I'm glad that I didn't go to school in this town!

Lanty and I arrived in Limerick this morning, sleep-deprived (somehow neither of us could sleep on the flight from Chicago to Dublin, but we were completely out on the flight from Dublin to Shannon--a 20-minute flight on the same plane). We got ripped off by a taxi driver who seems to have graduated from the "How to Cheat Friendly Tourists out of their Money, especially in Washington, DC before Metered Cabs Began Service." But, oh well. Had I been more awake, I probably would have noticed that he was charging too much, I was tipping too much, and he was "out of change" -- I should have ran into the hotel to inquire about the fare and get my own change...oh well.

Now, onto this town (Limerick). The Institute for Study Abroad vigorously encouraged me to study at the University of Limerick during the application process in early Spring. As my mother said today, “it pays to know people with good advice.” (My godfather had strongly discouraged me to study in Galway instead of Limerick for its academic excellence, culture, and beauty.) In short, he couldn’t have been more right: the town is not just old, but it’s dilapidated; there are lots of shoe stores, cell phone retailers, and the basics – but nothing too exciting or classic European; and there’s a large pile of garbage on the docks across the street from our hotel.

I’ll stop the description of this picturesque town there, for Lanty and I are heading off to a place called Dolan’s – a local pub with live Irish music. (The one next door, the cabbie said, is where the prostitutes go. “Be careful which door you use,” he said.)

Phoenix is a no-go for launch

A few nights ago, Phoenix's sick symptoms returned, though not as severe as they have been in the past. Over the last several months, he has had recurrent bouts of intestinal upsets. Many tests later, we discovered that he has Inflammatory Bowel Disease and lacks the ability to absorb Vitamin B-12, a vitamin responsible for the metabolism in almost every cell.

This sickness scares me every time he gets it. As my Dad puts it, I can't use Phoenix as he is intended (a guide) when he is sick, for I am always wondering if he will get sick in a public place or whether he'll be well enough to do his job and keep me safe. I'm also reluctant to take a nine-hour plane ride with him, knowing that he may not be able to "hold it" the whole way to Ireland and safely out of the airport.

I spoke with the veterinary and training staff at Guide Dogs, and they recommended that he stay here in Chicago. As the vet put it, "This has been going on a long time and I would expect unless conditions change dramatically it will continue as long as Phoenix is active." We currently believe that stress is a large part of why he keeps getting sick, so by leaving him here in Chicago he will hopefully be able to de-stress, relax, and have his symptoms improve. It will be a bit of an experiment, too, for we will be able to see whether the problems are a result of internal medical complications, diet, or stress.

I'll be taking my trusty (and dusty!) white cane to Ireland with me, and that should give me just as much freedom and mobility as if I had Phoenix. It will be hard to leave him here, though, since I've been with him virtually 24/7 since July of 2005.

Luckily, Ginger came yesterday to outfit my canes (yes, plural -- one is a backup) with new tips. It's always nice to have friends with fun toolboxes and senses of humor (or, humour--I have to get used to spelling English English!).