The pipes, the pipes are STILL calling.....

I received the following e-mail from my BFF Tracy, who as you may recall from last weeks post, just moved to Ireland from the good old US of A...

I miss her terribly...

No kidding....

She is learning many new things as you will see by reading the following:

(I am going to suggest she begin writing these things down so that she can publish a self-help guide to acclimating to Ireland for Yanks...)

She can then use the proceeds to purchase roundtrip tickets for Tony and I to come for a visit...


Hey!!
We haven't really got web Internet access in my home yet- but I wanted to send you a quick email about things that we have learned.

1. I can't drive on the other side of the road. I stink at this real bad.

2. If you want a hot bath/shower, you have to manually turn on the water heater switch each time.

3. Estate means subdivision- Green means yard and/or grass.

4. A skip is a dumpster

5. Don't order iced tea----ever- (This was Scott's lesson-)

6. The dollar doesn't go as far as it used to---

7. The washer is also a dryer-It took us 4 loads to figure the sucker out- but we got it now baby!

8. There is a light on the dishwasher that reads "salt" and it is lit- WTH?

9. You can't get a bank account without utilities in your name & you can't get utilities without a local bank account. haha.

10. There is an "isolator" button the bathroom- I am afraid to push it.

11. When you turn on the heater buttons, this may help heat your water?!#

12. The bread/food is delicious- they have riper mango here than in FL????

13. Yummy butter.

14. Yummy Chocolate

15. I am not going to lose weight.

16. My phone number is 045-987654 Weird, huh? (number has been changed to protect her from stalkers)

17. I don't think that people are in love with my accent.

18. All the clocks show military time- My math stinks...this is a problem.

19. I can see sheep grazing from my backyard or green or whatever.

20. When retrieving voice messages, you are supposed to press the "hash"---What is that? Just don't leave a voice message, because I can't retrieve them...

21. When people tell you that they are going to "call"- expect a visit not a telephone call- that would be a "ring."

Okay- That is all I got- I'll send pics when I get Internet. How is everybody? We should have email by next week- but I'll try to stop by the office sooner & check on things...

xox,

me

Just in case you wanted to know how I replied:

So glad to 'hear' from you!!!!
I miss you tons already!!

Since you left I learned a few things too:

• I can't drive on the other side of the road either...

(the policeman that pulled me over said so!)...JK

• We have yummy butter and chocolate too...

• I'm not going to lose weight

Did I mention I miss you?!!

xo Jackie

The pipes, the pipes are calling.....

One of my BFF's announced recently that she is moving to Ireland...
This news is bittersweet, because on one hand, I could not be happier for her...
she and her family REALLY wanted this...
However...
My heart feels heavy and my eyes keep threatening to leak...

Though I am sad, I am willing to push that aside and support her 100%

I have given considerable thought to what I can do to show her that I have her back.

In the spirit of friendship,
I have decided to brush up on my Irish vernacular so that I can give her an edge in her new community...

1. When in a public place, if you find yourself in need of a bathroom, ask for the location of the Loo or the Jacks. If you ask where the restroom is... they'll look at you funny and make fun of you when you leave...

2. When in a pub, if you need to "go"#2...
see #1...
Because if you ask for the crapper, you'll end up with a half glass of whiskey

3. If you are in a pub and someone says they are pissed, don't proceed to tell them where the bathroom is... or think that they are mad at you...
Pissed means having had too much to drink... aka drunk...

A great way to fit in would be to try and speak with an Irish accent...
It will be EASY!
I've watched "Waking Ned Devine" and Disney's "Luck of the Irish" as well as Lucky Charms commercials for most of my life and I think I've got it down...

Instead of using the "er" sound for E-R, simply replace with "ahr" (think pirate)
Also, when a word ends in "ng", simply drop the "g" sound..
When referring to yourself in ways that you would normally use "my" use "me" instead...

So in lieu of saying a normal, everyday Irish phrase with an American accent, for example,

"Saints Preserve us! What are you doing?"

Try saying:

"Saints Pre-sahr-ve us! What ahr you doin'?

(okay... I'll admit it....I grabbed that line from the aforementioned Disney film... where they used that particular line often... I cannot personally guarantee the authenticity of the phrase)

I took the liberty of creating an ID badge that she can wear for the first few months to make it easier for the locals to accept her as one of their own...
It will also cover her if she slips and forgets to use her convincing Irish accent...



You'll be able to follow her journey on her website...