PGP: Waiting for U2 to Blow Out the Tumbleweeds

[CeeCee]

Cool! My mom's dad's grandmother (or great-grandmother?) was Irish. I think I tracked down that line back to a Sullivan that came over from Cork to New York back in the 1870s.

I don't know that my research was correct, but we do know that Sullivan is the name of the Irish bunch.

I only recently found out a little bit of my heritage on my bio-dad's side. With the last name of Burke, I figured it was likely Irish or English. Turns out it's English. Boo!

My dad was half English and half German. My mum has Iroquois Indian, French, and Dutch on her side. I'm working my way, in spurts, through Ancestry.com. My great aunt's marriage certificate says she was married "With all the rites and accordances of the Roman Catholic Church".

 

[corianderstem]

Cori, perhaps you should just plan the trip you want, and not wait for U2 to announce dates. I am the kind of person that likes to plan things thoroughly, and it sounds like the waiting is stressing you out. If you find a great deal on airfare, book it. If you do lump the concert into that trip, you might not get to see everything you want. Just my .

Oh no - I wouldn't let it cut into what I'm already planning on doing. I'd extend my trip by a few days to make room for the concert(s). And it's still too early to book stuff for September anyway.

I'm only waiting because I'd hate myself if I booked a flight and then found out they were playing there like a week before or after I would be there. If they're doing it remotely near when I'm planning on going, I want to go.

If it's in August, I'll have serious second thoughts, because I really don't want to go in peak travel season. And if it's October, ditto, because the weather will likely be a lot worse (I can't imagine them playing outdoor stadiums in Ireland in October, though.)

I'm still a little optimistic about an album in May, and if that happens, I would guess they'd announce any additional dates beyond the US at that time. So I figure if there's no news by early June, it's not happening, and I'll start booking stuff, and that still gives me plenty of time to book enough ahead of time to avoid those kinds of 'last-minute' charges.

 

[ryancoke71]

You have a plan then! I am horrible at waiting. I have a trip to Disney in November and it is killing me to wait to see if the airfares go down. You are right, they very well might announce the "last" leg of "the tour that just won't quit" along with an album release!

 

[corianderstem]

You should see how much I had planned when I first decided to go .... last year spring!

I came to my senses and set it aside for most of last year, and thank goodness I'd taken notes!

and by "taken notes," I mean "created a spreadsheet."

 

[ryancoke71]

we are very much alike in our trip planning I see! Last time we went to Disney, I knew more than the travel agent. This time, I am planning it myself. Why add another person? I know what I want, and so far, so good. Cruise booked, hotel booked with a hefty discount because Disney loves me so much, and now, I am just watching the yoyo-ing of the airfares.

 

[corianderstem]

re airfare: Right now I'm more pissed that the flights from Seattle to Minneapolis in July keep going up!

I've never seen flights to Mpls so high. I really hope they start creeping back down. I'm not too worried yet, as it's only March. But still! Boo.

 

[ryancoke71]

In one day, Delta changed their airfare 4 times for the exact same flight.

I ended up booking my summer flight to Montreal, and then a discount code came out that would have saved some money. However, the prices were skyrocketing, so I panicked! I have never seen airfares so high either!

 

[CeeCee]

<singing>This is the tour that doesn't end, yes it goes on and on my friend! Some people started touring, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue touring forever just because</singing>

 

[corianderstem]

 

[ryancoke71]

<singing>This is the tour that doesn't end, yes it goes on and on my friend! Some people started touring, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue touring forever just because</singing>

That song has run through my head many times!

 

[zuropa_fit]

Right now my concertless itinerary is lining up to look like 4 nights in Dublin, do stuff in and around there, take the train to Galway (where I'll rent a car), 4 nights in and around Galway, drive to Dingle, spend 2 or 3 nights there and then .... probably back to Galway to drop off the car and take the train back to Dublin and fly home.

I was originally going to Cork as well, but I think that was trying to cram too much into the (roughly) two weeks.

Oh yeah I have an old oliveish green U2 shirt or 2, but not that I would really wear out. My Green Day shirt is much newer and kelly green too.

YAY for Mr zooey! How was your dessert?

I had a Bushmills Irish whiskey on the rocks tonight before dinner, just to try it and say slainte for St P's Day. Er, can't say I'm a fan of whiskey on the rocks... it was sorta... yucky. (I chased it with my Starbucks though so it was all good!)
I must say the Irish beer (Kilkenny) I had this morning was excellent though

Aww no! You don't like your haircut?

cori: Me = envious!

My dad bought me the American Idiot (from the musical) tee for my b'day last year since we went to the show with me

Pie was almost too sweet but oh so yummy.

I got a Jameson and a Bushmills little 'shooter' bottle on the way home from work

Don't know how I feel abt the haircut yet - gotta play with it, but yeah, not loving it.

Cori, that trip sounds GREAT! I adored my time in Galway, would love to live there for a year or so. See if you can time it with the galway arts festival, although that might be in the spring.

 

[corianderstem]

I've heard nothing but great things about Galway! From there, I'm hoping to hop over to the Aran Islands, drive up through a bit of the Connemara region, and then see the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren (possibly on my drive down to Dingle).

 

[CeeCee]

Now I've got the hiccups. Darn Lambchop's Singalong.

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

Me too! I married one!

Nice .

<singing>This is the tour that doesn't end, yes it goes on and on my friend! Some people started touring, not knowing what it was, and they'll continue touring forever just because</singing>

Ah, damnit, now that song's in my head .

Cori, I'm still super envious you're going to Ireland at all, U2 or no U2. I fully agree about being careful with the planning and stuff, but at the same time, I understand your stress, too-so much you want to do, so little time, huh ?

Also, sorry you're having a bit of a cranky week . Hope next week is better for you. And to zu, too, on the haircut thing. Sometimes it takes a while to get used to a new hairdo, though, so you may end up loving it . Or maybe once you figure out what you want to do with it, then it'll look better to you.

Neat family history discussions, too-I too am dying to delve further into my family ancestry, it's been a curiosity of mine for some time now. I know we're heavily German, with a bit of French and Irish, and then my dad used to say that he thought he'd heard there was some Dutch on his side, and my mom said her mom claimed we had a teeny tiny bit of Cherokee on her side, so who knows. I guess there's a relative who has a lengthy family chart for my mom's side of the family, we've been meaning to get in touch with her for that. My dad's side would be harder, because his family's so scattered and weren't always so close, and most of them are long dead as well, so it'll be a bit more digging. I'd just like to see how far back our ancestry goes, see who all shows up in our family tree.

Angela

 

[corianderstem]

Hey, Angela.

Someone did some digging on my maternal great-grandmother's side, even sitting with her to record her history as far back as she recalled, back to Norway, and that's really cool.

I'm mostly German and Norwegian on that side, with that tiny bit of Irish.

 

[bonocomet]

My dad bought me the American Idiot (from the musical) tee for my b'day last year since we went to the show with me

I remember when you got to go see that! Lucky! I almost went, soooo mad I didn't now! But I heard it's going on the road, so I guess I still might have a chance!

 

[zuropa_fit]

Cori, it's really easy to get from Galway to Inishmaan. There are several places in the city center (the high street) of Galway that sell day tours. Rent a bike when you get to Inishmaan - totally worth it!

 

[corianderstem]

Oh, believe me - already researched and duly noted.

But thanks for any tips and suggestions!

 

[zuropa_fit]

^I hope I'm not coming off as a know-it-all.

Played with my hair a bit. I don't think I like it. I'll give it a day or two. I've got a wedding to go to April 2nd and want it to look good for that, though so if it's going to get "fixed" I should do it soon.

 

[corianderstem]

Nooooo! No, no, not at all!

I just soooo overdid it when I first started planning - read too many travel books, looked at too many travel forums .....

I have a lot of information swimming around in my brain and waiting to get organized. But I know people will still have good suggestions and stuff I haven't heard of yet.

I shouldn't be all "Yep, I know that one!" about them, though. Sorry!

 

[zuropa_fit]

In the end, it doesn't matter what you do or where you go. You won't see it all and you'll have a friggin' amazing time no matter what!

 

[corianderstem]

ZOMG.

Remember when we were all watching that Les Miz thing on PBS the other week? I'm totally crushing on Alfie Boe (the dude who played Valjean).

I'm watching videos of him on YouTube - there are a bunch with him and Matt Lucas, the guy who played Threnadier (sp?). SO FUNNY.

YouTube - Alfie Boe warbles a bit.

First of all, this is both amazing (that voice!) and hilarious.

Second of all, read the little text blurb:

I've been staying at my friend Matt's house and as I'm not paying rent, he insisted I sing a song by way of compensation. He lined up a karaoke version of 'Nessun Dorma' and this is what happened. I would like to apologise to Mr Pavarotti and Matt would like to apologise to anyone offended by his moobs.

I immediately knew I had to share that here, as I've never heard anyone else say the word "moobs."

 

[Alisaura]

I HAVE A TICKET TO WINNIPEG!

Yay!

I have relatives in Winnipeg, I think...


Zu, sorry your haircut didn't work out... Hopefully it'll look better as it grows out a bit?

Also, not a fan of corned beef. I think I was over-exposed to it as a child (like with Brussel's sprouts).

I get to go home now!

 

[Thora]

Hi all!

Another crazy busy day today. Our St. Paddy's Day events went off well today - everyone was so impressed with how well it was organized and how many awesome treats we were able to come up with in such short notice. That really made me feel good.

I've loved all the Ireland talk in here this evening. I spent a semester there for university, and it was AMAZING! Definitely one of the best experiences of my life so far. I was talking with some co-workers about some of my adventures over lunch, so that was fun. I was a U2 fan back then, but obviously not as much as I am today. The only U2-ey place I knew about then was The Kitchen (now defunct nightclub in the basement of The Clarence), so we went there one night. That was fun!

As for travel stuff goes - I'm definitely more of a "let's wing it" kind of person. I always have a list of things I'd love to do, but I hate to be tied down to something and have a schedule, so I mostly play it by ear. I'll book important things in advance (concert tickets, travel, accom, etc.) but I like to have the freedom to do whatever sounds best in the moment.

cori, as for your comments about Seattle, I don't think you need to worry too much about organizing anything. But if you want help, just let me know - I'm happy to help out on plans. I'm probably coming down on the Thursday night, so I'll be around a bit before everything gets started. I think (or rather, hope) people will be low key about everything and be cool with just the meetup the night before the concert.

And I love that moobs comment.


Wow, that was a total novel. Sorry about that!

 

[CeeCee]

Moobs. We haz em. *resists urge to crack open photobucket and start sharing moobs*

 

[zuropa_fit]

^dooooooo eeeeeeeetttt!

actually I'm going to bed here in a sec, but wouldn't mind waking up to some LarryPicSpamAction.

Cori, one time the touring company of LesMis was here and I got my kids in on a talkback with Thenardier and the dance captain. It was awesome. I wish I could remember the name of the guy who played Thenardier. He said its one of the hardest jobs to get since its a great role - total crowd pleaser and really easy, only a few scenes, totally cushy- nobody ever wants to leave the tour in that role.

 

[zuropa_fit]

Yay!

I have relatives in Winnipeg, I think...


Zu, sorry your haircut didn't work out... Hopefully it'll look better as it grows out a bit?

I don't know if I can wait that long. We'll see how it looks in the morning...

 

[Moonlit_Angel]

ZOMG.

Remember when we were all watching that Les Miz thing on PBS the other week? I'm totally crushing on Alfie Boe (the dude who played Valjean).

I'm watching videos of him on YouTube - there are a bunch with him and Matt Lucas, the guy who played Threnadier (sp?). SO FUNNY.

YouTube - Alfie Boe warbles a bit.

First of all, this is both amazing (that voice!) and hilarious.

Second of all, read the little text blurb:

I've been staying at my friend Matt's house and as I'm not paying rent, he insisted I sing a song by way of compensation. He lined up a karaoke version of 'Nessun Dorma' and this is what happened. I would like to apologise to Mr Pavarotti and Matt would like to apologise to anyone offended by his moobs.

I immediately knew I had to share that here, as I've never heard anyone else say the word "moobs."

Oh, my god, I remember when we studied 'Les Miserables' in school and saw the play in New York, I totally had a bit of a crush on the character of Valjean. I felt for the poor guy (when we saw the play, my friend and I were sitting next to each other and we were bawling our eyes out at the end).

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamn. That guy can SING. Pavarotti would applaud that, I bet. That blurb is funny and cute indeed (I have heard other people say the word "moobs" myself, but it's still always fun to note instances, 'cause it's a funny word as is). Neat clip.

Hey, Angela.

Someone did some digging on my maternal great-grandmother's side, even sitting with her to record her history as far back as she recalled, back to Norway, and that's really cool.

I'm mostly German and Norwegian on that side, with that tiny bit of Irish.

Oh, neat! Sounds nice-I love the bit about sitting with your great-grandmother like that. It's a shame none of mine are alive, I sometimes think it'd be so fascinating to do that. It's like when I hear those "oldest person in the world" stories-just think of all the things they could tell you were you to sit with them for a few hours, all the experiences they've had.

My dad once said the Alsace-Lorraine territory was a big part of our family ancestry, which is why it's a bit uncertain at times specifically where some of our family is from, given some of the exchanging of hands over the years of that territory.

Angela

 

[KristenCaNaDiAn]

Zooey, sorry your hair didn't turn out the way you wanted it to Hopefully it grows into something you like more. I'm sure it still looks good though
Ps. That video you posted I love what Adam says too

Happy Friday Girls!!
Still feeling sick so had to call into work

Amy, if you get this before you leave today, HAVE A FABULOUS TIME!! Hope the Habs win for you

 

[Thora]

Finally watched the video that you posted, cori. x a billion. I think I got a little bit of dust in my eye at the end there.

Les Mis was the first musical I ever saw at a nice theatre and with professional singers/actors. I was 12, and absolutely blown away. It's funny - my mom and I were talking about that the other night, because she'd been watching the PBS special too, and she said she was bawling half the time. She was so surprised that I remembered seeing it so clearly, but it was so inspiring to me - that really kick-started my love of music.

Ending dorky moment now.