things to do

Ladies Bicycle Racing hits Ireland

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Here in Ireland, women’s bicycle racing is still in its infancy, but starting to gain popularity. There are a few races,and cycling clubs for both men and women. One of the women (Caroline Martinez) that I know from work is highly involved in bicycle racing. Last week, she mentioned that she was looking for someone to do some photos of of the ladies cycling team sponsored by D.I.D. Electrical and Spin11. So, on Friday, we met up, and the elite ladies team of DID Electrical (it’s a DIY chain shop here in Ireland) were presented with their team car and their self designed uniforms. Only part of the team was able to be there, but we had some fun and got some great pictures to go with the press release and up on the team’s brand new website (Click here).

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DID Electrical is a great sponsor for the group. They are one of the larger cycling sponsors here in Ireland, and are a major promoter of the Cycle for Life Appeal charity event (click here), benefiting the Temple Street Children’s Hospital. The race itself takes place later May 4, 2013, and I’m so pleased to have had the chance to meet the ladies – and Mike, the Cycle for Life mascot – and have the opportunity to get some photos of him with the ladies. (We all love Mike, after all, he’s just a big kid at heart!)

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I think one of the cooler photos of the day is of Caroline Conway.

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Upon seeing this picture,would you want to race against her? If your answer was no, I think we’re in agreement. These ladies are one tough bunch – having melded together from years of bicycle racing into a new team. Their first race was Sunday, over in Drogheda. The race was the National Women’s League,and covered some 56km around Coombes Connor course.

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The great news is that Amy Brice – one of the ladies on the team (not pictured) – took first place. Congratulations to her, and to the entire team on their first win – I look forward to seeing some of your races both here in Ireland – and internationally!

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To see the article on the team launch, check out stickybottle.com’s article .

For more information on Amy’s win yesterday, please see Womenscycling.ie.

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Dublin Free Instrumental Art Exhibit

"floating" guitars (on wires)

Earlier this week, while I was at St. Stephen’s Green shopping center in Dublin having lunch, I found out that there was a free exhibition going on. It’s called the Instrumental Art Exhibit, and the donations / artwork support the Musical Youth Foundation. There are over 100 pieces all created out of old broken instruments by local artists – all for charity. They have everything from violins, mandolins, to acoustic and electric guitars, and various types of drums.

Guitar Lamp

Some Artists chose to chop the Instrument up into various pieces of furniture. One Made a Lamp, another a Medicine cabinet, another a table, and a couple were made into various chairs (though I’m not sure how comfortable they would be!).

Mandolin close up

Some of the art was incredibly detailed and took tons of time like the Mandolin (above) and the Guitar God (front and back done in pointilism) below:

Guitar God (front & reverse in mirror)

It’s a pretty cool exhibition, and because it’s free admission (and all proceeds go to charity) that makes it that much more awesome in my book!

The Details:

May 25th – June 24th
Exhibition Space, Top Floor, Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre
Opening Times
Mon-Sat 11am-7pm.Thurs 11am-9pm. Sun 11am-6pm
FREE ADMISSION (donations appreciated)

You can also check out the Musical Youth Foundation website at:
Musical Youth Foundation

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How to stay busy – after surgery

Last Friday, I had some minor surgery which left me off work for a week and a half. The surgery was preventative, and went fine. However, because it was in my stomach area, I couldn’t pick anything up or do anything strenuous for several days after it took place. The thing is that for those of you who know me, I can’t sit still and just do nothing. I have a bit of ADD, and have to constantly be doing something – or several something’s at one time. Knowing this, I’ve been trying to keep busy – and here’s how/ what I’ve been doing for the last 2 days (please feel free to laugh):

 

 

1) Listen to the radio, pet the dog, and read an entire book (all be it a crappy one) while sitting on the bed with the curtains open to the sunshine in the back yard.
2) Play Fable 2 (from middle to end) on the xbox360 in one entire day, while running a load of laundry and drinking tea.
3) Repeat to myself 500 times “I’m bored. Bored bored bored bored bored…”
4) Start Buffy the Vampire Slayer game, decide it’s lame and quit.
5) Continue playing The Beatles Rockband on the xbox. (I’m now 7 songs from the end)
6) Repeat to myself 500 times “I’m bored. Bored bored bored bored bored…”
7) Hang clothes up to dry while watching TV, fold clothes while watching Syfi channel on TV and taking a break from video games.
8 ) Get on the computer and process pictures, with History Channel on TV in the background.
9) Wish I could go outside for a while and work on my garden (too strenuous) where the tulips are just coming up
10) Repeat to myself 500 times “I’m bored. Bored bored bored bored bored…”
11) Peruse Facebook. Laugh at pictures and status updates.
12) Read a few blogs. Try to blog myself.
13) Repeat to myself 500 times “I’m bored. Bored bored bored bored bored…”
14) Play Farmville with “The Hunt for Red October” on in the background.
15) Process more pictures.
16) Repeat to myself 500 times “I’m bored. Bored bored bored bored bored…”
17) Read news websites, decide they’re too depressing. Try to think of something else to do.
18) Repeat to myself 500 times “I’m bored. Bored bored bored bored bored…”
19) Wander to kitchen, root in fridge. Nothing there I want. Hasn’t changed in the last 2 hours. Just in case…
20) Wander back to the couch, sit down, wonder how I’m going to keep myself occupied for the next 8 days…
21) Browse crochet patterns, trying to find something new to make to keep my hands busy. Inspiration alludes me… I have too much energy…
21) Repeat to myself 500 times “I’m bored. Bored bored bored bored bored…”

I think the worst part of this is that it’s such a nice sunny warm spring weekend and I’m not able to do anything for a bit. I just want to be outside, hiking, having a picnic, watching the dog play, and/or exploring Ireland. But, instead… “I’m bored. Bored bored bored bored bored…” and I won’t be able to drive for 6-8 weeks (The seat belt cuts across where they cut into me) and am stuck cooped up for a while. ARGH!! I’m bored. Bored bored bored bored bored…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS. Did anyone else notice that Sean Connery has an annoying Scottish accent the ENTIRE of the Hunt for Red October (He’s the Russian Sub Commander)?
PSS. Apparently, Alec Baldwin, Sam Neil, and Tim Curry (Frank-n-furter himself) are in the movie too… all with these weird Brit accents on the Russian Sub. It’s nearly comical. Especially the scene where they’re all singing in Russian (off key, mis pronounced). Yah.. what were they thinking?!?

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