Sunday, July 17, 2011

Becoming a World Traveler

They say that talk is cheap and action speaks louder than words, so I've decided to stop talking about traveling and do something about it.

Currently am on a mission to become a "world traveler". Doing lots of research both online and through various travel guides. I'm reading a lot about the history of the county I'm planning to visit plus various sites to visit during my stay. I will note that I'm currently in the planning stage of my "new adventures" and that I've not purchased any plane tickets or booked any rooms as of lately. I know your probably wondering where in the world am I visiting but the title of my blog is probably the biggest clue I can give.

I've always wanted to visit the Emerald Isle. I enjoy watching movies and tv shows that take place in that beautiful green country. I myself have Irish in my blood even if just a wee bit but enough to make me intrigued by a country steeped in mystical folklore. I recently found that one of my ancestors came from Northern Ireland in Ulster. When I was born I was not given an ordinary plain name for a girl but one that I would eventually grow to love. Not many people I know can say that their name appears in the dictionary except for me. I'm a Colleen and very proud of it. Although I don't have red hair but have fair complexion with occasional bits of natural red highlights poking through my lackluster brown hair. Dictionary definition of colleen: an Irish girl. I don't think you can find a simpler definition than that.

In my journey or rather quest to learn all I can about this majestic island I found that not everyone covers every thing and not everything is as it seems. As mentioned earlier I've been reading several well known guide books as well as listening to some very good travel videos that are available for viewing on YouTube. I've even watched some good travel shows on public television and cable about travel in Ireland.

What I've learned in my travel planning is that there is a lot to do in Dublin, so much so that if you don't visit the rest of the island first you may never leave the capital city. While Dublin may be Ireland's largest city, Cork City in County Cork is the republic's second largest city. All of the most popular travel guides mention Cork City except one which is a shame.

There is a lot of stuff to do in Ireland's second largest city. Cork City has been referred to as Ireland second capital in a few of the travel guides I've read. Books that omit this city are really missing a lot. In 2005 Cork City was named European Capital of Culture. There is also lots of stuff to in and around Cork City.

Like I said not everything you read is true so do lots of research, read comments from other travelers when booking a room at a hostel or hotel. Try to make a couple friends from the country you plan to visit on one of the social networking sites because they will know what's worth your time and what's crap. I've made a couple friends so far in Ireland just by using an online dating site that has an international branch.

If you check out travel videos on YouTube you will find that they feature locals and are not paid spokesperson. The Discover Ireland web site is a great place to start your Ireland Adventure. It seems like everyone has a website no matter what they are selling. Most hostels have some sort of website which is great because you can find comments left by recent visitors.

It use to be that the hostel was a place for the young but now it seems like everyone can enjoy this cheap room and board without breaking the bank. I first started looking into cheap hotels but found that they weren't all that cheap especially if all I was gonna do was sleep after a day of sightseeing. The more I started looking into various hostels the more they became a necessity in my travel plans. The key to finding a good hostel is to read as many comments left by recent guests and then judge whether or not that comment has any merit.

In my hostel discovery I found that comments left by individuals from the United States held more merit than persons from Norway or even Finland. Since I'm an American I wanted to know what other Americans thought although I read other travelers comments. I also learned you have to take the good with the bad when you choose to stay at a hostel but being well informed beforehand is always best. Choose wisely. So far I've found that the Aaran House Tourist Hostel in Cork sounds like a great place to spend a few nights while exploring various site in County Cork. If someone is willing to make a return to a hostel that's definitely a plus in my book. Some comments complain about there not being any good restaurants near this particular hostel but because it is close to the train/bus stations I will definitely consider staying there when I visit Cork City.

Like I said do you homework, read everything you can whether its in a book or online, check out individual website for various tourist sites and hotels or hostels. My favorite website are DiscoverIreland.com and Hostelworld.com. You can also find out a lot of information by watching videos on YouTube as well. Anyone can make a video and post it on YouTube so there are quite a few videos that individuals have done on their trip to the Emerald Isle.

I'm also currently learning to speak the language of Ireland which is Irish Gaelic. Gaelic may not be the primary language of the island but in some communities called Gaeltachts. Irish is the spoken language of choice.

It's getting late and I've been working on this blog far too long not to post it. So here it is in all its glory. Please feel free to leave me comments about your travels. Being an unexperienced world traveler I need all the help I can get. So if you've gone to Ireland please tell me about it. I've only been to Toronto, Ontario, Canada and have never left step foot on any other continent except North America and would love to read comments from those experience travelers. One day I would love to visit Spain and Italy and maybe even France. Like I said its a good idea to make friends in other countries via various social networking sites because you never know when you might need some advice. I will post more about my trip to Ireland soon but for now I will finally make this blog my official new post.

Thanks for listening and get out there and do some exploring of your own.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Loosing Weight??

?? is it possible to loose weight??
They seem to being able to loose the weight on the Biggest Looser but that isn't reality. Those people live on a ranch with nothing but healthy food and two amazing trainers whose job it is to mold the contestants' bodies into shape.

You and I don't live in an environment where there is noting to eat but healthy food and we definitely don't have 24hr access to a gym. Gym memberships come at a premium so the only real sort of exercise for those who are poor is walking. Although walking is great exercise sometimes its not easy to do especially if you live in an area where there is possibility of snow. If you have cable tv you might find that there is Fit Tv channel available to you which is cool cause it has hundreds of different exercise routines for you. You'll probably just have to go through them one at a time to see what works for you.

I'm lucky because I have Fit Tv on demand which is great cause I can check out the ones I like without any major commitment. I would love to have access to a gym but when your underemployed gym membership isn't an option at least in the near future.

It seems to me that if your poor it is harder to obtain the so called healthy foods. After you pay your bills the money that is left can be used to purchase food for your survival. Those of us who do the majority of the grocery shopping will buy the essentials which doesn't always mean healthy food. My family never buys junk food but then again we will occasionally buy a box or two of brownie mix. We just can't seem to get away from buying stuff with high fructose corn syrup in it no matter how hard we look. We will buy frozen veggies instead of fresh mainly because they are cheaper. Canned veggies are only good for making soup.

I got asked this morning why don't I cook anymore? My reason for not wanting to cook is simple I just don't wanna eat anymore than I need to. I'm sick and tired of being overweight. I'm tired of being tired all the time. I'm disgusted at the fact that I have no energy to do normal activities in life without taking a 3 hour nap in between. I need to loose a little over 100 pounds which doesn't seem like a lot but in my reality it is because I live in a household of enablers.

Enablers in my world drive me toward food I shouldn't be eating or give me reason to eat xl large portions of food. My enabler complains all the time which drives me crazy but instead of pulling out my hair or putting fist through the wall I eat. For example I'll make chocolate fudge and eat more than a normal person will. I'll make a box of brownies and eat about a 1/3 of it. My enabler is overweight just as I am but she/he will complain just to hear his/her own voice. Why do people who are enabler not realize what they are doing to us. They bring us down with their negative attitude while expecting us to be perfect. My enabler thinks no one can do anything the right way except her/him which drives me crazy. I am perfectly capable of doing just about anything but I hate having to kiss up just to get someone to realize that. I don't mind cooking or cleaning I just hate that this enabler can't except the fact that not everyone works on his/her schedule.

When I do the grocery shopping I try to work from a list simply because I can't remember everything I need to get. My enabler gets mad when I go to the store and don't bring home any protein like hamburger or if I pass a McD's I don't stop in to pick up some burgers. I can't read minds so if you want me to get something on my way home you gotta call me otherwise I'll come home empty handed and have to listen to hours and hours and hours of complaining from the complainer.

I just wish life was as simple as the contestants on the Biggest Looser because loosing weight would be a piece of cake.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Movie Posters

As I mentioned in a previous blog I sell original movie posters. When most people think of movie posters that can be purchased they think of the ones sold in video and craft stores but mine are the ones seen in a movie theater.

I consider myself very lucky to have acquired a small collection of movie posters. All my posters are original double sided posters that adorn theater walls. I have four different posters currently for sale on ebay.

All of my poster listing are Buy It Now instead of the traditional Auction style. I can mail out purchaser's item as soon as it is paid for without having to wait for auction to end. Since I usually have more than one copy of each poster this feature is easier to use. I don't think there has been a dissatisfied customer that has purchased one of my posters.

I don't even think my prices are too high although I did have someone ask me to lower the cost of shipping on a particular bus shelter poster so they could buy it. The person that made the request never bought the poster instead someone else bought it. I learned my lesson never lower your shipping just because someone said they would buy it if the shipping was cheaper. The tubes that bus shelter posters come in are much longer than the ones I use to ship the standard 27x40 poster in which is why it shipping cost for bus shelter posters is much greater.

I currently have two posters from Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway.



I also have four posters from Hannah Montana: The Movie starring Miley Cyrus. I think its a good price for Hannah Montana fans, if they still exist.


I have five copies of the poster Leap Year which features Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. I think of Ireland every time I look at it.


Also for sale is the poster Bride Wars which features Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway dressed in lovely wedding dresses. I have 3 copies of this particular poster.


All of my poster came from the theater where I work, while most might never have left the tube they were originally shipped in some show minor wear and tear along the edges. Minor is just that minor and if you put the poster in a frame you probably wouldn't notice any minor tears along the edges. The following link will lead you to all the posters mentioned in this blog.

http://www.auctiva.com/stores/viewstore2.aspx?id=995351&styleid=85&siteid=0

Selling Online

Over the past couple of years I've been making handmade earrings and the occasional bracelet. I've never really sold anything I've made mostly given it away as a gift. Two months ago I post two pair of earrings I made on a site called Etsy. This web site deals mostly with handmade items which is great because I have a box of earrings I need to sell.

My reason for posting only two items was simply put I wanted to see if I could get any interest which seems to be an impossible task. I guess I need to post more things but I'm weary of not finding anyone to buy what I'm selling. I check out other stores that sell handmade jewelry thinking my stuff looks just as good as theirs. I've posted each item on my fb page hoping to get some interest but still nothing. So I've decided its time to write a new blog to start the year.

I also am an ebay seller well at least I'm the one doing the posting even if its my brother's account. I sell original movie posters that I got from working at a movie theater. Movie theater posters are made from high quality paper unlike the stuff you find in the stores. I've even posted them on my fb and my brother's but still no response.

I currently am severely underemployed and thought that if I got back into selling posters I might make a little profit to counteract my lack of work. Maybe just maybe if I post some more posters and jewelry I'll get someone interested. I shipped most of my stuff to the states with a limited amount of international shipping. International shipping is outrageous which is probably why I rarely get buyers from outside of continental US.