i've got a golden ticket - long lost ireland post

So I was labeling some posts and saw I forgot to finish my post about the Clubs and Socs ball and one great last night in Ireland.... so enjoy one last Irish adventure!

So I started writing a post ago about the clubs and socs ball and never got around to finishing it. So a quick recap of an amazing night! And it was great, it was a like a huge going away party where I was able to see most of my friends! As my co-workers were there, people I know from socs and my mountaineering friends and Brenda, so it was crazy bouncing back and forth between groups. I wasn't as crazy as last year - there was no rolling around on the ground at 5.30 am... but there was imense amounts of sugar, as there should be with a "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" theme.

I worked until 3.30 - when we closed the office, since we were all going. Which was nice to not have to rush, so I had time to paint my nails and relax before getting ready. So I've done my makeup and hair and all I had left to do was put on my dress. I had pulled it out of my wardrobe and it was lying on my bed. I unzip it to put it on, and I see white stuff all over the front of the dress. After closer inspection I realise it is mold. Yes, mold. I looooove Ireland and the damp. So the dress was totally not wearable (it was the same dress as last year, my fancier lbd). Luckily I still had the dress I bought for the wedding over the summer, so I just wore that. The weird thing was my wardrobe wasn't damp at all... so NO CLUE where the mold came from... (that is one thing I am glad to be leaving in Ireland - the damp and mold!) So luckily my crisis was averted. Met up with Sharon and Andrew and taxied over to the hotel where it was taking place.

And wow! Trish and Ian did an AMAZING job! They transformed the reception room into Willy Wonka's factory - balloons everywhere! amazing little colored cupcakes, 2 chocolate fountains, popcorn, cotton candy and champagne. Everyone was just saying how fabulous it was, normally the balls aren't themed - so this was pretty special. It was worth the last month of secrets and the ball being top secret. We found out a day before tickets went on sale because the tickets arrived at our office and they showed us - they were pretty rocking. They were "Golden Tickets" and they had the same message on them and everyone was excited getting them! So after the reception where it was awesome to see so many people, I had lots of socs people come up and say hi to me, which was nice. And just had fun enjoying the food with my friends. The awards and dinner part was nice, I was sitting with my co-workers and we had fun. I was so surprised though - right before they go to announce the best club and best soc awards, they say they have a special recognition they want to give to someone whose work in the societies office will be missed as she is moving back to America - so I was called up and presented with a gigantic bouquet of flowers. Which was sooo nice of them! I was not expecting that and was completely shocked! So the rest of the night was great, just dancing, spending time with friends, drinking, the sambuca shots = bad idea and just having fun. Got home around 3.30 and crashed into bed, as I had work at 9am the next morning.

getting honored by the guild
with my coworkers
with brenda

So woke up kinda late at 8.30, but felt ok. Not the best, but not omfg = death. Work was ok, until about 11, when it hit me like a schoolbus. And then I felt like death. But it was my last day and both my bosses were out, so it was just the girls and I. So i took an extra long lunch and went home to sleep. And I felt much better after that and went back for the last hour or so and joked around with Denise and Sharon. And had an interesting Friday night....

After the last 3 years of being friends and keeping in touch, I managed to meet up with one of the ex's best friends. I became friends with Dave and even after everything we kept in touch, usually just random facebookings, but for most of the time I was in Ireland he was abroad, so we finally found a time that worked and it was FABULOUS to see him. Great to just catch up and talk about our lives abroad and everything. We only talked about the whole M thing for about 10 minutes, and how I'm over it, it was 3 years ago, I don't regret it and it was a great learning experience. So it was great to chat over some pints at one of my favourite pubs with a great guy.



So yay for my long lost Ireland post... and YAY for a gorgeous sunny day in Connecticut today!
Amy and I went on a faaabulous walk this morning and soaked up the sunshine. And today is for applying for teaching jobs for September, booo.

AND BIG YAY! for CAROLINA making the CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!! YAYAYAYYAY!
While the game was quite boring last night, I can't wait for the final tomorrow!
But I wish UConn had made it over State, so Amy and I could have our bet! But that game was great!