amazing views and fresh air...

The early part of the week, I went with my housemates and Doug on our second retreat of the year to County Donegal in the Republic. We spent a relaxing three days out in the middle of no where, in a cute little cottage on Roy Island. (I think it was named for the amazing Roy Williams... and was happy to stay there!) We stopped at a few spots on the way including the round tower of Antrim, where they would climb and be safe from attack and a holy well. The rags in the tree are from the well, where legend has it if you dip a cloth in the well and wash an infected area, then tie the rag in the trees over the well, as the rag disintegrates, so will the sickness. I was super surprised to see so many rags still hanging. It was a pretty cool site. We hiked up to amazing views and walked along sandy beaches. And we froze a little. But, we had pretty sunny weather or at least decently dry weather which was lovely.

We learned that Doug is a master of words when we played lingo and he kicked our butts. Well, actually, I won the first round : ) But it was a good just chill time to fully get over being sick! On our way home Wednesday we stopped in Derry for a nice Valentines lunch at a pretty posh restaurant. Minus the tons of couples around it, the day could have easily passed with little notice of the holiday- which was nice. I got home to find a tape of the Carolina dook game and a valentine from mom. What more could a girl want on valentines? A huge rivalry game where you already know that your team comes out on top!

Actually, watching the game was pretty painful and made me realize I am glad I didn't see it live, Carolina played AWFULLY until the last 5 minutes or so. Thankfully for my roommates sake, I already knew the ending, so they didn't get to experience what its really like to be in the same house as me during a game. I kept my exasperation in my head because I knew, in the end, we would pull it out. But wow, there would have been much to shout about.

Yesterday, we celebrated Joyce's last day working with PCT. She has a new job that she will start Monday and while I will miss her terribly, I am glad she has found something else to move on to. She was always the one to chat with me in the office about anything and everything and was always so helpful if I needed anything. It will be different without her around! But, mom, you would be proud, I tried both smoked salmon and scrambles eggs - I haven't eaten them since I was little. And surprisingly they both weren't terrible. I don't know that I would crave them, but they were nice.

I have my interview next week for the Peace Corp... should be good. It is hard to think about that when I am still here. As well, my flights are booked home, although I still have to mail my paper tickets back to get them officially changed. I will be home at 9pm 15 August. What a crazy feeling that is. And I leave Belfast at 9am, and it will feel like 2am when I arrive. WORST! But I still wanna drive home from the airport... hopefully in my love, Plumy, who I have missed terribly! Mom and dad are treating her well though : ) Oh to drive.... gahhhh.

Alright, I'm not terribly feeling this post, so I am going to end here.
xoxo