Hottest Day in July in 100 Years!

That's right, folks. Yesterday, Tuesday, was the hottest day in July in 100 years here in Ireland. I'm so glad to be a part of the magic... And my fading tan lines thank you. Today might supersede yesterday and knock it off its podium, but we'll see. Even though it's about 80 degrees, a cloud cover is messing up with my laying out opportunities later this afternoon :( The great thing is since it doesn't get dark till about midnight in Ireland, the optimum tanning time is much longer during the day (rather than 10-2 like in the States).

This morning we had a reading by Hugo Hamilton, renowned prose writer who recently wrote a very famous memoir called Speckled People. His follow up memoir is called The Sailor in The Wardrobe. And no, Danny, Hugo is not gay. He's married. He's also such an incredible writer and a great guy. I wanted to give him a hug. Definitely my favorite writer/speaker so far. Yesterday I saw his book Speckled People on shelves and almost bought it. Then I went home and kicked myself because I saw that he was coming today! I was bummed because I wanted him to sign my book after the reading. So the reading was great and I went into this little new and used bookstore with two of my roomies and found his book... Actually Carrie did. Anyways, as I am wandering around like a stupid American, who do I nearly literally stumble into? HUGO HAMILTON! Then I turned into a bumbling, stunned idiot worse than any deer in headlights I've ever seen (I've never seen any). Here's a manuscript of the meeting:

Him: recognizing me from the reading because I am what you would say... Unforgettable. "oh, hello."
Me: "Hi"
Him "this is such a great bookstore isn't it?"
Me: "Yes, it really is a hidden gem." What? Who am I? Hidden gem? I'm officially my mom.
Him: "finding some good books?"
Me: "yes, actually. I am buying yours!"
Him: "That's so nice. Such loyalty."
Me: "yes, I am a loyal person." I know.
Awkward pause with some sweaty brow wiping
Him: "Would you like me to sign it?"
Me: "Oh yes, please. I'd love it. Let me just find a pen." (fumbling around in bag for pen)
Him: "Take your time."
Me: (still fumbling) I decide to say "Can you believe how hot it is outside?" (I know, cliches about the weather with a renowned Irish writer) "It sure is hot." I continue to ramble. "It reminds me of Chicago."
Him: nothing
Me: "that's where I am from... Chicago." Like he couldn't make the connection himself, like as katie said later, I would just be remarking on the weather of some random American city I had been to once, many years ago.
Him: nothing
Me: realizing he's not listening to me, but just waiting for the pen. "still can't find a pen." calling to Katie who doesn't hear me, "Katie."
Him: "I bet the store has one..." goes to counter.
The woman behind the counter is almost as palsy as I am at the moment, but throws a pen at him.


Hugh (that's what I call him now because we're b.f.f.) asked for my name, then signed my book... Then I paid for it. Hot dog.

It's pretty humid out right now... The kind of humid that makes you think you've wet yourself. And in my case, sometimes that is the case. I'm attempting to do two loads of laundry, but the machine ate my one coin for the washer, so I'll have to do a second load tomorrow. What a pain in the a! Tonight, despite the humidity I am going to attempt to start a paper we have due on Monday. Since the weekend means this arts festival and outings, I am guessing I should get a head start. It's supposed to be about 1500 words, which I think means 6 double spaced pages? I dunno. I can handle it.

Cripies it's humid. I am wearing a skirt, crossing my legs, and my leg keeps slipping off my other leg. That's what I get for shaving!

There is an apt of dirty, sweaty rugby players and I was walking past to do my laundry and one of them yelled, "I LOVE YOU!" and on my way back, running this time, someone else yells, "HE REALLY DOES LOVE YOU!"

What's funny is I couldn't look worse right now, make up sweated off, wearing my only semi clean clothes. These guys must be really hard up. After all, they're just used to kicking their balls around and playing with each other.