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Welcome to the Irish Culture & Customs newsletter which is published every week and sent out to well over 2100 readers all over the world. You are receiving this newsletter because you signed up for it - God bless you! If you'd like to read past issues, they are archived at: http://www.yourmailinglistprovider.com/pubarchive.php?Herself
If, for any reason, you wish to unsubscribe, instructions are at the end - but we do hope you'll stay with us.
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Greetings and blessings to all,
Well here it is, another whirlwind of a week behind us and Wednesday already with us again. Many of you have told us how much you enjoy receiving and reading the newsletter over the weekend, so we're going to make today's offering a lot shorter than usual and send out another edition this coming Saturday or Sunday. In any event, we hope this issue finds you in good spirits, good health and good company. A warm welcome back to you all and a special hello to all the new subscribers who finally put us over 2100 readers! Thank you for that and for signing up - and if you enjoy this somewhat abbreviated version of our normal weighty tome, please feel free to pass it along to family and friends.
Since last we wrote, what an incredible turn of events we have witnessed in the USA! We wish Russ' dad had been here to see the Red Sox win the World Series - but he no doubt had a better seat than we did! Bridget had been in the country just a few years when the "Cardiac Kids" of 1967 stole her heart; she's been a diehard fan ever since.
Sunday night saw a small but very enthusiastic turnout of trick or treaters. It used to be that it would be a long evening of answering the door, but nowadays, we have "official hours" from 6 p.m. until 8 pm. The result is a lot of leftover chocolate bars - not that we're complaining mind you. Besides, Bridget needs to regain some of that weight she lost when she was in the hospital. Bring on the Milky Ways and Three Musketeers!
Yesterday, we did our civic duty and went to the polls. We were luckier than many in our area - the wait in line was about 15 or 20 minutes. Our polling station is also within walking distance, so for our morning walk, we combined a wee bit of exercise with exercising our political right to vote. Without getting into whether or not the best candidate won, our hope is that God will indeed bless America, because whatever happens in the USA has a major impact on the rest of the world.
As if on cue, we flipped the page on the calendar to November and it was winter. The mercury is predicted to plummet with the first of the white stuff expected this weekend. Time to get out the winter woolies. We enjoy the change in seasons - but, we're getting a bit long in the tooth for dashing through the snow.
Enough of the blither and blather, on with the update:
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Quips, quotes, proverbs & toasts
A bit of the wit
Joke of The Week
Did You Know
Writer's Quiz
Riddle
New This Week
The Week Ahead
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QUIPS, QUOTES, PROVERBS & TOASTS
In celebration of Oscar Wilde's birthday on October 16, we are featuring some of our favorite "Oscarisms" each week of the month.
"Whenever cannibals are on the brink of starvation, Heaven in its infinite mercy sends them a nice plump missionary."
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A BIT OF THE WIT
"Alas, I am dying beyond my means." Oscar Wilde
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OUR FAVORITE JOKE OF THE WEEK
This one is from Hartson - thank you!
WHO SAYS MEN DON'T REMEMBER ANNIVERSARIES?
A woman awakes during the night to find that her husband was not in their bed. She puts on her robe and goes downstairs to look for him. She finds him sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in front of him. He appears deep in thought, just staring at the wall. She watches as he wipes a tear from his eye and takes a sip of coffee. "What's the matter, dear?" she whispers as she steps into the room, "Why are you down here at this time of night?" Do you remember when I met you and you were only 16?" he asks solemnly. The wife is touched to tears thinking that her husband is so caring and sensitive. "Yes, I do" she replies. The husband pauses. The words are not coming easily. "Do you remember when your father caught us in the back seat of my car, making love?" "Yes, I remember" says the wife, lowering herself into a chair beside him. The husband continues... "Do you remember when he shoved a shotgun in my face and said, "Either you marry my daughter, or I will send you to jail for 20 years?'" "I remember that too" she replies softly. He wipes another tear from his cheek and says..."I would have gotten out today."
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THIS WEEK'S RIDDLE:
To begin with, the answer to last week's seasonal groaners:
1. What happened to the man who couldn't keep up with the payments to his exorcist? He was repossessed.
2. How do canine scavengers in Africa find their way in the dark? They use jackal lanterns.
3. Why was the vampire fired from the blood bank? He was caught drinking on the job. Well done to Heather who was first in with the answers. And now for this week's head-banger:
It is in a rock, but not in a stone,
It is in marrow, but not in bone;
It is in a bolster, but not in a bed,
It is not living, nor is it dead.
Q: What is it?
THE WEEK THAT IS:
1. Article - Samhain - The Irish New Year
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/Samhain.html
2. Article - The Day After Samhain - All Soul's Day
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/DayafterSamhain.html
3. Article - Irish Celebrations - The Feast of St. Martin http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ASaints/Martin.html
4. Article - Irish Linen, the Cloth of Kings
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/AEmblem/Linen.html
5. Article - It's a Long Way to Tipperary
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/ACalend/VetsTiperary.html
6. The Irish Kitchen - Soda Bread
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/2Kitch/aSodaBred.html
7. New - Basic Irish: With the holidays looking, this month's lesson focuses on words and phrases associated with festive feasts
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/3Focloir/1Home.html
8. New - Trivia Contest for November. Congratulations to our winner for October - Kristen Kenny from Massachusetts. As with the Irish Lottery, you have yo be in it if you want to win it. To enter our new contest, please click
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/TriviaContest.html.
All entries must be in by midnight, November 30, whichever time zone you live in.
9. On-going - Circle of Prayer: Novena #9 in this cycle began on October 26 and ends on November 4. A new cycle of Novenas will begin on Friday. Please keep kidnapped Irish aid worker Margaret Hassan in your prayers; also Mary from NY, Hartson & Helen, Aideen, Graine, Barbara G's mom who just had a stroke, Cheryl, Pauline, little Sebastian, Matt Maupin still being held hostage; (it is now 6 months since he was taken); the families of those hostages who were so brutally murdered; the sons of personal friends Paul and Ashley, who are serving in Iraq, and all of our military personnel stationed in Iraq and all over the world.
10. New - Sunday Blessing
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Blessings/Bless.html
11. New - Wednesday Quote
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/Quotes/WitHumor.html
THE WEEK THAT WILL BE, GOD WILLING:
Bridget is putting the finishing touches on a new Culture Corner for both the home page and Kids' Ireland. Several articles are still in the works and we're looking for appropriate images for the latest children's story; we also hope to publish a new recipe and as usual, we'll have a new Sunday blessing as well as a new Wednesday quote. In addition, we'll be updating the headlines and history every day. Just so you know, we keep two weeks worth of headlines which you can read here:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/01News/Home.html
And we keep a week's worth of history here:
http://www.irishcultureandcustoms.com/02Hist/aNovember1.html
So there y ou have it until, fingers crossed, we're back on track with another edition this weekend. One more thing before we forget, a belated pinch, punch first day of the month, white rabbit! And if, you are getting married this month or perhaps you tied the knot in November, here's the Irish verse:
When you wed in bleak November,
only joy will come, remember.
Until next time, may the Good Shepherd of us all watch over you and yours - and as they say in Ireland, mind yourself.
Slan agus beannacht,
Bridget & Russ
Get down on your knees and thank God you're still on your feet
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Events & Classifieds
To avoid duplication, we list only those events not already mentioned in the Irish Heritage Newsletter - if you'd like to subscribe, just send a note to George at Steeler059@aol.com
And, if you're in Ireland, or lucky enough to be visiting, you can see what's on offer here:
http://www.irishtravelideas.com/Calender2004.asp
Houston, Texas - November 3
One of Murder By The Book's favorite debut novelists of 2003, Erin Hart, will sign & discuss her new Irish mystery novel, Lake of Sorrows, Wednesday, November 3, 6:30 p.m. 2342 Bissonnet St. Event includes traditional Celtic music performed by Erin's husband, Paddy! His website is: http://www.chulrua.com/tunehome.htmlIf you need any more information on the event, please don't hesitate to contact David at (713) 524-8597 or david@murderbooks.com
New York City - November 7
In Ireland Once Upon A Time - A performance by Kitty Sullivan at the Irish Arts Center, 553 West 51 Street. One show only at 3pm on Sunday November 7th.
Tickets are $20.00 by calling Smartix at 212-868-4444 or online at www.smarttix.com.
For press information and interviews please contact Daly Communications at 212-772-0852 or anitadaly@yahoo.com.
For more details about Ms. Sullivan, please click:
http://www.kittyharpsong.com
Cincinnati, OH - November 12
Cincinnati's premier Celtic theatre company has announced its first season, beginning with A Christmas Musical: A Child's Christmas in Wales, based on the story by Dylan Thomas. The musical will be presented Friday, November 12 at 8 p.m., Saturday, November 13 at 8 p.m. Sunday, November 14, a matinee at 3 p.m.; Friday, November 19 at 8 p.m., and Saturday, November 20 at 8 p.m.
at the Columbia Performance Center, 3900 Eastern Avenue in the historic Tusculum area. Tickets: $16 in advance; $18 at the door
Students, seniors and children 12 and under: $12 in advance; $15 at the door. For tickets or additional information, go to New Gate's Web Site at http://www.geocities.com/newgateceltictheatre/, call 513-305-7958 or e-mail new.gate@fuse.net
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