With all the travelling I have been doing lately, I've been lucky enough to schedule a decent amount of layovers and weekends back home in Chicago. They've had some great weather in the mid-west lately, which makes it more difficult than normal to board the plane in my sundress and run out of Dublin airport into the rainy cold and wind. My dad has been been working in the yard (major stress relief from his high-pressure office job) and created the start of a nature path on in the back yard one day. He gave me a guided tour (complete with wine and everything) after dinner when I was there.
Hands down the best part of the tour was when I pointed to some blue flowers (you can see them in the background of the below photos) and said, "Those are nice." Kev goes, "Thanks, I planted them." Suz (my mom) then interjected that "No, she had planted them." Hilarty ensues as they argue over who actually planted the flowers. I think we netted out that they both had.
That's compromise, baby.
I had to go to LA for a conference a few weeks ago, so Suz decided to join me. We had a suite at the iconic Hollywood Roosevelt, and we just around the corner from Madame Toussard's Wax Museum and the Kodak Theater on Hollywood Blvd. The crazies that dress up like celebrities and movie characters on the street are pretty funny.
Mom took a pic with the Billy Graham Star (an Evengelical minister) and I took a pic with The Doors star, which is one of Pad's fav bands.
We had a 2 room / 2 bath sweet suite at the hotel, except that the drugged out rocker picture on the wall kind of freaked my mom out. The pool was awesome though, and they have a "Library Bar" that makes organic cocktails with Farmer's Market ingredients for a cool $25 bucks a pop. I think mine had like basil and other weird herbs in it. They were okay. Suz got a good one though, sage and champagne or something.
When I got back to Dublin in May, like I said it was really cold and depressing. So Peadar and I decided to have host a "Forget Your'e in Ireland and Come to Our Beach Party" for the long Bank Holiday Weekend. So on Saturday night we got everyone to dress up, put tiki lights up and Jane made delicious tropical cocktails like mojitos and pina coladas with her magic bullet blender.
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| C- Bone Whyte |
On Sunday, Pad and I had the scariest job of all, babysitting! His nephew baby Joey! But we did grand and the babe survived, and so did we :) Peadar was even more freaked out than me about the whole responsibility thing, but he was a total natural. The boys had some quality bonding time.
I went back to Chicago for another trip this past weekend for my cousins wedding. Before that though I had din and sangria with my good friend and bride-to-be Andrea at Meson Sabika.
At my cousin Collin's wedding, my other, littler, cousin Ethan was the handsome ring bearer.
The happy couple: Collin and Julie Williams.
When I came back I went for a walk along Skerries beach, Ireland may be cold, but its beautiful and picturesque.
I stopped by Olive (Pad's sister) to see how the baba was getting on, and he was hanging out with the teddy bear Peadar and I got him. Joseph and Brownie cuddling!
My parents are still mourning the loss of our old pup Sophie, and have decided to get a new one! Sophie was a Carin Terrier, like Toto from the Wizard of Oz. This time they are getting a West Highland Terrier from a breeder in NY. Kev and Suz will be the proud owners of one of the puppies below. Since they don't want the new doggie to go on the plane, they are going on a roadtrip next weekend to get him. I want to name him Winston, or another proper old man name.
Lastly, I can't post a blog without a funny pic of the pad man! He might kill me, but I have to give him some grief over his new found love, the foam roller. He plays with this in the kitchen every night, tells me how great it is for working out muscles or whatever. It's pretty funny.
Lots of Love,
Amanda
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