It's All Happening!

We began the trip in a bar in the Denver airport at 11am, the three of us sharing a drink to kick off our trip to Ireland. The idea began over drinks one evening just over four months ago - and here we were! The show is beautiful, and our very own company is taking it to Ireland. Looking at the words, sitting at a computer in Ireland where I just discovered a few key differences, I still can't believe it!

At any rate, the flights were easy. Thirteen hours actually almost flew by. I found it entirely impossible to sleep, but all in all - never really felt the effects of over 24 hours without it. We flew from DIA to Chicago O'Hare...then from Chicago to Dublin...and finally, in a short little 45 minute flight (we barely had time to reach cruising altitude before beginning our descent) we arrived in Shannon, picked up our rental car and we were off! The car is delightfully small, but fit the three of us AND our luggage quite well. It gets amazing gas mileage (or would you say kilometerage?), and as it turns out, the whole "wrong side of the car" thing isn't too hard. Although shifting gears with your left hand just feels wrong and sitting in the front passenger seat is a terrifying experience! Brian drove, without incident - he really is the best driver I know.

We made it to Cork in great time, even stopping at some old castle ruins to take pictures with the cows ambling amongst them, and having a hearty lunch of Sizzling Sirloin Steak (real Irish beef...and it was SIZZLING!...we got some video of the steak!), french fries, mashed potatoes, cooked carrots, and some sort of other vegetable that tasted like an incredibly bland yam at the Roundabout Inn in Mallow.

However, in what should have been an hour and 45 minute drive from Cork to Baltimore - we managed to get so lost, so many times...that it took us almost 5 more hours!! One lane roads (thanks for the advice Rita, they really WON''T get over!), tossing the map aside and using only my compass, and spending 45 minutes unable to leave the town of Dunmanway, driving in endless circles. But finally we made it - arriving in Baltimore and at Glebe Gardens around 7pm on Tuesday evening. If you're going to be wildly lost anyway, I'd recommend West Cork Ireland.

We met up with Kenny right away and first things first, walked down to the space where we'll be performing on Friday and Saturday nights. Stunning. The ampitheatre overlooks the water, and it's so green that it almost looks neon. Then - to the house where we're staying with Tessa and Laura - and back to Glebe Gardens for a barbeque and live music by John Spilirne, a local singer and comedian! It was the perfect welcome to Ireland! I went to bed around 11 that night - although the boys stayed up and went to Casey's, a local pub, for drinks.

Up the next morning at 8am for a trip into Skibereen (only a few miles away) for groceries, postage stamps, etc. Baltimore has one atm, a few b&b's, and about 6 pubs - that, and the most amazing scenery at ever turn that I've ever seen! We had breakfast at a little cafe - I could have stayed there all day, and the tea was divine. Then back to Baltimore for a walk to the beacon - at the top of a cliff, looking right now onto rocky crags below with the ocean beating against them. It was raining and the wind was blowing so hard. I told the boys that that place was my idea of heaven.

Then onto rehearsal - Kenny's version, a quick break for dinner, then mine. There are some things to compensate for - it's tough on their voices, being outside, with the wind blowing...and there's a wonderful dog, Woody, who belongs at the Glebe, and hangs out (usually in the space) at all performances. But after making a few adjustments, we were able to get in a terrifically productive few hours.

Then, while Kenny worked at the Cafe - we went down to the town center, right on the water...a row of 3 pubs and some outside seats to pass out flyers for the show this weekend. We've gotten some good press. Kenny put up posters all over Baltimore and Skibereen...the newspaper is running an ad starting today...and hopefully we'll have nice houses. Although, everyone here is dismayed - it's rained incessantly and they just don't have the tourists down here that they're used to. Baltimore is pretty much a town that makes its yearly income during the three month holiday season, so it really could be bad for them. At any rate, sat outside, shivering, sharing wine and whiskey with some new friends until around 11:30 when the pubs close. Then, Rohan, Kez's fiancee (the three Perry sisters who come home every summer to work at Glebe Gardens with their folks who own it are Jo, Tess, and Kez...then apparently, the Perry's have adopted a number of surrogate children as well who come in from all over the world for these three months to work at the cafe, tend the huge gardens, and facilitate the music and theatre concerts) mentioned to Brian that he was planning on going to the cove to shoot the moon later in the night, and asked if we'd like to join. Would we ever?!

So at 12:30 - Kenny, Laurence, Brian, Rohan, and I loaded up in our little car and drove to this tiny little cove with cliffs on either side and the tide lapping at our feet on a rocky shore. The moon was directly in front of us and straight up, with a direct path of light reaching from the horizon line to our feet. It was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. They took pictures and I just sat and drank it up. Stunning. I'm finding it difficult to believe that it was real actually. THEN, as the moon passed by that spot (do we ever realize how FAST the moon moves) - we drove to the other side of town, climbed back up the rocky cliffs to the beacon - and began experimenting with light up there. The photos they captured are unbelievable - some of them seeming almost supernatural...and I can't believe it really happened! It has also just turned into Laurence's birthday...what a way to welcome in your Jesus year! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAURENCE! Also, it's mine and B''s 2 and a half year anniversary! :)

This morning we all slept later than we intended. The boys woke up and ran straight to rehearsal with Kenny. They'll rehearse for a few hours in the early part of the day...then we'll embark on a short little midday adventure...then back to rehearse with me this evening for a while more. The show goes up tomorrow evening - already, the time is passing too quickly!

I'll write more when I can. Just wanted to let everyone know that we're here, and it's marvelous! I'm off to go write a bit and have some tea! Cheers!