My Wife

- My wife

- Her neighbor

My wife collapsed in church on October 30th and had to go to the emergency room by ambulance.  This has been a wake-up call for both of us and a learning experience in terms of navigating the Irish health care system.

The public hospitals are vastly over-crowded and under-staffed... With no more rooms available, people are forced to wait on gurneys in crowded hallways.

After 12 hours of waiting for her to see a doctor I was frustrated enough to have a heated conversation with one of the powers that be (I admit to using a few choice words including "malpractice"...).  She needed a specific scan and they apparently aren't staffed to do these on the weekends.  Someone was finally called in to perform the scan and thankfully her health scare wasn't serious at this particular time.  They wanted her to stay overnight on the gurney in the hallway, but after so much time and frustration, we thought it best that she sleep in her own bed at home...

To be continued...

Happy Birthday...

... to my beautiful wife!

The Butler's Pantry Sandycove

My wife has been highly instrumental to the success of The Butler's Pantry Sandycove since she started there almost two years ago.

Enjoy this little tribute for their third anniversary, including the award-winning Halloween display that she created -- "Chefanie"...

Jack

Our Jack...

A rescue dog from L.A. that's been with us for almost a dozen years now...

The best soul dog in the world and only just now starting to show his age.

He still has a spring in his step... may he have much much more spring in his step for many years to come...

London

- London Underground

Had to go to London for the day recently.

I lived there for a couple of years in the mid-1990's and absolutely loved it.  It's nice to visit from time to time, especially for the cultural enrichment...

The Way Back

Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell, and Ed Harris star in this Peter Weir film.

Based upon a supposedly true story of a handful of men who escape from a gulag in Siberia in 1940.  They brave the winter, the forests, mountains, and deserts during their 11-month 4,000 mile escape by journeying on foot across Mongolia, China, Tibet, to safety in India.

Not all of them make it.

Though a bit long and one-noted at times, Sturgess and Farrell are excellent, and there are many heart felt moments along the way...

It certainly makes you ponder the strength and stamina of the human spirit...

Bridesmaids

Kristen Wiig co-wrote and stars in this, what can only be referred to as a female version of The Hangover.

Funny, yes.  A bit long, yes.  And a bit raunchy too...

Good escapism though.

Brings a new meaning to the phrase -- "Look Away!"...