everyone's irish on march 17th.

Lá Fhéile Phádairg Shone Daoibh!!

from Guinness Storehouse in Dublin

Hope everyone is having a fun day being Irish! It is kinda funny, though at least in my experience St. Patrick's Day is celebrated quite different in the US than in Ireland. I went to a parade in the Cork city centre, which was quite funny. Cork may be the second largest city in Ireland, but don't let that fool you. The parade is small and just fun to watch. The weather is GORGEOUS today, like sunny and about 50, so there were a lot of people about town for the parade. Everyone was wearing green, some had flags, other had hats a few people were all decked out, but the streets of the city were lined with people. The parade itself lasted about 45 minutes, though we were right at the start, so for people further along it lasted longer. And it was a few community groups, marching bands, some military and a lot of different national groups in Cork - a lot of the African nations, Poland, Serbia, India, Bangladesh.... It was like last years which was a shock, because I didn't know what to expect last year. So it was fun, Brenda and I enjoyed it, and walking around the streets. We found a nice spot in the sunshine to watch the festivities.

start of the parade - marching band

brenda and i - i swear i'm wearing green!

Afterwards we decided it was such a nice day so we headed to my favourite park in town - Fitzgerald Park and brought tea and just relaxed in the sunshine, along the river. It was glorious, and didn't feel like March! On nice days last spring Kara and I would head to the park and sit and read and I've really missed doing that. And you could tell it was one of the first days because everyone was in the park, and even better that the amazing weather fell on a holiday! Tonight Brenda is coming over for some dinner - making Chicken Curry (totally Irish, haha) and then we are heading into town for a few pints - gotta have my Guinness today! We are going to one of my favourite pubs - An Spailpin Fanach and enjoying our pints with some trad music. I love a great session! I've had Riverdance, The Chieftains and other trad music playing on my itunes all day today. So that should be a fun night!

such a gorgeous day in the park!

Last night.... wowwww! It was my work going away party and it was a fabulous night! We all met up for dinner and spent a few hours talking, eating great food and just being happy. I'm really going to miss my co-workers. While the work might not be the best, at least you never know what you are going to be dealing with, and it is usually different, my co workers have kept me laughing the last year and a half. So they surprised me with a few gifts, a gorgeous necklace, a university t-shirt and a book on the university as well as a poem. When I was out on Friday my boss asked the girls for things on me, and his wife wrote it into a poem - and it was brilliant!

Ode to Erin
Erin (last name) can it be true
Tranquility has a hold on you
New Jersey beckons, hear it call
Homeward bound, farewell y'all!

But what will happen in ASA
When you're not here to save the day
Finding files, who's got a pen?
Can you change that doc again?

Poor old Sharon will be sad
Bending banannas gets her all mad
David's writing what does it say??
Translation please Erin K

Music touches your very soul
The Rascal Flatts and Snow Patrol
Romantic comedies you can't resist
But sweet Love Actually tops the list

Mountaineering up "the Reeks"
The hilight of your busy week
There's time for rowing, wheres the crew
Go fetch Hillary and Barack too

Your love of history stands the test
Except for Eamon whom you detest
Your camera captured many scenes
But who ate all the jelly beans? (except the purple ones)

Reece's Pieces taste so neat
'tho chocolate brownies are hard to beat
You love to travel, you love to spend
Your love of bags will never end

And so I urge you, raise your glass
To Erin, one outstanding lass
You will be missed and that's no lie
It's Bon Voyage, but not goodbye....

with the girls from work

So after we got kicked out of the restaurant the girls, Trish and I went out. Now with today being a national holiday, town was MAD. Most peope would be going out last night, when they don't have to worry about work the next day, so we picked a late bar that wasn't tooo crazy and sat and talked more and had a few more drinks. Around 2 I was quite drunk and tired, so we decided to call it a night. And this morning woke up with quite a hangover! uuuuuuuugh! Luckily I was able to sleep in and enjoy the morning before heading into town for the parade.

So it was a faaaaabulous St. Patrick's Day so far and tonight should be fab as well! Hope everyone has a great day as well!!