Hello on Saturday Morning

Dear Friends,

Friday went as planned for our Irish guests, and the Curley’s.

I rallied from the long and arduous schedule on Thursday, and did accomplish our Friday goals. I even went off for a workout at Retro Fitness. Yes, I did take my afternoon nap.

While I was making my Irish soda bread for this evening’s Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner / Dance at the Elks club sponsored by the Irish American Club, Pat Gormalley took a few hearty souls four a guided tour of downtown Albany on Friday. Mary Kelly, who was considering not attending, was so glad that she did go. She said that the tour and the wonderful people whom she met in Albany, New York made it an enjoyable day. She said that they arrived back in Pittsfield around 4 PM.
Pat Barscz took Carmel Murphy for a shopping adventure at the Lee Outlets. Carmel too had a wonderful time, and enjoyed the abundance of items which she was able to choose from.
It appears that each of our guests will be checking a second piece of luggage when they head back to Ireland on Monday.

In the evening, Linda and I went with two other couples (non Irish descent) to a place in Lenox called “Firefly.” To attract the locals during the long winter months, Firefly decided to have daily specials. Last night the special was a price fix dinner for 2 people. The fixed cost was $50 per couple. For that $50, you received a full bottle of either white or red wine, and appetizer, a main meal, and dessert. If you don’t finish your wine, you can take the remainder of the bottle home (Legal in Massachusetts). We three couples didn’t have any wine to take home.

Since it was early, a couple of us asked what are we going to do now. One couple decided to go home and cuddle. The remaining two couples, Linda and I included, had wives who weren’t feeling 100 %. My male friend and I dropped our wives off home, and decided to go to Berkshire Hills to see where our Irish guests and some Irish Sister City friends were going to party next. We entered the ballroom just as the party was breaking up, and went over to the table of our 10 friends. No one wanted to go anywhere. Our Irish guests were yawning, and they just wanted to go home and sleep.
Well, the Gormalley lad, my friend Steve Gerardi, and me closed the Berkshire Hills. When we went into the parking lot, the cars of the workers, and our cars were the only ones there. My friend and I decided to call it a night. I am not sure if the Gormalley Lad went straight home.

Today the Gormalley Lad has our guests getting up bright an early for another full day. Several people are car pooling it to Albany, New York to march in their St. Patrick’s Day parade today. I believe the forecast might be wind and rain. My newspaper was dancing in my driveway because of the stiff wind which is blowing right now.

Linda and I will not be participating in the marching. I have decided to make a couple more loaves of Irish Soda Bread. I know of 5 to 7 more people who said that they wanted to attend tonight’s function at the Elk’s Club. I am guessing that having Father Joyce being honored as Irish Person of the Year will help fill a couple more tables with some of his parishioners. Kevin Cahill, President of the Irish American Club, wouldn’t want to run out of Irish Soda Bread.

Since I am up so early, I will most likely need a nap this afternoon. There is nothing like an afternoon nap!

As you see from the above description, it is a light day for the Curley’s. I hope that our Irish guest, and the other people marching in the parade have time to take a nap before they head out to the Elk’s Club this evening. I think that the doors to the Elk’s Club open at 5:30 PM. The exact time when they are serving is usually in the 6:30 PM to 7 PM range.

Have a great weekend!
Hope to see you at the Elk’s Club this evening!
Talk to you soon. The Curley Lad