This has been quite a week for weather! We had 100 km/h winds on Sunday, pouring rain on Monday, and then a regular day of clouds with spots of sunshine on Tuesday and it's warming up a bit again! Crazy stuff!
Haley had a soccer game on Sunday, and Celtic won 4 to 2. It was fun to watch, but will be even better once Haley gets cleared to play. To be able to play, she needs international clearance from USA, FAI, and FIFA. No, she's not a professional soccer player - why do you ask?! Seriously, seems like a lot of releases needed for her to just play soccer here, however, they want proof that her parents know she is here, proof that we are here legally and with a legitimate job, all that evidence that would show that she wasn't just brought here to play soccer for the Castlebar Celtic. I can report that so far, all the soccer clubs have provided food and drinks after the games for all the players and spectators. Really is pretty cool! Everyone has a nice clubhouse.
Last week we trekked to the Garda station to meet with immigration. We were granted our VISA extensions, so Zach, Haley, and myself are good to stay through September of 2014! Which is great because we are really enjoying Ireland! The Garda also took new photos for us, as the ones in the computer system were taken at the airport after our flight overseas, and we all looked terribly tired!
This week I have been just trying to get more stuff unpacked - got the last items unwrapped - and trying to sort through where things should be, getting rugs for the hardwood floors, and hanging pictures. On Tuesday morning I walked the dogs at the mall as usual, and since it was pouring rain, there were not many people there. We had a good walk but lots of other animals were out enjoying the rain. Chloe was beside herself and kept running and then barking and making an absolute nuisance of herself! At one point she had Ducks to the left of her, Cows were to the right, and there she was, stuck in the middle on lead, she was, stuck in the middle on lead! (Yes there is a tune in my head as I write it and I am sure all you clowns and jokers can figure it out!)
On Wednesday I had the pleasure of driving south to meet Sarah Megan for lunch! She is a co-worker from Prairie State Legal Services (actually one of the people who interviewed and hired me there 17 years ago!) She was touring Ireland with family and so we were able to meet at the Grand Hotel in Moate for lunch and to chat for a bit. I failed to get a picture - RATS! It was great to see her and it made me think of all the people I worked with and what a great job I had! I LOVED MY JOB! Anyway - I salute the hardworking attorneys at Prairie State Legal Services in Illinois. They are an incredible bunch of people.
The drive to Moate was interesting. I took some R numbered roads which are not too bad - they have markings and all, and also took two L numbered roads, which can be hit or miss - generally no markings and tight lanes, but not usually a lot of cars so it went well. The Google maps GPS actually worked great at getting me there, though sometimes it would say, "In 500 meters, turn left" and then it wouldn't give a name for the road I would be turning on! Fortunately, I had the road numbers written down and got it all put together and made it to Moate in record time!
Nights are starting to get pretty chilly so we turned on the heat last night and had a kerosene delivery today to get ready for the cooler temps. Today is lovely again, up in the 60's and spots of sunshine so it's all grand!
Final bit of information - we have accepted an offer on our house in Illinois! If all goes as expected, we will be closing at the end of October. It's sort of bittersweet, as I absolutely loved my house and the people on the cul de sac, but it will be good to reduce our expenses while we are living in Ireland.
So, off to run errands and all those things I can do during the day since I am home!
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