cheers!

have a merry xmas and a happy new year!

james joyce pub...

back in august i took some pro bono photos to help on the marketing front. ok...truth be told...maybe i was hoping to secretly gain a norm-like tab for life :) the images found their way on the pub's myspace page...which put a smile on my face. i thought that was the end of the story.

apparently the james joyce website received an over-haul...and the images that i thought were once banished to myspace came to life. pretty schweet! what an awesome surprise.

you can check out the site here.

if you're in the area...please stop by. like ireland, it's the people that make this place special. trust me.

thanks katie!!! slainte!

birthday SURPRISE

I love my family. Check out what I came home to...birthday wishes on the door....a pumpkin cake log....a perfect pint of Guinness....and a homemade chicken pot pie. I am spoiled beyond belief.

1/2 Way to St Patrick's Day

For all ye Irish...or Irish at heart...today marks the official 1/2 way point to St Patrick's Day. James Joyce will be celebrating with $3 pints of Guinness. Not too shabby in times of uncertainty. Hell...it may even help you to forget that hit to your 401K. As if we needed another reason to partake.

Seems like a trivial thing considering the upcoming election, energy crisis, wall street debacle, etc....etc....but sometimes simple is good. Times with family, friends, and even strangers helps to reinforce that we're all in this together. I have no doubt that we'll muddle thru these times. Restoring confidence is the key, and like most things.....time heals all wounds.

Did I mention $3 pints? Slainte!

Fatigue

Folks, it's been a loooong week. 1 day and counting until Mady's 1st birthday.

Our house has been full of activity....and people. My in-laws (Saram & Synath) are in town for the party; they've been with us since this past Saturday. They really go above and beyond the call of duty helping out around the house, cooking dinner, fixing odds & ends and watching after their grand daughter. Sometimes I imagine myself telling them to sit down and relax, but then reality hits and the old saying....you can't teach an old dog new tricks....plays over and over in my mind. All parents want to help out, like it or not. Your always a kid in some respect. You have to chose your battles wisely or submit yourself into the psychiatric ward. My therapy involves large doses of Guinness and Irish Whiskey.

Sara has been fine tuning the details for Mady's day. She is the ultimate planner and wants the very best for our little girl. I love her for being so meticulous. I love her attention to detail. I love her ability to incorporate something for everyone. I love her for sparing me deep involvement in the process :) She is a keeper.

I've had some late nights this week. For someone who gets up at 5 AM, it's really beginning to take its toll. I managed to watch Obama's acceptance speech last night. I do believe this man will be President. I'm hopeful that he'll be able to deliver the change that he promises and inspire this great nation of ours. He definitely can move a crowd and motivating the masses can have a serious domino affect. We need someone like this. OK...enough politics. For the record, I'm an Independent.

I headed straight to bed after the speech, only to be awoken at 1:30 AM by some sort of animal, shrieking outside of our bedroom window. The scene from My Cousin Vinny, when Joe Pesci comes running out the log cabin...shooting in all directions....comes to mind. After a Google search this morning, I think it was a fox. Sara (my sweet night owl) was still up when I popped up. I think I remember her laughing...saying she thought the sound was her stomach at first. I could be wrong on that. I was delirious.

3 cups of coffee so far today; I'm starting to get my legs under me ...

One of these days I'll catch up on my sleep. It could happen.

James Joyce

This is my home away from home. You'll often find Sara, Mady and I there on a Friday night. Anyone who knows me...knows James Joyce. I hold this place near and dear to my heart. I can't say enough about the great staff....Denis, Boyko, Colin, Seamus, Petra ; they are like family. Mady is passed from person to person.

You gotta love a place like this. Try the Guinness Stew. Slainte!

On Tap...

An eventful weekend awaits.

It's Ladies Night for Sara. She's planning a night out on the town with 4 friends -- tapas at Pazo, followed by a movie . Mady and I will be hanging out at home...soaking up the father/daughter time. Hopefully, I'll be able to finish up some final edits for a wedding that I shot on the Eastern Shore.

The HonFest is Saturday & Sunday in Hampden. We'll probably check it out early Saturday. Never been before, so it should be an eye-opener. All things Bawlmer Hon! Jaime Windon is the official photographer for the event. Her work is really awesome. Later that day, I'm shooting some coverage for the Leukemia Cup Regatta in Annapolis.

Sunday is Father's Day. My first. We're starting the day with a 5K run to benefit the GBMC NICU in Towson. If I survive that, we're meeting up with my bro (Tim) and family (Cindy, Erin & Lauren), as well as my rents (Ginny & Tim) at Padonia Swim Club. We'll top off the day with dinner/drinks with my father in law (Synath), brother in law (Bory) and wife-to-be (Anne) at my favorite Irish Pub... James Joyce. Ahh...I can see the cascading pint now. Guinney up!

Growth

Sara and I met up yesterday for Mady's 9 month pediatrician appointment. She is doing so well. It's unbelievable. For the specifics, check out Sara's blog at http://sbwaire.blogspot.com/ -- she's a proud Mom....so hard to tell :) Mady and I are both lucky to have her.

It's really amazing to see this kid grow. It's even more amazing to think that I played a role in it. Every day, we're filled with smiles as we watch her discover and navigate the world around her. It's surreal to be a parent. I've become Dad...which is still hard to believe it. Most days I don't feel like it...after all, that's my father's role, right? I'm not him. Or am I? Cue the music...

Mady's growth reminds me that I'm growing as well....older! It's funny how life makes you think about death. Well, it does for me anyway. I've already provided Sara with a brief overview for my Irish Wake -- a celebration of my life. Guinness of course. Shots of Black Bushmills (similar to the scene in PS I Love You...with Jameson). Oh..and a little Flogging Molly playing in the background. Enough of the morbid schtuff for now :)

I have often struggled thru-out my life to find what makes me tick. What ulitmately defines me? What is my role? Like most people, I've always associated that with a career. Who wouldn't? It's where we spend a majority of our waking hours.

After Mady's birth, the truth revealed itself. My simple, yet powerful role, is to provide.