Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Guinness and Shamrocks and Corned Beef, Oh My!

HAPPY ST. PADDY'S* DAY!

Ah, St. Patrick's Day. Being Irish and from Chicago, it's been required since birth that I treat St. Paddy's day as a true holiday. So, I was really pumped when I realized that I would be the lucky Novel Girl to post on the actual day.

When I was little, my 100% Irish mom would dress me up in a green sweater, with a turtleneck with shamrocks on underneath, and send me off to school. At night, she'd make a big corned beef, cabbage and boiled potatoes dinner. Of course, when I got to college, it became more of a holiday involving green beer and shamrock beads to wear around my neck.

And now that I have my own kid, I've already started to brainwash him in favor of the holiday. This past Saturday afternoon, my family and I went out to a local Irish pub and listened to Irish music, watched Irish dancers and, yes, drank Guinness. And let me tell you, there's nothing funnier than seeing a toddler doing his "booty squat dance" to "Drunken Sailor."

But I love it. Love it all.

And this year is especially meaningful to me since this week, possibly on today of all days, my YA with fun Irish folklore and Celtic mythology, will be going out to editors. Can the timing be any funnier? Hopefully some of that luck of the Irish will trickle down to me!

I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Sláinte!

*It's St. PADDY's Day, not Patty. Patty is short for Patricia. Paddy is short for Patrick. Just a little random trivia for ya!

6 comments:

GreenBeanTeenQueen said...

When I lived in Chicago, March 17 was a holiday at my work and we'd take off a half day to go party (after we'd already had a St. Patrick's day party over the weekend) I'm only a little Irish, but I don't mind bringing out my Irish blood for the day! Now I'm in Missouri and the library doesn't count St. Patrick's day as a holiday to give us off. :(

Maureen Lipinski said...

GreenBean--I WISH my employer gave me today off! It's in the 70's here today--perfect green-beer-drinking weather!

Tracy Madison said...

Awesome post, Maureen...and I am wishing all the luck of the Irish (okay, maybe we can split it up?). :)

Jillian Cantor said...

Yes, luck of the Irish all around! And cool random trivia at the end. Now I feel a little bad for always making poor Patrick into a girl!

Lisa Patton said...

Where have I been? I'm just now learning about the Green River in Chicago. Thanks for educating me.

Lesley Livingston said...

Irish in Chicago on March 15. That sounds like a little verdant slice o' heaven!