Give me hope in silence

Today was almost great. I love riding buses--just watching everything go by, listening to music, sitting by strangers, thinking in peace. I hated it when I first got here. I can't navigate Seattle buses. I've only ever had to do it by myself once, and it was totally fine and easy, but I avoid it at all costs. So yeah, in September when I fully realized that I was at the mercy of public transportation I dreaded going anywhere because I didn't know how much to pay or where the stops were or when they ran and what holidays they stop for and all the little nonsensical things that these Irish people find normal. But now that I've got it all down I love it. Sure it's over priced and my knees end up hurting by the end of the long ride because the seats are all too close together and you never know if a total creep is going to sit next to you or fall asleep on you or glare at you for no known reason, but it's awesome. It's beautiful here.

I think I passed into stage three of living somewhere new today. Stage One is when everything is still a novelty and you think everything is amazing and different and you don't want to waste a single second. Stage Two is when you're totally disillusioned and everything looks the same and you're sick of all the oddities and you have to convince yourself to go outside and see it all again. And then Stage Three is just appreciating it. You know it for what it really is and the shitty things aren't going to surprise you anymore, and the great things make you kind of proud in a way.

So yes. It was a grand and thoughtful bus ride into the city. It's really easy to lose perspective inside an apartment.

I knew I shouldn't have gone to Temple Bar. I even tried to avoid it by getting off at the end of the line--Merrion Square. But even then I couldn't stop myself from heading straight to the Temple Bar Book Market. I bought four...it's a sickness.

I didn't know there's also a Temple Bar Food Market. It's in this weird tiny square that's kind of hidden. You have to follow an arrow down an alley and pass a busker who looks you straight in the face as you go by. They aren't that big on street food here though. There was an Asian stand with noodles and dumpling-like things. There was a Mexican stand with burritos and rice and beans all over the place. There was a baked goods stand with tons of stuff. Jams, cheeses, butchers, fresh veggies. I got a cup of apple cider with a shot of apple brandy. That was good.

Then I kind of just walked around for a while. Lookin' for a place to eat, but the city was mad today. Must be because it's Saturday and it's getting to be warmer so the tourists just start flocking. It was cool though. Felt busy and warm and you just get swept into the stream. I walked straight through a couple of pubs that were too full--there's always a back door that leads to some alley. Ended up at Grafton street. That place is awesome. There are far too many people there all the time and it's street performer central, and there are only high-end shops and McDonald's, but it's cool.

Down an alley is the Powerscourt Townhouse. I don't know why it's called that. It's a mall basically. Tons of shops and a couple restaurants. The center is all open with a restaurant on the bottom floor and then all the balconies of the other two floors are for other restaurants.

Lots of wandering. There's a place up north east of Powerscourt where the homeless people get mean. I heard "Go fuck the lot of ya" a few times.

Ate dinner at the Queen of Tarts cafe. That place is awesome.

That's a spinach and almond tart. Sounds weird, but it was good.

By this time my right shoulder was starting to feel all those books I was lugging around, so I headed to the river to find a bus stop. Yeah I didn't end up going to the bus station today. It's on the other side of the Liffey and it just didn't feel urgent. So I guess I'll call or something. Or just take the train. Might as well.

I talked to Whitney and Bret when I got back! That was awesome. 

Probably not going to get out of bed tomorrow.

Anyone can become angry--that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way--that is not easy. -Aristotle