Laaaaaazy

That's me! I've been a total slacker with writing as there's so much to share that I get lazy  overwhelmed and don't share anything! Hopefully, I will be back in full force this week with the last remaining updates on our trip to Croatia and Montenegro (in July! slacker), updates and inspiration for the nursery (which is well on it's way to being finished) and just general Dublin summer living.

In the meantime, this weekend, we went to Croke park for the Hurling match (Cork vs. Dublin) and while I've been to Croke park for lots of Gaelic football matches, this was my first Hurling match. It was a fast, fun and exciting game. Fortunately, Cork won so hubby and I cheered for a good long time and even more fun, after the match we stopped for Vietnamese food. Good day all around!!

Pre- Match practice 

Opening Ceremony 

Congratulations to Cork! 

Man City

It's been nuts these past weeks hence the lack of post. Not only has work been but we've been busy working on the house and visiting friends as well. This past weekend, BF and I headed to Manchester, England to visit with some US friends.
My friend was going on a little European tour with her BF and since he was a fan of Man City, they decided to pop into Manchester, and we agreed to meet them. FUN!

We spent the Saturday walking and around the city, doing some shopping and just sightseeing (though there weren't that many sites). They were taking the train up from London and so we met them late Saturday afternoon for drinks at an outdoor beer fest. Then we headed to the infamous Curry Mile for dinner. It was delicious and strange as well since we felt like we were in back in India (but cleaner!).

The next day we headed to the Man City/Newcastle match. We had front row seats which was fab! Not so fab, five minutes in, a Newcastle player received a nasty tackle and broke his leg right in front of us only days after my sister broke hers playing soccer. It looked soooo painful! EKKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At the beer fest


Doing a celebratory dance with Carlos Tevez at the Man City game


Moonchester the Man City mascot from our front row seats


Me, Moonchester and Moonbeam, his girlfriend

Up Down

Yesterday, BF and I went to the All-Ireland Gaelic Football final. It's like the Superbowl for Gaelic football, and his county (Cork) was one of the finalist along with County Down.

A couple of things.

1. We managed to get the tickets for face value but they were selling for around 350 Euro. I would have gladly sold my ticket for a weekend away - or um... some new clothes and/or curtains :) Alas, BF was really into it and his father also came up for it so away we went to Croke park.

2. The cheering - I'm from Philadelphia and know a thing or two about abusive sports fans (Hello Eagles football fans!), but sheesh! It was loud and raucous in the stadium. Lots and lots of cursing involved - even parents with little kids were cursing away.

3. Americans say "Let's go team x" or "Come on team X". Irish people say. "Up team x". I know weird. Even weirder the two finalists were County Cork and County Down so while BF was yelling "Up Cork", the opponents were yelling "Up Down" baa hahahahahaha... Irish peeps, you're too cute.

Anyways, despite the rain, we got good results, and Cork won!

Congratulations indeed!


Celebrations with Cork colors

The Lucky TShirt

Yesterday, BF, his father and I went to Croke park for the Gaelic Football semi-finals (Dublin vs. Cork). For some reason, even though I don't LOVE Gaelic Football, I find myself at this event every year. It's good fun though, and the sun was shining so no real complaints from me.

My friend, M, is a HUGE Gaelic football fan or really anything that is remotely related to Cork. She was away this weekend and couldn't attend the match so lent me her lucky shirt to wear to the game. She said that every time the shirt is IN Croke park, Cork wins. Well, it was lucky indeed! Cork was behind Dublin the ENTIRE match, but in the last 2 minutes, they scored twice. Whew. Lucky! I'm not even going to go into how Gaelic football is played, but it's a combination of soccer and rugby, maybe, kinda, sorta?

The lucky T - It says "Daon Phoblacht Chorcai" which means "People's Republic of Cork" in Gaelic (Cork is like Texas. They think they should be their own country.)


The Cork Team warming up


Final Score

World Cup Mania

It's finally here! I'm so excited. Think of all the goals and sport montages coming up in the next month. The Dublin office is the EU headquarters so there are many, many nations working here (Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Holland, etc). Because of this, there's a great spirit in the office today. To support its workers, the big G kicked it off in style.

We had a big celebration at lunch and the cafeteria was changed into a stadium. Instead of our normal food, we had food representative of the many countries involved - Nachos and Fajitas, Fish and Chips, Burger and Fries, Bratwurst and pretzels... you get the idea. It was really, really fun AND...there was a penalty shoot out competition in the cafeteria. I participated (yeah!), but didn't win (boo!).

The Food. YUMMY!

One hand supporting USA! One hand supporting the non-existent Irish team.

Action shot from the penalty shoot out

Cork Marathon Weekend

Aside from visiting BF's family last week, I was headed down to Cork for the Marathon relay with the girls as well. Before we started on our run, we had spa treatments first at the Imperial Hotel.Our hotel package included the treatments, 3 course dinners and breakfast, and we took full advantage of the relaxation before the marathon.

The Spa's Relaxation Room


I wasn't feeling well the night before the race, but I assumed it was just because I was nervous. (I hadn't been training that much. The furthest I had run was 6 miles the week before and my leg of the race was 10 miles). I woke up and my stomach was in knots. It didn't help when I looked out the window- POURING rain! EKKS! Off I went for our run. It was honestly the most TERRIBLE race I have ever run before in my life. TMI alert... there may have been some puking going on WHILE I was running! I did manage to run the whole thing and complete it. I have been wrecked all week from it, but at least it's over!

Relay change point- Probably the funniest facial expressions ever! 

Me and BF, our fearless supporter!

The Finish Line!

The Relay Team

Soccer

Only 18 more days... I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sport montages and Nike commercials and this is my favorite one so far. Watch it and get yourself ready for the World CUP!

Wishful Thinking...

I love the Olympics, and I am falling in love with pole dancing. There is talk about making it an Olympic sport. How amazing would that be?!?!

It's offical ...

I just signed up for the Cork Marathon for June 7th. YEAH!


But I am cheating just the tiniest bit... I'm doing it relay style with some gal pals. I know I know- not a marathon. After running the half marathon last year, I had NO desire whatsoever to run a marathon- double what I just ran? No thanks!

The gals and I wanted to do a weekend away this year and we thought about going away for the Kinsale 7's with two other group of friends but we decided that it would get too messy with all the drinking. Instead we're taking a girly, spa running weekend away in June. There will be six of us, and we're divided into two teams. The most anyone has to run is 10 miles which doesn't seem too bad.

I'll be gearing up for my first training run tomorrow morning!

Super Bowl Monday

A day late, without commercials (or WINGS!), still entertaining nonetheless...

Back to Normality

I rested all weekend and I think the joints are getting better. I'm planning on getting back to the gym this afternoon and I actually can't wait! Without working out, I've been lethargic so really looking forward to it. Plus I have new gym music which may or may not include Miley Cyrus to inspire me! (I'm not ashamed, it's SO freaking catchy!)

Anfield, Liverpool

So last night BF and I left work just a little early to fly over to Liverpool for the evening football match. Due to a slight air delay from Ryanair (no surprise here), we made it just in time for the match- arriving just 2 minutes late. Not too bad.

First off, Liverpool the city. To be honest, we didn't get to see any of it, but I did see a bus with signs to Penny Lane. CUTE! What's not so cute, that freaking song was stuck in my head the entire match.....

Beatle-Mania at the airport

Once we finally made it to the stadium, the crowd was fun and lively. Lots of chanting and singing fights songs. It was actually a really fun game. Just when I thought I was getting my voice back from all the recent weekends away, it's gone again from all the shouting. The game ended in a 2-2 tie... Disappointing.

Can you hear the Liverpool fans chanting "Liverpool" over and over?


Anyways, BF and I then headed to our hotel for the 5 hours that we would stay there since we had a 6:30 flight in the morning and had to wake up WAY to early for it. The place that we were staying- Jury's Inn- was gorgeous! We had amazing views of the Irish sea. It was a nice change to see the Irish sea from the other side as we can see it from our bedroom too.

Here is BF looking for our apartment

Brutal

An update on the half marathon with pictures. I had many pictures of me running to chose from; however, most make me look like I am about to DIE...sooo here are pics from the best of the bunch. They are taken from the MarathonFoto.com site.

Look at the concentration.


So happy to almost be done!

Finished!!!

Pals, I did it! I finished my half marathon on Saturday, and it was freaking tough! I ran my last long run (10 miles) the weekend before and it was fine, but actual race day was hard! People who say the crowds will help cheer you on the last 3 miles were WRONG :) And, the 3 hills at the end didn't help me either... But, enough complaining - I finished!!!!

Will update with pics from the marathon (but only if I don't look like I'm dying!)

Final Training Session

Yeah!!! I finished my final training session for my half marathon this morning and for the most part stuck with the entire training program - even while on holidays!

I thought it was going to be terrible training for a half marathon, but to be honest, it hasn't been bad at all. I quite enjoyed the long runs on the weekends and even saw deer this past weekend in Phoenix park during my ten miler.

Wish me luck for Saturday!

Football.... American Style

Happy 2009/2010 NFL season! Wishing I was in the U.S. for the first game of the season. BF let me get the Sports Package so we would have football games at home (Honestly, it didn't take too much arm twisting!). We only get some games and today there are no Philly Eagle games :(

I'm looking forward to watching the first live Eagles game next week... Go Eagles!!!