';';';';' Wednesday Randoms ';';';';';

It's that time. And that alternating pattern of apostrophe/semicolon was meant to symbolize the rainy day outside. (There's only so much I can work with here.)

• Efficiency is when you come home from work and start some laundry before 5pm. It's also a sign you're getting closer to that mature, responsible thing known as an adult (still fighting it!)
• When are we going to learn that lions, monkeys, and wolves don't belong in captivity in suburbia? This is the latest story of another idiot So because this guy decided to let all the animals free, then kill himself, the animals suffered by the rifles of the police. I get that 10 tigers running around a town isn't exactly safe, but again, animals pay the price as a result of human stupidity.
• Am I the only one who swears there are a few Cool Ranch Doritos snuck into every bag of regular Nacho Cheese ones?  I feel the same way with M&Ms. I'm positive I taste a peanut butter one every time I eat a bag of regular (which, for the record, isn't that often)
• Still gotta do that Ireland recap. I haven't forgotten, but I'm too busy picking out which photos I want framed! There's several great ones.
• In other news, Soulja Boy swears he's innocent after being arrested on felony drug and weapons charges. Hmmm. He may be a liar, but I'd be a bigger liar if I didn't admit to attempting the Crank That dance after seeing the video My version didn't look quite like this
• I'm kinda glad to see Two and a Half Men dropping in the ratings after an impressive start. Charlie Sheen is crazy, but I'd be having a little laugh if I were him after the show bombs with Ashton Kutcher as a stand in.
• Winter is just around the corner (so is Christmas!! yay) and I'm considering giving the snowboarding thing another go.
• Stories like this are awesome! Dig up the Vikings!
• Who's excited for 'Rock Center with Brian Williams'?? Me! One of my favorite anchors/journalists, this is a show I will make it a point to watch. I wish I could work on this show or Dateline. I would do it for free. Maybe NBC will see one of my tweets and DM me  : )

Ugg [Ugh]

Nope, not a misspelling on that post title. You usually see that word punctuating my many tweets as #ugh, but the purpose this time is me telling the world- it's time to retire the Uggs. They're played out! It's fall, the leaves are changing and everyone from 10 to 60 is pulling the furry boots out of the closet and sporting them in some ghastly fashion ensembles. Maybe I'll throw that on the Fbook status. I can already hear the collective "hmmph!" from those die hard Uggers.

Anyway

Wow am I hurting today! Actually more so this evening it began. Did a little kayaking yesterday...for 2 hours, on a windy lake that sometimes made it feel like I was paddling through peanut butter. Not complaining- the scenery and company were fabulous. The water was the deepest blue, and the sun shining and sailboats going by made it a really nice afternoon. It seems my upper body strength could use a little...strengthening. And let's not forget the run this Sunday! Oh yes, my fitness ego will take a nosedive by the end of the weekend  : )

Random statement: If I ever make it big- for whatever reason- one thing I'm doing is recording a Christmas album. If Justin Bieber and that 'No Talent Ass Clown' who stole my name can do it, so can I. I can think of about 8 songs right now. Top of the iTunes chart!

Is everyone on board with Twitter? I'm still loving it. Oh, and to follow up my previous post on following the Ireland/Dublin related Twitter profiles- it didn't really serve any benefit while I was there besides some weather updates. The hotel where I stayed tweets some music updates, but doesn't really help me now that I'm home. Got to share some of my knowledge with a guy who booked a trip there for December. Since everything is so fresh in my mind, I was able to bang out a sizable email with all my hints for him quite easily. I want to go back so so bad.

That banana bread I have cooking smells so amazing right now.

Bye until WRs!

Wednesday Randoms

• Alright, these references to the lame 90s pop singer have to stop. Someone did it again tonight! I simply said my last and there goes the famous question. Again. #ugh
• Typically the red light to make a left into my place is unnecessarily and annoyingly long, but tonight it allowed me to listen to The Backstreet Boys 'I Want It That Way' in its entirety. Yes. I so loved that song in... 2002
• I heard Ryan Howard was spotted at my Whole Foods scooting around on a Rascal. Heeey big boy, how about lending me the keys to that Bentley while you're ridin ghetto injured? I'll return it with a full tank. Pleeeaase?
• Tabbouleh is fabulous. Not as fab as my quinoa salad, but fab nonetheless.
• Happy hour event in the city this Friday. Haven't worked one of those since the jam packed sessions of Bushmills at Tir Na Nog, where you could barely move. Should be good though. Guinness always promises a good time.
• Saw my friend's 5 month old baby for the first time tonight and he's oh so cute
• I realize I still need an Ireland recap on here. Pics are all sorted and posted to an album and now I need to find the best ones and share the highlights. I'll get on that. Promise.
• Anyone else notice Joe Biden has been virtually muzzled since the beginning of Obama's presidency? I think after a few weeks they realized they need him to shut his mouth and go with the program. As for the other side... like I said in a previous post- get the hair and makeup team ready for Mitt Romney!
• Really big craving for pumpkin pie and chocolate milk right now, and I've got nothing but a gallon of cranberry juice and some bananas. No help.
• I haven't used my food processor in a while, so I think I need to look up all the pumpkin-related snacks I can make with it and just go all out. Pumpkin everything for everyone!
• Okay, this Halloween run is in 2 weeks. I've slacked on preparation. Who wants to train when you can be hanging out with some drinks, running around Ireland, driving to the beach, etc etc? I need a strategy. Do I show up that morning and just try to bang out a steady 8mi or do I try and do another couple long runs between now and then? Ah, the choices I have to make in this life. Like I said, I'm reporting back the results- good, bad, or indifferent.
• I'm putting up a Christmas tree this year. No fake ones. The real thing.
• Audience participation- love it! It's about time someone spoke up on the blog (ahem, all you other readers). Well, reader GMAN, I do happen to have a picture of said "bad ass" car. Take a look. It's quite a thrill to ride in. Just imagine... you're the guy driving that car all fast... trust me, the girls totally dig it.

Satisfied

Coming at ya from the kitchen counter here. Figured I'd do a little multitasking after my 15hr day (not seeking pity, stating facts). I have a very gourmet frozen pizza cooking, which is exactly what I'm craving at the moment, so props to me for having one on hand.

It was a little tough pulling a double shift on a Monday, especially after I had such an incredible weekend... but... I did it and everything turned out fine, just like it always does when I plan properly and think everything through. I've mentioned in previous posts how I'm always torn when asked to name my favorite season. Spring or Fall? It always depends on what you're doing and the other details surrounding it, but this weekend was enough to make me say Fall is my favorite. (Bonus- I got to ride in a really bad ass car on a most beautiful fall day and I loved every second of it)

The event tonight was a success. I was on Crown Royal/Bulleit Bourbon duty at my Diageo table. Pleasantly surprised at the number of women requesting some bourbon on the rocks. You go girls, branching out with the brown liquors. Not just for hillbillies and old men!

So I'm exhausted, this pizza is almost done, standing in 4in heels all night is quite uncomfortable, but these things are trivial when you look at the big picture. Alright, enough waxing poetic... time to eat  : )

Wednesday Randoms/I'm Back!

Back home at blog HQ after a spectacular trip. I'm running out of adjectives to describe the past week. I'll be careful not to turn this edition of WRs into a total vacation recap. Plenty of time to do that in future, non-Wednesday posts.

• Funny, no mention of the Phillies in Ireland. Haha. I did see guys going nuts over some rugby game. Coming home to all this bashing of the Eagles on Fbook/Twitter is laughable. How many times are people going to keep saying to fire Andy Reid? Guess what? As long as people have season tickets, they're going to the games and as long as the stadium keeps filling up, Jeffrey Lurie will keep raking in the piles of money.
• I'm feeling out of the loop on current events, as I only watched about an hour of TV the entire past week. Of course, I was online. You can't take all my technology away from me!
• How much you wanna bet the next vacation Amanda Knox takes will not be an international one? I bet she'll be behaving herself and have the address of the US Embassy on speed dial if she ever leaves the states.
• Coming home from vacation and having zero food in the house is the worst, and now I have to go back out again tonight and buy everything when all I really want to do is lay in bed with my window open and the fall breeze coming in. Need a personal assistant some days.
• Mini rant time. The airlines aren't cutting back that much, at least not in first class. Sitting in the front of the plane both to and from, I had a clear view of all the hot towels and lemons wedges they were handed (what seemed like) every 10 minutes. Maybe I'm a little bitter. Sure, I could have hit yes when at check-in it asked "Would you like to upgrade to first class for $500?" One of these days I'll fly somewhere far, and it won't be in coach! I'll make sure they fluff my pillow and bring me endless cocktails.
• I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love going to Europe because everyone is so much better looking! Maybe if we walked everywhere and didn't have a fast food place on every corner we wouldn't be a nation known for overweight, out of shape slobs.
• An Aussie guy I met on the trip was telling me how he got his ass handed to him by a bunch of Irish guys in Dublin on a pub crawl playing beer pong with Guinness!  How they can drink like alcoholics, look fit, and still function continues to mystify me...
• It was so nice not having to drive the past week. Efficient and clean public transportation in a major city (not Philadelphia) is a beautiful thing.
• Yes, I realize I have lifted the veil of anonymity on the blog with a pic of my looking straight into the camera (gasp!) Is everyone shocked? I thought that pic turned out pretty awesome, so I threw it on the background.
• What's a blog entry of mine without a food mention? I had the most delicious option when I was in the town of Howth. Take one guess which one I got. Too easy, right? Although choice c) was tempting for a minute. I need a crepe pan so I can make one whenever I want.



Yes, Nutella and banana!!

Last blog entry from Ireland

So sad to be leaving tomorrow, but had such an amazing trip. Here's another movie. Don't worry, I wasn't all touristy like some certain groups of tourists famous for taking a million pictures of each other and posing in front of everything. (Guesses anyone?)

That new digital camera I got a few weeks ago is a real gem. So tiny, lightweight, and takes some great videos. Here's me crossing the Carrick-a-Rede bridge, trying my best to take a steady movie in the wind.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

I had to squeeze this post in before I left. Not that I've been up for 18hrs or have my entire suitcase to pack before I go to bed  : O

Bye Ireland! I love being here... and I will be back!

Hiking in Howth

Some consider a vacation to be lounging by a pool all day. If you know me, you know I'm not one of those people. In fact, I actually get more of a workout on vacation than I do at home. Every minute today was enjoyable because, let's face it, you can't get views even close to this at home. Here's one of several videos I took today in Howth as well as some pics from my 4mi hike around the peninsula, high above the cliffs. A serious workout, yes. Worth it? Absolutely!