Adventures in Dublin

I am currently in Dublin for a conference, which has been both fun and stressful. I can't wait to be back in New Jersey (and, wow, I never thought I'd say that).

• There are so many kosher Cadbury options in Ireland. But really how much chocolate can I bring back? Challenge accepted.

• Oh, charming and quaint cobblestoned Europe. My heels hate you.

• The exorbitant conference fee for my conference included lunch. I inquired about whether they could get me kosher food, not expecting much but figuring it was worth a  shot. They told me they would be able to accomodate me. Now, I am no fool and I brought tons of food with me just in case. I went to lunch yesterday and got punted from person to person who had no idea what I was talking about until finally I found someone who did know. She explained to me that it was a big hassle to get kosher food (true) and so the chef here said really there's no problem with the food he makes, so I should just eat that. Thanks, dude.

• I really enjoy walking around a  new city, especially when I can't figure out the bus system in said city. Doing so with a bag that holds a computer, a gemara, a Kindle, a siddur, and multiple novels is probably not the best idea, though. 

• Dear Dublin, 55 degrees and rainy is not acceptable summer weather. 

• There are so many used books for sale here. If there were international media mail, I would send back a box of books. Alas, I have to settle for what fits in my suitcase.

Not the Best Time to be in Ireland

Last year, Z and I flew from New Jersey to California on Shiva Asar b'Tamuz, thus adding three hours to our fast. That was not pleasant. But turns out, being in Dublin for this fast is way worse. Poor planning on my part, I suppose.

'Marry Only the Individual You Think You Can't Live Without'

 

"When he looked into her dark eyes, and saw that her lips were poised between a laugh and silence, he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke — the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love. Something older than humanity, more ancient than the desert." —The Alchemist

Our first anniversary was last week (as we sat on a beach in Hawaii). And, to sum it up, the first year of marriage was a blast. I don't claim to have learned all the secrets of good marriage in a year, but a few things I have learned:

• Don't buy your husband a Nerf gun if you don't want to be shot with a Nerf gun.

• Challah on honey is delicious. We may continue this just because I like it (far more than Z likes it, but he indulges me). Gummy bears in lieu of honey isn't the best idea in the world, however.

• Get a grind 'n brew coffeemaker. It will make delicious coffee and that will make you happy.

• Don't insult someone's significant other. Ever. If you don't like someone's spouse, that's fine, but don't tell that person. Dude, if you insult my husband, it's going to make me mad. The end. 

• Late wedding presents are excellent because they're unexpected. I may start giving wedding presents late on purpose.

• Other weddings will never be as awesome as yours. Especially if you got married in a rose garden and danced in a fountain, but even if you got married in a basement in Brooklyn. 

• There is no good way to travel with a shaitel. On your head or in a box or in a Ziploc or in a shoe box. (This sounds vaguely like a Dr. Suess book.) It's never going to look as good as it did when you left, so you might as well give up on that. Also, shaitel boxes will fall apart if you are silly enough to take them on a plane.

• Flying first class is amazing. 

• Your husband probably can't eat an entire batch of blue cupcakes, even if he loves blue cupcakes. So, use your fractions and halve and quarter recipes. (Or ask your mathematician husband to halve and quarter recipes for you if you're lucky enough to have a mathematician for a husband.)

• If your husband goes away for a week, don't greet him by dropping his phone into (instant!) coffee.

• Eventually people may stop asking you if you're newlyweds or maybe they won't, but don't let that deter you from holding hands and being all cute and married. Because you're cute. And married.