Rugby and Eddie Rockets

Friday, September 25, 2009

Today I went around running some errands and keeping busy just like I like. I’ve decided to pick sketching back up in addition to cooking, reading and photography. I purchased a medium sized sketch book that I can take with me on excursions. I would have preferred the larger portfolio, but it was too big to fit in my book bag. I bit the bullet and purchased a charcoal kit. I prefer charcoal to graphite even though it is much messier. I like the process of smearing lines with my fingers. It blends black and white so that it’s not so structured. I feel like I’m the same way with my cooking - make the mess to get it done then clean it up. I could have bought sticks charcoal separate for 6 Euro and then the super cool smudge pencil. It is called a tortillon, and it aids in the blending process. It was 2 Euro by itself, or included in the 9 Euro package. The package came with compressed charcoal as well as charcoal pencils. I have the compressed charcoal at home, so the pencils will make a nice addition. I can’t wait to get started on it with my trip to Cork next week.

The Kesters sent us an e-mail asking if we would want to spend a week with them out at their beach house in Connemara. They have rented a cottage for the week and Mr. Kester comes back on Fridays to teach a class in the evenings before returning to the cottage about 2 hours away. He said we could catch the bus out to Cliffden and they would pick us up then we could ride back to Galway on Friday morning with Mr. Kester. Gosh, they are so nice! I’m so glad I went up to introduce myself at the lecture. Since we had made arrangements to go to Cork next week, it would have to be the week after and I hope they are available.

Zach and I paid a visit to Teresa today for weekly rent. I gave her two pieces of the Chocolate picnic cake and she handed us the ESP (electricity) bill that had arrived. We took it to calculate how much of the last two months was the 10 days we had used it. Once we figured that out I went back downstairs to give her the 20 Euro (a euro a day per person). She was typing on her phone and explained to me she was trying to text me that the cake was fabulous! She had already eaten one piece and was trying to keep from eating the second. She had an expression of amazement on her face. I laughed and said thank you, but the recipe is my grandmother’s so I’ll have to tell her how much you enjoyed it. She couldn’t stop singing its praises. When I handed her the bill and money, so exclaimed, “20 Euro, Oh, I’ll get that. It’s not much, don’t worry about it”. I insisted she take the money, but she wouldn’t have it. She kept talking about the cake and listed the sweets she’d had the last week and we conversed about the wonderfulness of sugar till she had a few customers line up and I said goodbye. We saved 20 Euro with the help of that cake!

I recieved a call from John at Eddie Rockets about working tonight from 7:30-10 at the Rugby match going on in Galway. I was unaware of the match even happening, which disappointed me, but Zach and I were happy for the extra hours. For some reason John always texts me (occasionally calls), but never Zach. Even when I don’t respond right away he waits. He doesn’t try Zach. It’s kind of weird. That and the fact he texts. I always thought of texts as more informal and between friends. We were to patrol the entrance on both sides then go over to the second location of Eddie Rockets not far from the stadium where there was a cinema (different from the one we have been to). We were to stamp people going in or out of the movies. The response to people arriving at the rugby match was not good since they were all in a hurry. I felt like a bother and it disappointed me a bit. When we got the cinema no one was there. We checked in at Eddie Rockets and they said to have a meal and wait to go back to the arena, being at the cinemas would be pointless. Wow, another meal. I love this job. Regretfully, Zach and I had already eaten. I made Croque Monsieurs (Monte Cristo) for dinner as well as a salad and some leftover pasta. I didn’t want to go to the store, so I thought I had everything for the croquet monsieurs, but we were out of butter and had no syrup. I improvised with cooking oil and salt in place of butter. I mixed up some eggs with milk, sugar and vanilla (more than usual since we had no syrup). I soaked loaf bread in the mixture and cooked it in a frying pan with the oil and salt. I added some slightly cooked deli ham and cream cheese to the French toast. I did have powdered sugar (the real kind this time) to add to the sandwich as well. It turned out to be rather yummy. I also added a little brie cheese. I’ve made them with cheddar cheese, but I liked this cheese mixture better. Swiss is another option.

So anyway, both of us were full, but willing to eat some free food. I ordered some chicken fingers and a coke. I should have just gotten water, but I wanted to seize the opportunity for free food. I was so full after that, but the picture of the milkshake was still tempting me. I’m a fat kid in disguise, but I’m beginning to feel like I might actually have to consciously diet for the first time. NO picking up pastries -- limited to one sweet a day kind of thing. Part of my errands had included studying the London guide book before turning it back to the library, so I went to Amnesty and had a slice of carrot cake with my 20% discount while I mapped out London in my notebook. The carrot cake was actually kind of dry, but I enjoyed my time sitting on the couch there studying about London. It made me really excited to go now (in 3 weeks).

We left Eddie Rockets a little early to give up our table since it was getting crowded. We actually got to see the last 15 minutes of the Rugby match. In those few minutes I saw a guy get punched in the face and another one trampled. I’d always heard it is a brutal sport, but it really is. The home team lost by a lot. It was pretty bad. 6:25 I think. The atmosphere reminded me of high school football games. It made me miss them a lot. I miss Carolina football, but there is just something about a high school football game (at least when I was in high school – probably not as fun as an alumni) that provides more of a homey feel. It was a little different with the colorful language spouting out of the mouths of 5th graders (or whereabouts). F-in is a common phrase of many an Irishman including their children. I’m pretty sure it doesn’t carry the same weight over here as it does in the states.