For your amusement here is another "self-portrait" of me on the Aran Island of Inishmore. (The one where I got stranded). I am rocking the sunglasses..that are now lost forever on a bus somewhere in Ireland. Off to take engagement pictures and work..if I get a free moment at work now I will post about the remainder of the trip.

I am back from my trip. Wish I was still there:-), but here I sit in my apartment that feels strange to me in Lexington. Funny how just being gone a few weeks makes my apartment feel foreign. Guess it doesn't help that it is the last place I want to be right now. I am completely jetlag..went to bed at 9pm and up by 8am. I suppose that is a good schedule, but if you know me at all..that is not even close to my normal body rhythm. I will give you a summary on the remainder of the trip soon. The rest of the trip was spent in Kerry..and then one night in Dublin. The short of is it that I am heartbroken, yet again. Shocking I know. I am prepared to hear I told you so from those of you closest to me. The problem is that a huge part of my heart is always going to be in Ireland..actually in one specific place. Anyways, will explain more, but in the meantime here is a preview of one of my "self portraits". This picture was my first night in Ireland at a sunset on the side of the ride.

I have been meaning to update you on my trip for several days but it has been a bit of whirlwind thus far! I will give you a quick run down. Day 1: Trying to leave Lexington. My flight was delayed by like 4 hours because of bad weather in Newark (which I knew was a possiblility). We get on the ground at 7:00 in Newark (my flight scheduled to leave at 7:10). I run as hard as I can what would be a good 15 min walk..running people over on the moving escalators (stay to the right if you are just standing people)..get down to gate 94..oh but no, the gate was moved to already one I passed 73. So I run back down there and the gate is of course closed. There was a not so nice not so friendly attendent there who was not help me. Finally I got a bit rude and told her I could see they will still loading stuff would she see if I could get on the plane. I did get on..after they knocked on the outside plane door..and I was the annoying late girl getting on the plane. After that I thought I would nearly pass out from the adrenline rush..started getting cold sweats, dizzy as we are taking off. When we got in the air I was able to get some orange juice and was fine. The plane was VERY small though...only 6 seats across and 1 aisle. I wouldn't recommend traveling Continental international. Just my two cents. Anyways, no sleep that night - small plane, chatty ladies, crying babies and a big guy sitting next to me. I do arrive in Dublin on no sleep, but miracoulously my suitcase did make it! Day 2: No sleep, driving on the wrong side of the road. I printed off these directions from the internet but they weren't so good..so me and the map had some quality time. I somehow managed to get out of Dublin..and to Limerick at least until I had to ask for directions. Second stop for direction was Ennis..and then I got lost somehow. I ended up following the signs leading to Cliffs of Moher and someone ended up in Doolin. The whole time I had to think left - drive left. And I kept getting in on the wrong side of the car. I did hit a few walls with the passenger side - you don't realize how much you lose your concept of where and how big your car is when you switch the side of the car in which you are sitting to drive. I thought I had made a big dent, but fortunately I looked at the rental papers and it was already there.:-) Made it to Doolin, showered and took a nap and forced myself to get up. It was a long drive down-nearly 5 hours. I then went and drove around a bit - caught a gorgeous sunset on a side road (amazing pics) and had dinner at a pub. I ended up staying a bit at the pub as they started playing live music and I met a couple from San Francisco that I started talking with. Day 3: The plan was to go to Inshmaan (one of the Aran Islands) and spend the night. But I decided at last minute to just go to Inishmoore for the day and come back and stay at the same place. This was the plan at least. I get over there...it is breathtakingly beautiful. I toured the island..spent some time by the water..it was great. I go back to get on the ferry and guess what..I had the wrong departure time. I wasn't completely crazy...but somehow I had a ticket for another island..which of course had another departure time. So, I was stuck on the island - noone else going out. My stuff all over another hotel..no way to get there..and nothing but my camera..brush..and money.(can't go anywhere without a brush). So I had to tell myseld don't panic, don't panic. I got a place to say..thank goodness it is off season or they would have all been booked and went to the supermarket for a toothbrush. I watched another sunset by the water while eating my dinner of chips and curry..with a some bread of course.:-) Day 4: I was going to take the Doolin ferry back, but it wasn't leaving until 4 and I have lots of driving to do today. So, I took a 8am ferry to Rooseval-then a bus into Galway City-then a bus back to Doolin. A 3 hour venture but I got here at noon. Now, I have gotten my stuff from the hotel (Which they only charged my half for the night since I didn't stay there...at least some help) and now I am going to stop by the Cliffs of Moher..grab lunch and get on the road to Killarney. I am a bit nervous about seeing Irish James for the first time in 4 years, but I am sure that it will be fine. I have had to call him a few times in a panic to get info over the past few days. Overall it has been good so far. Relaxing (minus the panic moments). I mean really..I have been walking down practically deserted irish country roads, taking in amazing scenary and watching sunsets. The weather had been amazing..but it termed gloomy suddenly. It is at least not raining. Not a great day for the cliffs (last night would have been amazing as I had planned) but I have to go with the flow. There are worse things than getting stranded on an island for a night, right? Funny thing too is that I think my trip may be defined by these self pics I am taking. YOu know the ones where you hold them out to take it of yourself (I make so much fun of my little sis for those pics). But it is the only way I can pics sometime..when my tripod is not around..it is kinda of funny actually. I will post of series of those pics when I get back perhaps..haha. Anyways, I am alive..driving on the wrong side of the road...missing ferries and hitting things..but ok nevertheless.

Even though I really should get my silly butt in bed, I feel the need to indulge my blogging obligation. First of all, if you have ever watched the Holiday, I must say that my relationship patterns tends to be the of Kate Winslet's character. Always the friend and on the unreciprocated end of the love deal. I think she describes it as being permanently disabled without the benefit of a sticker (or something to that affect). That's me - relationally dysfunctional.

Sweatbands. So I never really used them as..well let's be honest..I have not ever been the athletic kind..so no reason to and perhaps that is why I did not realize the function of the sweat armband. It is to wipe the sweat off of your forehead. What a concept! I guess I had just assumed it was a fashion thing..but never realized how very useful they could be..I need to get them for when I do work out. From what did this revelation occur? That would be while watching this season's especially trashy version of the bachelor. It keeps going down hill, yet I continue to watch..what is up with that?

Work-ugh. Thank goodness I am getting a break that is all I can say. I ended up being on call for mobile all this weekend..while trying to prepare for my trip. I have gotten called to the hospital 6 times..that is alot. Good money to do it, but frustrating when I have so much to do.

Why I am lazy and silly. I am not finishing the "I" in my class. There are many reasons, but the bottom line is that I haven't had the time recently to do it. I figured out how it will affect my GPA..it will drop it from a 3.96 to 3.8. Really at this point I do not care and if the occasion occurs where someone sees it then I will just have to explain that horrible grade on there. I don't have any desire to ever go back into academia and employers never as for a transcript so...I stink and disappoint myself, but I am not doing the paper. And my stress level dropped a huge amount after making that decision..if I could just quite beating myself up over it.

Ireland...I leave in 2 days. Wow. I am starting to freak out a bit. I have most of the hotels booked. I am super anxious about many things. Going alone...finding my way around..driving a car in another country...seeing old friends. Sigh. I am sure two days from now I will be quoting the holiday "I can do this. I can drive on the wrong side of the road and sit on the wrong side of the car." Wish me luck.

Welcome to baby Andi Wooton! My precious beautiful "niece". No, my younger sister did not have a baby...but since Miranda is like a sister to me and an only child...I get to be "aunt jessie" for the first time. Isn't she so precious???? You can see more pictures at http://www.jessicacampbellphotography.com/andi.

Sorry for my slacking. I feel like the world is swirling around me and I have too many things to do. Sigh.

Check out the pictures from my latest wedding. One of my favorites yet. Click here.