Is This Your Lucky Day?
Mar 17th 2008
Nicole JordanGoddess Readers Speak Out
I’m proud to claim some Irish roots in my family. There’s even a castle in Ireland originally owned by one of my ancestors. And my wonderful jumper is an Irish Thoroughbred named Irish Outlaw.
Yet I never have been overly fond of St. Paddy’s Day, ever since I was traumatized in the fourth grade by a boy who tried to pinch me because I forgot to wear green to school. When I ran away to avoid his cruelty, I got caught by the hall monitor for running and was sent to the principal’s office. My first time ever. To this day I have never recovered from the humiliation.
Maybe it’s my Irish heritage, but I have a great knack for finding four leaf clovers. (At least I did before moving to Utah, where it’s so dry, there isn’t much clover to be found.) Give me a green field, and I can usually pick at least a half dozen clovers with four leaves. Isn’t that supposed to bring you good luck? Funny how all those clovers never seemed to influence my luck!
So today’s blog is about stories we have about all things Irish – St. Patrick’s Day and the Luck o’ the Irish in particular. And since my third Courtship Wars romance, TO SEDUCE A BRIDE, will be out next Tuesday 3/25, I’ll be drawing a name from all of today’s participants (other than resident Goddesses, of course). The (lucky?) winner will receive a signed copy of TO SEDUCE A BRIDE hot off the presses.
Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s day? Does any Irish Luck ever rub off on you? Have you any good Irish stories to share with your fellow Goddesses?
70 Comments »
Kasey on 17 Mar 2008 at 12:14 am #
St. Patty’s day is one of those holidays I like, but usually forget about until it is upon me. I usually wear green, because I own a lot of green clothes. It is my favorite color and since I own tons of green clothes it is easy to dress for St. Patrick’s day. However, I only found out a couple of years ago that I do have some Irish blood in me. My sisters and I were visiting with my grandpa and grandma right before St. Patrick’s day and they mentioned we had a little Irish in us. I looked at them and said something along the lines of, “Seriously! Now I feel I have a valid reason to celebrate this year.” I did celebrate that year too.
This year I don’t really have any plans to celebrate. I just want to finish my the draft of my last thesis chapter tomorrow. I am getting pretty close to done.
Oh, and Nicole….I am so looking forward to your last book. I loved the first two books and am really excited to read Lillian’s story.
Margaret on 17 Mar 2008 at 5:45 am #
I guess Kasey has all my green clothes. I don’t have anything green. Well, a bit of fabric in the sewing room. But it’s for quilts. I wear black all the time because it’s easy to co-ordinate and I am lazy. I just read a book in which the heroine did the same thing. I felt redeemed. LOL
I think I’m Irish only on March 17. I don’t really know. When I was into genealogy research, I couldn’t get past my great-grandparents in Arkansas. It seems that courthouses burnt down with alarming frequency back then. I do think I have a bit of Welsh and Scottish. Possibly English. Who knows what else? I reckon I am a proud American Heinz 57 kind of mutt.
I am, however, proud to be a Texan to the core.
Top o’ the morning from Margaret
Lisa H on 17 Mar 2008 at 6:28 am #
Congratulations on your new book, Nicole!
I am 100% Italian, so St. Patrick’s Day has never been big in my house, however, Ido try to wear green.
One thing I love to indulge in is the Shamrock shake at McDonald’s. I hope I can get one today!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all you Irish goddesses!
Karen Hawkins on 17 Mar 2008 at 7:05 am #
My mother’s family came from Ireland way back when and they have the sense of humor to prove it.
Lisa H, I’m going to have to check out that Shamrock shake! Sounds much more interesting than green beer (shudder!).
cail on 17 Mar 2008 at 7:47 am #
st. paddy’s day is one of my favorites. i’m currently decked out in green, not 100 yards from the NYC st. paddy’s day parade.
my minor in college was irish studies, and i took 3 yrs of irish gaelic. my friends from my minor and i created a fake fraternity one drunken irish evening and i even have a hand made ‘fall rush’ shirt that says ‘Everyone Loves an Irish Girl’ in gaelic.
that being said, i wouldn’t say i’m particularly lucky, but i do get by.
amy1242 on 17 Mar 2008 at 7:55 am #
I don’t think there is any Irish blood in me or my dh (I’m mostly Polish, he’s mostly German). But every St. Paddy’s Day, we stop what we’re doing at lunchtime, to go out for corn beef and cabbage and green beer. It’s a tradition we started 5 years ago when our youngest child started school. We always have fun and look forward to it. It feels like we’re getting away with something, while the kids are in school, learning stuff! I finish up with an Irish coffee before heading home to start on supper. It’s always an interesting evening meal with the kids, including green mashed potatoes as a must. Obviously, I look for any reason to celebrate. It’s all good!!
KariE on 17 Mar 2008 at 8:02 am #
I try to wear green on St. Pattys Day but, like Kasey, it creaps up on me. Like today, I dropped my son off at “school” and other parents were bringing in green cupcakes and green cookies and such. I had no idea why. Then it dawned on me. I hope my son doesn’t get pinched. He doesn’t have a drop of green on him (thanks to me).
I don’t think that I have the luck of the Irish. At. All. Today’s first example: My husband called me 10 min ago and told me that he thinks he will be losing his job by the end of the week because his brother (who runs the plumbing division at their company) got laid off this morning. Not a lucky sign.
But I am super excited that the third book is only a week away!!! Yeah, Nicole!!
PJ on 17 Mar 2008 at 8:04 am #
I’m a geneological mutt but I do have a fair bit of Irish in me. Maybe that’s why March seems to be my lucky month. I’ve celebrated St. Patrick’s Day for as long as I can remember. I always wear green and I always make corned beef, cabbage and potatoes. Yummmm. When I was in college we always hit the Pretzel Bell (local restaurant and bar) for green beer, hot black bread and real butter. I’ve spent St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago and Atlanta but would love to experience it someday in Savannah and NYC.
Saturday night I went to a rip roaring fun St. Patty’s Day party at a neighbor’s house. I passed on the Irish beer but had a really good time with the green daiquiries!
An Irish Blessing for Friends:
Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!
cail on 17 Mar 2008 at 8:11 am #
oh, does anyone have a good corned beef recipe? i was thinking of making it for dinner guests tonight.
Debora Dennis on 17 Mar 2008 at 8:13 am #
Not much Irish in this German girl’s bloodline, but haven’t I heard that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day? As far as I’m concerned any day I can partake of green beer, Irish soda bread and corned beef & cabbage is a good day to me!
I’m right up there with Kasey when it comes to my wardrobe - next to purple, green is my favorite color and have a closet full of clothes to prove it- even down to my shamrock socks!
Have a great day everyone.
SuzyQ on 17 Mar 2008 at 8:33 am #
Yup! I’m wearing green today and I had a green breakfast (our company ordered in green bagels this morning). Nope, I’m not Irish but I’ve always celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. I used to march in the NYC parade when I was in grammer school.
As for luck, not much here. I have only found a four leaf clover once when I was little, and I still have it pressed in an old encylopedia. Maybe if I get rid of it, my luck will change - LOL!
Lisa - I love the Shamrock shakes too. I’ll be going there at lunch to get one today!
Kari - hope everything goes OK with your DH!
Emmiebee on 17 Mar 2008 at 8:40 am #
Another Irish-by-St.Patty’s-Day-Magic-Only girl here, but I do have a green sweater! And yesterday, I helped my four year old niece set a “leprechan trap” made out of a shoebox, tinfoil, four leaf clover-coverd wire, and a chocolate “coin” trail leading to the trap from the front door. My DH expained that the tinfoil blocked his magical rays. Science geek. But my niece was the cutest thing ever- she was so excited! I told her if she caught one, she had to give him a kiss in exchange for a wish, then let him go. Hey, fair is fair- he is a busy man today. I can’t wait to ask her about it tonight and find out what my sister-in-law came up with.
Top ‘O The Mornin’ to Everyone!
-Emmiebee
doglady on 17 Mar 2008 at 8:45 am #
Erin go bragh! and Top of the morning to you! Does anyone know the proper response to that greeting? My Dad was half English and half Welsh. My mother is half Cherokee and half Creek BUT with a maiden name like Jones she says there has to be an Irishman in there somewhere. I have to wear navy and khaki at Wal-Mart but I will be wearing my shamrock pin to avoid those traumatic pinches. So sorry, Nicole. However, I LOVE the first two in your trilogy and I am really looking forward to the third.
I will be eating corned beef tonight. Wish I didn’t have to work tomorrow. My brother is having his annual St. Paddy’s Day bash tonight with great food, lots of Guinness and all Celtic music all night. With a name like James Keener he feels the Irish more than the other brother and I. Apparently Keener is an Irish name that at least one male has every generation in my Mom’s family.
Have fun at the parades. Positive thoughts your way Kari. The luck of the Irish to all!
KariE on 17 Mar 2008 at 8:48 am #
Thanks, Ladies!
Karen Hawkins on 17 Mar 2008 at 8:54 am #
Wait. You can MAKE corned beef? I thought you had to buy it. Pray tell how to do that! I’d love to give it a go.
And man, I hadn’t thought of the Celtic music. I haven’t listened to any for a while and it’s time to get back into the grove.
Btw, this isn’t Irish, but it’s close . . . Gannon always goes to the Highland Games at Grandfather Mountain, NC in July. They are HUGE and I’ve always, always wanted to go. So, this year, I’m grabbing my kids and dh and we’re making the trek. We ought to have a Goddess Meeting and see how many of us can make it!
The link for the planning site is http://www.gmhg.org
I feel the luck o’ all things Celtic coming on now!
PS Did you guys know that Guinness turns 200 next year? There’s a big party in Dublin in honor of it.
Claudia Dain on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:03 am #
Thanks for the blog, Nicole! I was wearing a red sweater, but I ran straight to my closet and switched it out for a green one. Whew. That was close!
Celtic music as my soundtrack sounds like the way to spend the day. I’m going to iTunes and see what I can find.
I’m not Irish, but it’s a fun holiday. I love any reason to celebrate. Life’s too short not to party, even without green beer.
Nicole Jordan on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:09 am #
>>>I just want to finish my the draft of my last thesis chapter tomorrow. I am getting pretty close to done.
Whoohoo, Kasey! That is so great about you being that close. Best of luck!
And KariE, sending lots of luck wishes your way for your dh!!
>>>I reckon I am a proud American Heinz 57 kind of mutt.
LOL, Margaret. I’m pretty much that, too.
Cail, will you give us a greeting or something in Gaelic? How do you say “I love you”?
Nicole Jordan on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:13 am #
All this talk of food is making me hungrey! Green shakes, mashed potatoes, bagels, beer, cb&c. Love it!
And yes, you can cook corned beef. In fact an Irish friend just had a big ski party Thurs to celebrate and made the best cb&c I’ve ever tasted. We skied all day, then came in and ate her fab food. Oh, and we put a dollop of green food coloring in our white wine, so we had green wine. It wasn’t easy skiing out of her cabin that evening since we were so full and mellow.
But Cail and KarenH, I don’t have a clue how you cook it!
Nicole Jordan on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:16 am #
PJ, that is a lovely, lovely poem! Thanks for sharing.
And Emmieb, love your leprechan trap story. That’s just precious. You’ll have to tell us how your niece fared today.
Glad to have spared you the trauma, Claudia, lol. I don’t have much kelly green in my closet, although I have a lot of teal greens. So I went out and bought myself a sparkly shamrock/bead necklace that I’ll save for future St. Paddy’s days.
cail on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:28 am #
of course i will.
Hello (to one person): Dia Duit (pronouced jia ditch)
Goodbye: Slán go fóill
I love you: Tá mo chroí istigh ionat (litterarlly, my heart is inside you)
my dear: A chuisle mo chroí (the plus of my heart)
PJ on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:40 am #
I cook corned beef in my pressure cooker covered with water and pickling spices. It’s fork tender and oh so delicious. My neighbor, who hosted Saturday night’s St. Paddy’s Day dinner party, cooked hers overnight in a slow cooker. Very yummy. The important thing to remember with corned beef is that (unless using a pressure cooker) you want to cook it low and slow to insure tenderness.
PJ on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:41 am #
Nicole, I haven’t read the first two books in your trilogy yet. I bought them but I’m waiting for next week’s book to come out so I can read them back to back. Can’t wait!
Karen Rose on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:41 am #
Nicole, LOL!! I was also traumatized by pinchers in kindergarten. I still remember it, everytime I wear green.
I am wearing green today, but it’s an accident. I got dressed in the dark this morning because DH was still asleep and I had book stuff floating around in my head. I pulled the first sleeveless shirt I could find and voila! It was green.
Not a 4-leafed clover, but pretty statistically remarkable as I only own one green thing.
PJ on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:42 am #
K Hawk - I have out of town commitments the week before and the week after but I’m going to do my best to make it to the Highland Games this summer!
Sabrina Jeffries on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:52 am #
I’m part Irish (an eighth, I think?), yet I always seem to forget St. Patrick’s Day, especially now that we’ve moved to NC. In New Orleans, we always went to the big St. Patrick’s Day parade with my husband’s friends (his best friend’s last name is Sullivan, so there you go *G*), and I used to enjoy that SO much. But here there’s no special celebration that I know of, so I tend to forget. Now that you’ve reminded me, I’ll be sure to wear green today!
Kay on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:57 am #
KariE, I’ll try to send all of my good luck your way today.
Congrats. Kasey. Cheers coming your way from the Great White North–yes, it is SNOWING again in MN, and it isn’t green.
Our family has a tradition of green eggs & ham on St.Pats day. Since my teenager is most surly in the morning, we will have it for dinner. I think I’ll add green mashed potatoes to that and the green fruit salad (green grapes, honeydew melon and kiwi) and see what the kids think.
And yes, I am in green today– a green sweater I just had cleaned, thinking I could pack it away for spring. I should know better, LOL.
FreshEChelle on 17 Mar 2008 at 9:57 am #
My fav St. Pat’s/Irish memory - my 1st St. Pat’s Day Parade while working in NY (block from 5th Ave - I should have known better), heading to the deli for lunch and saw some lovely underage drunks getting into a “pub-worthy” brawl with bloody noses and flying fist. On the way back to work, I saw the same group being arrested. Ah, Erin Go Bragh. Yeah, I’m a little Irish.
Cail can attest I’m sure that many of the NY parade goers aren’t doing us proud.
cail on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:06 am #
its starting now about 12 blocks south of me. i’ll let you guys know if i can hear the wail of the bagpipes from my office later…
so far i haven’t noticed any drunks, but then, it is a monday. traffic was terrible this AM getting to work though, btwn the parade blockades and most of 2nd ave being closed in midtown due to that collapsed crane…
i miss college when it was acceptable to go to the pub at 9am to have guinness for breakfast and watch my friend’s bagpipe teacher’s band perform. i vaguely remember calling my dad around 1pm to wish him a happy st paddy’s day before i “got too drunk”. i think i managed to speak to him in english that day… we had been conversing in irish for most of the morning.
lady o'dawgfan on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:07 am #
Happy St. Paddy’s Day to everyone!! I am wearing my green sweater and green socks and a matching green scrunchie to catch my hair back out of my face while I work.
According to my mother, I have a little Irish in me, which would explain the red in my hair and my fair skin and freckles. We have always celebrated the day with cb&c. Yummmmm!!!
Anyone got a Blarnystone to kiss?? Howsabout a “Blarny-FROS??” Heh
Nicole Jordan on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:14 am #
>>>I love you: Tá mo chroí istigh ionat (litterarlly, my heart is inside you)
Oh, my word. That is so beautifully romanctic. Makes MY heart melt. Thanks, Cail!
Hope you survive the parade! And I’m so sorry about that terrible crane accident.
elsiehogarth on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:19 am #
Hi Nicole!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Being born and raised, in NYC, and a Catholic-I have always celebrated St.Pat’s Day. When we were younger my Mom use to take us to the Parade. Just like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. My Mom,last night, was preparing her stuffed cabbage, for tonight, and I made soda bread with lots of raisins. Good Eats!
Nicole Jordan on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:22 am #
Green eggs and ham sounds like such fun, Kay!
And I’m gonna show my ignorance here…. what does Erin Go Bragh mean, Fresh? I’ve heard it bunches of times but don’t know what it means.
LadyD, Blarny-FROS is a great idea, lol. We definitely should get one.
KarenR, your sixth sense must be Irish. And Sabrina, I sure would miss all the fun celebrations in New Orleans!
Caren Crane on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:25 am #
Nicole, I have no Irish blood that we can trace, though my mother says everyone in the South must have some in there somewhere. *g* The last branches of the family seem to have hit the New World during the Revolutionary War, so we’re pretty much with the early arrivers (and native Americans), rather than the later immigrants.
That being the case, we didn’t pay much mind to St. Patrick’s Day in my childhood. I was coached by my family to wear green to avoid getting pinched, but we didn’t have a special celebration. I have a friend of Irish descent whose family ate ALL GREEN FOOD for their special SPD celebration. Green potatoes, green carrots, rolls made from green dough. She said it was sometimes challenging to enjoy, say, green gravy. Ack!
Now, my younger sister does it up big every year because it’s my niece’s birthday. So we all have to remember it now and make sure to send cards and gifts. Yes, there have been many green birthday cakes. *g*
Lisa H on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:42 am #
Just got back from McDonalds (in Elmira, NY) - all the Shamrock shakes are sold out…this happens every year…I wonder why they don’t order more?
FreshEChelle on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:44 am #
Srroy Nicole, I don’t have any idea what it means just see it everywhere this time of year. But I’m sure they’re are some goddess and Mt Oly climbers who know.
cail on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:57 am #
Nic, Ireland forever (i think litterally until the end of time or for eternity)
PJ on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:58 am #
Erin Go Bragh…from Wikipedia.
Speakers of the Irish language assume that the phrase is a corruption of the Irish “Éire go brách”, or “Éireann go Brách”, which would be pronounced /ˈeːrʲə gə brɑːx/. The term “brách” is equivalent to “eternity” or “end of time”, meaning the phrase may be translated literally as: “Ireland until eternity” or “Ireland until the end (of time)”.
It should be noted that the Scottish Gaelic phrase “Èirinn gu bràth,” which literally means “Ireland until the Day of Judgement,” is pronounced almost identically to the Anglicized phrase. It may seem surprising that a phrase which has come to so strongly represent Ireland could have come not from Irish (Gaeilge) but instead from Scottish (Gàidhlig). However, a Scottish song from the 19th century entitled “Erin-go-Bragh” may have had something to do with this unusual progression. It tells the story of a Highland Scot who is mistaken for an Irishman.
Ronlyn on 17 Mar 2008 at 11:01 am #
I don’t celebrate St. Patty’s day nearly as often now as I did back in college. But, I do have some green glittery stickers on my hand (since I forgot to wear green today) and plan on having corned beef & cabbage for dinner tonight. My Dh is Irish, so he’s thrilled. *G*
I LOVED Ireland when I was travelling and kissed the Blarney stone, toured several castles…and in general just loved the magic of Ireland. *sigh* I want to go back.
zambonigirl on 17 Mar 2008 at 11:19 am #
Yeah, I got nothin’. I’m really happy that the book is coming out, though! I thoroughly enjoyed the first two, so I know I’ll love this one.
I really think that the Earth Day people and the Green Beer people need to band forces and turn St. Paddy’s day into a sort of “Green Day” where you can get sloshed, listen to Flogging Molly, and plant a tree all at the same time. They totally need to hire me on their marketing teams. The Ducks need to hire me to interview their players after the games, too. Why do people ask such dumb questions? “How does it feel to be back on the ice in such a great winning game?” It feels horrible. Tell them it feels horrible!
Sorry, where was I? Oh. Right. Drink green beer, think green thoughts, do some recycling, and congratulate me because I just adopted a new cat. Her name’s Daisy. She’d look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two.
Sandy "Snik" White on 17 Mar 2008 at 11:38 am #
I’ve got some Irish in me, but I am a little bit of everything. Luck? Not so much, in fact, I spent this morning in a dentists office getting oral surgery…I am now the proud owner of a gaping hole in my mouth and enough pain meds to keep the folks on Celebrity Rehab happy for weeks. But thankfully, I remembered to wear green this morning…completely by accident. And the rest of my days plans pretty much involve me, a movie, the previously mentioned pain killers and my comfy bed. Happy St Patty’s to you all though and drink some green beer for me!
Kathy/Cookiedough on 17 Mar 2008 at 11:44 am #
I have some Irish somewhere back there on my dad’s side.
I’m at a friend’s house right now looking after her flu-ish daughter. Her mom is from Ireland, AND it is her birthday today. As her husband picked me up, I told him Samantha and I would bake mommy a birthday cake. yummy chocolate with 7 min frosting.
must go sit with cutie pie while she watches Little Bear…
Julia London on 17 Mar 2008 at 11:47 am #
When I lived on the east coast, St. Patrick’s Day was a BIG deal and lots and lots of parades/fesitvals, etc were always in the making.
Now I live in Texas where everyone comes from Mexico, or from Europe via the Mississippi river crossing and you know that the genes got muddied there. So not a lot of Irish around. But everyone is in green today!
As for my fam, we can trace back a few generations here in Texas, but then the trail runs suspiciously cold…who knows what the heritage is, but we think it is English.
Julia London on 17 Mar 2008 at 11:48 am #
Hey Kathy/cookie, I missed the st. patrick day birthday by a few minutes! Mine is tomorrow. Close enough to party like it is 1994, but not quite on the mark.
anneriailin on 17 Mar 2008 at 11:57 am #
I have alot of Welsh and English blood in my veins but I’m not sure about Irish blood.
My motto about luck has always been….
IF IT WEREN’T FOR BAD LUCK, I’D HAVE NO LUCK AT ALL!!
LOL
seton on 17 Mar 2008 at 12:04 pm #
Other than wearing a “Kiss me, I’m Irish” button when I was young and going to one of the many overcrowded bars that day, I dont celebrate it.
Kasey on 17 Mar 2008 at 12:19 pm #
Thanks Nicole - I am excited to get it at least written. Hopefully my advisor doesn’t make me revise it too much.
Kay - Thanks, too! I live in Minnesota too, so I know it has started snowing here again too. I just saw the weather and it looks like it might get nasty overnight.
I forgot about shamrock shakes! I might have to head over to McD’s today and pick one up. I love those.
Yasmin on 17 Mar 2008 at 12:32 pm #
Well I am pretty sure I dont have an ounce of Irish blood in me. The only time we tried to make corned beef at home we did something wrong. It came out soooo dry. We probably cooked it too fast and on too high a temp.
In family we dont really celebrate it now. We used to when we were kids with my mom making green cookies or cupcakes to take to school. Today I am wearing my only green shirt. This is my fave baby-t themed with characters from Dr. Seuss
Gannon on 17 Mar 2008 at 12:35 pm #
I’m proud to say I have a wee bit of Irish blood in me. Hey, with a name like Gannon, you bet! I always wear green on St. Patrick’s Day, but since I have green eyes, I’d be safe if I forgot.
I LOVE Celtic music, jewelry, etc. It always brings me luck!
Here’s a little blessing for everyone on Mt. Oly:
An Old Irish Blessing
May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life’s passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!
Sláinte!
colinfirthfan on 17 Mar 2008 at 12:46 pm #
The only reason I knew it was St Paddy’s day was because my son insisted on wearing green so he wouldn’t get pinched. The 4 year old has to wear a Transformer tee - so no question of it being green. I didn’t bother… too sleepy. I still haven’t adjusted to the time change. Growing old really sucks - though it could be that we were watching the movie “Wild Hogs” until 11:30 PM and then I was reading Three Cups of Tea (fabulous book until 12:30 AM!
Gail on 17 Mar 2008 at 12:56 pm #
First, I am envious hearing that Karen put on the first “sleeveless shirt” she could find. It is a nasty, blustery, rainy St. Patrick’s Day here where I live, and I am sitting at home wrapped in my cozy sweatpants and sweatshirt. I’m tempted to light a fire in the fireplace.
Second, I have very little love for St. Patrick’s Day because I am a teacher. I am the one who usually has to put up with a whole day of asking kids not to pinch each other. Luckily, our school is on Spring Break this week, so I get a break from the pinchers this year. I’m already dreading April Fool’s Day. That is probably a teacher’s second favorite day! I usually have quite my fill of April Fool’s jokes from my student “angels.”
Nicole Jordan on 17 Mar 2008 at 1:23 pm #
Julia!!!! Happy Birthday tomorrow!! It’s probably good that you missed SP’s Day by a few hours, or you might feel shortchanged every year, having to share the celebrations.
Elsie, your mom’s stuffed cabbage sounds delish! And CarenC, even green gravy would appeal to me since I love gravy.
PJ and Cail, thanks for the great explanation of Erin GB! Very interesting.
Kathy/Cookiedough on 17 Mar 2008 at 1:26 pm #
Julia- Happy Birthday tomorrow!
I’ll do it again tomorrow as well!
I’m wearing green pants today- but only becaue I knew I was going to be run off my feet and wanted to be comfy in oh so chic velour pants. ewwww!lol
Nicole Jordan on 17 Mar 2008 at 1:30 pm #
Ronlyn, since your dh is Irish, was he able to tell you all the great places to see in Ireland? My friends just got back from New Zealand, and since her bro lives there, she got to see some spectacular out of the way sights most tourists don’t know about.
Zamboni, you make me laugh! I think you should definitely hire you.
So very sorry about your surgery, Snik! Hope you feel better fast, and that you have lots of good books to keep you company.
And that’s so sweet of you to look after your friends sick daughter, CookieD.
Anner, sometimes I feel that way too about luck, lol. Hope some of our fellow goddesses good luck rubs off on you?
Nicole Jordan on 17 Mar 2008 at 1:37 pm #
Seton, I want a “Kiss me I’m Irish” button, too. Although I just saw a button on line that said “I’m not Irish but kiss me anyway.” Yasmin, that would work for you, I think *smile*.
I’ve always loved your name, Gannon! And thanks for that lovely Old Irish blessing. Does Slainte mean a toast to you?
>>>Growing old really sucks
No kidding, Colinff, lol. So what is this fab book, “Three Cups of Tea?” Is it for kids or adults or both?
Oh, Gail, I can sure see why SP’s and April Fools would be awful days for teachers! And I’ll bet KarenR can sure sympathize. Best of luck with the little hellions on ANY day. I do so admire teachers! I would probably be put in jail for child abuse if I had to go more than a day or two doing what you do.
Ann in IL on 17 Mar 2008 at 1:47 pm #
St.Pat’s day was my Dad’s birthday.
Mom would say he was the only man she knew that had a German name, an Irish birthday and a Jewish nose.
He would have been 87 today.
Mom’s funeral was 20 years ago today, so the day has lost some of it’s sparkle for us. I still make corned beef with her recipe, but it’s just not the same.
Kim on 17 Mar 2008 at 1:50 pm #
I’m not Irish and don’t celebrate at all. But by chance I did put on a white and green shirt today. So I must have some luck, right?
Today’s pretty big in our community though. In South Bend they temporarily rename a road St Patrick road for a few weeks. All the bars have green beer, there’s a parade and they die the St. Joe river green. Its pretty cool.
amy1242 on 17 Mar 2008 at 2:19 pm #
I just got back from a cb&c lunch with green beer and irish coffee! Delish!! The snow is flying and I really don’t feel like getting the green potatoes started. But, gotta make this fun for the kids as well. Last year I did green pork chops too. Kids couldn’t get past the color so I think I’ll skip that part. As far as luck goes…maybe I’ll get lucky tonight!
It COULD happen! (Unfortunately, it’s dh’s volleyball night, so I’m thinking positive. All that green beer will just make him sleepy though.)
Gannon on 17 Mar 2008 at 2:20 pm #
Happy Birthday tomorrow, Julia!
Yes, Nicole, sláinte does mean ‘toast’ or ‘cheers’.
Ronlyn on 17 Mar 2008 at 2:57 pm #
I visited Ireland long before I met DH. I did get to see some out of the way places though. I hooked up with a couple friends that moved there after doing an exchange program with our University. It was great fun bumming around like a local…up until I opened my mouth anyway. We went to the Errin Isles and were driven around by a cart pulled by an ox. LOL. And I saw a walrus in the bay.
Really, sooo many wonderful memories.
Judy F on 17 Mar 2008 at 3:31 pm #
I am very tiny bit Irish But I wore a green shirt and shamrock earring today so that shoule count. My boss brought in shamrock cookies from the bakery. They were so good.
Laurie on 17 Mar 2008 at 4:02 pm #
There’s a lot of Irish in my blood. My mother’s family came from County Wicklow.
Happy St. Paddy’s Day, everyone!
Thank you, Nicole, for the contest - I would love to have my name in the hat!
limecello on 17 Mar 2008 at 4:23 pm #
I have to say I’m quite fond of St. Patrick’s day - I think because everyone just gets so excited about it. Everyone’s a little bit Irish today! In reality, I’m about as far from Irish as one can get. My parents are Taiwanese, and I’m pure bred ethnically Han back to the dawn of time, really. Generally, the 17th is a good day. I distinctly remember taking finals on the 17th in college [we were on quarters] - but get togethers with friends made it worth it. The best was cramming 30+ people into a dorm room, making so many potato pancakes the smoke alarm went off - and the fire department came. [The boys dismantled the alarm - and the firefighters were not amused.] Oh, memories. I’m off to dinner with friends soon - but this year none of us are cooking ;-).
To celebrate today, I wore green [which I never do] - and I even dressed up to go teach [b/c I thought I’d make it to job #2 @ court]. It’s also the first official day of my spring break, so, I’d say today is pretty lucky all around!
Jane on 17 Mar 2008 at 5:06 pm #
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. I’m not Irish, but since we live in NYC, we celebrate by watching the parade on tv. I’ve never seen the parade live, but maybe one day I will. We’re going to have corned beef, potatoes and cabbage for dinner. I don’t have any Irish stories to share, but I’ll share some green beer with you guys.
Margaret on 17 Mar 2008 at 5:18 pm #
Sabrina said “Now I live in Texas where everyone comes from Mexico, or from Europe via the Mississippi river crossing and you know that the genes got muddied there.”
But you do get to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, Sabrina. And that involves lots of cerveza and tequila. Plus nachos, salsa and quesadillas. Yum.
Su amigo, Margaret
Meg on 17 Mar 2008 at 5:28 pm #
Well, I just got back from the HUGE St Patrick’s Day celebration in Savannah! It lasted all weekend!! I had such a great time and I had so much fun! While I am not sure how much Irish there is in my bloodlines, I know there is some. And ever since I reached an age to where I could celebrate apropriately *G*, I have liked this holiday. Happy St Paddy’s day to all!
Nicole, I can’t wait for the new book. Like PJ, I have the first two but I am waiting to read them until I can read all three of them together.
Can’t wait!
Margaret on 17 Mar 2008 at 5:53 pm #
I’ve been watching Riverdance off and on this afternoon. Sigh. Wish I could see it in person. Never worked out.
And to go to sleep tonite you can play “An Irish Lullaby” found at http://www.fiftiesweb.com/stpats/toora.htm
As cail said: A chuisle mo chroí Only make that plural.
RachelG on 17 Mar 2008 at 6:29 pm #
I’ve got Irish blood and have drank my share of green beer. I am going out tonight, but an apple martini is more my speed these days.
rachelg
Nicole Jordan on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:30 pm #
Thanks for all the great stories, poems, and enlightenment, Goddesses!
I’ll draw a name tomorrow morning!
NicoleJ
catslady on 17 Mar 2008 at 10:59 pm #
Apparently I don’t have it - we went to a gambling casino today - won nothing and lost too
Nicole Jordan on 18 Mar 2008 at 10:16 am #
So the winner of the random drawing is……
Caren Crane!
Caren, I just e-mailed you asking for your snail addy. As soon I hear from you, I’ll put your signed copy of TO SEDUCE A BRIDE in the mail to you.
Thanks for all the great participation in yesterday’s blog, lovely goddesses. And there will be plenty more contests and drawings on Mt. Oly in the future so everyone will have lots more chances to win prizes.
NicoleJ