What a difference a year makes. I'm now 41 and well on the way to 50 (trust me, THAT will be a big trip). And the splendid couple at the left are on their way to increasing the size of their family by 50%. Even money on whether the Levinson/Wedndelberger offspring arrives with facial hair.

Jenny & Hugh O'Neil have added a new family member since the trip - young Cairin was born in June and is a perfect baby.

Now we need to step on some of the other trippers to start or continue propagating. I vote for Joe & Kelly.

Thanks to my friends who joined me for a fun filled evening of Celtic shenanigans! While the Ireland Reunion party could never match the magic of being in Ireland we did our best to relive the memories of Matt's 40th Ireland Adventure. The evening started off with bagpipes greeting the guests. There was plenty of Heineken and Guinness on ice protected by a fox in the kitchen. We were graced by charming Irish dancers who taught us the jig. And, the party would not have been complete without a pony as promised. The Hyndiuks entertained us with a DVD recap of our trip which brought back nothing but good memories. My toast to you all was heartfelt; it truly was the trip of a lifetime and we all know we experienced something special. Slainte. O'Suzy

Dear Lads and Lassies

The King and Queen have graciously agreed to allowed me (Sue) to host the Ireland Adventure Reunion Party. Since the Royals have already hosted us for the Ireland Trip of a Lifetime, I am honored to host this Castle Party. My house is a Lannon-stone Tudor with climbing rocks for Nels, and if we go up on the roof at night, we might actually see slugs. I'm working on the pony rental for the back yard and my dog has been happily chasing down a fox in the field and we'll be sure to secure the fox in time for the party. And if you want, you can drive up to my house on the wrong side of the road. Please mark your calendars for the evening of Saturday, November 11th from 7:00ish 'til the wee hours at Castle Spoerk, 3384 S. Princeton Avenue, Milwaukee.

NEW PICTURES POSTED AND LOOKING FOR MORE

I have added some pictures to the site from Nels & Lara Mitchel (seen here perfectly posing in front of the Cliffs of Moher) and professional photographer Joe Koshollek.

My goal is to use the website as a place to post all of the digital pictures from the trip, and as a space for others to launch their own plans for a big Ireland vacation in 2007.

So anyone who has digital photos should try to get them to me. Compact disc is great because it is easy to use Photoshop to make thumbnail pages. Snapfish or Shutterfly should work as well because I can just order a disc on line (I should get Sue & Kelly's pictures up this week or next).

I'll try to put up a new blog now and then, but it is tougher with work and moving and all that.

Speaking of which, we should be all moved into the new house by August 30th, and will schedule a trip reunion party in September or October. Anyone who can help us sell our current house on 49th will be richly rewarded in this life (fancy dinner and outlandish gift, depending on the price) and the next (quicker move out of purgatory).

JUST A WEE 18 DAYS AGO

One of the emails I had waiting for me at work is this lovely self-portrait of me and Jeremy from the bar at O'Hare while we were waiting for our flight to Ireland. I meant to post it then but could not access my email from the bar.

You can clearly tell why our group was so popular on the trans-Atlantic journey.

I LOVE THE JOURNAL SENTINEL

So we come home from Ireland and pick up the morning paper on Sunday, and what do we find? A big story about our new home!

The story is in the Entree section of the Sunday paper, at page 7. You can link to the online story here:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=481038

What this town may lack in the way of green grass, awesome ocean cliffs and black stout beer, it makes up for in timing. And neighborhods, and good friends, and family.

WE ARE SAFE AT HOME

Our travels home were actually pretty fun. The airlines allowed computers, iPods, DVD players, books and magazines, so we had plenty to keep the kids busy. And man, are they great little travelers. No crying, just playing and occasionaly sleeping.

Our flight left Shannon (the airport, not my wife) pretty much on time, and we all sat in one row and had a nice flight in. Towards the end we had a bunch of turbulence, and Sylvie said her stomach hurt. Soon she threw up, but only in an airline blanket, like a good little girl. We had a quick change at Newark, and the flight to Chicago was groovy.

The Carey limo people were there to pck us up and we finaly got home after 9:00pm (3am in Ireland), tired but in good spirits. Of course, now it's 5am and the whole family is wide awake.

So, the trip is really over, I'm 40, and I have to go back to work tomorrow.

GOOD BYE IRELAND

We are packing to leave. Thanks to everyone who came with us. It was the trip of a lifetime. The last night featured a fancy meal in the castle dining room, with leg of lamb cooked to perfection by Michelle Thompson. We then repaired to the 3rd floor lounge and killed a bottle of 40-year old port.

See you all in Milwaukee.