gagirl75

Yeah, so...sorry I suck at posting on here. I just don't find that my life is that exciting to come home and blog about. I know, why bother having one then, right? I still like reading what is going on in everyone else's lives, and occasionally I get the urge to post...hence my appearance.

The only thing I really have to report is that I am shrinking. Funny how getting up and off your butt does wonders for your figure. I've lost 45 lbs since the beginning of May. I am not stopping there, I just rarely know what the number is, as I'm only weighing myself at the doctor's office. In the past, when attempting to "diet" I constantly monitored what my weight was...day to day. I don't recommend that. Also, I don't consider what I'm doing now as a "diet." That's a dirty word, I'm sorry. This is all about lifestyle changes, things that I want to do going forward, not modifications for a small window of time to achieve said results. I am trying to change the way I approach food and exercise so that it becomes second nature to me, and in the process now, I am losing weight, which is fantastic. I went through my closet and pulled out all the clothes I had put back that no longer fit and I'm getting to wear clothes I haven't seen or thought about in a while. I've never been the one to be up on the latest fashion, so wearing clothes that are 3-4-5 years old is a joy to me! It saves me having to go out and buy clothes during this transition phase. Hopefully by next Spring I will be at a place that I will be comfortable with and can focus on collecting a more permanent wardrobe.
Sorry to sound braggy, I'm not full of myself at all...I hesitate to talk about all this too much because I don't want to jinx myself...this is something I've wanted to happen for a long time, and thankfully it is going well so far. I don't spend much time at all online anymore. I check my email at work and I'll look at myspace and facebook usually at night if I remember.
I hope everyone out there is well...I certainly do miss the conversations and silliness with some of you and I trust everyone is enjoying this wonderful Fall weather!

R.I.P.
It was good while it lasted!

Long time no see LJ.
Been AWOL b/c of computer issues and crazy life. I hope everyone is doing well! I'm dying to get on MSN for a chat soon to catch up.

If they snub Atlanta again I'm done.

Why does Jordan keep writing posts and deleting them a few days later?

Discuss amongst yourselves. :p

I'm alive!
In case anyone was wondering...I don't think I've posted since the summer? I dunno. I didn't have a pc for two months and work has been I-N-S-A-N-E. 12 hour days, weekends, it's caused the airheadedness to reach a whole new level. I can't tell you how many times in the past two months I've worn a shirt inside out, or frozen when asked to enter a password (b/c I CAN'T REMEMBER) or misplaced a pen only to discover I stuck it in my ponytail and it's been in my hair all day...it's scary. It makes me an easy target for ridicule and laughs, but that suits me fine. If I can make someone laugh, so be it I suppose.
I have missed talking to all my buddies! I keep up with a few via emails, and manage to speak to Monica every few weeks via phone, but I am so out of touch with many. Ronan-I haven't spoken to you in ages! :( Yessi...it's been too long. I finally caught Helen online the other night, and there are so many more.
Sorry, this sounds way too sappy, which was not my intent. :/

'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Turtle Power!

Hmm, I don't really have anything to say. I know I've been AWOL lately, but it's been self-imposed for personal reasons. I do miss talking to you all and have not become a snob or think I'm too good for you or anything.
Here are a few pictures.
This is my grandma and her beloved Jake at my grandpa's gravesite. Jake was his baby-he loved that dog and that dog loved him. We took him up to the church today to see the grave and take his picture. (Oh-yeah I'm wondering too while the appropriate party hasn't inscribed the date of death on the tombstone?)


This is my parents new puppy. His name is Sport. Such a typical puppy-he loves to chew up things and run and play. My brother got a puppy from the same litter so his brother comes over a lot and they play in my parents yard.


That's all for now. I put up some new pictures on my myspace page too, as I finally hooked up my scanner again and got happy with that for a few hours. Hope everyone is well.

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

Told ya I loved that place. Wish I were in Ireland now. :-(

Can't sleep. Wondered in here.
We've been having hail storms all night. The wind is blowing something fierce and it's not normal wind, it's scary wind...wind that talks to ya. Windwhisperer. OMG...lame.
Anyhoo, just mindless rambling. Between a stormy night and seeing and listening to Atlantic I feel a bit spent. I like the video though. I don't pretend to know for sure what its true meaning but I was intrigued by the characters and how some acknowledged the main guy and some didn't. The couple at the beginning were so blinded by love that they didn't see him. The young boy playing with the soccer/footy ball did, but didn't understand who he was. The older woman already knew her fate. The older man didn't realize he was searching for death. The little children knew him, knew what he stood for but didn't care and didn't want him enjoying any of their fun. The teenage/young 20's lads were wreckless as most are their age and didn't see him.
They all had the same fate but either chose not to see or were oblivious to it.

That's my take on it. They're not deep or profound, my words that is...I realize that. :p

I think I'm secretly a bit of an Ashlee Simpson fan.
*Ducks*

Ok...please, before you judge me, let me try and explain. I wasn't around for all the hype when she first "burst onto the scene." I was in Ireland that summer, so I wasn't around to have "Pieces of Me" beat into my head. I'm sorry...but I kinda like that song! I know I shouldn't, but damn it, it's catchy. I just heard it on one of my digital radio channels on cable and I found myself singing. I always thought I loathed the likes of her.

I think I know where this is coming from. Last weekend I went to a birthday party and it was attended by some very fabulous gay men and they played another song of hers "L-O-L-O-L-O-V-E" and they freaking loved it and played it several times. I'd never heard it, but I was drunk of my arse like the rest of them and we were tearing up the floor with that song! Now I have that catchy bit stuck in my head.

We're all allowed our guilty pleasures and I'm claiming both of those songs. I don't know any of her other songs, and frankly I'm afraid to hear them, for fear I might start enjoying them as well.

MEMORIES!
Can't sleep, once again. I was checking my email and looked over at my folders, and for some reason opened my Ireland folder. As most who read this, or know me in general, you all know I spent the summer of 2004 living and working in Ireland. I tend to talk about and/or refer to it often, and I'm sure it gets a bit old to most, but that experience was the most liberating and exciting time of my life. I'd never been out of the country, or traveled far off from home alone before...but this I knew I could handle. Having the opportunity to live in the country you dreamed of seeing your entire life was an overwhelming experience, one I'll never forget.
Anyhoo, back on topic...I'm going to post the first few emails I sent back home once I arrived, as they provide an insight as to what I was going through during that time. The emails are a bit corny I realize, but you have to remember I was a girl living her dream!
[EDIT-posted 4 or 5...couldn't resist, please read! :p]

***********************************************************************************************************-----Original Message-----
From: Julie D****** [mailto:jdugg@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 2:02 PM
To: Ireland group
Subject: Ireland: I made it!



Hello everyone,

Sorry about the group email, but that is what I will be doing a lot this summer to conserve time on the computer.

Well...I made it here safely! The plane ride was fine. Not too many bumps or anything, just a few too many babies near me! I wasn't able to get much sleep though on the plane...I think that had to deal with the fact that by the time I got tired (1am GA time) it was bright and sunny outside the plane b/c we'd gotten so far over to this side.

I was able to navigate the airport and get some money changed over to euros. The only problem I encountered was getting the exact change for the bus (I went back to bureau de change to get a fiver changed).

I was able to find the right bus but was refused a ride on the first one b/c it was already too full of luggage. A nice Irish man helped me get the suitcase off the bus when I got to the hostel.

I've had a nap, and a shower and I'm off to round up some dinner or something.



As much as I tried to prepare for this trip, I realized as soon as I got on the plane that I could have never prepared for what it would feel like once I left everyone I know and love. I know these first few days will be a little strange and I'm just trying to take it in stride. I look forward to making my way over to Galway where I hope to make it a home for three months. Please continue to keep me in your prayers as I get used to being in a foreign country for the first time, alone and excited.

I hope everyone is well there, and I look forward to hearing from you on email. As soon as I'm settled and have an address, I will provide it.

Love to everyone,

Julie
***********************************************************************************************************
-----Original Message-----
From: Julie D****** [mailto:jdugg@hotmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2004 2:03 PM
To: Ireland group
Subject: Ireland Part 2


Hello All!
Thanks for all the encouraging words my friends. I can't tell you wonderful it was to pull up my email after I wrote the first email back and find so many responses to the email!!! I felt so loved.
I had orientation today and it was quite a bit of information to take in in an hour and a half. The people that run the program are so incredibly friendly and welcome to help you out. I got a few tips on Galway, and I head there tomorrow.
I made a new friend, as mom would say. Her name is Melanie. She is from Canada (funny considering my feelings on Canadians!! j/k) and she is really nice. She booked a room at the hostel I'm at for the night and we went to get some dinner and now we are both sitting here at the internet cafe. Tomorrow we're catching the bus to Galway. Another girl, Jenny, that we met is there tonight and we'll meet up with her tomorrow when we arrive. Melanie seems really nice. I've known her only like 3-4 hours, but it's nice to have someone to talk to!
I have a mobile number. I lasted three days without a phone! Nah-it's actually a good idea to have a mobile number, so potential employers can reach me. It won't be in use until tomorrow morning.
Here is the number. This is how you should dial it from America if you want to call me:
00-353-87-985-0413. Long I know. I don't expect anyone to call (except family) but if the urge strikes you, please do! It doesn't cost me anything to accept calls, but you should check to see how much your company will charge you. My cell in America is pretty cheap for international calls. Again, I don't expect anyone to call, just thought I'd share the number, just in case!!!
Please be in prayer for a job and a good place to live. Melanie and I are wondering about the job situation, and trying to keep a positive attitude!!!
I'm feeling much more at ease here, and I'm really looking forward to getting out of Dublin. I'm ready for the pastural, rolling green hills, and not the traffic and smelly streets!
Please keep the emails coming. They are a little treasure to me over here, where I know now one person!
Love,
Julie
***********************************************************************************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: Julie D****** [mailto:jdugg@hotmail.com]
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2004 7:29 AM
To: Ireland group
Subject: My Ireland Address


Hello everyone!
I have finally settled in somewhere to live, and it's great. The prayers really worked on this one guys. I have my own room in a nice place, Nicki is an awesome roommate. I don't know John well, he's the guy that lives there, but he seems nice, and there is another Irish girl coming next week to live there.

My address is:
14 Altenagh House
Nuns Island
Galway
County Galway
Ireland

hmm...wondering about the Nuns Island bit? Well, we live on this small piece of land in the River Corrib, called Nuns Island. It's right across from where all the pubs and shops are in Galway, and off the road going to Salthill (the beach). Basically, on the Island there is: A car park, a huge cathedral, a secondary school for boys, a few b&bs and our apartment building. It's connected to land by a few small bridges that you can drive on, so cars do come on it. We've heard that we share the island with actual nuns, but they don't speak, so we can't ask them about their lives. What we can't figure out is if they don't speak at all, or if they speak to one another, but no one else. It's a great location, close to lots of pubs and the market.

I can't say it enough. You make friends here so quickly, and you have these condensed amounts of time together, and then they leave! In our flat, this girl Billie used to live there (until this morning). She was doing research at NUIG-National University of Ireland, Galway. There she was involved in a Christian organization. She met Nicki at church one Sunday, told Nicki about the flat. Nicki moved in that day. She introduces Nicki to a bunch of people in this organization. Then along comes me and I meet Nicki, who introduces me to all these people. Well, they are all wrapping up their time here, because the semester is over. So, today Billie left. Another couple of guys left this weekend, and by Thursday they will all be gone. Nicki and I were talking about how much time we've spent with these people and we can't believe they are leaving. It's just such a different experience than I'm used to. I know as soon as they leave, we will meet more amazing people. We already have. I'm met some great people here, and I feel so blessed to know so many interesting people.

Tonight we are having a big Friends Finale viewing at the flat. I'm the only person who has seen it! Don't worry, I didn't spill the details to anyone, and I'll probably get sad again when I watch it tonight! They are obviously behind over here. I tell you, the UK is OBSESSED with Friends. It is on like 12 hours a day, and I don't exaggerate. The finale airs tonight in the UK, then again on Thursday on an Ireland channel. Between all that are tons of old episodes, shown throughout the day. Pretty much, whenever you turn on the tv, Friends is on. I haven't seen any episodes of 90 though, but they do show The OC a bunch.

Well, am off to run some errands. PLEASE---feel free to write to me, send me packages, come visit, whatever. I will not refuse any of those options. I would love to get mail...hint hint!

Take Care!
Love, Julie
***********************************************************************************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: Julie D****** [mailto:jdugg@hotmail.com]
Sent: Mon 5/31/2004 11:02 AM
To: Ireland group
Cc:
Subject: Typical Irish Weather

Well today I am finally having my first day of typical weather. Rainy, windy
and cool are the three words that come to mind. I don't mind it today, because
I know it's something to deal with here. Now, in a couple of weeks, if it's
still like this, I may not be so accommodating.

Well, I have great news. I finally got a j-o-b. Let me just say that Nicki my
roommate, is like my guardian angel. She not only got me this great room in the
apartment, she's the reason I got a job. She applied for a job and was offered
part time work. She really wanted full time and told the guy. So on Thursday he
called her and said one of the girls he hired for full time quit, so she was
being bumped up to fulltime. She was in my room when he called and she told me
after she hung up the story. So I'm like-CALL HIM BACK and see if he still
needs a part timer. At least I could be earning some money. So she called him
back and he said for me to come with her the next day. So I went with her and
he interviewed me for like 2 minutes and was like-ok, let's give it a go. Not
sure what that means.
Ok, so the job is at a Coffee shop/cafe/icecream parlor. The name of it is
Mocha Beans. They are the Starbucks of Galway. (No starbucks in Ireland). So
they are everywhere, and our boss is opening the newest one. So, on Friday we
went in, I had the interview, changed into work clothes, and for the next 10
hours, we cleaned the space. He took over a cafe that had been closed since
November. We worked our butts off. So then, the next day, Saturday, we opened!
Now, you must realize, we'd had NO training, no idea what we were doing. There
were four of us, and the owner. Nicki and the owner know how to use the coffee
machine. So we opened and fumbled our way through Saturday. It doesn't take a
genius to scoop icecream. My boss said I was the icecream champion, because I
did most of the scooping. Nicki was the coffee girl, and the other two worked
in the kitchen. We sell sandwiches and pastries. Saturday was also a ten hour
day. I also worked yesterday, and that was an eight hour day. We were slammed
yesterday and still fumbling around a bit, but I must say that our boss hired a
great crew.
I don't think I'm part time anymore. I'm scheduled for loads of hours. He's
already hired another guy. It's going to be busy on the weekends. The shop is
in Salthill and we are on the beach! So my view is the Atlantic. I take my
lunch and sit by the water-it's lovely. We get free meals at work, so that's a
nice perk.
So, in closing, an answered prayer. I am off today and tomorrow. I'm
exhausted, it's hard to go from not working for two and a half weeks to working
hard! But I'm so thankful to have work and to be earning money! We get paid
once a week so that's good for the cash flow.
Thanks for all the prayers about work. I was getting discouraged. Continue to
pray for a good stay here, and I am thinking of you all.
Love,
Julie
***********************************************************************************************************
Wednesday, June 23rd 2004
Julie D****** <jdugg@hotmail.com> wrote:
Hello out there,
I'm not sending this to the usual people because sometimes I feel restricted in what I say because my family is reading, or people that I don't talk to that much are reading...why I worry about such things is another matter. It's not like I have any big secrets to share, but now I feel less inhibited.

Well, Brent has come and left and boy that was quite a trip. It's very stressful entertaining someone for eight days straight. I really am this independent person and at times I just wanted to be by myself and not have to worry about him. I'm also the type of person that worries that the person is not having a good time and that it's my sole responsibility to ensure that they do. But, as many wise people have told me and that I know deep inside, only you can make yourself happy.

So, you are wondering why I'm talking like this today? I blame it on the weather. What a day we are having....COLD AND RAINY AND WINDY. It feels like the dead of winter! I have on a shirt, sweater and a jacket and I need gloves. I am drenched from head to toe and I was only outside for like 2 minutes. This is the Ireland I've heard of, but have had the pleasure of not seeing until today. Yesterday Holly and I were in shorts and tank tops at the beach...it's insane.

So, Brent (sorry I'm jumping around) went home and told mom and dad they should be concerned that I won't come home in August. He told them I was too comfortable and he sensed I might not come home as planned. Seriously, what is the deal there? People have been telling me this since before I left. Although, he does have a small point. I could easily stay longer, if the situation would allow. I am really comfortable here and I do love it here. I have been so blessed by my circumstances thus far, and I have really seen the answer to so many prayers since I've arrived. At this point however, unless I write and tell you that I have met the love of my life (who would have to be Irish and tall) then I wouldn't worry-not that you are.

So, I would like to report that dance clubs in Ireland are similar to ones in the States. We went to one the other night and had a great time. There was the token older guy that won't take the hint when you don't want to dance with him, and the couple who need to get a room and then a lot of rowdy dancers just having fun. Nicki and I are hooked on Crazy in Love by Beyonce right now, and when they played it we went crazy...get it? However they didn't play Don't Go There, but it wouldn't be the same without my UGA girls.

Work is going fine. Still serving up that coffee and icecream. We all have our specialty work that we do and somehow I have gotten the job of icecream bitch. No, seriously, Ronan (my boss) and I do the majority of that work as the others do food prep. I am not that great with knives, so I don't work that much in the kitchen. Ronan always compliments me on my scooping abilities and my banana split making, and Nicki constantly rags me about it. She is the coffee girl, and he compliments her on that. He's funny, because you can tell he wants to make you feel good. We have a good laugh at work.

Soccer is all over the place right now. Euro 2004 is going on and I have watched more Soccer in the past week than I ever thought I would. I'm getting into it though. England has this amazing player, Wayne Rooney-he's only 18 and he's so good. I suspect Beckham gets jealous b/c now all the attention is not on him. John is impressed with me picking up the game and knowing anything about it. Our favorite game is for me to guess which color is for which team.

Well kids, I guess I'm going to leave for now. Italy is playing Bulgaria as I type, but I needed a break. Hope everyone is going good, and doing all sorts of fun things this summer. Let me know how you are doing.

Cheers,
Julie[/i]
***********************************************************************************************************

HA HA HA...I'm so funny. I called myself an icecream bitch. I did sling a lot that summer, and my left arm did benefit from scooping all that cold icecream. I remember having to take the icecream out and washing the icecream freezer...oh that was fun.

Thanks for reading those, if you indeed read them. They provide insight into what I was like 2 years ago, when I didn't know most of ye!

Wow.
Good show.
Already posted like a fangirl on the Keane board, oddly and appropriately enough.
I took some pictures but the lighting for the show is not conducive to producing good shots from amateur photogs in the crowd. If you want to see some live shots, look at Ronan's livejournal entry. The performances were only a week apart. :p
Gary had a cold, poor thing. He also had a hole on the undersleeve of his shirt. Had you seen him on the street you'd not have guessed he was the frontman for a rock group, or maybe you would? I appreciate the humility and not acting like a bunch of assholes, dressing up some stiff uniform type clothing.
The new songs sounded great. I'm apparently out of the loop, having heard them for the first time tonight. I should have known many were floating around the net. Meh, I didn't mind hearing them live and in person for my ears first listen. :-D
I'll tell you something, he could give old Tommy C some tips on how to have enjoyable banter with the crowd. I felt like we were getting a comedy act, along with the music.

He mentioned he'd see us again in May, which makes me a happy girl!

Me at 18

Me at 30

...of my building last night/early this morning, two people had sex in the back of a Saturn. Why do I know this? Well, it was around 2:30am and I was lying there trying to go to sleep when I hear a car crank in the parking lot and loud music coming from it. After 5 minutes I'm thinking "Why is the car still in the parking lot?" I go to my window and I spot the car in question, because the headlights were on and...well...it was a rockin.
How odd? I mean, if it were the parking lot of Wal-Mart or someplace YOU DIDN'T LIVE I would try and understand more, or if you were still living in your parents house and parked at the end of some dead end street, but this was 10 feet from the building! Why not go inside to your comfortable bed and get it on? Trust me on this, one or both of the people in question lives here because I've seen that car here before. There are only 20 apartments here, so you're able to recognize these things.


And no, you perverts, I did not stand there and watch. I just laughed and turned on my fan (to block the car stereo noise) and went to sleep. :p

Hellogoodbye.
This video is so shitty it deserves its own entry. Shimmy Shimmy something something. People like this crap? How sad I am for them. This is what I get for watching MTV2 at 4am.

It's 4am. I've been up obsessing about packing. I'm moving today...in a few hours. I am very excited, because I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sick of Athens. I went and signed my lease today and picked up my keys. I lived in this building before I moved back to Athens, so it's almost like going home. It's not the same apartment though, although the landlord told me my old one was just rented at the beginning of this year.

Anyhoo, I have no idea when I'll have regular internet connection there. Don't miss me too much ok? :p I know your eyes are welling up right now.

My grandpa died today, around 2 in the afternoon. I feel relieved for him. His soul was already gone and now his body is at rest. He was a deeply religious man and I know he's in heaven now, and feeling no pain.

I'm not sad right now. I'm sure the funeral will be tough but I can't help but feel like he's better off and for that I'm grateful.

So much going on right now...I really can't keep up with my own life at the moment. Isn't it funny how nothing will be going on in your life for a while, and then one thing happens, and then you find yourself overwhelmed with so much going on? Maybe it's just me.
1. I got the apartment! Relief does not even begin to describe how I feel right now. I cannot wait to be there. I have all these projects that I want to do when I get in there, including painting my room and the bathroom. I also need to get a new duvet and sheets, a new shower curtain and accessories and rugs to put out as my new place is all hardwood floors. I have to move out of my apartment in Athens next weekend, and then live in transition for a week as my new apartment will not be available until the first weekend in March. I'll stay with friends and live out of a suitcase...no biggie.
2. Job search. It's going ok, I hope to kick it into HIGH GEAR once I'm in Atlanta. For the month of March I will be commuting back to Athens to work at my current job. No, that's not the ideal situation but I can handle it for a month. I have a friend I can stay with a few nights a week in Athens if I don't want to drive back and forth every night.
3. My grandfather is very sick, on the verge of death. I don't know how to describe how I feel right now. I lot of mixed emotions as of course I don't want to lose him, but he's in a lot of pain right now and laid up in the hospital. Honestly, I think if he were coherent he'd say he was ready to die and maybe that would make all of us feel a little bit better about the situation. As it stands now, he has no idea who anyone is and is quite erratic in his behavior. I am going home tomorrow morning to go see him. To preface, I realize no one enjoys seeing loved ones sick, but I cannot handle it. I break down and/or shut down. I find myself bursting into tears randomly and without control. That is not normal for me. I had to go sit in my car yesterday during work and get it out. Today at Eckerd I started tearing up...I have no idea what set me off. I'm just very emotional right now. It's hard to justify all the excitement I feel right now about all the great things coming up in my near future as I have this incredibly sadness tugging at my heart as well as I realize that I have to let my grandfather go. I've had him for 30 years, and that's a hell of a long time for a grandchild. I want what is best for him.

Thanks for taking the time to read this if you made it through this long post. It helps me just to put it into writing. I am trying to get better at not bottling up my feelings.