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).

Adventure To Scrabo

Z Not Zed

Andrew. Its been awhile since I last typed anything up for you folks. I know at least a few of you enjoyed the video post which is good. I want to make another  video but Leo needs to help me but has been too tired and lazy. ;)

The news I hear about home sounds like all of you are doing well. Kelcie is in France now and is loving her mission even though she still struggles with the language. Don’t ask her if she likes dressing like a normal human though because she will just ignore you as it is a very indecent thing to speak about. If you are not on the email list for her weekly letter you should be because she'll definitely make you smile. And lets face it, you look better when you smile. Except after eating corn on the cob. Then you should just wear a mask. I heard that Aubrey is no longer a Scott. Her and Dylan got married in October and are not pregnant. Somewhere I heard, or dreamt, that someone said she was pregnant but she assured me definitely is not. Unless you can have your period and be pregnant at the same time….Nah. I don’t think its possible. No babies for Aubrey….yet.

Vlog watchers, remember how I said they are privatizing water here in the ROI? ROI is Republic of Ireland, btw. Well on and off the last few weeks we have had crazy amounts of rain in a day and streets flood, rivers swell into the streets, and everyone gets really wet. You would think that after so many hundreds of years of so much rainfall someone on this little island would have said, "Hey! Lets design our roads, houses, and areas near bodies of water to be able to withstand torrential downpour for days straight. That way we wont have as much flooding." Of course I cleaned it up a bit and made it sound educated but you get the idea. This country has serious flooding problems. Just like this girls in the break room has serious eating problems. Its not that hard to chew with your mouth closed and for pete's sake please stop smacking your lips! You are not a horse eating grain!! Finally she left to go smoke. Now where was I? Right flooding. Despite the fact that this country  gets so much water that the rivers flood stores and house and roads close they are charging for water now. Its always been paid for via taxes but now they have to pay extra. Just another example of how  Irish logic confuses me.

I found out that some local Utah eventers are trying to get a good cross country course and event ground in Utah. That would be so awesome!! Especially since we generally have to travel 10 hours to most of the USEA events. To read more on it please click here. If you are feeling super generous (even if you're not you still should) you can donate money to their fund here. They need $50,000 in order to get this project rolling. Nothing is too small and every bit will help!

About two weeks ago we mailed our EEA Family Permit application, what the Sinn Fien said we needed to live in the north, to UK Immigration. We haven't heard anything but Leo contact a politician of sorts in the north and she asked the Home Office in England and they said that my Stamp 4 EUFam that I got down here in the ROI validates me to live and work in the north for at least six months but can work longer since I'm married to a UK citizen. So we are in the process of moving north, finally!

It looks like everyone had fantastic Thanksgivings. Deidre even went to Harry Potter World, lucky….I would like to take this time, not to celebrate Europeans coming to the Americas, but to give my thanks to all of you who are apart of my life. All of you have helped, in some way, shaped me to be the person I am and I am grateful for that influence you've had on me. I am especially grateful to my parents and sisters. It's funny how a bit of distance gives perspective on how much you can rely on someone. It's like being maimed. You never realized how great it was to have all your fingers and both eyes until they are gone.  Wiping after a poo just wouldn't be the same without my hands, so thanks Shay, for being like my hand and being there when I need you most. Thanks to my parents who let me struggle and learn just enough but are always there when my head starts dipping below the surface of the water. Tristan is like a life jacket always there to support me, unless I'm wake boarding. Miki is comfy bed after a long day, there to love you when you need it most. Especially when you repeatedly die every time the parents go out to a movie. Kelcie is bright sun shine in an Irish winter, reminding me life isn't so bad. Thanks to my husband who continues to grow in patience and love for me and who is always there for me and my zitty face. Thanks to all of you. I'm not going to thank every one of you individually because many of you probably don't read this and those of you who do I'm sure are tired with this paragraph, so just thanks :D

The end of October our landlord told us we had 30 days to move because he had some issues and the bank was making him sell his properties. That 30 days ended 23rd of November. Luckily we asked him for an extension, because all the realtors told us there was a housing shortage in Ireland, and he was kind enough to let us "unofficially" stay until The end of December. I don’t know why its unofficially because we are still living there with his approval but he's Irish so….The next day Leo got up to go to work and someone had stolen his license plates off the car in the night. Because we are in the ROI and the car has northern plates he thought it was a was some group being terrorist like they are here in Ireland. The Garda and PSNI were both called and notified. Leo was given approval to drive up north and get new plates. It took four hours before we found a place that would do it and got back on the road for home. It was not a very fun day.

Jaden, if you cut your hair you will become 12 again. Do not cut your hair unless you want to go back to being 12. I foresaw this in a mental image the other night. It is most definitely 100% accurate. I think when you cut your hair grandma and grandpa get that ugly orange carpet back in their kitchen so Please, do not cut your hair!

I, on the other hand, did cut my hairs. And there was much rejoicing! I was told that I looked like a fluffy bunny and a fluffy chicken before I cut my hairs. 

I don't know why look so much like two different types of animals. I must look like a bunny and a chicken now because there is definitely no fluff.

Leo and I had our own small Thanksgiving. We had turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and rolls. It was very nice but not like home. Probably because my sweet potatoes didn't seem all the way cooked and there was no cranberry sauce. Oh yeah! And none of you were there. My mouth still tastes like garlic. I think it's time for me to brush my teeth again.

Tristan's not the only one with a surprise.

We found out today (November 28) that I officially have healthy kidneys! I know! I was relieved to finally find out but I had them ultrasound and was told they are normal healthy kidneys. So that means my UTI's are not due to kidney problems. That leaves a stinky Lelo as my problem.

The thing with the kidneys didn't end up happening today because the courier that was suppose to pick up Miki's gift didn't come until really late and here in the ROI hospitals have closing hours. Don't ask me, that's Irish logic for ya. Cya for now!

Reasons And Things

Helllllloo,

This is my vlog for this time.

If that video didn't work you can watch on youtube here.

Wee Bit O' Luck Designs

Hello!! I have some exciting, but quick news!! I have opened up an Etsy shop!! Please, don't be shy, visit it and tell others to visit it as well!! Click here. I don't have many postings now but here is a small preview of the stuff I will be posing on it.

Cards

 Party Invites/Announcements

 Home Decor

I will have more about it on my next post. Thanks!!