The Nomadic Puzzle Piece

Pregnancy, Ireland, a new job, and a car

2011-11-28T15:24:00.001-08:00

wow! So I don't write this blog often enough to just write about one thing apparently, or is it that so much tends to happen all at once for me? Nov 9th I landed in Ireland, 1 week and 1 day after accepting a contract with Spencer Stuart, located on the river Liffey, in Dublin's fair city...

For those that know me, this has been a long time coming. It predates my life in the states, and even my husband and when I met him. I left 7 or 8 years ago, to go finish my degree with every intention of returning immediately home. I have since pursued my career, and my husband, all the while hoping that my path would wend its way back to the sunny east coast of Ireland.

So, why would I let the fact that I was 34 weeks pregnant at the time of a job offer stop something so momentous? I couldn't right? ;)

Thanks to the support of my husband, and a newfound calm focus, I am now working at my new role, for 2.5 weeks just trying to do what I can to continue to do a good job, and to survive these last few weeks of pregnancy.

Getting established here has certainly had its ups and downs, getting a bank account here apparently requires that you are already paying bills (at least 2 of them) which is IMPOSSIBLE when you are just starting out, but this rule has been around for aeons apparently, and there is no reasonable solution to this problem, leaving me unpaid as at this time... tsk tsk.

The plus side is I have just purchased a car, and gotten car insurance, and I have been attending regular prenatal checkups (3 to be exact) having slid right into the public medical system here in Ireland. This is while managing to maintain a semblance of the birth plan we had been working towards for the previous months of pregnancy, no mean feat, and one which baffles just about everyone I meet here.

It's all a bit of a blur, as you can tell from my blurry writing style, just touching on each subject at a high level. Most people who know me know the basic details anyway... but I really wanted to write about pregnancy in general.

SO far Saoirse is a mover and a shaker, not much of a kicker (a lover not a fighter) but definitely into standing on her head (she has been head down in the correct position all pregnancy) standing on the left wall of my abdomen, and stretching and rolling about. She moves a lot in the evenings, and has begun to get the hiccups at least once if not twice a day, lasting around an hour or more. It's getting more uncomfortable with each passing week, the stretching of my skin, although no obvious stretch marks yet (touch wood) is very uncomfortable, my belly button feels stretched and sore a lot, and my belly is generally extremely firm all around. I feel like there is a basketball being inflated in there with no regard for my skin and if it will accomodate, however it continues to, so that is a relief. This is of course when she is not moving. When she is moving, its a show to watch, usually feet are seen to push out bottom left abdomen near the top of my hip bone, and butt pushing simultaneously out the upper right of my abdomen. SO she is kinda doing yoga, downward dog to be exact. I do get what I think are knees, sharply pushed upwards at times but thats the extent of it. Sometimes, when the sudden overwhelming urge to pee comes over my I can tell it's because her hands and head are moving way down low, and she doesn't like anything that even remotely restricts the bottom of my belly... I am down to about 3 pairs of pants, but only one pair is remotely comfortable.

Husband and I are managing as usual to do long distance with grace. It's really hard for me to be away from him, even though we aren't soft and fuzzy with each other like I would like at times, I still have an incurable craving just to talk or be with him. I am actually online waiting for him to log in, it's 11:48pm, and he has finally logged on and I can go now and get my 'fix' before I drop off. I am staying with my sister, fiancee and their baby, my godson Kyle, so please pray he sleeps at least until 6 that would certainly be an improvement, and that we can figure out why he hates sleeping so much, he fights it so much... Oh and pray for his pain, as he is teething at the moment, and can't seem to get relief.

Peace and Love,

Sarah

Thoughts on cord blood banking

2011-09-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

I was curious about cord blood banking and felt what could possibly be bad about collecting this blood anyway... my main concern was cost both up front and on going, as well as could it even be done in a birth center?

The benefits touted by the companies selling this service, as well as sci fi movies I have seen and medical rumours we hear, I thought hey, saving her own stem cells make sense! What an amazing way to provide a biological safety net for her if she ever were to need to, I don't know, grow a new kidney or got a disease that we could give the means to cure!

Well I am learning very quickly, by NOT looking at the cord blood banking companies themselves but midwives and other sources about some of the downsides that I hadn't even thought of.

I started with this blog http://midwifethinking.com/2011/02/10/cord-blood-collection-confessions-of-a-vampire-midwife/ . She is a lady who used to collect this blood for hospitals and asked women to donate the blood to public stem cell banks, I was surprised to learn of just how much blood it deprives a newborn infant of! It far outweighs what you are allowed to take from a child at any other point in their life, and made me doubly glad that we are going the natural route, and not clamping the cord but rather waiting until after the placenta is delivered. This will maximize the blood and oxygen transfer and generally give our little girl the best start in life. Without that blood she would be deprived of a large amount of her blood volume, that doesn't sound like the way to go.

There was a link from that blog to a full blown medical article.

http://www.ingentaconnect.com/search/download;jsessionid=4t5e38eg7k9nh.alice?pub=infobike%3a%2f%2fspringer%2fjpe%2f2011%2f00000020%2f00000001%2fart00008&mimetype=text%2fhtml

Needless to say I have decided that this is not for us. I have since found out that there is an extremely slim chance if any at all that the blood could be preserved correctly, be needed and available by the right person in the family let alone the child herself. The risks and costs far outweigh the benefits with no guarantee that the cells could even be viable or useful if she or anyone else in the family were to need them.

July 28 2011 - Or The most eventful day - OR - Citizenship and Gender

2011-07-29T07:41:00.000-07:00

So my day started at 6:10 with Ace of Base, I saw the sign. kinda strange and wonderful and it made the day feel even more momentous.

We then drove to the courthouse for 7:30 so I could swear allegiance to the USA and be done with the long expensive journey that is the immigration process. The courthouse was full, and there were 60 people becoming citizens at this time in Nashville, represented by 32 different nationalities. It took an extremely long time though. They called name after name, I think I was 48th or something, all I know is there were 7 rows of people, and I was second to last on the sixth row.

Jason and I sat in the back, and waited for over an hour for my name to be called, each time a name was called that person had to go up and meet with the USCIS representative and get our paperwork checked and our green card taken, and we filled in our 'new' names on the naturalization certificate. X 57.

We then had to wait for the judge and all introduce ourselves, name and country.

At last!

So believe me it took a while. Of course I officially changed my name yesterday too, so my new name is Sarah Christina Keogh Goforth. I could'nt drop the Christina, it's been with me too long, and to be honest, when we do 'overs' in Irish dancing to get longer hang time we have to try to say our full names... what can I say, I want GORGEOUS overs ;)

Ok so then we rushed home, I was just in time for my next meeting, and so the work day carried on. I got lots of congratulations on becoming a citizen which was wonderful, from my colleagues at my managers notification of my team of my big citzenship news.

But the day was just getting started. I ate lunch, did a little more work and soon enough it was time for our ultrasound. Jason had not eaten lunch and all he could think about was Taco's. He made me PROMISE not to get mad if I wanted a post reaction to the baby's gender and all he could say was 'burrito'. I promised I would not get mad, I know this stuff overwhelms him :)

So we get there and go in quickly enough... and the ultrasound was supposed to capture a lot of different measurements for the midwife, baby's vital organs, so it wasn't just a peep show for us to find out what we were having. It was so nerve wracking let me tell you! This is Skywalkers little face.

Baby Face

As all baby's meaurements were normal we started feeling better about everything, but unfortunately 'skywalker' would not open his/her legs at all! We came back to it multiple times. We also tried to do the 3d imaging but baby's hands and arms, both of them, were covering the face, and so we were out of luck.

These are baby's hands in front of the face

More hands in front of face ;)

Eventually with a bit of jiggling and scanning with me on either side and back on my back 3 times or so little baby goforth finally gave us a look. So we are pleased to announce that it's a

GIRL! This is so exciting and momentous and even trumps becoming a citizen of the USA. Sorry America, family first! The amniotic fluid was a bit low, but we will get a scan again in 3 weeks to make sure thats on track.

Thanks to everyone who was waiting for the news and it's so exciting to share it with you. The baby shower will be September 24th, which is the day of Jason's sisters birthday... and also, big shout out to my brother Jason, whose birthday it was on my big momentous day.

Nothing but good news... but man were we ever tired when we got home. We did get those burritos for Jason after all btw, and went home to call the parents and pass out :)

Knitting Sexy - and a work/life balance

2011-07-13T13:11:00.000-07:00

This is how I feel on the inside ;) Thank you second trimester 'cravings'/Jason being gone for 5 weeks (sarcasm). Looking forward to him getting home.

Now onto the work/life balance aspect as represented in the title by the word 'knitting', and less of the innuendo'. I clicked through on this link (which is where I got the picture) and got all inspired to knit again and remembered that when I thought about my future pregnant self (now a current reality) I imagined myself knitting, and reading about being a mum (generally preparing), listening to music strapped to my belly for baby, and you know just generally preparing for motherhood and labor and delivery.

I imagined myself at work too, a little embarassed about my belly and how unreal that would feel. In my mind it would still be me without all this hormonal chaos, but in fact I am kinda halfway in between being who I was who I am going to be (a mum) and the life I am going to live. Certainly disrupted, and certainly not all my own, because that is already happening, but also the joy, excitement, and all the possibility it will bring.

So I am in a chrysalis mode right now, and it's a good thing, but the transition is mostly difficult at this stage, awkward to deal with alone, and I am learning a few things.

I need to relax more and focus on being the pregnant person I wanted to be, because the vision I had of what I wanted to do and be does matter, and the only person hurting because I am not doing it, is me and baby. So more knitting, and decluttering and putting away of the clothes that no longer fit.

I am having to be more realistic at work too which is difficult. My first instinct is always and has, up until recently been, 'I can do that!' and I immediately sign up, but the reality is it leads to working every weekend til late, and some evenings, keeping up with commitments I made possibly rashly. Add to that the regular 'being an adult stuff' (dealing with phone companies and tenant issues), and dishes sitting around in the kitchen for WAY too long, and WAY too many for 1 and a bit persons and you get a bit of an overwhelming situation that it's hard to imagine anyone being able to help with.

So for my work life balance/sanity, I am going to live as I mean to a little more each day, and that means working as hard I as I can during the work day, setting goals and timelines for each task and really doing only what I can within the timeline because I have to move onto something else I promised tomorrow. That should free up my evenings and weekends substantially. Lets face it, I am much more tired than usual atm and the stress of working so much has not been good for me thus far or for my long distance relationship with my gorgeous hubby.

I am also trying to subscribe to the happiness project edict of 1 shelf at a time, of cleaning and organizing, swapping out my clothes, and getting enough rest. I am not going to 'commit' to more goals in the personal realm such as more knitting and exercise etc, because that will just create further stress, but I will say that 'soon' I will be knitting and dancing, reading and feeling good about my progress at work and around the house. That's it for my lofty goals until I have the baby. Persistent, one step at a time, 'stress less' and 'enjoy more' attitude daily.

BTW upcoming events milestones are for July 28, we find out sex of the baby, and I get to become a US citizen.

Skywalker/Little Dancer

2011-06-30T19:26:00.000-07:00

I am 15 weeks pregnant and weigh 11 lb's more than I did before I got pregnant! This blog has a few cobwebs in it that I have to clean out because I want to share my progress through pregnancy with family and friends overseas, as well as hopefully others in the same boat as me. I follow a few mommy blogs, which are all really interesting but to be honest adjusting to the thoughts of kids is surreal enough and I wanted to capture all of it and hopefully get some feedback on what being pregnant meant to those that read this also.

So we have had 2 scans, and my original due date based on actual date of conception was pushed out from Dec 11 to Dec 20th, so it is looking very likely that we are having a Christmas baby, great for me, sucks for baby.

I was in Ireland and visiting family and friends and even doing a bit of travelling through Europe for a week with my little sister and all the while unbeknownst to me, beginning to grow my very first baby. Through a bit of luck and fate I got to visit with my best friend in Birmingham right before I got back to the US, at which point I was 5 days late on my period. Thanks to coming off of birth control, and using family planning method (or the timing method of birth control) I have known exactly when my period was due.

I wasn't sure I was ready to take a pregnancy test but J was too excited about it and sang "I think you're pregnant' and made me take tests, I swear it she made me do it. Well the lines were fuzzy, and inconclusive, but it started the idea of you tingling in the back of my mind. I decided to let Husband know that I was late, but we would take a test when I got back to know for sure.

I told my mum, dad and sister, (who had just given birth) that I was getting a fuzzy line on a PG test and that I was late, mostly because I didn't know when I would see them again, and I wanted to tell them in person. I was glad I did, and when H picked me up from the airport he asked me if I wanted to get a test, I wanted to but also wanted to know how he was reacting to all of this. Well after the 3rd suggestion after we got home from him of 'do you want me to go and get a test' and me responding 'do you want to go get the test?' I finally said go get the test from Walmart, so at 11pm on the night I got back from Europe we got a clear 'pregnant' on the digital screen of the PG test.

H and I took a while to let it sink in to be honest, not to say we werent happy about it, because I think deep down we both really were, but just to bask in the surrealness of it, us, as parents, surely not! could it be?

That feeling has burned slowly out and I am still experiencing some of the afterglow of it, it has not totally worn off, some days it feels real and others, I just wonder if feeling the movement will really be the start of the belief. The ultrasounds were both wonderful, seeing the heartbeat on the screen, watching you go from 3 cm to 5.7 in 2 weeks was surreal, and when you got up and walked around in my belly and reacted to the shaking and jiggling of the ultrasound tech it was an extremely profound and touching moment. H later wrote about how it made him feel, and even though I don't get the responses when I need to see them *H likes to ponder stuff, I got what I needed in that letter, along with a name for our bump, dubbed skywalker from here on out, because skywalker got up and skywalked in the middle of my womb. It could be dancing or moonwalking, but in the end skywalker really works for us, because we don't know if its a boy or girl, and doncha know but it could be a luke or a leia so that works out great too!

Look forward to more updates, and here is the 'skywalking shot', sorry we don't have the video...

Upcoming Performance - Celtic Rhythms on Fire

2011-02-14T13:10:00.000-08:00

I am getting ready for our upcoming show, celtic rhythms on fire, Nashville Irish Step Dancers on Facebook will have all the info, as well as http://www.nashvilleirishstepdancers.com/.

I will be singing 2 solo numbers, but have to decide between 3 possibles, and performing in another with harmonies for amazing grace.

I am dancing in 4 numbers, all soft shoe, and the preparations are well underway, a drowsy maggie reel, Lord of the Dance soft shoe, a traditional Jig, and a Ceili performance to Carmen-the lords prayer.

The three possible solo numbers to be narrowed down are shown below as done by others, this is a male sung version by clannad of Teir abhaile Riu

The second is is a Brid Og Ni Bhaile

and the third is Siul A Riun

I am probably going to do the second and third option, because they are more substantial and one is new for the crof show. Any votes for these?

I also need to sell tickets for the show, it is going to be spectacular, with the Celts, and some amazing hard working young Irish Dancers, they are all champions to me.

Ruby Red Valentine's Delight

2011-02-14T12:37:00.000-08:00

These shoes are DROOL worthy... I would much rather get these on valentine's day than any roses or chocolate.

Sometimes you have to have a pair of va-va voom red lipstick matching, siren heels to get your blood flowing

Tha' Shiz-Knit: How to be Alone

2010-11-24T14:19:00.000-08:00

Tha' Shiz-Knit: How to be Alone:

This is a link to a video that is beautiful and soothing. I had just finished reading an article on songwriting and how to get into the flow, and the two combined make me want to sit down, stretch, and write a song... I never feel the urge to be alone, but sometimes when I am, when I get to be a nomad and silently observe another way of living and being, like when I visited Rome, and like I hope to still do a bit more of one day soon, I find, it can be nice.

Heatwave - A Book Review

2010-11-14T14:19:00.001-08:00

I don't usually read this kind of book, murder mystery, that kind of thing. This read a lot like an episode of the tv series, but I remember thinking as I read it that this was the original or quintessential of the tv series, or maybe it was written after the series came out, to be honest? I don't know. All I can say is I think it is a fun read, really enjoyed it, and like R. Morgenstern, is written by a fictitious character. Books can come from anywhere really, like a song... I enjoyed this one :)

http://www.shelfari.com/books/12118681/Heat-Wave

Wedding Pictures

2010-08-27T14:23:00.000-07:00

For all of those people asking for wedding pictures, especially those not on facebook, this is a link to the place on Kodak that photos can be viewed, and printed anywhere you are in the world.

Just click on the link

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=946583661408%3A859626317&sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-Sharee

Or this for facebook
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=471702&id=632800531&l=946f561e7d

If you want to print you can buy them from the top, click buy print, then you have to join, you get 50 prints for free, and there are all sorts of things you can do with the pics, bracelets, mugs, collage, you don't just have to go for wallets or 4x6's

The only problem is its $10 to ship out of the US so you might want to shoot me an email with the ones you want to print, and I can send you the big version of the file, and you can put it on an sd card or a CD, and bring it or send it to the camera shop near you.

It's Showtime

2010-05-15T01:31:00.000-07:00

It's 3:15 am and we are finally packed and ready to go. I THINK i have everything, so cross your fingers for me.

We will fly out from Nashville at 11:30am today, and land in Ireland Delta flight 176, supposed to arrive 8:30am.

We are going to have such an amazing time, all the planning and worrying is over now, i have done all I can, and everyone that helped me get my dress and other stuff done, thank you thank you thank you!

I will post pics of us and the castle as soon as I can,

Signing off now :)

xx

Sarah

Wedding Update - Sunday 23rd

2010-05-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

Sunday is the day after our wedding, and we are going to carrickmacross to listen to Irish music, and sing and maybe dance. Kinda like an after party.

I know there were a few guests that wanted to spend more time in Dublin on this trip however, and I was looking into a way that people could do that without hiring a car,

http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1228752384-177.pdf

This is a bus timetable, for buses that go to dublin from Carrickmacross, read it carefully if you are considering using it, or better yet, print it, so if you want to use it, you can just whip out your timetable. Neat right?

For those coming on the backpacking tour, I would recommend you research the bus station in Dublin and how close it is to the paddywagon hostel, cos thats where our tour departs from before it comes up to the castle to pick us all up, on Monday morning, you could stay there Sunday night and have a whole day wandering the city.

Jason and I will be doing the get together in Carrickmacross with the rest of the onstayers, but the choice of what to do on the Sunday 23rd is up to you...

New Skype Number

2010-04-28T15:19:00.000-07:00

I have a skype 'landline' now, you can either call me from your computer or skype account by clicking the skype me icon in the top right of this blog, or you can call our new number, 615 823 2123, The great news wherever we are online we can access this number, so leave us a voice message if it doesn't work.

Thats all for now!

Sarah

End of April 3 weeks to go

2010-04-25T21:08:00.000-07:00

3 weeks til we leave, the flowers lady never got back to me about the aisle runners, the preacher never emailed us our vows so I can't call our priest yet, I haven't told the band what song we are going to dance to because we DONT KNOW yet, and the bridesmaids dresses don't fit (Shriek!!!) and I haven't tried on my dress yet. BUT, at least I have a florist now, I am seeing the dress maker tomorrow, and, ummmm, 'don't worry, about a thing... cos every little thing, gonna be alright'... RIGHT????

Yeah of course! Work is crazy, but I used to say I am better under pressure, it's time to put my money where my mouth is (speaking of which I have to figure out how much more this wedding is going to cost... hmmm, have to make a list for my mum to know who to pay, and how much to give them, and figure out if I give her cash or checks, somehow in euros... but I DIGRESS) As you can see it's easy to get distracted, the to do list gets ever smaller, some items are still multiplying, but my status on some things is actually COMPLETE now, so for that I am grateful.

I have the lingerie, some interesting shoes/boots, I am getting microdermabrasion done at Magnolia salon in East Nashville, and they are great, so all in all some of this planning lark can be fun. You know what else was fun? Going through my calendar for the 5 weeks that I will be away, and removing everything (this is my work calendar I am talking about) all of my meetings, appts, lessons, G-O-N-E (gee oh enn eeh), I have started adding appts for the first week, henceforth to be known as the 'Irish Wedding Week'. I am meeting with the florist on my birthday, Tuesday the 18th, and this is a definite freak out birthday for me, 28 is going too far, like. In all seriousness now, this kind of craziness has to stop.

So that was a FRACTIOUS post, but hopefully more light hearted than the militant itineraries, perhaps a little insight into the manic craziness that is my life right now.

Love!

Sarah

Judith, the Irish Foodie: Pan Seared Salmon & Dubliner Cheese Potato Bread

2010-04-23T13:32:00.000-07:00

Judith, the Irish Foodie: Pan Seared Salmon & Dubliner Cheese Potato Bread

This looks delicious!

Transportation RSVP Required

2010-04-11T21:35:00.000-07:00

Hiya Everyone! I know it seems a little soon after the last post, with the long update with the itinerary, but this one is around transport.

Basically we need to know what you need, so that no-one gets stranded, lost etc.

Friday 21st of May: First of all, big shout out to my sis, this will be her 19th birthday.

Transport will be departing Friday morning at 11-12. We are planning on picking people up at Blooms Hotel from downtown Dublin. We are then going to pick up the men, after their 'quiet' Thurs night drinks, fresh from their trip to Amsterdam . They will be staying depending on numbers, at Bewleys Hotel.

These will be the 2 pickup points on the Friday 21st for Transport to the castle.

For anyone arriving at the airport on Friday, and still needs transport to the castle, please get a cab to Bewleys Hotel or see if you can ride the hotel shuttle (around 10 euro for the cab ride, the shuttle might be free :)

Our bus will leave Bewleys Hotel on Friday 21st at 12:30pm for the castle. This is in plenty of time for any flights from the US arriving that day. Let me know asap if you will be landing later than this, and require transport, we might be able to do a later pickup.

WE NEED an RSVP for this transport, because we dont know how big the bus needs to be, ranging from a large van, to a full bus, we just don't know, so please let us know.

PADDYWAGON is picking up those who are going on this tour on Monday Morning. If you need or were counting on transport on Sunday for those not accompanying us, or need to get back to the airport, we need to know this too.

SO EVERYONE who will be travelling on either Friday to the Castle, or need transport on SUNDAY please RSVP HERE or on Facebook publicly or privately. We need to know this at the latest, by April the 18th. Anyone who has not let us know by then we cannot guarantee space to. Thanks for reading.

Gur a mile maith agat! (a thousand thanks!)

Sarah and Jason

Pretty Clever

2010-04-08T18:27:00.000-07:00

This is a blog I follow with great pleasure. This post is definitely because of a competition to win gorgeous NZ products, but its also because I love watching the crazy pretty clever things that the writer finds. The posts are short, to the point, (unlike mine) and most make me say, OOh! That is soo pretty! I want! So if you came here to find out about my wedding in a castle in Ireland, and want daily inspiration without much effort you should follow pretty clever, cos she is great! Happy Birthday Pretty Clever!

Planning Update

2010-04-08T15:01:00.000-07:00

So the wedding planning is taking on an aura of slight panic coupled with thrills as some stuff gets done, and excitement as I realize this is not some fantasy, but will be reality VERY soon :)

The Bridesmaids dresses they have all been delivered, and they are a champagne colour, very beautiful, long and flowy, but spaghetti strap, and empire bust. The sizes are off girls so don't be worried when it gets there and its a much bigger number than you are used to seeing, i had to go up a size to put it on too, so that just means they are smaller fitting, not that I have put on 8 pounds somewhere along the way... ahem!'

The Groomsmen have big white flowy 'Wesley'esque' Shirts. They are very authentic and the men will all look the part. The pants, billow out and come back in below the knees, with lace-up's to the ankles, with medieval type soft boots for over top. We are using the same accent colors as the bridesmaids for belts on the men with a beautiful celtic belt buckle to finish the look. They will all have yellow roses in their lapels.

Hmm did I mention the rings arrived too? They are gorgeous, I will have to come back and put pics of some of this stuff, the dresses when they are done, etc.

The embroidery is partway done, and my dress is the only thing still being worked on. We have still to pick our song and have to finalize numbers but we are pretty much set.

Wedding and Travel in Ireland May 18th - 30th 2010

2010-04-03T14:12:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone, Thanks for tuning in again. This is an update and a loose itinerary all in one for those of you meeting us in Ireland. Not only are you honouring us with your presence on the most special day of our lives but you are going to have a kick-ass holiday too. So here's the lineup. Included is all the details and instructions on how to book the tour and accomodation and prices.

Tuesday May 18th (My birthday) - Jason and a few daring lads will be departing for 2 days to Amsterdam. He has not booked his flights but Tues to Thurs are by far the cheapest.

Aer Lingus does direct flights and has great deals. So if you're interested in going contact Jason on facebook or jmgo4th@aol.com, and just let him know, he isn't planning on leaving until later on the Tuesday so if you were planning on arriving that day, you would easily have time. Talk to Jason for more details.

Thursday May 20th - Most people seem to be arriving that day from all over the world, I will need your itineraries if I am to meet you and make sure you get to where you are going, so please email me at sarahkeogh18@googlemail.com and I will make sure I am there or that you know what to do to.

Currently the plan is for me to take those attending the bachelorette or hens party women on the PaddyWagon Tours Shuttle downtown, and get our stuff and check in. We will have the day to nap or explore Dublin, the choice is up to you. If there is anything in Dublin you really want to do/see during that day let me know, and I will make it happen.

We will be staying at Blooms, the rooms are twin, triple, and quad, so please call and book if you have enough people to fill your room.

The price for sharing is approx 35 euro, which is a great deal and includes breakfast. If you want to share to get the cheap price, but don't know who you will share with contact me directly or through the facebook invite page, and we will pair you up with people.

To book Blooms for the bachelorette, please call and say you are calling for Sarah Keogh's Bachelorette/Hens Night. They won't charge your card until you get there.

Blooms Hotel Anglesea Street
Temple Bar
Dublin 2.

Tel: + 353 1 671 5622
Fax: + 353 1 671 5997

ROOMS will be released from April 22nd so book before then to get the deal.

Cabra Castle Accomodation: call before 12noon central US standard time

Tel: + 353 42 966 7030- if you haven't already please call this number to book your room. Wedding rates are 110-150 for sharing (per room b&b) or 80 for a single. We are staying Friday through Sunday Night (departing Monday Morning).

Friday May 21st (The Day Before the Wedding)

Some people are landing on this day. Again, please forward your itineraries so you don't get lost in the shuffle. The castle is an hour north of the airport and we want to make sure get there ok.

4pm - Informal Get Together this is an opportunity for people to meet and hang out in the residents bar of the castle. We will be there for an hour, before the wedding party and immediate family are involved in rehearsal activities for the wedding the next day.

5pm - Wedding Rehearsal - Wedding Party all need to attend
We will be rehearsing on the lawn for an hour or so, and we need to make sure priest, attendants, groomsmen and planner, are all on the same page and know how its going to happen on Saturday.

6pm - Rehearsal Dinner - Dressy/Casual
This is hosted by Jason's mom, and includes dinner for all in the bridal party, including their partners. This is where we all get to know one another talk about the big day, and perhaps, tell stories about the bride and groom.

Saturday May 22nd - The Wedding
We will be holding the ceremony at 2:30 on the front lawn of the castle. If you are in the party please attend 30 minutes in advance. The reception dinner will commence at 5:30 and the party won't stop then until the wee hours of the morning, 4am or so, the rest is a surprise.

Sunday May 23rd - The after 'party'.
We will be hanging out then next day, and going to the local village to hopefully hear some traditional Irish Music, probably later in the afternoon, to give people time to recover from the wedding and explore the grounds. You do not have to stay in the castle that night and if you can find accomodation in the town of kingscourt or carrickmacross, then taxis are cheap and this might be a cheaper option than the castle, then again it might not.

Monday May 24th - PaddyWagon Tour Departs
They are picking us up from the front of the castle at 8:30am. See this link for more info about the tour.
Prices are 129 Pounds for tour ending on Thursday May 27th, where you would get off in Galway and ride the www.citylink.ie bus that can take you back to Dublin city center, or the airport.
Price for 6 day is 295 pounds.
So far we have 18 interested in touring with us.
IF YOU ARE DOING THE 6 DAY please book the regular 6 day tour on the website, departing on May 24th.

IF YOU ARE DOING THE 3 DAY Call +353 1 8230822 (if you are in america, + means 011, anywhere else, dial 001) and book for the private tour departing May 24th they already have your name as an interested party, so tell them and you will get the 129 pound price. This price refers to hostel accomodation only, if you want Bed&Breakfast please specify on the phone.

The 6 day tour ends on the Saturday, including a lot of Dublin on that last day. There are really no baggage restrictions, they operator seems to be really cool. The first 3 days we will have our OWN BUS, then the 6 dayers will transfer to the regular bus with other backpackers, because there are fewer of them.

Saturday May 29th Last Night We will spend today in Dublin, and the night in the Paddy wagon hostel, with a free airport shuttle the next day/morning to make sure you get home.

Any other questions please post below.

This is going to be a stunning trip make sure you look at the 6 day all Ireland on their website to see all the amazing activities, you will not just be sitting on a bus, we promise!

March - Wedding Planning and Advice

2010-03-04T12:09:00.000-08:00

So we are making progress, doggedly, determinedly, a little dazedly, but still, getting there.

I made a list because I was worried the details were all falling out of my brain like a seive, I went through all the wedding planning 'Do's and Dont's' and what I should have done by now. Did you know, that the advice for when you plan your honeymoon is to book it is at least 9 months out?

I'm not freaking out (apart from freaky wedding dreams) because I have done 14 things in 14 days, and have addressed all the major areas, like dresses, bands, priest, menu's.

Gift Registry - We are registered for our honeymoon mostly because we are travelling to get married, and because we can't bring home toasters and plates from Ireland. I am building a list of interesting things people can get for us on our honeymoon, dinner in Athens, spending money in the market at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, that kind of thing. We think that makes it a little more personal than just money in a card, we want our guests to know what memories they are helping us make with their gift.

Bachelorette's/Hen's- I have narrowed it down, but not enough, there were 46 women after I halved the list and made it just people I wanted there, it's just a lot of people. hmm, what to do? It is on Thursday May 20th, Temple Bar, Mardi Gras Theme, with games early on, and debauchery late.

Band - We have booked Santoria and they are great, 3 female singers, 2 male and a sax player, along with a full band and lights. It's going to be amazing, 7000w speakers and PA system. DONE :p

Dresses - Bridesmaids Dresses are bought, and ordered. They will arrive early april at the latest, and my dressmaker is going to sew on some finishing touches before they get sent out the last week of April, so bridesmaids, be ready first week of May to try them on and possibly get them altered, for height size etc.

Menu - We have mostly decided on our menu, 5 courses, with appetizer, soup, main, dessert, and tea/coffee + chocolate mints. Still have to decide what color chocolate fountain though...

Rings - We have bought our rings, this is his and this is mine.

So yeah, lots of progress, and this month, embroidery, cake, ceremony, music, final invitations.

Honeymoon Registry

2010-02-15T14:40:00.000-08:00

We have chosen to register for our honeymoon rather than for household or personal gifts that may need to be carried back to the USA.

If you would like to learn more about it, or give us a wedding gift please go to this link and use the give feature below the map. http://www.travelersjoy.com/members/sarahandjasongoforth/

We appreciate all of the family and friends that are making the trip to see us celebrate, any gifts are optional and greatly appreciated, and we can't wait to celebrate with you.

2010-02-15T14:33:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

if you are checking in here to see the latest on flights, just to let you know, we haven't booked ours yet. We got a great deal last year at the end of Feb and are hanging out to check.

We are using Delta e-savers, US Airways, Aerlingus predominantly, as they have great deals usually as the time gets on. Please check on their respective pages, and also enter your dates into bing.com to see what you get.

If anyone has any questions or worries, just comment or send an email to sarahkeogh18@googlemail.com and I will happily answer or help you figure this out.

All the best!

Jan 31st 2010 Wedding Invitations Going Out

2010-02-01T14:31:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,
Thanks for your visit and support of our celebration. We can't wait to see you all there in May. I am just about to go to bed at 1:30 AM but I just had to finish getting everyones address or at least reach out to get it. We are addressing envelopes tomorrow night, and hoping to mail stuff early in the week of jan 18th. I will be updating registry info, accomodation options and travel options, and post wedding fun events, all in pages on this website, so keep checking in and I will keep you posted.
Love to you all! Shout out to my maid of honor, its your birthday today, so happy birthday Michelle :)

See you in 130 days

Sarah and Jason

2nd Wedding Planning Post, and Our New House

2010-02-01T14:29:00.000-08:00

2nd Wedding Planning Post

Why is it we seem to be doing everything out of order? Well we close on our first house on Friday and only have the utilities (power, gas and water) to organize before we can 'camp' overnight in the house on Friday night after we close.
I don't know what we are going to do with all that space, its more than double the space we have today, not even counting the strange 5 foot 11 room. We still have lots to do to move and because our kind landlords won't allow us out of our contract even 1 month early we will be taking our time to move in over the course of April to allow Jason to continue to study hard in his first semester as a graduate student.
Other than that we are still a little over obsessed with our dogs, they are great and we think they will love the new house too. So we have eloped, purchased a home and are planning our wedding? Anyone else think that might be a little out of order, hopefully we don't have any other out of order life events but life has been turbulent so far so will just keep embracing it and do it our way.
As far as wedding planning goes I have quotes from venues set up but I need to do more research, perhaps personal research? Maybe sooner rather than later? Sorry to be cryptic here but I'm sure you get where I'm going with that and if you do, I can't wait :)
We have asked a photographer and videographer to help out at the wedding and they both seem excited about it. The more the merrier, as long as your invited!
Lots of Love

Sarah & Jason

First Notice Wedding Planning

2010-02-01T14:26:00.000-08:00

This text was on my wedding web page when I first began it, and I did not want to lose any of the story of my planning from ages ago. This was written in the beginning of 2009 so this will not contain tips but will let you know how my planning went from start to finish.

Enjoy!

1st Planning Entry...

This is my first entry and I am currently concerned with addresses, names and emails, phone numbers and all other things guest list oriented. If you could leave a message on the guest book with your details I will be able to update your information.
my first priority is doing this, so if you want to be invited I will definitely need that information. I plan on sending out a save the date card or magnet so that people can keep it on their fridge and remember the day, with more formal invitations going out some other time.
The other thing i am working on is getting to know the lay of the land around the castle specifically where people will or can stay (especially for the folks that are coming for a week or so, and also for the people that are staying for the weekend).
there is a lot of things to do and i will add events but we will save that for the next entry, any ideas are welcome, just post to the guest book, and I will read the comments, i will only make the message public if it is a general well wishing comment otherwise use it as enquiries or ideas and i will keep them private.
So, first things first is to send me a message with your info, please forward the link to other family and friends too, and i will post pictures and link to better information soon, and thanks for visiting the site, I am planning on it being one of the most amazing and fun weeks of my life and hope you can join us for it!
Love Sarah and Jason

Flight Deals of the day

2010-01-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

So I am keeping an eye out for cheap flights from the US for the people trying to get from here to Ireland for the wedding in May

There is a pretty good deal from New York here but we will wait for something better from here, as the deals from here are about $900 or so, I will say that looking at the end of February for trips helped last year. I can only hope its the same this year :)

Keep Checking and I will keep posting when and if I see deals.

Julie/Julia - A Review

2010-01-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

I am reading this book quite fast, it is a 750 page slog through MtAoFC as she puts it (I was mildly irritated with this, because no matter how many times I made myself remember what the exact words this acronym refer to are, it slowed me down each and every time I came to it).

The book paints a human picture of a person, struggling with the meaninglessness, and the lack of special that this world so often hands out and calls 'your life', that she feels she must do something reckless, or she will forever be 'just a secretary'.

It is as a result of her husbands insistent prodding about going to culinary school, and stubborn avoidance of said cooking school, that she decides that she will cook her way through MtAoFC in one year. While moving in New York, and being broke, living in something that sounds very much like a hovel, but is somehow acceptable because its New York.

There are lots of funny and despairing, and 'how does she keep going' moments, all the while writing a blog and entertaining her readers, and entertaining me while entertaining them.

I am not finished yet (with the book that is), I will say that I expected more about actual Julia, as in Julia Child, however this book is worth the read and I am willing to lend, its an ebook lend so let me know if you are interested, you will learn more about food than you ever wished to know, all the while thinking your house really isn't that dirty, and isn't really that bad, and feeling really lucky you will never make aspic in your life, EVER. I am glad my interests revolve around dance, music, reading and wedding planning.

Invitations, Priests, Dresses and Bands OH My!

2010-01-24T19:16:00.001-08:00

Wedding planning... hmm adjectives to describe, hectic, all-consuming, fun, stressful, interesting.

We are registering for our honeymoon, and although I have not finished entering information about our exact plans, here is the place to go to learn more about it
View Our Honeymooon Registry

I have a dressmaker at last, Julie, she is wonderful, and is helping me to turn my visions into reality. Of course in case Jason reads this I can't go into too much detail about the dresses, but suffice to say, we are finally underway. We need to find a pattern that best fits my design, and we nearly have it, albeit, 3 patterns stuck together, but it will work. My dress is still desperately in need of a celtic embroiderer, anyone know anyone in Nashville? I hope to work with someone I know, but if this doesn't pan out, I will have to go farther afield.

On to the Invitations, we have done these ourselves, and 3 weekends later and solid evenings in front of a spreadsheet, with an amazing coworker/friend, sister in law, husbiancee and mother in law, we are nearly there. Bridget designed the logo for us, and we found a great font in old celtic style. Next were the instructions, which I agonized over, because there is so much to explain, however this is no problem now, with my blog here to provide ample detail to the masses. Last thing to do before sending the invitations is getting the rsvp cards printed, and get return postage printed and paid for. These will be sent this week.

On the band front, I have been agonizing,I can't hear the bands I have shortlisted on account of there being nothing on the internet from them, and not being in the same country to go and hear them play. My Maid of Honor Michelle, is going to see the one at the top end of our price range, Harlequin, these would be perfect, and I have heard these online, but they are a few hundred well out of our price range.

The next on the list is Hits List, they have a great looking set and can incorporate brass, its a 5 piece but can have up to 8, but they are at the upper end of price too, and they haven't got any reviews, or music online.

Next is Heart Beat. These are a 3 piece that my dad says are amazing, the guy seems really nice, but without hearing them with only 3 people in the band and without a drummer, I don't know if I can afford to shell out over a grand on something that won't do the job, even if this is the cheap end of bands in Ireland.

I got lucky at the Feis in Atl this weekend though, with the lady who judged the musical competition, Kathleen O'donaghue. Amazingly she is from Cavan, and married in the same castle we are, AND her brothers are in a band, its a 3 piece, but they all sing, and there is a drummer, so depending on price, I trust her judgement on quality, and they are called Evening Star.

So any ideas? What would you do about this? Any bands you know of?

More on the wedding planning, much more, including more on bands, planning the ceremony, and managing rsvps, in the next post on Wedding Planning.

Book Reviews

2010-01-24T18:52:00.001-08:00

It looks like all these books are religious, and while I call myself a christian, I am not sure I will spend a whole lotta time reviewing religious books, but in case they throw something else in, check in once in a while in case I do write a review :)

January Knitting

2010-01-24T17:47:00.000-08:00

So I have been remiss in my knitting, I have been very focussed on my wedding, and dancing, that there has been little room for my other pursuits. This was one of my new Years resolutions, btw, to avoid spinning my wheels and doing only what I can and get stuff actually achieved. So far I have had mixed results.

In order to come through though, to a commitment I made to myself I have to get something special knitted before my wedding, and that means starting ASAP. I also have a hat that was started before winter, with vague notions of completing it in time to need it, however it appears it will be fairly warm before I finish, unless I refocus on my knitting.

The hat btw was on hold due to a lack of yarn to finish, this I remedied tonight, and after getting wording just right on my RSVP's I am going to settle in for the night with the pattern and get it done while watching desperate housewives. This, and sending a copy of our passports to a priest, is ALL I will be doing, besides finishing this blog post.

Look for pictures in Feb of the finished product of the hat, and for more on Irish Dancing, and Wedding planning.

King O'Sullivan Feis ATL

2010-01-24T17:22:00.000-08:00

Hi,

So I am feeling very victorious in a little bit of an 'I don't deserve it' kinda way. I went to Atlanta on Friday, taking a half day off work, and entered a Feis, the last before our wedding.

In case you aren't aware, this word means an all things 'Irish' competition, but most especially, Irish step dancing. I have been dancing for 1 year and 3 months so far and have entered a total of 3 feis. This time I decided to enter the singing competition also, and so entered 4 events, 1 musical and 3 advanced beginner soft shoe dances. These were the reel, the slip jig and the light jig.

I was up against one girl in the singing, and 2 others in each of my dances the competition was few, but not easy.

I find it a strange feeling then to come home with 3 gold medals for dance and a first place trophy for singing, I could have worked harder for it, and I would feel more victorious if there had been more participants, however those I was up against did put up a fine showing, and so I am still proud of having stood out as the winner. The win would ordinarily mean I was ready for novice however there needs to be a total of 5 competitors for the win to matter, so all adult dancers, how about entering a feis or 2 huh?

In the vein of 'I can always work harder' and more in the vein of I wish I had, the results were still wonderful to get. Dana, with whom I have carpooled with to the last 2 feis, got all silver, and one gold, so as we discussed, I am her only hurdle, we are still friends though, safe to say :)and a little healthy competition didn't hurt anyone, next reel step, here I come.

This comes on the heels of a similar win at the last Atlanta feis (all golds in 4 dances) but I really enjoyed the singing portion of it this time. There were mostly fiddle players and another girl from our school Niamh, won the under 13 musical instrument with her rendition of a lively song called Christmas eve. The winner of the over 13 played a large wooden flute, which made the most beautiful sound, I have heard it before in Irish music but didn't know the instrument, but she did a great job, so it was really fun to listen to the few people that entered the music, although I wish there was more to it (i.e. more participants and audience) and that the whole event were more festive, than competitive. I sang a song in Gailge (Gaelic) called Teir abhaile Riu, which means, marry the piper, a song I had performed and may perform again in our dance schools yearly show, called Celtic Rhythms on Fire. It went down well, and I suppose the Irish really struck a chord, and got me the win with the judge.

New Technology - Not an early adopter

2009-12-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

This post is an addendum to my other regarding Google Wave and the Nook, but focusses on why I am not an early adopter usually, but why I am going to be one for Google Wave and the Barnes and Noble Nook.

I have a hard time getting excited about new technology, I do not consider myself an early adopter, despite my role as a usability professional, and my background in cutting edge technology production.

The process and end product of creating cutting edge technology from scratch seems to be fraught with limitations and guesswork. This applies not only to the technology used in creation, and the product itself, but lack of knowledge around potential marketplace desire for what is being produced. The first few releases are usually incredibly expensive, and they are only slight approximations of what they are intended to become, or to be used for.

Working for 2 GPS (Satnav) producers while GPS went from luxury consumer item (early adopters) to mainstream christmas gifts (and lower price brackets) showed me just how much extra goes into each subsequent release. The first few iterations are deliveries of limited products with only a goal of becoming what they were really designed for (version 8 might be the right one to buy?). I prefer to wait until the people creating these new and wonderful life changing experiences have had time and resources to refine and make the product more sophisticated, based off other people's complaints, before I bash my head against the proverbial brick wall of owning something straight out of someone's imagination, because nothing is ever as good in real life as it was in your imagination right?

Google Wave and the Nook

2009-12-16T08:42:00.001-08:00

Hi everybody,

I am trying out Google Wave, working out how it could fit into my life and figure out how it might be useful, at the moment, I am reserving judgement.

Coming across it though (and getting invited to try it) has inspired me to express my take on it as I use it and figure it out.

I am going to be on the 'first wave' of this because it feels momentous, such claims as 'replacing email' have fired me up and got me curious. I feel as though I have a professional due diligence to explore and monitor a possibly entirely new way of interacting, sharing real time typing information for example should be interesting. If the claims of replacing email are true, then this feels like exciting times for those working in User Experience.

I am also going to become a Nook newbie soon, I see that someone I was following just received hers, and I am very jealous, Barnes and Noble made out when I place my order that it wouldn't be available until the 18th, but I guess that's when it will be available to me, with a 2-3 day delivery, I am really looking forward to it. At the moment it is not available until Feb 1st for others looking to order it now, so I feel lucky mine will ship TODAY :)

I will be posting the 'out of box' experience, (as did the person who has already received hers, in my followed blogs section) and will attempt to use wave with my colleague to draw comparisons between my experience with the Nook, and hers with her Kindle.

Nook VS Kindle

I was not an early adopter with the Kindle, I struggled with the price tag and my need or (closer to the truth) desire for one over the past year. It was touch and go there but I held out, it seemed like too luxurious and too much 'just for me' to justify the cost. But now that I went for my nook, I would like to compare with the Kindle, side by side (perhaps my colleague will oblige?)

The reason I am taking the leap knowing what I know about the way cutting edge tech is developed (see 'New Technology' post), is that I trust google to get closer to their vision with their attitude and process, in their initial release than most ever achieve, and, well I am too excited about the nook to wait. They are late to market (as I feel I am because I held out on the Kindle for so long) I think they have had the opportunity to learn from others mistakes or ideas. Hopefully this will make for a piece of technology that I can love right out off the box, without the relationship problems of meeting a first generation piece of technology.

My Latest Dance Results

2009-11-23T21:38:00.000-08:00

(456) Keogh, Sarah

Nashville Irish Step Dancers, TN

901: Adult Beginner Reel
3 Competitors Danced

456 - 90.00 136 - 87.00 466 - 85.00

Reel- Very neat! nicely crossed feet

902: Adult Beginner Light Jig
3 Competitors Danced

1 90.00
456 - 90.00 466 - 86.00 136 - 84.00

Jig good cut eyes

903: Adult Beginner Slip Jig
3 Competitors Danced

456 - 86.00 466 - 82.00 136 - 80.00

Slip-Jig - nice toe points

903-SN: Adult Beginner Single Jig
4 Competitors Danced

456 - 100.00 136 - 75.00 466 - 65.00

Jig - good presentation

Irish Trip

2009-10-23T12:31:00.000-07:00

So we have got a final place and date for our wedding that we are planning next year. Check out the website for the castle and hotel. I went there on my first day back in Ireland with my dad, and we checked it out. It was great to see him get excited about all the possibilities and that in turn got me excited about the day.

I went back to Ireland for 5 days total, to visit with family and especially be there for the 59th anniversary of my paternal grandparents. I was due to arrive on the Friday however weather and air traffic control delays meant I had to leave the next day, and catch a bus to Atlanta rather than lose 2 days of the trip. This happened to me the last time too, and I was stuck at Gate b5 in Nashville for the 2nd time, waiting in a line, to see if someone could help me get to Ireland, yet again :(

The trip was great once I got there though especially the party, I got to meet so many great people I am related to without knowing it. One of those people was my great uncle Neddy, who is 88 years old, and who was in the Merchant Navy working in the Stoke holes, he had some great stories for me, and we danced together, It was a privilege to meet and get to know him a little.

My nan was overwhelmed by all the people who came to wish them well, I am sure she was more than disoriented but she looked like she had a great time too. It kinda brought her back to life a little, and she was dancing in between gasping for air. When it was time for her to go she didn't want to, so I got my great uncle Ned to buy me a drink (shamelessly) while he waited to be taken home by the same people waiting for my nan to want to leave. None of us wanted to leave so after the room closed down, we went into the bar and carried on the party. Everyone there managed to wrangle an invite to the after party for the wedding and it looks like a lot of people are very excited about it. there hasn't been a wedding in a while so I have a slight suspicion that many are going to make the most of it. A lot will make it a weekend.

I spent some time in Wicklow too, with my aunties and we had a great time, driving around the back arse country of wicklow in the rain and giant puddles, to buy hay for the horses, and watching transformers 2 with my youngest cousin.

I have to renew my green card I was reminded, at the Dublin airport, leaving through US customs.

It was over all too soon but I am looking forward to Christmas with Jason in Ireland, and showing him the venue. we have enough Delta vouchers that we may get free upgrades, along with almost free tickets. Not bad eh?

My First Feis, Irish Dancing Results

2009-09-21T21:23:00.001-07:00

(312) Keogh, Sarah

Nashville Irish Step Dancers, TN

300: Adult Beginner Reel
4 Competitors Danced

Overall	Mark	1st	2nd	3rd
2	76.00	301 - 77.00	312 - 76.00	260 - 75.00

Event	Adjudicator	Mark	Rank	Points	1st	2nd	3rd	Comments
Reel	Grace Ann Coyle	76.00	2		77.00	76.00	75.00T	Toes down 1st step, lively

301: Adult Beginner Lt Jig
4 Competitors Danced

Overall	Mark	1st	2nd	3rd
2	69.00	301 - 70.00	312 - 69.00	260 - 68.00

Event	Adjudicator	Mark	Rank	Points	1st	2nd	3rd	Comments
Lt Jig	Julia Bell	69.00	2		70.00	69.00	68.00T

302: Adult Beginner Slip Jig
3 Competitors Danced

Overall	Mark	1st	2nd	3rd
1	70.00	312 - 70.00	260 - 68.00	320 - 62.00

Event	Adjudicator	Mark	Rank	Points	1st	2nd	3rd	Comments
Slip-Jig	Julia Bell	70.00	1		70.00	68.00	62.00

303: Adult Beginner Single Jig
2 Competitors Danced

Overall	Points	1st	2nd	3rd
1	100.00	312 - 100.00	260 - 75.00

Event	Adjudicator	Mark	Rank	Points	1st	2nd	3rd	Comments
Single Jig	Grace Ann Coyle	76.00	1		76.00	74.00		nice

Humane Society, great video

2009-09-08T14:24:00.001-07:00

Usability for Business Analysts

2009-08-25T13:15:00.000-07:00

I thought this had some great visualizations of the interaction between different project teams, and around incorporating all tasks, not just our usability tasks.

This is a link to a great slideshow describing Usability for Business Analysts, its on LinkedIn, so you may need to sign in to linkedIn to see the slideshow.

Click here to see the slideshow

Goals at Work

2009-08-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

It's Goals Time at work, and I am having a hard time concentrating on these. For one I am nervous to promise too much, and for two, I want what I do to be useful, valuable, and not just a repeat of the same old same old.

It's tough trying to weigh up the monotony of the day to day, and just wanting to get through it some days, and truly making a difference, even if it means sticking out like a sore thumb. Am I wrong in thinking I am the only one experiencing this internal debate? Some people would advise me to just plough on, and others, would say keep shooting for the stars. I want to listen to the latter, but the flow of the stream as it were is firmly dragging me in the direction of the former. So I stand in the middle of the stream, getting increasingly frazzled, and am distracted.

Of course my personality and 'who I am' will only allow me to shoot for the stars, its the vague fuzziness of that, and translating this into concrete promises that I am about to make to the firm that has me nervous.

Am I overthinking this?

I read banned books

2009-08-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

I just added a bunch of 'banned' books to my shelf below, check out the one's I plan to read to learn more.

I think the 'caged virgin' as a book I am currently reading would count as 'banned' considering she is receiving death threats for what she wrote.

Most of the reasons that books were banned were religious objections, which I find outrageous, not suprising but still outrageous. alice in wonderland? c'mon. Thanks to 'scuffedslippers' for getting this idea first and for letting me steal it.

Race for the cure!

2009-07-31T10:14:00.000-07:00

So I am racing for the cure. I am really motivated and have so far raised $96 including my entrance fee into the race of $35.

I am hoping more people will click through and sponsor my efforts, if I can reach my goal of $300 I will post pics of my attempt here on my blog so wish me luck!

My acheivements are listed below. I will continue to blog about my progress, I have some serious fitness goals to reach if I am going to do this properly, but Irish dancing should help raise my overall fitness levels, and I need to go for a run every now and then also presumably. Thanks to those who have already sponsored me or pledged a donation, your support is appreciated and is going to a good cause!

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2009greaternashvilleraceforthecure.kintera.org

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Useful if you work or live in a culturally diverse space

2009-07-24T11:35:00.000-07:00

I just ran this by an HR person at my work and I am not sure if this link is culturally insensitive but has anyone else had the issue of not knowing a persons gender from their name because it is from a culture other than their own?
I found this great tool http://www.indianhindunames.com/find-gender-from-names.htm

A tool like this couldn't work in English, and I am sure every language has its exceptions, that are unisex, but I needed this to work on demographics for a study I performed where all I had was a name.
I think its useful... what do you think?

Our 2 Year Anniversary

2009-07-22T09:44:00.001-07:00

Our 2 Year Anniversary is today, and we are planning our wedding. Seems a bit weird? As Jon McLaughlin would say, in answer to how I got here, is "don't ask me, the path I took is not exactly by the book".

We are planning on eating at Sitar, my favorite restaurant in Nashville. Jason is looking into a trip to see U2 in North Carolina some weekend in October and My best friend asked me to be Maid of Honor. Its been a busy day so far...

Just for our anniversary, I will say a few things about my 'husbiancee'.

He sleeps a lot, but can work harder than any man I know.
He gets easily discouraged, but has lofty and worthy ideals.
He is wicked and mischievous but likes the path of least resistance too
Our time together has sometimes felt like craggy cliffs in a storm
and sometimes like jumping off that cliff into the wild exhilharating surf.

We are a complicated pair, and this could be a dangerous liaison but I'm still hanging
on for the ride, cos I prefer comfortable and adventurous and he is both.

If you see this honey this is your wicked tribute, happy anniversary :)

Eat, Pray, Love

2009-06-16T09:03:00.000-07:00

So this is a book written by Elizabeth Gilbert, this was #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list, and this status in my humble opinion, is well deserved.

Eat, Pray, Love is divided into 3 sections, generally about, eating, praying and loving, and there is so much depth and soul baring I had a really hard time putting it down, so much soul nudity :)

I feel like I have a lot in common with Liz but I also have a hard time with that because I am sure that a lot of people that read that book, want to do what she did, and deal the way she deals, and I don't like the thought that I am doing or feeling what everyone else is doing and feeling.

I know its silly, but maybe I should just let the feelings and thoughts from the book sit with me a while and see what they do to me, and not worry about everyone elses reactions.

Great books like that really affect me on a deep level. I am one of those people that takes good things from books and movies and unconsciously incorporates these into my thinking and into my life and how I see the world. I think we all do a little bit, but its trying to decide what to do about my life in particular as a result of these new thoughts and feelings, I feel as though they are opening my mind and heart, it all feels like a newer healthier outlook, and I want to incorporate it, because it feels good for me.

I like who I am at heart, and want to express that more than I do, and Eat, Pray, Love seemed to be all about getting back to yourself, scrubbing away the barnacles on your soul, although I am a sucker for 'me too' moments, I really think I could do a lot with Liz's revelations and journey, yes I think I can and I just might.

Back Home From Ireland

2009-06-10T08:55:00.000-07:00

So I had a great trip home, it was only for a week but MAN did I get a lot done.

I just want to say thanks to everyone that made the time to come hang out with me, I know everybody can be busy with life, and I took a week to come and interrupt all of that but I saw some amazing castles, and had some great times with the people I love.

The first castle I saw was Humewood in Kiltegan, Co Wicklow. It was astonishing. 12 bedrooms, each with its own bathroom and a canopy over most of the beds and bath tubs. My cousin Ciara came with me and I discovered we have a lot in common, with a family like mine its a wonder I even have friends, because I could score a lifetime of best friends from this amazing group of people. They are my kindred spirits really, and I can't wait to see them all again.

We also looked at Barberstown castle in a small town called Straffan, Co Kildare. The reception venue looked amazing, stunning, truly, but, it felt like it was missing some warmth, or something, well it was hard to put my finger on it anyway, maybe it was the cost??

I found an amazing french baker who used to be a chef but now loves the artistry of decorating, which I think is the perfect combination for a wedding cake maker. His chocolate biscuit cake is amazing, and his ideas for incorporating our theme into the cake design have me really excited. I still have to talk to one other lady about cakes, who I really hit it off with, before I make my decision, but all in all I am in a much better position to make most of the wedding decisions than I was before my week in Ireland.

Being able to see my family too was the icing on the cake, and made the whole trip just that bit more sweet.

A new house, and yard for my puppies

2009-02-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

So me and my SO just bought a house! Well actually its under contract, and its great. We first viewed it at night and it was still our favorite, but when we came back in the daylight, we found so much more, like a central vac for one, and bamboo floors etc.

The house already comes equipped with a doggie door and a scuff matt outside in the shape of a bone with the word woof on it. Needless to say we were impressed :)

This is my first home purchase and we are sooo excited. I hope we have time between now and closing to incorporate the stimulus package Obama is trying to pass. It would mean a great rate, and a tax credit. Both of which are instrumental for the mortgage to beat out our current rent situation.

We are praying it passes inspection, and looking forward to painting and getting it ready to move into. The ensuite has a skylight which we are looking forward to looking out of, hopefully we get stars. The neighbourhood is really peaceful, and the house is really well laid out for us and our purposes, we have a video game room/theatre, which is fully decked out with glass shelves, backlit on dimmers for SO's toys, you know spiderman, and silver surfer and the like. Those fireplaces, ooh, I just can't wait to hang stockings :) I will have to knit some i guess!

Selling Usability How Hard does it Have to BE?

2009-01-15T08:45:00.000-08:00

Selling usability can be really hard to do, in large organizations or small. This is not as some would think because the returns aren't great or proven. Because they are.

When UX is done well, the results are well known, by everyone (I am so tired of hearing 'ipod! ipod!), but it is still a 'mystical' creature even to colleagues of mine. People have heard of it and want to hear more. OR people haven't heard of it at all. These are difficult situations to overcome in an organization but not impossible. Where there is smoke there's fire? These results must be coming from somewhere right? :)

Anyway the point is that people don't seem to know if they should believe it or not, apaprently its still a great risk to take, listening to the end user and working out whats best for them. The exponentially positive returns seem to only serve as reminders to people of its mythic proportions. Too good to be true right?...

The most dangerous thing I have come across are some people that believe they know what UX (User Experience) is really all about. Most of THESE people talk a lot about the look and feel of applications, it seems only to apply to websites, and these people can often use general vague and fuzzy terms to describe what it is I do. Changing their view on it and preventing them from spreading their misknowledge, dismissing UX as simply the 'look and feel', i.e. making just color choices and labeling decisions, is one of the hardest challenges to selling Usability in my organizations that I have come across.

I have worked in 4 organizations for UX and unless we have vocal executive support nothing can get done. I haven't had MUCH luck in selling it in these cases thats true,(except the fact that somehow I keep getting paid) but even when you do have executive support it doesn't always filter down, so the people we have to work with don't call us or dismiss our recommendations as mere opinion (albeit expert).

Something I have seen work to help dispel these attitudes and myths is exposing people to the right parts of our process, with examples of success, and real experiences like inviting them as silent observers to usability studies (everyone I invite has an 'aha' moment afterwards like "I finally get it! Thats why this is useful!"). Designing with tools like iRise and Axure and other tools that can more easily visualize the design concepts and flow also really shows the value of UX design.

This is a demonstration of the simplicity that can come from redesigning a complex process keeping all the functionality but reducing the complexity,

Seeing is believing.

My Obsession

2008-12-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

So I am seemingly obsessed with Stephanie Meyer's books, at first I thought it was Twilight, so phenomenal, but no it is just her writing. I think the distinguishing factor is her ability to take you inside the character and sympathise, I really felt I was living her books. I am somewhat intense at times and I guess that's the other factor that made this from a like, to an obsession. Its the only series I think I could read over and over and over, without ever getting sick of it. I reread the series for the movie, which I was somewhat disappointed in. I was shocked to get the same withdrawals when I finished breaking dawn for the second time.

I thought The Host was something 'out of this world' too. (Pardon the pun!) Its truly the alien book for people that don't read alien books, so if you are looking for a new author Stephanie Meyer is it. Seriously.

I am also disappointed that my favorite series' are over for christmas, I like to watch desperate housewives, grey's anatomy and private practice. I realize they can be predictable at times but there is something about stepping outside of myself and living vicariously that is so great for me, they are crazy but fun to watch.

On a more serious note, I am really gonna miss my family in Ireland and New Zealand, and friends around the world this Christmas, but I have a great 'husbiancee' (husband fiancee combo) and two great dogs here in Tennessee, the profile pic for this post is my dog rascal btw.

I am also a little obsessed with Melaleuca, this is a result of my mother in-laws making. Its a line of stuff made out of only natural and non toxic ingredients, and they make everything, lip glosses, body scrubs, moisturizer from heaven and even household cleaners. The thing that originally hooked me was the carpet cleaner, but I really just love the way it all smells and feels, and by gosh does it work, all of it, the moisturizer, the carpet cleaner and sugar scrubs are my favorite, followed by the candles and laundry detergent, I just can't get enough, I am on a conversion mission to make sure everyone gets to try it.

Final obsession of the day is games, I love playing games with people, social games, they can be cards, board games (cranium etc) or multiplayer video games (shrek and mario party spring to mind). I am currently trying to get my in-laws to play a game christmas eve, anything I don't care what, I always have so much fun, I am kinda competitive but I think I have being a good loser and winner down so hopefully its still fun for everyone else. I just get fed from being around people and interacting with them in that way, there is not enough of that here in the USA in my circles, I am trying to find people to do this stuff with.

I am also really enjoying my Irish Dance lessons, I am not the only adult learner, and its really really great as an aerobic work out, slash strength training excercise, not to mention how gorgeous it looks when it's done right. New Years resolution will probably be to get a guitar instructor lined up, I am sick of procrastinating, I am a procrastinator naturally and with my husbiancee thrown in the mix nothing will get done, we are as bad as each other!

I mailed my two overseas packages and 50 cards last week for christmas, 2 days after I mailed the package for Ireland (from Tennessee) it was signed for, I was flabbergasted! that was amazing and a new record, but luckily all tasks are out of the way for Christmas now, just have to bake some doggie treats and cookies tonight/tomorrow (Christmas eve tomorrow) and enjoy Christmas. Thanks for the cards from people overseas, the cards that arrived were from people I wasn't expecting and it was a really nice surprise...

Happy holidays everyone.

OMG my first blog!

2008-12-03T12:27:00.000-08:00

Wow so this is exciting stuff eh? hopefully only those who know me can find me here, (or those that don't but who have things in common with me) will find this vaguely interesting.

What inspired me to finally start one of these? Well its not as if I don't have reason. I have so far attempted to live in 5 different countries and so far am still not sure where I want to be, but of course along the way I have connected with people of all molds, and I don't think there is any other way to ramble on about my life and get heard by the people I want to actually listen to me :)

Plus although people who know me would probably snigger at me describing myself as 'direct' (verbally at least) I just needed a way to express myself, so many reasons, like cultural differences and expectations, its hard being a 'nomadic puzzle piece' (not that I am complaining really, things are more interesting this way) but I had an epiphany of sorts in the car on the way to work this morning, and that was that I am really a puzzle piece, (go with the metaphor here) that used to fit somewhere, but I have changed colors so much and shaved off pieces of myself and stuck other pieces on all in the name of fitting in with the current puzzle that now I could probably not fit with my original puzzle anymore.

BUT the real epiphany (I already knew the before part quite well and had felt badly about it many times) was that the point of a puzzle piece is not just to 'fit' even though thats what we try to do with them, but its to represent and fill in part of a picture, to display itself and be complimentary to the puzzle that it is a part of. So that is the longwinding and rambling explanation for the name of my blog, I hope you could follow, if not its my writing not your reading so don't worry about it.

I do have a rambling style of writing, I have been much maligned for it in school and college/university and even today, in my career, I always have to consciously reign in my writing style, I think of too many things and tangents and possibilities at once that what i end up producing is little pieces of each path, which by itself is mostly nonsense.

And thats another reason to write this blog in the vein of expressing myself to improve, by writing more, and to write in the words that I think in. The reason this is important to me is twofold (I warned you!) 1) i like to use big words sometimes and some people don't like it, and i always find myself trying to think of a smaller word. I don't want to have to do that here. AND 2nd I learned, IRISH English, NEW ZEALAND English and now AMERICAN English (replete with new spellings) which means I am forever thinking... what is the american word for this? This situation is both frustrating and humorous but that is info for another blog post, suffice it to say this is getting rather longish and I just wanted to explain why I write a blog in the first place. And now I have. Phew. (pardon the bad grammar, its for effect)

So thanks whoever you are for reading this :) and I guess lets see how diligent I really am with this sort of thing! Wish me luck!