Jenny, Edward and I had a really great time in Ireland. We started out in Dublin for 2 days where we went to Dublin Castle, St. Michans Church (where we touched the finger of a mummified 800 year old Crusader in the crypt), the Guinness Brewery, Kilmainham Gaol (Jail), the Book of Kells, plus restaurants and pubs.
From there we rented a car and drove to Cork, stopping at Kilkenny Castle along the way. From Cork we drove the amazing and narrow roads of the Ring of Kerry, then visited Blarney Castle. Edward was the only one willing to risk Irish herpes by kissing the stone, plus restaurants and pubs.
For the last two days we were in Lehinch, a golf and surfing town on the west coast. On the way we met friends Lelia and Adam at the the Shannon Airport, who flew in from London where they had been vacationing. In Lehinch we splurged and stayed at the luxurious Moy House, a manor house situated right on the ocean cliffs. From their we visited the magnificent Cliffs of Moher and the stark and beautiful region known as the Burren. We explored the Ailwee Caves, stopped at 5800 year old neolithic sites and meandered the rocky terrain to find the middle of nowhere Burren Perfumery, and of course hit the pubs.
Below are a handful of the nearly 1000 pics Edward and I took during the week.
Exhausted yet still pumped with adrenalin from battling the blaze, our hero returns from his first major call. After being a bit shaken from the chaotic ordeal of entering the inferno, he finds balance in knowing his actions saved lives.
After taking a few days off to rest and recoup from a nasty cold, I got back to work on my sexy fireman. I filled in some of the background and spent some more time of his hair. I've taken it from a very short buzz cut to slightly longer. I think this helps me to make it look sweaty. I want it to look like he's just taken of his hot fire hat and his hair is drenched and messed up.
Here's my latest. I am doing a piece for a friend, a commission of sorts. Firemen get him hot under the collar, so that is what he's requested. The face challenged me at first. I had a hard time finding the right expression. I wasn't exactly sure of how I wanted him to look, but knew I didn't like what I was coming up with. After much tweaking and erasing, and even completely erasing the face I had I finally figured out that I wanted him to look fatigued and embattled from fighting a fire yet subtly triumphant, not cocky. 
yearning to know what the heck it was and where it came from. Well, after a bit of clever Googling.. it's scenes from the 2003 Australian movie "Swimming Upstream
", starring Jesse Spencer in the life story of Tony Fingleton. The movie saw limited release in the U.S. in 2005.
With the holidays here, and since 2007 has been a pretty good year for me with the release of my book and all, I am covering the cost of shipping any order over $20 placed at my website now through December 21st. For details and to order go to www.breyette.com
This weekend Edward and I went into Boston for a performance of the Paul Taylor Dance Company. I don't know much about dance and 'don't get' what each segment is about but I do enjoy watching the grace and muscular beauty of the dancers; with the men in tights you get to appreciate every curve. The show had a nice dose of energetic and even humorous dances to keep us casual patrons entertained.
Showing just enough of my next piece to tease you.
Edward and I and our friend Jenny are traveling to Ireland tomorrow (which happens to be my birthday). I am looking forward to the trip. I've never been and have only been to Europe once before. We arrive in Dublin then are driving to the west coast spending a couple days in Cork then ending in Lahinch with beer, food and sights along the way.
