I think I need to be friends with these people!

Another Fantastic TV Ad in the UK

This one makes me cry...I'm such a sucker!

Top Dublin Moments

A rare photo of me and Victor. Not sure why, but we don't have too many of us together.

At the Guinness Storehouse. I just found out this weekend that my friend Inny's Great Grandfather was a cooper for Guinness and that's pretty fantastic!

I still don't like Guinness...but oddly enough, I can tell that this is the "good" stuff.

Dublin Castle: learned a lot about Irish history at this one!

Is this fancy or what?

Ah...Jameson Whiskey and Coke...a drink I can handle!

There's a funny story about how we almost got locked in this crypt for the night. I'll tell you later if you really want to know. But it just goes to show that Victor should listen to me when I say things like "I think the crypt is closed for the day...we really shouldn't go down there!"

Christ Church Cathedral...almost our hotel for the night.

Dublin

Ok, it's been a week since Dublin and I haven't really blogged about it. And I'll hold off until I get the camera back from Victor...who is in Italy...on a ski vacation...without me...while I stay home and work...get the picture?

This is Curtis. He is my favorite nephew. And Curtis just turned 9. Being the great aunt that I am, I missed his birthday. Of course, I'm thinking of the best gift to give him in delay and hopefully that will come soon but until then he gets his own post. Late, but at least it's here.

This photo was taken in 2001 when I lived with Curtis when he was just a baby. I taught him a lot of stuff like how to use a head lamp, how to carefully apply chap stick and jump. All stuff you need to learn for getting through the struggles of life.

When I see Curtis now I see this little baby but he's not so little anymore. It's the closest I've come to having my own kid and I'm not really sure if I would ever love my own like I love Curtis. Only if I ever have my own kids, I hope I can remember their birthdays.

I love this video!

Saw this one at the HRC in Dublin and laughed out loud through most of it. Enjoy!

I know some people who hate to fund raise

This is my local pub just down the street, stumbling distance from my front door. I love this pub. I have a meal here about once a week and the workers know my usual order: bacon, brie and mushroom sandwich. Just beyond the pub is the Castle and Church. Now, the Church needs to repair the roof, it's pretty old. And rather than your usual fundraisers you're used to back in the states, we're having a pub quiz: a staple to the life of any local pub.

I love this country.

I love my mom. And I'm sure if you know her, you love her too.

What's in a name?

Sometimes I miss this one. Thanks to all the friends who still call me by it.

Africans on the beach

Not the most artistic photo I've ever taken but I love these two people. And they have a little baby that I also miss. This was one of the best days of my life.

In 2006 I was cast as Lucy Van Pelt in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. This cartoon sort of makes me think that the role was sort of type cast. Or at least Victor might think so.

I thought about giving up going to church for Lent because I have this strange idea. So, some of you know that I have spent a good part of the last few years in seminary studying to be a pastor. However, there are circumstances that are inhibiting me from actually becoming an ordained person. Since then I have begun to wonder if I have a strange need for power within a religious institution. There are pastors who are wonderful people and there are pastors who are detrimental to the Gospel of Christ. The unfortunate part of this story is that I got the idea after I met a man on my Candidacy Committee who I believe has a perverse relationship with his role as a pastor. It's sad really, and even more sad that there is nothing I can do about it...or that I have been able to do about it.
The question really is: am I addicted to church? So I skipped Ash Wednesday service, did a little reflecting and decided that whether I go to church or not has no impact on the fact that I feel called to a leadership role in organized religion.
Jesus never went to church and he turned out alright...sort of. I'll just stay away from the Romans.