Places to Visit: Toledo & Madrid

Hello all! I have returned from my visit to sunny Spain. 

It was, of course, amazing, despite some almost comical travel problems - at final count it took 1 delayed flight, 1 missed connection, 20 hours, 3 planes, 2 cabs, 2 buses and 1 train to get to Toledo. 

But it was worth it. If I was ever in the mood for tilting at windmills, Castilla-La Mancha would certainly be a beautiful place to do it. 

In addition to being just simply beautiful, the city also houses the Primate Cathedral of St. Mary of Toledo - one of the three thirteenth century Gothic cathedrals in Spain. 

It's gorgeously overwhelming. 

Though, if I'm being completely honest, those cherubs that are just heads and wings? They creep me out a bit. 

From here, it was off to Madrid, which now holds the distinction of being the first place I've ever seen flamenco or a public proposal. The first was amazing - graceful, sweeping arm movements paired with long, staccato bursts of footwork at an energy level I can't even comprehend - the second was pretty damn adorable. 

Plus, just looking at the palace all lit up at night is reason enough for the trip. 

I will say with all the sight seeing, my vacation reading time wasn't extensive. But that just means that the normal pre-book anticipation is building away and should make my State-side reading all the more fun. 

Also, I found that being stuck on a plane for hours to be conducive to writing daydreams. Meaning that I have work to get started on. 

Have a great weekend!!

Suitcase Full of Books...and Other Good Things

I don't know about you, but the end of this summer is turning into happy madness for me. 

First off is Pitch Wars, which is fantastic fun - even in the waiting stages. Regardless of whether or not you're taking part in it, you should definitely check out the hashtag. It's such a great way to get to know other writers. 

Secondly, it's traveling time once again! I'm so intensely excited to be dusting off the old suitcase again. This won't be too long of a trip, but it will be memorable. I mean....Spain! *Breaks into tap dance -- remember I can't tap dance -- settles for enthusiastic jumping.* Plus, I've made sure I have some new books in honor of the occasion:

- Just Like the Movies (Kelly Fiore)

- Gates of Thread and Stone (Lori M. Lee)

- Obsidian (Jennifer L. Armentrout)

- Being Jamie Baker (Kelly Oram)

- Prep School Confidential (Kara Taylor)

There are just wins all over the place. This does, however, mean next week's post will probably be a little late, as I'm not sure what ye olde Internet situation will be like. But when I do post, expect pictures!

Finally, there is the fundraiser. Planning is going awesomely. The list of items to be auctioned is growing and chock full o really fun things. I've mentioned a few on Twitter, but will be sending out more updates over the coming months, so keep an eye out! And, of course, endless thanks to everyone for their generosity thus far!!

Now, I'm off to do my traditional packing ritual - something akin to Supermarket Sweep. Ten minutes to pull clothes from drawers and then no looking in the bag until I reach my destination. Keeps things interesting. 

Have a happy new week, folks! When next we speak, I should be nursing a nice sunburn and the traditional September smell of pumpkin spice everything will be in the air. 

Places to Visit: Nervous Nellie's

As mentioned last week, yesterday was National Camera Day, so I'm sharing some photos this morning. However, much more important that some amateur photography done by yours truly, I'm sharing a truly awesome place that you should check out if ever you have the chance.

It's called Nervous Nellie's Jams & Jellies.

Recently, I had the chance to visit Deer Isle, Maine, located just off the Blue Hill Peninsula in Penobscot Bay. The weather was absolutely beautiful, making every view look like a postcard. But I'm pretty sure that even in a total downpour it would have been gorgeous.

I was lucky enough to stop by during the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the bridge that connects the island to the mainland. Walking across the bridge was a lot of fun, not to mention getting to dress up like a lobsterman.

But the real awesome began afterward, when my truly spectacular hosts took me away from the bustling crowds for some scones and jam. Really delicious scones and jam (my favorite was the cherry peach). Honestly, if that was all Nervous Nellie's had to offer, the stop still would have been an epic win, but thanks to the artwork of Peter Beerits, this place is definitely being added to my top ten list of favorite travel discoveries.

Beerits has created a sculpture village, Nellieville, through which I found it impossible to walk without being inspired to create stories for the all the different "people" I saw.

Was tempted to ask if they'd deal me in a hand. 

Despite that rather unsavory fellow in the bottom right corner.

Inspired by the Delta and really made me want to dance.

Not only do I think this establishment would always carry the necessities,

I feel confident that it should be the first stop of anyone looking

to get the latest gossip in Nellieville.

Found witches in the neighboring forest 

(not to mention a full medieval court).

The above confirmation that this town accepts the practice

of magic had me asking this lovely couple if I could move in.

Sadly for me, there appears to be quite a waiting list.

So, if you find yourself meandering up and down Maine's coast, make your way here and enjoy the feeling of inspiration. And don't forget to eat some jam. I won't got so far as to try to sway you on which jams. I trust you to make your own jam-based decisions.

But cherry peach was the best.

Summer Reading List

Hello all!

It's been far too long, I know. Things have been a bit wacky. In the last few weeks, I've completed the international leg of my summer travel, been given a beautiful nephew by my brother and sister-in-law, and fought off the demon virus gnomes that thought they could defeat me. Silly fools. I have squashed their virus gnome bodies beneath my Velcro-laden sneaker.

Anyway, I am back in both the USA and good health, so huzzah!

To that end, I should be posting a bit more frequently before getting back to regular business this fall. No more of this month between writing nonsense. That's for the birds.

You know what's pretty great about travel? I mean, beside the whole seeing awesome places thing.

Reading time.

The past three months has been an awesome reading extravaganza. Being that it's vacation time, the material has been weighted to the romantic, but a few other genres have made appearances.

Here's what I've read so far:

• The Nightmare Affair (Mindee Arnett)
• Bolted (Meg Benjamin)
• Soulless (Gail Carriger)
• Graceling (Kristin Cashore)
• Man in the Empty Suit (Sean Ferrell)
• Hooked (Liz Fichera)
• The Best Man (Kristan Higgins)
• Love Irresistibly (Julie James)
• Practice Makes Perfect (Julie James)
• Jilted (Kelly Jamieson)
• Again the Magic (Lisa Kleypas)
• Secrets of a Summer Night (Lisa Kleypas)
• Shrapnel (Stephanie Lawton)
• Just One Kiss (Susan Mallery)
• Hitched (Erin Nicholas)
• It Had to Be You (Jill Shalvis)
• Double Play (Jill Shalvis)
• Slow Heat (Jill Shalvis)
• Busted (Sydney Somers)
• Poison (Bridget Zinn)

And next up:

• The Pericles Commission (Gary Corby)
• Unveiled (Lauren Grimley)
• OCD Love Story (Cory Ann Haydu)
• False Memory (Dan Krokos)
• Further Confessions of a Slightly Neurotic Hitwoman (JB Lynn)
• A Trace of Moonlight (Allison Pang)
• Divergent (Veronica Roth)
• Code Name Verity (Elizabeth Wein)

So, what have you been reading lately?

Traveling Tunes: Ireland

Good morning, folks! Well, it's actually afternoon for me. And it's night in Australia....

So, maybe I should just stick with "Hey there!"

I am still knocking around the Emerald Isle, song in my heart as I go. Thought it only right to share some of them with you. And, so, my traveling soundtrack grows...

To begin with, I must include some musicians who I've actually seen in person:

I mean, the music is beautiful enough. But add in the balancing act? That's just impressive.

Try to listen to this next song without at least tapping your foot.

If you managed it, you've much more will power than I.

This trip is my first time hearing this next song.

Absolutely beautiful and also, nice to know that the love of Elvis spans oceans.

I would be remiss in this list if I didn't include at least one song in Irish.

If you're interested in a translation, check it out here!

To tie things up, here's another tune that, if you're anything like me, is going to get you clapping before you realize it.

And, now, I must go and learn to play a tin whistle or bodhran or fiddle or something.....

Being a hermit has its upsides...

Hello again, folks!

Quick update on my first couple of weeks in Ireland.

Short story: They were pretty damn awesome.

Slightly longer story: I got to stay in a fantastic cottage.

With this view:

Complaints? There are none. Well, okay, there was one. You see, there was this spider.... But, you know what? That's a story for another day.

My parents joined me for the first week and we explored the lovely countryside. And it was seriously lovely.

And then for the second week, it was just me and I got to play the hermit. No internet access. Very little phone service. At best a handful of television channels. Just me, a pile of notebooks and an iPad full of stories to read. Got to revise my WIP and read twelve books. That's right TWELVE. In seven days. Hello, heaven.

Plus! It was cool enough to make use of the wood burning stove:

The week was perfection, but despite loving my short stint as a recluse, it turns out I like talking to people. Who knew, right? So, I'm quite happy too now that I've moved on to an apartment closer to Galway city. And I have the internet again! Which, let's face it, I did miss. This also means that I can start research for the next story I'm working on whilst my beta readers have at the ol' WIP.

My summer of travel has served me well, thus far. But I am missing all of you. So, what have you been up to?

Traveling Tunes: Australia

Back in April, I started off my traveling soundtrack. After my time spent down under, I'm ready to add some  more songs to this list.

Now, whereas the first grouping didn't need much explanation, I feel like these might warrant a sentence or two.

To begin with, who doesn't feel like this when they're on vacation?

Plus, all the times that she sings "I'm flying" is really reminiscent of the thirty odd hours I spent in a plane.

We saw Shakespeare's Henry IV at the Opera House. The play was quite cool and the Opera House itself was stunning. The problem was that there were posters for it all over the city. And every time we saw them, the Roomie just couldn't help but start singing about another Henry.

It's like The Song that Never Ends. At least when the Roomie sings it. Because it's not just the second verse that's the same as the first, but the third....seventh....twenty-sixth....

Also, I actually attended a sporting event - a rugby game between the Rabitohs and the Cowboys. Now, we were rooting for the Rabitohs because that's who my friends told us to root for, but let's face it, I would have rooted for them anyway. Much cooler name. Anyway, I have to include this song because I have been properly programmed by sports movies to believe that it is not a true athletic event if there isn't any Queen on in the background.

I managed to stop myself from yelling "Quack...quack...quack!" whenever people would start chanting. Instead I'd just yell "Rugby!" And occasionally "Scrum!" That's a rugby thing, right?

We were in the country for Mother's Day and there were lots of commercials for different gifts folks could be getting their moms. One of them was about music and the main song they played (including clips from the video) in the background was the following:

And the voice over would say, "Just like Michael Buble says, Mother's Day is a beautiful day!" Now, I could be wrong, but I don't think that's exactly what he was singing about. Maybe I missed some nuances?

This following song is by an Australian artist my friends introduced me to during my visit. There's some language in here that's not quite kid-appropriate, but I'd say the message it fairly universal. After all, aren't we all wondering where in all of hell are the hoverboards we were promised??

Science, you did let me down. But I'm here to tell you, I will totally forgive and forget if you would just give me a flying car. Preferably a hatchback.

All right, that wraps up this segment, but I'll be adding in songs from my time at location one in Ireland next week.

Have a great weekend!

And now I want a pet wombat....

Hey there, folks! Long time, no interface.

I'm still playing the happy vagabond. Actually managed to go almost an entire month without consistent Internet service, as well as a number of weeks sans cell phone (the mind reels). It was quite bizarre, but also kind of lovely. And if I was willing to walk a while, I was generally able to find some place with free WiFi when I really needed a fix.

The first stop on my travels was Australia. It was, to put it mildly, pretty damn awesome. I wouldn't hate it if it were a little bit more accessible, but I still think it was more than worth the estimated million hours I spent in the air. If for no other reason than I got to meet this guy:

He pretty much wrecked me for all future cuteness. I mean, come on, who pictures this when they hear "wombat"?? I was expecting a lady bat, or something. But, no, this little dude came a-wandering out and just stole my heart right away. 

Not that this guy was any slouch, either.

Sydney is a really beautiful city. As well as being full of inclines. Seriously, there was no place to walk where at least part of it wasn't uphill. Probably more exercise than I've gotten in the last decade or so. My legs were still pretty much every day. And it was awesome. (Also, probably a necessity considering how much gelato I put away.)

I even walked across that bridge to the right. Though I left the walking over the arch to other people. You know, the crazy ones. 'Cause that's a thing apparently - walking over the whole arch. No, thank you.

The views outside the city were seriously mind-boggling. 

They brought to mind fairy tale adventures. Which may be a large contributing factor as to why I'm currently re-reading Kristin Cashore's Graceling. Well, the views and the fact that the book is made of awesome. 

All in all, the first leg of my journey was fairly epic. But I've now left that lovely continent and landed in the Emerald Isle. 

More on that later. For now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go continue my search for leprechauns. You understand, I'm sure.  

Lacing Up the Ol' Traveling Shoes

This weekend begins my travels. Please excuse me while I run down the street screaming and then vomit in excitement. 

*Moments pass*

Okay, that's all taken care of. 

So, I'm heading out. Which sadly means that my presence here is going to be limited. Particularly for the rest of this month, seeing as my internet access is going to be spotty. Well, that and I'm going to be real busy trying to befriend a whole passel of kangaroos. I'm assuming they run in passels, cause why not? If I was a kangaroo, I'd run in a passel. 

Then there's all the reading that needs to be done. I just downloaded a bunch of books. Had to wait until the week that I was leaving, because, let's face it. Had I gotten them any earlier, I would have read them already, thus defeating their purpose of being travel reading and illustrating my utter lack of will power. 

I'll be posting a bit more frequently during the rest of the summer, but I'll really be getting back to normal in the fall. 

Hope that all your summers are completely awesome and I look forward to catching up with all of you in June!

Traveling Tunes

This past Friday was my last day of work. I’ve worked in this office for the last two and a half years and it was a very good experience for me.

But it was time for some change.

And I figured go big or go home, right? So, starting in about a week and a half, I’m off on an adventure. Australia, Ireland, some time back in dear old NY, a visit to Maine. These are the things definitely planned for right now, but more locales may pop up along the way. Ultimately, I’m not sure where I’m going to end up. Which is equal parts awesome and terrifying.

Anyway, the first step to any great trip is the proper soundtrack, correct? I decided to start with the tunes of starting journeys:

 

Tell me this video doesn't inspire you....That's right....You can't.

I’ll be compiling more of my summer of travel soundtrack at the various destinations.

But do you have any more suggestions for Part I?

Shift in the Winds

Greetings friends!

Just wanted to let you know about some changes coming up. I won't be here tomorrow and starting Monday, I am participating in the A to Z Blog Challenge. I will be blogging six days a week (no Sundays) for the month of April. The first post topic will start with the letter "A," the second "B," and unless you missed that day in Kindergarten you can probably figure out the rest of the pattern. If you were busy that day, here are the rules of the challenge. You can also find a list on that site of all the other super cool people who are participating.

Starting in May, my blogging is going to be a little less regular. I'm off on some adventures, you see. Australia, Ireland and a number of U.S. locales. Internet connection is going to be spotty in some of my destinations, so I won't be able to keep up my regular schedule. When I do get to post, though, there are likely going to be some pretty sweet pictures to share.

Things should be back to normal in the fall.

Have a great end of the week/weekend!

"Speed Limit Enforced By Aircraft"

My imagination sometimes gets carried away.

When I was almost four, my mother tried to explain to me that a little girl who was coming to visit with us for a few weeks came from a more urban area than we did. She mentioned that the girl was excited to stay with us, because she didn’t have a backyard, so it would be fun for her to get to play in one, particularly one with a pool.

Well, I stopped listening after “doesn’t have a backyard.” Because, for whatever reason, all I could picture in conjunction with this statement was a large house set aways from the sidewalk. There was a concrete path leading up to the front door. And woe was you if you strayed off that path. Because in place of a yard, the house was surrounded by a dark abyss. One wrong step and you’d be falling into a never-ending hole.

It was years before I fully comprehended that “no backyard” did not translate to “endless black hole.” And during that time, I was, needless to say, quite terrified for the sake of that girl.

Well, I found out on my road trip this weekend, that while I may be decades removed from the above incident, my thought process still works the same way.

There are patches of road which sport signage proclaiming, “Speed Limit Enforced By Aircraft.” And every single time we rambled past one of these signs, I would picture new ways that aircraft might enforce the speed limit. Perhaps the moment that your car inched above the speed limit, the aircraft would come out from behind the trees, drop grappling hooks down on your car and lift you off the highway. Or maybe you’d be speeding along and glance in your rearview, only to see a stealth bomber flying behind you with some sirens going. Then there was the thought that these pilots must get really sick of spending their time looking for speeders and, in their annoyance, would just shoot cars off the road if they were going too fast.

Now, you know, it’s always a (very distant) possibility that none of these scenarios would happen. Maybe the signs just mean that violations of the speed limit are monitored by aircraft and you’ll get a ticket later, or something like that. But the word “enforced” implies a more active role on the part of the aircraft, don’t you think?

Anyway, I can’t speak with certainty about any of these possibilities as I kept the car to the speed limit.

And maybe cast an eye toward the sky every now and then.

Roadtrip Soundtrack

Well, it’s time for me to hit the road again. Only for a long weekend this time, though. I don’t think I’ll have to go through the Five Stages of Vacation Withdrawal again. At least I hope not. Day four is a killer.

Roomie and I are embarking on an eleven hour road trip to go visit a friend. Which really means only one thing, it’s showtunes time. It has been said by some that our choice of belting tunes makes car rides with the two of us insufferable, but I’m pretty sure those people just hate fun.

And in the interest of fun, in case you’re stuck in an office today and not barreling down the open road in a car filled with junk food, I figured you should at least have some showtunes. So here are the ten songs during which the Roomie and I are most likely to halt conversation. You know....so we can sing in a manner that could burst both lungs and eardrums.

1. Defying Gravity (Wicked)
 

 

2. Footloose (Footloose)

3. All For The Best (Godspell)

 

4.  I Want to Know What Love Is (Rock of Ages)

5. Walk Through the Fire (Buffy, "Once More With Feeling") 

6. I Dreamed A Dream (Les Mis)
 

7. King of New York (Newsies)
 

 

8. Happily Ever After (Once Upon A Mattress)

9. Cell Block Tango (Chicago)

10. Suddenly Seymour (Little Shop of Horrors)

 

Okay, so technically, number five isn't a showtune in the sense that it's been performed in a staged production. (At least not that I've seen. If you have, pretty please tell me where.) But I think the idea behind it is the same, so it gets to stay on the list.

All right folks, have a great weekend! And for all of you who feel either indifferent or rageful towards showtunes, I hope you spend the day listening to whatever music makes you feel like this:

 

It May Take A Few Days....

Greetings all!

I have returned. Victorious, of course. I was quite successful in my vacating. However, being the experienced vacationer that I am, I know what's coming next – I’ll be going through the Five Days After Vacation. Here’s how it’ll likely shake down:

Monday:

“Man, that vacation was awesome. I mean…I kissed a dolphin! And totally shot some arrows. Not at the dolphins! Just at targets. And it was awesome. Oh! And I saw a play! And ate my weight in dessert almost every day! Absolutely fantastic. I feel great. Going to be keeping this glow for a while. Sure, I’m back at work, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to lose my vacation shininess. Not a chance. I’ve turned a corner. Holding on to this sweet relaxed mindset for life. Hmmm, 10:13. Sounds like it’s time for second breakfast! And what time did I schedule today’s massage for?”

Tuesday:

“Are you kidding me?!? You people expect me to do work for the WHOLE day? How am I going to have time to get to the buffet? THERE’S NO BUFFET?? This is so unfair. Why does everything happen to me? This is totally your fault. That’s right, people who worked steadily during my week of vacation, I’m looking at you. What were you thinking including me on all these emails that I now must catch up on?? All. Your. Fault.”

Wednesday:

“Okay, okay. I get it. I’m being unreasonable. But we can work something out. How about this, I’ll read most of my emails and then I get four days off for a short snorkeling trip. No? ALL my email and three days, no snorkeling, just some sitting on the beach. Wow, you’re really playing hardball here. Fine. All my email, one substantial assignment in exchange for two days off, no traveling, just hanging around the apartment. Oh, come on! Still no? No, wait, wait! Don’t walk away. Here’s the new plan. You’ll love it! All my email, two substantial assignments, one day off so I can unpack. No? Really? All right. I guess if anyone needs me, I’ll be under my desk. I mean, at my desk! Of course. Doing all my work. I promise. Hey….would it be okay if I took a long lunch?”

Thursday:

“I’ll never get back on top of things. It’s just not possible. But that’s fine. I’ll just live my out the rest of my life at this desk. No more vacations. After all, what’s the point? They can’t last forever. I just end up back here. Having to do work. I don’t know what I was thinking in the first place. Oh, look, another meeting in fifteen minutes.”

Friday:

“Would you look at that. All outstanding emails have been addressed and I finished those assignments? When did that happen? Guess it’s not going to be that hard to get back in the swing of things after all. That’s nice. And I really did have a wonderful time away with the fam. Well worth a few rough days back in the office. But, I am back now, and it’s time to buckle down. Other people should get to go on vacations, too. I can pick up their slack while they’re gone. After all they did the same for me. See? Things aren’t going to be that bad. Just back to the normal routine. Oooh, check out this Living Social deal for a weekend getaway. And I am still packed…Yeah, so totally back to the norm….starting Monday.”

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N

Roomie has told me that my vacation packing habits are ridiculous. She has described them as “elderly” and, harkening Aladdin, “big cosmic powers, itty bitty living space.”

I’ll address the “elderly” claim first. I can’t really dispute this as Roomie’s grandmother and I once had an extended conversation about the fun of early packing, but I will say that I think there’s also a child-like element. Basically, I’m this kid:

 

I try to hold off packing, really I do, but eventually the anticipation gets to me.

I leave for this summer’s vacation this evening. I managed to suppress the packing urge until about two weeks ago. Then I was just too excited and had to start throwing things into a suitcase. Which leads to Roomie’s second issue with my packing style.

I don’t believe in the boundaries set forth by suitcase dimensions. I see them more as guidelines.

As a chronic over-packer (how do I know for sure that I’m not going to need twelve different dresses on a five day trip??), I slowly build teetering piles of belongings in the base of the luggage. I don’t stop until I am absolutely positive that I am prepared for any ensemble situation that I might run into. Then I sit on the suitcase until it closes. Which, admittedly, sometimes takes a while. But the struggle is well worth it when someone on the trip says, “It’s a little chilly tonight,” and I can respond, “I have a lovely collection of cardigans for you to choose from. What color did you have in mind?”

Plus, here’s a little secret I’ve discovered: Clothes get a lot more compact when you weigh them down with books. Sure, my suitcases tend to weigh upwards of a billion pounds, but that’s why you can get them with wheels, right? Also another reason I continue to enjoy traditional books. I just don’t think an eReader would provide as much packing heft. 

So, I stand by my packing choices. (And, maybe...just a little bit...judge the fact that Roomie doesn't pack until the morning of a trip and is rarely prepared if the journey suddenly gets extended by a month or so.)

But enough about preparation, now is the time for action. To that end, I'm off to cruise the high seas. I’ll be back on the 20^th. Hope to see you here!

Backspace

Sometimes when I’m writing, it can feel like a very solitary pursuit. Picture me, sitting in a dark room. Harsh light emanates from my computer, illuminating a face that has turned gremlin-ish due to concentration on my literary pursuits. My back is hunched, from hours at the keyboard, in a manner that would make Quasimodo’s posture seem exemplary. I mutter in a Gollum-esque fashion, skittering under my desk and crying over my Precious if the Roomie dares turn on a light.

Not really a pretty picture. (And truly sincere apologies to the Roomie for the number of times she’s had to see that crazed look in my eyes.)

But wonder of wonders….I have discovered that I am not alone.

Last week I mentioned that I was headed to the Backspace conference. I spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday up to my ears in all things writing. Not only was I finally able to put voices to the agents whose blogs I follow, but I actually got to speak to them about my work. Which was both supremely exciting and mildly nauseating. I got some positive feedback and some really constructive suggestions on how to make my work better.

I listened to published authors talk about their books and journeys. I heard presentations on how to more effectively use social media. And in perhaps one of the most helpful sessions, I took down questions from Donald Maass designed to make my characters’ lives harder and my story better.

All of these things made this the most useful conference I have ever attended. However, the best part of this experience was meeting all the other people who are trying to do exactly what I’m trying to do. Dozens and dozens of individuals who have also completed books and are now embarking on the fairly terrifying road to possible publication. I heard so many different phenomenal story summaries from these people and I got to talk to them about how nervous they were about being there. And about reading their work out loud in front of people they’d never met. And about accepting both criticism and praise gracefully.

So, I am going to head back to my computer and revert to my gremlin-y ways. Only now, I know what new directions to explore when I’m writing. And now, I know that when I come up for air, there are a whole bunch of people with whom I can email and commiserate.

And that’s just a world of awesome.

Insanity, Horcruxes and Wisdom: These Cliffs Have Everything

When I was in Ireland, I somehow ended up at the Cliffs of Insanity.

Sadly, nary a pirate ship in sight.

Luckily, I came at them from the other direction, though. Must have been using a different wind then they were using. Anyway, it meant I avoided the whole having to climb up the cliff side thing. Which was good, because I totally forgot to give Fezzick a call before I started out on the journey. Stupid, I know. But everyone makes mistakes.

I didn’t actually realize when I first got there that Ireland’s Cliffs of Moher were the Cliffs of Insanity, in disguise. Someone mentioned it while I was there, and later when I looked it up, I was thrilled to discover it was true. Who didn’t want to join Inigo and the Man in Black in their little pre-fight chat?

A couple years later, when I was watching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for the second (okay, fine, maybe fifth) time, I realized that the caves that Professor Dumbledore and Harry were going into, to hunt for the horcrux, looked familiar. Yep, the Cliffs of Moher had struck again.

On my trip I neither engaged in any sword fights, nor tracked down any mystical whoosits (at least none that I am at liberty to discuss), but I still call the trip a success. The Cliffs were absolutely beautiful. I think perhaps my favorite part of them was, as I looked down to the lower peaks, I noticed a man’s face in the stone.

Isn't he handsome?

I like to think that he keeps watch over Ireland, waiting to sound the alarm if ever a threat approaches. Considering how long he’s probably been maintaining the guard there, I’m guessing he’s seen some stuff. If I’d remembered to bring my repelling rope, I totally would have gone down to ask him some questions. He’d have all sorts of wise answers, I’m sure. But that’s for my next trip to the Emerald Isle.

If you do happen to get there before me, though, please tell him I said hi.

One other thing, the Cliffs are a little daunting. Quite a bit of height and no real railings to speak of, so just do me a favor and be careful. I don’t want you to end up like this stick man.

Well...I can't say that it doesn't get the point across.

Whether you’re looking for a moment of insanity, a hidden horcrux or just a little bit of sage advice, I think the Cliffs of Moher is the place to be. And if you just want to go and try to slip the word “inconceivable” into your conversation as much as possible, well, that’s okay too.

Squirrel Menace Update: The 2007 All-Ireland Squirrel Survey shed light on the in-fighting, and biological warfare, occurring between the greys and the reds. The battle continues, with the public now being asked to report squirrel sighting whether the creatures are dead or alive. We may be able to use this rodent disunity to our advantage.