QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Drinking

"Sometimes when I reflect back on all the beer I drink I feel ashamed.  Then I look into the glass and think about the workers in the brewery and all of their hopes and dreams.  If I didn't drink this beer, they might be out of work and their dreams would be shattered.  Then I say to myself, it is better that I drink this beer and let their dreams come true than be selfish and worry about my liver."  ~Jack Handey

Mmmmm Grease

Hangovers...a drinkers worst enemy. They sneak up on you to remind you how much "fun" you had the night before. The windowless room becomes too bright, your stomach feels as if there was an victim of assault, and your senses are heightened so that the smallest noise, smell or movement is multiplied by 500%. However how does one cure the feeling of a hangover? Sleep? The Hair of the Dog? or my personal favorite, the greasy home cooked meal, aka heart-attack on a plate.

Why is it that after a night of heavy drinking that many of us turn to greasy food the next morning? If drinking three meals worth of calories did not do the trick the night before, why continue to add on the calories the next day? Besides the deliciousness of some grease soaked food, there is some science behind why many of us prefer to add on the extra calories. 

Not only does Alcohol reduce our inhibitions to make some (sometimes) bad decisions, but it also affects our appetite control in our brain. However, to beat the hangover to the punch, many have advised to eat a nice greasy meal BEFORE your night of drinks. By doing this, a layer of fatty grease lines your intestines so that it helps to slow down the absorption of alcohol that you intake. Eating greasy food the following morning seems to be more psychological than physical, but I'll take it...with a huge glass of water on the side.

Song of the Week:

Jimmy Buffett - "Cheeseburger in Paradise"

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Break-Ups

I'm borrowing this idea from a friend of mine. As a person who loves a good quote, I thought I would try it out!

In respect to this weeks quote, it goes out to my little sister. Whose boyfriend of three years broke up with her over the phone. Which I guess is better than a text message, but still, a cop out  in my opinion...

"Take your records, take your freedom
Take your memories, I don't need'em
Take your space and take your reasons
But you'll think of me"

Keith Urban - "You'll Think of Me" (2002)

Pionta Guinness, le do thoil

So this past week, I was able to spend my favorite holiday with some friends old and new.

My morning started off as usual for a Thursday. Woke up at 8:50, rolled out of bed, put on some clean clothes and headed to The United Methodist Archive. I worked from 9 until Noon, and was able to get my hands dirty with history. I'm currently working on a research project for a organization called MARCHA, a caucus of The United Methodist Church dealing with the Hispanic Americans who follow the denomination. I have the devious task of searching page by page through the United Methodist News Service documents from 1969 to present. So far I have found a few documents regarding the organization, but have been aware that there have been many articles dealing with women's rights...the 1970s was a decade for fellow females!!

Any who, work was fun, I got to go home and rest a bit before heading out to Morristown to meet with a few of my fellow Druids. We went to Hennessey's Washington Pub, a great spot for a pint of Guinness, and some traditional Irish food Year round.  I had the fish and chips special, you can't go wrong with some fried fish and potatoes while drinking a few dark beers! The bar was packed with people of all ages, families brought their children, sons were taking their intoxicated parents home, men were wearing kilts, and there were too many Aran sweaters and green shirts to count.

After a few pints, and some great conversations I then headed West, to a town called Byram, New Jersey with a friend from school. I had promised that I would go out to her neck of the woods and see what the craic was like. After meeting her parents and getting re-pampered, we headed out for a great night out on the town.  We went to a bar called New Jersey Bar and Grill, or the Bag to many of it's local patrons.  It was a great place to spend st. Patty's day. I fit right in with my friend's group of friends and had a great night. I also ran into an college buddy from my undergrad, we shared a shot, and got to say our hellos.  My night was filled with $2 beers, Irish-Car bombs (although I wish that they would call them by another name :( ), shots of Jameson, Guinness, Smithwicks, a few broken glasses, a bunch of laughs and some new friends by the end of the night.

My favorite thing about st. Patrick's day is not about the drinking. It's about the mood that people are in. It seemed that everyone that I had run into that night was in one of the best moods of their life. Maybe I was looking past some who were not so happy, but the day just breathes happiness, cheer and joy. So I wish that everyone enjoyed their March 17th, whether you celebrated the holiday, or not.


Song of the Week:
"Whiskey in the Jar" - The Dubliners

Mardi Gras...and All That Jazz

So this year I was able to go on my first spring break in 6 years! Since I had so much fun during New Years, I decided to experience New Orleans during Mardi Gras would be my best bet...so I called up some of my friends who live in the city, and sure enough my plans were made!

Before going to Mardi Gras, my depiction of the festival was that it was one day (Fat Tuesday) and that people were wild and crazy, acting in ways of sin and foolishness. Man was I wrong, well...to a certain extent. Mardi Gras is not just one day, in fact it's many. Its a carnival season celebrated before lent. Parades occur EVERYDAY for a month before Fat Tuesday, and ends with Ash Wednesday. 

I flew down to New Orleans on the Friday before Fat Tuesday. Saturday and Sunday were supposed to be days filled with tailgate-like celebrations, but due to weather, my parade experience was given on Bacchus Sunday. Let me give you a little throw down of how the day panned out:

7:00AM wake up/shower, etc

8:00AM pick up keg (of yummy Abita Amber)

8:30 Drop off keg/ find parking

9:00 let the drinking begin

11:00 Krewe of Okeanos

11:45 Krewe of Mid-City

12:00 Krewe of Toth

5:15 Krewe of Bacchus

Followed by the Krewe of Endymion which ended near midnight

Our spot was held by some brave souls at 4am, and by the end of Endymion, the strip of land between St. Charles Street was deserted with the occasional group of "hard-core-keg-standing-parties", heap fulls of beads that parade goers missed and piles of broken chairs, tables and other items of trash that people left throughout the day. 

10:00 AM, ready for some bead catching and Brew drinking

One of the Floats during Okeanos

A band during Mid-City

The parades were not like how I imagined though, they were more than great. First off, the event is a more child-friendly environment. Locals make these ladder/chair contraptions for little ones, so that they can enjoy the show as well! The parade route is filled with marching bands, brass bands, decorative floats, masked men and the occasional celebrity! Anderson Cooper and Kelly Ripa were throwing beads in Endymion and Andy Garcia was the king of Bacchus. While some of the float riders were tempting female parade goers with the fancier throws by a little peep show, the parades themselves were rated PG! Well maybe PG-13 with the amount of drinking that was surrounding everything else.

Endymion

Anderson Cooper Threw me beads, NBD

Cooool WTWA inspired float!

Now Bourbon Street was another story all together. Everything you could have possibly heard about the craziness of Mardi Gras does occur in the vicinity of the French Quarter. Boobs, Barely-there costumes, balcony throws, and protesters fill the streets to an uncomfortable amount. Its a different experience entirely, and one that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime, whether you enjoy this crowed mess is to each their own...

Protesters...

One thing is certain though, 

The more time I spend in B-E-A-Utiful New Orelans, the more I fall in love with it!

So until next time NOLA, 

stay classy,

Love Amy

This Week's Song of the Week:

Hot 8 Brass Band - "Sexual Healing" (Marvin Gaye Cover)

   

I Feel Good....And I Knew That I Would

As many of you know, I love going to museums. From the architecture on the outside, to collection items inside. From modern "art" to impressionism...from dinosaur bones to historical documents. I love being able to use my senses and engulfing the culture around me. For the past five years, I have been making sure that I do not take New York City for granted. I make sure that I go to at least one new museum a year, while making multiple trips to the ones I love. One of my favorites has always been the MET. There is just SO MANY different genres of work crammed into one building. I'm able to put my headphones on, and enjoy whats around me. From people watching, to admiring portraits, paintings, sculptures and more.

However, the one thing I love the most is the process of actually getting to the museum itself. Unlike the American Museum of Natural History or Ellis Island, there is no subway that takes you right to the admission desks. You either have to take the 6 to 77th and lex, the B or C and walk across central park, or taxi it...And I don't mind. After living in the area for 6 years, I've never gotten sick of walking around the city. I get to take it in. Sure, sometimes you're in a rush and need to get there ASAP but many times, you just enjoy it for what it is. 

One building that has always caught my eye is that of the American Irish Historical Society. It's what seems to be  a small town home sandwiched between two larger buildings. It's architecture is beautiful, and for those who love the Irish culture like myself, the Irish tricolor is hard to miss hanging from the building's flagpole. I've noticed it many times, have many snapshots of the building on my phone/ camera but never dreamed that one day that I would get the opportunity to get to go inside.

My wonderful advisor has allowed me the experience to get to roam the halls of this establishment. For the past week I have acted as a docent to the Jackie Clarke Collection. A wonderful collection from co. Mayo. I've been able to meet and greet with some of the collection's archivists. while at the same time see history in the making. The collection has some amazing pieces in it correlating to themes such as diaspora and the 1916 uprising!  I've got to demonstrate my Irish-American knowledge by providing tours to those who are interested! While many of the tours have only included one-to-two people at max, it has still given me the opportunity to practice my skills as a tour guide. There was never really, a set script to the collection, so each time I'm able to make the tour my own! 

This experience has given me the chance to meet new people, in the field I will someday join. The fact that I enjoy going back each time makes me feel great! I've found something I love doing, which makes my search for continued education seem well worth it and totally justifiable! I Feel Good!

This Weeks Songs 

"Papa's Got a Brand New Bag/I Feel Good" -James Brown

"Irish for a Day...Southern for Life"

So I was talked into submitting a paper to the call of Papers for the ACIS Southern Conference. With much skepticism and fear of actually talking in front of a group of strangers, I was hesitant and fearful that my paper would actually get accepted...and on January 6th the verdict was set...a gaggle of Drewids would be heading south to Savannah, Georgia for this Irish conference because ALL of our papers were accepted.

The conference took place in Savannah's historic district! Where most of the streets are cobble stone, and the culture of the town just oozes out from every corner and seam that keeps the city together. On my first day here I had much time to kill, so I decided to explore the city by foot. So in the high 70 degree weather (In FEBRUARY mind you) I took in the southern air and enjoyed my afternoon. One of my favorite parts of Savannah is the number of squares and parks that they have (26 to be exact). Perhaps the most visited and better known is Chippewa Square. Which was the location where Forrest Gump sat on a park bench, telling the world that life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get. While the park is just as green and beautiful as the Hollywood version, the bench was just a prop used while filming. You can however visit the bench for a cost of $5 and a visit to the Savannah Visitors center, and home of the Savannah Historic Museum.

Chippewa Square

"The Bench"

One thing which surprised me about my trip to Savannah was the town's Irish history. There is a rather large Irish population found in this southern city. It was the final destination to many Irish immigrants over the years, and the town actually is home to the 2nd largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the US! Who knew?

The Belfast Boys playing a private show for us at Kevin Barry's Irish Pub

                                                                       Seán O'Se Singing us a song!!! 


AND One can not come to Savannah with out visiting Paula Deen's restaurant The Lady & Sons. You have to get there early to put your name down for lunch and dinner (the line starts at 9:30, and usually wraps around the industrial looking building). But it is well worth the wait (and the cost)!! Inside the restaurant has a lived in feeling where you feel like your eating at someones home rather than an up scale establishment. I some good southern eats, and probably gained 500 pounds and 10-15 new cavities, but that's something I will just have to deal with.

Orleans Square...in my opinion the least cared about in the city












It was good luck to touch the rain spout...soooo it had to be done!











So overall my trip to Savannah was well worth the fear of public speaking. I was given the chance to practice my conference skills (in front of an audience of familiar faces thanks to the support of the Drew Community), listen to some pretty awesome Irish presentations to expand my knowledge of the culture I LOVE, experience the Savannah night life with a few great friends old and new, soak up the southern sun and culture with it's warm weather, live music, and good cookin'. One thing is certain. As I trek back to New Jersey's cold winter weather and cosmopolitan streets I sure will have Georgia on my mind.


This week's song of the week:
"Georgia on My Mind" - Ray Charles