Ever since working abroad in Ireland six years ago (REALLY?!), I’ve had a major, major love affair with any and all things Irish. Though I never realized this love affair had started much earlier after seeing Waking Ned Devine with a friend and her Mom. I’m not sure what prompted us to see this film, but we did. And I loved it and more importantly, the soundtrack. In particular, the song “The Parting Glass” was something I found myself continually listening to, and still do today (Meryl Streep’s singing at amFAR is sublime).
While I find myself clicking on any and all advertisements and creative work that has any Ireland connection, this ad for Tullamore Dew Whiskey made my morning. Using that song I oh so love, the scenery that’s simply divine, a rainy day and some lads.
The silence is over, sort of. My apologies for not writing nearly as much as I should have been…the month of July just got lost beyond me. And I’ve returned from my coastal adventure to the East where my friend and I attended a few concerts and slept on a pirate ship. It was to say the least, amazing.
But instead of rehashing a vacation, I want to talk about something else, friendship. Amanda and I affirmed a friendship a year ago when we went on vacation to Colorado. Since that last summer, we’ve logged four other trips and most recently, this eastern adventure. I could not imagine a better travel companion to navigate a city alongside.
My true aha! moment of man, life is good, came while we were in New York. We made our way down to NYC to catch The Lumineers and Old Crow Medicine Show in Central Park and decided to hit up our New York friends for couches to crash on. Most of the “closer” friends were traveling, so we were coming up empty-handed. Then I reached out to Christin, a girl I studied abroad with in Ireland and hadn’t seen since we left the Emerald Isle. And to be fair, we hadn’t really talked much. But she insisted we come and crash with her.
The minute we walked in to Christin’s place, it was like we were back in Ireland. As we readied ourselves and wandered the city, we managed to find a bar with a vacant rooftop where we spent the afternoon catching up on life. It was just perfection and as if this was an everyday thing we did. When we got to the show, I was so overcome with joy that I nearly started crying. It was just so moving to know that there are people in this world that vouch for you and want to spend time with you, no matter how much time has passed.
I have many friends like this in Chicago, but I’ve certainly taken them for granted over the years…just assuming they’re always there. But upon our return to Sweet Home Chicago, I realized how truly lucky I am to live in a city I love, surrounded by water and people that I cannot help but have on fantastic time.
It might have taken all of July for me to realize this, as well as a northeastern adventure, but I’m going in to my 27th year with a much better grasp on life. And I for one, I am eager to see what awaits next.
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And here’s the lastest Mumford & Son’s song (saw them in Maine last week), which I think is so very fitting:
I for one, cannot remember the last time I have devoted the whole day to listening to a movie soundtrack. Granted, every St. Patrick’s Day, I find myself rocking Waking Ned Devine soundtrack, but that’s out of respect for the holiday.
The minute I saw this trailer for Brave, I knew, I would be counting down the days until its soundtrack released. The last song playing on this trailer just sends chills down my spine.
On the soundtrack, there are some lads from England: Mumford & Sons. Their song Learn Me Right, along with Birdy, is utterly fantastic and is sure to get you jazzed for their impending second album. You can listen to the full song over at their blog. Clearly I just cannot get enough of the celtic influence.
It’s been ages since I’ve written, my apologies. After a wonderful trip to Colorado, work became a little hectic, life became a little crazy and soon, some chaos will ensue thanks to March Madness.
Tomorrow is a phenomenal day, with St. Paddy’s Day (busting out all of my Ireland gear including the “Irish Drinking Socks”) and the First Round in the brackets begins! So I leave you with the one thing I always watch to put me in a better mood, and lately, it’s got a lot more playing time since work’s been hectic.
As my old co-workers would say back on the Emerald Isle: “It’s gonna be a garge-ous day”
I won’t lie, I resisted 30 Rock for quite some time. In high school, Senior Year Charlar Time in Spanish 4 to be exact, José (that was his Spanish name, his real name was Kyle) said for his Charlar point on the day: “Yo pienso que Felipa es Tina Fey”. Roughly translates to “I think Hanna is Tina Fey.” Yes, my Spanish name was Felipa and I will still answer to it. But ever since this moment, I vowed to not be like Tina Fey. I wanted to be my own person. Then I wised up and realized that homegirl is fantastic. And Kyle/José quite possibly fed me the best compliment I have ever received in my life (and I received a lot of “Well done you”s in Ireland).
Ever since I caught myself up on 30 Rock while living in the desert, I have found I am much like Liz Lemon. And my Jack is every Kansas boy I still hang with (mainly Chris, BLB, Pat and Donovan). Tracy Jordan/Morgan’s character would obviously be Manch.
And now that it’s winter, I can’t help but think of the gem Liz Lemon said a couple of seasons ago about the danger of the puffy coats people wear during this time:
“You can do some serious subway flirting before you realize the guy is homeless.”
And I’m pretty sure I earned the nickname of “Manna” from Mike Maniaci after he ate my pudding. I’m sure the moment was something like this:
I love Ireland and I love writing notes. I’ve always wanted to send a message in a bottle and see where it would go, who would find it and how long it would take. But I’m fearful of creeps out there. And I’m afraid I would just be way too antsy and I don’t need that kind of anxiety. But if my bottle heads to Ireland?! Sign. Me. Up.
After a 16-month journey from Florida, a bottle finally landed on the coast of Ireland. A high school in Florida did this as an experiment to test ocean currents and the Gulf Stream flows. Totally cool. Though I fear if Oakville did this, the bottle would not have fared well on the good ‘ole Mississippi.
Hanna (Non)Tana 