Tag: irish

Happy St Patrick’s Day

Happy St Patrick’s Day, everyone. Today is the day where the population of the United States who are not descended from Irish immigrants pretend that they are of Irish descent and celebrate like drunken stereotypes. Personally, as one whose family did come from Ireland but who does not drink at all, I am all for it. Pretend away, my friends and neighbors. For this one day each year you are more than welcome to join our club.

Sláinte!

Go raibh maith agat!

Go n-eirí an t-ádh leat!

Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona duit!

Go here to find out what those four phrases mean.

Ireland: 1000 Years of History

As promised in my daily writing prompt post from early this morning, I have started brushing up on Irish history. My heritage. My people (sort of). It’s time I got myself at least a little bit up to speed on the place where my family came from.

I’ve started with this video. I’m up to the potato famine, about halfway through the video. I have 15-20 more videos on my Watch Later playlist.

ADDENDUM: Damn it! The video doesn’t embed. Friggin’ youtube. Here’s a link.

Happy St Patrick’s Day

Happy everyone in and around Boston, Massachusetts pretends they are Irish day! Even those of us who actually are of Irish descent. It dawned on me yesterday that with all the weight loss over the last year, and all of the needing to buy new clothes, I don’t actually own any green clothing. After I had that realization it also occurred to me that I didn’t own any green clothing last year either.

We are not doing anything special to celebrate my national heritage this year. I floated the idea last week, but after having Harry home for spring break it seemed underwhelming and I didn’t pursue it. I’d like to drive to New York instead, but I haven’t floated that idea at all so it ain’t happening. Unless Jen reads this and jumps at the idea. Heh heh heh.

No stomach issues today. Yesterday I was dealing with stomach aches off and on all day. The day before I had a minor stomach issue at lunch and then a huge issue at dinner. Today, nothing yet. I had a protein bar and a little bit of chicken for breakfast. No problems. I am hopeful that I can keep this trend running for the day.

I’ve been trying to get into Mastodon (@RobJ_1971). I wrote there this morning that if I had my way my agenda for today would include playing guitar and watching The X-Files and nothing else. Obviously that ain’t happening either (thanks, adulthood). Tomorrow though… Sunday though… who knows. I might finally stop thinking about it and start trying to sell my Stratocaster and using the proceeds to make repairs on my ES-335 (frets and wiring harness) and Les Paul Custom (frets, wiring harness, and pickups). Maybe. Frankly, the idea terrifies me. Mostly because I don’t know what a 2000 American Series Stratocaster’s fair price should be. The used guitar market is constantly in flux and I don’t want to let it go too cheap. I also don’t want to try to gouge people either. I’m thinking $1,200, but is that fair? I don’t really know.

Okay. Get to work, Robert. Happy St Patrick’s Day, everyone. Happy Friday. Don’t drink and drive tonight. Be careful out there. Wash your hands and be safe.

Music and Irish, Separately

Today is a day with two themes.  Music and Irishness.

Music because I have band practice, and my step daughter has pit rehearsal for her school play.

Irish because my beautiful bride, Jen is making corned beef.  I predict that it’s going to need salt.  Corned beef can never, ever be salty enough.  Jen always does a great job.

On an unrelated note, Facebook got weird this morning in a sad way.  I friended a guitar player that I’m a big fan of.  Today he was tagged in a post with one of my former teachers from Northeast Broadcast School.  Gotta admit, he was not my favorite guy there.  Something about him rubbed me the wrong way.  He was nice enough, very smart, and very talented.  There was just… something.  I clicked on him to see what he’s been up to.  He’s still in the same awesome band, which is nice.  I was surprised to see him tagged in another post with another one of my teachers from NBS.  This was a guy whose class I enjoyed very much.  He was a great guy.  Unfortunately he passed away recently.  Damn.  I hadn’t thought about him in years, and now he’s gone.  Very sad.

Happy St Patrick’s Day

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to you all.  Today is the day when people all over the United States celebrate their Irish heratage, whether they are Irish or not, by getting sloppy, fall down, pass out in a pool of your own vomit and piss, drunk!

I’m not sure how, or even if, people who are actually in Ireland celebrate and I really don’t care.

Bostonians in particular are well known for their St Patty’s indulgences.  I expect at least 50% of my company to call in hung over sick tomorrow.  It’s tradition.

I will celebrate this special day with my own personal tradition of being the only male of Irish decent in all of greater Boston to not get  sloppy, fall down, pass out in a pool of your own vomit and piss, drunk.  Someone has to be that guy, right?  Why not me.

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya!

Corned Beef Dinner

We had a scheduling conflict with the Irish.  St. Patrick’s Day happens to fall on a day that we do not have the kids.  Therefore we had a mini-St Patrick’s Day dinner this weekend.  We invited Jen’s folks and my folks.  The kids told riddles while we ate corned beef.  My father and my step son continued their on going string of cribbage games.  My step daughter somehow managed to read two large books cover to cover (more or less).  It was a nice time.  Thanks to both sets of Nanas and Papas for coming over, and thanks to my amazing wife for the fantastic dinner!