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THE SHEEP!! THE GODFORESAKEN SHEEP!!

Last night I tucked in at about 9pm so I could really dive into Kite Runner (it's the second installment of me and Elisa's transcontinental book club, or Trannie Book Club [jk]. Let us know if you're interested in joining!).

The book was good. The window was open, which is the only way to live, according to Kate's everywhere. In fact, closed windows equal no sleep. Period. Well, so it's 12am or so when I think about going to bed. This is the precise moment when the wind shifts and begins to deliver sheep sounds through my window.

Let me explain: Though I live in the capital of Dublin, I am neighbor to a field of sheep. That's Ireland. Deal with it. Now, typically I can't hear them at all, unless the wind is blowing in just the right direction.

Whoever came up with the sheep-jumping-over-your-head-and-lulling-you-to-sleep idea was OBVIOUSLY not a neighbor to a field of the fluffy, puffy loudmouths. Last night, they were downright CHATTY. And a sheep sound, contrary to popular belief, is NOT a "baa". It's a lowing, like a cow. A long, whiny, belchy "loooooooow". It sucks.

Now, I feel obligated to point out that in my travelling around Ireland I have stayed in many places adjoining many fields of sheep. They've all seemed to sleep peacefully through the night. Even in County Kerry, where the farmers have a reputation for....loving their livestock a little too passionately. (unfortunately, my namesake county has many embarassing lowpoints).

This leads me to believe there is something going on in the field by my apartment. Something fishy. Something....amorous. And involving a farmer. It's nothing I'd fancy investigating, but let's just leave it at the fact that I have my suspicions.


So I'm tired, and it's Monday, and I can STILL hear the stupid sheep in my head!! But I'm happy, and I have to laugh at it still, because there's nothing more quintessential than the sheep getting in your way in Ireland.