Ronaldo? Messi?

Nor did I have a clue who these two were until a few days ago when I learned that my alternative to watching the Champions League Final tonight between Manchester United and Barcelona was to attend a second family reunion dinner with CW, her mother, her father and two sisters. Since then, I have been attempting to convince CW that I have always been a closet football (soccer to you Americans) fan. CW is quite skeptical but when I just happened to mention in conversation her brother's team was relegated (Newcastle) she started to believe. Whereas my love of rugby both playing and watching is well-documented. So much so we spent Saturday evening in a Cork bar with our friends visiting from Holland watching Leinster (Irish) beat Leicester (English) in the Heineken (Dutch) Cup Final. And whether fan or not, tonight's game is bigger than the Super Bowl--at least for these European types--so it's an adventure to be here watching this game. Well, must be going. Have to read "Idiots Guide to Soccer" I mean football. Dreadful Creatures? Don't worry--they will be safe with internet sitter tonight!

Casual Fridays (i.e. track suit)

ODC attempts to break out of St. Maries of the Isle for quick run to "Forever 21"

Another successful St. Patrick's Day...

As our friend Paul Sanchez (www.paulsanchez.com) sings, "What's an Irish boy from a good family doing in the gutter?"

Feeding Time...

Visiting hours at YDC's school!

Suffer the Children...

The Irish Child Abuse Commission's report came out today (www.irishtimes.com) and as expected the findings of "savage and institutional abuse at the hands of religious orders" have sickened and saddened this nation of Catholics. On the brighter side, these "secret" photos from the Dreadful Creatures respective schools appear to show things have lightened up somewhat:
1) That's YDC getting a few lashes from the Headmaster for sitting in a square position during "Circle Time"
2) That's ODC in Overnight Detention for wearing her i-pod in class.

I read the news today oh boy....

and saw our Older Dreadful Creature in the Irish Independent newspaper commemorating the Irish famine at her school, St. Maries of the Isle--that's her in the middle--doesn't look underfed to me! (n.b. Edmonds: Claire and Isabelle aren't the only kids with a stage mom shamelessly promoting her brats to the media!)

Twenty-twenty-twenty fours hour to go, I wanna be....

in Dublin. This is getting scarey--My sister-in-law and partner (parents of two daughters ages 9 and 11 here in Cork) insisted CW and myself go to Dublin for the night wtihout the Dreadful Creatures--our very very first "complete" night away from the Younger Dreadful Creature YDC (I mean we have stayed out until 4 am but that's in town). So CW and I hopped a train to Dublin (3 hour ride north) and checked into the Trinity Capital Hotel near of course Trinity College (picked up application for ODC--cheaper than Harvard with all that Irish socialism.) A few arrival drinks in the hotel bar, a decent dinner at Balzac, and then off to a Dermot Bolger play about the notorious Dublin slum of Ballymun-- "The Mun"! Where was the play performed? In Ballymun in what appears to be a experiment involving poverty, crime and the arts. As an added treat, our dear friend Mick Judd was one of the actors in the play (Irish fellow who returned to Dublin in 2001 after ten plus years in New York). The play was a great social history of Ballymun and afterward we had a drink with cast and director--CW was an actor in Ireland and NYC for many years so she was in her element--and I of course acted up and made particularly insightful critiques about the performance that I am sure were well received by the cast members. Mick dropped us off at hotel and I drug CW to Kehoe's--a traditional Dublin pub that had fantastic Guinness and happened to stay open an hour past the usual 11:30 pm official pub closing time--great last night, not so great this morning! Walked around Dublin, met Mick for lunch, quick pint at the International Bar, and back on train to Cork, home by 7 pm. Picked up creatures! Not bad for 24 hours plus--eat your heart out Jack Bauer! That's the hotel's Do Not Disturb Sign which I "borrowed".

Sunset in County Kilkenny

I am pure city but rural Ireland is where it's at--both character and characters!

Steppin Out

Yes, that's Dado (Irish for Grandfather and my father-in-law) in his ball cap (no one in Ireland appears to wear traditional caps anymore except our son whose caps we have to buy in the States because they don't sell them here) on the last day of his 80th Birthday Party. It was somewhat like what I imagine an Irish wake to be like--except Dado was still very much alive--Myself, CW, and the Dreadful Creatures arrived in Knocktopher, County Kilkenny after a two hour drive from Cork City. The rain was pouring, the wind was howling, and CW and her brother began to put up our tent--Dado's house is quite small (and CW's sister had pretty much taken the one guest room==can't wait until that will is adjudicated) I did the right thing and retired to the local pub--I like hotels and I like camping--I don't like the in-between white-trash backyard version in my father-in-law's backyard. I proceed to tell my local Publican, Eamom, my circumstances and he happens to mention gale force wind forecasts and an apartment above the pub that he doesn't rent, but..if I'm (we're???) stuck, feel free to ask. Oh, I ask, and then I ask the rate--his answer, "Well. I wouldn't be robbing yeh"--I figure that's about 50-100 Euro a night. I call CW with the news and I get lucky--at this point the wind has bent the tent stakes and she's ready to move a few miles up the road. The next few days involve alot of party prep (Was it so wrong to ask if the estranged sister was splitting the costs with us--of course now it seems like a bad idea but...) Most importantly, at the end of every night, I get to put my kids to bed and wander downstairs with CW to the pub for a nightcap(s)--and, the band plays the Irish national anthem at the end of the night for which everyone is required to stand. (Old School). Dados 80th birthday party went on until 7 am the next morning. I begged out with the two dreadful creatures fairly early and CW joined us a few hours later. God Bless Dado--he had the CW's mother show up as a surprise (Dado hadn't spoken to his ex in 15 years) as well as an estranged daughter with her family (She and Dado hadn't spoken in ten years) Lots of tears, hugs, and all that family s#4%! And I got to watch from afar. The photo is of Dado, his ex, his kids and grandkids! The three outlaws (including myself) are off in the distance happily drinking and murmuring luckily our families aren't so f'd up!

"Today is my Birthday...

Gonna have a good time!" The Older Dreadful Creature turned older today--all of 6 and we had the non-traditional Irish Birthday Party--sunshine all around. Current Wife's family provided the presents, the cake, the food and drink (the traditional Irish part). Great time all around. Cake by Christina Favier, candles by Kate!

"I ain't missing you at all!"

I have made it back to Ireland and my son was overjoyed to see me as you can see! My daughter-- she's at her cousins' house. Off to her birthday party so kindly hosted by Louise's family. Great to be loved! Note Irish tan on Younger Dreadful Creature!

What's wrong with this picture?

Well, that's the British Airlines check-in counter less than two hours before my scheduled flight on Thursday--this flight is very empty or as I came to find out, had already left. Two hours later of "nice" conversation with British Airlines, I am heading back to Seattle with a British Air-financed night/day of the White Horse Tavern, the Ace Hotel, and Matt's on the Market. They have re-booked me the following day and I will still make the ODC's birthday party!

"I'm Pregnant!"

No, the other two words that a father never wants to hear from his daughter, "American Girl". On my way out of Edmonds the other day, Teri of Teri's Toy Box generously provided with me this doll so I will arrive home a hero in Ireland for my soon-to-be six-year-old's birthday party on Sunday (May 3rd). I have however scouted out the flagship American Girl store in Manhattan with our impending move back to New York--49th and 5th--to avoid any misunderstandings and a chance spotting by the six-year-old, we'll take 48th Street thank you very much!