slainté

st patrick's day is nearly upon us. as such, i think i will make a few suggestions.
1) watch "boondock saints" - starring norman reedus, sean patrick flannery, willem dafoe and billy connelly. two irish immigrant brothers take on the russian and italian mobs in an effort to rid hell's kitchen of evil men.
2) drink guinness - if you've never tried one, you should even if just to be able to say that you have done so. it's thick and filling so don't plan on drinking more than two. and take your time, it's meant to be enjoyed, not hurried through like some domestic light piss-water beer.
3) drink an irish car bomb - half-glass of guinness with a layered shot of bailey's irish cream and jameson irish whiskey. drop the shot glass into the beer and chug it down. smooth and unbelievably great-tasting.
4) kiss at least one son or daughter or ireland.
5) learn an irish drinking song - such as, "when irish eyes are smiling," "oh, danny boy" or "i'll take the high road". (or the newer chumba wumba song "i get knocked down".)
6) reaquaint yourself with house of pain. just in case.
7) learn gælic - erin go bragh (ireland forever) or slainté (let's get drunk) will work for greetings, toasts and meaningful things to yell out at various random times during the night.
8) eat beef, potatoes and cabbage like any true irishman would. irish stew and reubens are good, too.
9) um, wear green.
10) be at paddy's irish pub at chateau élan on march 17th. festivities start at 4pm with traditional live irish music and food.