day one, almost complete!

today is my first full day. ha, of course, it has been raining all day. yesterday though i was greeted with some nice weather. thought it's rainier today, it was chillier yesterday. the cottage is beautiful though.
gosh im tired.
we just finished dinner, we had some indian style chicken with basmati rice he likes to make. i haven't been able to do much outside today, it's been predominantly rainy. it never pours, just showers all day. it's good to see him in his element, he seems calmer, more careful, less frantic than he used to. this deliberate life in the country seems to suit him. ha, he asked me earlier today if i'd like to watch some television later tonight, and went on that that would be our plan, that we would watch the 7 o'clock news and them maybe a program, haha. tv is quite different though. it would take quite a while to describe the news program, but i'll describe a few things. there were two commercial breaks in an hour, each with one commercial. and the news was critical, poignant, and covered civil matters, even u.s. constitutional matters. ha and the best part perhaps.. the weather was on near the end of the hour, almost as an afterthought. no weather man, no graphics, no corny jokes and cheesy dialogue between anchors.

we're arranging to go to dublin saturday and look around, as well as speak with a travel agent about my itinerary. he seems in support of my plans. i can't get over how tired i've been. the travel and the time change has taken alot more out of me than i expected! i should feel better tomorrow, we ate well today and i'm going to sleep late.
everyone's mentality is so fresh, it really is 'like a whole other country'! just as i expectd thhough, i'm experiencing not just things i envy and admire and relate to, but things i appreciate about america. it really gives me perspective. you know you need to buy a government license for a t.v.? 150 euros a year, not including pay for channles, but the country is small enough people seem to get by with an antenna. ha, i learn more everyday, and it's funny because dad seems to forget these things are commonplace to him perhaps, but fresh to me, so he says them with a funny, casual attitude. we're going to the pub later, maybe 10 or 11. ha, i can hardly wait to see what that's like...