I did what?!

Yeah, I bought a car - not just any car - but the car I have been lusting after for the past year - the mercedes-benz slk 55 AMG. This car is sick fast and the most lovely feature of all - retractable hardtop convertablility!

I was going to wait, you know, but these red and black leather seats drove me to the edge of sanity. So, I bought it. Didn't *need* it, but this car wasn't built for *need* so much as it was for lust - and that I had in spades. Here are a few more pics of the car and eventually, I promise, to post some pics and the rest of the story for Ireland...just after I stop driving long enough to do it!

Dublin, Ireland - a pictorial event

Ok, so I actually went to Dublin in October for work. It was a nice trip - I spent 6 days in Dublin and 3 more exploring other parts of Ireland. Work dominated the trip so most of the pics will be from Dublin - but I did go to the Aran Islands (a bought a few sweaters) as well as visited Galway (a lovely, lovely town).

It rained a couple times while I was there (so I got a bit of the local flavor you might say) but it didn't get in the way.

I stayed at the Merrion Hotel in Dublin - very nice. Good quiet location. To the left here is a picture of the pub across the corner form the hotel - Foley's. It was a great pub with a very nice bartender - Paul. Big fella who was everything you'd want from a bartender - a guy who knew when you needed a refill.


After working all week - and drinking every night - I got away to the other side of Ireland. but before I go there with this, let me post some pics here of places around Dublin and some comments (if any) to go along side.

A few of the typical pubs in the Temple Bar district of Dublin. Very busy at night with loads of folks out drinking and having a craic of a good time! You'd think there were from a hollywood set - but they are real (real enough for tourists that is for sure).


Here are a few more random shots of Dublin - lots of culture and growth colliding all around:


<----man look at all those building cranes!

So this is me with a statue of Oscar Wilde -->

Other things to do in Dublin besides drink is to go to the Guiness Factory tour - or St. James Gate Brewery.

Apparently I wasn't the only one interested in going...

Loads of stuff to see in side, cost around 12 euro to enter - but that price includes a free pint of guiness at the top of the factory along with a great view of the city. Worth the time!




Forgive me for not remembering which cathedral this is - perhaps Christ Church?

Nor can I tell you who this is - it was a statue just on the other side of the river Liffey (north side) - it might be on O'Connel street - lots of shopping there along the wide street.


All right enough of this, next post will be my trip to the Aran islands via Galway.

Just caught up on Firefly the TV show that is long gone

Yeah, so I missed this the first time around. A friend from work loaned me their set of the 'complete series'. (Q: Can you actually call something that didn't even have a half a year airing, a 'complete series'?) Firefly - from Joss Whedon, of Buffy fame.

Oh well - I guess I am the reason Fox cancelled this great show. Man, if I had only known - not sure if the title was a bad choice or they moved it around or what - maybe I didn't have TiVO then - who knows - but I can tell you its worth owning. Even Maddie liked it!

Great stuff - going to watch the movie 'Serenity' shortly.

Will post my final feelings on it all later - just in case anyone cares. I also hope to post my listing of the top 20 shows of all time. You can bet that Firefly will be on that list...