HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY !!!

HAPPY ST. PADDY'S DAY !!!

AND HOW'S EVERYBODY FEELING TODAY?.......

YA....... ME TOO!

ACTUALLY OUR ST. PATRICK'S DAY STARTED OUT WITH THE "LUCK OF THE IRISH". WE WERE HEADED OUT TO NEEDLES TO MAKE OUR MONTHLY DEPOSIT IN OUR RETIREMENT FUND (THAT WOULD BE THE CALIFORNIA LOTTERY) , AND STOPPED AT THE POST OFFICE TO MAIL A COUPLE OF BILLS AND BUY A BAG OF ICE FOR THE COOLER IN THE TRUNK.

......WAIT, WAIT, I BETTER BACK UP THE STORY. NOW THAT WE ARE TWO CAR TRAILER TRASH,(AND A PICK-UP) WITH THE ARIZONA CAR, WE DECIDED TO DRIVE THE ARIZONA CAR TO NEEDLES, CA.

AFTER OUR POST OFFICE STOP WE WERE PULLING OUT OF THE POST OFFICE AND HEARD A BIG "CLUNK" UNDER THE HOOD AND LOST THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR. "SHIT, WHAT WAS THAT?" WE TURNED OFF THE CAR AND POPPED THE HOOD, BUT WITH MY LIMITED MECHANICAL ABILITIES, ALL I COULD DETERMINE WAS THAT, THE ONE AND ONLY BELT WAS OFF AND THERE WAS A DANGLING PULLEY THINGY.

WHAT THE HECK I CAN DRIVE THIS ARIZONA CAR WITHOUT POWER STEERING, AND AT LEAST WE CAN GET IT HOME. WE LIMPED A MILE AND A HALF UP THE ROAD BEFORE THE HEAT GAUGE AND EVERY IDIOT LIGHT WE HAVE WAS PEGGED.

AHH...... "HOUSTON WE HAVE A PROBLEM"

WAIT A SECOND DOESN'T KAREN, A FRIEND FROM WORK, LIVE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER? SURE ENOUGH, AFTER SITTING A FEW MINUTES AND WAITING FOR THE HEAT GAGE TO COME DOWN WE STARTED IT BACK UP AND MADE IT TO KAREN'S HOUSE.

HEY KAREN, COULD WE LEAVE THE CAR HERE? AND COULD YOU GIVE US A RIDE HOME? IT'S SAINT PAT'S DAY, WE HAVE FRIENDS FROM PRAIRE DU CHEIN, WI FLYING IN, AND WE'LL DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM LATER. NO PROBLEM SHE SAYS, AND DID I MENTION BEFORE, MY SON IS AN AUTO MECHANIC?

AS I SAID EARLIER, "THE LUCK OF THE IRISH" WAS A SMILING UPON US. NOT ONLY DID WE ESCAPE A VERY EXPENSIVE TOW BILL, BUT THE AZ CAR WAS REPAIRED AND AWAITING US THE NEXT AFTERNOON ALL REPAIRED WITH A NEW IDLE PULLEY ASSEMBLY AND SERPENTINE BELT.

OF COURSE IT WOULDN'T BE ST PATRICK'S DAY WITHOUT TOUCHING BASE WITH MY IRISH ROOTS, MY FAVORITE X-COUSIN-IN-LAW, TERESA AND TRACY SHAGER. THEY WE'RE "TUNED" FOR THE HOLIDAY AND MARY AND I WERE JUST A COUPLE HOURS BEHIND IN GREEN BEERS OURSELVES (CHECK BUBBA'S BLOG?).

TODD AND DI ARRIVED JUST AN HOUR LATE ON SUN COUNTRY FROM MADISON, WI. AND WE FINISHED OFF THE IRISH HOLIDAY IN TRUE IRISH TRADITION............

I'LL LEAVE YOU WITH SOME PICTURES, WHICH TELL OF THE CELEBRATING, AND ENJOYMENT OF GOOD FRIENDS FROM HOME.....