Well, dear bloggers, it's been quite a while. So what is happening in the world of Dalton? Three words .... Work, Work, WORK!! I suppose I shouldn't complain in the economic climate in which we live in and all that jazz.
But I have still found time to take a look at the reading list for my college course next year..... bad idea. Ulysses is number three on the list of 17 texts .... Shoot me now! But on the upside Ian McEwan's 'Atonement' is also listed, which isn't a bad book, though I think the film did it more justice than it deserved.
I have also found time in my busy work schedule to fit in some light reading in the form of Jane Austin's 'Emma', which is purely perfect. Although Emma clearly has her faults, and borders on sickeningly shallow with regards to her attitudes towards personal attributes and love in general, the book is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of exam stress which has taken over my house. You see the sis is doing her Leaving Cert, which is code for enduring child cruelty at the hands of nitwit governmental examiners whose goal in life is to trick smart kids and ruin their lives. Doesn't it sound like such fun.....
But, despite the exam related stress and the narky customers which have come to make up my summer life, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. On Monday, I jet off to (not so sunny ... grrr) Germany to meet up with a lovely friend who I haven't seen in two years!! Sooooo excited!!!! So, lots of glasses of wine at sunset and discovering of German cities is on the cards for the next two weeks. Will keep you all updated, no doubt there will be lots to talk about :-)
Til then.
Start of Summer Shanninigans
A bitta Irish pride
Oh, finally, the exams are done!!! Now I cannot say whether they went well, or even if I have any chances
of passing them, I dont like jinxing these things. But who cares, they are done and dusted, and I never have to face them again!!
What a week it has been. First the exams, then the Queen, but there is no doube that yesterday's visit by Barak Obama to Ireland really was the icing on the cake. I had the intention of studying pretty much all day. I even got up relatively early in order to get organised and set up an intense day of cramming. But of course, 12pm came, and I made the disasterous mistake of switching on the TV to watch something for a half hour or so, and I stumbled across the live coverage of the US President's visit. 6 hours later, the only improvements that were made to the dismal academic situation was the title of the novel on the top of my study page and the knowledge regarding the lineage from Falmouth Kearney in 1850 to Barak Obama in 2011. But it was a slice of history really, and as a history student I am obliged to do an indepth study of such a remarkable event in my country's history ..... Well thats my story and I'm sticking to it!
It was a really lovely visit though. The people of Moneygall looked like all their birthdays, christmas's, easters, paddy's days and pancake Tuesday's had come at once, and Obama and the Missus really looked like they enjoyed the entire trip. The party atmosphere and reinvigorated sense of Irish pride could be felt through the tv screen, and I must admit I have never seen College Green look so impressive. Of course, Obama's speech was magnificently phrased, but I do think the credit for both speech and general perseverence over the past week goes to probably the most stressed man in Ireland Taoiseach Enda Kenny. I was never a big fan of the man, but I have to say, for an aul bogger from the Wesht he didn't do half bad.
Overall, a very successful week for the Irish people, exactly the tonic needed to remind us all of the relentless Irish spirit. Tá mé an-bhródúil as a bheith as Éirinn.
Passed the point of no return
"We've passed the point of no return" ..... grrr i will be singing that song for the rest of the day now.
But it had to be said. Now this morning when i was thinking of what to write for today's blog, that sentence only really applied to me. You see I have my final exam of the current semester at half 9 tomorrow morning, and needless to say that taking in the fact that my course spans 350 years of history and the entire continent of Europe, along with the slight problem of the absense of a single hint from our cruel lecturer, that I am well and truly schizzled (well it is a family friendly blog). But funny enough, I dont care. I should care, god kows my precious life plan is slighty schizzzled too if I fail, but I think at this point I have stressed so much, and worried so much, that I have created a worry and stress free Amy, one that is past the point of saving. Magnificent.
Along with the fact that my head cannot hold any more dates of treaties or names of Popes, that explains why I am wasting my time on this anyway. Now onto why this "point of no return " thing not only applies to me.
Well I try keep this blog absent of any major political or generally disasterous or distressing realities, but whats about to come next I dont believe falls into that catagory, for it is simply too pathetic and comical to be taken seriously. If we took this seriously, I think we would all die of depression and loss of hope in society, and thats not good now is it. So here it is ; Brian Cowen is not stepping down as leader of this fine country, and will confidently hold a vote of confidence on his applicability to the position of Taoiseach in light of the unaviodable actions which he took in the best interest of the country while in a situation of high responsibility and stress (which he relieved with the odd game of golf as we all now know, big shock there) . ........... It is impossible not to find that comical. Ah we may as well laugh at it, all we can do at this point.
So Cowen has passed the point of of seriousness and has plunged head first into comedy (Micheal McIntyre watch your back), and I have passed the point of redemption. Overall a successful Sunday.
New Year, Maybe Not So New Me
oh we always have good new years resolutions dont we, but lets be honest, we dont exactly keep them.
I decided to be realistic this year, and not say ridiculous things such as "I will not spend ridiculous amounts in Penneys (primark to you British dudes) on endless amounts of t-shirts and little black dresses" and "I will study more and become English Literary genius". Instead I made one semi realistic resolution, and I have decided as I am turning 20 soon, it is time to shed the teenage bum living off mum look, and become domestic goddess (bridget jones eat your heart out!). I am going to lean how to cook!!
Now Im not talking potatoes and veg in a steamer, Im not completely useless. For example, my first attempt is taking place this day next week (had to work around Dad's work schedule and my exam schedule). I plan on cooking breaded chicken fillets in lime sauce, with ginger stir fried mixed veg, and basic mashed potatoes (but of course will make them look fancy). Really looking forward to it actually, will take pics and post them up and let you know how it goes.
I understand it has been a long time since i wrote last, twas christmas day as far as I remember. Since then I have done a good bit of partying (probably a bit too much, but ah sure why not live life while I can) and worked a lot.
Oh, just on a side note, I HATE SALES!!! Bloody shop is packed constantly, and some people's attitudes are just so crap. If you enter a shop and see some poor girl running around like a lunatic trying to deal with 4 customers at one time, please dont tap your foot, huff, sigh or roll your eyes. She is trying her best, no need to be rude. Some people, and I know this is bad but its mostly the people with LOTS of money, are incredibly rude. No need for it people, no need.
So now exams start tomorrow, Irish studies (which composes of Joyce's Portrait and Yeats' Cathleen Ni Houlihan and both's relationship with the Irish Literary revival..... well I hope it does anyway..... ok keep calm Amy, calm blue ocean). Anyway thats the first one in the morning, I feel confident enough. Well confident enough to go to a friend's 21st tonight. Oooooo i do love getting all dressed up!! No drink though, im driving, plan to be home early enough, no 3am fallin in the door for me..... well not for a while anyway ;-).
The Thaw Is On!!
Finally, tempatures are startin to rise, and I got my first glance of grass in about 2 weeks this morning. The water is pouring out of the gutters as the snow from the roof is starting to melt, causing a bit of a duck and dive experience when trying to go outside the patio door, but its all part of it right?
The hens and ducks thought all their birthdays and christmas's had rolled into one with being able to come out of their houses without the tips of their beaks freezing. They have been pecking around in the one little patch of visable grass all day.
As for the other animals of the house, its a bit of a nightmare at the moment.
Belle (the wild slightly sadistic kitten of the family) has taken to slowly pulling the christmas tree apart one decoration after another and placing them all under the kitchen couch. My mom is slowly going insane, and starting to loose her voice screaming "Bold Belle" at the top of her lungs while she skids across the wooden floors trying to get them off her, in vain of course.
Suki (my 4 year old fat cat) defied all our expectations with regard to her weight problems and caught a little bird. Now my mom again freaked and managed to get it off her (this is simply down to Suki's inability to run as fast as Belle, again due to the excess fat). Mom then brought it in her hand, shaking and slightly tweeting, into me as I was hard at work at a bugger of an English essay, to ask what she will do with it. It ended up in a shoebox full of shredded paper in the greenhouse. It soon gained its consciousness back and flew off happy.
The christmas holidays are beginning as the tins of biscuits and boxes of "after eights" are starting to enter the shopping. Also my English course is finished for the semester, so only three day weeks!! Means though I have to start studying for the exams in January. They are going to be really tough :-(
Positive thoughs, christmas!!
