2-26 –06 through 2-29-06
 
TROUBLE IS BREWING…
 
Noeline was upset about something.  In the past I would think that I did something to upset her, but in the last few years I realized that the world did not evolve around me- good or bad and I figured I hadn’t done anything wrong, so she must be upset about something that happened while I was out on my job interview.
 
She was very short with me and abrupt with her directions.  She had to go to Castlebar in the morning and I knew that she didn’t like to make the drive and the cost of parking and attending boring meetings – so I figured that must be occupying her mind.
 
 When we returned to the house, I tried to make myself helpful with packing stuff for Ghana, but her mood made me feel that I should just go to my room and get out of her hair.  I really wanted to go to my room, but I was still trying to get a hold of my cousin Teresa to see if I could get a ride from Mary in the AM or have to walk to her house.  I didn’t want to walk to her house (I would die!) but if I had no other choice, I would have to.   But I hadn’t heard from her and I kept trying to call and no answer.( Teresa was at an Irish wake!)  There was nothing I could do and I was tired from the events of the day, if not physically but mentally, I figured I would talk to Teresa in the AM.  I heated my two hot water bottles and got my flashlight and made my way to the stone house. 
 
The next morning I was up and packed and as I came out of the stone house walkway I was expecting the throngs of dogs to jump all over me- but all I saw was Noeline with her head down storming through the front door to the van.  She snapped, “Your cousin Teresa called last night and she can’t pick you up, I have to drive you to her so we have to Chop Chop!”  I said “OK’, got all my bags into the back of the van and started to pull the blanket that she keeps over the car windows off (to keep the frost from sticking) and by mistake I caught one of the wiper blades.  Noeline of course walked past just as I had done it and said- “don’t ever do that alone again- get in and I’ll fix it!”  Man, with that tone I was in that van as quick as I could and just sat and didn’t dare breath!
  [read on]

Feb. 24-25, 2006

I GOTTA GET A JOB !!

Well, I’m looking for a job. OK – I HAVE to make money, and getting a job seems to be the only way to get. But I HATE WORKING! (This statement does not surprise everyone that knows me) So I have to start looking and I have help too- her name is Marie and she is one of my cousins. She combs the weekly Mayo News and calls me up to tell me what’s available. But she also calls me on what I have done towards getting a job – everyday! I think that my sister Traci has cloned herself and moved over here without me knowing! And since I know that Marie will call me the following day and will ask what I have done on the current job lead, I have to do SOMETHING in order to give her my report. But I HHHHaaaaaTTTTEeeee working! Because they expect me to be there at a certain time and leave at a certain time. That’s what I really have against working! It’s not the work it’s self – it’s the time requirement! I like to do things on MY time frame. My attitude is: Tell me what to do then get out of my way and I’ll do it. I’m certainly not lazy, but I like to do it in my own time. When I first got my job as a bookkeeper at the florist/landscaping job- they were “you be here at this time and leave at this time” kind of place. But I didn’t like that, so the last few years I got them to accept me on my terms “I’m on time, the moment that I walk in the door” that might be 10:00 or 10:30 or even 12:00…and I MIGHT not show up at all today, but don’t worry, I’ll have my job done…I like it that way and always have. I got spoiled in my very first job and I find that I work much better and happier that way. I get away with it- BECAUSE I’M GOOD at what I do!

But alas, I have to start over again! I am a trained bookkeeper and manager, but I don’t want to do that job in Ireland. Because it will be a noose around -my neck. They expect you to be in a 9AM and have a ½ to hour lunch and click out at 5PM. YUCK! And because of my “work visa” situation- I can only work for THEM and I will be nothing but an indentured servant for my one-year term with them! DOUBLE YUCK! PLUS- if I work 9-5 when will I have time to go out and get AMAZING photo’s for my card company in America? I have worked in the traditional work field for the last 30 years – and I’m not even close to being rich – so I want to try a less “traditional” field. So a 9-5 job is not it! But I need money, so how can I make this “work” thing work? (I know my sister Traci is rolling her eyes at this point!)

[read on]

Having to leave the hostel