Every Day is Election Day

(Soccer themed, see. Deutschland über alles, ja.)

However, highlights included:

1. Getting high on Dulux as the office is being painted
2. Having a 15-minute debate about what biscuits are most win
3. The dog turd I’ve avoided on the canal bridge on the walk to work for the past fortnight is gone (avoidance win is mine)
4. Realising, before anyone else, that the painter was whistling Paula Abdul ‘Straight Up’ at 3.04pm
5. My mother saying at lunch, “You’re not as wrecked as I expected you to be, with work and study and your life being so tough at the minute”

Tomorrow is Friday, it means I can have two days off… TO STUDY! Yipee. Dontcha…

PS - Curves, or ’saggy camp’ as it’s known as in Tressdale, is going fandabby, not fatdabby.

PPS - Is it just me or are those Zurich ‘nickname’ ads ridiculously annoying?! Yes, I do mean you, Jason McAteer. Yes I am starting.

PPPS - Reilly, welcome back

PPPPS - Scally is housemate of the week, having supplied epic widescreen win of a Sanyo.

In a past online life I used to regularly(ish) review albums for the Irish music webzine, Cluas.com, before working for the University Observer took the emphasis.

Well, I’m back in the game - here’s my review of Rubies’ Explode From The Center, as published on Cluas this afternoon. Click here to read it on Cluas, or find it after the jump. (more…)

Brennan has just delivered the whole “You wouldn’t leave me alone at the side of the road, so why are you leaving me alone on the information superhighway?” so here I am, filling in the blanks in a quite absent online presence over the last while - well, except for my Twitter, but that’s just handy because a lot of my work has involved web inboxes and the like. So I’ve been online, but while working. If that makes sense.

That’s a rambling paragraph so allow me to start again!

Like the Brendawg I’m finished in UCD now, as although my time in the Students’ Union doesn’t end until next Monday, I’m currently on two weeks’ annual leave with time that I’d worked up taking so few breaks during the year. I’m starting with the Affordable Homes Partnership next Monday so I’ve spent last week and the last two days just hanging around at home, doing a few bits that needed time out of the office to finish.

The thing occupying the bulk of my time - and something I’m not sure if I’m at liberty to speak too much about still - is to do with an events guide-style website for UCD. Towards the end of our tenures in UCD, myself and Ciara went to meet some senior people in the UCD admin about a rejuvenated attempt to get an events website off the ground; something UCD themselves had tried to do previously (see www.ucdevents.com for a real-life reference of crapness) and failed quite a lot in doing. The project involves rejuvenation (if not complete replacement altogether) of the website so that it can handle an awful lot more events, as well as daily email alerts with the day’s activities and (hopefully) with the ability to send text reminders before events. It’s just in incubation right now and my role - if any - is yet to have been confirmed - but things are being discussed so I’m hopeful of a successful service coming of our efforts. I finally got my 3,000-word proposal on the matter finished and shipped off to the University authorities yesterday and feedback seems to be quite positive, so hopefully once things are a little more confirmed I might post the actual submission up here for public perusal.

It’s something that we’ve been trying a couple of times this year to get going - Ciara had promised the re-introduction of the What’s On Guide at the start of the year only for the University to take command of the idea and then scrap it - so it’s nice to think that stuff can still be achieved in the lamest part of ones time as a lame duck in office.

What else? Well, yesterday I was on MSN (having sent the proposal) when I got a message from Steph, incoming SU Postgraduate Officer and who’s working with me in AHP, having started a few weeks ago. She was asking if I was free today, because AHP were launching a new consumer website showcasing all of the affordable homes they had in stock, www.affordablehome.ie. They needed a few people to go to a photocall with the Minister for Housing, Michael Finneran, demonstrating the site, and possibly a “young couple” (read ‘unwilling interns’) to look like they were decorating a new pad bought under the scheme.

Well, there are no words really… pictures speak louder…

There’s a fair chance I might be on the Herald AM, Metro, Irish Independent and Evening Herald tomorrow, especially with all this talk of recession and the property crash.

So help me God, I think I might be crawling back under my cyber-rock for a while yet.

I know, I’ve been off the face of the earth for aaaaaaaages. Apologies. However I’m not as bad as Herr Reilly who is… wait, who is he again? If I know our site viewers, and I don’t want to, you lot are a smart bunch and have noted his absence from this opus… I’ve moved from being a co-blogertee to being on my Tobler in cyberspace. Reilly has been lost to the seductive duo of the Affordable Homes Partnership and the UCD communications department, both of whom he is trying to drag kicking and screaming into the 21st century technological age (I fell victim to him this way too, what can I say, he’s Firefoxy).

Frequent visitors to my Bebo / Bookface / Twitter / home are more than well acquainted with my ways of going all Bermuda triangle on your face due to study/work/family commitments. So get used to it, dear readers. I disappear, but I return wiser, fulfilled and laden with ridiculous photos and stories. I’m like the godmother who forgets about you till your communion/confirmation, when she arrives in with a Hallmark card stuffed with fifties.

Study is steady, but I’ve been a little tied up with crossover training with next year’s officers in the Union in the evenings. It’s been going well, all have got a good command of what to expect… the unexpected. I was less emotional leaving the office than I thought I would be, but I know I’ll be in and around the office next year and never too far away from next year’s lot. Luck would be a fine thing!

Started work in Croker this week too. It was ridiculously busy from the start, a honeymoon period I had not! Prince refunds took most of the week, but I’ve also started on that feasibility report I was yakking on about, so I will keep you updated!

Other olds (too outdated to be called news!) include the following: USI HQ (and Reilly’s website!) was officially opened during the week, and cheap wine and sambos were had by all. I got a new phone, Nokia E65 (the BlackBerry is just a reminder of being mugged. Twice). Neil Diamond came and went and the parentals enjoyed it a lot. See an interesting Flash Box on my Bebo!

Hmmm. I just got a text from a younger Brennan type telling me ‘OMG next Irish My Super Sweet 16 is being filmed tonight… in Kilkenny. LOL’ Expect a K4 Bebo-generation orgy of excess… on the same night as Dolly P reaches das Hurlingkapital. ‘Tis a classy place to be sure… loike, totally, Jolene.

I’ll be back anon with more funs.

PS - She has a heart! Lauren Conrad Darfur video:

PPS - Just realised I’m an excuse for a female blogger. I did NOT REVIEW SATC.

Viva la Vida on repeat in work, at home, the iPod… tad ridiculous. And even more ridiculous that I just heard an ad on the radio announcing that it’s out on Friday… aaaaaaaaaaand I still squealed. Breaking the law can be good for the ears.

Juno is [finally!] out on DVD… Hurrah! Pizza night ahoy friendies. WATCH THIS MOVIE. The dialogue is phemonenal and Ellen Page is tremendous in it.

If you haven’t been before, visit www.rarebooks.ie. Fabulous. Just as a real musty bookshop should be, and if you buy online, they send you your book wrapped in old newspapers! Spiffy.

Softening to Damien Dempsey through his recent album ‘The Rocky Road’. Luke Kelly is alive and well folks…

We’re going to Neil Diamond on Saturday with respective parentals. Both sets are equally excited, and it should be yet another fabulous family occasion in Croker. President McAleese shall be in attendance so it’s a night for the glad rags…

Kilkenny kick off the championship season this weekend… WIN!

Davy Fitz in Waterford… I feel I must restrain myself here. I won’t say what I really want to for fear it will come back and bite me in the ass.

Home to vote tomorrow, how quaint. Driving home with Nickey and using the occasion to hang with Darmo on Thursday. I won’t lecture you, but I’ll be voting yes.

Oh, and Prince is cancelled. That’s the secret I couldn’t tell you the other night buds.

Meanwhile here are two photos of Reilly and I at Radiohead, and one of the boys themselves to boot:

Ps. I don’t really follow BB (I swear *cough*) but I will miss Dermot O’Leary from BBLB. Here is one of his best (Irish) moments. G’wan ya yellabelly!

Radiohead in Malahide Castle: Superb. Venue, Act, Company. All excellent. Need to see them indoors soon. It’s on the list!

Cork loss? As good as a Kilkenny victory. I’m singing Slievenamon.

(nice hair Louise…!)

Call me bitter, but it was Tipp’s first victory against Cork in the Munster Championship in 85 years. Shame the Dubs couldn’t be finished off. Just a week before Kilkenny kick off their Championship season against Offaly now! Three in a row is so close…! Seems the hangover from Justin McCarthy’s resignation is ongoing. Parallels between this and the Offaly situation of Michael Bond/Babs Keating is silly and futile. Difference between now and then is that the Offaly team had public support, something I think the Waterford team are lacking. In fact, most struggle to see their reasoning and distinguish it as a cowardly, sneaky move. I maintain my position that it is a bad idea to hand the players that sort of power and let them decide who manages them. That said, I’m not anti-player, I just think that a clear administrative line needs to be maintained. Perhaps the players just panicked, and the idea of a bridesmaid year yet again was just too much for them to conceive, but he didn’t deserve what he got in the end. I wish Justin McCarthy all the best. *GAA rant over*

Anyways. Equipped with a fabulous new kitchen in chez Reilly/Scally/Brennan/Troy, I am now domesticated beyond belief, serving up feasts at any available opportunity. I give it a week for this nesting to settle down. But Friday night was spent ironing, cooking, cleaning, hovering and mowing the lawn. Well. Gav moved the lawn, but I was uber supportive.

Curves is ongoing. And yes, I still love it.

Moving onto the week ahead however, this is my last week in the office. I’m ok for now, but emotions are bound to overtake me at some stage… I suspect I’ll break Friday lunchtime!

Right, I’m off to more classes, tonight it shall be Constitutional and Contract ftw. Contract is fabulous, compact and concise… and Constitutional is anything but. It’s long, intense, emotive and difficult. But it’s still my favourite, so I’m looking forward to it! Val Corbett is the new James McDermott in my life… more anon!

PS - Booked tickets for The Panel for the National Concert Hall on the 22nd June. Win!

Spent yesterday at home, shivering me timbers and getting my sneeze on (atchoo, atchoo, at-chew, atishoooo, etc… ).

I was stuck to the bed, realising I’ve forgotten how good I am at feeling sorry for myself. Spent the morning listening to Ray, reading Q and Time and doing my all time favourite thing in the world: make lists. In doing so, I was reminded by an article I read in Time late last year (fear not, full realisation of my anal nature frightens even me at this stage! I heart lists!).

I disgress. Time management has become an absolutely vital aspect of our lives this year and I can juggle tasks and appointments with the best of them… with a little help from our friends at BlackBerry, Google Calendar,and while I’m at it, a big shout out to Giselle in the Students’ Union for organising us in the day job!

Duvet day also allowed me to:

1. Watch Yves Saint Laurent’s funeral online
2. Work a little on a new project that Gav and I have going on… a ucdlife website
3. Read my favourite blogs (see the Blogroll to the right!)
4. Study. Which I loved, sadly enough. Tort is the subject du jour!

While y’all are waiting for me to get fully better and come out and play, do yourselves a favour and entertain yourselves with the following:

Watch: (it’s a good un for all you law types!)

Laugh at: http://www.rickygervais.com/chimpanzee_karl.php

And finally, listen to: http://www.myspace.com/crystalcastles/

Here’s a picture from earlier this morning, featuring Yi Bao (UCD Quinn School), Hui Zhang (UCD Chinese Students & Scholars Association), Carl Lusby (UCD International Students’ student advisor), and myself (me) with a cheque for ten grand for the Chinese Earthquake appeal, which we handed over to the Red Cross in the past hour. Fundraising is ongoing!

You can still donate by lodging some spare cash to this account:

China Earthquake Appeal (UCD)
AIB UCD Campus Branch, Belfield
Account No: 22209019
Sort Code: 93-01-56

I never thought a press release from a Bookie would interest me but there you go! Check this out…

‘With the Championship season starting to heat up, Boylesports, Ireland’s independent bookmaker, has produced a GAA Ethnic Dictionary which translates a host of popular GAA specific terms and words into both Polish and Chinese. According to Irish company Ethnic Media, there are currently over 200,000 Polish people and up to 100,000 Chinese people residing in the state.

The GAA has its very own unique language and common place phrases such as “breaking ball”, “sideline cut” and “square ball” are now translated into the native tongue of the country’s two largest non-Irish national communities in an effort to foster a greater level of understanding of our national games. There is now huge interest amongst non-Irish national communities in the GAA and the uniqueness of the games is equalled by the uniqueness of the terms associated with the two sports.

Other fun GAA terms such as “schkelping”, “shemozzle”, “mullocker” and “bomber” are explained and translated into both Chinese and Polish.

Leon Blanche, Betting Spokesperson for Boylesports, said, “Gaelic Games are one of the most important parts of our heritage and culture. Ireland is rapidly becoming a diverse multicultural society and we thought that this would be a good way to give the Polish and Chinese communities a greater understanding of Football and Hurling.

“Words such as “mullocker” and “shemozzle” are explained while specific GAA terms such as “breaking ball”, “sideline cut” and the famous GAA “Committee” are directly translated. We hope that when Polish or Chinese people go to watch games that they will now have a better understanding of what is being said around them!”

The Boylesports GAA Ethnic Dictionary translates 25 distinctive GAA terms and into both Polish and Chinese and also gives a translation of the term’s meaning. The dictionary was developed in association with Ethnic Media.’

Croke Park should have this done already. Tis only a matter of time before we see a Dobroslaw Młynarczyk lining out at full back for Offaly. Great news story!

…and where Hollywood actors come to see the odd musical.

Very proud of elder sister Nicola of late. A teacher (Gaeilge and Geography) in the Cistercian in Roscrea - former secondary school of the Tea-Shock - she has the most wonderful melodic voice, without doubt the only Brennan with the entertainment gene. She moved back home recently and jumped at the opportunity to get involved in the Kilkenny Musical Society, of which she is a now a committee member (we Brennans don’t hang around!).

Even though it was her first audition for the Society, she managed to bag a part in the latest production, the wonderful Oklahoma!. She played Gertie Cummins which was met with much amusement by all, as the character is an obnoxious, in-your-face flirt (with the most hideous laugh that she managed to perfect to an astounding degree of annoyance). She pulled it off brilliantly, and la famille Brennan were dead proud of her.

So needless to say all were thrilled when a certain Mr. Gabriel Byrne shared the following during a rare break last Friday, between rehearsals for the New York Philharmonic’s semistaged concert performances of “Camelot,” the classic Lerner and Loewe musical, in which he stars as King Arthur.

Quoth the Byrne:

“I was never a big fan [of musicals] until I saw an amateur production of ‘Oklahoma!’ in Kilkenny not long ago. [...] I was absolutely stunned how good those players in Ireland were. The joy and enthusiasm of the entire cast were extremely moving to me.”

Five stars! Well done all!