Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The last month

This is the beginning to my last month here in Belfast. Anytime I get excited about going back home it is immediatly followed by sadness because I have had such a wonderful time here. Ive met so many nice and cool people here and even found some dead on friends, Alan, Doggy, Chrissy, everyone from Dundonald... Jennifer, Emma, Anthony, Claire from Bangor. Ive been so lucky here to meet so many new friends and getting to have so much fun with them while Ive been in Belfast. It makes me sad to say goodbye and I hope they will all be able to come visit me in California. I will also be missing the wee ones, Max, Niamh and I have become so close and it will be very hard leaving them. Ill miss seeing them everyday and all the hugs and cuddles. I will even miss the moaning and tantrums that come along with toddlers... well maybe I wont miss the tantrums but I will miss watching them learn and get bigger. They have grown so much in the 6 months Ive been here and I hope to see them again before they grow up much more. Maybe one day theyll come to Cali and I can take the kids to Disneyland.

My mom will be here in 22 days and I am the most excited about seeing her... I miss my momma so much! I think the one thing that I have gained while being here is the knowledge of how blessed I am and how much I love where I come from and who my friends and family are. I couldnt ask for a better life and moving away has just confirmed that I have it good. I have 2 parents who have always tried to give me the best and I hope they know how grateful I am for everything theyve given me... and especially for the way they raised me. I dont think anyone could have done any better.

So my Mom will be here in 22 days and in 27 days I will be flying home with my Mom and will be back in Visalia before the end of the night on the 29th of March. I absolutly cant wait!!! Ill be out downtown and hoping to see everyone for a drink. I know for sure Ill be with Anna and Yvette so its bound to be a good night, catching up and having some laughs. I was able to skype with both of my girls last night and that just makes me even more excited to get home.

PS I would like to wish my Dad a very Happy Birthday!!!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Pills, and doctors and copays... oh my!

Ive been so sick this week, my throat has felt like its been on fire and my uvula is swollen up so large that its resting on the back on my tongue... graphic and gross I know! I had hoped it was just a cold and would get better with rest and plenty of fluids but tonight I had to go to the ER here in Belfast. The wait was long... over 4 hours but on the plus side I was able to see a doctor and get the antibiotics I need. They said it was a severe throat infection, otherwise known as strep and I would need to take antibiotics and they also gave me pain killers to help with the swelling. I cant believe I didn't have to pay a copay or anything! It makes me hopefully for the US's plan for universal health care. Especially since in my chosen profession you rarely get health care, that would mean when I truly do need to see a doctor I will be able to. I highly doubt my mental health care would be included in Obama's universal health care plan but that's easy enough to work out because now that I only have to see Dr. Velosa once a year I can pay for that and order my medication online for under 1000$ a year. I think that's a small price to pay for the freedom it allows me. Being bipolar Ive always worried about having to see a doctor and having to always have a job that gives me the insurance I needed to get my medicine, but this is a cost effective way to have the freedom to do and go where I want and not have to worry about always having to see my doctor.

Well right now I only have another 5-6 weeks before my Mom lands in Dublin and then we will have a little less then a week here in Ireland before coming home. It amazes me how fast the time has gone by... it doesn't feel anywhere near 6 months. But the time has come and gone so very soon I will be leaving Belfast and going back home to California. I am excited to see all of my friends and family and my animals back home. My poor bird has been neglected for almost 6 months and I hope he's not too mad at me when I get back home. I haven't had any luck finding a family to work for when I get back to the states but I think the search might prove more productive when I am back home and able to speak with families on the phone or even in person. I am planning on taking a month or so off of work and enjoy being with the people that I love so very much. And thanks to my federal tax refund and the money I have saved I will be able to take this time off and still be able to pay my bills. My mom and I land in San Fransisco on the 29th or March and will be picked up by my dad, who will be driving us back to Visalia that night. I am fully planning on spending a couple hours with the family before heading out downtown to celebrate my homecoming with my friends and a few cheeky pints! :o) I cant wait!

Oh... I almost forgot, Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope yours was illed with lots of love! <3

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Falling behind... 55 days left!

I'm seriously falling behind on this blog, and its not like I don't have time to write on here... because I do, I just forget after Ive done everything I need and want to do during the day. I was in Scotland last week and that was alot of fun but also a wee bit boring. Ive made alot of nice friends here in Belfast and was bored not having anyone in Edinburgh to hang out with. I have less then 2 months left and I cant wait to see my mom again!!! I think I'm more excited about her coming to visit then anything else. Leaving Belfast will be bitter sweet for me because Ive finally settled, and made friends and I will miss the wee ones so much! Its going to be hard not to see them everyday... I'm sure Ill have to find something to fill the quietness with.

I'm hoping to have a going away party the weekend before my Mom gets here... she lands on Wednesday the 24th and my last day of working is on Friday the 19th... so hopefully the 20th I can get as many people as I can together somewhere downtown for drinks and some good craic before I leave. Mom is flying into Dublin on the 24th and were staying there until the Friday, then we will be up in Belfast for the day and then on up the north coast before coming back that Sunday, getting my bags and saying one last goodbye to Cath, Ollie and the kids. Were flying out of Dublin around 8 am on the 29th and then we will be back home in Cali! So I have 55 days until I board the plane to go home... bitter sweet, but it will be good to be home.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

1st blog of 2010

Hey everyone... Im very sorry that its been so long since Ive posted on here. I was without internet the whole time I was in Scotland for Hogmany and have just kept forgetting that this needs to be done. :o)

Well I miss all of you very much during the holidays... especially my Mom and Dad. I got to speak with them on Christmas and that was the one major thing I was looking forward to. I spent a little over a week in Edinburgh and rang in the New Year at a house party of a friend of David's. I met alot of really cool and nice people and that made my New Years even better. I didnt even get back to the hostel to sleep until 4 pm on New Years day! But the exhaustion was well worth it. :oD

Im getting ready to head back to Scotland on sunday for 2 weeks this time. It was supposed to be a shorter trip but a death in the family has pushed up our departure date. My deepest sympathys go out to the family. Youre all in my prayers.

On a lighter not I have had a few chances to get out after I came back to Belfast and I am very happy with my group of friends here. I even met a guy and weve hung out a few times. Nothing serious! But he's very nice and I like spending time with him. His name is Liam. :o) Very Irish... I know. He works at a gas station by my house and he and I started chatting one day when I came in.

I have to say all in all 2010 has started off very good and I am hopeful for the coming year. Cath's mom read my tarot cards on Christmas for the next 3,6,9, and 12 months and those would indicate that my next year will be a great one. Considering how wonderful 2009 was, I am very opptumistic. There were some very hard times in 2009, dont get me wrong, but even during those hard times I still found reason to smile. David's death brought a whole group of people together and made us realize how short life is and that you can't take it for granted. One minute youre driving home from an amazing day at Pismo and then next it's all over. You can't worry about what might happen you just have to live in the moment and make it worth remembering. Make it good and fill the time you have here with things and places and people that you love. I have been fortunate enough to find people here who I want to make memories with and I hope we will be friends for a lifetime. But I can't wait to get home to the people who hold a very special place in my heart. Go to all of the places I love to go to and maybe start building a life somewhere in the state that holds alot of those cherished things. I have just about 2 and a 1/2 months left out of my 6 month stay here in Northern Ireland and I couldnt be happier! Im about 2 months my Mom will be coming over and then we will be flying home together. I couldnt have asked for a better ending to my time here. I hope and pray that your 2010 holds wonderful and amazing things for each and every one of you.

PS I know only a few of you have seen the small tattoo I have on the back of my neck... but Im hoping to get it covered up very soon. Maybe even this weekend. I know my parents hate the fact that I even have one tattoo so this is my compromise. My next tattoo will be a coverup for the one tattoo I dont really care for. Im having something drawn up at Dark Angel tattoo here in Belfast and might be able to get it done on Friday, but if not then it will have to wait untill I get back from Scotland. Im getting something very symbolic of my time here in Ireland... a claddagh with a clover behind it. I'm hoping it comes out great and based on the work I've seen from this guy I think it will look amazing. Pictures will be posted as soon as it's done. :oD