Now You Seal It

Less than two weeks into our Ireland adventure, I find myself without a phone.

I didn't lose it; I know where it is.  The bottom of Howth Harbor, to be exact.  I would love to include my own pictures from our time there yesterday, but alas, they are on my phone.  (The phone at the bottom of the harbor).

 Instead, here is a collection of photos and art of the lovely Howth Harbor by people other than me:

Photo credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ireland's_Eye_from_Howth_Harbour_1.jpg

Photo credit: http://myworldmycamera.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/howth-harbour-lighthouse-hdr1.jpg

Photo credit: http://daytripperdublin.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Howth-Harbour.jpg

Photo credit: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Howth_Harbour_-_geograph.org.uk_-_35517.jpg

Photo credit: http://www.redraggallery.co.uk/showInventory.asp?iId=3498&title=Martello%20Tower%20above%20Howth%20Harbour&artist=Val%20BYRNE

As you can see, Howth Harbor is beautiful.  There are plenty of shoppes and seafood restaurants, it offers a gorgeous view of Ireland's Eye, and it's only a ten minute drive from our cottage.  I was most excited to see the harbor seals.  So excited, in fact, that as I was taking a picture of a hefty, well-fed, surly looking fellow, a gust of chilly wind blew by and shook my phone right out of my hand.  Directly into the harbor.  About ten feet from the seal.  In front of many tourists, fishermen and onlookers with gaping mouths and eyes as wide as mine. In the slowest motion imaginable.

I hate to admit that after telling my husband, leaving my name and email with the fishmonger adjacent to where the seal obviously spends most of his time, and calling the SCUBA diving team who trains in the harbor, I cried.  A lot.  More than a 35-year-old woman should over dropping her phone in the sea.

I cried for many reasons.  I was afraid of spending time in a foreign country with my baby while my husband is at work all day and not having a way to communicate easily if something were to happen.  I was sad to lose my instant connection to my friends and family back home (I say "instant" because I have a laptop and tablet with internet access at the cottage).  I was annoyed that I'd lose the ability to take photos of my walks and adventures in my new temporary home, edit the pics quickly on my phone, and then upload them to Facebook - all quickly from one device.  Sure, I could lug my fancy DSLR camera along to take photos, then wait until I got back to the cottage to edit the photos on my laptop and then share them, so all is not lost.  But I shutter to think about the possibility of my DSLR plunging telephoto lens first into the Irish Sea...

Most importantly though, I was (still am) upset that I let my husband down.  My phone was brand new. We hadn't even made a payment on it yet.   It was also fancy and expensive, and my track record with phones is not great.  It's not good.  Frankly, it stinks.  My husband goes above and beyond to try to make things easy for me because he knows that I struggle with certain things.  This new phone was waterproof; Mark knew that with me, there's a possibility that I'd probably drop it in water at some point.  We even paid for damage insurance.  If anything at all happened to that phone and it was broken beyond repair, all we'd have to do is send it back and we'd get a new one.  Emphasis on the SEND IT BACK.

The insurance doesn't, however, cover us if the phone is hurled into a harbor and it can't be retrieved.  We can't send it back in order to get a new one.  We just have to pay $500 for a new one.  All because I wanted a picture of this guy:

Photo credit: http://planetwaves.net/news/daily-astrology/the-fattest-seal-in-howth-harbor/

This is Sammy the Howth Harbor Seal.  No, those aren't my feet, and no, I didn't name him.  While looking on Google Images for a picture of seals at Howth Harbor, I came across this one.  THIS is THE seal I was taking a picture of.  I'm sure of it.  He, indeed, hangs out at the same spot every day begging for food.  This person captured a shot of him, and luckily, she didn't seem to lose her photo-taking machine in the water.  Not only did I find this picture, I discovered that Sammy has his own Facebook page!  Click here if you're skeptical...

Anyway, the phone/seal/harbor fiasco was not my finest moment.  I'm really upset with myself, and am looking forward to the sting of it all to wear off.  Until then, I'll be using a temporary phone that Mark already activated for me.  I'll use my tablet for my MapMyRun app to log my walks.  And I'll just have to live with not being able to connect to the U.S. on a whim.  I will survive.  And as long as tourists keep feeding Sammy the Seal in Howth Harbor, he will too.

Ramble awaaaaay from the harbor's edge,
The Rambling Richter

Trekking Trousers and Bright Red Boots

Ireland!

It's been a whirlwind, but I'm so glad we made the journey.  We've been in Dublin for almost two weeks now, and despite a moment of weakness on my part during the middle of last week (I straight up cried while walking down the street in our neighborhood), I'd say the transition has gone fairly well.

*Here's a list of things that I've noticed, accomplished, experienced, learned, etc., so far (In  no particular order):  *Please note that these might sound like major generalizations.  The following is simply from my limited experience as an American - I do not intend to offend anyone.

- It's weird not being able to understand people who speak the same language that I do.  Between the Irish brogue, the different sayings and slang, and the fact that sometimes I think Irish people mumble, I have no idea what they're saying most of the time.  Do they think the same about me?

- Adding money to an account, such as a prepaid phone or train pass, is called "topping up."  You can "top up" online sometimes, or in a shop(pe).

- I think it's so amazing to hear an Irishman speak.  It's still a novelty to me, even after living here almost two weeks.  I was surprised to discover that my way of speaking wasn't very special to them.  I realize that they watch a lot of American programs and get many American visitors, but for some reason I thought I'd be able to connect to people by "telling them about where I'm from." Perhaps we're not that special...

- If you order a sandwich, they'll ask you, "white or brown." White bread or brown bread.

- Many people have said, "Good luck to ye," when saying goodbye.  It's usually when I'd say, "Have a good day."

- I've noticed that not many people wear bright colors.  There's lots of brown, black and grey coats, jackets and boots.  I kind of stick out like a sore thumb, with my bright purple jacket and bright red boots.

Photo credit: http://turtleandrobot.wordpress.com/2012/07/12/gossie-loves-to-wear-her-bright-red-boots/

- Since I don't really know anyone yet, I've noticed that I've been "talking out loud" when walking around.  But I figured that since I have TJ with me, people will think I'm just talking to him.  I don't really care.

- The range of flavors and variety in the grocery stores (shoppes) is amazing.  So new and different to me.  So far, my favorite is hazelnut yogurt.  Yum!

- At Tesco (a grocery shoppe similar to Walmart) they have "Family parking!"  Spaces designated for cars with children, close to the entrance.  Love this!

- You have to pay a one euro deposit for a shopping cart, but the carts at the airport are free.  And there are carts in the shopping mall!  I thought that was so neat.

- I completely understand the expression, "This neighborhood was designed by a drunken Irishman."  Grids are nonexistent.  Here's a map of Raheny, the suburb of Dublin where we live:

Photo credit: http://www.askaboutireland.ie/learning-zone/primary-students/5th-+-6th-class/geography/aspects-of-raheny/map-detective/quick-quiz-rahenys-locati/

- Time is often listed military style, i.e., 15:45.

- I have yet to find coffee creamer here.  Many people drink tea.  Coffee is available, but a lot of people drink instant coffee.  Ew.

- There are companies that offer prepaid electricity.  I know the commercial's jingle already... "Prepaid power.ie, smart control of your electricity!"

- The adjectives that they use are charming to me.  Brilliant, gorgeous, dreadful, etc.  As opposed to cute and awesome, like many Americans.

- In regard to restaurants, you can "stay or take away."  Your food isn't "for here or to go."

- Lots of palm trees and sea gulls in Dublin.  I was pleasantly surprised.

- We can choose the temperature on our microwave.  You have to hit the "900" button if you want to cook on "high."

- We don't have a bathtub in our bathroom.  I realize that's very European, but I miss my baths!

- Most places charge you for shopping bags...about 25 cents.  Everyone here brings their own.  I love that.

- We have three garbage cans.  Black, green and brown.  Green for recycling, brown for compost and black for everything else.  I love that we have a place for our organic waste.  It took a while to get used to not having a garbage disposal, but we really don't need it.

- If you're name is Chrissy, you're "called" Chrissy.

- There's ants in TJ's room.  Not a whole lot, but we're trying to get rid of them.  Ew.

- Baby formula is called "follow on milk."

- Reruns are called "catch-up tv."

- Hiking pants are called trekking trousers.  Hee hee...

- They love sweet chili here.  They use it probably as much as Americans use ranch dressing.

- People walk amazingly fast here!  And they don't really follow any sort of rules in regard to walking in crowds.  One can certainly feel like they're going to get run over while walking downtown or in a park.  You certainly have to be on the defensive while out exploring!

Again, there's my narrow view of how things have been so far.  I've been posting pictures every day on Facebook, but I'm considering posting them on this blog as well for those who are not on Facebook or who aren't TJ's Facebook friend.

Stay tuned...more to come from the Emerald Isle!

Ramble brilliantly and with bright red boots,

The Rambling Richter