Fun on the Grapevine

Yes, it really was this cold!

Our Reception

Our Reception

PJ Abbeys
Downtown Orange, CA
January 21, 2007

I Couldn’t Say It Better Myself

“Nestled in the heart of Old Town Orange, "The Antique Capital of Southern California", PJ's Abbey restaurant offers a unique dining experience and a special charm from bygone days. Our unique and charming restaurant was originally a Gothic style Victorian Baptist Church built in 1891. Today the Abbey offers a quaint setting surrounded by original stained glass windows, polished wood furnishings, and a friendly, attentive staff serving heavenly American cuisine.”

Click on the Picture For The Shutterfly Show

December 2007 Ireland

In the large cavernous plane, I watched graceful flakes outside the window fall upon the tarmac. It was cold out there. The news on the radio, on the way to the airport said it was minus six degrees that night. I was strapped in my cozy and cramped seat, blanket-covered, and new wife at my side. I noticed the white frozen fields beyond the airplane. De-icing complete, it was time to taxi. All the seats were full, babies quiet, and people anticipating the eleven-hour journey to America, the promise land for some, home for others.

It is time to go, clearances given, fuel pouring into the huge engines on the side of us, and the old Airbus slowly rolls down the runway faster and faster. The engines are very loud, I remember, almost deafening. The plane keeps going down the runway, wanting to take flight. It seems like a long time till lift-off. Will it take off? We seem very heavy. Is the runway long enough for this beast? We keep rolling, but we aren’t taking off yet. Come one, come one, I keep thinking. Things are going by very fast. At the end of the long runway, the huge airliner takes flight. We are airborne, finally! My internal clock starts ticking, minus 660 minutes and counting. Flying west, looking out the window, snow continues to fall down on the Dublin skyline. The fields are so white, the stone walls keeping order on personal property, sheep and cows tucked into their barns, and sleep overcomes my head and my stomach.

I was delirious due to an upset tummy, I was tired from getting up before the sun, I didn’t want to go home. Lasagna the previous night was still not sitting well. I wanted to sleep but I couldn’t fall fast asleep. The babies around us were very well behaved. It seemed that everyone had a wee young one. I was impressed that the Irish children are so well behaved compared to American children. I wondered if Lara had the same feelings as me. I wondered what her thoughts were. I dozed off again until the next snack, dinner, breakfast cart arrived in my confinement. What time was it? Did it matter? I couldn’t go anywhere. I was stuck in my little seat surrounded by people I didn’t know. What were they going to do in America, what was the weather like in San Francisco, why do I have to go back to work, why is my stomach committing an act of mutiny?

X numbers of hours into the flight, after nap number four, I was groggy but awake. Was it dinner-time or snack-time? I was daydreaming again, mostly because the movie wasn’t on, the cart wasn’t going by with goodies, and I had finished my book. I needed entertainment, I was fidgety and I needed to escape my seat. I was pondering my immigration status in my newly adopted country. I was ready to become an illegal alien, which was taken away from me because lack of money, responsibility to my county and country, and I needed to become a productive member of society again in America. Our vacation, honeymoon, and wedding had come to a conclusion. Jetlag, stomach flu, sleep, travel, being in the car and plane too long had overcome my senses. I wanted to go back to Ireland.

Needless to say, we had a wonderful time in Ireland. The wedding was even more beautiful and meaningful than we anticipated. Ireland was the perfect place to honeymoon, even in cold, dark December. The weather was lovely - cool, clear, and actually very little rain. As we were leaving, it snowed, and it was amazing to see the fields covered in a thin layer of white between the stone walls. We were able to do lots of hiking and exploring in and around ancient tombs, and dozens of churches and castles. We saw dolomans, cute towns, fun people, and dozens abbeys and cemeteries. With so few tourists around, it was quite romantic, and just wonderful to get away alone together for a while in such an incredibly beautiful, holy place.

We had an amazing experience in Wexford just a few days after our wedding. The patrons in the restaurant of the hotel where our family was staying, found out that we were newlyweds. They sang the song “Boolavogue", (the rebel anthem of Wexford) and danced in a circle around us. We have never been kissed by so many people that we didn't know. The enthusiasm and genuine joy for us was amazing. It truly felt like a blessing. It was one of those unforgettable experiences and was such a gift. This was just one of many we had with the people and spirit of Ireland. Needless to say, we will be going back. Ireland will always hold a special place in our hearts.

Sean at the Cliffs of Moher

Our itinerary for future travelers:

December 19st-26th
County Wexford, (8 nights)
Accommodations: Ferrycarrig Hotel, the Whitford Hotel, and Slaney Manor – Four Stars
Things We Saw: Wicklow, Glendalough, Powerscourt, Waterford, on the way to Kinsale

December 26
Cobh (1 night)
Accommodations: Commodore Hotel – Three Stars
Things We Saw: Cork, Cobh, Kinsale, Charles’s Fort, Cashel

December 27 & 28
Dingle (2 nights)
Accommodations: Greenmont House – Four and a Half Stars
Things We Saw: Dingle Peninsula, Dingle Town, Standing Stones, Beehive huts, Ancient Forts

December 29 & 30
Ennis (2 nights)
Accommodations: Grey Gables B&B - Two Stars
Things We Saw: Cliffs of Moher, Music in Ennis, The Burren, Megalithic tomb in Burren, County Clare

December 31st and Jan 1st
Oughterard (2 nights)
Accommodations: Connemara Gateway Hotel – Two Stars
Things We Saw: Galway, Kylemore Abbey, Connemara National Park, Asleigh Waterfalls, Peat bogs, Famine Road, SHEEP

Jan 2nd
Mullingar (1 night)
Accommodations: Greville Arms Hotel – Half a Star
Things We Saw: Athenry

Jan 3rd
Dublin (1 night)
Accommodations: Comfort Suites near the Airport – Three Stars
Things We Saw: National History Museum, Ha’ Penny Bridge, Butler’s Chocolate Shop

California’s State Proposition Suggestions

From Kosmo's Position
California’s State Proposition Suggestions:

Yes Proposition 91 Transportation Funds
Prohibits certain motor vehicle fuel taxes from being retained in General Fund and delays repayment of such taxes previously retained. Changes how and when General Fund borrowing of certain transportation funds is allowed.

No Proposition 92 Community Colleges. Funding. Governance. Fees
Establishes independent community college districts and Board of Governors. Requires minimum funding for schools and community colleges to be calculated separately. Sets fees at $15/unit and limits future increases.

No Proposition 93 Limits on Legislators' Terms in Office
Reduces permissible state legislative service to 12 years. Allows 12 years' service in one house. Current legislators can serve 12 years in current house, regardless of prior legislative service.

Yes Proposition 94 Amendment to Indian Gaming Compact
"Yes" Vote approves, and "No" Vote rejects, a law that ratifies an amendment to existing gaming compact between the state and Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indians.

Yes Proposition 95 Amendment to Indian Gaming Compact
"Yes" Vote approves, and "No" Vote rejects, a law that ratifies an amendment to existing gaming compact between the state and Morongo Band of Mission Indians.

Yes Proposition 96 Amendment to Indian Gaming Compact
"Yes" Vote approves, and "No" Vote rejects, a law that ratifies an amendment to existing gaming compact between the state and Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation.

Yes Proposition 97 Amendment to Indian Gaming Compact
"Yes" Vote approves, and "No" Vote rejects, a law that ratifies an amendment to existing gaming compact between the state and Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians.

Global Warming Alarmists

Letter to the Register

Sirs,
The position of letter writer Feeney and most of the global warming alarmists is that it is the responsibility of the skeptics to prove that the global warming hypothesis is wrong. This is why they must continually invoke “consensus”: “Everyone but a few of you skeptics agrees”. So, if the skeptics can’t disprove global warming, then we all are obligated to comply with the measures to combat the threat. But that is not how science works. The burden of proof is on the alarmists. To many of us (I have advanced degrees in physics and mathematics) global warming cannot be proved nor refuted because it is not science. It is merely elementary curve fitting to highly massaged data. And if the curves match the data, the theory must be correct, right? Now how can one disprove that?
R

Now go out there and buy some incandescent light bulbs!

Irish Toast to Us

'Sláinte go saol agat,
Bean ar do mhian agat.
Leanbh gach blian agat,
is solas na bhflaitheas tareis antsail seo agat.'
"Health for life to you,
A wife of your choice to you,
Land without rent to you,
A child every year to you,
And the light of heaven after this world for you."

"May the roof over your heads be as well thatched
As those inside are well matched."

Ireland Pictures Are Here

Ireland and 2007 Wedding Pictures
Sean, Lara, and Paddy (Professional Pictures)

Links to Shutterfly Photos
Click on a Picture to Take You to the Corresponding Show
Go to View Pictures and Click Slideshow to View
ENJOY!

Lara Pictures

Sean Pictures 1

Sean Pictures 2

Paddy (Professional Pictures)

Happy New Year

Happy New Year from atop Puicin Wedge Tomb in Dingle.

We climbed up here in gale-force winds to see this beautiful place. Incredible view and no tourists. No bones were found, just wind. Looking for new adventures in Connemara today.

Here were the farmer's directions to the tomb--after he figured out that we really wanted to go there.

Go back up this road. Pass the quarry. Pass the radar tower. The road will drop down a bit. You'll see a road you don't want to go down on your left. That's the one. Park your car. Pass the first farmer's gate. Hop over the 2nd and climb up the ridge. But, I'd say you'll be needing wellies! (See field notes from the experts, Modern Antiquarian).

"Worth the hassle," said Rick. We agree. Rick Steves has been great. Sean is a convert. Thanks Rick!