BYU v. ASU Rugby

When my worlds collide...

Hardly. 

I'm BYU through and through. 

But this was a great excuse to put on my Cougar blue and cheer on my team, 

and my papa, who sideline refereed the game. 

But I have to mention the fan following. 

ASU rugby is pretty cool -- they get a few fans and they win a few games. 

But BYU?

In addition to walloping them

(soundly)

we had 10x the amount of fans. 

Even all the way in Tempe, AZ. 

Proof: 

AZ's Side

BYU's Side

Loved it. 

Full of old alumn and their cute grandbabies

 Young couples with their cougar blue baseball hats

Elderly folks with their block Y crew neck sweatshirts

Recent grads going to ASU's graduate school... and showing their true colors. 

Here are a few highlights

And one final thing...

What do you think this looks like?

The correct answer is Darth Vader. 

In sloshed ice. 

Brilliant.

Lovin' that Arizona rugby scene!

"Well it's so Irish-like."

Feeling... festive?

I sure am. 

I love St. Patrick's Day. 

Not that I do anything particularly fabulous.

I just spend the day feeling like I have a secret. 

My family is from Ireland and I've been to the "homeland" three times. 

So at the prompting of my friend Jesse...

here's a little collection of Irish phrases, food, lore and photos. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Some of my favorite Irish-isms:

1. “I’m absolutely wrecked!” (meaning exhausted)

2. “Ah, that’s just grand.” (anything can be grand. Potatoes, your new job, the evening's plans)

3. “Tis lovely.” (also a use-all adjective)

4.     “Oh it’s gorgeous!” (surprisingly often said around the presence of steak)

5.     “No worries." (instead of "your welcome")

6.     “Ah go on! Did he really? Yer johking me!” (when someone is telling a particularly exciting or unbelievable story)

7. "Thanks a million." (Also: "Thanks a thousand")

8.     “We’re off to the P-U-B” (spelled out, like it's a secret or something.)

9.     “I’ll come and collect them.” (used for people, not things)

10.  “He's called Riley." (Not "his name is Riley.")

11. “I’m absolutely roasting.” (even though it's never too warm in Ireland)

12. "He rang me this morning about it." (Not a violent gesture - just a phone call)

13. "Oh sugar!" (said in exasperation, followed by "I forgot!" or "That hurt!")

14. "Top of the marnin' to ye!" (feel free to respond with "and the rest of the day to yerself!")

Care for a self-test?

Do you know the American words for these Irish/English phrases?

Quiz: car park, mobile, boot, bonnet, jumper, jersey, half seven, lie-in, runners

Answers: garage, cell phone, trunk, car hood, sweater, tshirt, 7:30, sleeping in, tennis shoes.

 Irish Grub!

Pretty much Guiness. 

Or Cidona, if you're me. 

(Just like Apple Beer!)

But really, what do you think of when you think of Irish food?

Potatoes?

Here's a simple list of pub grub.

1. Fish 'n' Chips
2. Bangers and Mash (sausage and mashed potatoes)
3. Shephard's Pie (lamb)
4. Cottage Pie (beef)
5. Corned beef and cabbage
6. Irish stew
7. Boxty (potato pancakes)
8. The Full Irish Breakfast
1. sausages, bacon "rashings", fried egg, toasted brown soda bread, black and white pudding(blood sausage), lamb's kidney, fried tomato, sauteed mushrooms, beans and o'course, strong (herbal) tea. 

Folklore

Oh my there's so much.

Here's one good example.

This is Loftus  Hall- one of the most haunted buildings in Ireland.

It's actually really chilling. Read about it here.

Castles

And other exceptionally old buildings.

Ormonde Castle

My brother Gabe at Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny Castle

The Mansion at Faithlegg

Another shot of Kilkenny

Trinity College in Dublin

Believe it or not - that's a bank.

Blarney Castle, home of the famous Blarney Stone

St. Coleman's Cathedral, in the town where the Titanic set sail for the last time.

Rock of Cashel. Pardon the scaffolding.

Bunratty Castle

  At last, some parting bits...

The wolly sheep! More of an icon in Ireland than leprechauns or shamrocks. They all have hilariously painted rumps.

Marie and I made a friend at the statue of Molly Malone. What a gas! 

The doors  -in all colors- everywhere.

Have a great St. Patrick's Day - 

and don't forget to try out an Irish phrase or make some Irish food!

Slán agaibh!

Dogs and Dog Owners

It's an interesting relationship. 

to say the least.

I'm happy to say I'm staring to feel like one of the pack. 

Here in AZ, I have full access to Abigail's doggie Sophia. 

She's an Italian Greyhound. 

I had a ton of free time,

so Sophie and I would go running every day, play in the backyard, crash on the couch...

It's been great.

I have since gotten a new part time job 

(more to come on that later!)

but as an ode to Sophia and all crazy dogs and dog owners,

here is an embarrassing display of photos Sophie and I took one afternoon. 

You'll have to forgive me. 

Brenna and Sophia

Matching Expressions 

How did I do?

It's harder than it looks.

?

Are you laughing yet?

 

I want to say she made the face below because of the camera's flash. 

Although she often gives me that look. 

ALRIGHT ALRIGHT. 

Show's over. 

Crazy dog lady and her dog are going away now. 

But you gotta admit...

It was fun!