We're back online!

It's Monday morning, and we finally fixed the computer issues. The castle is online once again.

The travel here was loads of fun--party at the Hop, booze bus to O'Hare, delayed flights and then they held our plane in Newark. The people who sat waiting for us for 2 hours were real happy to see 20 green-shirted drunkards piling in for the overseas flight. But the Doc's Lunesta took us the rest of the way.

Day 1 had us hanging out in a local pub and meeting a blind drunk Irishman named Owen O'Neill. We then had a big party at the castle.

Day 2 involved much sleeping in and a wild visit to the Cliffs of Moher, where we walked up narrow paths on the edge of 700 foot cliffs in the driving wind and rain. Danger shmanger! We then had a fun old time dinner at Bunratty Castle and another party at our castle, which we capped off at 4:00am.

Now it's time to leave for our first round of golf.

Good News

Word is our flight will leave at 6:15, which would be great. We'll see. The action is hot and heavy at the bar right now.

Bunch a booze hounds. Geez.

Delays at O'Hare

Our flight to Newark is delayed--apparently the storms we had last night made their way to the east coast and are screwing up air traffic there. We are gambling we'll make the connection, but it could be a big night in the Jersey casinos tonight if not.

the bus trip was epic. Ethel started things off proper with special trip shirts, so we look like a green glob moving through the airport. The Hop treated us to an open bar and the bus down to O'Hare was a hoot.

Now we wait and find out about various different personalities. I'm optimistic, of course, but if we don't make the connection we'll still have fun. Ament is apoplectic and wants to see how we can move 20 people to a different flight. The Cheese is rolling with it; Billy T is getting up in the airline workers' faces; Jeremy is hammered and doing just fine; Ethel has passed out from all the champagne on the way down.

Its 4;50pm and our 5:00pm flight is not leaving now. we're at the bar and having a 7-person $40 round. Jeremy even paid some.

The airline worships us because we are 1/6 of a plane anywhere. The first time high fuel prices helped anybody.

No big whoop; we are a mobile party that can't be stopped. If we become sober, the terrorists have already won.

Final Packing

July 28 - 8:40am - Get yer asses packing or I'll pound the lot o' ya.

Be at the Wicked Hop no later than 12 noon, preferably between 10:30 and 11:00 for some socializing.

July 28, 2006 - Lift Off

It's 12:07am in July 28 and we are the proud new owners of a nice home at 4803 Washington Boulevard, so what should we do? Go to Ireland!

Aye and begorragh, let's leave this treacherous new land and head to the Ould Sod for a bit of the calmer life. I've only been waiting since I turned 39.

The briefs are done and the wonderful kids are packed away with Grandma Doggies, so once we finish cleaning our (current) house for a few showings we'll be ready to head to the Hop to begin the 18-hour trek to freedom and relaxation. I never thought getting a whole two weeks off would seem like nirvana, but there you have it. FFSJ is a great place to spend one's time, but from time to time we actually have to work so this gigantic vacation almost seems unreal. But it's real.

I'll see you all later today, and for those not coming at all, my condolences. Schedule a few weeks off. We all need it.

2 Days to Go

It's Wednesday night and the clock is ticking. We already miss our girls, and we haven't even left yet.

The big news of the day is that Bill Guis's daughter Kathy, who is currently living in Galway, is going to come down for a visit, perhaps as early as Saturday night. The more the merrier. I'm guessing someone passes out on the third floor landing area (above), and my money is on Jeremy.

Everyone appears to be excited about leaving the United States of America. Aside from the kids, I think I will miss The Daily Show the most. But it will be refreshing to be in a peaceful and happy country, filled with nice pubs and docile sheep.

Baaaa.

MORE SOCIALIZING

Tonight we're having dinner with our friend D'Araun, who turned down the Ireland trip so he could go on a Mediterranean cruise with his family. He's flying out of O'Hare on Friday as well (to Rome) and he may well join us on the party bus if it works with his flight time.

Dave Moye is over as well (with Charlie). The Moyes aren't coming because they recently spent 10 Red Stripe-soaked days in Jamaica. Ja Man, you got it, he chose the smaller warmer island over the bigger greener island.

That's Charlie above.

Tomorrow its work work work, and then Thursday we close on the new house, with a party hosted by the sellers to follow at the new house (4803 West Washington Boulevard, 5-8pm). Anyone interested in seeing the new pad should drop by. t's a casual wine and cheese affair.

Then Friday, it's showtime.

AUDREY BLOG

Audrey says "hi" and wants to know if you have kids. She's really excited about going to Ireland, but really afraid of going to the Cliffs of Moher.

I told Audrey that we wont go to the cliffs because they are too dangerous for kids.

Beep is also really excited about sleeping in a castle! But she's a little bit afraid of sleeping in a castle because it's her first night.

Audrey is nervous about going to Dublin, just because. Dublin is too big and she thinks there will be wierd noises.

Now it's time to go to bed!

Testing, testing.

T minus 4 days to our flight. I am all packed.

I'm still working like a beaver to clear the decks. Oh those clients and their pesky problems. Friday can't come soon enough.

During the trip everyone will be encouraged to post blogs on our collective progress and sobriety.