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St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland

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March 17th in Ireland is a huge Day. It’s a day of National pride as not only is Saint Patrick the patron saint, it’s also an “unofficial” day to celebrate all things Irish. Everyone gets in on the act – from kids to adults, businesses and private homes alike. The day is one of great festivity.

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For my first St. Patrick’s Day, I decided that I had to go to one of the biggest celebrations – nearly half a million people turn up – and see the Parade in Downtown Dublin – with the city turning into a mass of people all dressed in green,orange, and white.

The Aftermath of 200,000 from the parade.. a flood of green

All my life I’d heard how crazy the party was and how great the Parade was, and while it wasn’t what I was expecting (I was thinking something more along the lines of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City or the Rosebowl Parade in California), it was still a very spectatular event.

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Hanging above the street… she performs with no net.

For comparison, the parades in the states have huge floats and giant balloons that float over the city and the spectators down below. The Parade here has some large floats – but mostly it’s about the color and the people participating in the parade. You can’t quite get the blimp or helicopter views like you can in the states – but it’s a stunning event just the same – because as a parade watcher – you’re just as much a part of the spectacle as the Parade itself. This year, there were some 4000 street performers most in costume – and many of whom were from the Dublin School of Art and Design (this was their final project, can you imagine!!!).

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(One of many representations of the “black dog”)

This year’s Parade theme was based on a competition to write a short story – the winner was Booker Prize winning author Roddy Doyle’s story “Brilliant”. (You can read the story here) The story is about how all of Dublin was depressed due to the recession and how the “black dog of depression” needed to be chased away by a group of well meaning children. As they race about the city’s famous landmarks and places, they encounter fantastic characters and eventually (chapter by chapter) bring back sunshine, rainbows, and happiness to the people of the city.

So, how about a few pictures? You can see more of the flickr set here.

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Check out the makeup!

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At the end of the Parade, The Phoenix Carries off the Black Dog… and the city re-emerges anew

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Like a Dog with a Bone…

One of the things about Germany is that it’s rather difficult to find an actual swear to God bone that isn’t made from parts of a Pig or a chicken. It’s also difficult to find good sized treats for my big dog. Hopefully that’s now begun to change – because in my neighborhood – in the last year, there is a new rottweiler puppy (she’s 8 months old), two golden retrievers, and 3 new huskies. (This doesn’t include the couple of labs or german shepards I’ve seen out in our communal “empty lot” walking area who have been here since I have. ) So, where am I going with this? Well, for about 3 years, I’ve been completely unable to find a bone that was worthy of giving my dog. However, on the 30th of January (call it a late christmas gift), I went to the local pet store to get dog food and low and behold, they had cow “shin” bones in a basket for 4 Euro each.
I promptly bought one and wrapped it up in two bags. When I got home and unpacked the dog’s goodies – he promptly “recognized” the bone and I hadn’t even Un-wrapped it yet. It was quite amusing – I could barely get it unwrapped and he was already sitting on the floor, crying and holding his paws (alternatively) for shakes (here, take it – I don’t care – I know thats for me – Please please please let me have the bone….) and was so happy. After “torturing” him for a Christmas photo of him in antlers:

Oh No, You Didn't!

He got the bone and went to sit on his bed.
Hugging the Bone

Obviously, he promptly wrapped both paws around it and could not be torn away from it for ~4 hours. We’re talking NOTHING would take him away. Not an offer of going outside for a walk, dinner, scratches … Nope, it was all “BONE!!!”

Riddick's Bone
It's So Tasty

I guess it’s true. Happiness is a dog with a bone.

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It’s Snowing!!

Maybe it’s because I grew up in Georgia -and snow was a rare thing. Maybe it’s because I’m weird. Maybe it’s because I refuse to grow up… I don’t know.

It is, however, snowing.

First snow 2009

Not much, not hard – just a dusting outside- enough to make the streets slick, to begin to cover the world in white, to soften the harsh branches against the sky, to make even the trash sitting at the edge of the road look “nicer”…. and yet.. it’s enough to make me feel giddy and gleeful inside.

It’s Snowing!!

Between the dog (who woke me up at 6 AM with a cold nose, a happy bark, a wagging tail, his “outside” whine, and a jump over me to lift up the curtains at the window) and the fact that it is nearing Christmas, I started singing Carols as I got ready for work and haven’t stopped yet.

Taking him out in the snow was a fun thing – because I was happy and smiling, revelling in the beauty of it – the softness of the flakes, the stillness and clarity of the air, and the crisp crunch of the leaves…. Add to it the fact that my beloved husky was making me crack up laughing…. He literally burst forth out of the door, kicked up the snow on his nose, exhaled and practically danced on the leash before dashing down the street – nearly taking my arm with him. Poor thing had to be restrained on a short leash until we could get across the busy street and down by the canal where he can run. Once the dog was down there though, he raced back and forth as fast as he could, as if to say….

LOOK LOOK! IT”S SNOWING!!! OH MY GOD!! I have MISSED YOU SNOW!! LOOK! LOOK! IT’S SNOWING!!! WOO HOO!! YAY!! SNOW! SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW!!!

He then proceeded to roll in the white powder, to become covered in the stuff, before running back and forth several times. It was pure and utter JOY. Yes, I admit that I had to tell him to calm down and “do his business”, and that I really felt bad to have to take him inside where he’ll wait all day for me to return (before going out again). But, for the time we were outside, I got to revel in his actions – reflecting my mood.

Oh sure, there’s bad things about it – but for the moment, I’ve left the curtains open at home so the dog can see outside and watch it accumulate (if it accumulates), I’m sitting at work facing the windows enjoying nature’s cold white mystery coming down, and revelling in the fact that when I go home – the dog will be there at the door, with but a single look of joy on is face – that of “Hi Mom – OUTSIDE” and…

“SNOW!”

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