Now, in the midst of those computer hassles, my office phone still doesn't work.
Again, three weeks ago, I asked why I cannot dial out, and they say I should be able to dial within the university, but I have to apply to call outside the university, as there is a charge for each call. And extra-special permission/signatures are required to be able to call mobile phones. Okay, fine, right now I'd simply like to be able to call within the university, as I need to call IT Services for my computer...
So I filled out the application, etc., and the telephone services said it's all taken care of. Well, turns out, I can receive calls, but still cannot make calls. Their switchboard or whatever says my line is active and ready, but I'm telling them it doesn't work. We've been going back and forth on this the past 3 weeks as well...and to this day it is not fixed.
Meanwhile, since I can receive calls, I figure I should set up my voicemail. Well, after many attempts, I learn that I must send in an application. Gee, I have to apply for absolutely everything here, which means at least 24 hours goes by before anything can get done...
So, now I do have voicemail, but a phone that doesn't work...
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Bluegrass
I met some colleagues downtown at the Ha'Penny Inn's pub for some bluegrass music. Well, this Irish band (The Sick and Indigent Song Club) was quite talented (guitar, mandolin, ukelele, harmonica, accordion, whistles, etc.), but it gave me a feel of being 1950's style American bluegrass. Indeed, this was an odd feeling, coming all the way to Dublin in the 21st century to listen to an Irish band playing American bluegrass from the 1950's...
Yup, when I looked them up on the web, they are described as "Old timey, folk, trad, blues and vintage pop."
Meawhile, the Ha'Penny Inn pub is great! It's a cozy place upstairs for music, with comfortable little tables, stools and couches, well lit and fresh (unlike the dark, crowded bar downstairs). It sits right on the River Liffey (which is lovely to walk along at night), across from the Ha'Penny pedestrian bridge (built 1816). The bridge got its name from the half-penny toll that one used to be charged to cross it; the toll was dropped in 1919.
Yup, when I looked them up on the web, they are described as "Old timey, folk, trad, blues and vintage pop."
Meawhile, the Ha'Penny Inn pub is great! It's a cozy place upstairs for music, with comfortable little tables, stools and couches, well lit and fresh (unlike the dark, crowded bar downstairs). It sits right on the River Liffey (which is lovely to walk along at night), across from the Ha'Penny pedestrian bridge (built 1816). The bridge got its name from the half-penny toll that one used to be charged to cross it; the toll was dropped in 1919.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Ryan's Daughter
During the tour of the Dingle Peninsula, there was much mention of the movie "Ryan's Daughter", directed by David Lean (director of "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago"), as it was filmed on the Dingle Peninsula. So I have gotten the dvd from the library and have watched about 30 minutes so far--the pictures I have posted above are two that I took, and they appear almost exactly the same in the movie. Indeed, this 1970 film, winner of 2 academy awards, has some beautiful scenery! The film stars Robert Mitchum, Sarah Miles, and John Mills, who got an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. It takes place during World War I, so there is some interesting insights on life in Ireland and Europe during that tense time--the US obviously didn't experience the same challenges, as it only formally entered in 1917, but the rest of Europe had been fighting since 1914. More precisely, the film is set in 1916, not long after the Easter Rising (rebellion in Ireland to win independence from Britain). But the main plot is a love story...
I haven't seen enough of the movie yet to place my recommendation stamp on it, so watch at your own risk. :)
Rapidly Changing
Here is a picture of the coming of a downpour. Well, actually it never came! But see how it was previously totally blue skies and sunny, then within minutes, there is a vast change, and then somehow within minutes it moves off in another direction without the bottom every falling out.I wonder if people here go easy on the meteorologists, since they have a really difficult job...
Buses
I have been looking forward to living without a car. I've had a car since I was sixteen, and now finally I will break free from that dependency, yes? Living a more minimalist lifestyle, fewer material possessions, fewer luxuries...oh yes, this certainly doesn't come without its pains.
I am a very proactive person, always on the go, always somehow being productive. I'm also very punctual. This is partly because I am very organized and partly because I don't like waiting on others and hence don't want to cause others to wait on me.
Well, waiting on a city bus sure does throw a kink in such a lifestyle.
It's not merely the waiting, but the uncertainty of the waiting--never really knowing if/when a bus will arrive. Never really knowing when I need to leave in order to arrive to a meeting on time, or never knowing when I can tell a person I will be able to join them after my previous commitment. Basically never knowing how much time to allow for an activity.
Uncertainty. Waiting. Not a good combination for someone like me. But I'm learning...
One remedy is to bring a book along. This helps matters, but only slightly. It helps during the journey on the bus, but not the waiting for the arrival--for you must be ready to flag down the bus in time or else it will zip right past you. And, well, actually once on the bus, I am still trying to learn the identifying markers of when to ring the stop bell and begin my decent down the winding staircase on the bus in time my needed departure. (Climbing down the stairs while the bus is in motion with these drivers is not a safe venture, let me tell you...and certainly not with one hand occupied by holding a book...)
So now I've just taken to talking to myself to bide the time. Okay, not really.
Now then, there are bus itineraries so that you know which bus stops where...but these are not accurate. Bus 75 was supposed to come in 10 minutes, but after 35 minutes, I decided to walk to another stop around the corner and get the 46a, which is supposed to come every 6-8 minutes. Wouldn't ya know, I'd see two 75's go past right after this? Oh well, I knew it was a gamble. Meanwhile, I waited at the new stop for over an hour (unable to read my book, because any minute the bus could zoom around the corner). Finally someone came and told me that between 4-7pm, the 46a takes a different route, since it's traffic time. What?? I checked the bus information posted, and there was no mention of this. Urgh.
I do love being able to walk to many places. This is such a freeing feeling, going about on foot. Carrying my groceries back to the house (learning how much weight I can handle per trip...), leisurely stroll to the bank or local bakery.
I do love not having to do repairs on my car. I once needed new tires for my car in the States, and I remember being so perturbed that I was forced to spend a large sum of money and chunk of time out of work in order to get this taken care of, since I was so dependent on a car to get around to my various commitments. No longer is that the case. Ahhh, freedom from that control on me. I also like not seeing the automated withdrawal of car insurance payments from my bank account, and not keeping such a close watch on gasoline prices.
Perhaps waiting for the buses is good, it's making me slow down, smell the roses (or the persons thrust up against me during rush hour...)
I am a very proactive person, always on the go, always somehow being productive. I'm also very punctual. This is partly because I am very organized and partly because I don't like waiting on others and hence don't want to cause others to wait on me.
Well, waiting on a city bus sure does throw a kink in such a lifestyle.
It's not merely the waiting, but the uncertainty of the waiting--never really knowing if/when a bus will arrive. Never really knowing when I need to leave in order to arrive to a meeting on time, or never knowing when I can tell a person I will be able to join them after my previous commitment. Basically never knowing how much time to allow for an activity.
Uncertainty. Waiting. Not a good combination for someone like me. But I'm learning...
One remedy is to bring a book along. This helps matters, but only slightly. It helps during the journey on the bus, but not the waiting for the arrival--for you must be ready to flag down the bus in time or else it will zip right past you. And, well, actually once on the bus, I am still trying to learn the identifying markers of when to ring the stop bell and begin my decent down the winding staircase on the bus in time my needed departure. (Climbing down the stairs while the bus is in motion with these drivers is not a safe venture, let me tell you...and certainly not with one hand occupied by holding a book...)
So now I've just taken to talking to myself to bide the time. Okay, not really.
Now then, there are bus itineraries so that you know which bus stops where...but these are not accurate. Bus 75 was supposed to come in 10 minutes, but after 35 minutes, I decided to walk to another stop around the corner and get the 46a, which is supposed to come every 6-8 minutes. Wouldn't ya know, I'd see two 75's go past right after this? Oh well, I knew it was a gamble. Meanwhile, I waited at the new stop for over an hour (unable to read my book, because any minute the bus could zoom around the corner). Finally someone came and told me that between 4-7pm, the 46a takes a different route, since it's traffic time. What?? I checked the bus information posted, and there was no mention of this. Urgh.
I do love being able to walk to many places. This is such a freeing feeling, going about on foot. Carrying my groceries back to the house (learning how much weight I can handle per trip...), leisurely stroll to the bank or local bakery.
I do love not having to do repairs on my car. I once needed new tires for my car in the States, and I remember being so perturbed that I was forced to spend a large sum of money and chunk of time out of work in order to get this taken care of, since I was so dependent on a car to get around to my various commitments. No longer is that the case. Ahhh, freedom from that control on me. I also like not seeing the automated withdrawal of car insurance payments from my bank account, and not keeping such a close watch on gasoline prices.
Perhaps waiting for the buses is good, it's making me slow down, smell the roses (or the persons thrust up against me during rush hour...)
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Music and Dancing
I haven't posted for a week, as I've been quite busy with a conference. (It was very informative and enjoyable.)
Meanwhile, some of the folks from outside Ireland wanted to find a place with traditional Irish music. So a group of us went to the Arlington Hotel's pub, where there was a band playing such music, and a group of Irish dancers--dancing "Riverdance Style". You know, with the arms down by the side, legs moving super fast, like puppet dolls. It was great fun experiencing this in more of a local setting instead of in a vast auditorium performance. I also think I'm starting to recognize and learn some of the traditional songs I've heard in several pubs now--pretty soon I'll be singing along loudly, swaying my drink...or not. :)
Meanwhile, some of the folks from outside Ireland wanted to find a place with traditional Irish music. So a group of us went to the Arlington Hotel's pub, where there was a band playing such music, and a group of Irish dancers--dancing "Riverdance Style". You know, with the arms down by the side, legs moving super fast, like puppet dolls. It was great fun experiencing this in more of a local setting instead of in a vast auditorium performance. I also think I'm starting to recognize and learn some of the traditional songs I've heard in several pubs now--pretty soon I'll be singing along loudly, swaying my drink...or not. :)
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Solitude
I've been pondering the difference between Loneliness and Solitude.
Loneliness seems to be a state of lacking company, an unsavory feeling seeming from perceived incompleteness and abnormal abandonment or alienation.
Solitude is a state of wholeness while in isolation. It carries a feeling of appreciation for the opportunity to be with oneself, apart from distraction, to be complete in the present without the need for additional stimulus or companionship.
Loneliness seems to be a state of lacking company, an unsavory feeling seeming from perceived incompleteness and abnormal abandonment or alienation.
Solitude is a state of wholeness while in isolation. It carries a feeling of appreciation for the opportunity to be with oneself, apart from distraction, to be complete in the present without the need for additional stimulus or companionship.
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