Long time no talk!

Hey guys! It’s been a bit! I figured it’s been enough time since I last wrote a post here, that I’m a bit overdue for an update.

Firstly, I went home! For over half of December! I saw a lot of my favorite people, stumbled upon a couple of paid gigs (one copy-editing a manuscript, another editing the design of a book), and was able to celebrate the holidays with my family and friends. Zoe was in town for a week, so obviously we had great twin time, plus she joined me in Chapel Hill for a night at a party with some of my besties! Huzzah! Shoutout always to Jackie for letting me crash at her place. I had a long travel journey to make it home, including about 10 hours spent in Shannon Airport (lack of transportation there), but made it home safely to my cats and my parents.

the greeting committee

I think I spent the perfect amount of time at home. I was able to see everyone I needed to see (the Chapel Hill gang, parents, grandparents, cousins, Zoe, Lee, Hallie, Tyller, etc), but it left me missing Galway, which was ideal! Hanukkah, while delayed due to some illness, was perfectly spent on Christmas Day—funnily enough, the first night of Hanukkah—just laughing with family, eating paninis and latkes, and hearing Ben’s stories about junior year of high school, Zoe’s stories about Denver, and Tess’s stories about Denver: Sophomore year of college edition. I was also lucky enough to be able to spend New Years with my Chapel Hill gang! I went to a party at Lily’s and yapped with a bunch of folks I haven’t seen in too long, then celebrated midnight with Jackie, Jake, Emma, and Talia. The next morning, I met up with Lily, Gracie, Molly, Maggie, Jake, Talia, Emma, and Jackie for a Carolina Brewery New Year’s Brunch, which was the perfect send-off. I got picked up by my parents (who were in the Triangle to celebrate New Years with cousins and also celebrate another friend–Congrats Jennifer and Matt!) and we went off to the airport together. I said my goodbyes, and embarked once again for Galway, this time without a return flight. The flight itself was actually a little nightmarish (crying baby all 6 hours, lack of dinner, lack of charging port, delayed so long I almost missed my layover, etc), but I made it back to Galway safe and sound.

NYC from the plane!

I went right back to the Kings Head when I got back, worked two days, then the Bistro closed for the next ten days, so I was stuck trying to find things to do. One night, Kate and I went to this really fun performance called the Zeitgeist Jukebox, where we essentially joined a 30-person band. I played synth. Picture me onstage rocking out.

The King’s Head staff party was during that time off, which was a blast. A long night, surrounded by all the friends I’ve made here so far, and maybe a little too much drinking.

Aside from those events, though, I’ve mostly just been working, spending time figuring out who I am as a new adult, and still exploring Galway. I joined a gym (the Galmont – went to a Hyrox class with Charlie from KH and am still sore 3 days later), I joined a choir (Claddagh Chamber Choir! The rehearsal schedule is funky but I’m excited to start), I made a massive stack of pancakes, I’ve seen Nosferatu with some friends, I was a bit sick for about a week, I’ve tried some new cafés and restaurants, I’ve gotten in a good bit of knitting progress, and I’ve gone out with coworkers a couple more times.

my pancakes

Today, Kate and I went to Sheridan’s Cheesemongers for a cheese board and some wine (yum to both!!! somehow my favorite cheese was a blue cheese on the plate!!!), then grabbed a Guinness in O’Connells (where they shot Ed Sheeran’s Galway Girl music video). We’re gonna see a movie tonight, and Kate made some grilled cheese and tomato soup. I’m getting ready for my parents to come visit (February 18! Counting down the days!), and overall just loving this little life I’ve created for myself in Galway.

Happy 2025, all. Things are rough right now, and I hope you know that I’m sending all my love to everyone who’s being extra affected by the new state of affairs in the US. What the hell.

Thanks for reading along, and I’ll update you when I update you.