...just a bit. I have so much to do today before we leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow. But I'm updating this instead.
Packing for yourself is a pain, making sure you have everything you need & can get it into your luggage. Packing for kid, especially a diaper bound toddler, makes it an even bigger pain! Diapers, check. Wipes, check. Tylenol/Motrin (just in case), not yet, but on the list. Enough changes of clothes to last until we're able to have laundry done... 1/2 check, other half still washing. Toys & books for the plane ride, check. Chargers, adapters, batteries, cameras, passports, itinerary.
For the most part, it's all together. Just gotta finish washing/ drying clothes then packing. And running the (clearly) last minute errands. To the bank... to the municipal court house (damn lead foot)... Picking up MM.
But first, I'm gonna take a quick nap. One, so I can get some rest now while I have the house to myself. Two, cause try as I may, I don't think I'm going to sleep especially well tonight. Thoughts of "do we have everything" will plague my mind. That coupled with the crazy dreams I'm bound to have will make for a LONG day tomorrow. But it will be worth it.
Praying for safe travels... your's are welcome & appreciated :)
26 February 2014
21 February 2014
slackerness...
Written in June 2011-
I didn't do a very good job of keeping a blog while in Ireland... I didn't have the most reliable internet service, but still, it's no excuse! Even though I'm 8 months post trip, I think I'm going to come back & give the details of the trip. Sure, it probably won't contain the nuances it would've had I written it months ago, but it'll be better now than in another year. So here goes... it may not all be in this post, but this will be a start.
On Saturday February 6, 2010 I departed D/FW airport for JFK in NYC. Mom was in San Francisco & dad had music practice so Deirdre took me to the airport. I had my suitcase & carry-on & a messenger bag. I got to NYC earlier than expected by almost an hour... I got my suitcase then found the place to call the shuttle service. JFK has a layout that I would imagine would be hard if you only drove to the airport every so often. I think there were 8 terminals & there were pick up lanes & thru lanes & entrances & exits. Maybe if you lived there & had gone occasionally since you were young it wouldnt' be so bad. DFW is easy enough to get turned around in & it's only got 5 terminals, 3 on one side of the toll road & 2 on the other. Anyway, the shuttle picked me up & we went & gathered more people (I was the 1st one on & there were 2 people, a driver & trainee). I was dropped off at the Wellington Hotel & got my room. It was a small room but had the essentials- a bed, toilet & shower. I setteled in & then went & walked around for a bit. I found I was a block south of Carnegie Hall, 3 blocks S of Central Park, a couple blocks north of Times Square & 2 blocks east of Broadway. I found a Thai restaurant & had dinner- tom ka gai & pra ram (peanut chicken). I even ate the mushrooms in my soup! haha It was a delicious meal & then I headed back to my room & settled in for the evening.
On Sunday, I slept in & then got up & got some lunch at a diner on the corner of the block my hotel was one. I had a club sandwich & fries... I asked for ranch for my fries, but they didn't have any! Must be more of a southern thing. I walked up to Central Park & watched the ice skaters & carriages. Took lots of pics of ponds & bridges. Glad i didn't find any dead bodies a la svu. I ended up with blisters on my heels so found a drug store (RiteAid?) and got some bandaids & a power converter. Then I went back to the hotel fixed my feet up & got ready for my first Broadway show... Wicked! I went down toward Times Square & over to Broadway & found the Gershwin Theater. I had to wait in the lobby (where I bought a program) before they opened the stairs to enter then had to wait upstairs before they actually opened the theater. I used my time wisely by finding the bathroom. Wicked was AWESOME!
On Monday, I wandered up to FAO Schwartz & around the store. They had Muppet Whatnots & I really wanted to get one, but I wasn't going to do that when I was traveling across the ocean that night!
I didn't do a very good job of keeping a blog while in Ireland... I didn't have the most reliable internet service, but still, it's no excuse! Even though I'm 8 months post trip, I think I'm going to come back & give the details of the trip. Sure, it probably won't contain the nuances it would've had I written it months ago, but it'll be better now than in another year. So here goes... it may not all be in this post, but this will be a start.
On Saturday February 6, 2010 I departed D/FW airport for JFK in NYC. Mom was in San Francisco & dad had music practice so Deirdre took me to the airport. I had my suitcase & carry-on & a messenger bag. I got to NYC earlier than expected by almost an hour... I got my suitcase then found the place to call the shuttle service. JFK has a layout that I would imagine would be hard if you only drove to the airport every so often. I think there were 8 terminals & there were pick up lanes & thru lanes & entrances & exits. Maybe if you lived there & had gone occasionally since you were young it wouldnt' be so bad. DFW is easy enough to get turned around in & it's only got 5 terminals, 3 on one side of the toll road & 2 on the other. Anyway, the shuttle picked me up & we went & gathered more people (I was the 1st one on & there were 2 people, a driver & trainee). I was dropped off at the Wellington Hotel & got my room. It was a small room but had the essentials- a bed, toilet & shower. I setteled in & then went & walked around for a bit. I found I was a block south of Carnegie Hall, 3 blocks S of Central Park, a couple blocks north of Times Square & 2 blocks east of Broadway. I found a Thai restaurant & had dinner- tom ka gai & pra ram (peanut chicken). I even ate the mushrooms in my soup! haha It was a delicious meal & then I headed back to my room & settled in for the evening.
On Sunday, I slept in & then got up & got some lunch at a diner on the corner of the block my hotel was one. I had a club sandwich & fries... I asked for ranch for my fries, but they didn't have any! Must be more of a southern thing. I walked up to Central Park & watched the ice skaters & carriages. Took lots of pics of ponds & bridges. Glad i didn't find any dead bodies a la svu. I ended up with blisters on my heels so found a drug store (RiteAid?) and got some bandaids & a power converter. Then I went back to the hotel fixed my feet up & got ready for my first Broadway show... Wicked! I went down toward Times Square & over to Broadway & found the Gershwin Theater. I had to wait in the lobby (where I bought a program) before they opened the stairs to enter then had to wait upstairs before they actually opened the theater. I used my time wisely by finding the bathroom. Wicked was AWESOME!
On Monday, I wandered up to FAO Schwartz & around the store. They had Muppet Whatnots & I really wanted to get one, but I wasn't going to do that when I was traveling across the ocean that night!
On the road again...
... or to the skies, as is in this case. Once again, this Texan is roving. And once again, it will be to the green grandness of Ireland (with a stopover in Boston).
This time I'll have my family with me. Nathan has never roved so far, barely out of Texas & never out of a state that does not border Texas. Boston and Ireland are going to be quite the adventure for him. MM, almost 18 mo, has traveled just as far as her father. I wish she were a bit older so she could make more memories, but who knows what she might remember from this. She's at that age where something significant could stand out when she's looking back. 2 flights there, 2 flights back plus another country in between... never know what might stick out in her smart li'l brain!
We have a long enough layover in Boston that we'll be able to get out & have a looksee and at least grab lunch. Seafood I'm betting. Maybe see something historical. Then off to the old country!
We arrive in Dublin about 11:30pm CST, but 5:30am Dublin time. Finger crossed the wee one sleeps some on the plane. Maybe the plane noise will act as white noise and help her sleep longer. Once we're in Dublin, we're going to try to get a bit of sleep before venturing out for the day. Then who knows what we'll get up to- I'd like to make it to the gaol (google it). Maybe St. James Gate. The next day we'll rent a car. Talk about an adventure I'm sure! Then we'll make our way 'round the country. Stopping in 7 towns before heading back to Dublin for our last couple days. It's going to be AMAZING!
I'll make updates when time & wi-fi access allow.
'til then
Cheers & Slainte
vgs
This time I'll have my family with me. Nathan has never roved so far, barely out of Texas & never out of a state that does not border Texas. Boston and Ireland are going to be quite the adventure for him. MM, almost 18 mo, has traveled just as far as her father. I wish she were a bit older so she could make more memories, but who knows what she might remember from this. She's at that age where something significant could stand out when she's looking back. 2 flights there, 2 flights back plus another country in between... never know what might stick out in her smart li'l brain!
We have a long enough layover in Boston that we'll be able to get out & have a looksee and at least grab lunch. Seafood I'm betting. Maybe see something historical. Then off to the old country!
We arrive in Dublin about 11:30pm CST, but 5:30am Dublin time. Finger crossed the wee one sleeps some on the plane. Maybe the plane noise will act as white noise and help her sleep longer. Once we're in Dublin, we're going to try to get a bit of sleep before venturing out for the day. Then who knows what we'll get up to- I'd like to make it to the gaol (google it). Maybe St. James Gate. The next day we'll rent a car. Talk about an adventure I'm sure! Then we'll make our way 'round the country. Stopping in 7 towns before heading back to Dublin for our last couple days. It's going to be AMAZING!
I'll make updates when time & wi-fi access allow.
'til then
Cheers & Slainte
vgs
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
