Wednesday
We only had an inch or two of snow last night. It looked beautiful this morning with snow covering everything. As the sun slowly rose overhead, the snow started melting but did not disappear - I suppose the sun is not so warm this time of year.
I packed up some dishes and then decided to take down the Christmas tree. Monday was little Christmas, and yesterday was Christmas in Macedonia where Tina is from. Tina has done a great job decorating the tree the last two years - she is very artistic. But since she and JB are not here to enjoy it this year, I decided to take it down plus all the nutcrackers, candles, etc. Every year I forget to pack one Christmas decoration or another. So this year I am gathering everything in 2 places - the kitchen table and the living room. I have an old trunk - it may be one that belonged to Aunt Helen - that I have always kept Christmas ornaments in - I know just where they are. So as I go through everything, I will pack the trunk.
Once I gathered everything together, I decided to take a break - so I had a bowl of soup then went out and did a little shoveling and cleared off my car. The snow did not look as heavy as it was! Maybe because it was melting? I was surprised when I picked up a shovelful. So I took my time and probably looked like a nut with my small shovelfuls of snow. I had almost detached my retina one winter from shoveling - I had never thought such a thing was possible! The ophthalmologist told me to cut out shoveling and no heavy lifting. I still have floaters in my eye since that time and occasional black spots if I do forget and lift something heavy. So I go slow and easy shoveling - and I was thankful that there was no more than this inch or two! I love shoveling - it brings back fun memories when we were kids - my mother made us shovel the whole neighborhood because there were so many old people living there. Looking back, they were probably younger than I am now - they were all working. My mother told us to shovel their sidewalks and driveways so they would be clear when the neighbors got home. Miss Vaughn rented our garage - she lived across Spring Street - maybe she had no driveway. but we had to have our long driveway cleared so she could drive her car into the garage. My father was also working 2 or 3 jobs so we had to shovel as soon as we were able so he didn't.
My father worked 11-7 on the MBTA's Red line - he would come home and drive kids to Mount Trinity Catholic School in Belmont beside Oakley Country Club, then he would sleep till he had to drive those kids home from Mount Trinity and then go to work as a janitor at the East Junior High School. At some point he was also installing storm windows and doors on the weekends - he did all the houses up and down on Green Street - I don't remember about Marshall Street. He always worked hard. When we were small on Green Street, he tried going to night school to get a college degree. I think it was the kids that kept coming that put a monkey wrench in that dream - me, then Johnny, then Patty, Jimmy, Christine, Jody. He wanted us all to graduate from college. I remember how proud he was when I was the first to graduate - I had gone to Boston College Nursing School and got through by the skin of my teeth!
While I was outside clearing off my car, my cousin Larry called from Sneem to tell me that our cousin Molly had died in New Jersey before Christmas. We had been wondering why our Christmas cards were returned. Her sister Anne sent Larry a memorial card and a note. I felt badly that we didn't know - I would have tried to go to the wake and funeral. Molly was very kind to my cousin who died from multiple myeloma and to her mother - Molly was very good to Larry after Sheila and then Hannah died. Molly was uncle Larry O'Sullivan's oldest daughter. He was the oldest of my great grandmother's second family - my grandmother, Margaret Moriarty, was youngest of the first family - I think Uncle Larry was about 5 years younger than Ma. He came home from New Jersey when the old pair were sick but would not stay. He told his brother, Uncle Mike - who was next to the youngest - to come home and take over the farm. Uncle Mike liked working in NJ and did not want to go home, but he did. He was m cousin Larry's father. Confusing?
When I came in, I started packing up the Christmas decorations. When I paused, I saw I had a message from Deb Duffy so I called her, and we caught up on life. Then Beth called. I was hungry by the time we hung up - it was 8 o'clock so I sauteed some onions and peppers - added teriyaki sauce then some shredded cheese and had it on a tortilla. It was delicious! And low sodium, low potassium!
I read a little about Venice - I don't know much about that area - as I watched Rachel Maddow and half watched Lawrence O'Donnell. I left the water running a little in the kitchen and bathroom because of the wild wind and wind chill factor - our pipes have frozen in the past when it was this cold and windy. I watched the 11 o'clock news for the latest weather and called it a night!
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
More tests are necessary
I definitely need a new phone! I have an iPhone 6 which has no storage left, and now there are no notifications - it doesn't ring, ding or vibrate when a call or text comes in. So I have missed several calls from my PCP. I did finally connect with her Monday morning (January 6.) She said that the kidney function tests were still elevated on Saturday but trending down which is good. She said the ultra sound of my kidneys didn't show anything, but it showed something in my bladder - they don't know what it is so I have to have a CT scan. She also wants me to see a nephrologist. So that was some good news, but I still feel like I am in limbo re the "bladder thing." We discussed the hip revision - she said that I could go ahead with it and we can follow up with the scan, labs, and nephrologist postop. I told her to call the surgeon and cancel it - I'd rather get this all settled. She was pleased with this - she said she had thought I wanted to get the revision as soon as possible - she thought this was the best decision. I told her that I just don't have a good feeling about the revision - it is not an emergency - I just can't walk any long distances - and sometimes I can't walk short distances, but I am functioning - my biggest concern is that it is my right leg, and I need to be able to drive. So my PCP is going to set up the CT scan and the nephrology appointment - and will repeat labs in another couple of weeks. I did apologize for missing so many phone calls even with my phone right beside me or in my pocket. She just said that she knew something was up when she couldn't reach me.
So I guess I will be going on the cousins cruise the last full weekend in January. I thought I would be canceling it - as usual I kept putting off canceling it - but I am glad now that I did! This year is the first time we will have rooms with balconies! Adjoining balconies! We fly down to Miami on Thursday the 23rd and will stay in South Beach. Now that I am a lady of leisure, I wish I was going a couple of days early. Oh well, next year.
I think I have said before that I can get obsessive about things. I am spending way too much time researching the trip to Italy since we decided to extend it. Only because I have so much sorting and packing to do. I had been obsessed trying to find information on Gortdromagh in the British Parliament papers a week or so ago - now it is Italy. So I spent most of Monday morning going through the library books. I finally roused myself and headed out to the Post Office to mail packages to Mairead and JB. Then I walked along the beach at the Heights and went to the store to pick up split chicken breast. I made the best chicken soup ever - it must have been the little bit of red and green pepper I had left in the fridge - they gave it a little bit of sweetness. I usually throw in any leftover veg with rice, barley, and baby pasta - sometimes a little oatmeal to thicken it. NO salt and a no sodium bouillon packet - yes, there was 8% potassium in one cup, but I added it to a couple of quarts. I used Mrs. Dash and white pepper for seasoning. I had 2 bowls of it!
Yesterday, I made 2 loaves of Irish bread - raisons are off the diet for kidney disease so I may be in big trouble as I do love this bread! I was taking my brother to a doctor appointment so I made a loaf for him. I had made a loaf for Fr. Tom Mahoney and one for Fr. Steve Madden before Christmas. I mailed Steve's to Melrose but bringing Steve's to Belmont when I went up one day to see my brother. Both had offered to say the funeral Mass for Johnny Murphy - both had been very comforting at that time. Steve had been pastor at St. Pat's in Watertown - he actually signed the forms for my Irish citizenship. He led the Resurrection trip to Rome about 2007 when Mairead and I had such a wonderful trip.
Tom was associate pastor at St. Pat's and also worked at MGH. He was there for my family when my cousin was dying of multiple myeloma, when my sister had colon cancer, when Danno had the lung transplants, when Johnny Murphy died as well as other times along the way. Tom was a chaplain at MGH when my friend Beth's husband had a lung transplant for pulmonary fibrosis - he was very good to David - he was there when David died there.
So we have a real connection to both of these priests. They both love Irish bread - look at those last names - Madden and Mahoney - so I wanted to sent some for Christmas. I was hand delivering Tom's before Christmas, but ended up giving it to my brother after he was hit by a truck when he was delivering the mail in Brookline. So Tuesday I was finally going to deliver it to him.
I picked my brother up at 3, and we headed to Mt. Auburn Hospital. This is one place I had never thought of working - and it is so close to Watertown. It has all changed since the last time I was there in 2007 - I was going to the lab for blood work after my initial right hip replacement. It was a long walk for my brother who has been unsteady on his feet and dizzy since he had a small brain bleed and concussion in the accident. But he did better than the last time.
So I guess I will be going on the cousins cruise the last full weekend in January. I thought I would be canceling it - as usual I kept putting off canceling it - but I am glad now that I did! This year is the first time we will have rooms with balconies! Adjoining balconies! We fly down to Miami on Thursday the 23rd and will stay in South Beach. Now that I am a lady of leisure, I wish I was going a couple of days early. Oh well, next year.
I think I have said before that I can get obsessive about things. I am spending way too much time researching the trip to Italy since we decided to extend it. Only because I have so much sorting and packing to do. I had been obsessed trying to find information on Gortdromagh in the British Parliament papers a week or so ago - now it is Italy. So I spent most of Monday morning going through the library books. I finally roused myself and headed out to the Post Office to mail packages to Mairead and JB. Then I walked along the beach at the Heights and went to the store to pick up split chicken breast. I made the best chicken soup ever - it must have been the little bit of red and green pepper I had left in the fridge - they gave it a little bit of sweetness. I usually throw in any leftover veg with rice, barley, and baby pasta - sometimes a little oatmeal to thicken it. NO salt and a no sodium bouillon packet - yes, there was 8% potassium in one cup, but I added it to a couple of quarts. I used Mrs. Dash and white pepper for seasoning. I had 2 bowls of it!
Yesterday, I made 2 loaves of Irish bread - raisons are off the diet for kidney disease so I may be in big trouble as I do love this bread! I was taking my brother to a doctor appointment so I made a loaf for him. I had made a loaf for Fr. Tom Mahoney and one for Fr. Steve Madden before Christmas. I mailed Steve's to Melrose but bringing Steve's to Belmont when I went up one day to see my brother. Both had offered to say the funeral Mass for Johnny Murphy - both had been very comforting at that time. Steve had been pastor at St. Pat's in Watertown - he actually signed the forms for my Irish citizenship. He led the Resurrection trip to Rome about 2007 when Mairead and I had such a wonderful trip.
Tom was associate pastor at St. Pat's and also worked at MGH. He was there for my family when my cousin was dying of multiple myeloma, when my sister had colon cancer, when Danno had the lung transplants, when Johnny Murphy died as well as other times along the way. Tom was a chaplain at MGH when my friend Beth's husband had a lung transplant for pulmonary fibrosis - he was very good to David - he was there when David died there.
So we have a real connection to both of these priests. They both love Irish bread - look at those last names - Madden and Mahoney - so I wanted to sent some for Christmas. I was hand delivering Tom's before Christmas, but ended up giving it to my brother after he was hit by a truck when he was delivering the mail in Brookline. So Tuesday I was finally going to deliver it to him.
I picked my brother up at 3, and we headed to Mt. Auburn Hospital. This is one place I had never thought of working - and it is so close to Watertown. It has all changed since the last time I was there in 2007 - I was going to the lab for blood work after my initial right hip replacement. It was a long walk for my brother who has been unsteady on his feet and dizzy since he had a small brain bleed and concussion in the accident. But he did better than the last time.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Musings
I had wanted to spend a day in bed just because now I can. I used to be off on weekends - you know what that is like - running around trying to get things done that you can't do during the week because you're working. I never wanted to waste time lolling around in bed. But I woke up Friday to a dark, damp, dreary day - so I did! I had stayed up watching James Corden on CBS last night till 1 am - I woke up about 8 am. So I stayed in bed until noon time or so. I was reading about Italy, checking emails and texts, drinking tea and having a bagel, relaxing - and it felt great! I felt like I needed a lazy day. Unfortunately, the sun came out about noon so I felt like I needed to get up and do something although I didn't feel like going out. I put on my raggy dungarees and an old turtleneck - I need to pack things up around here so I packed up a few things. The upstairs is just about empty except for some bedding, sweatshirts, wool sox of JB's and some poster boards - I washed his sweatshirts and will pack them away for him.
I have a load of keys in the kitchen - no idea where they belong. We never locked the back door here - never in almost 11 or 12 years. I used to lock the front door if we were going to be out for the day or if we were going to Ireland - usually JB or Mike would be around anyway. But, now that I am here alone, I keep the front door locked most of the time. I lock the storm door in the kitchen about 8 pm. So I spent I don't know how much time checking those keys first at the back door - then at the front door. Out of at least 20 keys - one was for the back door and 3 were for the front. I still don't lock the kitchen door when I go out - but I guess maybe I should after posting this!!!
I like looking at our Christmas decorations - I have a lot of nutcrackers - large and small. Tina did a great job decorating the tree with wide red glittering ribbon and their silver ornaments. This is their tree, but I've had an artificial tree for years - we had a fake tree on Main Street in Watertown. It is so much more convenient - you can put it up and take it down as the spirit moves you. This one is JB's and Tina's. I love the tree, stable, nutcrackers, etc. so I don't hurry to take them down - I usually wait until January 6 - Little Christmas or the Epiphany - when the 3 kings found Jesus. In Ireland it was known as Women's Christmas - I wonder if it still is? That evening the ladies would all go out to celebrate - fathers would be home babysitting - sometimes the ladies would go for dinner, but at least they would go to the pub.
So the rest of Friday was spent sorting with a little packing. My kids and Johnny Murphy always say/said that I don't really clear things out - I just move things from one spot to another or from one room to another. There's some truth in that. The annex where I had my office and have my bed is getting so full that I can hardly walk thru it! I'm not sure where my bed is at times because it is piled high with things! JB brought all my genealogy boxes, files, posters, pictures, photo albums, charts, etc. down into the from bedroom where Johnny used to sleep. I still have a lot of genealogy binders and pictures in the annex. I have scrapbooks from my childhood through the 1980s - how can I get rid of those! I have the newspapers from JFK's and RFK's assassinations - plus the Marathon bombing - maybe the blizzard of '78. What do I do with those? I have hundreds of photos, hundreds of census records, birth certificates, naturalizations papers - I could go on and on and on! I can't take all those things to Gortdromagh. So I need to get everything else in the living room and kitchen packed up - that won't be so hard - I have done a lot of that already - now it is mostly Christmas things and everyday dishes, pots, pans that I'll be using. Then I need someone to lock me in the annex without food or drink until I go through everything there and find my bed. Then repeat this in the front bedroom! And what about outside! We already loaded up one dumpster, but there is still wood that JB was going to cut up for the fireplace. I was trying to put a few things in the trash every week, but it has been so wet lately that I haven't been able to do it. So this is what I am up against.
I didn't get to the 2 things on my To Do list for Friday - go to the Post Office - call Comcast. I did go to the Post Office Saturday morning after going to Quest lab for lab work. But I arrived just after noon when the PO closed. So that is back on the list for tomorrow - so is Comcast!!
I drove up to Brighton on Saturday after I left the Post Office for a renal scan at St. Elizabeth's. I got to St. E's just after 2 pm. I was drinking water because I needed a full bladder. I went straight to radiology because PreReg was closed. The receptionist called PreReg, and we did it over the phone - it took forever. I was still drinking water as I registered - my second 8 ounce bottle since 2 pm. The tech did the scan of my 2 kidneys without any problem. She had trouble with my bladder and wanted a better picture. She made me nervous asking if I had had abdominal surgery, any trouble urinating, any hematuria, any pain all while she was scanning the bladder area which did hurt. Then she asked me to go have a cup of tea because I was probably sick of water. She thought more fluid would help her get a better picture. So I walked to the cafeteria and got a cup of tea. She was waiting for me when I walked back 15 minutes later - I hadn't even finished the tea! She said the picture was better, and it didn't hurt this time as she pressed on the bladder area. So now we wait for the results.
My niece Lucy had texted that she was taking her father out to Ms. Kim's Golden Sails Restaurant for his birthday - she asked if I was interested. She texted me again that they were leaving at 6 pm. I was almost to the bridge so I met them there. I didn't care if it was on the renal diet or not, I had a Pina Colada! And it was good. I had chicken chow mien on pork fried rice - what huge portions! I also got 4 or 5 crab rangoons with that the dinner combo! It was a nice time with the 3 of us. Patty arrived as we got the bill. She didn't want anything so we just sat and talked for a while more. The staff all know Richie in there.
I went home with my goody bag - about 3/4 of the plate! I tried Great Course again on the Falmouth library website - still no services available! I had just started the Roman Empire - the instructor was in an imperial toga when I left! There are over 25 more lectures to that one course!! AARRGGHHH!!! Sure, I can read this history in a book - I love to read - but these instructors bring the history to life!!! I am hoping that it is not permanent!
So I read my library books on Florence and Venice. I went to bed early - 11:20 because I was tired - or probably it was the Pina Colada which was pretty strong - I couldn't even stay up for Saturday Night Live. I woke up at 5:30 and felt wide awake - I was also hungry. It was dark and raining out. I made my tea and bagel and crawled back into bed. I was reading a book that my brother Johnny had bought at an estate sale - Vanishing Ireland. I think I had read it years ago - maybe I even had it! It was interesting reading about the different people and looking at their pictures. But I was horrified as it dawned on me that the authors were talking about a dying part of Ireland - the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s!! I was there then in the late 70s and 80s!! How old am I?!? They talked about the hard lives the Irish had - no running water, no electricity, no cars, poverty. I remember Nana Murphy talking about taking her laundry down to the river - she would make a fire and heat water from the river in a big basin to wash the clothes - then she would hang them on the bushes to dry. She said the first morning after getting married, she woke up alone in bed - her husband Mikey Paul was already gone up the mountain after sheep - her father-in-law told her to go out to milk the 12 or 13 cows that they had and then get breakfast. What a way to start a marriage!
I know that a lot of houses/cabins in Sneem had no running water in the late 70s - my cousins in Loughane had no running water and no outhouse when I first visited in 1973. Molly Crowley in Beal - between Gortdromagh and Loughane - had the only outhouse that I ever saw - although there could have been plenty of them around. Johnny Murphy told me that when he started working for the ESB (Electrical Supply Board) about 1977 he put a back kitchen and a bathroom into Gortdromagh. The water came from the lake up on top of the mountain - a pipe carried it down to the house. It would clog periodically, and Johnny would have to figure out where the obstruction was. Sometimes the water in the pipe would freeze in cold weather. The pipe wasn't very wide - like a garden hose if I remember correctly. If there was no water running in the pipe, we couldn't have the range going - the range heated the water tank - if the tank was empty, the pressure would build up in it and could explode - at least that was my understanding. The range was a big turf, wood or coal powered stove - it was the source of heat for the house - although there was a small fireplace in the sitting room to the right of the front door. If there was no fire in the range, the house was pretty cold and damp in the winter.
The winters in Sneem were nowhere as bad as a winter in Watertown - if it did snow, the snow only lasted a few hours. The first time Danno and I saw snow in Gortdromagh, we ran out to make snowballs - Danno made a snow angel, but the snow melted a couple of hours later.
But it could reach freezing temperatures. When the pipe froze, Danno and I would take a bucket and break through ice in the river with a spade for a bucket of water to make tea or use for cooking. I didn't grow up in Ireland and only spent less than 3 years there, but I considered all this an adventure - I was back to my roots. I'm sure people worked hard - I know they had little money.
Johnny Manning's book also talked about how hard farming was in days before tractors and other machines. I used to go to the bog with my cousin Larry and Johnny Murphy. I only remember it being bright sunny weather when we were there, and the white feathery bog cotton would blow in the wind. I don't remember what they call it, but Johnny would "skim" off the top layer of ground to get to the turf. It looked like thick wet black mud. They would have their Wellingtons on because it would be wet and would start cutting the turf - they used a slan or slean to cut a big long piece - maybe 12-18 inches - and throw it onto the bank - I would take a spade and pitch the piece of turf a distance - I had to spread it out so it could dry. Once the turf dried, we would stand it up on an end and lean 3 or 4 pieces together so the wind could dry it more - stook it but I am not sure that is how it is spelt. I suppose this was back breaking, but I only did it a couple of days at a time - I was either on holidays or had small kids to mind. I remember the Murphys rented a piece of the Breens bog across the river one year. I was down there spreading turf with Johnny, Larry, Jamesy Breen, and Danno - who was only 7 - a couple of days after Mairead was born. I was so happy to get down there!
Sometimes Nana would bring tea and homemade bread to the bog if within walking distance - it never tasted better except in the hayfields. Other times I would pick it up since I had a car and bring it to the bog.
Here are some old photos from 1984! I couldn't get the pictures any clearer. What a difference with today's photos taken on a cell phone!
I loved being in the hay fields as well. Larry used to cut his hay with a scythe - Johnny Murphy would go over to help him. I loved the music he made sharpening the scythe with the scythe stone - at least I thought it was music. They would cut the hay, and I would turn it over to dry it out. I remember shaking out the hay in Gortdromagh, but there it was cut with a tractor with a mower on the back. Mikey Paul was there with his straw hat on, Johnny, me, Danno - sometimes Larry. I developed a rhythm or motion to it - we moved along a row and then moved on to another row. Nana again would bring tea - maybe sandwiches or homemade bread. I loved having tea in the hay field or bog - I remember warm summer days - a lovely breeze - fresh air - blue skies. In Gortdromagh we could look down at the main road - see who was passing by. Once the hay was dry, we would make small hay cocks - then larger ones. I was never there to see how a large haycock was made so I don't know how it was started. But I remember throwing pikefuls of hay on top of it. Sometime a horse or a tractor would take the haycock to the hayshed. Later Mick Connor Simon would bale the hay in Gortdromagh which was much less work but not as much fun - for me anyway. Now I think everyone makes silage.
Here are a couple more pix from 1984 - I'll have to look for the others.
Anyway, I was feeling tired about 8 am so rolled over and went to sleep until Mike called me at 9:15 am from Larry's house. I guess a truck or branch brought down Larry's telephone line so his landline is not working. They had a good night in Sneem on New Year's Eve which was Larry's birthday. Mike said it was quiet today - it had been busy till today - now everyone was going home after the Christmas Holiday. They told me that a young man from Sneem had died - Batty Murphy was 56 - his father Joe had died in September when I was leaving to come home. Johnny Murphy used to work for Joe who was a sheep farmer when the Murphys were children - Johnny was a teenager - Joe was a cousin of Mikey Paul's. Joe was a vey nice man as was his wife Betty - we would visit them occasionally when we were home.
Mike said he plays poker at Dan Murphy's Pub on Fridays. He and Larry are going back to the Blind Piper on Thursday night for a bite to eat, and to see if they have music. It was great to talk to Mike instead of texting him. My phone does not have an international plan although it is only $15/month so I could get it. I had tried to Face Time Mike but didn't get through.
I packed up a little more today before Beth called about 11 am. We changed our trip to Rome - we are leaving Saturday February 29 so we will be there 3 weeks. Beth seems very happy and excited about it - this is her trip - she needs to do a little research now so she gets to visit the sights she wants to see. We are lucky to be able to stay with her nephew and niece in Rome. No need for a car so that eliminates a major expense. We can take the train to Florence or Venice if she wants.
I headed out for a walk along Falmouth Heights Beach about 3 pm. I was all bundled up, but it didn't seem as cold as yesterday or last week. There were a few people walking, and kids playing ball on the beach. There is something about the smell of the ocean and the sea breeze that is so soothing and invigorating at the same time!
I went into Stop and Shop to buy split chicken breasts to make chicken soup tomorrow. It was about 4:10 when I came out. So I jumped into the car and headed to the Heights - I pulled in beside the Tides Motel to watch the sunset. There were a few others there - some taking pictures. The sun went down quickly in the end - the sky then lit up when the sun was below the horizon. I am not used to just sitting and watching the sunset - I always feel like I should be doing something - like I don't have enough time. But I guess I have time now! I just have to get used to it!
I have received many emails and texts so I want to say thanks so much for all the support!
I have a load of keys in the kitchen - no idea where they belong. We never locked the back door here - never in almost 11 or 12 years. I used to lock the front door if we were going to be out for the day or if we were going to Ireland - usually JB or Mike would be around anyway. But, now that I am here alone, I keep the front door locked most of the time. I lock the storm door in the kitchen about 8 pm. So I spent I don't know how much time checking those keys first at the back door - then at the front door. Out of at least 20 keys - one was for the back door and 3 were for the front. I still don't lock the kitchen door when I go out - but I guess maybe I should after posting this!!!
I like looking at our Christmas decorations - I have a lot of nutcrackers - large and small. Tina did a great job decorating the tree with wide red glittering ribbon and their silver ornaments. This is their tree, but I've had an artificial tree for years - we had a fake tree on Main Street in Watertown. It is so much more convenient - you can put it up and take it down as the spirit moves you. This one is JB's and Tina's. I love the tree, stable, nutcrackers, etc. so I don't hurry to take them down - I usually wait until January 6 - Little Christmas or the Epiphany - when the 3 kings found Jesus. In Ireland it was known as Women's Christmas - I wonder if it still is? That evening the ladies would all go out to celebrate - fathers would be home babysitting - sometimes the ladies would go for dinner, but at least they would go to the pub.
So the rest of Friday was spent sorting with a little packing. My kids and Johnny Murphy always say/said that I don't really clear things out - I just move things from one spot to another or from one room to another. There's some truth in that. The annex where I had my office and have my bed is getting so full that I can hardly walk thru it! I'm not sure where my bed is at times because it is piled high with things! JB brought all my genealogy boxes, files, posters, pictures, photo albums, charts, etc. down into the from bedroom where Johnny used to sleep. I still have a lot of genealogy binders and pictures in the annex. I have scrapbooks from my childhood through the 1980s - how can I get rid of those! I have the newspapers from JFK's and RFK's assassinations - plus the Marathon bombing - maybe the blizzard of '78. What do I do with those? I have hundreds of photos, hundreds of census records, birth certificates, naturalizations papers - I could go on and on and on! I can't take all those things to Gortdromagh. So I need to get everything else in the living room and kitchen packed up - that won't be so hard - I have done a lot of that already - now it is mostly Christmas things and everyday dishes, pots, pans that I'll be using. Then I need someone to lock me in the annex without food or drink until I go through everything there and find my bed. Then repeat this in the front bedroom! And what about outside! We already loaded up one dumpster, but there is still wood that JB was going to cut up for the fireplace. I was trying to put a few things in the trash every week, but it has been so wet lately that I haven't been able to do it. So this is what I am up against.
I didn't get to the 2 things on my To Do list for Friday - go to the Post Office - call Comcast. I did go to the Post Office Saturday morning after going to Quest lab for lab work. But I arrived just after noon when the PO closed. So that is back on the list for tomorrow - so is Comcast!!
I drove up to Brighton on Saturday after I left the Post Office for a renal scan at St. Elizabeth's. I got to St. E's just after 2 pm. I was drinking water because I needed a full bladder. I went straight to radiology because PreReg was closed. The receptionist called PreReg, and we did it over the phone - it took forever. I was still drinking water as I registered - my second 8 ounce bottle since 2 pm. The tech did the scan of my 2 kidneys without any problem. She had trouble with my bladder and wanted a better picture. She made me nervous asking if I had had abdominal surgery, any trouble urinating, any hematuria, any pain all while she was scanning the bladder area which did hurt. Then she asked me to go have a cup of tea because I was probably sick of water. She thought more fluid would help her get a better picture. So I walked to the cafeteria and got a cup of tea. She was waiting for me when I walked back 15 minutes later - I hadn't even finished the tea! She said the picture was better, and it didn't hurt this time as she pressed on the bladder area. So now we wait for the results.
My niece Lucy had texted that she was taking her father out to Ms. Kim's Golden Sails Restaurant for his birthday - she asked if I was interested. She texted me again that they were leaving at 6 pm. I was almost to the bridge so I met them there. I didn't care if it was on the renal diet or not, I had a Pina Colada! And it was good. I had chicken chow mien on pork fried rice - what huge portions! I also got 4 or 5 crab rangoons with that the dinner combo! It was a nice time with the 3 of us. Patty arrived as we got the bill. She didn't want anything so we just sat and talked for a while more. The staff all know Richie in there.
I went home with my goody bag - about 3/4 of the plate! I tried Great Course again on the Falmouth library website - still no services available! I had just started the Roman Empire - the instructor was in an imperial toga when I left! There are over 25 more lectures to that one course!! AARRGGHHH!!! Sure, I can read this history in a book - I love to read - but these instructors bring the history to life!!! I am hoping that it is not permanent!
So I read my library books on Florence and Venice. I went to bed early - 11:20 because I was tired - or probably it was the Pina Colada which was pretty strong - I couldn't even stay up for Saturday Night Live. I woke up at 5:30 and felt wide awake - I was also hungry. It was dark and raining out. I made my tea and bagel and crawled back into bed. I was reading a book that my brother Johnny had bought at an estate sale - Vanishing Ireland. I think I had read it years ago - maybe I even had it! It was interesting reading about the different people and looking at their pictures. But I was horrified as it dawned on me that the authors were talking about a dying part of Ireland - the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s!! I was there then in the late 70s and 80s!! How old am I?!? They talked about the hard lives the Irish had - no running water, no electricity, no cars, poverty. I remember Nana Murphy talking about taking her laundry down to the river - she would make a fire and heat water from the river in a big basin to wash the clothes - then she would hang them on the bushes to dry. She said the first morning after getting married, she woke up alone in bed - her husband Mikey Paul was already gone up the mountain after sheep - her father-in-law told her to go out to milk the 12 or 13 cows that they had and then get breakfast. What a way to start a marriage!
I know that a lot of houses/cabins in Sneem had no running water in the late 70s - my cousins in Loughane had no running water and no outhouse when I first visited in 1973. Molly Crowley in Beal - between Gortdromagh and Loughane - had the only outhouse that I ever saw - although there could have been plenty of them around. Johnny Murphy told me that when he started working for the ESB (Electrical Supply Board) about 1977 he put a back kitchen and a bathroom into Gortdromagh. The water came from the lake up on top of the mountain - a pipe carried it down to the house. It would clog periodically, and Johnny would have to figure out where the obstruction was. Sometimes the water in the pipe would freeze in cold weather. The pipe wasn't very wide - like a garden hose if I remember correctly. If there was no water running in the pipe, we couldn't have the range going - the range heated the water tank - if the tank was empty, the pressure would build up in it and could explode - at least that was my understanding. The range was a big turf, wood or coal powered stove - it was the source of heat for the house - although there was a small fireplace in the sitting room to the right of the front door. If there was no fire in the range, the house was pretty cold and damp in the winter.
The winters in Sneem were nowhere as bad as a winter in Watertown - if it did snow, the snow only lasted a few hours. The first time Danno and I saw snow in Gortdromagh, we ran out to make snowballs - Danno made a snow angel, but the snow melted a couple of hours later.
But it could reach freezing temperatures. When the pipe froze, Danno and I would take a bucket and break through ice in the river with a spade for a bucket of water to make tea or use for cooking. I didn't grow up in Ireland and only spent less than 3 years there, but I considered all this an adventure - I was back to my roots. I'm sure people worked hard - I know they had little money.
Johnny Manning's book also talked about how hard farming was in days before tractors and other machines. I used to go to the bog with my cousin Larry and Johnny Murphy. I only remember it being bright sunny weather when we were there, and the white feathery bog cotton would blow in the wind. I don't remember what they call it, but Johnny would "skim" off the top layer of ground to get to the turf. It looked like thick wet black mud. They would have their Wellingtons on because it would be wet and would start cutting the turf - they used a slan or slean to cut a big long piece - maybe 12-18 inches - and throw it onto the bank - I would take a spade and pitch the piece of turf a distance - I had to spread it out so it could dry. Once the turf dried, we would stand it up on an end and lean 3 or 4 pieces together so the wind could dry it more - stook it but I am not sure that is how it is spelt. I suppose this was back breaking, but I only did it a couple of days at a time - I was either on holidays or had small kids to mind. I remember the Murphys rented a piece of the Breens bog across the river one year. I was down there spreading turf with Johnny, Larry, Jamesy Breen, and Danno - who was only 7 - a couple of days after Mairead was born. I was so happy to get down there!
Sometimes Nana would bring tea and homemade bread to the bog if within walking distance - it never tasted better except in the hayfields. Other times I would pick it up since I had a car and bring it to the bog.
Here are some old photos from 1984! I couldn't get the pictures any clearer. What a difference with today's photos taken on a cell phone!
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| Jody showing how it is done! |
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| Larry to the left, Jim Shea, Paddy Casey, and Danno in front. The bog cotton on the left. |
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| Paddy Casey, Johnny Murphy, Danno |
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| Johnny Murphy - see the sods of turf on the bank near Danno? They are spread out to dry. |
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| Christine giving some idea of the size of a sod of turf - they were heavy when they were wet. |
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| Danno with his plastic spade, MEM spreading turf, Johnny Murphy is supposed to be cutting |
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| Danno's head and arm, MEM throwing turf, Johnny Murphy |
Here are a couple more pix from 1984 - I'll have to look for the others.
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| Johnny Murphy and Larry making small haycocks. |
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| Patrick Breen, Christine, Danno and Jody |
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| MEM and Julia Connolly in Ballyconnelly, Connemara |
Mike said he plays poker at Dan Murphy's Pub on Fridays. He and Larry are going back to the Blind Piper on Thursday night for a bite to eat, and to see if they have music. It was great to talk to Mike instead of texting him. My phone does not have an international plan although it is only $15/month so I could get it. I had tried to Face Time Mike but didn't get through.
I packed up a little more today before Beth called about 11 am. We changed our trip to Rome - we are leaving Saturday February 29 so we will be there 3 weeks. Beth seems very happy and excited about it - this is her trip - she needs to do a little research now so she gets to visit the sights she wants to see. We are lucky to be able to stay with her nephew and niece in Rome. No need for a car so that eliminates a major expense. We can take the train to Florence or Venice if she wants.
I headed out for a walk along Falmouth Heights Beach about 3 pm. I was all bundled up, but it didn't seem as cold as yesterday or last week. There were a few people walking, and kids playing ball on the beach. There is something about the smell of the ocean and the sea breeze that is so soothing and invigorating at the same time!
I went into Stop and Shop to buy split chicken breasts to make chicken soup tomorrow. It was about 4:10 when I came out. So I jumped into the car and headed to the Heights - I pulled in beside the Tides Motel to watch the sunset. There were a few others there - some taking pictures. The sun went down quickly in the end - the sky then lit up when the sun was below the horizon. I am not used to just sitting and watching the sunset - I always feel like I should be doing something - like I don't have enough time. But I guess I have time now! I just have to get used to it!
I have received many emails and texts so I want to say thanks so much for all the support!
Thursday, January 2, 2020
There is not enough time in the day!
Today was another sunny cold day. I went to bed about 1 am and woke up at 8 am. I got my cup of tea and mini bagel and settled down in my bed to watch the next lecture on the Roman Empire in Great Courses that Falmouth Library has a subscription to. I love these courses! I did the one on Irish Identity and thought it was brilliant. The next one was on the Rise of Rome which was also fabulous. I am on the Roman Empire now - 3 lectures into it. I tend to watch a lecture every Saturday and Sunday morning when I first get up. It's nice to be able to watch it now that I don't have to go to work. But what's up?!? I logged on to my account on Falmouth Public Library and then logged onto Great Courses BUT "No services available at this time!!!" What gives? Don't tell me that the library cancelled the subscription! This is such a wonderful program!! I'm going to try again later and then go to the library to see what is up if I can't get into my course.
This put me in kind of a funk so I turned on CBS This Morning and Morning Joe. Neither cheered me up - no good guests on Morning Joe. So I decided to get up - since it was going to be in the mid 40s, I pulled the sheets off my bed and threw them in the washing machine. I love to hang my clothes up outside. I used to have to hang up lines of diapers in the backyard when my brother Jimmy and my sister Christine were small. I didn't really enjoy that but loved the fresh smell when I had to bring them in.
When Danno and Mike were small, I used disposable diapers. But when we went to Gortdromagh and ended up staying there, disposable diapers were too expensive. The Irish diapers were made of terrycloth and seemed too rough to put on a baby. So anyone coming from home brought me cloth diapers, rubber pants, and diaper pins. We had no washer or dryer in the old house so I was washing them in the bathtub and hanging them out on a clothesline strung from the electric pole to the hayshed. Johnny Murphy put clotheslines up in the hayshed to use on rainy days. It wasn't too bad until Mairead came along 15 months later and John Brendan in another 15 months. I was rinsing 3 sets of diapers in the bathtub at one point - yuck! When we moved into the new house, we had a washer and dryer, but I still rinsed the diapers in the tub to get the ammonia smell out of them before I put them in the washing machine.
I used to love hanging the diapers and clothes outside in Gortdromagh in the fresh air, the breeze, the view. Plus the peace and quiet! I could watch the traffic on the main road coming and going - cars, trucks, buses, bikers. Our cows and our neighbors' cows would be grazing in the fields or the sheep would be roaming around. It was just so enjoyable. I still love to hang my clothes out here in Falmouth. Today I hung out my sheets and a load of towels. Even though it was cold, I was hoping that the breeze would dry out the clothes somewhat.
I received a message from my former team leader at Tufts Health Plan - I reported to her longer than any other manger I had there. She gave me the job with the USFHP members - I'm indebted to her and to Andrea Murphy (she may be a long lost cousin of Johnny Murphy) who recommended me for the job. She is living down here and working at Cape Cod Hospital. We are meeting for coffee in about 2 weeks in Hyannis. It will be good to catch up with her!
JB called from Florida - he and Tina were going out to buy furniture today - they have shopped around at several stores to get the lay of the land. He said it is another warm day down there. He told me to take it easy.
I decided that I needed a To Do list so I don't waste time and get nothing done. I had used a calendar at work to write down when I was to make phone calls, and I had set an alarm every half hour to try to help me stay on schedule. I've already set an alarm to go off every day at 9 am to be sure I get up. So I started a list. The top 2 items were to drop off all the boxes and bags of things I have for Christ the King's thrift shop - my car's trunk is full, the back seat is full, and now the front seat is full - I have no room now for groceries! I also gathered up all the packaged food that was too high in sodium/potassium or some spicy ingredients that JB and Tina used that I wouldn't. 4 more bags that I squeezed into the car. I headed to Cotuit to the thrift shop - 2 gentlemen helped me empty the car - one took the food - he said his wife works at the Church, and he would drop it off for me. My car has been full for months - it looked like I lived in it! It took 10 minutes for those 2 guys to empty it out. Whew! What a relief!
I headed back to Falmouth - I had to stop at the house because I had forgotten my cell phone again!! I knew my PCP would be calling about the renal ultra sound. Am I getting dementia? I keep forgetting it - or am I trying to leave technology behind?
I had a sandwich and checked my clothes outside - sheets a little damp - towels still wet. I'll leave them until I come home. So I headed into town. I drove along Menauhant Beach - Bristol Beach - Heights Beach - there were a lot of white caps and waves. I was going to walk at the Heights beach, but it was too cold. I drove up town to the post office - what the heck is going on? There was a sign "One Lane Only" - the town workers had the opposite side of the road dug up - no parking from before the Quarterdeck to the Common. No parking spaces for the Post Office so I figured I would stop in East Falmouth on my way home. I went around the block and came in the back way to the Library. I ran in and grabbed a couple of books on Florence and Venice plus a tape on how to speak Italian. I asked the gal at the check out desk about Great Courses - she checked it on her computer - same thing "No Services Available - Check with your library." She called the reference department - they had me walk over to them. They were checking their computers - same message, but they had not heard anything about not carrying Great Courses. So they are going to call the assistant director in charge of online services. They told me to keep checking on my computer or stop in later this week. I did tell them how much I enjoyed Great Courses - that I was raving about it to everyone I know!
Of course I left my phone in the car - good lord what is up with that - and my PCP had called when I was in the library. I have to go for an ultrasound on Saturday - repeat labs next week.
I drove to the harbor - there were a few empty cars - maybe people working or visiting in Martha's Vineyard - they take the mail boat over in the winter. It was another cold breezy day - to me anyway - the ducks and sea gulls were sunbathing - there were none flying around - they were all stretched out enjoying the heat from the metal slip maybe?
I headed for the East Falmouth Post Office but drove right by it! Never thought about it until I pulled into the driveway. I think I was listening to the weather on WBZ and never thought about pulling in as I drove past. Oh well- there is always tomorrow.
I brought my clothes in - the sheets were almost dry, but the towels were still wet - it was too late when I hung them out I guess. I came in and made a cup of tea and started reading one of the books on Florence and Venice. Then I sautéd more veg, browned some hamburg, and cooked some pasta. I mixed it all together with some low sodium tomato sauce - it was delicious - I really hope I don't have to cut out tomatoes! I just put a little sauce on the mixture - usually I drown the pasta with sauce - not today. I ironed a couple of shirts after I ate then read a little more about Florence. I picked up a few things in the living room that I had packed for Ireland. Then decided to work on the blog for today. I was just about finished when my computer lost power! Oh god, did I lose that post?!? But I didn't, and now I think I will make my bed and jump into it! I have been listening to the news about the US attack on an Iranian airport killing the #2 guy over there. Scary wondering how they will retaliate! Thinking of Maureen's son Brian who is deployed over there somewhere I think.
So the Post Office is at the top of my To Do list for tomorrow. Next is calling Comcast to get just the basic package and the news plus the internet. I'm paying too much for cable when I only watch a couple of stations. There are all kinds of stations but nothing to watch!! Plus I want to cancel my landline. I got rid of the phone and never canceled it with Comcast! There are other items on the list, but I only want to concentrate on two each day - if I accomplish more, so much the better. But I don't want to feel stressed if I don't get to everything. Plus I think it may rain tomorrow so I may feel like staying in bed reading!!
This put me in kind of a funk so I turned on CBS This Morning and Morning Joe. Neither cheered me up - no good guests on Morning Joe. So I decided to get up - since it was going to be in the mid 40s, I pulled the sheets off my bed and threw them in the washing machine. I love to hang my clothes up outside. I used to have to hang up lines of diapers in the backyard when my brother Jimmy and my sister Christine were small. I didn't really enjoy that but loved the fresh smell when I had to bring them in.
When Danno and Mike were small, I used disposable diapers. But when we went to Gortdromagh and ended up staying there, disposable diapers were too expensive. The Irish diapers were made of terrycloth and seemed too rough to put on a baby. So anyone coming from home brought me cloth diapers, rubber pants, and diaper pins. We had no washer or dryer in the old house so I was washing them in the bathtub and hanging them out on a clothesline strung from the electric pole to the hayshed. Johnny Murphy put clotheslines up in the hayshed to use on rainy days. It wasn't too bad until Mairead came along 15 months later and John Brendan in another 15 months. I was rinsing 3 sets of diapers in the bathtub at one point - yuck! When we moved into the new house, we had a washer and dryer, but I still rinsed the diapers in the tub to get the ammonia smell out of them before I put them in the washing machine.
I used to love hanging the diapers and clothes outside in Gortdromagh in the fresh air, the breeze, the view. Plus the peace and quiet! I could watch the traffic on the main road coming and going - cars, trucks, buses, bikers. Our cows and our neighbors' cows would be grazing in the fields or the sheep would be roaming around. It was just so enjoyable. I still love to hang my clothes out here in Falmouth. Today I hung out my sheets and a load of towels. Even though it was cold, I was hoping that the breeze would dry out the clothes somewhat.
I received a message from my former team leader at Tufts Health Plan - I reported to her longer than any other manger I had there. She gave me the job with the USFHP members - I'm indebted to her and to Andrea Murphy (she may be a long lost cousin of Johnny Murphy) who recommended me for the job. She is living down here and working at Cape Cod Hospital. We are meeting for coffee in about 2 weeks in Hyannis. It will be good to catch up with her!
JB called from Florida - he and Tina were going out to buy furniture today - they have shopped around at several stores to get the lay of the land. He said it is another warm day down there. He told me to take it easy.
I decided that I needed a To Do list so I don't waste time and get nothing done. I had used a calendar at work to write down when I was to make phone calls, and I had set an alarm every half hour to try to help me stay on schedule. I've already set an alarm to go off every day at 9 am to be sure I get up. So I started a list. The top 2 items were to drop off all the boxes and bags of things I have for Christ the King's thrift shop - my car's trunk is full, the back seat is full, and now the front seat is full - I have no room now for groceries! I also gathered up all the packaged food that was too high in sodium/potassium or some spicy ingredients that JB and Tina used that I wouldn't. 4 more bags that I squeezed into the car. I headed to Cotuit to the thrift shop - 2 gentlemen helped me empty the car - one took the food - he said his wife works at the Church, and he would drop it off for me. My car has been full for months - it looked like I lived in it! It took 10 minutes for those 2 guys to empty it out. Whew! What a relief!
I headed back to Falmouth - I had to stop at the house because I had forgotten my cell phone again!! I knew my PCP would be calling about the renal ultra sound. Am I getting dementia? I keep forgetting it - or am I trying to leave technology behind?
I had a sandwich and checked my clothes outside - sheets a little damp - towels still wet. I'll leave them until I come home. So I headed into town. I drove along Menauhant Beach - Bristol Beach - Heights Beach - there were a lot of white caps and waves. I was going to walk at the Heights beach, but it was too cold. I drove up town to the post office - what the heck is going on? There was a sign "One Lane Only" - the town workers had the opposite side of the road dug up - no parking from before the Quarterdeck to the Common. No parking spaces for the Post Office so I figured I would stop in East Falmouth on my way home. I went around the block and came in the back way to the Library. I ran in and grabbed a couple of books on Florence and Venice plus a tape on how to speak Italian. I asked the gal at the check out desk about Great Courses - she checked it on her computer - same thing "No Services Available - Check with your library." She called the reference department - they had me walk over to them. They were checking their computers - same message, but they had not heard anything about not carrying Great Courses. So they are going to call the assistant director in charge of online services. They told me to keep checking on my computer or stop in later this week. I did tell them how much I enjoyed Great Courses - that I was raving about it to everyone I know!
Of course I left my phone in the car - good lord what is up with that - and my PCP had called when I was in the library. I have to go for an ultrasound on Saturday - repeat labs next week.
I drove to the harbor - there were a few empty cars - maybe people working or visiting in Martha's Vineyard - they take the mail boat over in the winter. It was another cold breezy day - to me anyway - the ducks and sea gulls were sunbathing - there were none flying around - they were all stretched out enjoying the heat from the metal slip maybe?
I headed for the East Falmouth Post Office but drove right by it! Never thought about it until I pulled into the driveway. I think I was listening to the weather on WBZ and never thought about pulling in as I drove past. Oh well- there is always tomorrow.
I brought my clothes in - the sheets were almost dry, but the towels were still wet - it was too late when I hung them out I guess. I came in and made a cup of tea and started reading one of the books on Florence and Venice. Then I sautéd more veg, browned some hamburg, and cooked some pasta. I mixed it all together with some low sodium tomato sauce - it was delicious - I really hope I don't have to cut out tomatoes! I just put a little sauce on the mixture - usually I drown the pasta with sauce - not today. I ironed a couple of shirts after I ate then read a little more about Florence. I picked up a few things in the living room that I had packed for Ireland. Then decided to work on the blog for today. I was just about finished when my computer lost power! Oh god, did I lose that post?!? But I didn't, and now I think I will make my bed and jump into it! I have been listening to the news about the US attack on an Iranian airport killing the #2 guy over there. Scary wondering how they will retaliate! Thinking of Maureen's son Brian who is deployed over there somewhere I think.
So the Post Office is at the top of my To Do list for tomorrow. Next is calling Comcast to get just the basic package and the news plus the internet. I'm paying too much for cable when I only watch a couple of stations. There are all kinds of stations but nothing to watch!! Plus I want to cancel my landline. I got rid of the phone and never canceled it with Comcast! There are other items on the list, but I only want to concentrate on two each day - if I accomplish more, so much the better. But I don't want to feel stressed if I don't get to everything. Plus I think it may rain tomorrow so I may feel like staying in bed reading!!
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
New Year's Day 2020
I had told Johnny and Vickie last night that I planned to stay in bed all day today - Johnny had given me a box of books about Shakespeare last night so I thought I might read some today while I was listening to the records of Shakespeare's plays that Johnny had given me and Jody. But, when I woke up at 8 am, it was so bright and sunny that I couldn't stay in bed. So I watched the London New Year parade as I ate breakfast and cleaned up the kitchen. After taking a shower, I picked up a few things outside - it was in the 40s, but there was a cold breeze. I took a drive into Falmouth about 3 pm - the beaches were quiet - the people who were out walking were well bundled up - there were quite a few people around up town. I stopped at the harbor - I thought it might be warmer than the Heights Beach. The breeze was very cold despite a turtleneck, heavy sweatshirt, and a winter jacket. I made one loop - the fresh air was cold, but it felt so good to be out! I used to try to walk daily - Johnny Murphy would always be on to me about being entitled to a lunch break - so we would drive in about 3 or 4 o'clock - I would walk around the harbor while he talked to anyone who was there - then I would go back to work. Since Johnny died, I would keep putting off a walk - after the next phone call, after I document this call - until it was either time to quit work or more recently until it was dark. So I love being outside on a sunny day.
As I sat in the car warming up, Mike Leary called from Kenmare to see how I was. We decided to go ahead with the renovations - he said it would take 2-3 months to get planning permission. We talked about the architects - I decided to go with the lower estimate - Denis O'Leary. Mike said he had worked with him once, and he was a decent guy. The difference in price was considerable for the same work. I had wanted the other architect because he lived nearby and knows us - but euros are euros - and a couple thousand euros are a lot now that I am on a budget!! They would furnish a couple of bedrooms!
I sat at the harbor for a while longer - what a change from the summer when it is full of boats - there are 2 sailboats in the harbor today. There is no one walking or parked here. I like the solitude but do miss talking to the other walkers. Tomorrow is supposed to be the same weather I think. So I will get my long winter coat and try walking at the Heights.
I ran into Stop and Shop because I forgot to get lettuce for salad yesterday. I came home and decided to make veg stir fry and some fish. I usually buy haddock but they only had cod yesterday. I had forgotten that cod has no taste to it. I just fried it and ate it with the stir fry and some rice - stir fry was good - the cod was just okay. I don't really like farm raised salmon, but think I might have to try it again. I've had real salmon in Sneem, Seattle and Alaska so it is hard to settle for farm raised.
Dan had texted me this morning that the font was off in the blog posts that I made last night. I spent a couple of hours trying to fix them, but gave up and was checking British Parliament Papers for any information on Mary Curran - Johnny's great grandmother who was evicted from Gortdromagh. I am trying to get information about Gortdromagh together so I can write a little explanation about it and hang it in the old house with her picture.
Beth called me to tell me that she spoke with her nephew in Rome. She said he is very excited that we are coming and that they will get us tickets for the Scavi Tours in the Vatican. They will also pick us up at the airport or send a car for us. Beth said that the chef that her nephew and niece know is a lot of fun and that they both will come with us to the the cooking lesson. Her niece has a list of places that other visitors were interested in seeing and will email it to us. I told Beth that I have been to Rome at least twice and saw a lot the last time I was there - she needs to do some research and figure out what she wants to see. I would like to do the Scavi Tour and see the Borghese Museum which I haven't seen.
Beth was saying that her nephew asked if we wanted to see anything outside Rome - Beth said that she told him that we didn't have enough time. So we decided to extend our trip. We were only going for 2 weeks because I was working and was covering a co-worker's vacation - oh god, I never thought of that when I retired! - until Friday March 13th. We are scheduled to leave Saturday March 14 and come home Sunday March 29 after a week in Rome and a week in Sneem. Beth is hosting a family Easter party so we decided to go sooner. I already know it costs $150 to change one direction of a flight on Aer Lingus plus the difference in the price of tickets. I checked and to go a week or two earlier is no extra cost because the ticket is cheaper than what we paid. Some days only have 4 or 5 seats left so Beth needs to check quickly with her nephew to see if it they can put us up longer than a week.
I am feeling excited now about this trip - especially since I had to cancel my trip to Ireland.
I said to Beth that if those blood tests were just a fluke, I am still thinking that I am not going to have the hip revision - I just don't have a good feeling about it.
So now I am going to pull out my Rome guidebooks!
As I sat in the car warming up, Mike Leary called from Kenmare to see how I was. We decided to go ahead with the renovations - he said it would take 2-3 months to get planning permission. We talked about the architects - I decided to go with the lower estimate - Denis O'Leary. Mike said he had worked with him once, and he was a decent guy. The difference in price was considerable for the same work. I had wanted the other architect because he lived nearby and knows us - but euros are euros - and a couple thousand euros are a lot now that I am on a budget!! They would furnish a couple of bedrooms!
I sat at the harbor for a while longer - what a change from the summer when it is full of boats - there are 2 sailboats in the harbor today. There is no one walking or parked here. I like the solitude but do miss talking to the other walkers. Tomorrow is supposed to be the same weather I think. So I will get my long winter coat and try walking at the Heights.
I ran into Stop and Shop because I forgot to get lettuce for salad yesterday. I came home and decided to make veg stir fry and some fish. I usually buy haddock but they only had cod yesterday. I had forgotten that cod has no taste to it. I just fried it and ate it with the stir fry and some rice - stir fry was good - the cod was just okay. I don't really like farm raised salmon, but think I might have to try it again. I've had real salmon in Sneem, Seattle and Alaska so it is hard to settle for farm raised.
Dan had texted me this morning that the font was off in the blog posts that I made last night. I spent a couple of hours trying to fix them, but gave up and was checking British Parliament Papers for any information on Mary Curran - Johnny's great grandmother who was evicted from Gortdromagh. I am trying to get information about Gortdromagh together so I can write a little explanation about it and hang it in the old house with her picture.
Beth called me to tell me that she spoke with her nephew in Rome. She said he is very excited that we are coming and that they will get us tickets for the Scavi Tours in the Vatican. They will also pick us up at the airport or send a car for us. Beth said that the chef that her nephew and niece know is a lot of fun and that they both will come with us to the the cooking lesson. Her niece has a list of places that other visitors were interested in seeing and will email it to us. I told Beth that I have been to Rome at least twice and saw a lot the last time I was there - she needs to do some research and figure out what she wants to see. I would like to do the Scavi Tour and see the Borghese Museum which I haven't seen.
Beth was saying that her nephew asked if we wanted to see anything outside Rome - Beth said that she told him that we didn't have enough time. So we decided to extend our trip. We were only going for 2 weeks because I was working and was covering a co-worker's vacation - oh god, I never thought of that when I retired! - until Friday March 13th. We are scheduled to leave Saturday March 14 and come home Sunday March 29 after a week in Rome and a week in Sneem. Beth is hosting a family Easter party so we decided to go sooner. I already know it costs $150 to change one direction of a flight on Aer Lingus plus the difference in the price of tickets. I checked and to go a week or two earlier is no extra cost because the ticket is cheaper than what we paid. Some days only have 4 or 5 seats left so Beth needs to check quickly with her nephew to see if it they can put us up longer than a week.
I am feeling excited now about this trip - especially since I had to cancel my trip to Ireland.
I said to Beth that if those blood tests were just a fluke, I am still thinking that I am not going to have the hip revision - I just don't have a good feeling about it.
So now I am going to pull out my Rome guidebooks!
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