April 2022

Aphasia, headlines in celebrity news yesterday.  Bruce Willis is stepping down from his acting career due to aphasia.  So what is aphasia and why does thinking about it and writing about feel like I’ve been punched in the gut?  Why does my throat feel tight and my breathing more quick?  Why is my fight-or-flight response on high alert right now?

I have aphasia and I have had it for years.  Approximately 6 years.  It is one of the many symptoms of MS that has changed my life. It is one of the main reasons I no longer teach.  It is one of the main reasons why I am so fucking tired everyday of my life no matter how much sleep I get. It is exhausting to live with such cognitive impairments.  

Fortunately for me, the symptoms of aphasia are mild now. Thank you Clinica Ruiz and the HSCT (Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation) I had there in August 2018.

So what is aphasia?  The Mayo Clinic defines it as a cognitive condition that affects the ability to speak, write and understand language.  Symptoms of aphasia include trouble speaking clearly, trouble understanding speech, trouble writing clearly, trouble understanding written words, trouble remembering words, and trouble remembering object names.  

I understand this because some of the first symptoms I remember are aphasia related.  At the beginning of all of this MS stuff, I combined words such a dollar and Áine to donya, which happened just last night. I spoke sentences with words in all the wrong places .  I remember laughing with colleagues at work about it.  It sounds really funny, until it isn’t.

More and more signs of aphasia showed up in work.  Every single time I wrote, it was a disaster.  Too many misspellings to count which meant more and more time to prep for the days’ lessons.  And on top of that, writing that was illegible.  I had always been so proud of my handwriting because I am a lefty and it was good. Coworkers used to comment on it and ask me to write on the chart paper in meetings. That’s big time as a teacher. That went away quickly when my handwriting almost became illegible. Who knew aphasia caused physical symptoms such as illegible writing?  Aphasia causes weakness that can make it very difficult to hold a pen and control hand movements well enough to write.  

This is still a hard pill to swallow even today. Not too long ago, someone suggested journal writing, actual writing, not typing. I was completely opposed to it because it just makes me sad to remember what I’ve lost.  Many people who have had autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant like I had, journaled all about their journeys. This was way beyond my skill set at that point. As you can see, I love to write. I wish I could have documented such a monumental part of my life but I couldn’t. 

I love all things ELA, English Language Arts.  Even though I will never be exactly as I was before MS and aphasia, I have fought to get back to the point where I once again enjoy writing and reading and I am pretty damn good at them, too.

Selma Blair, Christina Applegate and Me

Selma Blair, Christina Applegate and me.  Who the fuck am I to be in the same sentences are these two Hollywood actresses?  Hmmm.  Up until a couple of years ago, I never would have put myself in the same category as two beautiful, famous actresses.  I wouldn't have thought of them frequently.  Wished I could talk to them. Now, believe me, there are famous people I have thought about being friends with before, like President and Mrs. Obama.  I thought they would like me if we ever met, and that we could be friends.  I thought maybe me and David Sedaris might cross paths one day and share our ridiculous projections that we put on people and situations and have a good laugh.  It just never crossed my mind to be friends with Selma and Christina.  Not that I did not like them or enjoy watching them on screen- I just didn’t know anything else about them and now I do.  

Now I know we could be friends.  We are in the special ¨SNOWFLAKE” club.  We are 3 of the nearly 1 million people in the United States living with MS and nearly 2.8 million people worldwide.  When you look at it that way, it's not that far-fetched that we could meet and become friends.  As of 2021, the population of the United States is 331.9 so only about 3% of the population has MS.   Then we can narrow that down to the percentage of mothers with MS in the U.S. and that is an even smaller percentage but way bigger than fathers with MS, not to dismiss the men, but it’s just facts.  And we can narrow that group down even more to middle-aged mothers with MS in the U.S.  and we are so close to being friends.  There is one more opportunity to make the group even smaller - middle-aged mothers with MS in the U.S. whose career was severely impacted by their MS.  Severely, like cannot do it anymore or require loads of modifications to carry on doing it and still feel like crap about the outcome because they will never be who they were before no matter how well they eat, how much the exercise, mediate, practice gratitude, take disease modifying drugs or do not.  They will just never ever be the same.  See we are getting there.  

We are in the SNOWFLAKE club.  Not the flake club, although sometimes I may come across as a flake because I forget people’s names, how to get places, where I put things, how to get back from places, where I am and where I need to be, or the words to the alphabet song or how to add and subtract.  All of these lapses in memory are courtesy of Multiple Sclerosis.  The thing is, I do not know if Selma or Christina have the pleasure of cognitive symptoms associated with MS, but when we become friends, we can talk about it.  See, the thing about MS is that not two people have the exact same disease course.  Some people, such as myself, have mainly invisible symptoms.  Numbness, tingling, headaches, body aches, spasticity, weak (I can even think of the name right now so I will come back to it, oh, I got it!) executive functioning skills.  Others have more visible symptoms including balance, foot drop, (swallowing, wheelchairs, cane).  Of course, if we were looking at a venn diagram, there would be those in the middle who have both.  In my mind, they are the unluckiest snowflakes.  Are the unluckiest snowflakes the ones that never touch the ground or the ones that end up yellow? It’s hard to know with a disease like MS.  Everyone has their own journey and cannot walk a mile in someone else’s shoes.  All we can do is be compassionate.

Anyway, back to the 3 of us becoming friends. Another hurdle is the distance.  I believe the two of them live in California which is on the West coast of the United States. I, on the other hand, live in Massachusetts, on the complete other side of the country.  We’re approximately 3000 miles apart.  Fortunately, we all live in the 21st Century and there is Facetime, or if they don't have the green bubble (iPhone users only!) we can zoom.  We want to make sure one of us has a zoom account so we can stay on for longer than 45 minutes.  I’m sure that wouldńt be a problem; I am more concerned that they would get together, in person, without me.  This is where the David Sedaris side of my personality comes in.  We would probably talk about our symptoms, laugh, cry, share our diagnosis story, how it affects parenting, other romantic relationships or lack thereof, and what it has done to our careers.  

We would also share what our personal lives were like Before Multiple Sclerosis.    Have you ever gotten to the point in life when you think, “wow, I’ve got it made.  Everything has fallen into place and life is amazing.  This is what it’s all about?”   I did.  Once.  For a very short window. Selma and Christina definitely did, too.

All the Beds are Dressed

All the beds are dressed!

20 years and going strong!  20 years since Princess Di died.  20 years since Maura and Tim met in March.  20 years since I knew my parents were separated.  And now, I am here again with some of my most favorite people in the world.  In Narragansett, Rhode Island.  My happy place.

My Mom and Aunt Kitty started renting this house from a family friend.  It is a typical New England home.  It’s beautiful and cozy.  It’s a place where we eat, drink, laugh and play games.  It’s a place where we go to the beach and interact as a family.  It’s a place where generations can have fun and laugh no matter what the age.

Today I drove down with my mother, the AP and my cousin, Triona Manchester, England via Galway.  It was only one hour and twenty minutes.  To go the Cape on a Saturday in the summer would have taken at least two and a half hours.

When we arrived, we didn’t have a key.  My sister, Maura, my one and only sibling, was picking up the groceries at 2:00 at Stop and Shop with her sons, Ryan (13) and Dylan (9), the nicest boys ever.  They asked ask me, “why do you say that?’  I just tell them, “Because you are.”  As we waited for the cleaner to arrive, my mom, the AP, Triona, Niamh, and Mo hung out in the backyard.   Mo and Niamh quickly felt the urge to go to the packy (liquor store for those of you living outside of Massachusetts.)  Mo was ready for a legit beach vacation.  Sun, sand, BBQs and alcohol!

They returned with a large bottle of Tanqueray (gin), beer and red wine!!!! Mo made me the strongest gin and tonic because I was the first to say I wanted one.  It was strong.  I needed it.  My shoulders and neck were in pain all day.  All it took was a strong G&T, a painful massage by Triona and some essential oils from the house cleaner.  The pain Triona caused me caused me to moan like a bear.  A small crazy wounded bear.  The essential oils released it all without a sign.  The house cleaner went around to all of us.  Me, Maura, Triona, Niamh, Mom and Mo.  Is it a hot feeling or cool? That was the debatable question.  Who is right?  Mom and Niamh, the coldies, or Maura, Triona and I the hotties.  Mo thinks it depended upon the breeze blowing on you! What do you think?   

Since I was feeling relaxed and a bit buzzed, I was inspired to empty out the cars.  My mother told me to sit down and let the others help.  I carried sooOOOOOO many bags to the front porch.  Once they all saw the GIRL with MS working her butt off they got off their lazy bums.  They were like a machine then.  A machine!!!!!  I emptied the AP’s important things, her blankie, pillow and two.  Two?  What?  The AP has a sock monkey; it’s been with her since birth.  It’s irreplaceable.  We tried; so I ordered TWO.  I ordered two twin sock monkey in case Monkey ever go lost.  The AP named them TWO.  How clever is that! 

We all continued to unpack the kitchen and the bedding necessities like a fine-oiled machine.  When we all met up in the kitchen, Triona said, “ All the beds are dressed.”  That was it.  We all settled in and people started cooking.  The five foreigners and four American born, there were more Americans but some were foreign born.  Guests from Boston, Cork, Galway, Manchester, and Lebanon.  It didn’t matter; all the beds were dressed. 

So much to do, so little time!

Having a baby means an even earlier bedtime than my previous 9 PM.  The AP likes to go to sleep before 7 so we need to squeeze in as much as possible before that.  It's easy since she usually wakes up before 6:30.

We started the day off with a quick breakfast at the Best Western restaurant, Bistro Le 330.  The waiters there are so friendly and really helpful with a baby.  The breakfast buffet is $15.00 and includes various eggs, home fries, sausages, french toast (of course!), fruit, etc...  Since I am still trying to lose the baby weight and then some, I chose to have cottage cheese and a fresh fruit plate.  It was only $4 for the fruit and it was real fruit, not that junk they give you in many places that comes from a jar.


With our tummies stuffed, we headed off to Montmorency Falls; it was about a 10 minute drive.  The AP fell asleep on the way so we sat in the parking lot for a bit; but it was still better to get there nice and early.  When we rode the cable car up, there was only one other family on the car; when we came down, the had to have been at least 100 visitors in line.  It cost $40.00 for 2 adults to park and ride up the cable car to the top of the falls.  At first I thought that was a bit pricey, but I was WRONG!  The ride up in the cable car was worth the money.  What an amazing view it gives!  The cable car operator informed us that 300 cubic meters of water was falling PER SECOND due to the rain yesterday.  It was so powerful.  Once at the top, we crossed over the falls on the suspension bridge where we were sprayed from the forceful falls.  Although this waterfall is not nearly as wide as Niagara Falls, it is approximately 90 feet taller.

From there we drove into Old Quebec to explore for the remainder of the day.  There is plenty of parking in this area.  It cost us $22 for the day, but we didn't mind paying as we didn't have to pay for parking at the hotel last night (The meters stop at 9 PM and begin again at 9 AM.  At the hotel, you can use the meter for up to 5 hours.)  Everyone and every write-up says Old Quebec is very European.  They are certainly correct.  It did not disappoint.  The buildings are charming and colorful, there are cafes and cathedrals everywhere, and the streets have just the right amount of cobblestone.  Highlights - Notre Dame Cathedral which was rebuilt at least 2 times due to fires.  It was also allowed to be built originally by the English after they basically stole Quebec from the French.  Apparently, they had been eyeing it for over a hundred years when James Wolfe led the charge and the French gave in.  They signed the Treaty of Paris and that is how Canada still has a French stronghold in the middle of it.  Man those British were greedy little ________ back in the day!  We tried to have a drink in the world famous Chateau Frontenac (yes, it is the most photographed hotel in the world) while the AP was sleeping in her carriage but were nicely informed that children under 18 are not allowed in bars.  I was bummed because we were going to sit in crazy fur covered seats that had horns but alas, the law is the law.  We weren't hungry enough to venture into the restaurant where the AP was acceptable so we may try it another day.  After strolling the streets and passing the Citadel (insurmountable with a buggy) and Parliament, we were finally hungry enough and tried out 1640 Restaurant right on the square.  If you go there, sit outside.  There was so much to see.  There were Tibetan monks getting their caricatures drawn (truth).  They also had cell phones and tablets.  Hmm... maybe they don't take a vow of poverty either.  These waiters were absolutely amazing.  We had everything we wanted, and they loved the AP.  The poor men spent so much time picking up her toys that she threw and reciprocating her smiles.  One even stood with his tray beneath her hand so that when she let go of the keys, he could catch them.  The beef bourguignon was really as good as claimed to be.  It was so tender you didn't even need a knife to cut it.  It was also reasonably priced.

As the rest of the world started their night, we quietly hopped in the car and headed back to the hotel to end ours.  6:30 PM comes pretty quickly and the AP goes from friendly, happy baby to tired, sad one in 60 seconds.  Even with this, Padraig and I agree she is the most amazing baby ever so that's why we need to do so much in so little time!

So, you'd think someone with that gives herself the name TravelKat would actually travel a lot; it's been a long time since I have written a blog.  Well, I have traveled a ton since the last blog.  Wow!  Looking back, it's been a really long time since I have written and I have been to a lot of places.  I'll try to remember as many as I can before I get into where I am now.

After Austin, I went to Ireland in July 2012.  That October I traveled to Washington, D.C. to run the Marine Corp Marathon.  There was a hurricane on the horizon, and we weren't certain the marathon would be squeezed in, but hooray, it was.  My cousin, Kathleen (cousin-in-law), and I finished it before the so-called hurricane blew in.  I don't mean to minimalize it, but in D.C. it was really nothing.  As my nephew, Ryan, who was living in Ireland at the time said, "sure, it's like that here every day."  Some of my supporters were the last plane to leave D.C. that day; however, my mom and I were stuck.  EVERYTHING was closed.  Trains.  Museums.  Drugstores.  What are a girl and her mom to do? Make friends and drink wine in the hotel bar.

That December was the last one that I spent Christmas in Ireland.  I had been going there for Christmas since 2001.  It was wonderful.  If you ever have the opportunity to spend Christmas in Ireland, take it.  People actually celebrate it.  The country celebrates it.  Businesses close.  People have vacation.  They don't have to work Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas.  That's actually a bigger holiday.  In the South or "down the country" as my husband's family calls it, it is called St. Stephen's Day.  Further north, it is Boxing Day.  I haven't spent a Christmas up further than Galway so I don't know much about that. However, I feel like I can speak freely about a Christmas in Cork City.  Go out to dinner on Christmas Eve.  Hop on the bus and go for Mexican, Thai, or Chinese.  This last one, we went for Chinese.  We means my mom, my sister, Maura, her husband, Tim, the boys, Ryan and Dylan, my great- aunt Kay who journeyed over from New Hampshire that year, and my grandmother's cousin, Anne.  She lives in Cork City and is a reputable business owner.  What a delicious and lovely dinner we had.  Stop into a pub after before you need to catch your bus home so you don't miss Santa.  Spend Christmas Day sitting around in the sitting room after you open your gifts.  Eat lots of chocolate, drink plenty of wine, and stuff yourself on a delicious turkey dinner after pulling at your Christmas cracker.  Continue the party the next day at someone else's house.  This is the day where you celebrate with more than your immediate family.  I'll stop on that for now.  Check back in December for Christmas in Donegal, Ireland.

A couple of months later I headed to Puerto Vallerta, Mexico with the kids (Buntha and Christine). Someone so nicely gave them that endearing name because they frequently hang out with me and my husband, Padraig.  We stayed at a beautiful all-inclusive with lots of activities right on the beach.  Let me know if you want more information because I would highly recommend the hotel but don't remember it off the top of my head.

Two months later, my generous friend, Kara, invited us all to her parents' vacation house in Punta Gordo, Florida.  So... the kids and I flew on down to spend the week with Kara, her partner, Tommy, and their joyful little girl.  Basically, we rolled out of bed every morning into the pool.  We did venture out to Siesta Key which is one of the most gorgeous beaches I have ever been on.  It is just like a beach in the Caribbean.  The sand is white, the water is clear, and it is not crowded.  We enjoyed a yummy lunch at Daquiri Deck along with some tasty frozen cocktails.

Moving on...  that summer, the kids and I went on the road trip of a lifetime.  My wedding was coming up in December, and we decided we needed one last hurrah.  So, we headed north in Christine's Honda CRV. We nicknamed it WOWOW (Work-out-world-on-wheels)!  We brought some hand weights and weight balls so we wouldn't gain a million pounds on the road.  Well, that didn't actually work because after all of our stops, we could have used some liposuction.  First stop was Niagara Falls, followed by Toronto, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, and Charleston.  It really was an unforgettable experience. We even got to stay in a Four Seasons in New Orleans after many Best Westerns.  Our original intention of one nice meal in every city didn't work either and I would STRONGLY recommend never going to Jerry Lee Lewis' restaurant in Memphis unless you want to be attacked by mosquitoes, INSIDE, get denied lemons by the bartender, and have to watch some atrocious dancing.

Along came December after time in Rhode Island over the summer and Newport in November.  Padraig and I headed to St. Pete's Beach, Florida with approximately 90 family and friends to celebrate our wedding.  I would recommend it to anyone for a vacation or a wedding.  We stayed at the Bay Palms Resort.  It looks a little sketchy from the main street but is actually AMAZING.  The rooms had kitchens and living rooms.  There was a huge deck where we could all hang out to barbecue, play games, fish, etc. There is also a little pool that was perfect for the kids. They have a larger pool across the street at another part of the hotel that is right on the beach.  Where we stayed was on the water too.  They also have a cheesy, yet fun, happy hour every day.  The wedding was at the Grand Plaza Hotel which was amazing. However, I would suggest staying at the Bay Palms because you have so much more room and such easy access to the outside.

Padraig and I honeymooned in Los Angeles and San Diego in February.  Go to Loteria on Hollywood Boulevard for really good margaritas and guacamole.  It really was so good.  The Roosevelt Hotel has tiny rooms but a really popular pool area and bar.  It's worth going for an afternoon if you don't stay there.

In San Diego, we didn't stay at any special hotel but took a unique beer and wine tour.  It's the La Jolla Beer and Wine tour and includes the train tickets as well as tastings in various towns and lunch in Carlsbad, I believe.  It ended in Old Town where we again ate amazing Mexican food.

After so much Mexican, I had to go to the actual country again for the 4th time so the kids and I headed to Cozumel for a week in April.  It was a little different for me that year as I was 3 months pregnant.  I had lots of virgin Mojitos on the beach.  At this all-inclusive we found the beach to be our number one choice over the pool.  They had small sailboats we could take out and snorkeling tours.  The snorkeling was so enjoyable as Cozumel is in the Caribbean.  You can see the bottom of the ocean.  We saw barracudas, sea turtles, and loads of other fish.  I'd love to go back.

I went back to Cape Cod, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island Last summer.

The amazing peanut, my baby, was born in November 2014, and we took our first family trip in March 2015 to Ireland to visit the in-laws.  I didn't know them that well and didn't know Donegal at all, but after this one visit, I felt at home.  Hopefully, I will explain more at another time.

NOW... FINALLY... we are in Quebec City.  At this very moment.  Padraig and I bravely popped the amazing peanut (AP) in the car and headed out of the city as soon as I started summer vacation.  It was supposed to be a 6.5-hour commute but took 7.  The WORST PART was driving through Boston; it took over an hour to get from one side to the other.  Once through, it was easy breezy (mostly).  There were a couple of delays in Southern New Hampshire and the AP got sick just before the border crossing in Vermont.  Unfortunately, the weather was terrible today.  We decided to use the rainy day to take AP to her first aquarium.  The aquarium is very small.  AP, a 7-month old, enjoyed it.  It's good for very small children and outside actually has fun walruses and POLAR BEARS.  It was too rainy for us to spend more than a couple of minutes outside.  It was also expensive for what it was.  Avoid it unless it is the only option you have on a bad weather day.

We are staying at the Best Western in the City-Center.  It is a 20-minute walk to the Old Town.  The hotel is worth it though with kids.  The room is really like the size of two rooms.  It has a decent size pool with comfy couches.  The AP went into a pool for the first time today with Padraig and loved splashing around. It has a good restaurant where we had breakfast and dinner today.  It is much easier to eat here in the bad weather than to venture out.  So far everyone has been so friendly toward the baby.  Quebec seems to have the best high chairs everywhere.  Way better than Boston.  Although I approve of the hotel, I would try to find a hotel with suites the next time we go away.  I am writing so much right now because the baby is sleeping.  Sorry if I've bored you to death!

Like a Duck to Water

Saturday morning in Galway started off with an early morning 12 mile run.  I am training for a marathon in October and trying to stay on schedule even with all this traveling.  The Galway Kellys live in a pretty rural area, and the evening before they showed me how to get to Salthill so I could run along Galway Bay.  As I have mentioned before, I am not very good with directions.  As soon as I turned out of the driveway, I was going in the wrong direction.  This led me to be on country roads for 12 miles.  I am not used to driving on country roads never mind running on them.  After the first 2 miles I had to have a talk with myself.  See, I wasn't enjoying the run at all, and my heart was beating a million miles a minute.  I was really nervous running on these roads.  So, I said to myself, "relax and calm down or just turn back now because it won't be worth it."  Being a big girl, I continued on and calmed myself down.  Then, it became a thoroughly enjoyable experience.  I passed 3 cyclists on the road and 1 walker.  That was it for 12 miles.  Along the way,  I stopped to take in the view and admire the beautiful animals I saw along the way: cows, horses, donkeys, and even a little bunny.  Many people can attest to the fact that I really am not a pet person, and in fact have admitted to my 3rd grade students in the past that I hate cats, but I really love animals that don't reside in your home.  Cows and elephants are my favorites.  I did see a dead cat this evening just lying on the sidewalk and felt a little sorry for it.  See, I am not heartless.   If you get the opportunity to run on country roads in Ireland, take it.  I would go earlier in the day around 8 or 9 on a weekend to avoid more traffic.  All in all, I felt like I really accomplished something when I returned back to the Kelly's, and the rest of them were chowing down on a traditional Irish fry (fried eggs, sausage, black pudding, rashers, beans, homefries).

Next up in the day came a trip to Connemara.  See Tim's uncle and aunt live out there, and Maura and Tim happened to bump into his aunt on Friday night at the grocery store an hour away from their house in Ros Muc, Connemara (you'll find the more you travel, the more you realize how small the world is).  Driving out there, I couldn't get over how out in the middle of nowhere we were and how different the landscape was.  Apparently, feel free to correct me if I am wrong, when Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland in 1649, he pushed many Irish out to Connemara where the land was nowhere near as fertile which made it difficult for them to survive.  I was thinking exactly the same thing as we continued further into Connemara.  I asked no one in particular, "how do people live out here?" Tim answered, "oh, Kate, I think you'd love it out here.  You'd be like a duck to water!"  We all know how far from the truth that is.  Despite the barren landscape, the people were absolutely lovely.  Tim's aunt had a varied spread set out for us for lunch and served Maura and me Dunkin' Donuts coffee.  Ah, a taste of home.  Their 2 daughters were just as gracious as their parents, and their youngest took Maura, Ryan, Dylan, and I for a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood.  Two things that stuck out were the Twelve Pins Mountains and one of the 2 shops/bars in the town where parts of the film "The Guard" were filmed.  Great movie if you get a chance to watch it; I highly recommend it.  After a few hours of chatting, eating, and drinking coffee, we hit the road back to the Kelly's for an evening of much of the same.

Maura, Tim, and our cousin, Deidre put together a fantastic meal from Jamie Oliver's 30 Minute Meals cookbook.  It was green curry and an amazing coleslaw.  I am not a fan of the stuff usually, but this was made without mayonnaise and was the favorite dish by far.  We all sat around the table talking and laughing and drinking red wine.  If you are ever at their house, I am sure Eileen will make you an Irish coffee, and you should not refuse.  For those of you who have never had an Irish coffee, it is made up of coffee (duh!), Irish whiskey, and whipping cream.  So yummy!  You should really try to limit yourself to one.  We all retired to the sitting room (living room) where we caught some of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics.  I am really rooting for the Saudi women; it is the first time they have been allowed to participate in the Olympics.  I have to say, I really appreciate the Kellys and spending time in their home.  They are all so welcoming and make us feel right at home.

As you can see, I didn't do much sightseeing while in Galway.  I will give you some recommendations from previous visits.  1.  Salthill - it's a terrific place to walk, run, people watch, or take in a beautiful view.  There is a fun fair there for kids and a leisureworld with a pool for rainy days.  2.  The Aran Islands - risky boat ride, not for the faint of stomach.  I was there 14 years ago and was amazed by their way of life.  You can do a day trip there to get a feel for it.  3.  The Cliffs of Moher - these are actually in Clare, but it is only about an hour drive and well worth the trip.  These cliffs are breathtaking.  4.  The Galway Races - these take place the last week of July/ first week of August.  Great fun and people watching.  The atmosphere is spectacular, and if you get some good tips, you can win a few bucks (euros).  5.  Cactus Jack's Restaurant is a good spot for Mexican.  I have been there a few times and have never been disappointed.  6. Galway City Centre - small, walkable area that is very pedestrian friendly and has many shops, restaurants, and pubs.  The King's Head is a favorite of mine.

Hope you take some of my suggestions for a visit to Galway.  It is truly one of my favorite cities to visit.

It's Not a Start until the Stops are Done

On Friday, we headed to Galway City to visit the Galway Kellys (including my buddy Triona).  The previous evening we, Maura, Tim, and I, decided we would leave as soon as possible in the morning because it looked like it was going to be a sunny day.  If you are in Ireland at the moment, you know that this is not something you take for granted.  I am not one of those consummate complainers about the weather in Ireland.  The weather has been pretty cooperative with me through the years, but this is not one of those times.  Let's just say I would like Tim to start a fire in the evening, and he has denied me my right to warmth because it is summer.  Summer, really?  I don't recall wearing a fleece in the summer in Boston, but back to Galway. 

As I said, we were going to leave at the crack of dawn of Friday to enjoy the glorious sunshine as much as possible.  If you knew Maura and Tim at all or me for a matter of fact, leaving early means two totally different things to them and me.  To me, it means waking at 5 and hitting the road by 6.  To them, it means whenever we get up and get everything together, and I mean EVERYTHING.  We were going to Galway for 3 days, but it looked like we were moving to Galway.  You should have seen the amount of food we had in the car!  Now, in fairness, we decided we would stop for a picnic on the way up to Galway (again to soak up the sun), so we did have sandwiches, fruit, and drinks for lunch.  However, there was a cooler bag on the floor in the back seat, a bag full of various provisions on the floor of the front, and food in the boot(trunk).  Thanksgiving dinner could have been provided from our car for the Pilgrims and Indians.  Finally, after we had enough food to last us in case we got caught in the midst of a blizzard, we all climbed into the car and buckled up.  First stop, Ballincollig to return DVDs and go to the bank to exchange U.S. dollars that Grandpa (or Dad as I like to call him) so nicely sent over for all of us to enjoy.  Great!  We are on the road; well not really as I soon found out.  Maura suggested we all get out of the car to stretch our legs instead of having 2 adults do the errands.  Okay, everybody out.  Climb back in the car and get a phone call from the video store that one of the DVD cases was empty.  Great.  Back to the house, collect the DVD, and back to town to return it.  Is this a start now?  I thought so.  Tim drove for about 10 minutes, and we landed in Blarney where we had our picnic, went for a walk, and raised our faces to the sun.  Sorry, I forgot to mention that it was about 1:00 by this time.  See the difference in thinking?  Me: 6:00 AM, them: 1:00PM, all of us thinking an early start.  I have to give myself a pat on the back because I have come to accept this difference over the years, and to be fair, they have 2 children and I just have myself.  In the end, we hit the road at 1:30 PM.

After that the ride was pretty uneventful.  Dylan, Maura, and I all took naps for a good bit of the 3 1/2 hour journey.  When we stopped just outside of Galway City, we all woke up, used the toilets (yuck, yuck yuck by the way!  Why do people write stupid things on bathroom walls with phone numbers there?  Quality people you will find in this manner, I am sure.), and of course, got a snack. 

About a half hour later, the wary travelers, us, arrived in Barna which is about 10 minutes from the city centre.  Dave had the barbeque going, yes the sun was still out, and Eileen asked us what time we started our journey.  I replied, "12:30." M|eanwhile, Maura and Tim said, "1:30."  I was slightly confused as we had left the house at 12:30.  Eileen said, "oh, it's not a start until the stops are done."