Hello from Ireland!

Welp, Jesse and I rode Ryanair successfully and didn't perish in the process. We arrived at Shannon airport around 2 and climbed in our rental car (yippee!). Jesse, being a highly versatile, highly talented driver, took to the left like a pro. Ok, not a pro. But he managed just fine driving on the wrong side of the road in the wrong side of the car with a manual and a nervous wife.

We drove from there to Ennis, a smallish town known for its traditional music and great food. We parked the car and walked around the city a bit. Our Ireland book recommended a little pizza place which we stopped into. The pizza was kind of meh, but the proprietor turned out to be Danny DeVito's cousin and had pictures of himself at Danny's house for Easter Sunday, etc. So that was cool.

After lunch, we set off looking for a good Irish CD to keep us company while we drive. After a lot of searching, we came to Custy's Music. We found this to be a cute small shop with a pleasant looking man sitting behind the desk plucking his violin along with the music playing overhead. We sort of screamed tourist already with our backpacks and tennis shoes (uh, trainers...), and when I asked for help picking out "something up-beat and kinda drummy" I really proved how non-Irish we are. How is it that my whole life I've felt connected to Ireland and loved Celtic music, and I don't even know what a bodhran is? Anyway, we bought a cd, and he asked where we were staying. We didn't know, and he recommended The Rowan Tree hostel, and here we are! It's very nice and new, and we're sort of cheating by getting a private room for tonight. Still, it's very nice to be in a hostel again. I forgot how relaxed the atmosphere is and how there's a homey feeling with the communal kitchen and common rooms.

We took a little nap, then headed back out around 7, hoping to find a live music session at a pub. Turns out Monday night isn't a real party day. No live music to be found, but we did have some really swell seafood at a cozy pub.

We made an early night of it, and are now in the hostel dining room catching up on computer stuff. Know what I love? I love that in the kitchenwas a couple grilling bruschetta and making pasta together, with a bottle of wine and a nice table all set up. People are cool. Anyhoo, didn't take a lot of pictures, sorry to say. Ennis is really cute and old, and we both agree that there is a big difference between Irish people and English people. While the English are polite and everything, they are very reserved and don't often smile or look up on the street (unless you're in a tiny town). Everyone here seems very nice and approachable. We were looking lost and a woman just walking by asked if needed help. Everyone seems like they have a joke up their sleeve.

Looking forward to picking up Sarah tomorrow and exploring some countryside.

"Not my fault I'm awesome."

Jesse is, at this moment, attempting to write his requests for letters of recommendation for teaching positions next year. He has his headphones on and is looking very absorbed. Every few seconds, he mutters random words: "kiss." "checkers." "Laura Linney." Sometimes he shouts: "squeegee!" "brillo pad!" "Ronald Reagan." Sometimes he speaks with solemn assurance: "New Zealand." Some of these utterances are followed by a triumphant fist to the air, while others are punctuated with a head shake or chuckle.

"Hannah. Hagar! Dang it!"

Has he lost it?

"Guacamole."

No, he's just listening to--not watching--Jeopardy as he works. Have you ever heard of such a thing? I love that guy. This is silly.

Help

So, remember how Liz used to make awesome mixed CDs for all the roommates as an end-of-term gesture of BFF love and premature nostalgia? CDs that somehow managed to sum up your time together with those certain songs you all found yourselves playing or singing in the shower a lot? Because she's cool and proactive and musical like that? Yeah, well. We wanted to be cool like that, too. Unfortunately, the only songs that have been popping up enough around here to warrant inclusion on the Silly Pilgrims Playlist so far are as follows:

"I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts" by Danny Kaye
"Midnight at the Oasis" by Maria Muldaur
"F(orget) You" by Cee Lo Green
"The Cheat Is Not Dead" by Strongbad
"Toxic" by Brittany Spears
and... wait for it...
The Chicken Dance.

Which is pretty much the saddest playlist EVER.

I think we need to get out more.

The effin' CHICKEN DANCE.

True Grit

Today True Grit opened in England. We have all been very impatient waiting for it to finally get here. And I have to say that it lived up to my expectations and then some. I did however wonder how our British friends thought of the film. I, an American, struggled at time with the thick accents. I have no idea how much the British understood. I did notice that they didn't really laugh when we did. Then again maybe we just differ in our sense of humor.



Some of our favorite quotes were:

"I do not know that man"

"You are not Le Beef"

"Well that didn't pan out..."

"Abandoned me to a congress of louts!"

"You do not varnish your words."

among other gems.

So at home I decided we would all pose as Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn since I happened to have an eye patch in my purse. (What doesn't everyone?) These are the gorgeous shots that came form that adventure.





The only sad part on today was that we all missed America just a little bit. I mean how could we not? Horses, Cowboys, Deserts, guns... etc. Plus this movie just made me think and miss my Dad. But it was an incredible film, and had amazing performances form its stars! I would recommend this to anyone. But I do have to say that the western violence is a bit much. I'm not sure how it passed the PG-13 rating. Be warned... it still is a Coen brothers movie!

Girls Day!

This term Kathleen, Annie, and I have classes on Monday and Tuesday. (I have the occasional seminar on Wednesdays, but they don't really count.) Jesse has a class on Thursday, and so we've decided that Thursdays will be our girls day out. We have started a tradition by going to the Chartham Farmers Market.

The walk to Chartham was gorgeous! It really was a beautiful fall day! (Yes I know it is winter, but it really felt like a fall day.)




And the Farmers Market was held in the community center. It was so awesome! They had cake for 50p a slice! Brilliant.



We ended up getting apples, bananas, fresh local juice, and bacon! It was quite a successful adventure!



And then we had a wonderful walk home with a gradual sunset. Truly an awesome outing!



Can't wait for next week!

Day Trippin

So we finally have some time to explore this ol' county. Yesterday, I got out my England for Dummies book and we decided to go to Rye. Rye is a little town in East Sussex which used to be an island. Ya know, waaaaaaaay back. It was a major port of smuggling and defence, etc. Anyway, now it's a beautifully preserved little Tudor village.

We caught a train and a bus, and walked around the shops while Jesse tried to de-carsick. We stopped into this FABULOUS hat shop. I mean amazing. Hat sculpture pretty much. We looked around, then read their little brochure and found out that they're this famous big deal, and they only have this little store in Rye. They made the hats for lots of movies, stuff like that. Look at this stuff!

Sigh. Allison, these reminded me of you. Sorry for that loooong tangent. No, I didn't drop the 250 quid to buy one.

After a few more shops, we walked up the hill to St. Mary's church. Have you heard that song The Bells of St. Mary's? This is that St. Mary's. In the 13oos, some French guys (ghees?) ransacked the town and stole the bells, and the next year some men from Rye went to France and stole them right back. This was a beautiful place. We climbed the bell tower and saw some great views. And the bells, of course.


We also saw the Lamb House, a.k.a. Henry James' house.

It was freezing, and I don't have a hat, so Jesse bought me one. I love it!

We had lunch at the Mermaid Inn, a gorgeous old building which was rebuilt in the 1400s after the French burned down the city. On the walls were lots of autographed pictures of famous people who have stayed there. People like Johnny Depp, Pierce Brosnan, Dame Judy Dench, Michael Cane, Andy Garcia, and the Queen Mother. Just to name a few! We decided our table was probably where Johnny Depp tore a pheasant with the Queen Mother.

The only building which was not destroyed by the French in the Fire was the Ypres tower, which we visited last. Over the years, this castle has been a prison, a mortuary, and a defensive fortress. Now it's a museum. We got to see what life was like for those poor prisoners--

made a trip to the loo,

and played dress up.

I walked out and realized I was still wearing my damsel ribbons... Oops. I guess I still had hats on the brain.

After returning the ribbons, we made our way back home. A really nice date, I think.

Birthday Girl

Our awesome Annieface turned 26 and we had to celebrate! Our first step was to decorate the house. Kathleen bought animal shaped balloons... I still don't think they look like any animals I have ever seen. But they were still awesome.




Jesse wrapped the present. And what a fabulous job he did.



Then he had to be the annoying older brother and keep her present from her.



Finally she got her present.



She opened it and loved it. It is such an Annie apron.


After dinner, dessert, and general good merriment the Thorsons decided to be a little crazy. They were like a performing act from the circus. The best idea they had was to try and get a tic tac from Jesse's mouth into Kathleen's nose and out her mouth. Unfortunately they failed; but it was hilarious.





And the best way to end the birthday evening was with a rousing game of wordtwist. The Pilgrims household is obsessed with that facebook game. Annie, Kathleen, and I were trying to play, but were being distracted by Jesse. Annie and Kathleen were not too pleased by the distraction.





Birthdays are awesome!

The end!