29 & 364 days old

So I am 29 & 364 days old, that means that I am currently experiencing what will be the last day of my 20's for the REST OF MY LIFE.

Phew, this is seriously momentous, I expected more drama, but living my geographically dislocated life means that a lot of the people that I would like to be there and witness this with me are actually off living their lives in various parts of the world. Except for Jason who I love and am glad is here with me.

What a ride the first 30 years of my life have been, I don't know if I should be thrilled or freaked about how old I will be in another 30 because if my life fits a similar quantity of stuff in it, in the next 30 as the first 30 then maybe life isn't as short as I worry it is. Plus I hear there IS life after 60 (it also doesn't seem as old as it once did).

So what do I have to show for myself, I am a parent, a wife, a usability specialist, a jack of all trades and finally feel like I am beginning to be 'me' as a seperate thing from all of those 'titles'.

A wise woman (my cousin Stefanie) talked to me about being in her 30's last weekend, and said that you get a bit more content with life in your 30's, and I think that was  great way to describe it. I feel more settled in myself, more sure of what I want, and more confident that I have what it takes and will be alright after all. So those are all great things, I can't speak for what I will post when I am 39 going 40, but turning 30 is a great thing for me.

So to hell with the fanfare, that can wait, as can anything that stresses me out, or makes me run too fast, or isn't what I want. It's my life dammit. I have less pride but more confidence. I have more style and less reverence, more forgiving, for others and myself, and take more joy. I know it's weird to feel more free and more me after having a baby,  (being a parent has been a revelation and I love it love it love it) but I have always swum against the grain in this life and I now know that I no longer have to apologize for it or force myself to fit in anywhere. Bring it on 30!

End of April 3 weeks to go

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

Irish Trip

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?