Seaweed Chronicles

I Love NJ, Occasionally

At least, days like this, I do.  These pics are from the Special Olympics Polar Plunge today, delayed from the originally-scheduled date last weekend due to the awful weather a week ago.

  But really, after seeing these, do you think the weather mattered much?  Maybe for the spectators on the boardwalk, but for those plunging?  Not so much.  The were pretty enCOURAGEed by various substances and fans and other motivations. 

This may be one of my top favorite photos ever taken.  It wasn't one of "our" team, but it certainly captures the spirit of the occasion - frivolity with a purpose!

 

Karma

We're having a "major snow event" here in NJ today.  It was snowing when I left for work this morning, and continued to snow heavily though the morning.  Around 11:00 AM my cell phone rang, and I picked up seeing that the incoming number was my daughter's.

Me:  Hi Em!  What's up?

Em:  Mom?  Where ARE you?

Me:  At work.  Why?

Em:   The weather is horrible! It's really bad . . . are you leaving soon?

Me:  No, not unless they close early which they probably won't.  Why?

Em:  I'm worried about you driving home.  My classes are cancelled.

Me:  I'll be OK, don't worry. 

Same thing the kids always say to me, and that offers me no sense of security.  And I next thought: 

Wow, she's grown up. 

Wow, again. Birthdays and years passed don't measure this kind of progress.  Graduations don't mark the true milestones.  What matters most in measuring whether you've successfully raised a child is their treatment towards others.  Whether they have the ability to be not just unselfish, but self-less.  

I got to see that today, and it was beautiful.   

Once again, with feeling . . .

The annual St. Patrick's Season Itinerary, by the beloved Brendan Dunphy whom I haven't met yet but it's only a matter of time.  (Note: I removed dates prior to this posting but Brendan's original list included many February opportunities for fun - write him if you want to get the early notice next year.)

CUDTHROMACH AIRE!

(Irish for “Important Notice”)

 

 

St. Patrick’s Day is not just a day … it is a season …  

 

Welcome to my 20^th Annual Itinerary for this the 2010 St. Patrick’s Day Season.  This year’s itinerary is dedicated with thanks to Tony and Sheila McCann of County Armagh, Ireland, for their Irish hospitality during my 2009 visit to Armagh and Belfast. 

 

Let the games begin!  American first … Irish always …

 

Slainte,

 

Brendan James Patrick Dunphy, of

County Kilkenny  (Dunphy)

County Armagh  (Donnelly)

County Cavan  (McGovern)

County Down  (Toner)

County Hudson  (New Jersey)

 

Email: BrendanJDunphy@aol.com or

    HobokenLBI@aol.com

 

  

THE OFFICIAL 2010 ST. PATRICK’S DAY ITINERARY

 

 

 

Thur. Feb. 11-28:   Theater:  The Irish and How They Got That Way! Philadelphia

    www.kimmelcenter.org

 

Sun. Feb. 21:   South Park Pipe Band Fundraiser!  Maplewood, NJ

www.southparkpb.com

  

Tues. Feb. 23:     Film:  The Liberties, Irish Arts Center, NYC

    www.irishartscenter.org

 

Tues. Feb. 23:     Irish Business Organization (IBO) Irish Breakfast!  NYC

    www.ibo-ny.com

 

Wed. Feb. 24:     Open Mike Readings!  Rocky Sullivan’s, Brooklyn, NY

    www.rockysullivans.com

 

Wed. Feb. 24:     Dropkick Murphy’s!  Wellmont Theater, Montclair, NJ

    www.dropkickmurphys.com

 

Wed, Feb. 24:     Michael O’Rourke Piano Solo!  A-I Historical Society, NYC

    www.aihs.org 

 

Thur. Feb. 25:    Discussion:  The Dead of the Irish Revolution 1916-21, NYC

    http://irelandhouse.fas.nyu.edu/page/home

   

Thur. Feb. 25:    Dropkick Murphy’s!  House of Blues, Atlantic City, NJ

    www.dropkickmurphys.com

 

Fri. Feb. 26:    In memory of John Patrick “Jack” Dunphy, Jr.

 

Fri. Feb. 26:    Pierce Turner!  Carnegie Hall, NYC

    www.pierceturner.com

 

Fri. Feb. 26:    NYPD Emerald Society 57^th Annual Dinner Dance!

    www.nypdemeralds.com

 

Fri. Feb. 26:    Cherish The Ladies!  West Long Branch, NJ

    www.cherishtheladies.com

 

Fri. Feb. 26:    Celtic Woman!  Radio City Music Hall, NYC

    www.radiocity.com

 

Fri. Feb. 26:       Flogging Molly!  Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA

        www.floggingmolly.com

 

Fri. Feb. 26:       Shillelagh Law!  The Black Bear Saloon, Nyack, NY

    www.halfthebottle.com

 

Sat. Feb. 27:    Six Nations Rugby!  England vs. Ireland

    www.rbs6nations.com

 

Sat. Feb. 27:    Irish Mass! Our Lady of Grace Church, Hoboken, NJ (5PM)

www.hobokensaintpatricksparade.org

 

Sat. Feb. 27:    Celtic Woman!  Radio City Music Hall, NYC

    www.radiocity.com

 

Sat. Feb. 27:    Irish Wake Party and Fun Run!  Blackthorn’s, Kenilworth, NJ

    www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com

 

Sat. Feb. 27:       Black 47!  Connolly’s Pub (45^th Street), NYC

    www.black47.com

 

Sun. Feb. 28:      SPL Soccer!  Glasgow Celtic v. Glasgow Rangers 

    www.celticfc.co.uk

 

Sun. Feb. 28:   Paddy and the Pale Boys!  The Grasshopper, Morristown, NJ

    www.thepaleboys.com

 

Sun. Feb. 28:   West Orange NJ Parade Investiture, West Orange, NJ

    www.westorangeparade.com

 

Mon. Mar. 1: The Wolfe Tones!  Harrigan’s Pub, Sea Girt, NJ

    www.wolfetonesofficialsite.com

 

Tues. Mar. 2: International Soccer!  Ireland vs. Brazil, in London, UK

    www.fai.ie

 

Tues. Mar. 2:     Flogging Molly!  Hammerstein Ballroom, NYC

    www.floggingmolly.com

 

Wed. Mar. 3: Hothouse Flowers!  Highline Ballroom, NYC

    www.hothouseflowers.com

 

Thur. Mar. 4:         Discussion:  Irish Evictions & Assisted Emigration, NYU, NYC

    http://irelandhouse.fas.nyu.edu/page/home

 

Thur. Mar. 4:     Enter The Haggis!  Saratoga Springs, NY

    www.enterthehaggis.com

 

Thur. Mar. 4:     Derek Warfield!  Lily Flanagan’s, Babylon, NY

    www.derekwarfield.com   Tribute show for the late Kevin Smith

 

Thur. Mar. 4:     The Wolfe Tones!  Halligan’s Pub, West Orange, NJ

    www.wolfetonesofficialsite.com

 

Fri. Mar. 5:     Gaelic Storm!  Stockton Performing Arts Center, Pomona, NJ

    http://gaelicstorm.musiccitynetworks.com/

 

Fri. Mar. 5:     The Irish Tenors!  Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, PA

    www.theirishtenors.com

 

Fri. Mar. 5:        The Skels!  Harp n Bard, Clifton, NJ

        www.theskels.com

 

Fri. Mar. 5:     Bogside Rogues!  Tir Na Nog Irish Pub, Trenton, NJ

    www.bogsiderogues.com

 

Fri. Mar. 5:     Derek Warfield!  Kelly’s Pub, Flushing, NY

    www.derekwarfield.com

 

Sat. Mar. 6:     THE PARADE SEASON OFFICIALLY BEGINS! 

They call it the month of “March” for a reason …

 

Sat. Mar. 6:     PARADE DAY!

Nutley, NJ  www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

Hoboken, NJ  www.hobokensaintpatricksparade.org

Bethpage, NY     www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

Mount Holly, NJ     www.mounthollyparade.com

Alexandria, VA      www.ballyshaners.org

Cape Cod, MA  www.irishmassachusetts.com

    Rockaway, NY    www.queenscountyparade.org

 

Sat. Mar. 6:     Gaelic Storm!  Algonquin Arts Theater, Manasquan, NJ

http://gaelicstorm.musiccitynetworks.com/

 

Sat. Mar. 6:     Celtic Cross!  College of St. Elizabeth, Covent Station, NJ

    www.celticcrossnation.com

 

Sat. Mar. 6:     Dicey Riley!  The Dublin Pub, Morristown, NJ

    www.diceyriley.com

 

Sat. Mar. 6:     County Cork Association Dinner, Queens Village, NY

    www.irishecho.com

 

Sun. Mar. 7:       PARADE DAY!

    Belmar, NJ           www.belmarparade.com

Yonkers, NY        www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

Staten Island, NY        www.irishemigrant.com

Sunnyside, NY      www.stpatsforall.com

    East Islip, NY         www.aohdiv7.org

    Garden City, NY        www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

Lawrence, MA        www.irishmassachusetts.com

Worcester, MA      www.irishmassachusetts.com

Huddersfield, UK *        www.theparadeonline.org

 

Sun. Mar. 7:    County Roscommon Dinner Dance, Astoria, NY

    www.irishecho.com

 

Sun. Mar. 7:    Bogside Rogues!  Knights O’Columbus, Middletown, NJ

    www.bogsiderogues.com

 

Sun. Mar. 7:    Shillelagh Law!  Rory Dolan’s, Yonkers, NY (5PM)

    www.halfthebottle.com

   

Sun. Mar. 7:    Enter The Haggis!  Piermont, NY

    www.enterthehaggis.com

 

Mon. Mar. 8: The Tossers!  Maxwell’s, Hoboken, NJ (8PM)

    www.thetossers.com

 

Tues. Mar. 9: Noel V. Ginnity!  Westchester Broadway Theatre, NY

    www.broadwaytheatre.com

 

Wed. Mar. 10:    Solas!  B.B. King’s, NYC

    www.solasmusic.com

 

Fri. Mar. 12:   NEWARK, NEW JERSEY’S 75^TH ANNUAL PARADE!  1PM

During:  Scully’s Publick House     www.scullyspublichouse.com

After:      McGovern’sTavern         www.mcgovernstavern.com

After that: Kilkenny Ale House     www.kilkennyalehouse.net

 

Fri. Mar. 12:   Traditional Irish Music!  Glucksman House, NYU, NYC

    www.blarneystar.com  County Armagh Uilleann Piper!

 

Fri. Mar. 12:   Shillelagh Law!  Connolly’s Bar (45^th Street), NYC

    www.halfthebottle.com

 

Fri. Mar. 12:   56^TH Annual NY Friendly Sons of St. Patrick Dinner!  Rye, NY 

        www.friendlysonswestchester.com

 

Fri. Mar. 12:   The Tossers!  Mercury Lounge, NYC

    www.thetossers.com

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   Irish-Language Mass, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Mott St., NYC

    http://irelandhouse.fas.nyu.edu/page/home  (12PM, music follows)

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   PARADE DAY!

Morristown, NJ      www.paradeday.com

Trenton, NJ         www.trentonparade.com

Union, NJ        www.unioncountystpatricksdayparade.com

South Amboy, NJ      www.saparade.com

Ocean County, NJ     www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

    No. Wildwood, NJ         www.northwildwood.com

Atlantic City, NJ         www.atlanticcitynj.com

Girardville, GA *         www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

White Plains, NY         www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

Bay Shore, NY       www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

    Westchester, NY     www.aohdiv16.org

Conshohocken, PA     www.aohnd1.com

Scranton, PA          www.stpatparade.com

Rochester, NY        www.rochesterparade.com

Hartford, CT      www.irishamericanparade.com

    Albany, NY        www.albanystpatricksdayparade.com

    York, PA             www.yorksaintpatricksdayparade.org

Pittsburgh, PA        www.pittsburghirish.org

Chicago, IL         www.chicagostpatsparade.com

San Antonio, TX         www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

St. Charles, IL         www.visitstcharles.com

Gaithersburg, MD      www.gaithersburgmd.gov

Dublin, OH             www.dublin.oh.us

Tallahassee, FL      www.irishtallahassee.org

Tampa FL *         www.tampabay.com

Charlotte, NC         www.charlottestpatsday.com

San Diego, CA        www.stpatsparade.org

    Hermosa Beach, CA      www.hermosabch.org

    Denver, CO             www.denverstpatricksdayparade

    Raleigh, NC        www.raleighstpats.org

No. Myrtle Beach, SC         www.stpatnmb.com

    Atlanta, GA        www.stpatsparadeatlanta.com

    Elmhurst, IL            www.elmhurststpatsparade.com

    Naperville, IL          www.wsirish.org

Baton Rouge, LA      www.paradegroup.com

    Newport, RI            www.newportirish.com

    Seattle, WA        www.irishclub.org

    Grand Ledge, MI         www.glstpats.org

St. Louis, MO         www.irishparade.org

    Cross Lake, MN       www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

    Phoenix, AZ        www.phxirish.org

Okla. City, OK *         www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

    Oslo, Norway          www.oslostpatricksday.com

St. Croix, USVI          www.gotostcroix.com

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   Dyeing of the River Green Ceremony!  Chicago, IL

    www.chicagostpatsparade.com

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   Dyeing of the River Green Ceremony!  San Antonio, TX

    www.thesanantonioriverwalk.com

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   Six Nations Rugby!  Ireland vs. Wales

    www.rbs6nations.com

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   Irish Fest 2010!  West Palm Beach, FL

    www.irishflorida.org

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   Shamrock Fest 2010!  RFK Stadium, Washington, DC

    www.shamrockfest.com

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   “Unrepentant” Gathering!  Rocky Sullivan’s, Brooklyn, NY

    www.seanchai.com  with Gary Og, direct from Glasgow, Scotland!

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   County Lietrim Society Dinner Dance, Astoria, NY

    www.irishecho.com

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   Bogside Rogues!  AOH Hall, Hamilton Square, NJ (3PM)

    www.bogsiderogues.com

   

Sat. Mar. 13:   The Chieftains!  The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia, PA

        www.thechieftains.com

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   The Wolfe Tones!  Connolly’s Bar (45^th Street), NYC

    www.wolfetonesofficialsite.com

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   Shillelagh Law!  Vintage, White Plains, NY (2PM)

    www.halfthebottle.com

 

Sat. Mar. 13:   Fighting 69^th’s Irish Music Night & Corned Beef Challenge!

    www.69thfriends.org

 

Sun. Mar. 14: PARADE DAY!

Kearny, NJ          www.unitedirish.org

Jersey City, NJ        www.jerseycityonline.com

West Orange, NJ         www.westorangeparade.com

Woodbridge, NJ         www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

Bergen County, NJ         www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

    Hackettstown, NJ        www.hackettstownbid.com

Somerville, NJ         www.aohsomerset.com

Throggs Neck, NY       www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

Buffalo, NY        www.buffaloirish.com

Sleepy Hollow, NY *         www.shstpatrickparade.com

Worcester Co., MA         www.stpatsparade.com

Baltimore, MD        www.irishparade.net

Washington, DC         www.dcstpatsparade.com

Detroit, MI *      www.detroitirish.org

    Eastchester, NY      www.eastchesterirish.org

    New Haven, CT     www.stpatricksdayparade.org

Tokyo, Japan       www.inj.or.jp

Munich, Germany      www.stpatricksday.de

Vancouver, Canada        www.celticfestvancouver.com

Montreal, Canada      www.montrealirishparade.com

Toronto, Canada         www.topatrick.com

London, England        www.londonstpatricksday.org.uk

Philadelphia, PA         www.philadelphiastpatsparade.com

Huntington, NY      www.huntingtonhibernians.com

Boston, MA        www.irishmassachusetts.com

Scituate, MA          www.irishmassachusetts.com

 

Sun. Mar. 14: AOH Div. 22 Philadelphia Post-Parade Party

    http://aoh22philly.org/

 

Sun. Mar. 14: Irish Fest 2010!  West Palm Beach, FL

    www.irishflorida.org

 

Sun. Mar. 14:     The Chieftains!  The State Theater, New Brunswick, NJ

        www.thechieftains.com

 

Sun. Mar. 14: The Irish Rovers!  Count Basie Theater, Red Bank, NJ

    www.irishrovers.info

 

Sun. Mar. 14: The Wolfe Tones!  Connolly’s Bar (45^th Street), NYC

    www.wolfetonesofficialsite.com

 

Mon. Mar. 15:    Ronan Tynan!  Westchester Broadway Theatre, NY

    www.broadwaytheatre.com

 

Mon. Mar. 15:    Friends of the Fighting 69^th Reception!  The Armory, NYC

    www.69thfriends.org

 

Mon. Mar. 15:    The Wolfe Tones!  Connolly’s Bar (45^th Street), NYC

        www.wolfetonesofficialsite.com

 

Mon. Mar. 15:    Moore’s Irish Melodies!  Carnegie Hall (Weill Hall), NYC

    www.carnegiehall.org

 

Tues. Mar. 16:    The Chieftains!  McCarter Theater, Princeton, NJ

        www.thechieftains.com

 

Tues. Mar. 16:    Dicey Riley!  The Shannon Rose, Clifton, NJ

    www.diceyriley.com

 

Tues. Mar. 16:    Derek Warfield!  The Green Tree, Bronx, NY

    www.derekwarfield.com

 

Wed. Mar. 17:    HAPPY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY!!  ♣

 

Wed. Mar. 17:    NEW YORK CITY’S 249^TH ANNUAL PARADE!

    www.nycstpatricksparade.org  (marching with County Armagh)

 

Wed. Mar. 17:    PARADE DAY!

Savannah, GA         www.savannahsaintpatricksday.com

Cleveland, OH        www.clevelandsirishparade.org

Dublin, Ireland        www.stpatricksday.ie

Copenhagen Denmark         www.stpatricksdayparade.dk

 

Wed. Mar. 17:    World’s Smallest St. Patrick’s Day Parade!

    Enterprise, AL (one person)

 

Wed. Mar. 17:    The Chieftains!  Town Hall, NYC

    www.thechieftains.com

 

Wed. Mar. 17:    Black 47!  BB King’s Blue’s Club, NYC

    www.black47.com

 

Wed. Mar. 17:    Shillelagh Law!  Connolly’s Bar (45^th Street), NYC (4PM)

    www.halfthebottle.com

 

Wed. Mar. 17:    NJ Devils to wear green (and red) jerseys!  Newark, NJ

    www.newjerseydevils.com

 

Wed. Mar. 17-21:   Riverdance!  Radio City Music Hall, NYC

    www.radiocity.com   Final Shows!

 

Fri. Mar. 19:   Ice Wagon Flu!  Connolly’s Bar (45^th Street), NYC

    http://icewagonflu.com/

 

Fri. Mar. 19:      The Unforgettable Fire!  B.B. King’s Blues Club, NYC

    www.bbkingsblues.com

 

Sat. Mar. 20:   PARADE DAY!

Sussex County, NJ          www.sussexcountynjirish.com

    Highlands, NJ         www.highlandsnj.com

Keyport, NJ         www.keyportonline.com

Rockville Center, NY         www.rvcstpatrick.com

Harrisburg, PA        www.harrisburgirishparade.com

Yokohama, Japan        www.inj.or.jp

 

Sat. Mar. 20:   Six Nations Rugby!  Ireland vs. Scotland

    www.rbs6nations.com

 

Sun. Mar. 21:     PARADE DAY!

Bayonne, NJ          www.bayonnestpatricksparade.org

Brooklyn, NY     www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

Pearl River, NY          www.rocklandcountyaoh.com

Glen Cove, NY      www.glencoveirish.org

Montauk, NY          www.montaukfriendsoferin.com

Holyoke, MA          www.irishmassachusetts.com

Manchester, NH          www.irishmassachusetts.com

Abington, MA        www.irishmassachusetts.com

Mystic, CT          www.mysticirishparade.org

Bay City, MI        www.stpatparadebaycity.org

Sydney, Australia      www.stpatricksday.org.au

Stroudsburg, PA     www.stroudsburg.net

 

Sat. Mar. 27:   PARADE DAY!

Keansburg, NJ        www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

Ringwood, NJ         www.saintpatricksdayparade.com

 

Sat. Mar. 27:   New York GAA 76th Annual Banquet

    www.ny-gaa.org

 

Sun. Mar. 28: PARADE DAY!

Bay Ridge, NY           www.st-patricks-day.com

 

Sun. Mar. 28: Paddy and the Pale Boys!  The Grasshopper, Morristown, NJ

    www.thepaleboys.com

 

Sat. April 3:    The Wolfe Tones!  Andersonstown, West Belfast, Ireland

    www.wolfetonesofficialsite.com

 

Sat. April 3:    Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul!  Monroe Township, NJ

    www.eileenivers.com

 

Sun. April 4:   United Irish Association Easter March & Mass, Newark, NJ

To honor the 1916 Easter Uprising, Veteran’s Park to St. Patrick’s

March is lead by St. Columcille Pipe Band of Kearny, NJ

Mass includes a reading of the Irish Declaration of Independence

(McGovern’s Bar immediately after the mass; to end the season)

 

Mon. April 5: Betty Ford …

 

What shall I say about the Irish …?

 

The utterly impractical, never predictable,

Sometimes irascible, quite inexplicable Irish?

Strange blend of shyness, pride and conceit,

And stubborn refusal to bow in defeat

We’re spoiling and ready to argue and fight,

Yet the smile of a child fills our souls with delight.

Our eyes are the quickest to well up with tears,

Yet our strength is the strongest to banish your fears.

Our hate is as fierce as our devotion is grand,

And there’s no middle ground on which we will stand

We’re wild and we’re gentle, we’re good and we’re bad,

We’re proud and we’re humble, we’re happy and sad.

We’re in love with the ocean, the earth and the skies,

We’re enamored with beauty, wherever it lies.

We’re victor and victim, a star and a clod,

But mostly we’re Irish … in love with our God.

 (Author unknown)

 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day …

 

Brendan

Band Camp January 2010

OK, so this is totally out of order but I'm getting caught up.  These are pictures from the recent full-day band camp we held. We've got competitions coming up, people.  Including a huge one in Scotland!

Snow Day

OK, so chances are that, since it was a weekend day, I would have been at home most of the day anyway.  But the weather today was indeed frightful.  Sideways-blowing heavy snow most of the day, temps around 25.  There was no chance of going anywhere.  And I very much enjoyed that.  Am still enjoying it.  A few pics from around the house today:

Notes on a Pending Blizzard, February 5, 2010

We're likely to get anywhere from 2 to 22 inches of snow during the next 2 days.  Too much. My thoughts?

- I'm prepared to hibernate.  I'm reading a few books right now, I need to practice piano, and there's cooking to be done.  Turkey meatloaf on Saturday, chili and buffalo chicken dip for Super Bowl Sunday.

- Speaking of Sunday, Go SAINTS.  I have money riding on this game.

- Also on the schedule:  researching more about our Scotland trip this summer.   Plane tickets are purchased and we are in the final stages of booking transport, tours, etc. 

- I am NOT studying this weekend. I have been doing that almost every weekend for a year and this weekend I'm taking a break.  Oooo rah.

- Much as I love my current job, I would prefer to cook for a living.  Just couldn't stand the hours.  

- I've discovered (again) listening to books while I'm driving.  Right now I'm halfway through "The Boleyn Inheritance," sequel to "The Other Boleyn Girl."  It's awesome listening, particularly for a former history scholar. 

- Also in progress:  Breaking Dawn (the last of the Twilight quad), The Road (didn't see the movie), a few books on India, Scotland, Whiskey, Modoc (an elephant love story), a book on penquins, a book on seahorses, and a couple'a poetry books (including the amazing Paul Guest).

- I never had ADD as a kid but, boy, do I have it now.  My attention span is 10 minutes max, and I have to have 25 things going at a time.  Except conversations. And TV.  Noise.  I don't need that very much.

- People around here ask me if I'm REALLY a Saints fan when I'm walking around with my Number 9 jersey on.  Ummmm, nah.  I just decided to spend $50 on a shirt because it has a fleur-de-lis on it.  But here's the real deal:  I had an awesome four-day weekend in March of 2005, right before the summer Katrina hit.  There were some amazing women involved, and it was a beautiful city that I didn't get to see enough of.  I resolved to see more.  And then, five months later, it was destroyed by Katrina.  That's right about when I threw my devotion and football loyalty behind The Saints. Whatever happens, they are the winners! 

Happy Birthday, Robbie!

Today's Robbie Burns' birthday, but we celebrated yesterday with much pomp and circumstance (and ale and scotch) as usual.  This year, I finally tried the Haggis.  In fact, several of us lost our Haggis Virginity yesterday.  It wasn't as painful as I expected.  In fact it tasted quite like corned beef hash, impossibly.   Here are pictures from the festivities and to top off an awesome day, the Saints won their playoff game. 

  

George's Judgement Day

I had the misfortune, or pleasure, or honor . . . honestly not sure what to call it . . . of attending George Whitmore's Memorial Service this evening. He was the father of one of my best friends in life (she being a canoe trip member!).  He was my divorce attorney.  He was also a great wit, a huge personality, a brilliant mind, a lover of Airedale Terriers.  And he died this week at age 73 which is really way too early considering. 

Here's one of my favorite George stories. I find it hard to believe I wrote this six years ago, about an incident that occurred probably twice that long ago.  

St. George vs. The Bicyclist. 

Serendipitous Saturday

What an awesome flea-market kind of find I found today.  A bunch of old Irish or Irish-related LPs.  In the back room of an Irish shop near us, at $5 each. Lookie!

This one has beautiful cover art, and holds 18 songs recorded by different artists in 15 counties in Ireland.  It was produced by Martin Costello of Banshee Records based in Newark, NJ.

Next up is Folk Dance Music of Ireland with Johnny Powell and his Band.  The photo on the cover is of a cottage in Wexford.  Some of the songs include "If There Weren't Any Women in the World," "Little Burnt Potato," and "Humors of Whiskey."  Kind of has something in common with country music, don'tcha think?  My woman left, I can't cook to save my life, I'm drowning my sorrows.  

Next up is Come to the Ceili:  Favorite Irish Dances, featuring the Gallowglass Ceili Band.  (If you weren't already aware, Ceili is pronounced KAYlee.)   Featured songs, reminding me very much of my teen years, include "I Won't Be a Nun," "Boolavogue," and "Smash the Windows."  It's got a shamrock (!) shaped cutout on the cover allowing you to preview the spiffy couple inside.  The cover:

The inside, below, notes that the Spiffy Couple (aka "Dancers") were courtesy of McNiff School of Irish Dancing, and that the musicians, "have been keeping toes tapping around Naas, County Kildare, for many a year."  And I'll bet the have, by golly gee.

The one below, A musical Taste of Ireland, has a beautiful reproduction of a watercolor print by Eric Patton on the front.  It features the singing of Paddy Noonan accompanied by the Irish Light Orchestra.  It's dated 1980.

And I can't decide which of the next two is my favorite of the lucky lot.  For those who know me, this one's very appropriate, I believe.

A closer look at some of the original songs included:

The back cover includes information on Kennedy's life and his ties to Ireland.  At bottom (out of the range of this picture) are details about the songs on the LP.  "The Ballad of Jack Kennedy" was composed in honor of President Kennedy's election.  The "Death of a Hero" is a poem "written and spoken by Irish housewife model Susan Murray of Liexlip, Co. Kildare" and "is reputed to have been published in every English-speaking country in the world.  Mrs. Murray, who had never written anything previously, wrote it on the day of President Kennedy's funeral."  Wow. (That's her picture at upper right.)
As cool as the Shamrock Kennedy Tribute album is, I think I do like the last one best of all.  It is a recording of Eamon de Valera's March 17, 1947 Broadcast to America.  Eamon was perhaps THE most important person in Ireland's 20th century.   Here's the cover:

His history as of 1947 is inside.  You can also see that this is a true, original type of  78 RPM Record Album, with multiple pages (sleeves).  It pre-dates vinyl. 

Here's some detail of the label (there are two albums marked Parts One through Four):

And as a bonus, there was an extra disc in the back of this album, unsleeved, containing four hits by the Mickey Carton Orchestra.  Here's one side:

And here's t'other:

Wow, sorry about that flash glare.  Anyway, awesome find, this whole collection was.  And now that I appear to have a new collectible hobby, I'm heading off to eBay. 

 
  

Auld Lang Syne

OK, so 2009 wasn't so bad.  It wasn't so good, either but I hesitate to say good riddance to it lest that gesture jinx me for next year.  So, hmmmm, a little reminiscing?

January:   This was the month my fascination for taking pictures of dead birds was born.  And my favorite guy turned 200. 

February:  My fashion sense sunk to a whole new low.  Previously just oblivious to trends and labels, in this month, I took active steps to defy good taste.  On the bright side, there was our Burns Supper, always a highlight of the winter if not the whole year.  And a Sussex Spaniel won Best In Show at Westminster.

March:  Oh, the High Holy Month.  Parades galore, the Philly Phlower Show, more dead bird photo opportunities,  and my abduction by aliens a pipe and drum band.  

April:  Wow, this was a big month.  I got new shoes, went to band camp,  and finally got a photo published in a major magazine.  Look out Nat'l Geo, here I come!

May:  I made my debut with the band!  This might also have been the month during which I accidentally put the litterbox lid on backwards one morning after cleaning the box, which meant that the door (aka the only opening) was facing the wall in back and couldn't be accessed, and when I got home from work about 12 hours later both cats were sitting in front of the box with their back paws crossed looking at me saying "YOU IDIOT" with their laser beam stares.  But I didn't get any pictures of that so you'll just have to imagine how funny it was. 

June:  I think it was around this point that the scales for 2009 really started tipping away from the "Sweet" side to the "Sucks" side. I did get another good dead bird photo.  Actually, we had a bunch of good days on that vacation but it is still that illness I got that defines the week for me. 

July:  Oh, wait.  There WAS a month worse than June.  I was still sick, we cancelled our summer family vacation, our band came in last in our first competition,  I fainted after a hot parade.  That is all. 

August:  Technically, I got my new car in July (the 31st) but didn't begin enjoying it until August.  Here, at December 31st, I'm about to turn 15K miles . . .

September:  We're tipping back a little towards the "Sweet" side this month.  Murphy adopted us, for one thing.  She is still here daily, but after a miserable failed attempt at getting her to be an indoor car, we have decided to continue living on Murphy's terms, with her firmly outdoors.  And no thanks to Facebook, I was reconnected with a friend I'd thought long as-well-as-dead.  Miraculous  Finally, a new tradition was started. 

October:  Well for starters, I died.  Then I went to Virginia for a few days. And then I died again.   

November:  Perhaps the toughest month of this year.  But I met some really awesome people and shared some very important stuff and gained heaps and heaps of wisdom.  These are the times that give us the most reason to be Thankful.  As I truly am. 

December:  Fast month, busy month, but I managed to enjoy it for the intended reasons without going crazy.  And another new tradition was born! 

So, good times were had, but on the whole?  This sums it up:

So 2010?  We're ready for you.

BRING IT.