Will work for...?

Is there any worse kind of weather than the drizzly grey bleh-ness of Dublin? Especially since I often feel like my moods are tied in to the weather outside. Not quite seasonal affective disorder, but something close.

I'm getting frustrated.

Over the past couple of weeks I've thrown all my energy into The Epic Jobhunt, but to no avail. Well, that's not to say that I've been rejected by every single company or organisation. Far from it. Apart from the occasional "We've received your application and will let you know" email, I've heard precisely nothing. Nothing from anyone. Ok, maybe I'm just impatient but seriously... I want to work! I've enjoyed my 3 months of unemployment, but I definitely think it's time I rejoined the workforce.

Anyone want to give me a job? You won't regret it! To quote Homer Simpson: "I work like a Japanese beaver!"

Domestic Goddess explores the neighbourhood

So lately, bored with sitting around the house waiting for potential employers to call me back about job interviews (soon... very soon...) I've decided to hit the streets of my neighbourhood which have, up until this point, remained unexplored. This also coincides with my New Year's Resolution of getting out and walking more, and B and I have officially started our nightly after dinner walks - one hour, anywhere, stopping only for the crosswalks.

The other night we decided to go and explore Inchicore - it's only a 15 minute walk west of our apartment, but oddly enough we'd only ever gone east in to the city centre rather than venturing out in to the scary suburbs. We found the Buddhist Centre (almost literally our next door neighbours), a few abandoned churches, a Tesco Express, a few pharmacies and a butcher. Score!

Armed with my new and impressive knowledge of my neighbourhood, I set out this morning to do some more exploring. First up - obtain a membership to the local library. Done and done. It's fairly tiny, and has nothing on VPL (a million levels of literary goodness), but it's cute and has a decent selection, including interesting new cookbooks, which are always worth a try!

I carried on to Inchicore to hit up the Tesco Express. Now, after watching several documentaries on the horrors of cheap food (and Tesco products in particular - possible topic of a future post!), I was hesitant to shop there... but I wanted to make muffins and was out of chocolate chips. So, evidentally, were Tesco. Sigh. Oh well, raisins are healthier anyway... right?

Then I strolled back along the mostly leafy Inchicore road and back to the apartment, pausing outside the Buddhist Centre to check their weekly schedule. Couldn't hurt to brush up on my path to enlightenment... right?

Came home and made my muffins. Nom nom nom. Now the house is warm and smells like oatmeal and cinnamon. Still no calls from potential employers, but at least I have muffins to eat while I sit and wait for the phone to ring!

5 Questions

Yay another meme! This is what happens when your brain is too fried from job applications to think up a proper post.

Anyway... my 5 questions come courtesy of Chris over at Geek Philosophy.

Here we go...

1. The few times I've travelled, I've been surprised by the selection in convenience stores - I always think there's something from Canada that would sell well there (hello, Smarties!) or something from there that I'd love to have here in Canada (mmm, Chipotle and Chorizo corn chips). Is there anything you'd find in a typical Canadian 7-Eleven that's not sold in Ireland that you think would go over well? Alternatively, is there some sort of Irish snacky-cake or choco-yum that you think would totally rock the Canadian market?

I've never heard of Chipotle and Chorizo corn chips! They sound awesome!

It's funny that you asked this question, because our main convenience stores in Dublin (called Spar) have little Tim Horton's sections in them, including coffee (from machines, unfortunately) and doughnuts. Weird, eh? But excellent for battling the odd bout of homesickness. And for DIY improvised Canada Day festivities.

From Canadian 7-Elevens I definitely miss proper Slurpees. I love a good Slurpee and Seawall walk (Ambleside or Stanley Park) in the summer. Those slightly sour Fuzzy Peach gummy candies are good too. And a more varied chip selection - I like the Jalapeno ones, or Dill Pickle. And Kraft Dinner... if they sell that at 7-Eleven.

From Irish Spars... well, B suggested quite a few things, but high up on the list would be breakfast rolls, the Irish hangover cure-all. Basically take half a baguette, fill it with bacon, eggs, sausage, black and white pudding, hashbrowns, etc and you're good to go. So unhealthy but it really does clear up a hangover better than anything else! I also like Minstrels (kind of a bigger, nicer tasting, not-coloured Smarties), Lucozade... and we can get proper Red Bull over here. I know that'd go down well in Canada, even though I don't like it myself.

2. Do you find jet-lag worse flying from Canada to Europe, or from Europe to Canada?

Believe me, I've done my fair share of flying in the last... 11 years, and I can state unequivocally that the jet-lag from Canada to Europe is infinitely worse than the jet-lag from Europe to Canada. This of course all depends on the type of person you are. When I fly home (to Vancouver), I actually enjoy waking up early (around 6am on average) and going to bed early. That way I can gradually stay up later (midnight or so) and wake up later (8am) - and I can still get a lot done.

Conversely... when I get back to Dublin I am a mess. My internal clock does not let me get to sleep until approximately 5am, and when I wake up (around 12pm), instead of feeling refreshed I am exhausted the entire day, until around 8pm when I perk up again. I waste the day feeling sleepy and lethargic, and only by having a job to go to (or by having B drag me out of bed before he goes to work) can I get my internal clock turned around. Nightmare!

3. Which country in Europe that you haven't been to would you most like to visit, and why?

You know, it's strange... I've lived in Europe for years now and yet despite the abundance of cheap flights I feel like I haven't been anywhere!

I suppose first on the list, in a typically touristy fashion, is Italy. Yes, I know it's "right there" but I just haven't got around to it yet! I'd like to go for the history, the art and architecture, the language, the scenery, the food... you name it. I'll get there one of these days.

Another more obscure destination is Lithuania which, I have it on good authority, is beautiful - mountains, trees, much like home only more... former Soviet. The "good authority" is the possibly-slightly-biased Lithuanian embassy, by the way, who invited me to the celebration of their national day last year and held a photographic exhibit to entice people to come and visit. It worked.

I'd also like to go to Iceland. Because... you know... it's there.

4. What's your idea of a perfect weekend in Dublin? Nothing like "spending it on the couch with my boyfriend" - let's say, if you had two friends flying in and wanted them to really get a feel for the place and see the best bits. Where would you eat? What sites would you see?

Just a weekend? I'll assume for a laugh that it's a nice weekend, perfectly wonderful sunny weather and all. Hey, a girl can dream, right?

I'd start by going to Kilmainham Gaol (jail). The tours give you an excellent, if fairly bleak, overview of the history of the country. Plus it's right across the street from our apartment. I also like walking through the grounds of the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, now home to the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), just down the road. From there I'd get the hop-on-hop-off tour bus, which also provides a good commentary, history and kind of hits the highlights of the city. I'd get off near the Ha'Penny Bridge and head in to Temple Bar to stroll through the Farmer's Market which happens every Saturday in Meeting House Square (and is home to the Best Hotdogs in the World... Ever) for lunch. Then I'd probably go to Trinity College, my most recent alma mater before settling in for afternoon/evening drinks at one of Dublin's "proper" pubs. And by "proper" I mean an authentic pub that ACTUAL people go to, not one of the Temple Bar tourist pubs with their horrible Irish sing-a-longs. Ugh. I mean somewhere cozy, with character and excellent Guinness. Yes, I know of several such places. :)

The next day I'd recommend hitting up the Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery or... for the more adventurous maybe a day trip out to Newgrange or down to Glendalough. This is definitely weather-dependent! I love Newgrange and its mystical history (older than the pyraminds) and Glendalough is beautiful on a nice sunny day. It's always nice to get out of town and back to nature.

As for eats, well there is Johnnie Fox's... the highest pub in Ireland. They do excellent more-or-less traditional Irish dinners, with the added bonus of a dinner show as well (think low-budget but still entertaining Riverdance). Plus the views across the city are amazing. Otherwise I'd suggest Cafe Irie for breakfasts/brunches, Juice if you're in the mood for vegan/vegetarian, Leo Burdocks for the best fish and chips around (except I'm sadly allergic), and one of any number of excellent Indian restaurants in town. Oh, and El Bahia for to-die-for Moroccan food. Just get there early before the bellydancing starts. Yikes.

5. For the last question, something different - what's your favourite character in a movie, and why? Doesn't have to be someone from your favourite movie, but a particular character that you really like.

I'd have to say the character that stuck with me the most after watching a film is Derek Vinyard, Edward Norton's character in American History X. Having done a bit of acting in university, I can't even begin to imagine how difficult that character would be to portray, particularly in the initial murder scene. The crazed, hateful look in his eye is absolutely terrifying, and is made scarier again when you think that there are people out there who actually think and feel that way about other human beings. Ultimately I liked the transformation he undergoes throughout the film - from a man so consumed by hatred to one who realises the error of his ways, but never in a preachy or patronising way, which lends the character credibility and most importantly believeability. In the hands of a lesser actor the character could become hokey and completely cliched, but in the film he is identifiable and realistic.

If that's too "Introduction to Film Studies 101" I also like Wall-E. Because... you know... he's cute.

What's in a name?

Names are important.

I say this based on experience. The experience of being a kid whose parents named her remarkably close to her little brother, causing endless confusion at doctors' offices, dentists' offices, in pharmacies, you name it. No, that file is not mine. It's my brother's. I'm the female KF. Yes, there is a difference.

The experience of being a kid whose surname was so uncommon that ANYONE in the world with the same last name is automatically related to me somehow. A surname that very few people can pronounce correctly on their first go. No it's not Foster, or Fraser, or Fielder... not even close, Miss Receptionist/Secretary/School Nurse.

And yet... as I've grown up I've learned to say "Close enough", with a resigned smile. And I've also learned to love both of my names. (My middle name is a whole other story - does ANYONE like their middle name?)

Conversations with various female friends over the years have often turned to the ever-controversial subject of what to do with one's name when getting married. Several friends (hardcore feminists, though evidently not the "man hating" type!) swore up and down that they'd never change their name... that their maiden name was an essential part of their identity as a woman. And yet each and every last one of them are now Mrs Insert-Husband's-Last-Name-Here.

(edit: And so begins the attempt to get my foot out of my mouth) Ok, so I'm worried that in my attempt to discuss a fairly volatile issue I may end up offending someone. Don't get me wrong... I do understand what a personal, and often difficult, decision changing your name is, and that no one should make such a decision a spur-of-the-moment one. Perhaps, not having had to deal with this situation firsthand, I'm not in the best position to comment.

Personally I haven't made any binding decisions either way on the issue. I worry that we F's are becoming an endangered species, but there is also something to be said for having a name everyone can pronounce. I've thought about the slightly pretentious option of the hypenated last name, as well as the trend of taking your maiden name as another middle name. And I'm still left clueless.

I guess I'll wait and see when the time comes.

In case you're wondering what got me started on this topic, it was a post by Vancouver Sun blogger Douglas Todd on the possibility of removing the "British" from British Columbia (my home province) or changing the name entirely. The two posts can be found here and here. Apart from the occasional racist tirade I used to pick up whilst doing media monitoring at my old job, I've never seen such a polarising article. Commenters seemed to be either vehemently FOR or vehemently AGAINST a change in name.

And yet I can't help but wonder, much like my feminist friends, how many of these people would go along with a proposed name change for the province, perhaps with a shrug of the shoulders and a resigned sigh?

How we spent our Christmas holiday...

The jetlag has relented (slightly)! This is mostly thanks to B dragging my tired (and often unwilling) self out of bed every morning before he goes to work. I never knew such a concentrated form of hatred existed as that of a tired girlfriend being woken up in the morning, even by a loving boyfriend. Thankfully it passes as the day wears on!

So... here goes. How K and B spent their Christmas vacation.

First of all, someone needs to remind me that no matter how cheap the flights may be, nothing on this earth is worth getting up at 3.30am for. Our first flight (to Frankfurt) was at 6.30am, meaning our taxi to the airport came at 4.30am. Not a good way to begin a transatlantic long-haul flight.

Nonetheless we arrived safely in Vancouver, although disturbingly we couldn't actually see Vancouver until 30 seconds before the wheels hit the tarmac. That's what they mean by poor visibility. Gotcha. The parents were waiting in Arrivals to take us home safely, and to be honest I don't remember much of the rest of the night, except trying desperately to stay awake (with the assistance of much-appreciated coffee!)

Our first day was beautiful - thankfully the rain had let up and the sun was shining, so I began my mission to show B as much of my life as humanly possible in 2.5 weeks. We hit up Stanley Park en route to the currency exchange, and then spent the afternoon wandering around the free highlights of North Vancouver (Cleveland Dam still terrifies me... the Fish Hatchery... not so much fun with no fish...)

And then the snow began. Or as a friend has dubbed it, Snowpocalypse.

Don't get me wrong... I am a sucker for snow. I love looking out the window and seeing the world magically blanketed in crystally white powder. Love it. It makes me feel like a little kid. But man is it a pain to drive in. Thankfully the next few days were mostly spent indoors, but we also had trips to the Vancouver Aquarium (still not the same without the killer whales), shopping for last minute presents, visiting with assorted friends and family, a trip to Whistler that made us re-evaluate our definitions of cold (-42 windchill at the Roundhouse, anyone?)... oh, and a very frosty, but not as cold as Whistler, trip to the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Little known fact (to me, at least): If you are a Vancouver resident, you only need to pay admission to the Suspension Bridge once, and they give you a free season's pass. Brilliant, yes... except it's non-transferrable and I'm now 5000 miles away. Ah well, they make an effort.

On the 23rd we hit the road in a mini-convoy (B and I in one car, parents in another, and little brother and friend in yet another car) and headed up to the Okanagan. I love that drive. Apart from a few slippery sections just out of Vancouver the roads were fine, and while we didn't make record time (5 hours including stops... that was in the summer), we arrived unscathed at my Gran's house in Oliver.

Over the next couple of days, poor B was introduced to, and inspected by, every remaining family member he hadn't met yet. Thankfully they all love him. Seriously love him. We did some rambling around the town, went down to the orchard, and over to Osoyoos to check out the Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort and Spa. Oh. My. God. Love it.

Then we headed back down to Vancouver, a trip made longer by a bad accident in the valley. After at least a 2 hour detour, we finally made it home. Our final few days were taken up with last minute people-seeing, frantic (as always) packing, and we flew via London back to Dublin, arriving at our apartment with 3 hours to kill until New Years.

Overall it was brilliant. I sometimes forget just how much I miss Vancouver, and the beauty of BC (they don't call it "Beautiful British Columbia" for nothing, you know). What made me even happier was that B felt exactly the same way. I liked being able to play tour guide, and be a tourist in my own town. I don't think people do that enough, and I am definitely guilty of taking my hometown for granted.

So now B and I have some interesting questions ahead of us... some of which we have already started tackling, and we haven't even been home a week yet! But that may be a post for another day.

A New Year...

Happy New Year everyone!

I must admit that at this point in time jetlag is wreaking havoc with my system, so I'm afraid a detailed post of "How B and I spent our Christmas vacation" will have to wait, but I promise it will come. With photos.

In the meantime, please enjoy this "End of 2008" survey and my new blog photo, courtesy of B and his fancy new camera. It's from the lake in Osoyoos, BC on a day that was colder than should be felt by a human being. Note to self - must stop taking Canadian vacations in the middle of winter. Too cold.

END OF 2008 SURVEY

What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

I moved out of my old apartment and in to a gorgeous new one with B. I also took him home to Vancouver with me for Christmas (more on that in a future post), and it was amazing.

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

Well thankfully I only got halfway through my 2008 resolution to get some financial responsibility. I did check out my options for creating a savings plan, but now with the recession and overall financial mess of the world, I'm glad I didn't invest in anything! As for this year, my goals are to walk more (aiming for 1.5 hours a day) and get a new job. Hopefully not TOO unreasonable!

Did anyone close to you give birth?

Two of the girls at work, but none of my close friends. Thankfully no one seems to be at that stage yet.

What countries did you visit?

Ireland, Canada, our big holiday to Greece (amazing), and France (only Paris, but also amazing).

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A job? Okay that's not entirely fair, I only lost my job at the end of October 2008. But still, a new job would be nice. Also, more financial discipline... but I still don't trust those banks.

What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Probably the day of my grandad's funeral. He was an amazing, incredible man and I really missed not being able to see him this past Christmas.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Being okay with being unemployed. I thought I'd go stir-crazy or be dying to get back to work, but it's actually given me the time to think about what I'd really like to get out of life.

What was your biggest failure?

So far? Not being able to find a new job. Although like I said, I'm sort of okay with this, so I don't really consider it a failure.

Did you suffer illness or injury?

A few colds, and the mystery of the recurring stomach problems - hopefully to be resolved once I find out the results of the pH monitoring test I did (see previous post). Should know in February.

What was the best thing you bought?

Not really "things" as such, but our rental car in Greece (so much fun whipping around little Greek mountain roads!) or our cooking class in Paris (learning to cook sinfully delicious desserts in one of the food capitals of the world? Yes please).

Whose behavior merited celebration?

Once again, everyone who has helped me get through the tougher times by having faith in me. You know who you are, and I hope I managed to let you all know how much I appreciate your support. Also B... I don't know what I'd do without you some days. You're too good to me, and I'm so lucky to have you in my life.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I suppose they might know who they are... and I wouldn't say "appalled and depressed"... I'd say "extremely disappointed".

Where did most of your money go?

Rent and flights. Same old, same old.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Our holidays (Greece and Paris), and coming home for Christmas. Being able to show B where I grew up (and also why I get homesick sometimes) meant the world to me.

Compared to this time last year, you are:

a) happier or sadder? Happier in some ways, sadder in others.

b) thinner or fatter? A little bit fatter.

c) richer or poorer? Richer, both financially and spiritually.

What do you wish you'd done more of?

Getting out there. B and I were kind of homebodies in 2008.

What do you wish you'd done less of?

Letting people get to me. It's just not healthy.

How did you spend Christmas?

With B and most of my family up at my Gran's in Oliver, BC. It was perfect.

How did you spend New Years?

Jetlagged (we only got back to Dublin at 7pm on the 31st) and watching the BBC countdown with B, then calling my family to say Happy New Year.

Did you fall in love in 2008?

No, but I'm still in love.

What was your favourite TV programme?

Lost... definitely. Although I also like Fringe.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

No, I don't really believe in hating people... it's a waste of energy. As with last year I've lost respect for people who have let me down or disappointed me, though.

What was your greatest musical discovery for 2008?

A renewed appreciation for old school legends, like James Brown, Johnny Cash, Stevie Wonder, John Lee Hooker, etc. And the Blues Brothers. That film is amazing.

What did you want and get?

I wanted a career (check, for most of the year, at least!), a work permit (check, came through in January), and a feeling that Dublin is "home" now (check, although I must admit that being home at Christmas has raised interesting new questions).

What was your favourite film of this year?

Wall-E... how cute is that robot? And The Dark Knight. The Joker is the best psychotic villain since Hannibal Lecter.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 28 (the big 3-0 looms ever-closer) and went to work, and then out for dinner with B at a cool Japanese grill in Rathmines. B also created "K Week" in which he gave me little presents every day. God I love that boy.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Not being let go from work. Although even that in its own way has been satisfying...

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

The "I don't actually like shopping and didn't really buy too many new clothes" Look.

What kept you sane?

Daydreaming.

What political issue stirred you the most?

For most of the year I'd say immigration (it was my job) - but for the last part of 2008 it was elections... mainly the Canadian ones but also the American one.

Who did you miss?

My grandad... and all my friends in Canada that I only ever see once a year.

Who was the best new person you met?

I like everyone I've met this year.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:

Never give up.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

"Don't stop me now, cos I'm having a good time"

Not Exactly How I'd Choose To Spend 24 Hours

Seriously. I have approximately 17 hours left of this pH test?

"A small catheter will be inserted through your nostril and positioned in the oesophagus. The catheter will be taped in place and looped over your ear. It will then be connected to a monitor that is worn around your waist for the duration of the procedure. The catheter stays in place for 24 hours during which time you can eat normally." (GI Function Unit, St James' Hospital)

Well. Here's what they don't tell you:

Before inserting said catheter, you are required to sharply inhale a large quantity of Vaseline, presumably for lubrication purposes. Nothing says "awesome start to a procedure" like snorting petroleum jelly.

The catheter itself is approximately the same diameter as a mouse cable. Have you ever tried stuffing a mouse cable up your nose? Discomfort doesn't begin to describe it.

"...will be taped in place" - across my nose, along my cheek, down my neck... I look like either a feeble American Football player, or a mummy that's coming apart at the seams. No wonder I had so many stares on the walk home from the hospital.

The monitor the tube is attached to is roughly the size and weight of an old-school Walkman. Still not sure how I'm going to manage to sleep tonight with a Walkman strapped to my waist.

I will concede that yes, I can eat and drink normally, apart from a constant feeling of "there's something stuck at the back of my throat". However, any small facial movement or head turn results in a shift in the tube - which, if I keep absolutely still, I can hardly feel. So, in essence, every time I move I am reminded that I have what feels like a bit of spaghetti lodged in my throat.

For those readers not in Dublin.... it's cold. It's very cold. Which brings me to my final small gripe about this procedure. Cold weather leads to runny noses. And let me tell you... having a runny nose with a tube sticking out of it... well, that's just anything but good times.

Seriously. Just give me a new digestive system and be done with it.