Sunday, July 5 & Monday July 6 in Dublin

Arrived in Dublin about 8:30 am. Even though we flew coach, all in all it wasn’t terrible. Staying at O’Callaghan Stephens Green which is right across from a beautiful park called – Stephens Green. After a short nap we took a walk and decided to board the hop on hop off bus. Sat on the top so we could see the city. First stop – touring the Guinness factory – you keep walking up floor after floor until you reach the top, which is the bar with the best view in the city. Included in the price of admission is one pint each, however after one taste, I determined Guinness is the worst tasting crap I’ve ever had in my mouth. So very bitter – looks like a chocolate milkshake but tastes like crap, so I opted for a diet coke. Janice liked it and it became her drink of choice throughout the trip. Sue, wanting to stay in the spirit of the country settled on Jamison whisky – which is filtered tree times – and is very smooth. Tree, by the way, is how the locals pronounce three. They don’t pronounce their h’s that follow t’s.

First night I was sooooo very tired that I couldn't leave the room and Janice went to fetch dinner – Chinese take away – and she had to pay 2 Euros for plastic chop sticks. Take away is their words for carry out.

The next day we toured Dublin Goal – which is a jail – It was a very long tour – somewhat interesting at first but Sue got bored very quickly. That night we tried to find some fun, but were disappointed. We went to a bar that was recommended to us by a young lady on the bus from New Jersey. Said older men were there and trying to pick her up (she was 23), so of course Janice and I were in. We got to the Arlington Hotel and walked into a very large, very crowded bar/restaurant. There were 5 Irish dancers – 2 guys and three girls. They were very good – like the River Dance folks, but it was mostly couples and groups of people in the bar - no single men, so we asked the young bartender and he pointed us to another place, which turned out to be very quiet – then we were told that not much goes on there Monday evening. All in all Dublin was nothing exciting – proved my theory that I don’t like big cities – just small towns, but it was a good place to catch up on our sleep and get our clocks reset.

the only constant....part 3

OK, so they didn't show up with my stuff until 10pm on Thursday. But they got it all unloaded relatively quickly and it didn't cost a lot and now I don't have to move anything else! I unpacked a few essentials to get ready for the trip, did some laundry and went to bed. Woke up on Friday, packed and cleaned the house then headed down the hill to go to the Phoenician to spend the night with Laurie. Got there around 8pm Friday, then left at 9:30 am on Saturday to head to Chandler to get to Janice's. Made the airport in plenty of time to have lunch and leave at 1:10 pm headed for Dublin. First stop Chicago.

the only constant is change - part 2

As I just said, I'm not at all upset or stressed about the fact that everything fell through. That way was not suppose to happen. I know why.

So, I got a return call from the Estate Sale lady and told her that my move fell through but one of her guys will still pick up my stuff at the same time I was planning to come yesterday. She said - do you need someone to help you move from Phoenix and I said yes. She said she has a guy with a company called "Have truck will travel" and he is hungry so he would probably give me a good deal. So, I give him a call. And guess what? he is actually going to move someone from here to Scottsdale tomorrow and he could give me a great deal if I wanted it done tomorrow - I would save $200. And it's probably the same or maybe even less by the time I rent the truck, pay for gas, hire the people on both ends, etc., not to mention we going back and forth twice in the brutal heat. And the best part - I don't even have to be there - so I can stay here and get everything ready to move in tomorrow - the first guy can deliver in the afternoon, then the other guys will come early evening and deliver everything else!!!! I'm too excited for words.

As I always say - everything happens for a reasons and exactly as it is suppose to. To be continued.......

the only constant is change

It was all set up. The move. Even though I'm leaving for Europe on Saturday, I still had everything set; I rented a truck, hired a couple of guys to meet me at the storage unit to load the truck, hired a guy here to pick up the furniture I purchased over the weekend at the Estate sale, then unload it all at my new house, turned on all the utilities (there are four different companies - never lived in a house with 4). I was going down this afternoon so I didn't have to leave really early in the morning - Warren was getting off work early to help me and I had to get him back by 5 so it was going to be a really quick move. I called my neighbor Connie to pick up the stuff I put in her garage, reserved Meryl's couch for tonight, made sure the dog sitter would be here so I could get to Phoenix before dark. I got a renters policy to start tomorrow. Did the walk through yesterday for my new place, got the keys, set up for the landlord to get the carpet cleaned today and the blinds fixed. Got this house all cleaned up (cleaned it myself and you know how much I love to do that), got all my stuff moved out of the bathroom and cleaned up in the bedroom and kitchen, starting putting aside things to take to the new house so I could have what I needed to sleep there tomorrow night.

Then Warren called to tell me the person who was coming in early for him was sick and in fact he had to work late so he couldn't do it. So I took a deep breath and decided to make some lunch. I thought about it and thought that it was actually better that I didn't have to run back to phoenix by 5 and I could keep the truck till Friday when I originally was going down to spend the night with Laurie and leave for Europe the next day. That would give me a couple days to unpack and get everything set up. But I was worried about driving a 26 foot truck up the hill by myself, especially since I've never driven one and had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I called a couple of friends in Phoenix to see if they were available to go along for the ride. One was not and the other was not available. Then I thought - I can do it myself since I have guys at both ends to load and unload. But I needed a realty check so I called Kate. She has done quite a bit of moving cross country renting trucks. I wanted to see if I was being a baby or my concerns were real. She assured me that indeed, it was a big deal, especially driving up the steep mountains with a truck load of stuff.

So.....plan B. It really does work out best. I'll just cancel the truck and the guys and move when I return from Europe. that will give me enough time to find someone to help me and perhaps do it on a day that is more convenient, like a weekend. It would be so much less stressful to be able to just relax and go down to Phoenix on Friday, enjoy my time with Laurie instead of being sore, tired and cranky and be fresh for the trip on Saturday. Then my friend Colleen called back and said it was a "piece of cake", she did it by herself driving 11 hours straight - she was scared at first but she did it and lived to tell about it. She was even going to make her day available tomorrow to go with me so I wouldn't have to go alone. But I thought better of it and will continue alone with Plan B.

I was able to hire a guy to pick up the estate sale furniture tomorrow and deliver it to the new house, so that takes care of that issue. I bought a queen bed for the guest room so I'll be able to sleep there tomorrow and Thursday (no TV or Internet - what will I do?)

All of this did not upset me one bit. Things happen as they are suppose to and I don't question it anymore. So, after it was all done, I took a nap! Now it's time to think about dinner.............

Sedona People

I've found something new here - people don't seem to be in a hurry to return your phone calls. There are a few exceptions, but this week, I've called a women who told me to call her yesterday so I could visit the winery she works at and talk to the owner about her need for an event planner. It wasn't even my idea. She found out what I did and wanted to set this up. I called her yesterday and today and still no response. Same thing with the dog healer that is helping Paris. Calls and emails but very slow response. And then I made about 8 - 10 calls yesterday inquiring about houses to rent and I only got a return call from 2. I guess things work much slower around here.

I did see a house I really love - and I'm going to see it again tomorrow morning. The location is the selling point. It's high up on the hillside with a lot of land and hiking trails and beautiful views. It reminds me of an oasis. The living room opens to a patio surrounded by a big tree and lots of cactus so I can have an extended outdoor office. The house itself is nothing special - 2 very small bedrooms and only one bathroom. Decent recently redone kitchen and another huge room in the back. So hopefully I'll be able to get it and move in August 1.

Finished my writing class today at the synagogue. I only was able to attend two of the four sessions but it was fun to just write and meet new people. I have a meeting with the President of the Sedona Art Festival Board in the morning about possibly getting a board position.

Can't believe I am leaving here in one week. I guess I need to get ready for that. I need to read my list of things to pack for the trip, find out the weather reports in Ireland and England. I may stop in Scotland for a couple days on the way back - not sure yet. It's so close kind of a shame not to. The dog sitter arrives on Monday so I'll have Monday and Tuesday to get her used to the dogs and visa versa. From what she says, she never leaves the house - or very rarely. Doesn't have a car, so I'm sure the dogs will love that.

Meryl is coming up tomorrow and I'm excited about our girls weekend. We've never done that before. Allie and her friend Gabriella are coming too for the night and the day on Friday, then Meryl drives them to Prescott for the weekend at Brownie camp, then comes back here. This visitor thing has been great. Except for the first weekend, I've had one or two visitors each weekend and I get to spend quality time with my girlfriends.

Working on my first Wild Boomer Women Retreat which might be the first weekend in December. Depends on where I decide to hold it. More news later...........

Elvis is Alive and Living in Sedona

I swear. I saw Elvis today at the Fedex store when I went to pick up my mail. He had the wig/hairdo, tight white pants, the Elvis shoes, glasses - but no belt. What's up with that? He was trying to sell his CD to the clerk for $10 but he had no takers. Who knew Elvis couldn't even sell a $10 CD?

Looking forward to my weekend visitors - Janice is coming to go to the Summer Solstice event, then Doreen arrives on Sunday for a quick overnight. Love those visitors. Next weekend is Meryl, Allie and her friend before they go to Prescott for camp - then Meryl and I get to spend a girls weekend. Yeah!