this is tremendous journalism

"One woman’s detailed account of an affair and dozens of pages of documents reveal patterns in Donald Trump’s behavior with women—and an elaborate system of payoffs and intermediaries used to silence women with stories about him."

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/donald-trump-a-playboy-and-a-system-for-concealing-infidelity-national-enquirer-karen-mcdougal

That news is so old, it makes me look young. He'll get away with it so long as 'the Lads' are grand with it.

I wasn't sure if I should even post that portion of the update. Not a fan of the Debbie Downer stuff, but it is what it is. Who the feck ever came up with the 'It is what it is' thing? Seriously, that's the most ridic phrase I've ever heard.

Of course you have to post that part, it wouldn't be a proper update without it. That stuff isn't exactly small potadoes

It's nice to know you're doing OK now.

Oh gosh, yeah. We're doing great now. We'd a wee spell where we motored on as if it were a 'business arrangement'. Fortunately, we both spotted the issues and talked it out so all is very much good now.

In other news, my middle daughter (Sinéad) wasn't having much to do with us. She recently accepted Jack's friend request on facebook. I know it sounds silly, but in my world, that's a jumbo big deal. She's a pain in the arse even when she loves ya.   

Insanity is hereditary, you get it from your kids.

  True story. If I didn't love them dearly, they'd be the death of me.

On the plus side, Sarah has ignored the family bs and carried on to do exactly what she set out to do. She's managed a bachelor's degree in Criminology. She's not alone. Brian somehow managed a bachelors in finance despite all his struggles and Sinéad pulled off a double in Marketing and German language. Can you believe I gave birth to that lot?! I'm still stunned by it all...

I wasn't sure if I should even post that portion of the update. Not a fan of the Debbie Downer stuff, but it is what it is. Who the feck ever came up with the 'It is what it is' thing? Seriously, that's the most ridic phrase I've ever heard.

Of course you have to post that part, it wouldn't be a proper update without it. That stuff isn't exactly small potadoes

It's nice to know you're doing OK now.

Oh gosh, yeah. We're doing great now. We'd a wee spell where we motored on as if it were a 'business arrangement'. Fortunately, we both spotted the issues and talked it out so all is very much good now.

In other news, my middle daughter (Sinéad) wasn't having much to do with us. She recently accepted Jack's friend request on facebook. I know it sounds silly, but in my world, that's a jumbo big deal. She's a pain in the arse even when she loves ya.   

Had to Google 'Loop recorder' and 'Debbie Downer'.

Tis ok. Even married to Jack, I still have to google most stuff. In fact, he's probably the cause of most of my google searches. He educates/calms me and I educate/liven him. Perfect match, really. 

Everyone in that photo (apart from Jack, obv) is someone I went to High School with back in the late 80's

Great pics. The one with Ger is so honest and revealing.

Not going to lie. I've TWO people in my life who know everything. Jack and Ger. I feel bad about that sometimes, but one thing I can promise you, nothing is hidden...from either of them.

[He'd cancer and I'd a dodgy heart issue.]

Jack and I had a race in 2017 to see who could rack up the highest medical bills. He'd cancer and I'd a dodgy heart issue.

When I read this bit I I almost fell off my chair. I mean WHAT?

I'm so relieved to hear that you are both OK but I mean... WHAT?

Was it sudden, were you both ill at once, how/when were you diagnosed?

I'm sorry but I have an inappropriate interest in people's illnesses. tikay had a heart attack last year. (I'm sure he won't mind me mentioning it, it's public knowledge) Of course I wouldn't wish it on anyone but the story of it was fascinating.

I probably should stop talking to you actually. I sound like a lunatic. I'm going to end up getting sectioned.  

I wasn't sure if I should even post that portion of the update. Not a fan of the Debbie Downer stuff, but it is what it is. Who the feck ever came up with the 'It is what it is' thing? Seriously, that's the most ridic phrase I've ever heard.

Anyway, I was having heart trouble in Ireland back in 2009, but the docs decided I was nothing more than an uptight Yank, so they prescribed anti-anxiety meds. The UK docs agreed and carried on with the same meds. The only thing stressing me was their accusation that I was stressed. Fortunately, we're the in best American location for people with heart trouble and they snapped on to it within a year of our move here.

On the day I was brought in to the hospital to have a loop recorder implanted, Jack was stuck in the waiting room, watching the telly. On the telly was a local famous guy (Michael Stanley) talking about his brush with prostate cancer. He mentioned how a simple blood test would set you right. The following week, Jack went for his yearly physical and asked them to do the prostate blood test as they were at it. It came back positive...and then some. He'd radiation implant treatment about two months after I'd my cardiac ablation. 2017 basically sucked. Well...that's not fair. We both made it through 2017 so I suppose I should count me blessings.

Everyone in that photo (apart from Jack, obv) is someone I went to High School with back in the late 80's

Small part of the celebration crew

v

After the wedding, we spent three leisurely weeks traveling our way up the coast of California on our Honeymoon. We'd an amazing time of it, starting in San Diego and finishing up in San Francisco. Neither of us had ever been and it was absolutely lovely from start to finish. That said, Santa Barbara was my favourite spot and Jack really enjoyed San Francisco, so I expect a bit of a debate when we venture back for a short anniversary visit at some point.

Zel and I did that trip a few years ago and it was truly amazing. I loved San Francisco too. Did you do Alcatraz? It was just so real and brutal, it made a huge impression on me.

I once read that a big percentage of Americans don't hold a passport, well when you look at the size and diversity of your country it's not so surprising. If I had to live in one country for the rest of my life without being allowed to traven abroad I would choose the USA. You have everything.
(Except culture of course)

I'd never have thought to travel in America for the Honeymoon if we weren't restricted by Jack's visa. That said, I'd not seen much of America before I left it, so now I appreciate it more as we get around.

The big day

Wow! I forgot how young and slim you are.

God loves the forgivers...

Jack so very much misses proper pronunciation. Ok. Maybe he doesn't miss it so much but takes the absolute piss out of Yank pronunciation. "What did D's and T's ever do to upset ye?"

I'm 100% with Jack on this one. We gave you a beautiful language and look what you did to it.

Take the phrase 'Call of doody' for example. Is he going to fight for his country or have a crap?

  Ye can both feck right off! We've been watching Peaky Blinders with the past week and ye have zero arguments after that. It's been my 'go to' whenever he takes the piss out of my 'English'.

The big day

Sweetheart (yeah, I know...I've gone all Yank again), you couldn't offend me if you tried! Count yerself (back to the Irish) lucky because Jack and I 100% had intentions of visiting you at your homeplace before we left the UK. Unfortunately, all the craziness of the house sale and move got in the way, but I've always regretted not making it to yours for a visit before we left. I guess our uneasy wires were getting crossed on that front. You were uneasy thinking you'd offended and I was uneasy because we never made the visit.

Well I asked for an update and I certainly got one.

There's so much that I want to comment on so I'll have to break it down into manageable chunks. First, the uneasy.

I do acquaintances, I don't really do friends. If people seem to be getting too close I have a tendency to push them away. I don't really know why that is and I honestly wish it wasn't so, but there it is.

So, I suspect the uneasy was my doing.

I will say this though. I've always been able to count what I call my real friends on the fingers of one hand, but you pair, and one or two others on blonde make me wish I came from Norwich.

I've no clue about the Norwhich reference and neither does Jack. That said, I think I kinda get it. It's hard to let people in at the best of times, but especially when you get to our age and know better.

For the longest time, I was a 'heart on her sleeve' kinda girl and wouldn't have understood your 'closed circle' sort of ways, but that drastically changed about nine years ago. Now I get it. It goes against my grain to be anything other than an 'open book' and I've far from closed it, but not she's at all as open as she used to be. That said, isn't it nice to know you've a handful who you're absolutely certain you can count on at any given moment, regardless of the circumstances? I've learned to truly appreciate that handful.

Norwich folk have extra fingers.

  That could be considered a good 'flaw' in some worlds.

All very good here, thanks! US fiancé visa requirements meant we'd to be married within 90 days of arriving in America. We planned most of it from the UK, Ger (the duke) was our Best Man and my daughter Sarah was Maid of Honour on the big day. I made the mistake of letting the Lads sort Ger's tux on their own when they were more interested in getting to the pub so his jacket was a bit on the 'small' side. They didn't seem to mind, so I wasn't going to be a Bridezilla over it. That said, never send two men on a mission to organise a tux when their minds are on the pub.

The thought of changing your life entirely and moving to another country makes me dizzy with excitement and apprehension. What an adventure it must be, and now both you and Jack have done it. I'm insanely jealous.

I love hearing the nitty gritty details. What were the unexpected differences for you when you first came to the UK and what are the unexpected differences for Jack in the US?

What do/did both of you miss? Predictable questions I suppose, but I so want to know. Indulge me a little please.

I didn't work in Ireland or England. Part of me misses the whole full-time housewife/mother gig, but most of me is glad I'm contributing a bit financially now. Frankly, we couldn't afford for me not to in this country anyway.

What I miss about UK/Ireland? I miss having zero fecks given about what your friends and neighbors have going on. I'm genuinely very happy with how we've landed on our feet over here, but our 'landing' wouldn't be considered properly acceptable where I come from. Fortunately, my 'don't give a feck' attitude has unexpectedly transferred well with my true friends over here. We've a lovely home in a lovely neighborhood, but it's not considered the 'right part of town' by some. That bothered me at first because I was from that other part of town growing up. Now...I don't give a flying rat's arse.

Jack so very much misses proper pronunciation. Ok. Maybe he doesn't miss it so much but takes the absolute piss out of Yank pronunciation. "What did D's and T's ever do to upset ye?"

He also desperately misses work holidays and I agree 100%. In the UK he had 33 vacation days (including public holidays). In the US he has 17 (including public holidays). It's ridic how little they care about that stuff over here. It seems you live to work in America whereas you've half a chance of working to live in Europe.

Sweetheart (yeah, I know...I've gone all Yank again), you couldn't offend me if you tried! Count yerself (back to the Irish) lucky because Jack and I 100% had intentions of visiting you at your homeplace before we left the UK. Unfortunately, all the craziness of the house sale and move got in the way, but I've always regretted not making it to yours for a visit before we left. I guess our uneasy wires were getting crossed on that front. You were uneasy thinking you'd offended and I was uneasy because we never made the visit.

Well I asked for an update and I certainly got one.

There's so much that I want to comment on so I'll have to break it down into manageable chunks. First, the uneasy.

I do acquaintances, I don't really do friends. If people seem to be getting too close I have a tendency to push them away. I don't really know why that is and I honestly wish it wasn't so, but there it is.

So, I suspect the uneasy was my doing.

I will say this though. I've always been able to count what I call my real friends on the fingers of one hand, but you pair, and one or two others on blonde make me wish I came from Norwich.

I've no clue about the Norwhich reference and neither does Jack. That said, I think I kinda get it. It's hard to let people in at the best of times, but especially when you get to our age and know better.

For the longest time, I was a 'heart on her sleeve' kinda girl and wouldn't have understood your 'closed circle' sort of ways, but that drastically changed about nine years ago. Now I get it. It goes against my grain to be anything other than an 'open book' and I've far from closed it, but not she's at all as open as she used to be. That said, isn't it nice to know you've a handful who you're absolutely certain you can count on at any given moment, regardless of the circumstances? I've learned to truly appreciate that handful.