This time last year...

While I am working my 12 hour shifts in the hospital these days I just don't have the energy/ability/desire to blog much. My dogs are barking and my belly is tipping me over.

So, how about just a walk down memory lane?

This is what we were doing this time last year...
(Original post date May 5th, 2008)

Hola! Para cinco de mayo, yo voy a escribir en espanol solamente. Primera, felicidados a mis amigos Kristy y Nick. Es un ano que ellos son casados. Por favor, bebe son cervesas para mi! quesadilla, tamale, conquistador, siesta, la isla bonita....
okay, those are all the spanish words I know. Sorry to say, but that language is
about as useless here as my Pilon cortadito cups and my frozen margarita yard
dog are. I've just packed them right back up...

But sincerely, Happy Anniversary to the Hajimahalis-es
(es-es-es). How do you pluralize their name? (And notice when you say it in your head its hard to stop the sssss sound)
As promised yesterday, here are some pictures of our Sunday: The weatherman predicted rain storms for the day. Fortunately for us, their accuracy ranks right up there with the Miami Dolphin's... well, anything, so as you can see, it was nothing but blue skies smiling on me.
This is what Katie and I look like everyday as we walk along Kells Road going into town.

We had lunch at the Ormonde Hotel with (clockwise from the bottom) Katie, Niall, Nana Kay, Brian, Bronwyn, Manus and Empty Chair.
After lunch, we walked over to the castle park. Kilkenny is known as the medieval capital of Ireland. Maybe even the world. But anyway, right in the middle of town there is the Kilkenny Castle.
It was in the Butler family for about 800 years, but they donated it to the
national heritage conservation perservation league organization in the 1960s.
(see pictures below). The castle's backyard, slightly larger than our own, has
become a public park with a jogging trail and a small playground. The swings are
the only thing working on the playground. Fortunately for Katie, its all she
could have played on anyway!
Katie looks on while our friend Jimmy (a small man; only the size of Katie's head, Jimmy was at a distinct disadvantage when it came to sports), Manus and Brother Brian (sibling, not monk) puck the- whack the puck -hurl the - what's the terminology? They play catch with their hurleys and slioters (bat and ball)
After the boys wore themselves out running after the missed balls (5 minutes) we walked down along the River Nore on the edge of the castle grounds and to our left was this ruin (pronounced roooooon) of what may have been a mill. - One hundred years from now will someone be stopping to take a picture of an abandoned Wal-Mart? I don't think so. There is just something magical about Ireland....
We were sitting outside of the Rivercourt hotel across the river from the castle having a few cold ciders with friends Jimmy and Pat when Katie said, "Hey, Mom! You and I should take a picture together in front of the castle!" (bossy turd... always telling us what to do) Then we went home, had a pepperoni pizza and watched some movie with Zack Braff. You can take the girl out of America, but you cant take the america out of the girl. Least not yet... A couple more picture perfect days like this though, and we might be able to work a deal...

Can you dig that hair on Katie? And, p.s. Happy Anniversary
(again) Kristy and Nick. My, what a difference a year makes, huh??!