Tales of the Short and Fat Diva

It's a powerful word, it's lovely to say.
It's implying more than 'get up and dance, baby.'
- Bono, in regard to Rejoice

I've been looking forward to blogging all week, but suffered through a few setbacks. When I got back from Dublin my computer was infected with the blue screen of death. I lost a lot of sleep over the matter but finally got it fixed. Living without a functioning computer is like being trapped on an island (I imagine this island to have a large cave in the middle, in which I am tied to the outside) with millions of spiders slowly approaching; the panic continues to build with each passing moment. This is NOT an exaggeration.

And so it begins... Dublin was larger than life.

The trip started out swimmingly with my own row on AerLingus flight EI563. I spent the first hour literally laughing out loud to Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs. I was overcome by such bliss, I didn't even mind how obnoxious it seems to giggle publicly about a book. After my Augusten fix I cranked up U2 on my pod and attempted to take a snooze. I reclined my seat once it was officially safe (I don't dare break that rule) but it slowly crept back to the upright position. It felt like riding in the Boss with my seat at a 75 degree angle. However, it lacked the company of Jules and RJ occasionally banging their heads against the window and complaining about our beautiful chariot.

Some highlights from the trip:

• The sign at the Patriot which read: In the interest of safety, please refrain from dancing. For real life footage, see my pictures from Dublin.

• Harold's Cross Greyhound track. We've been to the dog track many a time in Pensacola, so we knew what we were getting ourselves into. However, this was a cream of the crop track. We made reservations for dinner, which I was slightly hesitant about due to the fact that the array of food at the Pensacola track extends from french fries to pizza with ice cream and popcorn in-between. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find a four-course meal awaited us. The track was full of energy, and when the rabbit (whom I will refer to as Swifty) was let loose the crowd went wild. The best part... the people who bring the dogs out to display as you make your bets (at this point Gabe elects the dog taking the biggest crap) were dressed in lab coats! There was no rhyme or reason to this process which made it all the more fantastic. And for a better adjective, mysterious.

• Dinner at the Tea Room: aka a restaurant part owned by Bono and the Edge. What's not to love?

• Dublin Castle and Kilmainham Gaol. U2 made a music video at the jail. I have a current U2/Dublin obsession.

• Guinness. I tried it, I liked it. Or should say, I didn't dislike it.

part Irish, part rock. I liked them.

Next, Dad and I will be tearing up the streets of Barcelona. Stay tuned for more. Bear with me through my rapid influx of visitors, posts may be far and few between. Until we meet again :)