Put a Cork In It!

Tee-hee…I couldn’t resist a little pun. It doesn’t really go with this post (because I opted not to blog about the woman whose face I wanted to smack tonight when she belittled my “job” as a stay at home mom and my “hobby” as a “writer”…pardon the excess quotation marks!). But this post is all about Cork, the place!

We spent the weekend with Mom in Cork, Ireland, and had an absolutely incredible time. For the most part, the weather cooperated, and I cannot believe what a great job the kids did! We tried hard to pay attention to their cues and their needs, and instead of running around like chickens with our heads cut off, we set realistic goals for what we could accomplish in a given day.

It was incredible. Except for the last day when the girls were starting to wear down, and the flights home (Why did we try to do a connection? Haven’t we learned?), they were really good. In fact, someone even commented to us at a restaurant that the girls were so well behaved.

They really are growing up…sigh!

I haven’t taken the time to upload the pictures yet. We did a driving tour of Cork City, spent a day in Cobh, walked around Youghal, and visited Blarney Castle and kissed the Blarney Stone. Hopefully, I’ll have some photos for you to look at later this week.

So, expect Cork to come to you in the next few days. And to the woman who doesn’t get what a stay at home mom and writer does all day long…stick a Cork in it!

Irish Car Bombs Don’t Translate

Last year on the day after St. Patrick’s Day, I was speaking with my British neighbor and friend about how my husband and I had done a few Irish Car Bombs to celebrate. She looked at me, and said, “You did what last night?”

It never occurred to me that Irish Car Bombs (a shot of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey and Bailey’s Irish Cream dropped into a Guinness and then chugged) wouldn’t translate. Clearly, my knowledge of British/Irish relations and the history of Northern Ireland leaves a lot to be desired. When Marcus got home, I asked him, “Marcus, Fiona had never heard of Irish Car Bombs. Do you think that title is offensive? Who do you think it’s offensive too?”

Marcus shook his head, “It’s pretty much offensive to everyone involved.”

Whoops.

At any rate, this year we convinced Fiona to come and join us for a couple Irish Car Bombs before she went out for a leaving do with friends.

I think they were a bit of a (culture) shock. But, at least they were yummy.