St Patty Day

I know that I will leave something out but here are some lovely Irish things. Enjoy!!

Irish Movies
The Quiet Man http://www.moviesbox.us/the-quiet-man.html
Michael Collins http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3650683161/

Waking Ned Devine



Boys and Girl from County Clare

The Matchmaker


Actors/Actresses

Colin Farrell

Aidan Quin

Jonathan Rhys Meyers

Liam Neeson

Maureen O' Hara





Music

U2 http://www.u2.com/

The Corrs http://www.thecorrswebsite.com/index2.htm

Enya http://www.enya.com/

The Chieftains http://www.thechieftains.com/

Flogging Molly http://www.floggingmolly.com/

The Clancy Brothers

The Pogues http://www.pogues.com/

Hurry! Hard!

I admit it..... I have a crush on John Morris on the Canadian Curling Team. Plus the 'BEAR' rocks. I figured out the basics of the game and fell in love with watching the olympic matches. I should really have paid better attention when i was in Scotland. 

Far Right: The bear  2nd from right: John Morris

Find out more about Curling:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curling


USA Curling
http://www.curlingrocks.net/



Canada Curling- They claim to perfect the game
http://www.curling.ca/


UK Curling
www.englishcurling.org.uk



Scotland Curling- They claim to invent the game
http://www.royalcaledoniancurlingclub.org/

200,000 miles for my trusty Rodeo!!

The End of Winter?

As I look at the calendar I am so excited to be leaving Febuary and heading into March. March holds the promise of Spring and sunny days. However the 'in-between' season is my least favorite. Snow melting into gray-ish piles. Freezing in the AM and PM but overdressed during the day. Brown grass and dead gardens making an appearance as the snow leaves.No leaves or green.....anywhere. And mud....really can't stand it when I have my nice shoes on.

I haven't written much in Feburary. I blame the other ways of chatting to peeps. By the time I go to write in my blog, I realize that I have said everything already via facebook or twitter.

I am working on a project for my family. No details but it is going to rock!! I think even tears will be involved. I hope to have it done by April or July. Speaking of the family. All is well. The kids are growing so fast and gearing up for spring sports. We, like many families, are feeling the effects of the economy. It looked like we escaped some problems but alas they found us. I hope that it makes us stronger and take time to see where we are at in our lives. Easier said then done. Things could be worse and everyone is healthy and safe.

I have tried really hard this month to step back and save more. I will need a new car someday and need to start acting like a grownup. (insert snickering here) But I think I am back on track for the things that really make me happy.

My summer plans might actually happen. I have a nice little trip planned. Now I just got to buy the tickets and start finalizing things. It is a nice distraction from cabin fever and homework.

So that is Feburary. Drama-free but full of cabin fever. I have loads of pics to put up from xmas..... will do soon.

Cheers!

Robert Burns Supper--- The Bard

Happy Burns Night to all of my Scottish/Scottish Lovin peeps!

If you didn't know, Burns Night/Supper celebrate Robert Burns who is a hero of Scottish Lit. Jan 25th Scots and Scottish societies celebrate his life and being scottish with food, music, and his poetry.

There is a specific order to the supper. Welcome with a scottish blessing, Haggis with the famous poem to accompany it, dinner, toast to Robert Burns, toast to the lassies, reply from the lassies, songs or poetry of Burns, closing with singing of Auld Lang Syne . Entertainment is scattered throughout. 


Gerald Butler is currently making a movie of Burn's life.


Red Red Rose

Warm and Cozy

Today is a chilly, wet day. If I didn't know better I would think that I was in the Highlands of Scotland. So I made some cozy beef veg soup and paired it with a sourdough baguette.

Haiti

I have been struggling with this blog. I wanted to make some points without seeming insensitive or heartless.


Haiti is a very complicated situation. The Haiti in my mind is from the violence and corruption of the 90’s and 2000’s and also its history of human rights violations. It has been struck with multiple hurricanes ( as recent as 4 last year). I still recall images of citizens risking their lives in anything that could float to escape and make it to our southern shores. It is the poorest country in the Americas and the 4th poorest in the world. Haiti relies mostly on aid money and debt forgiveness.

As the TV coverage shows the horrible conditions in Haiti, fingers have been pointed. Is it the fault of the French who left the colony to fend for itself, American fault for not helping more, or even the Spanish who first colonized the island? I would like to see if the coverage will remind everyone that the wealth of the country has been pirated away to 1% of the country who also holds government office. The decades of dictators did nothing for the greater wealth of the country and just lined their pockets. I was appalled that they actually interviewed the leader that tried to say he felt the citizens’ pain because some of the PALACE that he lives in has been damaged. I really doubt that this is relatable. Seriously??? Stop doing interviews and open your gates for medical workers and shelter!

Also I think that this is a prime example to show how just throwing money ‘aid’ to a country does not mean it will use such funds to better the country. Will this be covered? And if it is, will aid still be carelessly thrown their way without a true rebuilding of the country? And finally, will we(Americans) even care?

I hope that within this crisis hope will emerge with Haitians trying to re-build its country for a stable future. My fear is that the aid will not get to those who need it and the wealthiest will keep lining their pockets.

My heart goes out the families that have lost and will have to rebuild. I will never truly understand the pain and loss that they are enduring. I only hope they can have the courage and adequate assistance to survive thru this tragedy. Other countries have and I believe they can also.

 Relief Agencies:
http://www.convoyofhope.org/
http://www.redcross.org/
British Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org.uk/
http://www.unicef.org/