No, you don’t have to say “Bless you” or “Gesundheit!” I didn’t just sneeze. I’m not sick. I’m just a book-a-holic, or as I prefer, a bibliophile. Turns out the Japanese, being the civilized people that they are, actually have a word for it: Tsundoku, the act of stockpiling more books than can be consumed. Read the full article here.
And now for a bit of Friday fun. The Pepsi ad. You know the one I’m talking about. The ad itself was a joke, but here is a hilarious run-down of it by two Irish guys.
I guess I should add the warning NSFW (they are Irish, afterall)
Top of the morning to you and a Happy St. Paddy’s Day. A few years ago I was lucky enough to do a whirlwind road trip around the beautiful country of Ireland and I thought I would share some pictures with you to celebrate the day.
As you can see, we covered a lot of ground, sticking mainly to the coast roads. While I’m not as well-travelled as I would like, I have seen a lot of countryside, including a lot of Canada (some of the most beautiful scenery around), but nothing beats this road trip. (Click on the pictures below to see a larger view)
We started and finished in Dublin where there is plenty to see and do. Next we headed south to Cork and its surrounds including Cobh and Kinsale. If you ever get to Kinsale, I’d highly recommend stopping by Jim Edwards for a bite to eat and don’t forget to order the Banoffee pie for dessert (OMG it is to die for).
From Cork we continued to follow the coast and after a few false starts found our way to Mizen Head, the southernmost (and I’d hazard to say windiest) point in Ireland. The Ring of Kerry led us into Killarney and then it was on to the sandy beaches and stellar seafood chowder of Dingle (one of my favourite stops).
From Dingle we hit the road and headed to Galway and then on to Mulranny and the 42kms of biking/hiking trails that make up the Great Western Greenway. The walled city of Londonderry took us out of Ireland and into the U.K. and Northern Ireland. Rich in a history both ancient and modern, Derry, as it is also called, was the scene of many civil uprisings associated with the IRA and the Troubles.
From Derry, we headed back to the coast and some of the most spectacular vistas I have ever seen along the Causeway and Ocean roads that lead to and from the Giant’s Causeway.
Highlights in Belfast included seeing the murals dedicated to the Troubles as well as the huge Titanic museum (definitely worth a look).
Our final stop before heading back to Dublin was Newgrange and the 5200 year old (that’s older that Stonehenge and the pyramids) passage tomb.
Well, I hope you enjoyed my little trip down memory lane. Now hoist a green beer and dish yourself up another bowl of Irish Stew and have a safe and happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Most people know that March 15 is called the Ides of March and it is notorious for being the day that Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C., so I thought I’d talk about Caesar.
No, not that Caesar, this Caesar, Canada’s favourite cocktail.
Invented in Calgary, Alberta in 1969, the Caesar is a vodka based drink that combines clam juice, tomato juice, and Worcestershire sauce with a blend of herbs and spices to create a drink that is similar to a Bloody Mary, but with a uniquely spicy flavour. It’s also pretty unique to Canada (or so I’m told), so if you are ever visiting the Great White North be sure to give it a try. Or if you want to try one at home, here’s a handy video:
Not even The Princess Bride can make me like the switch to Daylight Savings, but it did give me a chuckle. Don’t forget to spring forward one hour tonight (and click the link if you want to learn more about how the time change affects your body).
You don’t have to be clairvoyant to take a look into my thought process for Hell to Pay.
As our countdown to release day continues (just three weeks!), why not take a look at my Pinterest Hell to Pay Prop Gallery? I’ve pinned some of the clothes, props and other items relevant to Harry’s latest adventure there.
Don’t forget to check out the galleries for all of Harry’s other books as well as recipes for some of the delicious, decadent treats on offer at the Full Fat Coffee Company.
Stop by the SIA page to check out the latest interview with author Ash Gray. Ash claims to be a dragon. I have no proof otherwise.
Find out more in An Interview with Ash Gray
This winter has been a snowy one. We’ve received a lot of the white stuff. I live in the prairies of Canada and snow is a given for this time of year (and will stick around for months) so we are used to it, but that doesn’t mean we don’t complain.
Someone isn’t complaining though, these guys (while they don’t live in my part of Canada) decided to make the most of it. You might have seen this somewhere before. I had this entry all ready to go a month ago and forgot to schedule it. I decided to post it anyway because I just get a kick out these guys. Hope this helps your winter blues!
Shout out to the Maritime Bhangra Group. You rock!
lisa emme 