Saturday, September 6, 2008

What's Duller Than Watching Paint Dry?

Here in Dublin, the answer is: watching your laundry dry.

Our apartments are outfitted with joint washer-dryer units, and holy mackerel, are they slow. I'm sitting here on the couch listening to the half-hearted whirl of it as it labors over the three pairs of jeans I put in there at 11:30 this morning. Yes, you counted properly, that WAS twelve hours ago. Twelve hours! That can't really be that energy efficient, even though I did put it on the half-load eco-wash setting. There's got to be a better way. So far the record among us students is getting a full load of t-shirts laundered in five hours. We wept to think of the luxury.

I had boatloads of fun on Thursday night, going to a comedy night at the International Bar then out to dance at a fun pub called The Globe. Aside from one hideously unfunny September 11th joke, the Irish comedians certainly upheld their reputation as terrifically witty people. And The Globe was just too great. I'm still not used to the alcohol-saturated nightlife here, but heading up George's Street away from touristy, overpriced Temple Bar was really refreshing. Plus, I discovered the handy fact that if the music is what it should be, it really doesn't matter what's in your glass. Guinness or soda water, if you're grooving, you're fine. As Dave, a fellow patron, said: "If you take anything away from this stupid Irish man, make it this: dance is the true religion." Not bad, Dave!



Today was another big day: the annual River Liffey Swim! A bunch of us went up the river to see the two hundred brave souls who participated in the race --- which has been going on since 1922, when the Liffey was apparently quite a pleasant place for a frolic.



2 comments:

Cathie Schorn said...

Oh my goodness...all that goosebumpy white flesh. How CAN they??

But traditions are held dear, in Ireland as everywhere. Glad you didn't take the leap with them, though!

How horrible that you missed hanging with Glen Hansard at the Globe, Monica. Find out if something specially interesting to him was happening there that night...like, open mic for random folks who want to take a turn warbling? Maybe there are particular events they stage, so you can plan another evening there with some reasonable expectation that Glen could show up, too.

Meantime, how terrific you've found a little spot to hunker down and work in, Monica. A familiar enough setting (like Starbuck's, it sounds like) so you aren't distracted by its novelty (a bookstore would be just TOO interesting to work in, I'd think)...hope tomorrow is very fruitful for you.

I'll be stopping by the Cave to get Daniel Kagerer a birthday gift and then picking up salad and cards at Safeway. But I should be home by nine a.m. I'll Skype you then!

Love you lots, sweetie.

Mama

Mike Bartels said...

haha- I remember those horrid washer/dryer combos. The trick is just not to do any laundry. That's how I kept my sanity during my six smelly months over there.

Enjoy the Liffey!