Aaron Gets a Job, Suellen Turns 29 and Holdin' On!

Well, so much for posting more frequently.

At the end of January, Aaron picked up two bleary eyed Silvers from the Dublin airport. We took my mom and brother out to dinner their first night here and as we walked around the university a car full of cackling young people drove by and threw an apple at us. Gordon took one for the team when it hit him in the arm and rolled away at a pretty good clip. My mom admitted to seeing it coming but not wanting to give any warning in case Gordon moved, causing it to hit her instead. Now that's sacrificial motherly love right there. It could be the beard Gordon was wearing, which we've since learned is a sign of being a degenerate that provoked what we've deemed a "drive by fruiting." Later in the week as we watched the evening news, Gordon pointed to a politician and exclaimed, "See that guy's got a beard!" Turns out it was Gerry Adams, leader of Sinn Fein with ties to the Irish Republican Army, the leading paramilitary organization here.

The second day of their visit, we went to a museum with a Native American exhibit. Mom was dressed in her winter finest-furry boots and gloves with a colorful matching parka and Russian style hat. As she waited for us to catch up she sat on a bench right next to an Indian exhibit, very still, lost in her thoughts. The next thing she knew, a young girl was stroking her cape, observing "this is the softest thing I've ever felt on a mannequin." So of course mom slowly turned her head and scared the poor child out of her wits. That ought to teach her to touch the museum exhibits!

Evening three was our long awaited trip to the Russian circus. We had seats right in the front, which we thought would really stimulate the senses, but we didn't realize smell would be one of them. You've never encountered clowns that smelled so strong. Gordon said instead of "Send in the Clowns" they should play "Hose off the Clowns."

Hopefully the rest of the week exploring the city, several castles, the north coast, tromping through ruins and sheep fields was enjoyable for our guests. I sure enjoyed our trip to the Harley Davidson shop-you know you all want tee shirts from there! Aaron and I were delighted that several people mistook Gordon as one of our Dad's, and were a little disturbed that they thought he might be married to mom. I mean granted, I could pass for 16, but not Aaron!

Days after putting our VA visitors back on a plane Aaron began his new job as a security guard. It's long hours, low pay, and very boring, but it's work. He's been harassing teens at a train station and is now in a guard booth at a medical administrative building. He has however, been able to read several Grisham novels, watch the Lord of the Rings extended version (he's got 12 hours shifts Mon-Fri), and this past week, play X-box while working, so don't feel too sorry for him. I make him read some of my books, which is an added bonus!

Only one week to the wedding you've all been waiting for-Charles and Camilla! There's no shortage of tv commentary. Will she one day be queen? Only time will tell. But Princess Di will always be the Queen of hearts as we all well know. Prince Charles decided he really liked the cakes made by a Welsh granny and asked her for the recipe so he could have it at his reception. Granny declined, offering to make 20 cakes herself for the event, but would not give up her recipe. And they say the royals no longer have any real power!

Also in the news, the Michael Jackson trial of course, and the release of Martha Stewart. Mark my words she will bounce back and if she hosts Saturday Night Live someone please tape it for us! They've banned fox hunting in England, so of course animal rights activists are protesting by spooking the hunters' horses and nearly getting trampled in the process-does anyone appreciate the situational irony in this? Thirty years later, Tony Blair apologized on behalf of the government to Gerry Conlon and his family, popularly remembered as the "Guildford Four" (you may remember Daniel Day Lewis's portrayal of their wrongful imprisonment in the movie, "In the Name of the Father.") Over Easter there was a "Pope Watch." Poor John Paul's health has not been very good this Spring, so they air him watching the services on tv. I'd give anything to see if he switches over to "Desperate Housewives" after the mass.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has recently been advocating restricting abortion rights to 20 weeks instead of 24 based on better medical evidence of fetal activity and viability. Quite a bold political move and I'm incredibly interested to see if the changes actually make it into legislation. In Northern Ireland news, tv and newspaper reported the election of the Moderator of the Presbyterian Synod for next year. You'd never hear anything like that on our news. Of course this same news reported a Rugby fan having cut off his own testicles when his team lost- there's no better way to describe the sports fury that runs amok here!

In academic news, I finally got my grades for last semester. I received honors in Sociology and a B+ in politics-turns out I AM smarter than I look-who knew? I've now learned the official definition of "evil eye" just in case you were wondering about whether there's any substance in my program. I'm researching female ordination for my feminism class and doing my best to be a mild irritant to the professor by being well prepared, willing to jump into discussion anytime, and usually defending religion and the church, which seems to be a fairly unpopular position to take in academics for some reason. Good thing I like a challenge and am not shy about being the snarky American defender of the faith. In my anthropology class the teacher mentioned that marrying someone in your own family was frowned upon in most societies. While wearing overalls, in my best Southern accent, and with a completely straight face I asked "First cousins are ok though, right?" The students knew I was kidding but the professor thought I was serious. Hilarious. One of the smart alecky students then asked where I met Aaron and without missing a beat I answered, "family reunion." I should have been in stand up I had 'em so rolling in the aisles.

We toured a local police station and were humbled by the stories they tell and the procedures they have for riots and pipe bombs. Hopefully things will continue to get better. On Good Friday I participated in a Prayer Walk for peace and unity that went from a monastery on the Catholic Falls Road over along the Protestant Shankill Road and through the giant gates of the brick and concrete "Peace Wall" that divides the city. It was a humbling experience and I don't think people really knew what to make of older priests, nuns, University students, Protestants and Catholics, Irish, British, Americans, Kiwis quietly carrying crosses past murals of men with guns that essentially tell the "others" to keep out of that section of town. It may be the most important and profound thing I do while I'm here.

On a sillier note, we went with Eilis (Queen's student from Oregon) and Patrick LaRochelle (visiting again from Charlottesville) to Dublin for the St. Patrick's Day parade. I, of course, had to buy a giant green hat with shamrocks on it for my collection. We found out a few days later that a new Hill was born on St. Pat's (how fitting!) to Aaron's sister Rebecca. We can't wait to meet our new nephew Alan when we return to Charlottesville in late August/early September. I've got to get home before my spelling is permanently ruined. We're planning to hit Quiznos, Amigos, Chili's, Cracker Barrel, Taco Bell and Chick-Fil-A the first week we're back so book your meal with us now!

I got pretty excited in the grocery store recently when I saw they had a pie aisle. Turns out it was shepherd's pie and other meat pies-what on earth? Someone please send Carolina BBQ potato chips and a box of Carmel Delight Girl Scout cookies!

Lest you think it's all bad, the soap operas and sketch comedies here are very good, and we do get Smallville, American Idol, ER, the Simpsons, Las Vegas, Desperate Housewives and occasionally Conan, Leno, and Letterman. And of course we get to see music countdowns hosted by David Hasselhoff, so eat your heart out. We were bummed to hear we missed the ending of NYPD blue-what happened?

New words include "brawlies" (umbrellas) "cracker" (cool person or thing), "steamer" (some sort of hot milk beverage? Or what Haley leaves in the park daily?) , and my favorite, "All fur coat and no knickers" (a woman of ill repute).

We've discovered the loud woman who lives above us and won't stop stomping is terrified of dogs, so we're working on a way to use that to our advantage some how. Haley recently earned her keep by introducing me to an entire men's Rugby Team in the park-good girl! A few boys scaled the intimidating and spikey fences behind our apartment, (so young, so bold) that are meant to deter burglars but obviously not 11 year olds when they saw Haley through the fence. They thought she was a "class cracker" and offered me a 100 GBP for her. I think they thought she would make a good fighting dog, they obviously haven't seen her flee from scary things like stuffed animals and spaghetti.

The clock sprung forward on Easter weekend, but Aaron forgot to set his watch forward so he worked an extra hour at work on Wednesday-"here's your sign." We're enjoying a lot more daylight (until 8 pm!) if not a whole lot more warmth. Hopefully we will get some nice island weather in sunny SPAIN. We're leaving on Friday the 1st for Majorca for 4 days-yeehaw! I am on Spring Break until April 8th. Hopefully this will hold you until we get back and can post the pictures-stay tuned for more adventures!

The Hillbillies