Europe

november29th???not

aroundtheworldigo — Fri, 3 Dec 2010 02:58:00 GMT

Okay lets just react to my reaction.

IT’S DECEMBER 2^ND!! Hello MAGGIE!! Are you alive. Jesus. I thought for some reason it was November 29^th. What’s wrong with me!

It has been so white here, like a winter wonderland, literally. All it has been doing is snowing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much white that it made me think I was seeing blue. It all had a blue tint to it. Beautiful by far, especially how the fluffy snow would be just falling softly from the clouds.

I’m over it though. I mean if I had to choose, I would much prefer the snow rather than just cold and wet. Finally this afternoon, like 3ish I saw the sun for the first time in probably 4 days and the real blue sky. I thought for a second that I forgot what it looked like. It’s soooo nice to have the sky back with the warm sun burning away.

My day has been really nice, busy with the animals all morning, then a late breakfast, then to the stables I went to prepare for tonight. Wow the difference a radio can make. I mean some people would think just to enjoy the silence of the snow, but there is no silence with me. In my head that is. So it was very enjoyable to escape to some tunes and dance with the pitch fork while shoveling shit. ;) haha. Those are my highlights in the chateau where I just jam out.

Let’s go ahead and discuss how indecisive I have been lately. Never in my life before have I even been so here and then there, and then back. Never. I hate it. For example. I think maybe I should be with my family for Christmas, but then I think that I would be cutting myself short, real short. So then I pressure myself to stick it out. It’s not that I wouldn’t have a good Christmas here or that I don’t want to be here, but when I am getting those nauseous feelings about not being home with my family then I question myself. Plus I have a commitment here, not only that but then that would eliminate Spain. UGH! Could I get more aggravated about it. I guess I will stay, and if I all of sudden decide I want to go, then I will. Next issue: I came to find my passion, who the hell would know when things that interest me change daily. Seriously. One day I want to go to school to learn to cook, and then the next I want to save all the children in the world and work in Foster Care, or an orphanage. Two extremes. And then there’s the lovely idea of working for the travel channel, underneath Anthony Bourdain. Who I absolutely adore. So. Indecisiveness isn’t my thing. I wish it was in my nature to honestly just flow, go with the flow and flow. It’s like I can’t be that relaxed to do so, I’m going to blame this one on my mom also. Hah. It’s much easier to point the finger to that spastic woman.

Last night Rini and I were invited to a sweet older womans home for dinner. I don’t really know how sweet she is because of the language barrier, but her gestures were soft. Dave joined us also. It was very nice to be in the traditional French home for an evening. How polite and genuine is the service of having guests over. Every time she would leave the room, she would excuse herself and just extremely polite. For dinner we had potato pie with beef. Like a beef stew. Delicious. (A bird just hit the glass window, and I thought of the Windex commercial.haha.) For dessert I think we had an apple cream Bruleish pie. I don’t know but it was yummy. I honestly haven’t ever noticed myself loving sweets, I mean at Holidays, but in general it wasn’t always something I wanted. Unfortunately, that has changed. I love dessert. Homemade that is. Dinner was very nice though. I think Rini made a joke but he probably mean’t it also, when she asked us what we wanted to drink, Rini said Whiskey and then I said “the same please”. That might not be so lady like. But damn, they asked and that’s what I wanted. It warms the soul. Also at the dinner table last night, I had an old experience reoccur. When she opened the wine, she tried to do my cork trick. A table years ago showed me how the French do, they leave a whole in the top to hold the cork. The lady had tried to do it, and apparently it is true, it’s old French tradition. I was really happy that happened. After all these years of my mother telling me and others the same story of when she was taking French in college, she came home and tried to get me to repeat after her. She would say “Maggie, say, Se la vi.” and I would say “la vi”. hah. I was like 3, but momma found that so funny because she couldn’t get me to say “se la vi”. Anyhow, the saying was said and I asked what exactly that meant. Dave told me it means “that’s life.” Then I shared the not so funny story with him.J It was another night of fate floating in the air. It brought warmness to me. Alright it’s now about 4:31 here and I need to go get ready to bring the animals in for the night.

nov 27

aroundtheworldigo — Fri, 3 Dec 2010 02:56:00 GMT

November 27^th

Good Morning from Montautre! We woke up this morning and centimeters of snow was on the ground. We knew it was coming because we brought the horses inside last night. It’s beautiful, even as it falls right now as I sip on my coffee.

Thanksgiving was on Thursday! They don’t typically have that around here, but we did! Norma is in NY and her friend Lacey is in the area, so I mentioned the idea to her and it took off. We had organic turkeys fresh from the farm with veggies in it. Homemade mashed potatoes and brussle sprouts. I brought some of my southern cooking to the table, a little nervous because it’s France, but then again what do I have to lose. I made deviled eggs, sausage balls, rosemary cornbread and dump cake. There was actually only one French man in the group. The two kind ladies were from America, but have lived here for the past ever. Then we had a gay couple that apparently run a good business here also, they were such a pleasure to be around, as was everyone who was there. They loved my cooking! I was a little nervous because the French man was like “we don’t cook out of the can”..and I was like, well then don’t eat it. J Miranda( one of the older ladies) got sooo excited when she saw the deviled eggs, she said they were her favorite but she hadn’t had them in years! Not only because they loved everything, but it was just a real blessed crowd to be around. We were to share what we were thankful for, as usual, and it was great to hear what everyone said. I thanked them all for being there to share that moment and tradition with me. I feel that you always encounter the good and bad people in life for a reason. I do hope to see them again before I leave the area. It would be a real pleasure.

The snow is falling like crazy. Today I have to clean the stalls and prepare them for tonight when we bring them back in. So lots of hay and getting their buckets ready with biscuits( as Norma calls them) or feed. The sheep I have been keeping a close eye on because they are all suppose to have babies soon. They seem to be doing well though. And the litter box, yuck. There are some things you just have to do. Regardless it’s Saturday and after I am done with the preparations, I can hopefully do some house cleaning and read. I can’t believe how the snow is coming down, it’s just pouring.

I hope my family had a good Thanksgiving, I am kind of shocked that I just chose to write off the Holidays to be abroad. It’s wonderful, but at the same time I should have known that I would be cutting myself short in a sense. Now that I have figured some big things out already, I am very excited to be returning home but now can really enjoy myself now that those mixed and confused feelings are gone! I am too blessed to not be with the ones who make me, me! I just realized that I need them, within driving reach at this point in my life. It’s not me returning back to the nest, but purely to the tree with strong roots. That simple

I must go now why I have this caffeine kick in me, I hope you have a wonderful day. Love you miss you.

november blue

aroundtheworldigo — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 08:43:00 GMT

November Blue

I considerably always know that things work out, and majority of the time in my benefit, but there is always that little bit of doubt that gets me worked up. Not always so worked up, but when you are across the world, it can get to you. I thought for a moment I was going to be homeless, not really, but long story short the family didn’t work out in Spain, so I am now staying with Norma and Rini. I continue to see God trying to teach me the same lesson over and over again. I feel that He tells me all the time that I AM NOT IN CONTROL and there is a plan. I don’t know if it’s a plan or just fate and that’s the branch that I went out on. Who knowS?

It has been cold, wet and rainy. But it’s home. I now feel at home. I know the ruetine and continually can predict Norma’s next sentences and thoughts, for she is always detailed in every instruction. Like for example if she sends me to check on the chickens she’ll tell me how to call them, make sure they have water and feed, and also check on the eggs. That’s okay the first time, but by the 30^th time, I got it.J It’s funny though because I continue to mock her and finish her sentences and she gets my sarcasm or do we call that being a smart ass? hmm…J I do understand her though. Some people/ helpers are just naturally careless of other peoples stuff, not in a rude way but don’t understand the value of things to others. She finally trusts me though. I have earned it and proved that Im not a dumbass when it comes to things.

I have allergies.

They suck.

I’m tired. Thought I would do some poetic searching, but I can hardly keep my eyes open. It’s hard running a farm, fun but the days here literally pass like we just got started. I will make time. I’ll get back into habit on Monday when detox starts!!! Yay!!

I miss you all. I miss you dearly.

I am happy where I am, they are real good souls and people.

Love Always,

Maggie

November 7th

aroundtheworldigo — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 08:40:00 GMT

November 7, 2010

Geez…How bout some Birthdays! I know you are probably thinking that’s what your last 4 Blogs have been. Well I just must say that today is my best friend Chelsea’s birthday and yesterday was Aunt Cathy’s. Happy Birthday ya old ladies.

It’s Sunday morning here, and once again I am sitting in the kitchen by the fireplace. Last night we had 2 guest who want their wedding here. They are an older English and Irish couple, so now they are talking wedding plans with Norma. It’s rainy again today. Usually I get real fed up with the rain, but it’s just to beautiful here with Fall. I’m telling you, I have never seen such vibrant colors of the season. I love it here. At first I was a little scared in this big house, but now I walk the halls like I’ve lived here forever. It’s the energy of the house, not rich and prestigious with status, but serene. I am going to take lots of pictures today. I have to!

Norma and I are starting our PRE detox today. Meaning no Alcohol!! Yes, I turn 21 and go sober! Haha! NOT. Honestly though, I could use a break from drinking. Yes, I said that. But seriously, every night since I arrived drinks have been demolished. We will cut out the drinking today, coffee and sugar on Tuesday and the full thing starts on Wednesday. I can’t wait to cleanse out my entire body. Not just to lose weight, but so my organs can process things fully again. We feed ourselves things that break down our liver and make them rusty. This is a birthday present to my body, plus they say I am suppose to be at my “PRIME” now, and I don’t think that’s where I am. This might help.

Today’s agenda consist of moving the sheep into the barn because the cold weather is coming, and moving the horses to a different field because they have no grass. Plus they are going through a BIG bail of hay in 2 days. Ridiculous. We also have to start our hour of walking today and clean the guests room. I hope we eat leftovers today. I am so sick of Norma having to cook, and I am so sick of it too. It’s delicious, don’t get me wrong, but it’s draining. I am a pro a dishes though. And I love the sink, I get lost in thought when I have to hand wash dishes.

Future plans. I had planned on taking a train to Spain, but it’s looking a little ridiculous in price. Honestly the cheapest way to go would be to fly again, especially since I am sending all of my stuff home, seriously. But…(DING.)….I think I am going to resort to driving to Spain. It’s a 20 hour drive, which I would do in a couple of days! It’s not the most expensive way nor the cheapest. But just think at the experience I will have! I can stop anywhere! I can really experience the little towns and villaS! Ahhh! And I can drive along the coast if I want! I mean many options or true traveling!!!!! Yay!! I really hope that this is what works out for my next travel.

Alright I must go now, and edit some pictures that FB wont let me upload, but maybe if I get some time I can upload them on my blog that I havent posted on in 17 days. Akoonamatatah!

Hope everyone has a great day.

Loveyou.

5th of November

aroundtheworldigo — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 08:38:00 GMT

November 5, 1989 at 2:34pm

21 years ago, a sweet beautiful woman birthed a child. Not knowing what the future would hold or even be able to imagine what it would bring, I was born. Today was so wonderful that it leaves me speechless. I didn’t imagine my 21^st birthday being as it has been today, see in the US you get drunk. End of story. It’s the legal age to drink anywhere, so you get drunk! Makes sense aye? Well now don’t get me wrong, I will be getting a buzz tonight, but I was left with this perfect day to ponder on life. This in itself brought me tears of happiness. I realized today that I am finally able to hear my soul speak. I don’t know if you understand how big of a deal this is, but it is. We are so constantly busy in life, with life, out of life, that we lose track of our own personal thoughts to us and from our body. Today I went for a walk through the forest and picked mushrooms in the rain. I also made my best friend her birthday card. So little was done with little celebration that it made my day valuable. I had many sincere birthday wishes on face book, which brought more tears. For dinner tonight we went to a Chinese Buffet! I loved it! Think about it, Chinese food, buffet style, for a celebration. But it was perfect. It was funny too, because these people aren’t like cheap or tacky, that was just the best bet for us enjoying the food and atmosphere around here. So untraditional which I will always remember. We took shots of Sake with naked women in the bottom of the shot glass, I thought they were fish at first. Haha! Ate our buffet food while sipping on a nice bottle of red wine in France. Never imagined such a thing, especially for this year. I also got to open a gift! Yay! Norma got me a great pair of wool socks! She gets so upset with me as I walk around bear footed, so she got me these great socks where I can do that around the house. I know I wasn’t surrounded by all of my normal loved ones today, but the family I am with now and now apart of made it a really nice day for me. I enjoy them alone. For who they are and what they stand for. I really wouldn’t have wanted this birthday any other way than what it has been. The nice sound of the crackling wood in the fireplace, sipping on water, hearing the cats purr, typing my life away. I am now 21 years old, young and full of inspiration and gratitude of how blessed I am. In this next year, I wish no specifics, but only one wish of continued happiness.

Happy Birthday to Me.

November 4th

aroundtheworldigo — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 08:36:00 GMT

November 4, 2010

So here in a couple of hours I will be 21. Basically in 1 hour I will be 21. This is a big birthday in our society. I think mainly from being legal to drink. How worthless is that about our society. And if I am wrong about the reason turning 21 is a big deal, then please enlighten me. Here I am in culture shock, really, and am back and forth of being super excited about my birthday and then not even sweating it. I did have this pleasant thought of feeling pretty self sufficient and satisfied with where I am in life. I mean I am in France right now. The night before my birthday consisted of finally sitting on the couch drinking wine and watching Dutch channels! High light of my night is listening to the radio while typing this up by the soft lamp light. Tomorrow I simply hope to relax by taking a walk, reading, journaling, and I would love to take a picnic with the horses! I hope it doesn’t rain. This year I want to feel content and at ease all year. I want to live the lifestyle that I am in now. I say that because everything I experience here is how it should be in life. I’m feeling not sooo horrible about my birthday anymore, I will go to sleep before 12. Some might find that lame, but I am beyond blessed everyday to just celebrate another year, why not just treat it like another day but with greater gratitude. As I should everyday. Maybe that will be my birthday resolution. I usually always have one. Most the time I think “maybe I’ll grow boobs this year.” Good news that I now thought of, I might have finally completed one. The one to stop smoking by such and such age. Today was my sweet lulu heads birthday. She turned 10 today. Lucy will live forever. I hope. I think all the other animals felt the sadness in my heart for missing Lucy. They literally wouldn’t leave me alone today. Damn cats sitting on my chest, and Sasha following me around and laying with me also. It was real sweet. I did send mom an email telling her about me and Lucy’s tradition for her birthday. Hopefully she did it. Alright now I am getting upset, so I must go to bed. Goodnight. Tomorrow I awake older and unfortunately not skinnier but maybe with a little more understanding soul of this universe.

November 3

aroundtheworldigo — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 19:21:00 GMT

November 3^rd.

I can’t really pin point the million of emotions that I am experiencing right now. But I am overwhelmed by it. It’s like I haven’t started crying yet because I know once it comes it’s not going to stop for a while. I’ve seen it coming since some of Rini and Norma’s good friends left the other day with their family. For one, I am turning 21 on Friday. This really scares me. I don’t know why, it’s not a disappointment in myself but for some reason certain ideas/topics/life goals are becoming very heavy on my heart like I’m stuck underneath this rock and can’t move. It’s just a number. I get that. I love where I am, this lifestyle, and these people that are now my family. It was a beautiful autumn day here in Montautre! I rode Popeye(horse) for the first time today. The trail we took just took me back to Mother nature. I don’t think I am homesick, I miss my family but not homesick. But I find my heart physically aching for the people who complete me. And not just that, but that even though I LOVE being alone and LOVE exploring things on my own, I am finally realizing that I do NEED other people. I need them. It’s my soul, my personality and energy. That’s what I thrive off of. It is absolutely cleansing to be here! And that’s what I feel like all of “this” is. I have got to clean this outer layer of right and wrong. Right in the sense of what’s right for me, is this the right way of living, is this the right direction, and most importantly does this feel right. Wrong meaning simply questioning my decisions. I started to go into detailed questions of wrong but then remembered how much of a firm believer I am in reasons behind every incident of choice. I had started crying and saw that Jeff was on Skype so I called in hopes mom would be there so I could cry my heart out to her, but she wasn’t so I held strong which wasn’t so bad because he’s so damn stupidly funny. I do want you all to know that these tears and sadness isn’t all necessarily sad, but more so I haven’t had time to process any of these feelings so I just break down at the overwhelming effect of taking this all in.

I think I just want to get up early in the morning and go for a walk before life arises. Waking up with nature and do some chatting with God through his works that haven’t been ruined by evil or man, might ease some of these edgy feelings of mine.

Goodnight.

P.S I don’t really have the right energy on right now to explain how wonderful it is here, but I will make time for it soon. Promise.

Have you ever felt that you've been to Hell before.?.?.?...

aroundtheworldigo — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Ohh God! If only anyone could have been with me today, maybe it wouldn’t had been so bad. If there has ever been a day in my life where I thought the world was going to end, I thought it was today! If there is a Hell, I think I visited it also. Both of those statements are a little exaggerated, but that’s the only way I could describe how I felt today and what I’ve been through.

I woke up at 4 am to catch the bus to the airport in Dublin. My flight going to Paris was at 6:15am. I got there, half asleep and paid for my luggage to be checked in at one counter, then it being weighed at a different one and soon returning back the other counter. The first initial fee of my luggage was 35 Euro. After it weighing over the limit of 20 Kilos( meaning like 44 lbs.)I was to pay another 100 Euro! I should have right then literally thrown away what I didn’t need. Seriously. I paid it, feeling nauseous all morning and now pissed about that. The gift I had got for Jeff yesterday had to be stuffed in my backpack, it wasn’t fitting in the zipper part so I stuffed it in with my jackets behind the attached book bag. Besides that, in line there was a screaming child. Not just fussy, but screaming and the mom wasn’t trying to ease the child at all. It wasn’t like a 5 minute fit, it was for like 15 mins. while everyone went through security check. I finally got on the plane and took a quick 1hr nap somewhat. We got to Paris- well outside of Paris which is called Beauvais(?). Here’s something I want to bring up. Ryanair SUCKS! This is the company that I HAD booked some cheap flights through and it’s a f*N rip OFF. I booked this flight to Paris for 17 Euro. Okay so let’s add this up. 17 Euro+ 35(for luggage)+100 (being over weight limit)+ 15(to take a bus into downtown paris to catch my train)=167 EURO, meaning $1.37=1 euro! Do the math. A RIP OFF when I could have easily flown with a bigger airline for the same price one way and not had half the trouble! I’m pretty sure of this. Also there was another screaming child on the plane, not in the very front or waaayy behind me but diagonal from me.J

Alright..so after my nap or doze in and out, I woke up before we landed and did get to see the sunrise. This was good for me. I thought of Aunt Cathy and some wise words she would be giving me if I could have been able to call her. It was refreshing for the deeper I entered this dungeon that has no exit. I get off the plane, stand in customs for about 20 minutes, get approved real easy compared to Ireland. The man was friendly from what I understood. Even though he did a double take of the image on my passport and the wreaked young woman in front of him. I go to retrieve my backpack, basically the only one on the thing that goes around. As I’m walking to get it I am praying “please let Jeff’s gift be there, PLEASE!”!! I have this brief moment of relief that it’s there. I get to it and see that just the package is there, no substance! If I have ever made a scene in public as the crazy lady, this was it. No doubt about it, this was it. When I saw that empty container, I grabbed it and slammed it down saying some unladylike words of English. After I expressed those unpleasant thoughts to everyone I then proceeded to let the tears flow. I made my way over to the lost luggage area and just handed the package to her. I’ll go ahead and fill you in on what I got him, it will make it a lot easier. When I was in Dublin yesterday(10/19) I went to the JAMESON DISTERILLY. Thus this being Jeff’s bday, I had come across the perfect gift. I bought him a bottle, but not just any bottle, but you can only get this kind of Jameson at the Disterilly in Dublin. So your thinking okay, you got him some whiskey. Nope, the bottle also has his name on the label! Now that’s a damn good gift. Honestly, I don’t even know if he likes whiskey, I mean we like Crown, and Jameson is damn good, especially since I already drank his bottle….just kidding.J Back to the airport- I handed the lady the container it was in while crying and she said “mam. mam.? calm down, let me see if they have it on the plane.” In my head, I was thinking it was pretty dirty of someone to take my bottle of Jameson and leave the container, just wrong. And then I was thinking, those damn drunks in Ireland snatched it! I was panicking, yes. Good news…they had it on the plane! I then made it to the bathroom to finish sobbing and put a face on and try to feel better because I knew it wasn’t going to get easier until it only got harder.

I went to try the ATM and see if I could get some free wifi to transfer money over from my accounts. See, I didn’t inform you but the lady this morning told me that my card had been declined. I wasn’t out of money, but just needed to transfer some over. This currency thing is a pain in my ass. I then went to the "convert money" counter and gave them American dollars..76$ to be exact and receive only 45 Euros back.shit. Then that’s what I had to pay that EXTRA 100 Euro fee with, plus whatever I had, along with whatever my card would swipe for. I was going to test the ATM to see what I could get out, and that was 20 Euro. That’s when I had to pay the 15 for a bus and I didn’t know that. You must remember, at this point I haven’t had a ounce of liquid or food and I am completely distraught. JOY! J I get on the bus and make it to downtown Paris. I see this other girl and just ask her where the train station is. Of course it wouldn’t be that convenient that, by luck, the train station I need to be at would be close by to where the bus drops me off. I end of having to take the metro or tram to my train station. I have to buy a ticket, which I actually didn’t pay for. Let’s get this straight, I do believe that God is always, in some form, looking out for me. It might not be the easiest, but when He knows I’ve had it and how much more I can really take, He comes through. I was in line once, left the line, came back and heard ENGLISH. I was singing in my head HALLELEUAH! I whipped around so quick and just looked at them like God had sent them. It was this one pretty blonde, very sweet voice and sweet looking. I asked her a question and just showed her my ticket. Then her husband joined her, they looked like a couple that I would want to be. She was real simple and soft looking and her husband wasn’t like Mr. Drop dead gorgeous, but he was an attractive man with concern. They helped me figure out the tram I was to get on and off and back on to get to my final destination. They left and went another direction and we wished each other luck, and I was thinking oh I need more than that! Then the next thing I know, they are back and they tell me that they came back to make sure I make it because they are actually headed the same way. No lie, tears came rushing out again. I was fanning myself trying to explain that I am actually pretty sain and always happy. I thanked them so much! That’s what I needed for one second, was for someone to just hold my hand and guide me, just a little bit. They are a couple from Canada, I think, early 30’s or late 20’s. The husband helped me carry some of my bags and payed for my 1.70 Euro ticket bc I only had 5 Euros left and it doesn’t take bills(notes is what they call them).

Finally making it to the main train station I found a café with FREE WIFI!!!! I sat down, ordered a coffee(3.80 Euro), knowing I had 5 left and got online. I then transferred some money, sent mom a long email, crying while typing it and finally ate a pastry or something that had carbs! All under 5 Euro.

My main train ticket was for 1:53...and I’m glad I decided to ask someone else, both parties not really understanding each other. Mrs. Norma had told me to take the 16:00 train bc there were more train strikes going on. I asked these men sitting beside me and they asked this other couple who happened to be getting on my train at the correct time. Here I am, sitting. Typing and admiring the scenery. I don’t care if I have to sit at the train station until Norma arrives, at least I’ll be there.

I must let you know, throughout all this, on a normal circumstance I would have been through a pack of cigs. BUT considering I haven’t bought any while being here, I didn’t have any or really want one which was GREAT. I know for those who didn’t know or did that I smoked might feel disappointed or even shocked, but this is the reality of it, this is my blog and things aren’t always sugar coated. Good news to those just finding out, I no longer smoke!J An idea that did enter my mind was something else I would have LOVED and payed my last little 2 cent euro with was to poke some shmot. My nerves were out the roof and I sat an imagined how relaxed it would have made me and that I might actually be enjoying my own company.

Alright, now that hopefully the worst part of my day is over or this trip for that matter, I will enlighten you on the little sights of heaven I have seen today.

I find the French and their language just beautiful. I mean beautiful. Everyone is nicely dressed, simple but nice and deep brown eyes for the gentlemen and the ladies have this olive colored complex which I would die for! I’m not a total idiot when it comes to reading French, there are many words that are similar in English, but all I know is Bonjour and Merci. Yes, I have a little booklet, but every time someone says something to you, you casually let them know “hold on, let me pull out my booklet and flip back and forth through pages to a. understand and b. find a somewhat appropriate response.” NO. I did light up when I got to see half of the Eiffel Tower, that was sick! Paris is beautiful, the little time I spent above ground. The sidewalks are wide and they have those trees that always look like they have been burnt because the bark is always peeling. Those trees, we have them too, but they have the perfect leaf for autumn and such a beautiful color of change to them. The buildings are BIG, and detailed, some very modern looking, others antique. I do hate I didn’t get to tour Paris, but I couldn’t and honestly didn’t even consider it. I think that Norma will maybe have a day that she has to go there within the month that I stay with her, and if not I’ll come back when the Eiffel tower isn’t on Tourist Warning for Terrorist attack. Sounds good to me!

I am really enjoying my train ride, the countryside of France is gorgeous! Plus the day is too, big white fluffy clouds in the Carolina blue sky with a world of life underneath it.

I have an older man beside me, he’s nice. Him and this fine looking French man(my range of age) helped me put my backpack above my head. They both struggled, which I found funny.

I could live and study in Paris. Who wouldn’t?

Next problem or lets put scenario: I am kind of freaking out about turning 21. Now that I’ve been here, It’s made me extremely motivated to get my education and schooling done with. I am pretty positive that I want to teach English abroad. I am also pretty positive that I want to be fluent in 3 different languages. That sounds overwhelming to me, just as much as my day was. But that’s what I want. French I would learn first. Then Spanish and Italian are just as easy, and very much the same as French. Not only would this give me options to teach abroad, a year at a time, but then INTERNATIONAL relations. I don’t know the options of actual occupations in that field are, but it has to be wide with a variety. For now I want to come home and get my degree. I guess I’ll live at home for a semester until I get a job and save money. Or maybe I’ll just stay at home to be focused. But oh god, I want my own place again and I want to be IN Charlotte to experience that! It will come together. I really have to make it to Spain, I want to be there sooo bad! The coast, SUN, WARMTH, Abruzzi national park, and none of this scarf stuff. I already have a fat face( or round as some of you would correct me), and it does no good to cover up my neck, only makes it plumper.

I feel better now just so all of you know. This blogging thing is good for me. I mean geez, it’s not like I have a phone where I could just call up any of you and vent, or for that matter, anyone here to listen to it.

Tomorrow is a new day, and I can’t wait to get sleep. I might just pass out as soon as I get there.

MOMMA- You better have responded to my emails! It’s been 2 days and you have me worried!

Love always,

The worn out

Maggie

Monday..10/18/10

aroundtheworldigo — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:28:00 GMT

Dear Monday,

I am glad you are here! After you are over today, I get to travel elsewhere! To France that is!

Today is my last day at Triskel Flower Farm. It’s not all that sad of a day for me, for tomorrow I get to play games with Public Transportation again, along with getting lost on my way to Dublin. I will hopefully be in Dublin by lunch time tomorrow and can go exploring. I will be staying the night at Abigail’s hostel, I really hope they can wake me up. I won’t be able to sleep anyways because I will be so scared that I will miss my flight. I hope my day is splendid tomorrow, I want to leave happily from Ireland. I did have a good time here, but thank GOD I only had two weeks here at Triskel Flower Farm. I did learn some new tasks…I’ll go ahead and number out the new skills I’ve acquired..

Standing on a latter to paint the barn

Cleaning out gutters

How to plant carrots, leeks, potatoes, beets, etc etc

Cleaning horse shit out of a field.(yes I know that doesn’t sound lady like but I hated it so that’s they word that fits my emotion best)

Ride English, or Dressage

Clean horse stables anndd

how to successfully Break my converter! I definitely learned to keep my mouth closed at times when my temper was raised, but also this is the FIRST helpx home that I stayed at, so now I know what kind of questions to ask in detail. Things you just wouldn’t think of to ask…I now have expections for where I am & what I will do.

Ireland is a beautiful place, the country itself is still very young and from what I understand, has been in a recession for a while now. Margret has her OPINIONATED ideas and views on the people here and the life, which sometimes I find as bullshit, but I am always a firm believer in you make your own choices. So as long as you are miserable, it is your fault because you are choosing to do nothing about it, and that’s kind of how she is. She has a good side, but she’s just as somewhat conniving as the people she talks about and a little bit of a horder also.L not in my area though. Besides that, she has been a decent host and taught me a lot about the history of Ireland and how things run. Sligo was and is loveley. Here I come Dublin to take you in and hold you for one good time.J J J

Shower and my favorite thing to do, pack this 8.9 KILO backpack of mine. JOY!J

My day went good and I got my things packed again! Ohh it’s so hard, and I think I physically dread it! I wanted to enlighten everyone with another of my crazy dreams, I mean I’ve thought and laughed about it all day because this has just become a little ridiculous. Last night I had mulitple dreams but my most vivid one is this: I was dreaming about all these dogs floating on like rocks(some floatable device, yes I know it doesn’t include rocks) down the creek. Now, this creek was Debbie and Tommys creek in Hillsville, the one in front of the house. So dogs are floating down stream, under the bridge and somehow it turns into a pool and Im getting the dogs out of the pool. Lucy was there of course but nothing bad happened to her. After all the dogs were out, I saw this whale floating to the bottom, so I dove in to try to save it. I was like the whale had drowned, IT’S A WHALE. When I realized it had died and I was getting out on the pool latter, a shark was coming for me! I got out but it had my foot, and I was hitting it on the head. But it had my foot like Mazzi(our other dog, she’s a bull mastif?) and I was hitting the shark like I hit Mazzi to let go of my pants. WEIRD. I even think my brain was playing the jaws song.. I swear I havent done any drugs and I don’t even get to drink every night, which might settle the dreams. They are ridiculous, are they not? And I remember them so vividly. Now when I googled this, the response I liked most was that I must have a high IQ! You can keep your laughs to yourself. Maybe it’s this house, maybe I won’t be so restless in France, hopefully I’ll be drinking wine and pass out.J just kidding. Kind of.J

Anyhow, I think because I don’t like my new book I’m going to try and meditate. I’ll imagine that I’m buddah, I bet I’ll dream it too. Goodnight to all. P.s It’s Jeff’s Birthday today(well when I get to post this it will be.) Call him and remind him of how old he is!J I loves my Jeffery! Happy Birthday Old Man! I’ll try to not stress you out so much this year so you don’t go completely grey.J

and it's Sunday in Sligo 10/1710

aroundtheworldigo — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 00:26:00 GMT

And it’s Sunday.

I woke up this morning surprisingly early on my own, considering that we could sleep in today. My head is pounding, yes I have a hangover. Ohh I hope she doesn’t make me shovel poop today. It’s 9:30 here. Last night we went into town and got dropped off while she went to some prestigious dinner thing. I was going to enjoy myself, as usual, and especially on a Saturday night. I used my laptop until about 10 pm and well until it died. Finally convincing Julia that we are not babysitters for Ramon and Im not here to watch him. Like she told us not to let him drink! He’s Italian, yes he might be a little slow but he’s not stupid. He ordered a Guinness and Julia told him that Maggie didn’t want him to drink and he said “well Maggie’s not here.” I was shocked and surprised he said that, but he was right. So anyhow I convinced Julia to go to a pub with me, and we would have Ramon stay and lookout for Maggie. We went to a nightclub/bar called Schnangans! It was pretty cool in there, but once again I wasn’t dressed for the occasion. I know I just bought some things, but all the girls were in their heels and cocktail dresses, and Im in new leggings and boots and a sweater. I will have a night of heels before its over! But Juila and I enjoyed ourselves, two drinks for me and one for her! Better news I left out, so considering my converter is gone, well that would make my netbook dead BUT the Glasshouse is so wonderful that they had an American plug! YES! I got to charge it while I was gone. So before I leave I will go back in there and check in on everything and charge it up!

I must lay back down now and read, still not feeling so hot, and on top of that it’s so cold here! No central heating! I think she has but is just cheap. I’m sure I’ll type on later about how wonderful my day is.

I’m Back! It’s now 11:46 am. I am still in bed. As Julia woke up, I got up and warmed me up some homemade apple cake( I made) with a big scoop of melted butter and made myself some fresh pressed coffee, quickly climbing back in bed to read. Awwwww I just want to cry, I did. I finished my book and it was just wonderful. I wanted to cry for many reasons. One being, I can’t tell you the last time I finished a bookJ , but the other of every great emotion and level that I entered reading that book. The questions it aroused in my soul, the passion on certain topics that drove, just every stinkin thing about it was great. I am telling all of you to read the book EAT, PRAY, LOVE. Not only was it wonderful for me to read because I am on some kind of spiritual, searching for something, living my dream kind of trip but it’s hope gathered in 334 pages. Hope that it’s true that we don’t have to struggle our whole lives for happiness, that we create it on our own and merely how important it is to find and have balance in your life. Hope that I can maybe one day find love that is true, not a chore. And apparently sometimes I am doing myself right by making myself happy first before anyone else is aloud to be apart of that. Ahhh….I have to stop. Read the book. Don’t cheat yourself by seeing the movie, which I do like Julia Roberts, but reading it makes you process things, lets ideas weigh on your mind.
On a lighter note, this is funny. Brilliant Maggie that I can tend to be at times, always reminding myself that yes I am still Kym Roberts daughter, I bought self tanning wipes. I had talked to someone in Ulta long ago about them, trying to see if this stuff really works and go safe by trying to stay out of UV light..or fake bake. So I bought some of these tanning wipes for like 1.50 Euro(can anyone tell me how to find the symbols for a euro on Microsoft works word processor???) I do think they work, but I now have super bronzed palms, whereas the rest of my skin looks the same. I’ll wipe again today and see how it works, but wash my hands afterwards. Joy. Okay well I must go make lunch, Julia will say to me.. “Maggie, I’m hungry..you cook lunch and I help you.” I tried correcting her yesterday, even though it’s so cute but she always says “I have to go to Toilet now“ or “when you get tired of this(painting) I go to Toilet.” So I told her that sometimes that sounds like you have to go poop all the time and to say restroom, or bathroom. And of course Maggie corrected me with that’s an American thing and it’s very common to say Toilet, in France that is. So we all agreed on saying Ladies and that sounds more polite. So yes I must go figure out some kind of concoction. Ahh and Julia just made me laugh again. She said “ uhh we can make some Eggs”. I wish you could hear her. She does have good English though. Okay I’ll return later.
　

TGIF 10/14

aroundtheworldigo — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 06:16:00 GMT

TGIF…10/14/10

I figured I would title this one TGIF…even though it really means no difference to me. But Friday is good, close to Tuesday and change, plus tomorrow is Saturday and I get to go to the Glasshouse tomorrow night and use the internet and have COCKTAILS! Ughh…finally-life.

In Irelands forecast today it is cold, wet, raining, and windy. I don’t enjoy being out in that, but so far most of my work is done for now. Maggie and Julia went to town, so they left me and Ramon in the poly tunnel to do work. I love slash hate gardening. I don’t know why I have those mixed emotions on it but I do. Like I would love to have my own greenhouse! I think they are wonderful, but sometimes I don’t enjoy the back breaking labor! Now when it comes to planting, I love it, it’s like starting a fresh new batch of life. I had to move dirt, hard dirt up to the edge, flatten out, dig, rake for about an hour and then I got to plant spuds. And for once, I believe Jeff knows what he’s talking about because I just did it. One night, for dinner, he was like “we got some potatoes” and I said “no they are rotten”. And then of course he went through his astonishing look and voice of “Maggie don’t be so stupid and be like lil Kimmie!”. J ! Basically the spuds had roots growing out of them and it doesn’t make them rotten. So yes Jeffery, I planted spuds with roots today, about 85 of them to be exact. I can now plant spuds, sweet.

My dreams are really starting to aggravate the shit out of me. I swear, I wake up and I feel like my mind has been spinning all night. And they are such dreams that would have no connotation to them at all, so it’s a waste for my mind to be going like that all night. Then I think about them and try to see IF by chance they have any meaning annnddd nope! Like for instance, last night all in one dream, I dreamed that I got a bike, like a street bike and then the more the dream went on it look like a moped( which took the cool part out of my dream) and we were at the old house over in Oakdale but everyone from the present was there. Then the dream took me to Amiee having another kid but it was a boy! They little boy was super cute but had the personality of a 20 year old, and then it had me walking around the outside of a mall. I mean is this not just pointless! I can’t wait to google How to quiet the mind will sleeping.

Yesterday I had to pick up poop out of the field again, but I didn’t get so worked up over it. Julia and I then painted the barn. I got up on a real latter. I mean a latter that leans against the house, no A frame about it. I was a little nervous….but I did it. We made more apple cake last night, and I tried to make Chicken fRickasee? And apparently to Maggie I made more of an Italian risotto. Wrong. Her or Europes idea of a frickasee is a white wine based sauce, and I just explained that it’s just a chicken casserole. It was actually pretty good, considering the only true ingredient I had was chicken, the rest I improvised.

On Wednesday, I didn’t get the seaweed bath because it left us too rushed on busing from here to here and being here by then. So we explored Sligos’ shops and pubs. I was the only one having drinks, Julia likes coke. Ahh cola that is. I found a wonderful store here called PENNYS! IT’s soo cheap. It’s like a rugged wear house but not cheap stuff,no holes or nothing and a huge store at that with fashionable stuff. I got two sweaters and a scarf from there. I also found this cute boutique where I bought 2 pairs of legging jean material pants. They stretch up top for my great flexible weight that I have, and they are super comfortable and warm! I just hate not having nice things with me. I’m young, I am aloud to look good when the opportunity arises! I did get mom a little something, I can see her now with it. She doesn’t even wear the necklace I bought her that has real diamonds in it!(Now that it’s public Ma, you should get a new chain asap). Besides my spending, or shall I say savings!(I never buy anything that isn’t reasonable or on sale) I will share with you the best part of my day. We happen to come across this pub that I just wanted a drink at, so we went in, sat at the bar, I ordered a drink and the next thing I know the bartender is telling me that I am literally at the best PUB in IRELAND. It was rated the day before! How cool is that. I might not get to explore all of Ireland, but yes I did have a drink at the number 1 PUB in Ireland. I don’t mind saying that.J All in all it was a lovely day, and for dinner we had greek night here at Maggies’ and it was sooo yummy!

I leave Tuesday to head to Dublin for the day, because I have an early flight the next morning. Ya know I don’t even have an alarm clock, and because it’s not a 5 star hotel I’m staying in, they can’t ring me in my room to wake up. Ugh..I might just pull an all nighter. I hate those if Im not partying….maybe I will!J Julia and I have become close in an odd way, not like a deep friendship where we know everything about one another but we have become just real good friends. Like Maggie knows that we don’t like to be separated when working. She is real sweet, the other day she said ”when you go to France, I just come with you.” Or she’ll tell me I can’t go and leave her here all alone. It’s nice to have a new friend, but someone to talk to also. Because when I get upset, which isn’t as often anymore ,Thank goodness, I go and talk to her. I don’t know if I shared it with you yet, but Ramon does have to leave. Maggie told his mom yesterday. And they are such a sweet family, she told Maggie in the text to tell me that I always have a place to stay when I am in Italy. I just think they need Ramon at home with a normal job, or volunteer work, I mean so many options they have to help him mature from a boy into a man, but putting him in a place with experience horses wasn’t the brightest idea at all. I can tell that Ramon is sad, I don’t know what to say. He is a good worker though. You just have to remind him to do things, because he forgets. It’s just best for him if he isn’t here.

It’s still raining and wet, I just want to lay in bed all day and do this, type, read and write. I kinda don’t feel all that good either, my tongue is turning yellow, and for those who don’t know that means I am starting to get sick. I already have a runny nose, itchy throat, and sneezing a lot. I’m glad I brought allergy medicine with me. Good thinking. I hope everyone has a good weekend. I don’t know when I’ll post again, but I’d rather skype before I leave for France.

Miss you love you.

Maggie

Tuesday..10/12/10

aroundtheworldigo — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 02:59:00 GMT

Tuesday Weedzzzday

October 12, 2010

Today was another sunny day in Sligo at Triskel F F! I had the pleasure of getting by another day without scooping poop! Instead I became a pro at pulling up weeds! It was so warm that I wore a t-shirt. I also rode Connie with a western saddle. Maggie has had one for another horse she has, but didn’t know if it worked or how it worked. So I had the pleasure of showing her that I do know things about horses! I’m getting better with riding with my hands low. I’m kind of get scared that I’m going to carry these habits back with me in western riding and look like a fool, looking all proper, especially with the helmet. Now I know Aunt Cathy loves to hear that I am wearing a helmet. J

It was therapeutic today pulling up weeds and trimming the plants. I can see where gardening can be a hobby. I love plants and gardening but geez I’ve tried plants and all this many times and always seem to get the same result. Dead dried up plants! It’s always my fault because I have that great characteristic of starting something and not finishing it or just simply forgetting. I do have a feeling that when I return home, ohh which seems sooo long from now, that I won’t be high energized all the time. Hopefully I’ll actually take time, my time.

Today Maggie put Ramon on the horse, and it wasn’t good. He is a beginner, I mean looks as if no experience at all. By doing some observing of him, he favors more of an autistic person than his parents said. These are the thoughts, maybe he is a high autistic child which his parents cover up by saying he had cancer as a child or maybe he did and these are the side effects. He’s a good worker, and a sweet boy but it’s just unfortunate, all of it. What get’s me is that his parents would let him come to Maggies’ knowing it’s not a horse riding school, send him with no helmet or protection knowing his level of riding and leave him. He has a horse that is 30 and is more of a pet than a horse to him. His parents were so sweet, I just don’t know why they would act so dumb about all this. I don’t know there circumstances and all I can do is pray for them. I really wanted Ramon to get on that horse and know how to post and hold the reins….but maybe if he is somewhere else he can learn that, just not here.

Funniest part of my day. After dinner, which I’ll explain next because that is moms favorite part, I’m sure, is to hear what we eat and what it tasted like and how many grams of salt were in it, etc, etc. Funniest part of my day. After dinner we were all sitting around the table drinking tea and just talking. I brought up how crazy my dreams have been lately for me and asked Julia if she dreams a lot. Two nights ago she was sleep talking and that was funny, you could hear her talking to the horses. When I speak of Julia you must think German girl speaking English, the accent and all makes me smile. Julia was telling me about how she woke up last night because she had a dream that there was a spider in her bed and she can’t sleep if there are spiders in the room. She woke up and grabbed her “mobile” phone and searched with the light….as she was telling me this, Maggie was walking towards the kitchen with clean dishes in her hands and ran straight into the glass door. I busted out laughing as I am doing now telling it. Ohh god, I couldn’t breath for like ten minutes. It was the funniest thing to see her do that! I’ll laugh about that for days! She then was cracking up to where her eyes were watering. Then Julia didn’t understand what was so funny and was just looking at me like it’s not that funny, so I had to explain. Julia does give me some laughs though! Anytime she can’t think of the English word, she just puts her little finger up and says “wheres da little book”.

We changed our ladies day to tomorrow. Seaweed bath here I come. I’m contemplating the idea because it’s suppose to be a detox, but I have to drink Guinness on my day off…so I’ll drink before and the detox will still work the same, regardless I’ll be supplying my body with things that make me happy.J

I haven’t been sad lately, and instead laughing a lot. I really think it was good for me just to finally talk to them. Yay! Ohh yes before I forget dinner. Lunch we had more crab legs and I made a broccoli salad with egg and tomato, it was good. Well dinner came around and I had time, so I cracked lots of legs and make crab cakes. They looked perfect, until I tried frying them. They didn’t work, so we had fried crab served on one big plate, like a casserole somewhat. Yes I used egg and breadcrumbs to hold them together. I don’t want to talk about it, I thought they were going to be a real good success. Good thing they weren’t because I found a couple of shells in mine!J uhhohh.

Enough for now, I must relax now because I have a fun full day ahead of me tomorrow. Good night. Sweet dreams. I hope I don’t dream tonight. They wear me out.

Love,

Maggie

A new week 10/11/10

aroundtheworldigo — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 02:56:00 GMT

A NEW week….Monday October 11,2010

I had an amazing day! It started early of course, but I didn’t have to scoop poop! Ms. Maggie let me sit inside and sow all day because of my cramps. Yesterday I felt awful in the late afternoon, and she understands…so she let me be lazy and sit inside! SWEET! I think she favors me a bit, in conversation and company. On top of that, I sowed a horse blanket back together, I’m quite proud of myself. Now the sowing isn’t perfect, but I only got agitated once. I practiced patients and completed a task in one day. I literally sowed from about 9 am- 5 pm, which the exception of making lunch for the others and enjoying my lunch! Get this…for lunch we had CRABLEGS! Yes, fresh caught crab legs right out of the Atlantic! Pete, Maggie’s fisherman friend, brought them to us. He is a retired fisherman and just stopped by with a bushel. I don’t know if that’s the right word, but it was a bushel! Ohh they were mouthwateringly delicious, or Kostlech( in German that is, the ch is like ch..or more like you scratching your throat ). I was going to try some without melted butter first, and boy am I glad I did! I can’t emphasize enough how perfect they were or how much that made my day that I had them for Lunch, all you can eat style!

The sun was finally out today! The difference the sun makes in everyone. It’s like we light up and feel just as productive as the sun. It was hot, well sitting in the sunroom like Kitchen I layered down to my t-shirt. In the afternoon we took a trip up to the top of the hill to take pictures. You could see for miles! Green on one side, green on the other merging into the ocean! Gorgeous!

I finally showered again because it was warm. I honestly try to wait until it’s the warmest throughout the day because I like to enjoy all of my bath, getting in and getting out! Speaking of bath, you are going to be jealous! On Thursday, she is going to let Julia and I go into town early that morning for the day to shop, hangout, explore! Late in the afternoon she is going to meet us at the SPA for a seaweed bath! SICK! You know this is right up my ally! So your probably thinking, great you get a seaweed bath, well let me tell you….not just any seaweed bath, but an IRELAND seaweed bath. All of that means that the seaweed is fresh out of the ocean and it’s wonderful for your skin and body! It’s a detox, conditioner for your hair, just all around perfect for you(well me). And this is what puts the icing on the cake, it’s only 25 Euro for an hour that includes a steamed shower before and after. I can’t wait to feel perfect for a minute!

For dinner we had more crab legs, well I did, but I made them all more pasta! Geez the kids could eat it everyday, and all I think about it blowing up like a balloon! On top of that, it’s not always my favorite! Anyhow, we all had a sweet tooth following dinner so at the moment we are waiting on the apple cake to be done baking. I know that’s not good for my figure either, but we all know how I like to eat, and eat good!

I would like to explain the “we”. “We” would include myself, Maggie, Julia, and Ramon. I’ll start with Ramon. He is from Italy, and his parents brought him up here to meet Maggie and the farm yesterday. They are an adorable little family. Ramon is 18, and he came to Maggie to learn better English and learn to ride better because he loves horses. When Ramon was a child, he had cancer in the brain. They got it all out, but he had to learn to walk again, speak, the whole 9 yards. Horses were a main part of helping him recover and relearn all of this again, so that is where his passion and love for them came. There are some questionable things dealing with his true experience, which we(the girls) actually just got done pondering over with our apple cake(which was yummy, and my tummy is now sweet as honey)J It’s kind of sad, but when I say that I should actually say that it just reminds me of how fortunate I am. He’s a real nice guy, and I am going to try to be better with him, make the extra effort. Tomorrow we will find out how things go. Ms. Maggie actually use to work with special needs kids as a teacher, so she feels that she can see a lot through him. I am in favor of him, but his parents might have left out some big details of his experience that should have been expressed for his safety! I will keep him in my prayers.

On to the next one, Julia. Julia is this tall sweet German girl, about 20 I think. Short bob, all natural and loves nutella! I mean LOVES IT! Her English is good, and when she can’t think of a word she goes straight for the dictionary and tells you to wait. She cracks me up! Like the other day she was real worn out emotionally from the previous place she came and then to here and missing her family. I tried to make her feel better, and about 5 minutes later she made the joke of “ I’ll eat my last Snickers now to make me feel better.” Ohh I busted out laughing. That’s one thing I love about foreigners or international people, we get each others humor and it’s always just real simple humor. Another think about Julia is she has a huge sweet tooth and pours gallons of salt on things. She is a real good rider though, and she is going to help me tomorrow with my English riding, Dressage. Before Julia came here she was at this other farm or business that does real dirty work. I think I might of mentioned this before, but in summary she didn’t stand up for herself and got walked all over. She was torn down to pieces when she arrived. Her confidence of her riding skills were low and her ability to speak up. But she’s not like that now.J

And there is Maggie. Maggie and I really do have a good time. I don’t’ always agree with her, and sometimes thinks she has a lot of ideas in her head that she makes up…but the more we chat, the better I understand. She’s no fool, and a feisty one at that. Picture a short, petite woman, a little heavier on top, narrow waist, long red hair, and rosy cheeks. An Irish woman. You should see her with her big ole’ horses! It’s a sight. She’s blunt about things, but loves to get a good laugh. I had her going tonight, she was in tears! But yes, I enjoy her a lot more when she’s not giving me outrageous task to be done. And that sums up the “We” I keep referring to, of course sometimes meaning Angus(dog), Connie and Destino also.

I’m going to conclude tonight with a topic that has been heavy on my heart lately. Yesterday, because I started flowing, I was super sensitive, but there were a couple of things that were real apparent to me. This journey of mine has no specific findings other than to actually take the time to understand. Understand many things, whether it be concerning myself or the world around me. Understand. A big one yesterday was dealing with my faith and prayer, how insincere some things had become like prayer. It was more ritual than processed. I don’t choose to get in too deep with these topics because they are very personal, but let’s say me and God had a good chat about things and I could feel him working today, and even last night. Prayer. I think it’s real important that we all know how to pray, and what it’s main purpose is for. I tried something new last night, and that was to write it out. Sometimes words and thoughts form better when I have to write them, and they did. So now I must return to my book which is a ritual and then proceed to give thanks to the Lord for all that I have.

Goodnight!

Maggie.

P.S..gotta get some bug spray..I have scabs from itching.

October 10th

aroundtheworldigo — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:40:00 GMT

Itt’ss SUNDAY!!!!(October 10^th,2010)

It’s my day off here on T F F. A day off is like a normal day without having to shovel horse poop! More or less, I don’t know what I am to do. I can’t drive, I have no errands to run, so I’ll just relax while sipping on coffee in my sweats! I got to sleep in, which last night in my sleep I hit my head on the roof. My room is like an open attic in our part of the house. Two rooms, living room, kitchen and a bathroom. To get the full effect with our rooms being attic type(not scary by the way) we have the A-frame…and BAMM! I knocked my head twice on it. Haha. Yes it’s funny. I’ve been sleeping really good, but dreaming a lot more than normal. I forget which stage they call that in your sleep and whether it’s good or not. All of my dreams are with family members. Oddly enough, Aunt Debbie was in my dream last night, drunk(which isn’t normal) and Charlene was too. The night before that I was getting jealous over something that Jeff was doing, but I read straight through that one and it’s when I don’t get to talk to him like normal, I get territorial with him and sensitive. I just need to hear some voices and laughs annnddd start my period! I hate being super sensitive like my mom!J

I think we have to go back to town today to take Ramon to meet his parents. Ramon is from Milan,Italy(3 hours south actually) and his parents brought him up here to meet Maggie and for their security as well. When Ms. Maggie and I were talking about it, that they had traveled all this way with him, I just reminded her that it’s better that she got 4 emails from family members rather than all of them here! Ohh, I am so glad that’s not how it turned out.

When we get to town, I’m going to try to get on the internet again but definitely go to the shoe store! I saw these shoes that are on sale for 10 Euro. I am still trying to figure out where will they fit and are they resourceful. But geez, I really hate not being able to look nice or stylish when I have the chance. I have like one nice sweater, which I know everyone has seen in all the pics, and that’s it. I want options that are versatile! Maggie told me I should wear all my heavy jackets on the plane so I won’t have to check my backpack in for an extra 35 Euro. I can already foresee it , me hot flashing, lost, and irritated. None of that is out of the normal to begin with when traveling with public transportation, so why not! It’s a done deal, I’m going to buy something for me today! Of course it will have to be a deal, and I’ll have to not be able to live without it. Done!

That is it for now, I will resume to my personal journal and book. I hope all of you enjoy your day. I do wish I was at home to lay on the couch with mom and Jeff while they bicker…..well maybe for like 5 min.J I take that back.

Mmkaybye!

Love, Maggie

October 9

aroundtheworldigo — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 00:36:00 GMT

Saturday, October 9^th 2010

*Maggie Lorraine

Today’s highlight- being able to get ready, put a face on and see life! We get to go to town and I can have some social time and a GUINESS! Ugh thank God! It’s needed after today!

What I am about to tell you is a shortened version of the shortened version that I had typed up before my computer randomly shut down. Yes, now I know why they teach kids in school to constantly save! Save! Save!

The most irritated part of my day- this morning! This is what happened in a real condensed version, basically you get to read it without all my ranting involved! Lucky You! We had to shovel horse shit out of the pasture. Ms. Maggie yelled at me because I was ruining the grass root. Okay, so have any of you seen IRELAND? There is enough grass to feed the all starved in the world. She gave me gloves apparently to PICk up poop out of the grass, I mean every bit! Screw that, I then bent down and scooped it in a dustpan. In summary, it was a futile duty! I tried to understand why this was upsetting me so bad, well I thought of God trying to teach me different things. So this is what came into my head…maybe He is trying to teach me that sometimes I have to do things without a reason or understanding. Or maybe to not let little things get you so worked up! I still have yet to decide if it worked or I understand, but I’ll figure that out later. I think it was mainly my knowledge of horse manure as a good fertilizer vs. crazy things that she said. Like Connie doesn’t eat grass that has any poo on it.(Beggars cant be choosers). It’s over. On to the rest of my day…

The normal chores were done, then Julia(the german girl) rode Connie and Destino(stallion). It was nice to see how you are suppose to ride English, plus I sat outside and sipped tea while reading about Dressage. Which I learned that it’s our English/Equestrian riding. All the same thing.

And to the highlight of my day…getting ready for life! I mean by being in a social atmosphere where there is beer and people with style! It’s refreshing to know that the world is still there! It’s not that I don’t like the exclusiveness out here on the farm, but when I’m not busy, I get stuck with my thoughts. They aren’t bad ones, but I like to get my mind elsewhere sometimes, because some of my thoughts just make me tear up(like now) for how much I miss my family! I just want to Skype! But I am really enjoying myself. This is a life experience that I jumped into.

Missingallofyou!

LOVEYOU!

October 8th, 2010

aroundtheworldigo — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 06:05:00 GMT

October 8, 2010

Hello there! I’m not all that good at this journal thing, I mean in between responding to my families emails slash face book posts, it consumes time that I haven’t had. But today is different. I’ve decided to type up daily journals and post them when I can get internet access…not a bad idea.

So I am in Ireland, Sligo(well right outside of there, Beltra) on TFF with MH. She goes by Maggie. Today has been a great day so far. Of course my mornings begin with shoveling poop! HORSE poop! out of the stables(my diction is changing being in Ireland, my accent is THE SAME.J )

I had my first experience of riding English! Ms. M automatically started laughing at me. It’s waaayy different. I feel it takes a lot more control in your body and flow with the horse. Now don’t get me wrong, I believe the same with Western, but this is different, oddly different. Hands must be down low, while gripping a somewhat collar around the horses neck, feet tucked into the horse. M kept telling me to talk to the horse through the grip of my legs, and I was thinking I can only squeeze so hard. There is no horn, which didn’t bother me as bad as I thought it would, and the saddle sits in a different position on the back of the horse. Connie, the horse I rode, is a mare who is 8. She was either going to be sold to a home or sent to the meat factory! I gasped when she told me that. Regardless, Connie reminds me of Star in the color and face. She’s a real sweet girl. M and I(MaggieJ ) started on the lunge line and took it from walking to trotting. Once she saw that I was comfortable she let me go around the arena. I’m not a natural at this style, back straight, hands low, feet tucked and no neck reining! M was very encouraging when I was supposedly in the correct form. This style of riding is called Dressage, similar to Walking Horses but ALL NATURAL. No pads, heavier shoes, none of that, which is quite impressive and interesting.

Maggie has been doing this for 40 years, it’s a privilege to be here working with her. I’ve already learned or made my mind up to be more connected with the horse, read there language, not actually ride them, but connect. Maggie is going to be judging the 2012 OLYMPICS in London! Now that is cool, and shows her experience!

I’ve been doing all sorts of cooking, well that might be to broad, but I’ve been cooking with fresh organic everything! Fresh spinach, cabbage, tomatoes, onions and the tops(chives), apples, mint, and parsley. Maggie kind of just leaves it up to me to cook, which I enjoy. Last night we had homemade tomatoe, spinach, onion, garlic sauce, with pasta! Yum Yum! You can just tell the difference in the taste, how fresh it is!

The water we drink is out of the mountain. Only 3 farms get this water, and hers’ is one of them. We drink a lot of tea, and I press my coffee in the mornings. It’s delicious and strong, like I like it. All of the water out of the tap is cold, ice cold! We are fortunate to have hot showers! I’d be miserable, which I don’t enjoy showering that much anyhow because it’s so damn cold when I get out. I’m going to get more leggings because they have been real resourceful for layers and going to bed in.

The views and land are very relaxing. You just naturally feel calm, I mean you have the best of both. Mountains and the Sea! Speaking of mountains, the Ox Mountains sit right behind her property. The Ox Mountains are the oldest mountains in the world! They have been around since PANDORA, not the online radio station, but when all the continents were once connected, these mountains had Ireland, UK, and Scotland connected. Fun Fact!

It hasn’t been that bad of adjusting to no heat, no tv, no dryer, I could go on with what they don’t have but that’s in a sense what really makes things enjoyable. Everything is slowed down. You must wait, no choice about it. That’s what I love. Our culture is so rushed, you have to do this now, and that after that and then after that, you have to do this. I’ve never been good with things I have to do(ask my mom)J . So it’s quite nice just taking your time. I try to imagine if I could live like this, still haven’t come to a conclusion, but there is a big possibility.

I’ve learned a good bit about this country of Ireland through Maggie. How Ireland works, it’s poverty, the drugs, recession, the English influence of the rich. Let’s put it this way, I somewhat believe that History will always repeat itself, not that I don’t have faith that we can change it, but it’s common. That is the reality of it.

She has a friend, S( I think that’s her name) whose family is one of the more fortunate ones that have been around for centuries. They(her family) own a castle, really a castle! Well there is a law from the English that if you inherit the property to a man that no taxes are required to be payed on it. So that right there stops any woman of inheriting family property. Okay, so on top of that her brother who received the land has her living in a very small, stone walls, cottage that holds no heat, and makes her pay rent! Ugh! I would tell him to shove it up his butt and hope he choked on it. She is treated poorly by her family members, which is very unfortunate, but in a sense it’s her choice to stay around.

Now, on the other hand, M dogs name is Angus, after her good friend named Angus, has a famous Aunty(that’s what they say around here). His Aunty was like a Joan of Ark type of woman. A suffrage, socialist, and soldier! She is a true hero for Ireland in general and definitely for woman. It wouldn’t shock me if a lot of the women are true feminist, but hell I would be to if teachers are the highest paid job for women. Meaning that it’s still a man’s world here in many aspects.

I am now drinking hot tea again and I spruced it up with fresh mint. I just showered and let me tell you it was the best shower I’ve taken yet. I was finally warm enough to shave my legs, eww they felt like a bear. GROSS! But it’s pointless when your shivering in the shower, plus I cranked up the hot water temp, I think Maggie has a preference where to keep it, but I had to do different. Because there is no TV, just here, me and her, I’ve been listening to the radio. Ohh the radio. It has saved me from being alone with only my thoughts. Thank God. I can amuse myself only for so long during the day. So, the radio in Ireland, one might think “what’s it like?”J and I might then say just like our radio. Dumb ole’ Lady Gaga plays on the hit list stations along with Katie Perry, but I’ve been listening to a lot of talk radio, it’s interesting to hear the topics they choose to discuss. I also have become a fan of classical music. It’s grown on me a bit.

I do believe that is it for now, that covers a good bit of days that I’ve missed since arriving to Ireland. Ohh besides one topic…GUINESS!

I am in the home of Guiness brewery! And it is heaven to your lips! I find that at home our Guiness is more fluffy and thick, here in Ireland it’s fresh and smooth and DELICIOUS! I get to drink 1 or 2 when we go into town. Maggie isn’t a drinker herself, but she doesn’t mind if I do, thank God. So usually when I am in The Glasshouse responding to emails, I’ll down one.

Cheers for now!

Miss you all!

Love,

Maggie Lorraine

Sept 29th 2010

aroundtheworldigo — Fri, 8 Oct 2010 02:43:00 GMT

September 29^th, 2010

Well my day began with tears as I grabbed my sweet lulu head to get in the bed with me and snuggle ( as I type this we go through turbulence on the plane), then proceeded to finally finish packing my insanely huge backpack. I only wish you could have seen me topple over the first time that I put it on my back, which I still wobble with it when walking. It was hilarious, momma of course was laughing so hard she had to rush to the toilet. After getting the car packed up we went to lunch with Jeffery and Melvin at the good ole’ Sports Page. Asian Chicken Salad was yummy. Leaving there, saying my goodbyes for now to Jeff brought the flood a coming again. Surprised huh?

Arriving at the airport, worried I was going to be late, Momma and I printed off my ticket, I tried riding the escalator that was going up downstairs so we could sit together for a minute, that lasting for literally a minute, we approached my entering the check baggage alone. My sweet mom stood at the back the whole time, and let me tell you it took some time. Okay so they started with taking my liquids out, all my little 4 oz samples were narrowed down to probably 6 for me to take. Then my netbook had to be taken out, my shoes had to be taken off and all my jewelry, besides the bling bling cross that mom got me that is quite flamboyant if I must say. I hate people being behind me in line, I get nervous and I feel rushed so I just told everyone to go on and I’d be a minute, but this gentleman behind me was helping me, he probably felt sorry for me, my damn backpack as big as me, alarms going off and me looking dumbfounded.great. He was handing me baskets to put my stuff in, not letting me forget things, and I think he liked my joke of “ glad I chose to wear matching socks today”..I know not that funny. Anyhow, aside from checking in I got there. Realizing they were boarding then I rushed down to the end of concord or whatever it’s called B12. Ohh me and B12 had about a good 2 hours worth of bonding with 3 delays and finally I talked to one of the attendants and she rebooked me with Lifthshua( I can’t spell). It was a direct flight from CLT to MUN, thank GOD! Also having me arrive earlier by about 40 minutes.

Getting to gate D12, sweating, I go up and check myself in. The two guys behind the counter from the first 5 seconds gave me a better feeling. They were cutting up with me, and their plane wasn’t having mechanical problems. I finally sat down and this sweet Indian couple started talking to me. This woman and man were on their way back to India, they had been visiting their son in California or Charlotte…but besides that I had made a comment to her about how her English was good and she told me that she use to be a professor in India teaching language…but she taught the regional language. They are from the place that starts with a B over their…sounded familiar. Of course they were asking me what I was doing, I explained, don’t know what all they understood but I had the man laughing because I was making jokes about him making sure they had a connecting flight in Munich so he could go to Oktoberfest. He was cute. The lady ended up telling me that she was 68 and in India you have to retire at 58. She did not look 68.…I think it’s all the spices they eat, keeps their body cleansed, and probably because she had on fuchsia pink robe. They were enjoyable to chat with.

Finally getting on the plane, I sat in seat 44K, window seat.SWEET. They lady beside me spoke little, I mean little English but has been real enjoyable, kept to herself and she doesn’t smell. Dinner wasn’t too shabby, kind of good actually. We had pasta and salad, tiramisu, cheese and bread. Yum. Plenty of drinks…water that is sparkling and normal.

That has been my day, which I don’t think is technically going to end. I mean who sleeps sitting up, I can’t but I”ll be alright. So goodnight to all or shall we say good morning.

I’ll keep ya posted.

Mags.

To sweet loved ones....

aroundtheworldigo — Fri, 8 Oct 2010 02:40:00 GMT

Dear All Loved Ones,

Wow! The past month down to the past few hours have been filled with emotions that I can’t identify…well maybe one, OVERWHELMED! But now as I sit on the plane, and we go through these crazy time changes, I finally feel calm, besides my back hurting and I can’t sleep, I feel real relaxed about things, which is great!

Considering a 7 hour flight gives you plenty of time to think, well I have cried, watched YOU”VE GOT MAIL, which I found appropriate for all parties here, and stared out the window, I finally found time to really process things.

I just want all of you to know first off how much I love you, secondly I wouldn’t be able to do this without any of you, and thirdly you must know and understand that I am who I am because of you. Some of you have called me “brave”, I more so think stupid for doing something this absurd. More importantly I just want to Thank you, for the support, LOVE, and encouragement that I have been so blessed by from all of you.

So I don’t really know what time it is, on my computer is says 10:04 am…but the time is going up and I am suppose to land at 8:10 am…who knows. Surprisingly I am really not that tired, I just can’t wait to wash my face in the airport and brush my teeth. I’m thinking about taking it easy when I get there and relaxing for today in Munich, go tooling around, definitely take a nap, and probably drink a beer but nothing crazy yet!

Alright I do love you, I think you got the gist of that and just remember to check my online journal for details about my day. I am going to type that one up now. Journals.worldnomads.com/aroundtheworldigo/

Yours Truly,

Maggie Lorraine Roberts

I was trying to think of some German but hell I don’t know anything but Halo Deucthcsland.J

Photos: MUNICH--FICKEN OKTOBERFEST

aroundtheworldigo — Fri, 1 Oct 2010 02:45:00 GMT

awesome!