The luck of the Irish eludes me at the annual Saint Patrick's Day parade
It was a bit of a rush to get to the parade route by the 12:30 start time (I had to exchange videos, buy corned beef and such, and fill the crock pot), so we ended up missing the beginning, which usually includes a short Irish guy dressed like a leprechaun, a bishop, and the Mayor. We initially stood a few blocks before the starting line, but the girls (we also had newspaper_girl with us) wouldn't get candy, so we had to move. It's not enough to have bagpipes and firetrucks and step dancers, you need to throw candy these days.
So we threaded our way downtown to the actual parade route, and ended up near Daisy Dukes/Soho, two of downtown's bars. The girls and Mrs. Ha stood on the street to get candy, I stood on the sidewalk, trying not to block people's views. The expected happen.
One of the yahoos must have pounded on the glass just right, and popped out a dinner plate sized section, which shattered and fell on the sidewalk a few feet from me. No one appeared to be hurt, though if you had to get hurt at a parade, getting cut by glass from a bar's negligence could have been lucrative, provided a few of the thousands of police and fireman around were sober enough to keep you from exsanguinating. The bar did have security out front, who eventually swept up most of the glass, while people inside put plexiglass over the windows.
It was a cool day for a parade, which didn't stop one guy form walking around in a cape and green striped tightie whities. I geeked out when I saw a firetruck numbered 3016, which is a version of the interpreter we're running on $product.
Later that night my friend's band was playing a set at the bar about six blocks away. Mrs. Ha was too tired to go out, but I had a few bucks, even after paying for allowances, and they were close, so I reckoned I might as well go.
I made it a few songs into their set, and ordered a Custom Brewcrafter's Saint Patrick's Day Ale to start with. It was a good tangy stout. I managed to get to an isolated corner to watch them finish their set, the only song I recognized was "Breaking the Law", though Tom said they played a Metallica cover, too.
Next beer was a Rorhbach's Cask Ale, and I got grief for using a $2 bill (eleven year old was tired of hers and wanted singles). It was a cool, yeasty and less carbonated treat. 40RL finished their set and began breaking down their gear, so I finished my pint and played some Family Guy pinball. I left when they were done, and chatted with my bud for a few minutes as he was loading his car, he had a Subaru and I was jealous.
What's up with grouploop? Seriously, enough of 5 gig ipods smaller than a matchbox, why don't you EE sorts do something really worthwhile and fix ground loop. My friend's band had a case of it (as does my computer) and I've had enough of it.
Mrs. Ha is trying a new med, trazodone, to help with the anti-anxiety med caused insomnia, that's her fifth prescription (fourth prescribed by the psych) for those keeping score at home. She tried a full 30 mg Sunday night at 9, and quickly had to go to bed. I wasn't in the mood for anything too hard, but I didn't want to go to bed, so I picked out Harold & Kumar go to White Castle to watch. I found it funny, as an adolescent male comedy/fantasy, though I don't know how much Mrs. Ha would have appreciated it (I think you have to know Indians and Asians to fully appreciate it), and it gave me a hankering for White Castle that may not be fulfilled (the nearest one is hours and hours away, and the frozen sliders aren't the same).
In other media news, I just finished another Bulge book, Merriam's The Battle of the Bulge. I'm meh about it, it was a slim overview of the battle, with little of the cool Nazi tanks or valiant paratrooper stands that make the Bulge so interesting.
In other Mrs. Ha news, she's had a day cut off her schedule, which impacts us financially about $@0 a week.
We got a letter from the city, addressed to us, but referencing the garbage tote sitting on the street next door. It threatened us with a fine if we leave garbage totes out all week. No shit, that's why we bring ours back. Our neighbors don't, though. I haven't been able to get in touch with the person who wrote it to get the explanation of why we're going to get fined for our neighbor's behavior.
I'm pretty burned out, it's been a busy week. Tonight won't be very restful though, as eleven year old will be having newspaper_girl and Porsche_girl over for a sleep over.
Happy Easter!
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