Christmas Every Day and some Irish Music Appreciation

I'll bet your'e wondering what this picture is about, right?
The last two weeks have felt like Christmas all over again because we got a package in the mail each week! Here's our latest bounty! (The box of Old Navy maternity clothes my mom sent did last long enough to take a picture of--I ripped into that thing so I'd have more stuff to wear!)
But I got a surprise note through the mailslot Tuesday morning (at 7:50AM ???) that they tried to deliver "two packets", origin: Ireland. Since we were not expecting anything until the following week, I was puzzled and then assumed it was something for the dogs importation into the country.
By the way, all of the Chicas here have not been able to crack the code for what constitutes a "package", "parcel", or "packet". This is how the "Sorry we missed you" note from the An Post lists the items you can't pick up until the following day. But that's a side note. Do these boxes look like packets to you?
Wednesday morning, bright and early, I set out to claim our two packets, origin Ireland, with less than much enthusiasm. I found our post office over on Little Island and it was like Fort Knox with loads of security, but a sweet old, crazy-haired Irish postman brought out these two packages!!! One with food items from John's parents and a SURPRISE package from Stiggs!!!
There's not much more exciting than a surprise package when you are thousands of miles away from home!!!!
I'll spare you the details of our loot, but I have some really interesting and funny pregnancy books to add to the reading list. And we can enjoy some good old American prepackaged food. . . yum!!!!!
And while it has felt like Christmas the last couple of weeks with the infux of packages, we know that every day is such a gift with our little baby growing. We are certainly excited to meet Zane or Kamille. It's been difficult lately with so many people finding out the gender of their babies, but the last thing I want to fool with when I am back in Houston is another long line at the doctor's office! I have enough of that here! We will have a huge surprise on baby's birth day, and that's worth the waiting!

So on to the next topic: Irish music appreciation. I've had a little desire to get more into some aspect of Irish culture, whether learning some Irish Gaelic or about the music or something. I already missed the leisure learning Irish classes at the local community college, but I figure I can learn a little about the music. And I'm starting with POP music here, people.

In December, we were frequently serenaded late into the night/morning by our lovely neighbors, and there was one song with a pretty rocking chorus. Today I heard said song on the radio and after I got back from the gym (yes, I am finally working out regularly--the lbs are starting to add up and I want to eat whatever I want so to the gym I go!) I scoured ITunes for the song and stumbled on a new/old artist: Mundy . The song in particular is "July" and you can here a sample of the song here. You have to scroll down to Music--24 Star Hotel and it's under there. There's a live version that kicks boo-tay, but you need to check out ITunes for that one.
Anyway. . I recognized some of his sound from a song on the Romeo+Juliet soundtrack (I really like soundtracks and that one is exceptional). But the great part is. . .he recorded his third album in, ahem, AUSTIN, TEXAS. Yeee-haw, y'all!!! Wow, I really miss Austin sometimes, and this has been one of these weeks. Jenny over at MamaDrama spent the weekend there and Girl con Queso had a post documenting her trip. (I think they were eating on SoCo at Gueros. . .yummmmmmmmmmmm).
So that's all I have to post today. I bragged that we were having "such great weather" the last couple of days so yesterday was RUBBISH, so now there's some sun outside and I need to go sit in it. Damn. . .it's raining through the sun. Irish weather is like Texas weather--wait five minutes and it will change!!! At least I hope so! More to come!