Leprechaun Turns Into Zombie!! News at ...zzzzzzzzzzz...

A quickie tonight. In the last 48 hours I've had about 11 hours of sleep, worked 19 and spent the rest bumbling along...
After a poor night of sleep on Tuesday night, I put in 9 1/2 hours at work and then went to darts. Last night was good. We won 11 games out of 14! I played well, but something scarey happened. I walked to the line, aimed my shot and threw and the dart 'fell' out of my hand like it (my hand) was made of rubber! I shook it off and accepted the god natured ribbing of both team-mates and opponents. It happened again, and once more. Now I was concerned. The guys were very helpful with suggestions. Johnny Hardcore suggested lettign my arm hang by my side to let more blood flow get into my hand. Freddy, our captain felt I had either had too much to drink or not enough, and my buddy Keith suggested surgery for my imminent attack of carpal tunnel. The match lasted until after 12 and when I got home I had a surprise. One of the wee beasties had disembowled one of our couch cushions and it's wooly entrails were alll over the living room. Duffy naturally blamed the cat, and the cat of course, didn't care. I then had about 5 hours of sleep, awoke with a headache that felt as if two dwarfs were in my head pounding out the Todd Rundgren song "I don't wanna work, I just wanna bang on my drum all day" with lead mallets on my skull. I then worked 10 hours. The Lovely One had a nice dinner ready for me when I came into the house and fell into the chair. I watched Idol on the couch and now here I am......
I am in a complete stupor. I cannot belive I'm trying to do an entry and if Blogger doesn't cancel my blogging privileges for missspelled words it will be a miracle.
I have another ten hour day ahad of me tomorrow and then, hoorah, the weekend. I hope I can at least stay awake to watch some of the Olympics or something....
Whjatever..
Good night

Blah Blah Blah

I'm not so sure what to title this entry, it's just a ramble I 'spose.
Yesterday our oven decided to die. Yes. Dead. I was making one of Herself's fave deserts, Creme Brulee, and I noticed, after letting the oven pre-heat for ten minutes, the oven was, well, not pre-heating. I placed my oven mitt on to place the desert in the oven and there was nothing but cold air coming out. I was unhappy to say the least. I called Herself and explained this to her and she said we'll check it out further when she got home.
In the meantime I had to run to the market and while in line got into a conversation with the elderly gentleman in front of me and the girl working the register. We talked about the weather, which is cold cold cold. He says it hasn't been so bad. I agreed, telling him this has been my kind of winter. He smiles and says, "Summer will be here before you know it and then you'll want the cold." The look on my face told both he and our cashier I disagreed. "bring on summer," says me. He smiled, "it's not so bad." Might I mention the temperature was about 30 and he was wearing just a sweatshirt. But I digress.
Our oven is kaput. My father in-law came over the instant he heard to try and help us out. He is very good to us like that. If we ever have ahousehold type issue, he grabs his coffee can of tools ( Chock Full O' wrenches? )and drives over. He examined it and felt it could be repaired but not by him.
So today my lovely wife calls one of her co-workers because she thinks he mentioned he used to do appliance repair. He did and said he was working but would be over toda to check it out. He assured her we would be cookin' by Tuesday. She mentioned money and he must have refused because I could hear her fussing about it. A little background. The man is goign through a horrible divorce and his psycopath wife is finding every way she can to get all of his money and to make his life a living hell.
The man has nothing. He can't even get his winter jacket because Captain Crazy has changed the locks on the house they once shared. He hardly has money and he is coming to help us,out of the goodness of his heart.
It amazes me and makes me feel good knowing people like this. I also spoke with Keith across the street and he also said not to worry, he has a buddy that is a Sears tech. He'll be able to help.
So within less than 24 hours, we've had three people offer their help. Kinda makes ya' feel good about people doesn't it?
More good news. The slag next door is going to put up a 6 foot privacy fence. This means I can sit and have my tea in the morning and look out my lider and not see the 'Little Barrio Starter kit' she calls her back yard.
Today is Sunday and the animals were up early but oday the Lovely One got up and I was allowed to sleep in! Thank you sweety. kisskiss. Once I was awake and somewhat functioning, I told her to go back to bed as she hasn't been feelign so hot. She was, fortunately, able to get another couple hours in. Once she got up I thought I'd go back..LOL..this is awful. She says 'I feel like we're sleeping in shifts'
I tried to sleep but back pain kept me from getting comfortable. So here I am.
The Olympics are going well, eh? Poor Apolo though. I was hoping the lad would get a gold last night. Next time kiddo.
Well, this entry has truly been a babblefest. Sorry..
Stay warm...

Two Entries in One Day? You Crazy Man!

Here I sit. Rocking out to some great songs I got from the iTunes store. The house is warm against the howling wind and blowing snow outside and the Olympics play on the tv in the bedroom. The combination of the two bring back memories of watching the Olympics with my father.
I guess it was sometime back, which to an Irishman could be a few minutes or several years. It was several years. It was the 1980 Olympics. The Miracle on Ice. The boys from the USA, under the guidance of the great Herb Brooks, beat the feared Russians. The boys from the US were intense, happy, younthful, tough as nails and a hell of a hockey team. The Russians wore scowls and seemed to be unhappy in general. Of course if you played for the Red Army team. You were a) in te Russian Armay and b) training year round, never seeing your families. I'd be unhappy too.
My Dad loved hockey and I can still, and hopefully always will, see him in his spot at the end of the couch. A cold Molsonm Golden in one hand and a small dih of cheese and crackers on the end table next to him. His favorite hockey viewing snack.
I was called in for the games at nightfall. Until that point I was out in the street, going down the hill on my Flyer on my back doing my best luge run. The weather was bitter and the warmth of the house was great.
We sat next to each other and watched the winter games. Dad was a big fan of the winter games. He liked hockey and the luge. He would tease my mother when she watched figure skating. He'd often say to the male skaters "grab a hockey stick!"
I enjoyed the gentle ribbing. I remember being at our kitchen table, which was in the living room for some odd reason. Remodeling the kitchen I guess. My Dad had ventured to MacDonalds and we sat around the table cheering our countrymen to victory.
I am older now and Dad is gone. I now watch the Games with my lovely wife. We both love hockey, as you know. I prefer the luge and speed skating. I always thought I'd like to try the luge but after just watching these guys hurtling down the track at speeds near 90mph ( or 141kmh for you metric nerds) I've rethough that.
And now that I'm older I see that there is much more to figure skating and maybe the men don't have it so easy. I still think they should grab a hockey stick though.

Crap. It's still snowing

Hi all. Here we are almost twenty four hours later and the white stuff is still falling. I think right now there is about 18 inches on the ground. I went out and dug us out with the neat little snow blower my step-son Tom was kind enough to get for me. It made snow removal sooo much easier on my back. So thnak you thank you thank you to Tom. I thank you, my back thanks you.

Something really wonderful happened 6 years ago today. I met the Lovely One for the first time. Yes it's true. It doesn't seem like it was that long ago, but hey time flies when you're having fun. From the moment I saw her in person I got the vibe. I knew she was special from talking to her for countless hours online and later, on the phone.
We had dinner at one of the best restaurants in Rhode Island and over dinner we had great conversation intermingled with small bits of quiet nervousness. She was just so cute and easy to be with. Funny thing was we both had no interest in getting married at all. Uh-huh. We all know how that turned out... We had a drink or two and then we went to my friends house. I was dog-sitting for three insane dalmations and we sat on the couch and spent the next several hours just talking. Okay there was some smoochin' going on too, but I digress.
She stayed for the next couple of days and got to meet my Dad. I'm so glad she got to meet him before he died. I just wish she could have met the 'real' him. Not the once strong man who had been battered by cancer. He was tired and weak but managed to have a pleasant but brief conversation with the Lovely One.
After she left I decided to make a trip to New Jersey. This was also the farthest I've ever driven alone and it was interesting to say the least.
After that we spent the next several months commuting back and forth, visiting.
In October we decided to try living together. I packed up my belongings and moved to New Jersey. Then, in 2002 we were married. Yes, the two people who weer never going to be married...It has been a wonderful ride. Herself is a wonderful, caring wife and I couldn't be happier. I hope we have many, many more happy years together. I love you baby.
And in case you're wondering. It's still snowing.

Crap. It's Snowing

Welcome to the Saturday Edition of Bit O' Blarney. As you can see by the title, or if you're one of the few people who read this journal freely, and not under threat of physical harm, you will know the Leprechaun hates snow. Hate. I don't even know if hate is strong enough a word.
The last forecast I saw called for 6-12 inches of the white stuff. Thankfully it is Saturday and we have food and beer. Dinner is already planned, I'm making a sausage and pepper dish, and the house is nice and warm. Cozy,even.
Thursday night we ventured to Best Buy to find a small case for my iPod Suffle. They had none and I'll have to wait a week or so or I could go to the mall when the Apple store finally opens. Methinks, however, I'll pay alot more at the mall.
We did happen to get a little case for my cell and the Lovely One got me a card for the iTunes store and I've been busy poring through the extensive library. I've already gotten a few and have a few more left. It's tough to decide.
On Wednsday, as you know, I was sick as a dog. I called across the street to let my buddy Keith know I would not be going to darts. He was still at wrok but his wife Stacey said she'd relay the message. About two hours ago the doorbell rang. We were expecting Tom, my step-son, but I looked out and his car was not there. I figured it was one of the little girls next door. They always ring the bell when their ball goes into our yard and they need to retrieve it. I opened the door and there was Keith and Stacey. I invited them in and Keith handed me a little cloth bundle. "A get-well-soon gift." says he.
I'm pleasantly surprised. Not that they would do this. They are two of the nicest people we know. Great neighbors...But I know they are having abit of financial trouble. Still, they thought of me. What a nice feeling. I take it and usher them in and offer them a beer. I undo a small rubber band that has 'Guinness' (my favorite brew) printed on it. The rubber band holds a Guinness hat and wrapped into the hat is a Guinness T-Shirt. A very nice surprise indeed. They stay for an hour or so and we enjoy their company. They may come back later.
Where was I going?...oh yes snow..I hate snow.
Better news is, my former state Rhode Island is under a Blizzard watch! Yes. We know what happeneed last time Rhode Island got a blizzard. Blizzard. Brian make sure you eat your Wheaties and are in condition to shovel for Mom.
We were up early again today. Our cat is involved with some evil universal kitty plot to kill their owners soley by sleep-deprivation. The Lovely One got up early so I could go back to sleep. No dice. I got up and watched a bit of Olympic hockey. Womens teams were playing and I was in such afog I couldn't tell you who it was. We will try to catch some of the events. The Winter games are so much more exciting than the Summer games. Except for curling. Which is ..well.. I really don't know what curling is. But then I'm not from Canada.
Stay Warm.

Well. I'm still alive. Which is good news for most. I have seemingly recovered from my bout with whatever evil was living in my body. I still feel like I could use four or five hours more sleep but I think I should put in an appearance at work today.
I have just returned from the dentist where I had the following done. A small cavity, for which my dentist asked me if I wanted a little novacain or not?, to which I said 'hell yeah whatchoo craazy boy??'. No I really didn't say that. But I did take the shot. In all honesty, the shot was the worse part of it. Of course I'll feel like Gumby from the chin up until noon but that's okay. I also had a loose crown plucked off and repaired. All in under an hours time.
My plan was to go around the corner and get a hair cut but the barber shop didn't open until ten a.m. 10 a.m?? Who are you serving, the alcos?
I have just finished preparing dinner for tonight. We are having a beef stew cooked in the slow-cooker. I diced the onion, chopped tatoes, added the wine...so in 8 short hours we will be good.
My Lovely wife has gotten me into American Idol. It is interesting to say the least. Some of the young kids that go out there have some great pipes on them. But others...well..stick to your day job kid. I mean I can't sing for anything but hey, alot of these other folks...yikes! Tough on the little ears. Some of them I think are just there to get there mugs on t.v. Gotta love crazy Dave. And the dude with the grey hair is impressive. Although I'm not to sure he has the 'look'. Who knows.
Our friend Jennifer has a great idol journal. journal. Check her out.
That's all for now. I hope things are going smoothly at work. Well how can they be??I'm not there..lol.

No Pictures Please

If any of you saw a picture of me at this very moment you'd all be out in your yards screaming looking for a stick to poke your eyes out with, and frankly I couldn't live with that.
I'd start by saying 'good morning' but it isn't. Well, it is morning but there's nothing good about it.
I apparently have (or had) something evil living in my intestines and it decided to start it's new life of evil on Earth at 11pm. The first innocent victim was going to be me.
I spent the next 4 hours exercising the demon. It was not pretty. There is nothing I hate more than throwing up. Delivering street pizza. Calling O'Rourke. Talking in Technocolor..whatever... You choose. It was awful and I guess maybe you don't want to hear this so I apologise. Just know I'm feeling not-so-hotso. A bit run down (wink). I'm actually missing darts tonight. The first time since I started playing over 15 years ago that I'll miss darts because of illness.
I took today off from work. And Monday. And I'm taking half a day tomorrow for a dentist appointment.
My boss, who has been out for like 5 weeks returned on Monday. And I am told he was wearing his Cranky Pants. I was not there. I am not there today. I will be going in at 1 tomorrow. He'll have a complex soon I'm sure.
This is the first job where I've had paid days off. Imagine. I've been working since I was 15 and this is the first time I can call out. And. get. paid. sweet.
I have been playing chess with a co-worker. And I'm beating him on a regular basis.
Which is good. He isn't a bad player so I must be doing something right.
I'm hoping I can go back to bed for an hour or two. I need some sleep.....

Before the Lights Go Out Part Deaux

Here is a shot with me and my cake. It was purchased by my in-laws from Mendokers Bakery. A fantastic bakery just down the road from us. It has been voted best bakery for several years and folks come from as far away as New York and Pennsy for their fine goodies.
And yes the cake was tasted as good as it looked.

Quick! Before the Lights Go Out!

Okay so the BlogMeisters are shutting down at 7 for whatever. I just thought I'd do a quick entry and show you the great birthday gift the LovelyOne got me.
It is the finest BristleBoard available. It is the Caddilac of dartboards. It'll make practicing morew enjoyable. So thanks sweety !