Ireland 2016

[Greg]

Ha! Brando-Jackson! Should have just shot myself in the foot.

I don't fly back until tomorrow morning. Very early.

[Greg]

Two new Irish slang words for the collection: Skint and Shift.

[Greg]

FYI: It snowed in Limerick on Thursday. Bring your woolen undies.

[Drunk Monk]

Not going to Limerick.  I just reread this thread as a refresher and am taking my comment about wishing I spent more time in the pubs to heart. It's a short trip sadly but I have work responsibilities calling me back, including my Shaolin master coming through (the one that I discipled under) and a major tournament in San Jose (that should be historic but a lot of visas didn't clear so it might be a bit of a bust), plus a special invite to a private winery tour in Healdsburg with some old friends (not work, fun).  Remember when I said summer 2017 got no chill?  Well I had a bit of a break after Tara relocated, then a binge for Halloween, now this to finish out the year.

Most of my Ireland trip is sorted, just how to get to and from SFO (Stacy is protesting not going by not taking me). I fly out on Tuesday to arrive Wednesday and bus to the AMC provided hotel.  That night is the reporter dinner courtesy of AMC and I think my whisky enabler is back again this year.  Thursday is the set visit and again, I'm under embargo until they say I'm not.  Friday, I make it for a new hotel near Stephen's Green (Greg, the place you recommended was booked). I was going to hostel it but found a nice looking place for just under $100 a night.  I stay in Dublin until Monday, so that's Fri>Sun for whisky, brown bread, salmon, and of course, Guinness.  I know, I know, I said I gave up beer for my diabetes AND I DID, but I figure I can handle one Guinness a day and the switch over to whisky.  It's Dublin after all. I haven't quite sorted what touristy things to do.  I remember seeing some whisky specialty shops last year.  I want to tour Teelings, maybe the Gaol too.  Debating if i need to do Guinness again.  Greg, this is where you come in.  Thoughts?

I have wifi at all the lodgings plus I just got this new chromebook on Black Friday, so I'll keep you posted here, like last time.  I'll be travelling alone plus I won't have time to adjust to Irish time, so I foresee some late night posts.

[Greg]

Hmmm, you could do the Guiness tour just for the view. There is a pantomime playing at the Gaiety, which is a uniquely British and Irish form of entertainment. Plus, there is the vampire play "Let the right one in" at the Abbey theater. For some reason I am still compelled to want to visit the mummies at St. Munchin's church off the Liffey. I was going to suggest going to The Kitchen which was the club in the Clarence Hotel owned by Bono and The Edge but that club is no more.

If you aren't afraid of heights, you could climb on top of Croke park which has some incredible views of the city.

If you are up for a day trip, I suggest going to the monastery city of Glendalough.

Do tour Kilmainhom Gaol. You might want to see Sins of the Father before that tour.

Have fun.

I hate you. My friend did say you could stay with them, but it looks like you are set.

[Greg]

Don't forget the fish and chips.

[Drunk Monk]

Don't forget the fish and chips.

I may skip the chips (sacrilege I know but less daily carbs = more Guinness), but yeah, so on it. 

Alrighty, Gaol for sure.  I plan to stay in Dublin - I'm sure there's plenty there to keep me occupied. 

Please express my sincere thanks to your friends.  

I've booked a ride up to SFO and Stacy has agreed to pick me up (with as many complaints as Greg has issued here) so everything is pretty set. I must take Tara back to SJC in an hour+ and then I'll pack tomorrow.  The previously rainy forecast for Dublin has cleared but I'm still packing my long johns.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

If your SFO hours coincide with mine, you know where to go. Only Scotch on premises, though.

[Drunk Monk]

Unlikely. The schedule has little leeway. But thanks for the offer.

[Drunk Monk]

I'm packed more or less. I really don't need much - clothes, money and some gear to look official for Thursday's set visit. Now I'm just powering up all my devices, iphone, chromebook, camera (the recorder takes batteries because it's old skool that way).  

Funny story - Gigi just came back from China. This morning I was in a panic because the company camera was missing.  We have 3 portable cameras.  One is dead - don't know why we keep in.  One is newer - that's the one Gigi usually uses.  And the other I usually use if she's using the new one.  Well, the newer two were both missing.  She took both.  Why?  Because the new one had a chip on the battery lid.  So G2 decided to superglue it.  Then she couldn't open it. She tried to open it with some nail polish remover but that failed. So she got some acetone.  100% pure.  Then she completely melted the lid.  And it still can't be opened.  So she took the middle one, and fortunately, she brought it back just before I left the office today.  She made a point to explain the functions to me (which I already knew) and point out that all her photos had a blur on the right side because the camera is not as good as the one she melted with acetone.  I fixed that.  Know how?  I bet Greg does.  I cleaned the lens.

The ironic thing is I don't really need a camera.  Last time they had a pro photographer.  I was allowed to shoot a little, which I did on my iphone.  I'm really just bringing the company camera for my tourist weekend.

I just drank a Guinness nitro can that I had been saving for...well, for just now.  I figured I should test my blood sugar.  It was soooo good.  I haven't had a Guinness since just after Ireland last year.  OMG it was good.  And it's been in the fridge since then (as Stacy has reminded me all year long).  I had dinner, a nice organic 2 cheese & green onion omelet that I made myself because that's all I could figure out easily from what was in the kitchen.  Then I tested my blood.  119.  WHAAATTTTHHHEEEFFFEEECCCCCKKKKKK?!?!  I gave up Guinness for a lousy 119?  I'd score higher after a slice of pizza.  Maybe I'm good for 2 Guinnesses a day.



Stay tuned.  More to come.

[Greg]

I'm sure you would rather be going to Scottsdale with me for the day. I've only got four cameras with me. And my iPhone. No acetone, though.

[Drunk Monk]

You and your day missions.  You're just such a professional, like a real businessman.

I'm currently at SFO's Aer Lingus gate where I have over an hour to kill before boarding that 10+ hour flight.  I had to get here early due to the shuttle schedule, which is limited from the Cruz to SFO.  I'm pretending to be all professional-like now too, in one of those stainless steel cubicles, tapping away at my laptop, using SFO power and wifi.  I'm told the flight isn't full.  I got a paneer street wrap here, which is filling and kinda healthy-ish, and I'm very content with my purchase.  I walked the terminal to check out the art displays (weak) and changed some cash so I have some euros in my Guinness wallet when I land.  AMC has promised to pick me up at the airport (I was planning to bus it) and there's a dinner tonight with some of the cast members, but they aren't telling us who.  The restaurant is not at the hotel, but we are to meet in the lobby for pick up.  The hotel should be nice - it's 250+ euros a night.  I'm there until Friday when I make my way over to a place close to Stephen's Green.  I haven't really figured out my schedule after that.  Teelings and the Gaol - but not sure which is open on what day, but I'll figure that out later. 

As soon as I check into the hotel, I should have a few hours, and I'm going to make a beeline to the nearest recommended pub, and get a pint of the black stuff pulled, and maybe some brown bread if available.  Lawd I can almost taste it.  

When I return, I'll be juggling three things that following weekend.  1. My master is coming through. I will attempt to spend as much time as I can with him Friday & Saturday.  This is the monk I took my vows under and who gave Tara her middle name.  My disciple brother may come up from LA and ride my coattails for two days.  If he does, he'll be staying with us (Tara's room is free).  He's an animator by trade - did some stop motion work for some Rick & Morty promos and is now working with snapchat making those little animations you can add to your vids.  I haven't seen my master since our 20th.  I haven't seen my disciple brother in - dang - I'm not sure.  He came through SF a few years ago.  2. Shuaijiao World Cup at SJSU. This is Saturday - actually it starts like Wednesday.  I just gotta go and show face.  Shuaijiao is like Chinese judo.  3. Sunday night Stacy and I are headed up to Healdsburg for a night at some winery.  Some friends won it at a charity raffle and they have invited two other couples, one that I spent time with in Chicago at Fare The Well and the other is Raz & Leigh (Raz is the former director of Rock Med and one of my gurus - he got me the job working for the Dead).  I make a note of this here because next year, if AMC invites me out for Season 4, I'll want to remember.  Also because by next week, I might not remember.  Starting Friday, if I keep it skint (proper usage? i don't know), I can spend about 40 euros on whisky a day.

[Greg]

Get your Gaol tickets online in advance.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Was a time they would put him in the gaol for *free*.

[Drunk Monk]

Flight was okay - packed.  We got in 40 min ahead of schedule, but that just made us have to wait on the tarmac for 30 mins.  Didn't sleep well.  That paneer street wrap was a mistake.  It was cheap (for SFO food) and filling but it gave me wicked gas.  I would've felt sorry for my seatmate, but she slept through most of the flight (so jealous) which left me to stew in my own stench.  Fortunately, given the background airplane noise, you can fart as loud and long as you like and no one is the wiser.

I'm at the Dylan which is very close to where AMC housed me last year.  It's a funky artsy hotel, half of which is built in a classic Dublin structure, but I'm in the modern part. Nice place. 

I went to the same pub that I did last year for my ceremonial 1st Guinness and a cheese toasty and ran into the same gentleman who recommended a restaurant to me last year. I tested my blood sugar after a Guinness before I left and figure I'm good for one a day. Maybe it was 2 Guinnesses.  Man, I luv Dublin pubs.  Publin rocks.  

IT'S REALLY COLD. Close to freezing with wind chill.  Wish I had brought a scarf.  But at least it's clear.  

There's a dinner tonight on AMC for all the reporters and a few of the stars are supposed to join us.  I'm going to rest until then.