Ramble On: Welcome To The Age of Metallic Farts

Leo's New Love

2015's First Adventure

Click here for a video.

And here for another.

Happy 2015!!!

Yes, it's that time again when we start a brand new year. Will it be filled with good times? Most definitely. Will if be scattered with bad times? Of course. There are 365 days in this new year. Anything could happen. You could even be abducted by aliens. Anything could happen. It is also the time where many of us set our new year resolutions that we say we are 'really going to keep this year', but don't really mean it. One resolution I hope you do keep is to floss more. You still have some corn in your teeth from the last post. That's just gross.

On to the informativeish part! I did yoga yesterday(Dec. 31) and my arms are sore. I did so many push ups. My weak toothpick arms couldn't handle it. I tried to brush my teeth after words but my toothbrush was just too heavy once I put the toothpaste on. I never realized how much that stuff weighs. On a brief side note, we moved into an apartment in Northern Ireland. I think I'll skip yoga today and pick it up again tomorrow. Don't want to be too buff. It would make my dad feel like a wimp.

I hope everyone had a swell Christmas. We spent Christmas at Leo's work. We mostly watched movies and such because no one came in all day because it was Christmas! But it wasn't too bad. It didn't feel like Christmas so I didn't really get homesick, which was nice. It was also good to spend so much time with him. That's the longest I've been with him in a long time. He gave me a tour of his work and I found out that Oscar Wilde was Irish and that Wilde really does suit him. He is not a looker. Van Morrison is/was (is he dead?) a Irishman as well. Along with some dude, whose name I can't remember, that came up with a type of math. That surprised me the most because it goes against all irishness to do something that you don't have to do. Thank you all for the money that was given to us and Kelcie this Christmas. You are all very generous people and we are all extremely grateful. Well I don't know if Kelcie is but her being a missionary I feel pretty safe to say that in her name. You've helped us out so much and I really am very grateful for everything you gave. A special thank you to my parents who helped us into this apartment I am currently in. I love you all and hope that your Christmas was a good an magical one.

Awhile ago I had a mole that went all crazy. By crazy I mean it swelled up and looked something like a blood blister. It had a halo around it and eventually I was able to have it removed. Things always take their time in the ROI. For those of you who like that kind of stuff I've included pictures. Those that don't get to be squeamish.

I would like to thank all of you who fell for mostly Leo's kidney joke on the last post :) It made for many laughs and enjoyable moments. Thank you to Jared for not being a good reader and posting a second comment so you wouldn't look so dumb ;) Leo and I appreciate all that you didn't read and just assumed.

December 18th we officially moved into our apartment in Newtownards. Our new address is:

28 Old Market Square

Newtownards

BT 23 4WR

Co. Down

N.Ireland

It has been really nice living in the north. We have better internet/internet that really works, we're close to everything, there are people here we know, things are cheaper, and we can keep a better eye on his grandma. Two days after Christmas we got a late night call from his grandpa in a panic asking for Leo to come help him get her up the stairs and into their bed because Barbara, his grandmother, wasn't feeling well. I thought he was taking them to the hospital but when he got home at 2 am he told me the doctor came to their house and he was just helping get her in bed. Ronnie, his grandpa, told me that she was in a bad way. So bad he thought it would be her last night on earth. The doctor gave her some pills and told her to drink plenty of water and left. Apparently her gout was acting up really badly. When I last saw them two days ago her hand was still swollen. Hopefully she feels better soon because she's only allowed to take them of ten days.

The other day I went on adventure. Instead of tell you about it I thought I'd just show you.

Click here if the video didn't work.

I'm not as out of shape as I sound. I'm being overly dramatic for theatrical purposes. I know it's hard to believe that I could be overly dramatic but after a few failed attempts I eventually got there. You should recognize where I am from other photos I've taken and pictures my parents took while they were here.

Before I left Dundalk I worked with a gal named Emma. She was going to college and had roomed with some Americans. I asked her about some sterotypical things people say American's are and this is what she had to say.

Are American's…

	What Emma says:	What Leo says:
Loud:	It depends. Some of you can be.	Yes
Friendly:	Yes.	Yes. Overly, hehehe.
Optimistic:	Much more so than Irish people.	Generally no. From what I've seen.
Stupid:	It depends on the person.	To a degree yes. Navivish.
Gullible:	Yes! We would have a competition to see who could get away with the biggest lie.	To a degree, but so is everyone.
Over excitable:	It depends on the person.	Yes! Very much so!
Fat:	No, but it depends.	I've seen some fat American's hehehehe.
Do you get on with most Americans?	Yes.	Yeah!

So there you have it. That's all the information you will ever need to win Jeopardy. Good luck!

Speaking about friendly people, I haven't come across much of that stereotypical Irish warmth and friendliness here. Granted I've only lived here a year but still, I would have thought the odd person would smile and say hello. Where are me lucky charms?! Would even do! I'm not asking for a lot here folks! I may have mentioned it before but the dogs here are just like the people. Normally walking around in the States, if you come across a dog on a leash the dog will want to meet you and get pets and attention but here I've yet to see a dog excited to see me. Most look at me like, "Ye come over here and I'll show ye how cute I look attached to your leg!" It's so strange. I guess there's something about the way we are as a culture that effects the way our animals behave as well. I think it's crazy that animals can be influenced by things like that. No wonder my mom's dog is such a chicken ;)

Our New Year's Eve was a good one. We made dinner and had Mick and Lou over for dinner. Yes, Leo did help me cook and yes it was still edible. Not only was it edible, but I thought it all tasted mighty fine. We taught them how to play Uno and then watched "Transformers: Age of Extinction". I wouldn't recommend watchin it. Then again, I didn't like the first one and never saw the second, but even Leo said it was pretty shite. I hope you all had a great night as well and I hope that this new year is a good one for you. Over and out (with a big big trout).