Wrapping up the year(attempt number four)

December 28th, 2009 .
Above the freezy fog cloud in the Agrina Mountain

Above the freezy fog cloud in the Agrina Mountain

Morning dear reader- where ever you are….

Here’s the photo of the Agrina Mountain I wrote about the previous article. Nothing like a good night sleep to revive the button pushing section of the brain. I connected to with ever I had to connect with correctly and viola- the picture is not a monster thing across the page.

So come here…I began this blog on March the 9th 2009 and I did so because of a variety of blogs that I regularly read and was inspired by. Those include blogs by Toni Josephson, Derek Sivers, Priya Kale, Rebbecca Nella and Slade Roberson.  Toni works through martial arts, Derek works through the music industry, Priya works through the stars , Rebecca works through the Irish landscape and Slade works through intuitive councilling. What they all have in common is the fact that they all work through the HEART. Each and every article is written with their own voice speaking like a golden cord that runs from the centre of the earth up through their energy centres directly burrowing the heart of the matter out and the fingertips. From their core to my eyes.

Funnily enough eh, I have no idea what these people sound like. I know their written voice… but the audio.. its funny isn’t it. I  cast almost a worrying thought about this- you know the way you do when you might feel before you meet your favorite radio announcer? … I know the voice, I love the voice but I don’t know if I want to know the face… that kind of a thing, but opposite. Not sure why its important to know the voice when I totally know the voice of the matter or the heart of the writing … just a thought. Of course as soon as I think such things I have to correct myself because I do know what Rebecca sounds like- sure I can hear her and her fiddle every day if I want too…..but those other guys,, ah I haven’t the a clue.

So now…let it be known, I’m just taking a moment to note those people that have grown special in  my blogging life.

……… Hey Toni, Derek,Priya, Slade, Rebecca- cheers ….you rock my world……….. Write on.

And by gum… of I can link ye I will.  We’ll give it go now!

Thank you for clicking on and Please remember the THREE WISHES

You’re so good , it’s the least I can do.

And … if you only have one wish, wish away. Often I can’t think of THREE Wishes, I might just have one little particular thing that I’d wish for at the moment of offering, you might feel the same way…so avail yourself.  Whether you wish for one or all wishes….May all your dreams come true.

thanks again

always

eileen

img_1751 I stand on guard for thee and thee and thee and thee

There's the best little dog in town giving you a winter grin

There's the best little dog in town giving you a winter grin

Wonder whats going on with this section of the old blog….brain drain again…. bye

Wrapping up the year( part three- really part two-but who’s counting)

December 27th, 2009 .

One of the gigs I had this year was a return engagement to the Agrina Mining Experience where I was entertaining for the third year running. Funny because though I know I’m good at what I do- I’m always amazed when asked back. Its a strange unease I get. Its like- Haven’t you people had enough? Gluttons for punishment are we- okay, here’s another ukulele hit no one has ever heard of. And well there I was again this year. Pity about the snow and ICE that arrived the Christmas week. It meant that you couldn’t get up the mountain to see Santa. And there we were, twiddling our thumbs, our Claus hats limp on our heads… pity.

I’ll show you what it was like up on the mountain. The fog was wonderfully thick- it looked as if we were in a plane  above the clouds.

Uhhhh…having a bit of technical difficulty here… can’t seem to down size this photo… just like the way I couldn’t down size the entry that follows this,,, never mind.. I’ll work it out another time…. what about those clouds eh….!!

Actually, I’ve decided to not include the photo because I couldn’t reduce it- don’t want to look like a complete fool here….

Hey.. I should grab some ZZZZ’s . Listen the THREE WISHES still apply. Scroll down to the next entry to see what the heck I’m talking about.

Thanks for clinking on

All the best

always eileen

trees-and-a-starAh yes… here’s a picture from the archives….this is photo of parade decoration for the Drumshanbo

St Patrick Parade 2009.

I know what you’re thinking….we do things… differently here

After all, it is lovely Leitrim

And as one  T.V, priest  said to another,

“Remember the Drumshanbo massacre”

Year’s wrap up -the second part (which is really the first part)

December 27th, 2009 .

“Quiet now”, I tell myself, trying to calm my mind to get the rambling parts of my thoughts to sit somewhere else for a while. Just long enough to get myself to write  and say what I feel I have to say. “Quietly now”, I say again to myself and hope that without too much stress on the other parts of my mind, the parts that look and watch me not doing what I should be doing… I watch and think and not let myself say what I have to say… “QUIETLY. NOW………..”

Its been a long year, hasn’t it. A very good, long hard,long, rewarding,long and frustrating year.  But a good one.

I set myself up on a new path a new way to install a physical regime. I signed up for an Outdoor Recreation Course to boot camp me into the Irish Mountains and kayak me into the waters. And for two months it really worked, September and October- o’boy it worked alright-everyone mentioned the rosy glow and high energy levels. Yessirreebob- then there were the floods in November and after the water receded,  my clients that have me direct them, teach them, coach them and act the maggot with them,whatever they want, I’ll do it, needed more rehearsals for all they’re Christmas plays, so I couldn’t attend the hillwalking or the water sports and then it became December and the shows were all scheduled plus various other book launches that I spoke at ( good work Frances Tolton and The Rainbow Factor) and concerts and what-not entertaining gigs propped up and I haven’t been able to reach those mountains.

Now I can’t even reach my toes! Life is long, fitness is longer.

Still- another week off with the holidays and then-by god… up those mountains I’ll go. Willingly,  I shall be crying out loud for a defibrillator of my own. It must be done. And then you know what I’m going to do??? I’m going to sign up again next year and push this heaving carcass across country to greater challenges by going to another place in Ireland where they don’t know me and I can’t get away with my natural good looks and charm! How about that? Good plan eh… i thought so too. There’s a course down in country Wicklow ( my birth county) and I could like, you know, have an out of Leitrim experience.

Why don’t I upload a picture of one the great walks I’ve died on this year…..

walking inthe Keelogue Mountains near Donegal

walking inthe Keelogue Mountains near Donegal

Pretty isn’t it.

yes it is.

Thanks for clicking on. Its a good thing, you’re very kind. Cheers. In fact, I’d like to give you in return for reading- why not have three wishes.

Take a moment and be kind to yourself and do it.

I can’t exactly give you the world but perhaps, if you think of me and think of three possible thing s I could give you- Your wishes will come true!

Lets us know how you got on.

All the best,

always eileen

winding up the year part 1

December 11th, 2009 .

It has taken a life time for me to see the sun break through from the top of my mountain.
the-sun-appears

I’m such a dink…how did I get this far?

November 3rd, 2009 .

I forgot how to do this….. how to make a blog.. .what a page is.. what’s a post…what’s a tag… what’s a category.. I forgot.. Spent time writing stuff.. okay wasn’t very good…still … I put it out there  eh and that counts doesn’t it.. counts for something… I turned out.. I turned it on and turned out something.. something like words on a screen.. for crying out loud…..and what happens.. I put it in the wrong section.. so .. click onto the right side list and take a look at that stuff. Its not very good, but its not very long. Marching right along is the page was so suppose to be a post. Ah well.. life goes on. Thanks for clicking

always

eileen

Last year's arse- mine all mine

Last year's arse- mine all mine. Photo by Jeri Reilly Taken on Bakery Hill Drumshanbo 2008

I’m blaming Mercury…. Me

September 19th, 2009 .

Well I have to blame some thing…. it might as well be Mercury going retrograde until the end of the month. Mercury- the planet if you please, has everything to do with communications, moving parts… a bit of money.. And well, my computers has gone… up.. Again… so I’m blaming Mercury.
Thankfully, the local library have long acknowledge me as a regular user and if I come in loaded down with my brief case and binders, they know that I’m back at the office. Which is where I’m writing from this very moment. Nevertheless I’ve decided, no, resolved to make the big purchase and get me self an Apple Mac! Why not! I deserve one. (So a friend once eagerly told me and darn it all I believe almost everything Pearl says) So look out Loan Company I’m writing up a proposal .

Meanwhile- back in Eileen-land ……Here’s a few things on the cards…………………..

All Ireland Poetry Day Thur 1st October
Written Word Weekend presents ‘All Ireland Poetry Day’ at The Dock, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim on Thursday 1st October at 6pm. There will be readings and music in the theatre with cafe style seating from 6 - 8pm. The line-up features this years iYeats winner Michael Herron, David Cameron plus other members of The Pig Executives, Kitia Benedetti and local young poets. Music provided by Italian guitarist and dulcimer player Gian Castello. There will also be an open mike for poetry lovers and readers of all ages to participate. Hosted by Eileen O’Toole. This will be a free event. There will also be a workshop/conversation with the writer and poet Dermot Healy at 3 - 5pm in The Dock. Tickets for this are limited to 15 places, cost €20 and must be booked in advance.
http://www.thedock.ie/
http://www.poetryireland.ie/
ALL SO……………………………

Creative Writing for s: Develop your artistic skills by participating in an enjoyable and inspirational creative writing course. No previous creative writing experience required. This course will include a look at poetry and prose with an option to publish a book of short stories/poems by participants. Starting 30th September from 7-9pm, this course will run for 6 weeks at a cost of €30 in the Breffni Family Resource Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon. Booking at 071-9622566 or brefcom@eircom.net
http://www.breffnifrc.com

And then there this……………..

Creative Writing Workshops for Kids: Venue is Drumshanbo library and these workshops are free. The 3 - 5 year old group need to bring their colouring crayons and must be accompanied by an . All other groups bring a pen. All interested in attending please phone the library to put your name down. 071-9641258

Sat 3rd Oct……12.30 - 1.30pm…..3 - 5 years.
Sat 10th Oct….12.30 - 1.30pm…..6 - 8 years.
Sat 17th Oct…..12.30 - 1.30pm…..8 - 10 years.
Sat 24th Oct…..12.30 - 1.30pm…11 - 12 years.
Sat 31st Oct……12.30 - 1.30pm…1st years/secondary level
Sat 31st Oct……. 3 - 4pm………..All participants Grand Finale

And for more fun that only very important people can attend …….
I’m back working with the Special Needs s in Glenamaddy County Galway on Sept 30th. Yippee.
And do you know what that means????
Yup Christmas Navitity Play time… Ho,ho,ho, look who’s the turkey now
Gad… I love it…..

What else????
Hey… who wants to do some drama classes with me this winter? Any takers? If you’re in the Leitrim area put your name down at the Drumshanbo Library and we’ll see what we can stir up before the end of October.. There will be a play in it for ye!
Cool… Okay…

Don’t know if I can attach a pretty picture but sure… grand if we can and oh well if we can’t.

All the best now
Thanks for clicking on
xx
always
ei

hello out there

September 7th, 2009 .

Hello,

If Sean M. should read this, please contact me at eiotoole@hotmail.com

Ukulele Rules

cheers

ei

J.D. Salinger’s Writing… uncollected writings and plenty of favorites

September 3rd, 2009 .

ttp://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=132907421959&h=c8C-F&u=LTFhq&ref=mf

The link is courtesy of Sean Morley Dixon

This is perfect for any afternoon, any day… alone in your room. Click and fly awaybig-clouds

One festival after another….. pigs alive, the ukuleles are wailing

September 2nd, 2009 .

Now we’re getting ready to go the Electric Picnic in Laois. I can hardly stand it or wait.

Only four Pigs from the Pig Executives are on the bill over the weekend. We’ll be reading for an hour each day, Saturday and Sunday at 12noon in the Theatre/Spoken Word Tent.

The other pigs are having their monthly meeting in the Glen’s Centre in Manor Hamilton. HAH HAH HAH-suckers……

I really shouldn’t be like that… the monthly meeting are terrific. Plus I hate camping. Its just that……… .. its a free ticket in and we get to read out stuff!!! ..hehehe  HAHAHA-suckers………………….

So Flat lake was a screaming success as already printed and just to back up those glittering reviews ( okay, THAT glittering review,, there could be more , I just haven’t found them yet)…. Here’s a few pictures taken by one of the members’ of Dermot Healy’s Sligo writers, Dessie McFadden.

Flatlake pigsSome Flatlake Pigs.

Standing - none other than The Anti-Pig

Sitting with a can of Guinness, our own Prima Bamh

Crouching with shades on, and Heineken in hand- Whee, Whee, Whee, All the Way Home

Squinting into the sun- The Anti Pig’s Hog- Stand-in Pig. And didn’t he do a great job of standing in when we needed him. Oink oink well done. Stand-in Pig wasn’t his name of choice, but I have memory lapses… ask anybody..

img_7232 Pigs on Stage.

We decided to have a read-through of a play that Conor Mac and I wrote for the Kiltubrid parish earlier in the winter. So here we are on stage just before the reading began. The one person that wasn’t in the shot was Dermot Healy who was standing just out of frame beside that little pig in the black cowboy hat.

To the left, grinning, is Kamikaze Pig on the other side of me, is Mucky Pig.

The Anti Pig, her hog and  Prima have already been introduced.

**********************************************************************

Now on a  Written Word Weekend and Ukulele note… there was a mix up in the stars for sure last Friday night, when the Written Word Weekend held the first Last Friday of each Month, Gathering of Writers to Read their Stuff.

Honestly, we didn’t think anyone would come…Truthfully we hoped no one would come… and Shamefully, we forgot to tell the pub we were going to read in  their pub. All of this because,  I double booked to play at a Ukulele Hooley in Club F as well.

Wouldn’t you know it, hoards of people attended the Written Word Weekend First Friday of each Month, Gathering of Writers to Read their Stuff. And virtually nobody came to the Ukulele Hooley- even though it had some of the best players/songwriters the country has to offer.

I got to stop being surprized.

Still, we had fun and made the most of the evening.

Thanks to the couple  from Longford that made the journey and Sinead from up the mountain and  German George  and Sally and Dee who spent most the night in their car , putting back beverages and were in fine from when the concert actually started. And to the Medevil couple and their friend. I think thats all who turned up….

Tough crowd.

Good voices on them though.

Summers nearly over. We just do this Electric Picnic thing and boom. Whole new change happens. We’re into the Fall. And that means..rain….never mind.

Cheers my dears

thank you for clicking on

always eileen

me and my loves

Working thru a few things here… don’t not adjust yr set.

August 28th, 2009 .

I sitmy-place

I sit

pulling hairs out of my

chin

getting fat off

the land in a

recession

While watching

Face book

videos of artists

in Canada

Dancers, Cellists

Bach suites and originals

music

movement made

by lithe and supple

women

Women I once knew

And danced with too

While I sit

pulling hairs out of my chin

getting fat off a land

in a recession

Watch muscular women

play fight

and swing

fall, slide

leap and contract

Dancing in unison

moving within time

gesture the present

and sweat out the past

While I sit

pulling hairs out of my chin

getting fat off a land

in a recession

Watch myself not

doing what I once did

across a floor

barefooted and thin

looking like the next one

standing  in the line

choreograph my exist

and bow for spare change

While I

in a recession

of a fat land,

chin out,

hair pulling,

sit.

*********************************************************************

Tonight the Written Word Weekend presents the first

Open Mike Poetry and Prose Night at Berry’s Tavern 8:30 to 10pm

Then I’m scurrying up the mountain to Club F to perform at a Ukulele Hooley where three uku players are on the bill ( i’m the first up)  Followed by one lad from Limerick and  then a young woman from the USA.

meanwhile… its raining cats and dogs over here. 10 am Friday morning with fresh towels on the line and the good rain giving them an extra wash and the wild wind whipping.

And for those readers this side of the pond and up here in the north west the

Carrick -on-Shannon Creative Writing  Class resumes September 23rd at the Breffni Family Resource Centre, with yours truly leading the practise.  Get over and get yer pens out.


Written Word Weekend

For the latest YouTube on the subject and more about what else is going down. There’s the link. Please use it.

Cheers my dears thanks for clicking on

always eileen