Sleepless in Dublin

Saturday, Jan 23rd, 2010 -- Instead of trying to make changes to your schedule or rushing off to start something entirely new, it makes more sense today to stick with the tried and true. You could become a little restless if everything seems too familiar, but it's better to deal with your anxiety by changing your attitude rather than messing with your environment. Once you decide to settle into the day, things should get easier all around.

That is my horoscope for the day and I think it is aptly suited. I've been having a bit of trouble adjusting the new living situation. I don't think that living in the city suits me very well. I can shop, eat, drink, tour, and basically run around the city doing anything else. But sleeping is definitely the clincher. I have been trying to get myself back into a normal routine and accordingly, it should be working. I still don't feel entirely immersed into the culture and I can't figure out why. I've been trying new drinks and foods and modes of transportation. I've been shopping in new stores, in a local air market, and a different grocery store. I've come to love certain things like Londis and walking around the city. But something still feels off. Maybe I just wasn't born to live in a city. I'm already becoming restless with the monotony of watching movies and going out, I think that maybe I will have to throw myself into my schoolwork or something. Maybe the problem is that my brain isn't as fully occupied as it should be. I ran out of new books to read, so maybe I will go out on a search for one today. Perhaps I will trek over to the library at school and not get lost this time and do some studying or something.

On the plus side, this is one of the most beautiful cities that I have ever seen. I was walking through the city just snapping pictures during shopping and going to the open air market. It was so sunny yesterday that I actually go to work the shades out in public, of course us Americans were pretty much the only ones out in public who were wearing them, but that was fine by us. Then I watched the movie "Leap Year" and they had some great shots from Dublin and I just kept thinking "Oh, I've been there!" or "OMG, I've seen that." It was a great feeling. I realized that this is a great opportunity. I doubt it will be easy, but I'm hoping it will be worth it.

Just found out today that the school library is closed on Sunday. What kind of BS is that? How am I supposed to go do my work with the library books if it's closed on the day that I would like to go? So I guess I will have to do some online reading and perhaps meander to find a bookstore so that I can continue to improve my brain cells instead of simply just killing them.

But a quick bar/beer update before I go. Did a Thirty Thursday with some cider followed by some bar hopping into Sheehan's, Flannery's, and finally ended up at Devitt's where I ordered a Smithwick's and loved it. It wasn't a very exciting night and I was home pretty early due to not feeling so well. And come to find out, woke up on Friday morning with a terrible headache and cold. So I've been stuck in the apartment for a few days and not really liking it that way. I'm hoping to get out at some point today, but we'll see depending on the weather and how I feel because I'm still not completely up to par. Perhaps I will just go for a walk and then come back and relax.