It's the day I remember my mother's late father, Donald "Mickey" McGrath, a true Irishman.
Mick took me to my first bar when I was three years old. He'd sit me on the bar while he had a few pints and talked with his buddies. It was a tradition he and I had, and we'd stop for a few pints up 'til the month he died at age 93.
Ah yes, St Paddy's day..one of two "amateur nights" in the year....where it is road-lunacy to drive anywhere after 5:00 PM unless you are just suicidal. I figure, like in years past, I will be hearing the police and fire/rescue sirens all night....from the safety of my home.
For those who celebrate in taverns and saloons, don't drive drunk...have a designated driver or take a cab...it will cost you far less than an accident, and may save a life or two. I am very fortunate that in my drinking days I hit nor harmed nor killed anyone. That was pure luck and nothing more. I still shudder when I think about it.
Need to add or ask....why do so many idiots think firing their 9 mm pistols or worse in the air is a sane practice? I hope to not be anywhere near where those bullets come down...and given the amount of it near our house, I also consider that escape pure luck, nothing more, as well. Closest call for me was one St Pat's eve when I worked late and the next morning I found multiple .30 caliber carbine expended bullets laying all around the door I left the building through. What the flip is that all about?
Considering that half the marchers in the New York St. Paddy's Day Parade are already two sheets to the wind the drinking starts well before noon, at least for that stroll.
Oh boy. This is a tough one for me...to link my favorite Irish song, since I used to sing and play guitar in a group that (for a while) specialized in Irish Pub singing.
#1 on my list I suppose. I first heard this one performed by a blind singer who played the accordion when I was in Shamrock, Ireland about 1970. He had the best Irish Tenor voice that I have ever heard.
This one was a favorite request, when we were performing in the Abbey Tavern SF by a merchant marine. The drunker the more insistent that we play it...again. Everyone in the bar was gaaaaah NOT THAT AGAIN....however since he tipped us $50 for a repeat. He would yell "PLAY JOHNSON'S SHAGGIN' MOTOR CAR". Well....Not my favorite but for $50. We were game. We would hold up the $50 bill and the crowd although sick of the song would cheer for us!!
Aridog, bullets or casings? I found a bullet in my driveway one time. It had apparently been fired into the air and fell there. It was a .38 or 9 MM. They are about the same size.
I can see finding a handful of casings where a gun was fired, but the bullets themselves would be widely dispersed, unless they had a target.
Nice looking fake green beer there, chickelit. This really is ARTS!
It makes one a bit ill just looking at it. And that tells you right there, right from the start, St. Patricks Day celebrants embark upon a series of poor decisions made willingly.
I never did drink one of those green beers. Not a matter of pride, no boast, it's just the idea of it makes me ill. (Now a plaid beer, on the other hand would be worth considering.)
Plus the beer that's dyed is swill.
I say if you're gong to bother drinking a beer then at least drink a good one, because you're giving up Coca Cola and giving up Pepsi, and giving up Ovaltine and Pineapple mixed with Orange juice and all those other refreshing beverages, so then the best beer that you like at the moment, and if the party where you are going will have only swill then take your own and take extra.
Be a sport. And being a sport does not mean joining the dummkopfs and drinking swill beer with drops of blue dye in it.
[My younger brother, bless him, emerged from a downstairs bathroom where Mum placed one of those things in the toilet water that releases a blue cleaning agent, to make the whole job of scrubbing easier, if not eliminate scrubbing entirely because Mum was always against those things and she was for anything that eliminated housework even if it turned toilet water blue. Grinning ear to ear, younger brother emerges with the the question, "know what color yellow and blue make?" Don't bless his little heat, it's already blessed, he'll blowout with blessing, he's just that precious.)
Green beer is an item that fits with candy that makes children's tongues change color. It just dyes their tongues another color and the kids like it. They go running around sticking out their awfully-colored tongues until it wears off, utterly amused with the whole idea of changing themselves.
Chickelit, you captured the essence of that exceedingly well. It is a complement to you by saying I could just barf.
I watched a video interview of the toothless fallen down drunk lead singer. Typical London drunk spewing about somethingerother. "I cudda BIN somebody" type of spew. I do not know about what exactly, he was unintelligible. Un-in-telly-jibble.
I am sort of retired from Paddy's Day these days. No more drinking. Although as Aridog said somewhere else it is one of the two amateur hour days that real drinkers avoid. Paddy's Day and New Years Eve.
On the other hand the best day to drink at an Irish Pub is the day after because regulars drink for free. You see they make so much money and so many tips on the day that it is almost like customer appreciation day when they are sobering up the day after. They know that the stone alkies will be drinking on a snowy February Tuesday so they want to show some appreciation.
Everything is pretty much ruined about Paddy's Day anyway. I will not watch the parade because the TV channel extorted the Hiberians to allow gays to march in the parade. There has been a long standing policy that no single issue group could march under their own banners. Thus no gays. But also no Right to Life. No gun control or pro second amendment. No anti death penalty. You could hold those views or do those things but you march as an individual not as a single issue. But the gay mafia put enough pressure on the advertisers and the TV that they threatened the Hibernians rice bowl so they surrendered and a gay group associated with the TV station is marching. Of course that is not enough and Comrade De Blasio and a bunch of other politicians are not marching because they want every gay group that wants to march to be in the parade. I assume they want to see a float with leprechauns shoving emerald green dyed cucumbers up their ass.
Comrade De Blasio is nothing if not consistent. He showed up fifteen minutes late for Mass and started glad handing and talking as he walked in to the middle of the Mass. The Cardinal didn't say anything. I mean a real priest would mention it when you came in late and disrupt the Mass. Shit it has happened to me. You just don't walk in and disrespect the Mass. Not without consequences. Cardinal Dolan is just a loser and a Quisling.
Just goes to show you. Never trust anyone named Dolan.
In the eighties the Parade was a big deal because of the Troubles. You see it was a Catholic parade. NORAID had fundraisers all over the city for the poor starving children in Belfast but you knew the money was going for guns and bombs for the IRA. It was when terrorists were acceptable. New York politicians wouldn't cross them.
That was old New York where each ethnic group had their own rice bowl and people didn't touch them. The Italians had the feasts like San Gennero and St Rosalie that the Mafia feasted off of with "Las Vegas" night sponsored by the church. Paddys Day was for the Irish to gather up money to send to the old sod to fight perfidious Albion. Puerto Ricans had their own parade where they could throw garbage in the streets and knife each other while impregnating their twelve year old girl friends. And the blacks got to riot and break into liquor stores every couple of years for whatever reason they could come up with and the mayor would let them vent.
I read the recent New Yorker article on Gerry Adams. He's not such an inspiring figure, but then neither was DeValera......I've been blessed with some friends and relatives who were far more Irish than I am. And people complain about scientologists. I'm very glad that my paternal grandparents moved to America. That Irish nationalism crap can drive you crazy. America, land of the reset button.
30 comments:
To get things started: I'm A Man You Don't Meet Everyday
Chickie, Isn't this global warming just horrible out here. I was forced to spend the other day shoeless in shorts by the pool.
It's too hot IMHO, bagoh20. What can we do about it but drown in our Soros?
Drunken Sailor
It's the day I remember my mother's late father, Donald "Mickey" McGrath, a true Irishman.
Mick took me to my first bar when I was three years old. He'd sit me on the bar while he had a few pints and talked with his buddies. It was a tradition he and I had, and we'd stop for a few pints up 'til the month he died at age 93.
God love ya, Mick.
Ah yes, St Paddy's day..one of two "amateur nights" in the year....where it is road-lunacy to drive anywhere after 5:00 PM unless you are just suicidal. I figure, like in years past, I will be hearing the police and fire/rescue sirens all night....from the safety of my home.
For those who celebrate in taverns and saloons, don't drive drunk...have a designated driver or take a cab...it will cost you far less than an accident, and may save a life or two. I am very fortunate that in my drinking days I hit nor harmed nor killed anyone. That was pure luck and nothing more. I still shudder when I think about it.
Need to add or ask....why do so many idiots think firing their 9 mm pistols or worse in the air is a sane practice? I hope to not be anywhere near where those bullets come down...and given the amount of it near our house, I also consider that escape pure luck, nothing more, as well. Closest call for me was one St Pat's eve when I worked late and the next morning I found multiple .30 caliber carbine expended bullets laying all around the door I left the building through. What the flip is that all about?
The way to stop global warming is to make sure Soros, Gore, Brock, Styer, and Clinton are all really fantastically wealthy.
Had a Great Lakes Conway not too long ago.
Pretty good, though it didn't taste especially Irish to me.
Maybe there's a gene I'm lacking like those people who can eat asparagus without making stinky pee.
This is the day everyone lies about loving Guinness.
Nice job chicke.
And Happy St. Paddy's day everybody.
So, when is everyone going to start drinking, noon?
Considering that half the marchers in the New York St. Paddy's Day Parade are already two sheets to the wind the drinking starts well before noon, at least for that stroll.
So, when is everyone going to start drinking, noon?
You need to catch up, Allen. You are about four rounds behind.
Oh boy. This is a tough one for me...to link my favorite Irish song, since I used to sing and play guitar in a group that (for a while) specialized in Irish Pub singing.
#1 on my list I suppose. I first heard this one performed by a blind singer who played the accordion when I was in Shamrock, Ireland about 1970. He had the best Irish Tenor voice that I have ever heard.
Carrickfergus
This one was a favorite request, when we were performing in the Abbey Tavern SF by a merchant marine. The drunker the more insistent that we play it...again. Everyone in the bar was gaaaaah NOT THAT AGAIN....however since he tipped us $50 for a repeat. He would yell "PLAY JOHNSON'S SHAGGIN' MOTOR CAR". Well....Not my favorite but for $50. We were game. We would hold up the $50 bill and the crowd although sick of the song would cheer for us!!
Johnson's Motor Car
Wild Rover You need to slam your pint glass on the bar at the no nay never part. bam bam bam.
and of course
Black Velvet Band Every ONE sing on the chorus!
Those were such fun days :-)
Better Carrickfergus by Jim McCann
You may regret asking me for song links LOL
Whiskey on a Sunday
Tinker's Poteen Typical happening in an Irish pub.
Aridog, bullets or casings? I found a bullet in my driveway one time. It had apparently been fired into the air and fell there. It was a .38 or 9 MM. They are about the same size.
I can see finding a handful of casings where a gun was fired, but the bullets themselves would be widely dispersed, unless they had a target.
Don't know what happened here. The Tinker song starts in the middle. Drag the status bar marker to the left to get the full effect.
Haz and DBQ: Thanks for the links. I'm going to pick the best one and put it on a KLEM FM post tonight.
Nice looking fake green beer there, chickelit. This really is ARTS!
It makes one a bit ill just looking at it. And that tells you right there, right from the start, St. Patricks Day celebrants embark upon a series of poor decisions made willingly.
I never did drink one of those green beers. Not a matter of pride, no boast, it's just the idea of it makes me ill. (Now a plaid beer, on the other hand would be worth considering.)
Plus the beer that's dyed is swill.
I say if you're gong to bother drinking a beer then at least drink a good one, because you're giving up Coca Cola and giving up Pepsi, and giving up Ovaltine and Pineapple mixed with Orange juice and all those other refreshing beverages, so then the best beer that you like at the moment, and if the party where you are going will have only swill then take your own and take extra.
Be a sport. And being a sport does not mean joining the dummkopfs and drinking swill beer with drops of blue dye in it.
[My younger brother, bless him, emerged from a downstairs bathroom where Mum placed one of those things in the toilet water that releases a blue cleaning agent, to make the whole job of scrubbing easier, if not eliminate scrubbing entirely because Mum was always against those things and she was for anything that eliminated housework even if it turned toilet water blue. Grinning ear to ear, younger brother emerges with the the question, "know what color yellow and blue make?" Don't bless his little heat, it's already blessed, he'll blowout with blessing, he's just that precious.)
Green beer is an item that fits with candy that makes children's tongues change color. It just dyes their tongues another color and the kids like it. They go running around sticking out their awfully-colored tongues until it wears off, utterly amused with the whole idea of changing themselves.
Chickelit, you captured the essence of that exceedingly well. It is a complement to you by saying I could just barf.
Music: The Progues.
I watched a video interview of the toothless fallen down drunk lead singer. Typical London drunk spewing about somethingerother. "I cudda BIN somebody" type of spew. I do not know about what exactly, he was unintelligible. Un-in-telly-jibble.
Best St Patrick's Day song:"Down to the Old Pub instead."
I am sort of retired from Paddy's Day these days. No more drinking. Although as Aridog said somewhere else it is one of the two amateur hour days that real drinkers avoid. Paddy's Day and New Years Eve.
On the other hand the best day to drink at an Irish Pub is the day after because regulars drink for free. You see they make so much money and so many tips on the day that it is almost like customer appreciation day when they are sobering up the day after. They know that the stone alkies will be drinking on a snowy February Tuesday so they want to show some appreciation.
Everything is pretty much ruined about Paddy's Day anyway. I will not watch the parade because the TV channel extorted the Hiberians to allow gays to march in the parade. There has been a long standing policy that no single issue group could march under their own banners. Thus no gays. But also no Right to Life. No gun control or pro second amendment. No anti death penalty. You could hold those views or do those things but you march as an individual not as a single issue. But the gay mafia put enough pressure on the advertisers and the TV that they threatened the Hibernians rice bowl so they surrendered and a gay group associated with the TV station is marching. Of course that is not enough and Comrade De Blasio and a bunch of other politicians are not marching because they want every gay group that wants to march to be in the parade. I assume they want to see a float with leprechauns shoving emerald green dyed cucumbers up their ass.
Comrade De Blasio is nothing if not consistent. He showed up fifteen minutes late for Mass and started glad handing and talking as he walked in to the middle of the Mass. The Cardinal didn't say anything. I mean a real priest would mention it when you came in late and disrupt the Mass. Shit it has happened to me. You just don't walk in and disrespect the Mass. Not without consequences. Cardinal Dolan is just a loser and a Quisling.
Just goes to show you. Never trust anyone named Dolan.
In the eighties the Parade was a big deal because of the Troubles. You see it was a Catholic parade. NORAID had fundraisers all over the city for the poor starving children in Belfast but you knew the money was going for guns and bombs for the IRA. It was when terrorists were acceptable. New York politicians wouldn't cross them.
That was old New York where each ethnic group had their own rice bowl and people didn't touch them. The Italians had the feasts like San Gennero and St Rosalie that the Mafia feasted off of with "Las Vegas" night sponsored by the church. Paddys Day was for the Irish to gather up money to send to the old sod to fight perfidious Albion. Puerto Ricans had their own parade where they could throw garbage in the streets and knife each other while impregnating their twelve year old girl friends. And the blacks got to riot and break into liquor stores every couple of years for whatever reason they could come up with and the mayor would let them vent.
They had faces then.
Sorry. I saw the French Connection last night and I got all nostalgic.
I read the recent New Yorker article on Gerry Adams. He's not such an inspiring figure, but then neither was DeValera......I've been blessed with some friends and relatives who were far more Irish than I am. And people complain about scientologists. I'm very glad that my paternal grandparents moved to America. That Irish nationalism crap can drive you crazy. America, land of the reset button.
Dare I say that I am increasingly offended by how St. Patrick's Day (I don't know who the h*** "St. Paddy" is) is celebrated?
Post a Comment