“Your gut isn’t as big as I thought it would be” – The Harvey Family visits Dublin, Part I

Monday, November 19, 2007

James Joyce Library, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

3:38 p.m.

(unedited)

The last week was pretty eventful. I’ll start at the beginning. I flew in from Dublin last Saturday night and was greeted by Stephen, Mom, and Dad, whose second sentence after seeing me is honored by today’s title. Stephen, who was awesome about driving Mom and Dad and everyone all week, dropped us back at the hotel where M&D showed me the duffel bag full of sneakers, Sports Illustrateds, granola bars, bike lights, hats, Sox World Champs banner, and chewing gums that they had brought all the way across the Atlantic for me. Awesome! I changed out of my standard “wear something Belmont/Boston” shirt that I wear whenever I’m flying (this flight got Coco Crisp) and the three of us headed downstairs to meet up with Kathryn and Brian. K&B had brought me a 2007 Red Sox World Series Champions shirt (again, awesome), and we all caught up on everyone’s various adventures.

The next morning we met up for church and I showed everyone around the chic downstairs of Fortescue Lane. We caught the bus down to school and I did my best tour guide impression as the weather turned from sunny to cloudy to rainy in about 10 minutes. After the tour ended we all headed into town and grabbed lunch at the Porter House. Brian and I had milkshakes that looked like they belonged on a culinary school brochure and tasted pretty good too.

Later that night we started the beginning of what was, for me, eating like absolute kings. We had a great meal at a little Italian restaurant. Mom said she felt bad when she realized that all I’d been eating for the last two and half months was pasta, but I assured her that the meal in front of my had absolutely nothing in common with the Dunnes Stores ziti and microwaved Roma pasta sauce that I’ve mastered since being here. Either way, she said steaks were in order the next night and as soon as I finished one delicious meal I immediately began looking forward to the next night’s.

I had to spend most of the day Monday at school doing work, which worked out because M,D, and K went up north with Stephen to see Nan. I felt bad about having to cancel going to the Jameson with Brian, but felt like the combination of me having an uncharacteristically large amount of schoolwork, being sick, and drinking whiskey early in the morning was just not a good idea. That night we went to Eliza Blues, a little steak place on the Liffey. My meal was incredible, and we talked to the owner on the way out who told Mom about how people get blown off the Cliffs of Moher all the time by doing what I did. This was shortly after I told her I was going back there when Kevin and Len come out. But hey, at least the steak was great.

Tuesday I had school again all day (I know, school? what the heck?) We finalized plans for the trip out west, and I spent at home getting work done. I had a presentation Wednesday morning in OB, went home, did work, got sleep, woke up, and caught the train out to Ballyhaunis.

Back to work for now, I’ll write more about the rest later.

4:58