The Atlantic Cities posted an interesting article about Dublin written by Richard Conway, a guy who lives in NYC. Conway provides an interesting take on what’s going on here–though the suggestion that protests break out left and right is downright absurd. (But then, maybe he hasn’t been to Greece for comparison?)
Thanks, Chris Bonney, for forwarding this article to me.
The dim light of the Cobblestone on a Tuesday night.
I love stopping by the Cobblestone on Tuesday nights after yoga class. Tom Mulligan (the proprietor), his son Tomas, and some of his nephews play on Tuesdays. The crowd is small on Tuesdays and the tone of the place is very relaxed. I alway find a good a seat right in the musicians’ corner.
Irish musicians often play more than one instrument. Here you see Tomas on guitar and his cousin playing flute with a set of uilleann pipes on his lap.
Whenever I come in on Tuesday, Tom’s playing his flute. When the song ends and he looks up, recognizes me, and exclaims “Shannon!” in the most lovely Kerry accent I’ve ever heard. That warms my heart!
Of course, dropping in on the way home from yoga leads to some misconceptions as well. Many people assume that my tall, green bag holds a musical instrument. The musicians and audience alike ask me to join in.
Unfortunately, it’s been years since I played the oboe. But with six years of that under my belt, I know that playing well takes tremendous time and dedication. Were I to take up an instrument, it would take years before I’d be ready to play for an audience.
Dave sent me a view of our weekend FaceTime session–as seen from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
This is Christopher Chance, our very energetic three-year-old nephew. He was quite enthusiastic about talking with me, and I have to say his speaking abilities have developed at warp speed while I’ve been away.
Christopher on FaceTime
Callista Brien’s talk on Social Media for Engineers Ireland.
Meet George Jetson! (Image from the blog Dark Horizons).
Meet Dave Jetson!
His nephew David!
Luc, his sis!
Whoever though that we’d live the Jetson dream so soon in history? Certainly not I!
A few weeks ago, at an event hosted by Engineers Ireland, Callista Brien discussed how social media is changing the way we think and act. This was part of a seminar about project management.
And Callista was right.
FaceBook and FaceTime are amazing and they’re making my life richer.
Look how excited Lucy’s kids got when I rang in using FaceTime a couple days ago.
The Chance family keeps in touch with me via Facebook, iMessage, and the occasional FaceTime call.
And so, some days, life seems like a futuristic movie.
These tools keep Dave, Christina, Matthew and Lucy, David, Christopher, Tommy, Michael, Julia, Conner, and Evan Chance as central characters in my life, even when we’re far, far apart.
Dave with Lucy’s gang.
Awesome brothers!
“Aunt Shannon, I fell down!”
A progress review in Patrick’s 4th year studio at the DIT. Patrick, Shannon, and Connor are clearly captivated by this student’s presentation.
I asked the architecture students to tell me what interested them most from the lecture on Materials that I gave today in the studio coordinated by Patrick Flynn. They said Dave Chance’s images!
I’d been asked to talk about materials in a way that would help students with designing schools. So I started by downloading pages from Dave’s website. He travels the world photographing materials in relation to light.
To prepare for this lecture I also attended a review of the class’s proposed designs last Friday. Patrick invited me as a guest critic, but my primary goal was to find out how I could tailor today’s presentation to their needs and interests.
A slide using Dave Chance’s photograph from the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach in Normandy. (Copyright Dave Chance Photography.)
I decided to present my thoughts using: (1) Dave’s images to provide inspiration and (2) images of schools as a tool for conveying more pragmatic content.
I structured the talk around themes of Material Ethics, Teaching Capacity of materials, the need to Generate Knowledge regarding materials, Authenticity, and Sustainability. I titled it “How an Architect’s Material Palette Can Enhance Student Learning” with the subheading “Cultivating an Ethics of Materiality.”
Chris in a box.
Shannon at work on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Sometimes you just need to find a comfortable little space where you can settle down and get some learning done. That’s what I and my nephew Chris did today.
Here’s a photo of Chris in his little hide-away in Maryland today.
And a photo of me in my little hide-away in Dublin.
And the photos of the raucous that ensued in Maryland before quite time….
Looks like Uncle Dave has his hands full!
Dave under two of his nephews.
Uncle Dave with “little” David.
Chris reading.
Chris making mischief.
The bricks in my electric storage heater.
Electricity costs a lot in Europe. Years ago I’d heard the cost was generally six times as high as in the USA. As a result, the Europeans are more careful about the way they use energy. They try not to waste it.
Many Irish homes use electric storage heat. The system mimics adobe construction of the southwestern United States. It uses “thermal mass” (in the form of bricks) to soak up heat when it’s free (from the desert sun) or cheaper (at night when purchased from the utility company in Ireland).
The bricks hold the heat until the air on the outside gets colder than they are, and then they release the heat they are holding into the air to warm it.
I’ve posted photos of Keith, the maintenance guy for my apartment building, checking one of my electric storage heaters. They’re a bit difficult to get started at the beginning of the winter season. Mine needed extra attention because a toddler who used to live in this apartment stuffed small plastic items into the heating units. Keith had to clean them out.
In any case, I hope this technology keeps getting used and improved, as it’s a system that makes a lot of sense environmentally.
Get heated at night (when electricity costs less) and absorb the heat energy to release it during the day.
A cast of Jonathan Swift’s skull.
Sometimes you build a theory and it doesn’t quite reflect reality. There’s a lot to be said for trail and error, though.
I learned about this little research and documentation project when Esther and I visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. Since Jonathan Swift (the head of that church) had been such an exceptional guy, researchers decided to dig up his body and document the shape of his skull by making a plaster copy.
With the task completed, they laid his skeleton back to rest.
Esther visited me Halloween week and, coincidentally, we saw an unbelievable number of actual skeletons, mummies, petrified bodies and heads while she was here. One curator even let us touch a mummy. Esther refused the offer but I couldn’t resist.
An explanation of exactly what they thought they’d gain.
On Henry Street in Dublin, they’ve turned the evening lights on for the holiday season.
Happy Holidays on Henry Street.
Face to face with Dorian Gray.
Dorian Gray really made me think. The theatrical production of Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray brought me into a deep dark world and beaconed me to chose the light.
I’d tried to see this play when Mom was here, but it sold out during the theater festival. Thankfully, the Abbey Theater extended its run. And I got a front-row seat for just 13 Euro! All that money I save not buying cable — it goes straight into Dublin theater. And that’s the way I like it.
I’ve got to hand it to my sister, NYC actor Heather Massie, for showing me the ropes of theater-going. I’m no longer intimidated by the whole theater scene. In fact, tonight, I looked Dorian straight in the eye and walked away knowing that life is good and remembering that I am truly blessed.
Fabulous actor. Fascinating character.
There’s such great theater in Dublin! I’ve gotten to see two of this season’s four shows. The first, The Plow and the Stars was beautifully executed, just like The Picture of Dorian Gray. (See how serious I looked after seeing Dorian Gray!?!)
Ireland by Chance 