Back to the land with no Lemon Fanta

"I suggest you not underestimate the staggering drawing power of the Garden State." - Written by Kevin Smith, as quoted in the movie Dogma

Dropped the car off at the airport, don't think they noticed that little issue with the hubcap, let's just keep it that way...

Flight back home was about as magical as one would expect. Customs was easy, plane left on time and things went relatively smoothly.

Well, aside from the oddly sick old guy on the plane. Apparently, our flight had one of those "sick passengers", the thing is, no one, including the stewardesses could quite figure out what it was. My best guess is that the man was on some sort of meds, and did a little too much of the drinky drinky that mess us said meds. Basically, they just kept giving him oxygen tanks. He put away 3 small tanks on the flight. Apparently, he's an oxygen junkie or something. So that at least provided some entertainment. Well that, my PSP (god's gift to flying entertainment) and the novelization to Spiderman 3, because sometimes you need to read something that doesn't require conscious thought.

So, I'm writing this as I listen at home to Ruby by the Kaiser Chiefs, which has been voted the official song of the 2007 Ireland trip by Marlene and I.

Ireland was nice, it was far different than anything I'd ever experienced. The only problem is now I keep thinking I should be driving on the left side of the road...

Here's some quick checklists for the trip:

CD's Purchased:

• "Yours Truly, Angry Mob" by the Kaiser Chiefs
• "The Very Best of the Pogues"
• "The Best of 90's" (A 3CD box set of various European hits from the 90's)
• "White on Blonde" by Texas

Books Purchased:

• Novelization of the James Bond film "Die Another Day" (on special for one Euro)
• "Life and how to surivive it" by Robin Skynner and John Cleese
• "Confessions of a Failed Grown-Up" by Stephanie Calman (for Marlene, although I think she intended it for me)
• "The Cold War" by John Lewis Gaddis (Trivia fact: my area of study as an undergrad was the The Cold War era)
• McCarthey's Bar, A Journey of Discovery in Ireland" by Pete McCarthy
• DK Eyewitness Travel Guides: Cuba
  

And of course:

• "Did David Hasselhoff End the Cold War? 50 Facts you need to know: Europe" by Emma Hartley

Moving along...

New TV Show discovered: "The Agency" which is shown on VH1 here. A guilty pleasure show about behind the scenes at a modeling agency in NY.

Food related obsessions acquired:

• Lemon Fanta (duh, I brought 2 - 2 Liter bottles home with me, I'm currently looking for an Intravenous version that I can tap directly into my arm)
  
• Guinness on Tap (but only in Ireland)
• Irish Stew
• Supermacs fast food restaurants (but ONLY if they have an air hockey table)
  

Things I learned this week that weren't related to driving:

• The grass is truly greener on the other side - in Ireland
• According to Philomena, Irish men are interested in (in order):
1. Sports
2. Drinking
3. Women
• The Irish complain far more about their own country than anyone else ever could
• Irish food is far better than people give it credit for
• Daylight Savings time in Europe is different than in the US. For example, it was LAST NIGHT in Ireland, proving once again, that god has a sense of humor when it comes to my life

Anyway, this wraps up this the Trip to Ireland section of the blog. I can deal with this blogging thing, it will continue...

Oh, and a mucho big THANKS to Bernd for letting us come in and invade his world.

One more thing, if you actually read this whole blog thing, let me know by e-mailing me at slibocker@optonline.net