st. patrick's day invite post '08!

Hi Everybody! It's time for one of the best day's of the year - St. Patrick's Day!

**which is also my sister's birthday - so happy bday, sis!**

Here's the rundown on where I'll probably be, what I'll probably be doing, who I'll probably be seeing. You should stop out and join me in celebrating! My whereabouts are subject to change at the very last second so you might want to hit the cell to verify what I'm up to, first.

breakfast 9ish AM @ They Jury Room

Parade 11:30ish AM The Parade **note they have slightly altered route this year

Post-Parade possibly a few drink's @ Byrne's

Afternoon fun - 3ish pm - Rumour has it there's a celtic-type guitar player @ Grandview Cafe

Later afternoon fun - 5ish pm - Come see Julia dance! @ Fado

Evening entertainment 1 - 9ish pm - We'll still be @ Fado for the start of The Prodigals

Evening entertainment 2 10ish pm - After a little of The Prodigals I'll be heading out to Rude Dog's for the first time to see Punch the Monkey. It's likely this is where I'll close the night.

It should go without saying - but - SAFETY FIRST! Curb your drinkin' & drivin' by walking, biking, carpooling, taking a cab, a bus, etc. etc.

storm watch '08

Our local news directors must be the happiest people on the planet right now. Nothing gets people's attention like the biggest blizzard to hit EVER. Even if the forecast is sunny, 68 degrees, with zero chance of rain - the weather is the big news story around here.

That's right, we got between 12-20" of snow throughout central Ohio from Friday-Saturday. So we topped records for the amount of snow and the speed at which it accumulated. I know - you're impressed.

Of course, STB & I found ourselves out driving in the snow briefly on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday it took about 30 minutes and the help of a neighbor to dig our car out of its parking spot, and then manage to get it into the alley behind our house, so we could go drive on Level 2 condition roads. We made it to the store okay.

Our big highlight @ the store was seeing a man in the checkout line holding his skiis. That's right, he skiid to the grocery store. As we left, we spotted a different man skiing down the road, amidst the few cars, the many walkers, and probably other skiiers, on his own mission.

There were quite a few people walking in the middle of the road. It was kind of like one of those post-apopolyptic movies where the worst of the attack has ended and people begin emerging from their homes, searching for loved ones. Except these people were searching for an open pizza shop.

We turned down a side road, and immediately realized our mistake. After about another 20 minutes, and the help of strangers, we made it back to the main street and safely home.

Sunday's trip was eventful, also. As soon as we pulled out of our parking spot, a giant SUV/Truck thing pulled out and got stuck in front of us. Out we hopped to help a stranger get on the road. We ran our errand, and on the way home saw a couple kids stuck on the side of the street. These are streets where people regularly park, and the snow plows just bury any cars left there during the storm. We stopped to help, and the girl that leaped out of the car recognized us - she works @ our gym. So after we determined the car was good and stuck, we gave her a ride to work (back from where we just came). We did see a city bus get stuck in snow. Exciting!

When we returned, her boyfriend was still out trying to move his car. We borrowed our neighbor's shovel and went back to help, and another stranger showed up with a metal shovel, and we got him out finally.

We're now back in our only sort-of warm house nice and safe.

I really, really hate snow