say! Nice talking to you guys. Take care! 

This is a Kenya sister we love! She is a pioneer and is so nice and cute! 

Oh and this hurt. Haha. 50 clothes pins. :) 

Day 17

  Ok, so i would think that you guys would have stopped reading the blogs, but you haven't. So, I must come up with more fake activities to write about. Just kidding. But seriously, This is alot of writing for a person who can only type 12 words per hour. I'm learning. I think i'll pick it up soon.

   Any who, lets see, yesterday we woke up and went out in service. The locals brought us to "map 0". We were coming out to work the territory that isn't worked very often. They like to work it once a year or so with the holiday witnesses. Thats us, because holiday means vacation. They wanted to save it for us. Like we want to work out inservice in the middle of nowhere! :) no really we actually do want to.
 
    On the way Nicola came in the car with us. She said "don't worry ill give you directions." I trusted she knew where she was going. Well, we got there only a little late. I should have known i cant trust a woman's sense of direction. :) This is the second time this trip i've gone the wrong way because of listening to a woman. No offense lady out there. BUT.... Its the truth! ;)

   The service was nice. Not like i actually got to talk to anyone because everyone was gone. But it was nice to go out with the brothers and sisters.

   The Irish accent is starting to grow on me. Not that I am starting to sound like them, its that they sound normal. I heard an American accent and it sounded really weird. lol I think they all think that I sound weird too tho.

   Let me tell you about these crazy weirdo's that were staying with. The husband Nat is really smart with computers. He builds websites for a living and is even going to help me build a website myself. And throw away the disaster website that we have now. Ill let you know how it comes out then if you guys need someone you can actually trust ill recommend him. Nat is really funny! He is alot like me as far as loud and crazy. But he is more mature and he sounds a bit English.
Nicola is super sweet! I keep making fun of her, but i need to stop because she is too nice. Always making me tea and offering us stuff. Chelsea and her get along very well it seems. We have both been enjoying ourselves.
I actually need to say good things about these people because they are reading the blog I think.
The girls... The younger one is really cute. She doesn't understand a word im saying! She just laughs at me and smiles when i talk. I think she likes me tho because ive been playing games with her.
The older girl is very shy but ive been finding common ground.

   I sound like im just rambling about nothing. Was going to post a handful of pix but can't get any of them to upload!! >:( Sorry.

Day 16

Today's blog is about our trip from Galway to Fermoy  county cork. And this was a fun trip. 

   We slept great last night. Oh man. Except all the crazy people partying last night woke us up in the morning. But other then that. It was nice sleep. 

   Ok. So I brought Chelsea back to the shops in the morning to get a few things. Like coffee. Breakfast and some Souvenirs. The traffic was horrible. Even on the morning. It was like driving in NYC. I hated it. So glad were leaving. 

   We get in the car. And this coffee was leaking. Out of the lid. Keep in mind it's pretty difficult to drive in traffic, look at directions, and mix in sugar in you coffee, all in the smallest car in the world.  So as Chelsea tries to put the lid back on she squeezes the side of the cup at the same time. I'm pretty sure this go well I'm thinking. Anyway. Bam!! Haha. She splatters the coffee everywhere. Nice hot coffee on my lap and arm. Good times. 

   So we travel down to the cliffs of moher. Side note. It's been really nice to go back to maps and no GPS. All tho you make a few wrong turns it has been fun. As we're going down we found another few castles. Really fun to just stop whenever and get out and check out the castles. The roads we drove on today were nice!!! Way wider and smother then up in county mayo. Still keep in mind there not as good nearly as even Asheville roads. 

   So we finally get to the cliffs and pull into the parking lot. And there is a woman there and she tells us €6 a person. I said uh. No. I'll go find parking myself. All they are doing is charging for parking. That's just ridiculous to me. I realize that I saw a small tiny pull off about .5 km away. So I turn my tiny Clio around and find that it's nice to have a small car. So we park there, pack our valuables and walk to the cliffs..... Thousands of people! Oh my goodness. So many ppl. I couldn't wait to leave. Lol. But.  If you look past the people there really was some beautiful views. Seriously. So pretty. The cliffs weren't like the other ones. They were vertical. I think 750 feet. There was a wall all the way around the cliffs. I heard lots of people go there to kill themselves. Prolly because it's always raining!!! Haha. But today. It was nice. :) sunnyish and not raining!!!  We were up there for maybe 15 mins. It was nice to not have to pay for the stupid parking and sneak up there. That way I didn't feel bad and spend hours up there to get my monies worth. 

   After that we head to limerick. Saw the coolest castle. Spent a little time there and headed to the Jones house. Can't wait to meet them.  On Facebook they seem really cool and funny. When we met them it was true. We stayed up till 12:30  drinking beer and talking. Had loads of fun. There names are Nathanial and nicola   And there kids are Madelin and amilee. I'm not sure how to spell so I hope that's right. Marty. They loved there care packs. 

Anyway it was a good day and well let you know what happens tmrw.  

Day 15

15 days since I've had to work. Haha feels like a dream. Today's blog was a trip. Literally. We left the Kingdons house. He gave me the scenic route. Well that's taking a 1 hour drive and turning it into a 3 hours drive. Man would this have been beautiful if the stupid rain/ clouds were gone! 

   We have a book written by Rick Steve and the way that mike sent me actually is in the book. It says it's the most beautiful route in all of Ireland. Despite all the rain and clouds it sure was beautiful. It was fun to read about all the history as we rode in the direction. 

This was out first stop. This weird bronze boat that was to represent all the death. The history is that there was a great famine. And all they had was potatoes to eat. Well there was a disease that hit and took out the potatoes a people tried to leave on the ships to America and most ppl died.  I think 90% died on the boats of diseases and starvation and most of 10% who made it died when they got there. 

   

   Then we drove thru the valley called doo lough valley. Even with the rain this was truly a site to see. Nothing around at all but mountains and this beautiful lake in the middle. To go along with the story ppl tried to come thru here and died of starvation in this valley. There is said to have ghosts and stupid stuff like that here. But it was just beautiful to us. Lol. 

   The pictures don't do it justice. I wish I had a better camera. 

   It was fun to take this road all the way to Galway. Stopping and looking at the wild horses and saying hello to the sheep. Also stopping and seeing castles on the way. I love how there everywhere and you can just stop walk up take a pic and go. 

   We finally get to Galway. Very touristy. But still pretty. To cap up what we do... We go to a museum there. Watch the street performers. Hit up some shops. 

   Then we find our hotel. Oh wow. This was the most beautiful hotel we have both ever seen. We take a nap of course! Then get ready for a night out. Apparently this is more of a night life then Dublin. So we were excited. We go get dinner then Hit up a pub. Dinner was Italian. Umm so amazing. The pub was fun. We drank our beers and watched the trad Irish band do there thing.

   When we leave to go back to our hotel to go to bed. Cuz it's late now. Like 11:00. We saw the most insane thing. So weird. Haha. Billions of ppl. Packed on this street. All young kids. Drinking on the streets climbing the walls. Throwing and pushing each other. It was like circus that you don't have to pay for. So crazy. Ppl drunk and yelling. Wow. We're we're not in the right place. So maybe we thought that "night life" would be tasteful. It wasn't. We couldn't wait to leave! But seriously you had to see this. My mouth was open in shock. Like Babylon the great. Idk. Anyway. We went home and went to sleep. Boy did we sleep good. :)