Sure as St. Patrick’s Day is Saturday, I reckon we can say we have passed the corner. Spring has arrived. I based this observation, not on the amount heat our thermometer measures, rather the amount of shoveling I had to do in the yard. A winter’s worth of doggy doo-doo, is a sure sign snow is on its way out.
A tip to thems with dogs — make sure you clean up the yard while there is a bite in the air. You want that doo-doo rock solid, for ease of shoveling. You well may be too late. If that’s true, well, it sucks to be you.
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Last year I tried to start a new Michigan tradition when it comes to spring. I believe another good way to figure out spring is at hand, is not to be on the lookout for the first red-breasted robin. Al Gore must be correct. Global warming has made Michigan so warm during the winter months, that more and more robins stay here, rather than fly south for the winter. I contend a surer way to know spring has sprung is to be watchful for dead skunks on the roadways. And, if you don’t spot one with your eyes, your nose will help.
My first skunk sighting/smelling was on Monday, March 12. Yep, I saw it (smelled it). It was and probably still is located at the southernmost of Tucker’s Corners — Oakwood Road at Leece, in Brandon Township. What’s yours?
A final note, for some reason my effort to change the tradition ain’t working. I wonder why?
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Ah, St. Patrick’s Day — March 17 — always a good time for a few Irish jokes. This one is courtesy of
Willie Hyder, Oxford electrician extrodinaire.
Irish Alzheimer’s
Murphy showed up at Mass one Sunday and the priest almost fell down when he saw him. Murphy had never been seen in church in his life.
After Mass, the priest caught up with Murphy and said, ‘Murphy, I am so glad ya? decided to come to Mass, what made ya? come??
Murphy said, ‘I got to be honest with you Father, a while back, I misplaced me hat and I really, really love that hat. I know that McGlynn had a hat just like me hat, and I knew that McGlynn came to church every Sunday. I also knew that McGlynn had to take off his hat during Mass and figured he would leave it in the back of church. So, I was going to leave after Communion and steal McGlynn’s hat.?
The priest said, ‘Well, Murphy, I notice that ya? didn’t steal McGlynn’s hat. What changed your mind??
Murphy said, ‘Well, after I heard your sermon on the 10 Commandments, I decided that I didn’t need to steal McGlynn’s hat after all.?
The priest gave Murphy a big smile and said; ‘After I talked about ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal? ya? decided you would rather do without your hat than burn in Hell, right ??
Murphy slowly shook his head and said, ‘No, Father, after ya talked about ‘Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery? I remembered where I left me hat.?
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Stereotypical Irish joke aside, I can no bring meself to watch, ‘TV’s newest, critically acclaimed hit,? The Black Donnellys.
Here’s the show’s official propaganda:
The Black Donnellys follows the exploits of four young, working-class Irish brothers. Their involvement in organized crime in New York City will put their life at risk and they will do anything to protect each other from the hostility between them and the other New York families who want their territory . . .?
As dear wife Jen proclaimed one evening after watching a commercial for said show, ‘Boy, if I was Irish I would be upset. That show has all the negative Irish stereotypes.?
Yep, drinking.
Yep, fighting.
Yep, womanizing.
I agree with Jen, except for the part where she said, ‘Boy, if I was Irish . . .? Were she Irish, she would have said, ‘Boy-o.?
I must be getting older or something, ‘cuz stereotypes of the Irish or American’s with Irish ancestry never bothered me. I am not get older, so it must be something else . . . how ’bout this: I must be getting snobby in my not old age?
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