HE HAD TO LEAVE SOMETIME

Jeremy Levinson and Jeralyn Wendelberger departed this morning, one day later than planned but exactly when Jeremy thought they would. For months Jeremy was telling Jeralyn he booked them through Tuesday, but his actual flight home was Monday. Then yesterday the flights were delayed and they stayed another day.

Good thing, too, becaue I needed JPL to help me get the family back here from the airport.

The Jers spent the balance of their last day traveling to the coast with Kathy Guis, catching views and visiting pubs. reland has a strict no drinking and driving policy, which of course is why Jeralyn has become renowned for her left side of the road driving skills. The hihglight of the trip apparently came when Kathy was chatting up with some local Irish toughs, who at one point got hold of her sunglasses and didn't seem inclined to give them back. According to Jeremy, he intervened and said, "Give her the sunglasses back, we're leaving." A 60-second staredown ensued, during which the Irish lad peered into Jerem's soul, tossed the sunglasses back, and ran away screaming. At least that's how Jeremy described it.

Jeramy and Jeralyn were perfect guests, and as one might imagine Jeremy was high entertainment all week long. He also showed that there is no reason for a bottle of gin or whiskey to last more than one night. Jeralyn, showing her counterbalancing spirit, was out running every day. They will be missed.

Back at the compound, Audrey and Sylvie were having the time of their young lives running around the castle and coach house and feeding Pepper the Pony everything crunchy they could get their hands on. My cherished Irish apples have all gone missing. Audrey and Emily Koshollek then repaied to the sun porch to play a game called "Evil Dodos," which appears to be a child's version of tag combined with marco polo. Sylvie declared on the way back from the store that she would "take a little nap," and basically has been asleep since (that was 12 hours ago).

As a trip animal, Pepper is joined by Henry the Horse (who lives along the road and reputedely won a $100,000 race recently) and Seamus the Sheep, who occasionally holds up traffic right before the gate. Finally there is Ethel the Fox, who is named for our friend who first spotted the fox wandering into the castle kitchen late one night while she was online, alone. Ethel the attorney screamed and Ethel the Fox apparently strolled out, casually.

Today Shannon and I and the kids and my Mom are headed down to Kinsale for the day with Kathy Guis. Kathy has two job interviews there, so she will have a choice between a hotal and a famed restaurant named "Fishy Fish." I'm rooting for the latter based on name alone.

Tonight should be a castle party night. Hopefully I will have a moment to post up a new slideshow or two of pictures. Now I'm off to make a traditional Irish breakfast.