Great Day for a Run

Lately, the weather has been so beautiful it is hard to resist going for runs and walks. I had made a habit of listening to audio books — but it is much simpler to go out with an iPod Shuffle than an iPhone or iPod, even the Nano — so I switched to music playlists which work better on the Shuffle. Of course, the varied genres keep me motivated and guessing – until Cat Stevens comes on and makes me want to lie in the grass in Fitzgerald Park and gaze at the clouds floating by.

Here are some of the songs on my playlist – they work well for a pace of three to four miles per hour (3-4 MPH):

Waterloo ABBA

You Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC

Got a Backbeat American Steel

Sugar Sugar The Archies

Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured Arctic Monkeys

C’est La Vie B*witched

The Old Apartment Barenaked Ladies

Body Movin Remix The Beastie Boys

Yellow Submarine The Beatles

Saturday Night Fever Bee Gees

Let’s Get It Started Black Eyed Peas

The Ave Blue Scholars

Hook Blues Traveler

Stir It Up Bob Marley & The Wailers

Cannonball The Breeders

The Wind Cat Stevens

You Never Can Tell Chuck Berry

The Stroll Chuck Willis

Viva la Vida Coldplay

Just My Imagination The Cranberries

Bad Day Daniel Powter

Ants Marching Dave Matthews Band

I Think I Love You David Cassidy & The Partridge Family

Photobooth Death Cab for Cutie

Big Country Down By Law

Come Go With Me The Del Vikings

Veronica Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Slung-Lo Erin McKeown

Santa Monica Everclear

You’re an Ocean Fastball

One Two Three Four Feist

Take Me Out Franz Ferdinand

Running Fred

Crazy Gnarls Barkley

Clint Eastwood GorillaZ

Lukey’s Boat Great Big Sea with The Chieftains

If Everyone Looked The Same Groove Armada

Have I the Right The Honeycombs

Get In or Get Out Hot Hot Heat

Jump Around House of Pain

Here Comes The Hotstepper Ini Kamoze

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing Jack Johnson

Sit Down James

I’m Yours Jason Mraz

If You Wanna Be Happy Jimmy Soul

What A Wonderful World Joey Ramone

Authority Song John Mellencamp

Long May You Reign John Shelly and the Creatures

Amazing Josh Kelley

Pink Lemonade Jump, Little Children

Boogie Shoes K.C. and the Sunshine Band

Gold Digger Kanye West Feat. Jamie Foxx

Everybody’s Changing Keane

Sex On Fire Kings Of Leon

Charmed Life Leigh Nash Of Sixpence None The Richer

Can’t Help Falling In Love Lick the Tins

Baller, Shot Caller Lil’ Troy

LDN Lily Allen

Astronaut Luna

Paper Planes M.I.A.

Beggin’ Madcon

Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard Me First & the Gimmies

Listener Supported Michael Franti & Spearhead

Float On Modest Mouse

Sweet Caroline Neil Diamond

Country Grammar Nelly

Turn Off The Lights Nelly Furtado

Pink Moon Nick Drake

Get Over It Ok Go

Via Con Me Paolo Conte

Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes Paul Simon

Graceland Paul Simon

Video Killed the Radio Star The Presidents of the United States of America

Time Bomb Rancid

Fidelity Regina Spektor

Stand REM

The Seed The Roots

Escape Rupert Holmes

Cupid Sam Cooke

Get Busy Sean Paul

So Says I The Shins

Cecilia Simon and Garfunkel

Annie Slàinte Mhath

Diggin’ Your Scene Smash Mouth

Ball And Chain Social Distortion

Modern Nature Sondre Lerche

Home For A Rest Spirit Of The West

Last Nite The Strokes

My Girl Josephine Super Cat

Build Me Up ButterCup Baby The Tempations

Birdhouse In Your Soul They Might Be Giants

Campus Vampire Weekend

Ice Ice Baby Vanilla Ice

Vaxxine Visqueen

Surf Wax America Weezer

New Soul Yael Naïm

Gold Lion Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Don’t Stay Home 311

Knitty Wooly Fun Time

Just saw that on Tuesdays The Pavilion hosts Knitty Wooly Fun Time which is knitting!

Tue 16 Jun 2009 Knitty Wooly Fun Time The Pavilion (Dowstairs Bar) 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Admission FREE
Cork group starting May 12 from 7-9 in downstairs bar…a night to get together to make gloves not war…discussion of design, patterns, materials and techniques…bring yer knitting needles.

If you are also a knitter or crafty person looking to read more about knitting, yarn shops, and flexing creative muscles when traveling the world (or just staying at home), visit my other blog, Spring Stitches. It is focused on my adventures in knitting, sewing, crafty things, and inspired upcycling. So if that’s also your cup of tea, hop on over!

Around Europe in One Year

Today is the one-year anniversary of my arriving in Ireland to live. It has been a challenging, exhilarating, and blissful 12 months. There are so many things I’ve learned, but one thing that surprised me a little was how many places we’ve visited while living here such a short time. Since August 2008, we’ve traveled around Ireland (West Cork, Blarney, Waterford, Dublin, Killarney, Kinsale, Midleton, Youghal, Glendalough, Ring of Kerry, Kenmare, Cobh) and to Barcelona, London, Vienna, Italy (Rome, Sorrento, Capri, Ischia), France (Brest/Bretagne, Paris), Washington D.C., and Amsterdam.

Cork DON’Ts

In Cork City, I’ve learned a few things Corkonians just don’t do…

• Don’t feel hesitant about jaywalking – everyone does it.

• Don’t go into the Hi-B if you are an unaccompanied female, unless you are trying to get barred.

• Don’t use a mobile phone in the Hi-B, unless you are trying to get it thrown out the window.

• Don’t try to bring more than four items of clothing in any department store fitting room.

• Don’t forget to carry your own reusable grocery bag around since stores charge for plastic bags.

• Don’t assume someplace is open on Sundays.

• Don’t expect the sun to stay out just because the weather forecast and sky tell you so.

• Don’t forget your umbrella or raincoat.

• Don’t go to Penney’s on a Friday after school in September unless you are eager to battle a crowd of teens.

• Don’t say you like Dublin better.

Bonfires

Tonight, bonfires can be found in Cork and Limerick. It is to markMidsummer Eve, which happens to also coincide with the Midsummer Festival. Bonna Night is what the locals ’round here call it.

You can see a bit of smoke to the right of Shandon Bells in this photo. I’d have taken an action shot if the teenagers didn’t intimidate me so much.

Cork Midsummer Festival

Last night, a few of us went to the Céilí sa Spiegeltent as part of the Cork Midsummer Festival. What fun that was!!! Music and dancing going on well into the evening. With numerous events each day, there is always something to do in Cork City this month. To read through all the events of the festival, download the book.

Traveling and Meeting Fellow Knitters

Before traveling to France this month, I looked on Ravelry to see where users in the cities I’d be visiting bought their yarn, hoping to get shopping ideas for myself. In the course of admiring yarn, I was so amazed at a few Ravelers’s projects I had to write them and reiterated my inquiry. As a result, I made plans with two fabulous women to meet while I was on holiday. They each were welcoming, kind, and great company. As an added bonus, I met a third Raveler by chance! It was one of those cute moments when she asked what I do and I mentioned my blogs and she asked what I blog about and I responded and once the word ‘knitting’ was out we started shouting and jumping like school chums reunited. I look forward to keeping in touch with all three and basking in the kind world we live in. When so much negativity, violence, and oppression is seen in the news each day, it is a glimmer of hope to know there are still good people out there with warm hearts and open minds.

FOR ALL THINGS KNITTING AND CRAFT-RELATED, VISIT OUR SISTER BLOG: Spring Stitches.

World Wide Knit In Public Day 2009

Today, we will be enjoying World Wide Knit In Public Day in Fitzgerald Park. What fun! Though our local KIP fun is not on the main KIP Day website, it will be happening. Makes me wonder why we need one particular day to draw us out of doors.

If you are also a knitter or crafty person looking to read more about knitting, yarn shops, and flexing creative muscles when traveling the world (or just staying at home), visit my other blog, Spring Stitches. It is focused on my adventures in knitting, sewing, crafty things, and inspired upcycling. So if that’s also your cup of tea, hop on over!