Tropical Storm Chantal has been spinning over us (Chapel Hill and Carrboro) and dumping rain for hours. Can’t seem to get out of here.
Heavy rains. Black bean soup is delicious topped with cotija, avocado, chicken, and cilantro. And USMNT score first Gold Up goal in under 4 minutes!
Earlier today I finished a long Zuiker Chronicles blog post about our 10 days in Ireland. That was a great vacation, and I’m eager to get back to Ireland soon.
Woke up feeling past COVID and ready to play soccer, but Tropical Storm Chantal has rained out the pick-up action today, so I went to the mall to buy a new suit. Now I’m back home, listening to Billie Eilish on the record player while a pot of midnight black been soup simmers.
Catching up on movie trailers this morning and now I’m eager to see the documentary Architecton when it’s out in August. Feels similar to Baraka and Koyaanisqatsi.
I spent most of the week quarantined in an upstairs bedroom. Retested this morning and that darn confirmation line is still there, though fainter. I’m feeling good, will go for a short ruck in a bit. Should be able to post my Ireland travelogue today.
This Pickerel frog (Lithobates palustris) hopped into the breezeway, momentarily perching on my boot.
I last saw this turtle, with its damaged carapace, 11 months ago in nearly the same spot.
Erin has been at her desk for much of the day, catching up on a vacation’s worth of work email. She’s got full windows looking out into the forest, and the birds at the feeder entertain her. She looked out and noticed this box turtle moving through the grass.
One of many vacation surprises was the meal we had on our last night, at the Old Storehouse Bar & Restaurant in Dublin (Temple Bar area), and now I want to recreate it here at home: fresh Irish salmon served with creamy root vegetable orzotto. And at the market today, pearled barley was on sale.
Finished reading Twist by Colum McCann on the Dublin-to-Charlotte flight yesterday. I seemed to be the only passenger using the reading light in the darkened cabin, one or two others using e-readers, most watching movies. Twist was a good read, its riff on the speed of internet traffic timely. 📚
Yesterday, after a train to Bray to hike the hill, I doubled back to Dublin, transferred to the Luas Red Line, and walked to Rascals Brewing for some tastes. Moving again, I noticed the canal lock across the street. This delighted me, so I walked along Grand Canal to the next stop at Goldenbridge.
In the middle of Johnnie Fox’s Hooley show (Irish singers and dancers) outside of Dublin my phone gave me a notification that Hapa (my favorite Hawaiian duo) has a new EP. Music is life.
Monday’s tour of Dublin’s Kilmainham Gaol Museum also was full of history and astonishment.
My visit yesterday to the Guinness Storehouse visitor experience in Dublin was unsatisfying even if the pint at the top bar was well poured. Today’s train trip to Belfast was more substantive with an eye-opening tour of the city’s dividing walls and the excellent Titanic museum.
Our visit to old Dalymount Park did not disappoint tonight, with total attendance at 4421 and Bohemia FC beating Shamrock Rovers 2-nil. Erin and I stood, then sat, in the Des Kelly Stand, though both Bohs goals were in the first half at the other end. Dublin has such energy. #Ireland
Somehow I missed the news that Colum McCann has a new novel, yet since I check the shelves of any bookstore I visit, I came across Twist in a shop steps from Kilkenny Castle. Was already having a great day and that made it even better. 📚
Texture old and new in Ireland on a lovely day.
Overnight flight to Dublin on a 777 and just like that I am having cappuccino and croissant at Nick’s Coffee in Wicklow, Ireland, a few minutes after a walk to Travelahawk Beach and the ruins of Black Castle.
Lunch break critter #2: admittedly cute raccoon, fluffy white belly, in the chicken run but hadn’t yet stolen the 2 eggs, scampered out and up 60 feet of tall oak tree. (Must finish wire top to the run!)
