Done and Dusted!

How do you like that Irish expression? Done and dusted. The course work for the semester is complete, papers handed in, in triplicate, an elective chant exam sung... a little better than the last one... the frog stayed out of the room. So done and dusted we are. And we are also all sorted, not sorted out, but sorted. Not clothes or socks, but people. People are sorted when the straighten out matters or done and dusted, not when table tops are free of dust, but when the work is complete and there is nothing more to be done. So I am sorted and dusted and ready to kick back a little and relax. Today I did some major cooking, a French chicken stew, ribolito and biscotis. I loved it but I was exhausted. I took a nap.

This evening the University orchestra held a concert and it was excellent. On Thursday I saw Dancing with Lughnasa. Dancing at Lughnasa is a 1990 play by dramatist Brian Friel set in Ireland's County Donegal in August 1936 in the fictional town of Ballybeg. It is a memory play told from the point of view of the adult Michael Evans, the narrator. He recounts the summer in his aunts' cottage when he was seven years old.It is an poignant story that provides a window into Ireland during the 1930's. A very human story of struggle, filled with humor and pathos.

I am trying to understand more about Irish history and the Irish psyche not by reading history books, but by reading Irish authors. I have just started The Wild Irish Girl, which is not going to be an easy read but I know I will learn a great deal. I also finished a book of Oscar Wilde's plays. I did lots of reading when I first arrived at the University of Limerick. The bookstore is filled with annotated volumes of literature and so now that I have a little free time again, I am going back to reading for pleasure. I am especially loving short stories. If you have suggestions for my reading listm send them along please.

I am also going to take advantage of the many upcoming events at the concert hall. Student prices make it very affordable. The arts are immensely important to the Irish people. Music, literature,poetrt, art and dance are a deep part of the psyche I am wanting to know more about. Upcoming events include Romeo and Juliet, performed by Ballet Ireland,the Irish Chamber Orchestra doing the Messiah, The Celtic Tenors, and much more. I will also be attending a chant workshop at Glenstal Abbey mid-month and I hope to spend some time in retreat there during January.
So it was a busy week and it has been a full day and it is done and dusted or I am done and cooked or something like that, and I am heading to bed... with my book and looking forward to another lovely day in Ireland.

Oh, well not lovely weather wise... the ground is covered with black ice and it is a bit chilly. But it's not snowing here like it is in Dublin and actually after spending all my life with winter, I would have been happy without any, but yesterday I bought warm, flat boots.

Sending love from Glocca Morra...