Baltimore Day 4

We've come to the final installment of my wonderful trip back East. Day 4 was actually spent in Baltimore, unlike Day 1, Day 2 or Day 3. Corey unfortunately had to work this day, so Matt was in charge of entertaining me and getting me to the airport in time for my evening flight back to CO.

Matt and I had a mellow morning that mostly involved putzing around on the computer, drinking lots of coffee and eventually showering and getting dressed. It was actually kind of nice not to be in a rush to get out the door and on to the next destination. But, we did have plans to meet up with Corey for lunch at one of my favorite restaurants in Baltimore, Miss Shirley's Cafe. Seriously, this place is absolutely to. die. for! It's a bit pricey, but totally worth it! So, we grabbed Corey from the office and enjoyed a fabulously tasty meal. Corey and I said our good-byes, which is always kind of sad, but she and Matt will be out in Colorado in August for their WEDDING, so this farewell wasn't too bad.

Matt is my fellow History nerd (seriously, you would want this kid with you if you were ever on Cash Cab) and since it was just the two of us for the rest of the afternoon, we decided to go to Fort McHenry since I had never been. It was another effing hot day, but we had a great time exploring the Fort. I'm not a huge fan of American History, but the American Revolution is one of the time periods that I love reading and learning about. I wont bore you all with the details, but if you're a history nerd and ever in Baltimore, I suggest checking out Fort McHenry.

After a couple of hours at the Fort, Matt and I headed to a shopping area near the airport in order to kill some time before I had to leave. We did a little wandering, both found a few things that we just had to have, waited out a freak rain storm and then it was off to the airport for me! Little did I know that my flight was going to be delayed for 2 hours, causing me to not get back home to Fort Collins until well after midnight...but, that's ok.

I had a wonderful Memorial Weekend getaway, and it was so nice to see my friends.

Because I'm an all-things-Irish loving, History nerd...

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, everyone!!

This is my 2nd favorite holiday, coming up just behind Christmas. I love an excuse to wear my favorite color: green, to get in touch with my 1/4 Irish heritage, to chow down on Irish soda bread and I get to rock out the The Pogues, The Young Dubliners and Flogging Molly without getting too many odd looks from my coworkers. Today is also a fabulous excuse to drink too much beer, throw back a few Irish car bombs (my fave!) and get a tad too loud with good friends...all for the sake of Ireland (supposedly)!

But, I also love this holiday because we get to celebrate Ireland and the country's wonderfully colorful history. I know, I know, I'm showing my true colors as a nerd here, but I just can't help myself. I love Irish history and folklore!

So, here are just a few historical tidbits about Saint Patrick's Day for you file away in your brain...you never know when you might need a bit of trivia:

- Saint Patrick was actually Romano-British, but was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave when he was young. He later escaped, but believed he was called back by God to save the pagan Irish.

- The shamrock, which typically has only 3 leaves and has become the symbol of Saint Patrick's Day (and Ireland), is believed to have been used by Saint Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity to the pre-Christian Irish.

- Blue was originally the color associated with Saint Patrick and this holiday.

- Outside of Dublin, Ireland's biggest Saint Patrick's Day celebrations are in Downpatrick, County Down where the saint is rumored to be buried.

- Chicago has dyed it's river green every Saint Patrick's Day since 1962.

- On March 17, 1776, George Washington issued General Orders from Cambridge, MA stating that the password for the day would be "Boston" and its reply would be "Saint Patrick".

- Saint Patrick's Day is believed to have been celebrated in Ireland since before the 1600's as a break in the Lenten season for the Irish Catholics, but wasn't officially recognized as a public holiday until 1903.

- The first recorded Saint Patrick's Day parade in the world was organized by the Irish Society of Boston and held on March 18, 1737 in (obviously) Boston, MA.

I hope everyone is wearing their green and enjoys this fun holiday! And, if you are participating in the beer guzzling be safe!


(source for historical facts)