It has been close to a year since my last blog post. A lot has happened since then and I wish I kept this blog up to date. But, no use in in dwelling on the past because I've got a lot of fun plans for the future. The main question on my mind lately is, 'what's next?' I find that about every two years I need something new and exciting to happen. For the past two months or so I have been focusing my energy on a few different projects that make me happy.

In June I started an online TEFL course so I could start teaching English online while traveling. A friend of mine who returned from South Korea after a year of teaching talked me into it. I am still at that point where I know what I am doing right now is not making me happy. I thought a lot about the freedom I would have to travel and make money becoming an online TEFL teacher. So, here I am 11 weeks later on my way to realizing that freedom. That being said I still have to finish 20 hours of practicum and then find employment. It's all in the works and I am just happy that I have something else to focus on.

Another thing I have been focusing in on as a hobby is making homemade Chicago-style giardiniera. As you may have guessed by the name, giardiniera originated in Italy and was then given that perfect Chicago twist when it came to America. It's a mix of jalapeños, serranos, cauliflower, carrots, celery, garlic, oregano, and chili flakes all preserved in an oil and vinegar bath. You can put it on anything but it is especially good on pizza, hot beef sandwiches, burgers, and eggs. Since this is unavailable outside of Chicago, for the most part, I have reverted to making it myself in Ireland. Every few weeks I make a new batch and give some out to friends and strangers. The feedback and compliments I have received have been amazing. Everyone asks where they can get some but I assure them it's only in my kitchen. Therefore, recently I have been writing up a business plan to see where I can take this endeavor. I would like to prove to myself that I can do it. It would be amazing to see someone enjoy something that I created and then make a little profit from it...

As you may have guessed it, writing is one of those things that is inherently part of my life and that I love to do. I found that I have been procrastinating a lot (almost a year…) when it comes to writing. My goal is to update my website every week with the endless amount of ideas, inventions, imagination, and random thoughts pouring out of my skull. It seems like such a chore at first thinking about it but as soon as the words appear on screen or on paper I feel that I am really accomplishing something. I need somewhere to organize all of this chaos. I want to see this evolve into something prolific that I am proud of and will ultimately lead to me fulfilling my dreams; whatever they might be. So it’s onward and upward. I will find my stride once again and hopefully bring you engaging content as right now this feels like a public journal. I need to connect what I like to what you like so this thing becomes mutually beneficial.