Ramble On: Cows and such

The sky is no longer permanently overcast. The sun shines rays of golden warmth occasionally. It is finally dry but umbrellas are kept in hand. Goodbye July, thank goodness August!

I know that July was much cooler for you folks in the good ole 50 states than June was. Here in Northern Ireland we had a very wet, dark, and cold July. We got about as much rain in July as many of you did in May, almost 4 inches. I think I have experienced almost every type of cold temperate deciduous forest rain possible. One day I went outside and it just looked like ocean spray was falling from the sky. You'd be surprised how cold and wet a continual misting can get you.

Happy birthday to those of you with July and August birthdays, goosepoop. A special birthday shout out to my pops. I hope you had a super birthday because you're a super dad.

I would also like to give a giant thank you for those of your who wished Leo a happy birthday and sent him a little love his way. He isn't from a family that really celebrates birthdays or anything much apart from Christmas. It makes me happy when I see how loved and welcomed he feels from many of you. Even those of you who aren't family have been so generous to us and we are so very grateful to you. With the birthday money he got from some of you he bought himself a camera filter that he has been dying to get his hands on. It is good news for those of you who were getting tried of his bird pictures because he'll be taking water and sky pictures now.

For those of you who don't know I got a job at the House of Fraser in the wedding list department. I pretty much help couples make lists of things they would want for their wedding, make sure they get all the purchased gifts and anything else they may want, and help their guests purchase items. I do not like it at all. But that's ok because I have a job :) I have heard some crazy stories about couples. One bride emailed the girls working there and said she would be canceling their list because she walked in on her fiancé and his best man together. She said it put a different meaning on the term "best man". Another bride called in asking for all her guests gifts to be refunded. When asked why she said that the groom had run off with some girl on their honeymoon. Gives all you marriage crazy kids something to think about ;)

My first day of work I left my bus money in my jeans and ended up missing my bus. So I took a taxi…..to catch my bus. When I got on the bus the bus driver recognized me and said perplexed, "There is another bus." I told him that it would get me into the city too late and he just smiled, shook his head, and mumbled something about getting a taxi to a bus. It was cheaper than taking the taxi all the way into town. If my wallet isn't complaining than neither am I.

According to some, I have an Irish twang to my speech. This, of course, in just a flapacrapnasti lie they have come up with to ruin my good name as an American. Don't listen to their poisonous words. They'll riot your brain and then eat it. They are part zombies that's why they like brains…..I think.

On the 12th of July, I was taken out for my first and only bonfire viewing. Watching a giant fire, that I can not start myself, surrounded by drunks is not my ideal way of spending my night. Luckily I wasn't around when there was trouble. Thank goodness for all you worriers that I am an "old person" according to some and bed time is at 10:30. I can't wait for the day when I live somewhere where I will not have drunks screaming, shout, yelling, "F*** that b****! Get your ***** out! F****** f***!" The twelfth was pretty bad as there were lots of drunks that night.

During my induction training we were put into groups to complete tasks and then we would report back to our whole group and I finally understood why non-Americans complain about us being loud. Now, I can be loud when I want, but I don't consider myself a loud person. Then again, that could just me living in a supposed quiet state of denial. That being said, I could not understand a single thing these kids said as they whispered their results to the rest of the group. I was looking around trying to find another face that showed the same desperation and frustration as I strained to here what was being said, but all I saw were faces of recognition and understanding. I don't know if they have over-developed bat-like hearing or what but somehow all those Irish kids got everything that was said. If that had been in the states the person talking generally would have projected their voice to be heard, because we are not bat people. For those of you who are, I apologize for any offence as I didn't mean to offend but merly state you have great hearing and I do not. I have a loud American voice.

One thing Irish people will LOVE to tell you is "Ack! You never know what the weather will be like here! We get all four seasons in one day!" To some extent this is true but only because every season is the same: RAIN. No matter what the season you can bet it will rain. Other than that, that statement is false. Coming from a part of the world where there actually is four seasons, Ireland doesn't have them. Sorry to burst your bubble Ireland.

You gotta see this new thing Tati got Lilja doing.

Tati got it from the Olsen twins when they were on Full House. I guess she went up to Bridger and said, "You got it dude baby!" For those of you who have facebook Tristan has some fun pictures up of all of them along with a funny quote from Lilja.

I know Utah is a very unique place. Not only from the LDS culture that is very prominent but it is also THE nerdiest state in the country. Here I have noticed there is a definite line between what is for kids and what is for adults. Sure, in Utah we have things that are very much for adults and kids as well, but if I, a 26 year old, wanted to play in a ball pit or a playground at a park there is nothing wrong with that. I can swing on swings next to 6 year olds. If I want to see "Inside Out" with my also 26 year old husband, that is grand. Why wouldn't I see a movie I wanted to? Here I cannot swing with six year olds or see a "kids" movie without it being really bizarre that I don't have any children with me. I was talking to a 17 year old if she had seen "Inside Out" and she said he hadn't heard of it and asked what it was about. I told her it was about your emotions and Pixars version of how they work in your head. She told me that sounded really intense and deep for a kids movie. Sure, kids will love these types of movies and they are made so kids can understand them but they aren't just for kids. But then, maybe that's my Utah nerd coming out. Whatever the reason I find it so weird I'll met you at the swings.

Life isn't about waiting out the storms but learning to dance in the rain.

That's a good reminder for myself to live in the now and live in the future when it becomes the now.

Barbara is doing much better and is in a care home now. She gets out of bed and does light walking every so often and her back is still healing. They say that it'll be awhile yet before she is home but she is making a nice recovery. Leo and Mick installed cameras around Ronnie's house and got a guy trying to convince Ronnie to let him into the house. We called the cops because we thought he was trying to get in to rob him. They took the video and the next day said they think that that same fella was involved in a robbery that happened 45 mins earlier that day. People can be creepy.

A couple of Sundays ago Leo took me to Enniskillen and we went on a four mile hike. It was one of the only days in July that it didn't rain all day. It was so nice and I loved the sunshine and the change of scenery. This island is amazingly beautiful.