My new life

Well, I've started my new restaurant job and, guess what? I like it, I really do! I never thought I'd work in a restaurant, or that I'd like it if I did, but it actually feels great to be working with my hands instead of poring over a book for a change. Wow. I mean, it's hard, tiring work and it can get very steamy in the kitchen, but it's surprisingly satisfying. Of course, I'm just about the lowliest person in the kitchen -- I've been working on "vegetable preparation" which is a fancy way of saying that I've been doing stuff like slicing mushrooms for pizza. It's an Italian restaurant and I'm one of the very few non-Italians working there, so I might just pick up some language skills, although something tells me that a lot of cussing goes on, so maybe not the sort of language skills a girl should really boast about!

And that's not all! Next week I'm babysitting TWO days instead of one so, hey, drinks are on me (if I've enough energy afterwards to actually go out). However, I'm anticipating a fairly easy ride, as on Sunday I've been given a bunch of tickets to take the rugrats to not one but two shows in a theatre called Draiocht, which I think means "magic". The Mom and Dad were supposed to be going, but she's had some sort of a plumbing disaster at her shop in the city centre, so they are going to have to spend the weekend sorting that out. It seems a bit mean to be happy about a plumbing disaster, but I wasn't sorry to hear about it, as the money will be good. Plus, heh, heh, I've roped my flatmate, Bepe, into coming along on the Dad's ticket, so I won't even be watching the kids on my own. I'm hoping to be able to save enough to get home for Xmas, partly because it's past time I saw my peeps, and also to show my folks that there is life after college, even without a teaching diploma.

People, if you are thinking of coming to Dublin soon and haven't bought your tickets yet, I've been here for over a year, and one of the best, most fantastic things to do in Dublin is, IMHO, to attend Bloomsday. It combines getting dressed up, world-class literature, eating lots of delicious greasy sausages and bacon with a massive pub crawl. What on earth could be better? And that's not all! Now an important traditional festival, the very first Bloomsday was the brainchild of David Norris, whom I've never met but have come to love as Ireland's Best Possible Future President. Unlike most rich folks, this man lives in the heart of the city centre and is often seen stalking about Parnell St.

Bloomsday is on June 12th -16th, so if you're planning a short break and vacilating between Dublin and someplace else -- come to Dublin!