Susanopolis

Life in Susanopolis is highly uneventful at the moment. However, here are some noteable things going on:

1. I CANNOT WAIT TO START COLLEGE, and work. I got back from one of the busiest summers on record where I barely had time to sleep and I have now had a month of relative nothing-ness. Don’t get me wrong, I love the break and got to do some class things. But its about time there was some structure, some challenges and some busy times in Susanopolis. Anyone who knows me, knows that I thrive on having a busy schedule!

2. Currently I’m in Manchester babysitting my two nephews (6 and 3) with my mum. So far its been CHAOTIC. There are moments when I wanna kill them. For example: being tricked into taking a laxative, getting spit at, and being called an “idiot moron bugger”. There are also moments where I love them dearly. For example: Being told I can’t be more than 9 years old cuz granddad is 66, being asked to play video games even though I die all the time, and when I disappear upstairs to blog (like now) I can hear them asking “where’s auntie Susan?” which could mean more torture…but I still feel wanted haha.

Its made me realise how tough kids are. I’ve always been really great with kids – but when you’re responsible for them over a weekend period its not so easy. I also used to think that my 3 year old nephew was a piece of cake compared to my 6 year old one. NOT THE CASE. At least there’s negotiation with the 6 year old – the baby just cries.

Hilarious moment: Max (who’s 6) was up a tree in the park yesterday. My job was to convince him to come down. After promising ice cream and pizza he said, “sorry. you still haven’t encouraged me” To this I responded, “how can I encourage you?” and he said “you can bring the ice cream here.” BRILLIANT.

It didnt work – and he ended up being encouraged about 2 seconds later when he had to “go toilet”.

3. I am obsessed with the American Presidential Election. Expect a blog on this relatively soon. In fact, I’ve been reading so much about it – and watching it constantly – its surprising I havent touched the topic yet. I guess I need some time to get my thoughts together.

My absentee ballot will arrive in the post shortly! Can’t wait to exercise my right to vote. Woop. Woop.

This makes me melt…

I’ve always loved this song – but I never realised how sweet the video is!

Fuzziness.

Culture-ific

Ok, so admittedly my foray into the world of Dublin Culture wasn’t the jam-packed night I had previously envisioned – but it was definitely a night to remember!

Conor and I had looked through the “Culture Night” brochure, starred the events we wanted to see and narrowed it down to a few extra cool ones. However, post-graduate registration is a very long winded process and I didn’t get to Temple Bar until around 7pm! By then, Culture Night had been going for two hours!! Conor did get to see a few bits and pieces around Temple Bar while waiting though.

When I met up with Conor, he ushered me into The Ark, Temple Bar’s Cultural Centre for Children. There were screaming babies, bratty toddlers and lots of chaos. I was thinking, why are we wasting valueable culture-time on a kids demonstration? Boy, was I wrong!

We had the pleasure of seeing duo Robbie Harris and Mick Donegan in a two-man show designed to involve members of the audience of all ages! Robbie Harris played the bohdran and from the minute he came out on stage, every child in the room was entranced. One kid put it aptly when she screamed out, “you’re cool”. He responded, “YOU’RE cool!”. The show was even more amazing when Sean-nos dancer Mick Donegan joined the fun. I am, as always, in awe of people who can dance that way. He was absolutely amazing – and took elements of both Irish dancing and tap to do this rhythmic and exciting piece. The kids were enjoying every second of it. And, I have to admit, I watched the whole thing with a HUGE smile on my face!

Check out the pair in action:

After that, we tried to get into the RTE Symphony Orchestra’s concert at the National Concert Hall – but to no avail. The rest of the evening’s culture involved Indian food and half a bottle of wine. Excellent.

Although I didn’t get to see all the events I wanted to – it was great to see the city centre buzzing. There were loads of happy people about the place enjoying themselves and for once the weather was perfect. I’m looking forward to next year’s event already!

If I was a rockstar you’d think I was bleedin’ deadly…

Most young people today are growing up ridiculously fast. I look at people younger than me and cannot believe they act and speak the way they do sometimes. It makes me think that the age gap is remarkably smaller!

I’m fortunate enough to have grown up in a different way, which is unusual given that I spent almost half my life in Brooklyn, NY. At the time, it killed me that my parents were strict on me. My friends were allowed stay out until whatever time they wanted, but at 15, my curfew was 9pm. No exceptions. There was the odd incident of changing clothes in someones house, sneaking into a night club and having to BELT IT back to the house before my dad came to pick me up. (Once, I made everyone leave a club early before the performance of an unknown rapper called 50 Cent….I havent lived that one down…).

Other than that, I was a pretty good girl. The guys we hung out with thought they were in a gang. They did graffiti, they hung out on people’s stoops, they had knives and they smoked weed. I pretended to think this was cool for years. It really wasnt. It still isn’t.

At the time, I thought my parents were just old fashioned and strict. It wasn’t until I moved home to Ireland that I realised that they saved me from losing my innocence in Brooklyn. In Ireland they became cool parents – letting me stay out and do most things as long as I let them know what I was doing. Life changed completely.

An incident on Grafton Street yesterday really made me think over my “innocence”. I’m twenty two years old and am proud to say that I wouldn’t know the difference between someone on cocaine, heroine, ecstacy, or anything else. I just dont have any exposure to that sort of thing – and neither do my close friends.

I was standing on Grafton Street with Alan and Erin chatting away when a homeless man came up to us (Unless he’s a particularly tech saavy homeless man, he won’t mind me reccounting this story). He asked us for change and the boys sort of waved him off. Then he took something out of his pocket and held it up. It was small and blue – but inside it was brown. The conversation went something like this:

homeless man: Are you afraid of heroine are ya?

Erin: nope

homeless man: (eating some) its bleedin’ savage. If I was a rockstar, you’d think I was bleedin’ deadly wouldn’t ya?

Erin: hahaha

Alan: HAHAHAHA (extra nervously…)

homeless man: ARE YOU AFRAID OF ME?

Erin: nope

homeless man: the gards just don’t understand. you shouldn’t listen to them. they think this shit is bad when it’s bleedin’ savage (he eats some more). You should try some. But not this shit – you should smoke it. It makes your life much better.

Erin: yea yea

Alan: HAHAHAHAHA

homeless man: THIS IS MOTHER NATURE (to me) Are you afraid of mother nature?

Me: Nah

homeless man: So try it sometime. It’s bleedin’ deadly.

The above is a public service announcement from the homeless man on Grafton Street.

We were all pretty freaked out by the incident. It struck me immediately, I had never seen anything like the drug he held in his hand. Alan, in all his innocence goes “I dont think that was heroine. It looked like a smartie. Sure what would HE be doing with heroine?!” …me and Erin just laughed.

I hope I hang on to some of my innocence for a few more years.

Tutus and Pointe Shoes

I’ve always been slightly obsessed with dance in general. At the tender age of three, I was put into a ballet class in Wales. I *deep breath* LOVED IT. I got to wear a little uniform: a blue leotard, a blue wrap around cardigan, pink ballet skirt, pink tights and pink ballet slippers. As far as I can remember, class consisted of running around the studio flitting here and there like a fairy. I dont remember the technical aspects of it, though I’m sure we studied them.

As I got older, I kept up the ballet and added tap, jazz, contemporary and eventually hip-hop too. It has always been a source of fascination to me and exists in my world as exercise that is virtually slog free. If you’re sweating, you don’t notice! If you’re in pain, it feels amazing. And once the music starts, the time zips by.

My ballet obsession was fuelled by a recent birthday present from my boyfriend. He got a bazillion cool points for getting me tickets to Ballet Ireland’s production of Swan Lake at the Gaiety in October! Despite my dance background, I have never made the time to see a proper ballet. When I was in Italy, I went to La Scala in Milan and missed their production of Giselle by one day (I had to travel to Rome…). Every Christmas, I plan to go to the Helix to see something – but it being Christmas, I just never find the time or money. So, FINALLY, I’ll get to sit in awe for a few hours and gush afterwards. Hope he’s prepared!

Last month’s bumper issue of Vogue had a spread dedicated to the new leads in Billy Elliot on Broadway which included the young boys and a stunning model in various ballet-inspired designs. I was especially besotted with Alexander McQueen’s beautiful gowns. They are so whimsical and dream-like. Swoon.

That’s Hot

This video came out during the summer and got HUGE coverage by the American media. It was of course, in response to John McCain’s ad that compared Barack Obama’s celeb status to that of Paris and Britney’s. What McCain failed to do was keep in with some of his major monetary supporters: The Hilton Family! Mommy and Daddy Hilton each donated the maximum civilian amounts to the McCain campaign, as did Grandpa Hilton. The family were outraged – but Paris took matters into her own hands. This video is still awesome months later…and I dont even particularly like Paris.

Colour me amazed

Dontcha wish all offices were like this?!

Horror Meets Magick

I was just listening to an interview on Phantom FM with Joe Daly – the creator of “Magick Macabre”.

I’ve always been a HUGE horror fan. I think my love for horror goes hand in hand with my obsession with scary roller coasters. Its that thrill that gets me every single time! This show looks fantastic. Wes Craven is involved behind the scenes of the production, as are illusionists associated with David Copperfield! Anyone wanna go around Halloween??

Reasons to Fall for September

September has always been one of my favourite months. It’s not my birthday and there aren’t any major holidays (well not in Ireland anyway). It signals the long march towards winter (not my favourite season AT ALL)and it’s the end of the summer (definitely my favourite season). So why love September?

Septmber Vogue – well the US edition at least. When I purchased this magazine on the day it came out – I had to really work my arm muscles to carry its weight of 800 pages! I drooled over the gorgeous photos and was enthralled by the articles. Of the 800 pages, I would say at least 500 were advertisements – but when they look THIS good..who cares! They are art in themselves! Plus, I know alot of people give Keira Knightly a hard time…but I think she’s amazing and looks phenomenal in this issue!

Another thing I love about September is something that I think the majority of people dread: Back to School! I’ve always loved heading back to school after the summer. Not only is it a chance at a fresh start – but you get to catch up with all your friends, hear all the gossip and get back into a nice comfortable routine! I also am a big fan of all things school supply related: the smell of a box of crayons, a fresh new notebook or brand new school shoes and socks!

I also love the whole school-uniform chic thing. Makes me fondly remember my days as a catholic school girl in New York. Doing your best to make your uniform a little bit unique without breaking any rules! Trying desperately to squeeze all your books into the tiniest school bag ever. Ah, those were the shallow days of being sixteen, haha.

Since this will probably be the last time I actually head back to school – I am embracing it for all its worth!

A new reason I have for loving September comes in the form of Dublin Culture! For this month, Dublin comes alive with a variety of interesting cultural events. First we have the Fringe Festival – with such a wide variety of shows, its hard to imagine squeezing in everything you would want to see. I’m going to see a play called “We Are Not Real” directed by my good friend Sean Kennedy this coming Friday night! It’s on for two weeks and you can get tickets here.

I’d also recommend “Etiquette”, a piece by UK performance group Rotozaza. It was one of the most unique theatre experiences I have ever had and requires only you and another person. My boyfriend and I went on a date to it in June and we loved it! And tickets are only €5!!

PS. Its best not to read much about it – go in with a completely blank slate and let it surprise you!

The next thing I’m really looking forward to is Dublin Culture Night 08! I missed last year’s one because I was stuck in work..this year I wouldn’t miss it for the world. For one night, everything cultural in Dublin opens up for free and with transport provided by Dublin Bus! Galleries, Theatres, Libraries are all swinging with activity on September 19th! I still haven’t decided which events I’m going to go to – there’s just so much variety! I’ve actually just gone through the Culture Night Brochure and counted more than 25 events I want to see. Something tells me there’s going to have to be an elimination process here!

So, whether your cuddled up watching brand new shows on telly, or out experiencing culture – there are plenty of reasons to love September! Enjoy the cozy cold before the mind numbing blue fingers and toes, wear your scarf and mittens cold of winter returns!!

Susan-land

Currently, all is well in the land of Susan.

1. I have found a happy little house in Stillorgan for the coming year – yussss!

2. I have my old job back working in Karen Millen. Stylishly Discount-tastic.

3. I can party it up in Kerry this weekend without the stress of not having either of the two above things!

I’m a happy bunny. See exhibit A.

Exhibit A.