If I had internet at home this is what I would have posted last night...at approximately 4am...

Once upon a time insomnia was fun...it literally added hours to my productive day.  My brand of insomnia means that for certain periods of time I can run on limited or even no sleep, but still function as normal during the day until crash day comes when all I want to do is sleep. Although I have little to no control over when it happens, it always seemed to coincide with deadlines, exams or conferences – meaning  I could work all night to finish a paper/application, cram to my heart’s content or be last to leave the party and first into morning plenary respectively.

Of course I have also had many the bout of insomnia that did not cleverly coincide with a time when I needed to add several hours to my day. One such occassion led me to read Gone with the Wind in an evening, another the entire first season of Grey’s Anatomy in two evenings. Insomnia led me to have many the interesting chat with friends in time zones either far ahead or behind my own, it allowed me to read many the classic (and even not so classic book) that otherwise during a hectic schedule of work and uni I probably wouldn’t have had the chance to read. It allowed me to spend hours online watching and reading news, invaluable to a polisci student.

 In short I never considered my insomnia a bad thing. Until now. I guess I have passed the magical age where staying up all night to watch movies is a good thing. Putting Finding Nemo into the DVD player at 2am is no longer a reason to be rejoice.  Suddenly watching 24/7 CNN is no longer informative it is in fact depressing. I am watching rolling coverage of the situation in Palestine. 

It reminds me of the first Iraq war, coming home from school to sit and watch Operation Desert Storm being beamed into my living room. Surreal.

Talking heads keep appearing on screen, supporting one side or the other. Justifying brutality, not in so many words of course. Talking heads are careful not to condone violence but they don’t condemn it either.  The news cycle includes a by now almost day old update from the UN. An update that once again undermines the potency of the Security Council. It is so frustrating to listen to the spin.

I think it is almost time to sleep. Not a moment too soon, it is about 2.5 hours until my alarm!

Here’s hoping you caught more ZZZZZs than me J Sweet dreams!

I've been trying to write this post for days now, alternating between typing and scribbling ideas on the back of bits of paper...but the various thoughts somehow don't fit together. Maybe they just aren't meant to end up online... Initially I wanted to write the standard, run of the mill January post - looking back on the year that has been and looking forward to the one that has just arrived. Somehow I kept wandering off, I'm good at tangents. Petroula suggested I just write about her, although I'm not sure how that would help?! 

So some recurrent themes that popped up in all the various drafts of this post include how thankful I am to have had such a fantastic 2008 - a year filled to the brim of new experiences, new people and characterised by settling into a city and a country that now appear to be home, at least for the mid term. Another theme was the fact that I really felt as though 2008 was a year of growth. One where I learned a lot about myself, saw myself put lessons into action, grew up a lot especially in terms of choosing my battles. It was also the year when I became the adult for a while and although the situation has been reversed again, it will never be quite the same. 

One of the many tangents I kept taking in my scribbles refered to the fact that 2008 was about taking stock of my relationships, seeing the important ones and focusing on them while letting go of ones that are ultimately destructive. Not that I have just cut people from my life, rather I just give them proportionate attention. Instead of allowing it consume me, I have walked away from situations. A big lesson for someone who has always had issues leaving people go. 

As disjointed as this post may seem it is in fact the most "together" version I could muster! 

Some things never change....

....and rightly so!

Another day that reminded me just how lucky I am to have such great friends. How easy it is to slip back to the good ole days! Christmas holidays may end and we may scatter again but knowing that basic connection survives and even thives is what gives us all the strength to go back to where we belong for now...

siiiigh, all over again for another year :) a really wonderful Christmas...family time - good food, loverly presents, plenty rest, a very lucrative trip to the post Christmas sales and good old fashioned traditional family fun...with a Nintendo Wii :)

Hope you all had as satisfying a Festive Season as I had <3

It is good to be back online...lots of decent chattage! Happy days :)

Since I last wrote I have been back to Zurich, started a new job and now have returned to the little green island once more for CHRISTMAS!!! So in brief....

* New job/role/colleagues are all awesome...can really see myself enjoying this atmosphere and of course the actual work...good start but with even greater expectations for 2009
* I see fun times ahead with some of my colleagues...judging by the one night out so far :)
* Back to the loving arms of my Zuri-family :) Even complete with christmas tree dressing and board games with the usual family squabbles!
* My big brother has left Zurich :( we did at least have fun at his farewell party...memo to self, must ask the official photographer for decent quality version of photo so I can share here along with an "Ode to Federico"
* My fear of (secret) santa has been put to rest!!
* Some surprising and interesting newses from friends both near and far...
* BRUNA AND I LIVE IN THE SAME CITY!!
* The first monthly "originals" dinner
* Happy times over dinner with old team...the joking continues!
* Is it just me, or is there really potential?

ok ok...so I am getting bored waiting for Jon Snow to start educating me on college votes etc...watching "My family at war"....as TV presenter/actor type Matthew Kelly is traces his roots and his family's part in WW1. His search leads him to his grand-uncle's grave in a commonwealth graveyard for fallen soldiers, as he lays a wreath on the grave the emotion of the situation becomes a little too much for him and through the tears he utters

"one of a generation, but he is my one"

I can't help but wonder...in 100 years time will the celebrities of the day be tracing their way to gravestones of soldiers that gave their lives in the everlasting war of our generation? If so what will they make of us?

hmm...is the history of the moment making me somewhat sentimental ;-)

Waiting for the coverage of the US presidential election coverage to start...is it just me or is the whole world holding it's breath?

Saw a very nice quote today...

"Sometimes the only available means of transport is a leap of faith"

Movie night - Quantum of Solace. Not too shabby for Aine. I just held my breath for so many scenes, it was truly action packed and Daniel Craig surpassed himself. The post movie talk had all too little to do with 007 though ;)

I'd always heard the rumour that Med parties were crazy, debaucherous even. Not so. I did however meet some very nice people. Some old fashioned decent conversation on all kinds of topics and a great way to spend a couple of hours. And of course an insight into another side of someone. Still nothing of consequence to complain about :) They say good friends are hard to find I think I need to go into treasure hunting professionally as I seem to be quite good at it already!

besosososos from a very cold Ireland...brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr <3