It was about two months ago when I went to Galway for Sean and Paddy's birthday weekend. I had such a good time out there that weekend, but there was one conversation that is still stuck in my head after all this time. It was the Sunday morning and everyone was either hungover, still drunk, or like myself and Hal still drinking. We started talking about places we had been and he said to me he had only been on a plane once in his life but he has been to almost every major city, town and village in Ireland for nights out. He said " Most people get on a plane and go to Spain or Portugal for a holiday and they don't even know what is in the town next to there own." I knew that what he was saying was the absolute truth and it doesn't just apply to here in Ireland. Growing up my family was the same, we would go to Barbados, Canada, or England for a holiday, but we never explored anything New York state or New Jersey had to offer. We never took a drive down to Wildwood, and the Jersey shore I didn't see for the first time until I was 17 years old.
I think since I've gotten older I have changed that quite a bit though, when I lived in Boston I took the time to explore a lot of Massachusetts, and I can name more towns there than I can name in any other state as a result. When I lived in Ireland the first time around I made a point of seeing as much as I could, even places that weren't necessarily famous such as Kilkenny. This time is the same, I've added Belfast to the growing list of places I have been to here, and next I would like to take a trip up to Derry.  ¶ 2:52 PM

 
This past weekend was St Patricks day here in Ireland, and this was my first one spent in Dublin. I spent two in Cork city a few years ago and that was nothing special, just a small parade and then people headed to the pubs. Here in Dublin St. Patricks day is a whole different animal. Unfortunately I was working the whole day but I still got to see a lot of what goes on. On my way into work I passed through temple bar where I saw girls running around the streets with only shamrocks covering there nipples. The crowds were rowdy and drunk at 11 am in the morning. it looked like a scene from Mardi Gras in New Orleans. I was extremely jealous that I wasn't able to partake in the festivities, but hopefully next year, now that I know what a big deal it is I will be able to take the time off for it.
The football season is getting closer to the end and Manchester United are in first place again, which puts a smile on my face. I am disappointed that they are out of all the other competitions this year except the Premier League Title. I was hoping for another run at the Champions League or perhaps and FA Cup this year. Some of the younger guys on the team this year have really impressed me. Jonny Evans is having a great second half of the season, Ashley Young, and Javier Hernandez are playing outstanding football. I'm not sure how anyone can hate United when they play such an exciting style of the beautiful game.
There is another sport, which I have only been a casual fan of the past few years but more and more now its becoming a favorite of mine, Formula One racing. I love the way the courses are laid out, the drivers all have such interesting personalities, and it is truly a global sport with Grand Prix races taking place on every continent throughout the year. NASCAR I always found to be boring as they driver in a giant circle for 500 laps, and the fan base seems so exclusive in the worst way possible. F1 is a very different animal however, and I think I like it.  ¶ 9:50 AM