Blog of randomness, and the best damn party ever!

So today is the day after St. Stephen's day (Boxing Day) over here, and things are still mostly closed. I understand that they will be that way until after New Year's Day.
Now, I've never been one for having the holidays linger on, so this is kind of bothering me. I'm ready to get back to the hustle and bustle! It's weird that everyone in our neighborhood is home and milling about! I realize I may be the only person in the world against everything shutting down for a week, but it's making me rather nutty!!! But I know the traffic will get bad again and everyone will be rushing about soon enough. . . no need to rush things!
I took yesterday off from blogging in the hopes that we would have something intereting to blog about. . . and, of course, I do! But not what we expected!!!
We started off yesterday on another day trip like we took on Christmas Eve, only this time we went east instead of west. John had been told at work that there is not much to the area east of Cork, so we had to try it out for ourselves. Our plan was to drive east to the coastal town of Youghal (pronounced: "y'all"--this Irish always make a joke whenever we say "y'all" because they have a town by the same name. . . yuk, yuk, yuk) and then follow the river north along a "fantastic" drive (according to the guide book) to a small town called Lismore. Youghal is definitely worth spending more time. It's probably most famous because it is where the 1950s version of Moby Dick was filmed. There are many pubs and hotels with the same name to play up their fame. Also, it is loosely connected with Sir Walter Raleigh, who is said to have planted the first potato here.
Anyway. . .it was a dreary day, so the views of the bay and coastline were spotty at best. We found a bathroom in the nick of time (pregnant lady) and then headed north along the river road. Sorely disappointing! Perhaps we have been here long enough to take things for granted, but we did not get the drive that the guide book promised. We pressed on to Lismore, which was a quaint, impressive town with at least 4 huge churches and a FREE PARKING lot. That was worth the drive just to see something that was free for a change!!!
We returned back to Cork along a different, much more picturesque route and enjoyed the one restaurant that was open: McDonald's. And everyone else was there, too! It was delicious!!! I wish I was craving spinach and carrots, but some days only McDonald's will do!
So. . . we headed back home to spend most of the evening debating whether or not to pop in at our neighbors' for their St. Stephen's day party. One of the fellas had invited us earlier in the week, and I really thought we would be weird not to at least stop by.
John has claimed blogging "rights" on the party, but I have to at least say a few things. (Especially since John is not really interested in sitting in front of the computer after a hard day's work.. . .)
1. The Irish are the most friendly people in the WORLD! We really did not know anyone at the party but never had a dull moment! Everyone was interested and interesting!!! A lovely bunch!
2. We learned that spiced beef is a Cork thing, and while everyone says it's the traditional dish, it's clear that everyone prefers turkey and ham!
3. Think about the best parties you ever attended. What do they all have in common? Getting a little crazy? Losing some inhibitions? (And, no, I don't mean that you don't remember what happened the next morning. . ) I mean. think about the parties where people broke into spontaneous (or well-planned) karaoke. (I'm thinking of Cassie and Kat singing Girls Just Wanna Have Fun) Or when you had a theme party and people dressed up and just had a good time.
Now imagine a group of extremely musically-talented adults (plus me and John) gathered around a kitchen and spontaneously bursting into song. Then someone gets out the guitar. And people are passing it around and singing everything from traditional Irish folk songs (each one sadder than the last) to current pop music. I swear--they ALL can sing and play the guitar!!! John and I really need some voice lessons!!! After much prodding, I belted out "The Eyes of Texas" (we don't know the lyrics to The Yellow Rose of TX--but we need to learn them for next time!) just to be a sport and do something "Texas". It was awful, but it didn't matter. It was FUN.
4. Irish songs ROCK. The Irish rock!!!
5. Our neighbor is a paramedic, so that was nice to know in case of emergency!

So after planning to stay 30 minutes, we headed home. Four and a half hours later!!!!! Unbelivable! We had so much fun!
There was a guy who is a Tae Kwon Do champion. Another who just ran the Dublin marathon in October and is planning to run the Cork marathon in March (it's the first marathon in Cork since the 1980s and it's a big deal!). We heard about the Ballycotton 10-miler--this must be the most famous race in all of Ireland because everyone--EVERYONE--either runs it or talks about it! Apparently it is very hilly! We helped a couple choose the red wine for their wedding by taste-testing. (They will be married in April in the hotel where we stayed our first week here--beautiful!!!)
We were just blown away by how much fun we had!

Anyway. . I am coming to the end of my blog of randomness. . .I had wanted to mention that I have started a registry for the baby at the usual places and at www.mothercare.com (a local store). So baby experts, get out your lists and let me know what I'm missing or what I absolutely do not need!!! Oh, and anything larger than a suitcase we are planning to purchase over here since shipping is expensive and incurs import taxes. (So don't worry that you see no car seat at Target or BabiesRUs--I do know that I need one and will get it here!)

I'll upload some pictures soon, but I'm starting to show over here. Mostly, I just look like I have a beer belly, but I know that I will have my defined bump soon enough!!!

Well, that's about all. The sun is setting on our warmest, sunniest day yet! We are thrilled to be here and hope anyone who is interested in coming out, does!!! We would love visitors!!!