Top of the Mornin' To Ya

Ahhh.... it's been a long time. My husband has thoroughly chastised me that I need to blog more. I guess he thinks it is good for me to express my "creative" side. I suppose he is right. What person shouldn't express themselves about I'm Not Fat Anymore Tattoos, Discussion On The Size of My Boobs, or the many wonders of my favorite word.

Yesterday was St. Patty's Day. A fun and much loved holiday of my husband that I have adopted and made my own. For me, growing up some odd mix of German, Scottish and mutt, St Patty's was nothing more than a day to pretend to love green and pinch people. I remember on St. Patrick's day that landed on a Sunday when I was very little. I was in my underwear, wandering around looking for my mother to put my dress on when my brothers spotted me. "NO GREEN!" they shouted and chased me down the hallway and shrieking. I still remember how much those pinches hurt (I'll make sure to tell my therapist) and you will never catch me on St Patrick's without the signature color.

We had a wonderful time yesterday. It just so happened that Dan had the day off so it really felt like a holiday. We ate corned beef and cabbage of course and I dabbled in a few new recipes. One was called Boxty, which is basically an Irish potato pancake served with Irish honey. The other one was a chocolate mashed potato cake for dessert. Sounds disgusting, right? It was delicious and will become a guaranteed tradition from now on.

I love looking up traditional cuisine from our heritage. Neither side of our families really sent down many recipes from our ancestors. I would love to know how to make a killer sauerbraten adn spaetzle from my roots in Germany or make yummy tamales from Dan's grandmother. Ok, maybe not from that mean old lady, but maybe her mother. :) But I dabble and I try to learn.

We don't normally celebrate at our house with my family, but due to certain circumstances, that's what we did this year. And I truly enjoyed preparing the meal myself and making the day special for my family.

Now back to Weight Watchers I go to moan and wail as I step upon that scale this week.


Éireann go Brách

Feeling Green

Today my kids had a St. Patrick's party at school. They ate green jello, played with green shaving cream, painted with green paint. They ate blue cupcakes. Huh? I just thought that one was weird.

I love St. Patrick's day. It is one great tradition that Dan brought to our family. My family, not being Irish, never celebrated except to dress up in green and pinch each other if we didn't. Dan's family does the whole meal and celebrates....as much as that family "celebrates". We get together and eat (which is a tradition that MY family welcomes with open arms and can jump right into). I am lucky enough to LOVE the traditional St. Patrick's day meal of corned beef and cabbage. I offer to make it year round, but Dan is stuck on eating it just for St. Patty's. I am bummed that I never get to put on a party or anything as we must trek to my Mother-in-law's house for the meal.

This means alot of long pauses. Uncomfortable silences. Talk about football. A concerted effort to NOT discuss anything, watch anything, DO anything that could possibly be of interest to me. It is a great passtime of MIL to see to it that I am not comfortable... So off we go tomorrow. But at least there is a great meal waiting for me...screw my Weight Watchers points. I'm gonna EAT! Partly because YUM! And partly because I don't want her to know I am on a diet. One more thing to criticize, ya know?

What are you all doing for St. Patrick's day??

May you always have walls for the winds,

a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire,

laughter to cheer you, those you love near you,

and all your heart might desire.

I have known many, liked not a few, loved only one, I drink to you.

May you live to be a hundred years, with one extra year to repent.

May the sound of happy music, And the lilt of Irish laughter, fill your heart with gladness, that stays forever after

May the saddest day of your future be no worse Than the happiest day of your past.

Here's a toast to your enemies' enemies!

As you slide down the banister of life,May the splinters never point in the wrong direction!