Ireland 2016

[Drunk Monk]

Dinner was awesome.  About a dozen cast members showed up.  Very posh restaurant.  Wine kept flowing, and then Teelings. There's a lot of new cast members that I didn't know.  Several of the returning cast recognized me - the ladies in particular - Emily, Ally & Orla - and that's what counts.  Aramis didn't tho.  Daniel and Nick couldn't make it.  

I wound up sitting between the AMC rep and another journalist from EW, which kind of sucked because I really had to project to get to the cast members.  But by dessert, everyone shuffled and Emily sat beside me.  I complimented her on The Calling and she said she hated that film because it was one of her first and she didn't know what she was doing, and no one saw it. Awkward. She smells really nice. Ally said she lives really close to the Dylan.  I said we should hang out and she joked that I should join them for the spa.  AMC gave all the actors that showed up complimentary spa passes as a 'thank you'.  Emily and Ally live together, and they were planning to do the spa together.  But I couldn't really follow up on that - after all, Ally is only 19.  Then I met the stunt woman for Wonder Woman and Wolf Warrior 2 Mickey, but only for a moment.  Unfortunately, it wasn't appropriate to ask for selfies and I won't see Emily again...unless the spa thing comes through, and that would be too much of a blessing for ol' DM.

Three of us reporters got together for drinks at the Waterloo - the big cheese from Den of Geek and a freelancer from Comic Book news (my whisky enabler from last year).  There was much Teelings (yum) and I tried Glendalough (peaty start with a smooth finish) on my chauffeur's recommendation.

Set visit tomorrow.  Actually today in a few hours.  Better turn in but still on Cali time.

---

Feckin time zone - I really need to sleep and I drank a lot today. At dinner, my wine glass was refilled every time I took a sip so I have no idea how much wine I drank. A lot. And I'm usually good for a half glass. Red red wine... then there were 3 shots of whisky on top. I hoped that would knock me out, but I'm still buzzing on Emily's fragrance...

[Drunk Monk]

Dammit. When I lay down for sleep, I had a good 7 hour block. Been tossing and turning on CA time all night and now I have only 3 hours until breaky. 

But I forgot to mention that Emily and I shared a dessert truffle. She ate half and gave the rest to me. Something from her lips to mine. This was after a discussion of the terms snogging, lashing and being a ride. Maybe that's what's keeping me up.

Dinner was goat cheese & beets, sesame salmon & tofu, green beans, and a half a truffle seasoned with Emily's saliva.  It was all delish.

[The Queen]

Pity you're in Ieland where it's impossible to find knitted goods -- oh, wait! You're in fecking scarf central!!!  Go to any tourist shop and you'll find Aran knitted scarves that will keep you nice and toasty warm.

Try to get to the crypt of St. Michan's Church and see the mummies.   https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/st-michans-church

[Drunk Monk]

The combination of travel, missing my medication, the left-sided Dublin roads, and sitting facing backwards in the van did me in.  Thought I was going to throw up for a moment, but we arrived just in time.  That would've been bad.  Once I got out of the car and got a tums from another reporter, I got on top of it.  However, next we went into the freezing set that was filled with stage smoke for lighting and very cramped because our viewing access was situated near the camera dolly, so it was a rough start.  

But then Daniel saw me between takes and came over and started chatting, which was really nice.  Then we did an interview with him between the following takes.  But that was outside because the set was noisy as they set up the next shot, and it was really really cold.  The wind chill cut to the bone.  A cup of tea went from boiling hot to cold before I could drink half of it.  

The other studio was warmer, but still cold when we went outside to see a shoot and some other odd things.  It rained a little, just enough to make it even colder.  It was a 14 hour day with only little breaks.  I was with two reporters I met last year and we made a solid team for the interviews.  The fourth reporter was from EW Canada, and she was doing separate video shorts, so we only saw her on breaks. Badlands season 3 is looking really awesome, new cast members, new sets, new story arcs, but I'm under embargo until April.  Sadly, I got no selfies with any of the stars but they did let me play in the weapons room for a long time.

Then we all went out for dinner together - the reporter crew - walked several blocks until we found a table.  The pubs were packed everywhere.  But the place we found was lovely, real wood fire, live euro jazz band.  I had the seafood chowder, brown bread, my daily Guinness allotment (it's as good as I remember) and a shot of Teelings. So delicious. One reporter had the fish and chips and proclaimed it the best he's ever had ever.  We just said our goodbyes in the lobby and now my work is done for AMC and I'm alone. 

The Comicbooknews reporter and my whisky enabler described this hotel's decor perfectly.  It's the International from John Wick. I'm going to get fitted for some tactical, have another lovely breakfast (salmon benedict this morning, tomorrow morning I think I'll go for the salmon omelette) then backpack it over to my new digs near Stephen's Green.  Then the rest of the day is resting because I've been going non-stop since landing yesterday, shopping for my ladies (not my whisky-soaked beautiful actress fantasies, but my real two) and hitting some pubs.  More brown bread, my daily Guinness, whisky & salmon.  Blood @ 106.  Maybe I can do 2 Guinnesses per day.

[cranefly]

So you met up with Daniel?
I thought you'd said earlier that he had commitments on some other planet and you wouldn't be crossing paths.  Maybe I misread something.  But it sounds like it all worked out great.

Wow.  Guinness, Daniel, salacious saliva.  Seventh heaven.
Congrats!

[Drunk Monk]

Pity you're in Ieland where it's impossible to find knitted goods -- oh, wait! You're in fecking scarf central!!!  Go to any tourist shop and you'll find Aran knitted scarves that will keep you nice and toasty warm.

Try to get to the crypt of St. Michan's Church and see the mummies.   https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/st-michans-church

I have multiple layers - thermals, hoody, heavy jacket, hat with face mask, gloves. I am bundled. Still feckin cold. Like I said, the dubliners are all saying it's cold. We're all bundled. 

Mummies - right we skipped those last year because Tara dislikes mummies. I'll add that to the list which is already long for the weekend. Thanks!

So you met up with Daniel?
I thought you'd said earlier that he had commitments on some other planet and you wouldn't be crossing paths.  Maybe I misread something.  But it sounds like it all worked out great.

Wow.  Guinness, Daniel, salacious saliva.  Seventh heaven.
Congrats!

Sorry that was ambiguous. I meant that I wasn't going to get together with him privately like last time. I knew we would interview him - he's the lead - but it was on set while filming so we only had a short time and there were two other reporters plus maybe 3-4 dozen workers as it was during filming.

[Drunk Monk]

I'm at the Kilronan.  It's a teeny tiny room, more like a closet, with a fussy toilet but my worldly-wise plumbing skills can solve the issue. My room is right over the reception desk, above the stairs so everyone passes it.  It's noisy now at check in, but this is a small b&b so i don't think there will be too much once things settle. But I feel cozy and am grateful for the private bathroom.  I regret not copping the amenities from the last hotel.  I usually do, but I spent too long at breakfast talking shop with the ET producer. The lobby is nice - adorned with portraits of famous Irish writers with good quotes in the matted frames.  Lovely complimentary tea service and the reception guy is pleasant.  I realize I didn't bring the right power converter plug - must've taken it out for Tara's India trip.  The last hotel had universal plugs so I didn't notice.  This hotel has 2-prongs but they don't work.  My chormebook should be ok because it has a decent battery life but not sure about my iphone.  Might have to secure a new plug.

My throat is dry as if I'm on the edge of something.  Got some lozenges at the pharmacy with an ingredient I don't recognize.  It was otc and the lozenges are soothing.  I also realize I should've brought my reading glasses because I'm struggling with the maps.  Stared at one for several minutes until I realized I was it was in Irish.

I walked about Stephens Green and Grafton waiting for check in.  It's still cold, almost fell on some black ice while backpacking it from the last hotel, however it's tolerable without the wind chill.  It's super bright and clear.  Crisp ocean air punctuated by so many smokers, on the streets, in the doorways, everywhere.  There's seems to be more homeless beggars than I remember too - they look miserable in the cold.  Grafton was packed on a Friday afternoon, like xmas rush packed.  I was overwhelmed.  I keep thinking I know where I am and then discovering I'm turned around some how.  Plus I'm having a hard time with the rhythm of pedestrian flow - keep bumping into people - coupled with the left-side cars, and the constant distraction of fascinating store windows and pubs, it's a struggle to get around.  I couldn't get to sleep until 5am this morning, but I got a decent 4+ hours.  Been drinking lovely Irish tea by the pints.  

Going to head out for dinner, maybe a little more window shopping, and then relax in my closet here.

[Drunk Monk]

Found a cheap power converter at the pharmacy, then walked Camden street on the recommendation of the pharmacist for a quieter pub.  Wound up at a place called the Bleeding Horse, just before the rush.  I scored a window seat and had some wonderful pub food and drink.  I'm really getting into the seafood chowder & brown bread - it's very warming and filling, and the seafood is in huge chunks and fresh.  I may just eat this for the rest of the trip. The shower was challenging because it's one of those wall heater style showers so the hot water comes in waves with lukewarm water.  But it's serviceable.  I just took some sleeping pills, and after the walks, dinner and drinks, I hope to get a good night's sleep tonight.  Don't have to wake up early tomorrow.  but it's not doing a thing for me. Turns out my Kilronan room is really noisy.  I can hear every conversation at the desk and anytime anyone comes or goes, I can hear them climb the stairs. But I'm going to try to sleep again soon.  As tempting as Friday night out was looking, I really need some rest

It's been a while since I've traveled in a foreign country alone and I'm remembering how much I stand out.  No males have hair my length, plus my klingon facial hair and my attire - I'm definitely getting 'strange tourist' treatment.  It makes me a bit paranoid, so I'm making an effort to be extra polite.  Thankfully the Irish are such genuine people that they reciprocate. The pubs are still really fun, but it's more of a social place and I'm not quite up to bar talk, at least not today.  They all ask me if I want ice with my whisky in a bit of a condescending tone, and when i fire back 'no, neat' with a slightly offended tone, they respect that and treat me better.  I tried Dublin Liberties - could NOT resist that name.  It reminded me of a higher grade Jameson, with a salty middle, a decent kick, and a surprisingly smooth finish - quite warming.  If I can find it in the US for a reasonable price, I'd get some for my Jameson friends.

Of course, the food is still fantastic.  I've been monitoring my blood sugar and it's been very good with the daily Guinness allotment, low even - i just came in at 68 but I ate like 3 hours ago. I think its the whisky because I've read where that can decrease blood sugar.  Obviously this need much more research.  I'm really getting into seafood chowder and of course, brown bread and butter.  The shopping areas are in full xmas swing so they are extremely crowded, but i'm starting to figure some ways to get off the beaten paths. I've got a big city walking tour for myself planned tomorrow, into regions we didn't explore.  

I saw a shop sign that made me laugh out loud and think of Greg. I took a pic and will post that on my fb upon my return.  

[Greg]

Was it Knobs and Knockers?

[Drunk Monk]

Was it Knobs and Knockers?

No. Why would that remind me of you?

Wait...don't answer. Don't even want to know.



I just got one good sleep cycle in and popped awake again. It's nearly 2 so hopefully I can get another cycle or two in. It's quieter now but I can hear the kilronan workers doing something downstairs with water and doors.

[Greg]

You're not good at this international travel.

Because I'm knobby!

[Drunk Monk]

No, not anymore. My ongoing insomnia issues play out more horribly than ever plus my vision is fading and I should surrender to glasses like the rest of you. But I'm happy that my diabetes is ok in the land of beer carbs. I've been relying on Stacy and Tara to cover my blind spots over the last few years. I miss them a lot on this short trip. Getting travel sick so early is a bum out, especially because I'll go back to a heavy work week on Tuesday.

My insominiac tweaking amplifies my viewpoint although if I wasn't coping with sleep issues, the posts on this forum would easily be cut in half.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN YOUR KNOB. Or maybe I have and the PTSD drives me to my numbing addictions. #metoo ... too soon?

All that being said, I'm still luvin Dublin. I'm relishing every meal, and delighting in the experience again. It's still a magical place for me - I'm just off my game this weekend with headaches, nausea and now a sore throat, and because my trip is so short, that's magnified.

[Greg]

Have you gone to any pubs to listen to live traditional music? Have you sat and smelled the distinctive scent of a peat fire?

Knobs and Knockers is one my favorite store names ever and it's very close to Trinity and Grafton st.

[Drunk Monk]

Have you gone to any pubs to listen to live traditional music? Have you sat and smelled the distinctive scent of a peat fire?

Nothing traditional yet, just some euro jazz last night. And that fire was a bit peaty actually - i was wondering about that.  Keep in mind I've only got boots on the ground here for 5 days and 2 were actually in spent in the Badlands.  

The nice thing about this room closet is I can reach everything from my bed and power my devices.  It also has a dimming switch on the overhead light, and simple lights, just four switches.  At the John Wick International, there were 4 switches just at the door (one was just for the bathroom mirror), many more scattered around the room, so many damn lights, and the bedside ones usurped the outlet so my cords wouldn't reach while in bed (plus I had the wrong adapter).

Man, now I'm remembering my trips when iphone & laptop werent in the equation.  I'd spend my insomniac nights writing in my journal.  Now I post here, on KFM and other soc-nets.  I did bring a journal, a new one, and haven't jotting a single note in it yet. 

[Drunk Monk]

Get your Gaol tickets online in advance.

Meant to mention this earlier but I should've taken your advice. The weekend is sold out. I'm somewhat relieved because it would've added another mile to my trek, not as fun when ill. Next time maybe, if there is one. I didn't think I'd be back last year. Thank you INTO THE BADLANDS. You all must tune in. Second best show on tv after Man @ Arms. By supporting the show, you can help DM go to gaol.

Still haven't got that 2nd sleep cycle this night. Been horizontal in the dark though, parsed by moments of surrender to iPhone/chromebook light, like right now. Hoping I can get down soon - still have about 4 hours before the breakfast ends. I imagine that'll be super noisy here in my closet anyway, and it starts soon so maybe the 4 hours is ambitious.