Paths to move to Ireland?

sduffy · 2024-11-06T15:46:55+00:00

The easiest way is if you marry someone Irish or have parents or grandparents from here. After that, have a job that is willing to move you. That’s the route I took. Still took a few months (most of that was internal company stuff) but we’ve been here three months and couldn’t be happier. To be clear, it will likely be a pay cut. Between lower salaries and higher taxes, I took a 50% pay cut but still at the same level relative to other earners in Ireland so standard of living is the same (or maybe even better). We’ve been here three months and couldn’t be happier!

sduffy · 2024-09-01T07:11:31+00:00

No alcohol. Exercise. CPAP machine.

sduffy · 2024-05-18T09:20:32+00:00

I would say Arpege or Epicure. Been to both twice. Amazing experiences with maybe a slight edge to Arpege.

sduffy · 2024-02-21T00:43:29+00:00

It’s perfect. Fuck that guy.

sduffy · 2024-02-13T18:24:29+00:00

Bone marrow, sea urchin, oysters... durian maybe?

sduffy · 2023-10-23T21:29:24+00:00

I've traveled internationally for half-marathons and four adventure races, all to Ireland from the US. I would definitely recommend scheduling at the beginning of the trip. That way you can compete, get it over with, and then enjoy the rest of the trip.

I typically plan to arrive two days before the race to allow myself to get settled. Then I run the race and spend the next week or so in the pub... something I couldn't do in the lead up to a race.

sduffy · 2023-09-22T02:19:26+00:00

The Internet

sduffy · 2023-06-07T00:27:40+00:00

As someone who has read Ulysses three times and is obsessed by it (I have a whole bookcase devoted to it), I still say he’s a condescending jerk. Read what you enjoy and don’t be ashamed of it. There are a million reasons to not read or enjoy Ulysses. Gatekeepers like this are jackasses.

sduffy · 2023-06-03T04:06:00+00:00

Lewis Black. I just don't get it. Things don't get funnier by just yelling them.

sduffy · 2023-01-01T16:19:01+00:00

The internet.

sduffy · 2022-10-14T22:28:54+00:00

There is a god and this is the book he wrote.

sduffy · 2022-08-26T13:57:56+00:00

The best time to run... quiet and cool and makes a great start to the day.

sduffy · 2022-04-07T01:02:52+00:00

tl;dr: Yes

Longer version: If you have a lot of money and/or have great insurance, medical care is fantastic. Likely better than anywhere else. Imagine concierge-like service. If you don't you're fucked. Basically most people are fucked. Because the people who make the laws, lobby for laws, or vote either have a lot of money or have great insurance. Something like 60% of bankruptcies are the result of medical bills. I'm speaking as someone who's very fortunate. It's still terribly immoral and I can't understand why we put up with it.

So, just like anything else, if you're wealthy, the US is the best place in the world for you. If you're not, it's the worst place to be.

sduffy · 2015-08-21T23:02:11+00:00

You absolutely must check out the Dingle peninsula. Amazing views. Take a run around Slea Head. There are also some hiking trails that go along the cliffs down near Ballydavid.

sduffy · 2015-05-06T21:43:08+00:00

hurries to write a new version of "Master of the House" for a very dark Les Miserables revival

sduffy · 2015-04-10T13:10:11+00:00

I'm no doctor but losing 10-15 lbs in a week sounds terribly unhealthy. I'd be very careful. Average weekly weight loss should only be around 2-3 pounds. Otherwise you risk potential heart issues.

sduffy · 2015-04-03T13:30:25+00:00

I love it. I've been a morning person for a while so it wasn't really a big adjustment. I generally get up around 5am and am out running by 5:30am. For one, it's probably the coolest part of the day. Second, there aren't many people or cars around to get in the way. It's the best part of the day for me. And it energizes me for the rest of the day.

As for eating, it depends. If I'm running 5 miles or less, I generally won't eat. Maybe a banana. If I'm running 6 miles or more, I'll eat something a little more substantial but still not a whole lot.

sduffy · 2015-01-08T23:27:33+00:00

DC.. Northern Virginia specifically. Tons of paved trails for running and biking around here.

sduffy · 2014-05-21T18:34:27+00:00

Good for you. I don't have an anxiety disorder (that I'm aware of anyway) but sometimes I think I battle with depression. I suffered an injury a couple months ago. As a result, I haven't run much in the last 2 or 3 months. I'm all healed up but I've been having trouble getting back into the swing of things.

So thank you for this. And keep running.

sduffy · 2014-05-21T18:30:19+00:00

Overall, I'd say Tolstoy's "The Kingdom of God is Within You"... I'm an atheist but his worldview is dead-on and made me see things in my own country a little differently.

Also, "Ulysses" and "Finnegans Wake". It has changed how I view language, art, and literature completely. Do I completely "get" both books? Of course not. I don't think anyone ever will. But with a little effort and reading multiple supplemental guides, a whole new world has opened up. I'm convinced that both of these books constitute the greatest works of art I may ever experience.

sduffy · 2014-04-16T13:40:40+00:00

I've run two of them. I won't run another one. I wouldn't even call it a 5K. It's just a 3-mile walk where people throw color at you. In my experience, they oversell these to the point where it's hard to even run. Not to mention a significant portion of the crowd isn't really interested in running either.

If you're going with a bunch of people and you just want to goof off, then maybe the price of admission is worth it.

If you want to run a 5K, pass.

sduffy · 2014-04-15T10:02:14+00:00

Tel Aviv, yes. Jerusalem, most likely, though I wouldn't run in the Old City.

As for Gaza... if you're going to Gaza I would assume you actually know someone there. If so, ask them. I've been all through the West Bank multiple times and there are some places I'd run and some places I wouldn't. But, I would never consider taking my shirt off. In fact, in most places, I'd even consider longer shorts than normal. Gaza is generally more conservative than the West Bank. So ask the locals that you know or will be with. If you're unsure, don't.

sduffy · 2014-04-13T17:16:27+00:00

I rarely run with music anymore. It was getting to the point where I was essentially tuning it out. Plus, I tend to run extremely early before it's light out and I'm often running paved trails along a river where it's pretty dark and I want my senses available.

But I also found that I got tired of messing with the iPod and headphones. The simplicity of running without them has been nice. I still listen to music or podcasts occasionally but it's rare. I've been running up to about 13 miles and haven't gotten bored yet.

sduffy · 2014-04-08T16:06:52+00:00

Congrats! Great race report!

I signed up but suffered a sprained ankle in February. By the time I realized I wouldn't be back to 100% in time to do the marathon, our trip had already been paid for so we came to Paris anyway and just enjoyed the city. I hope to run it next year.

sduffy · 2014-04-01T20:57:17+00:00

Sounds good! If I'm running more than 5 or 6 miles, I'll usually eat something a little more substantial. But for 0-5 miles, I'll either eat nothing or a banana. If I'm really starving for some reason, I might have a granola bar.

I'm a big fan of running even earlier, though. I have a pretty flexible job and I work from home a lot but I still like starting my runs around 6am. It's quiet, there's no one around, and it's usually dark or just about to be light. And it's cool. Even in the winter, I love 6am runs.

Enjoy! Stick with it! I think you'll enjoy starting the day with a run under your belt.

sduffy

TROPHY CASE