And may the wind be always at your back! And may you be in heaven an hour before the devil knows your dead...

It's St. Patrick's Day, and that means it's time to celebrate the wee bit of Irish that's in us all. I'm actually a whopping three-eighths Irish, with folks from both sides of my family emigrating during the potato famine. 

Some people have questioned my Irish heritage (as if my real name Kathleen weren't a big enough clue), mostly because I was never much of a potato fan until I was all grown up. I think I was in my 30's before I ate potato salad, and am still not a big fan of boiled potatoes. (Maybe I had too many in a past life.)

However, I more than make up for that now, with my appreciation for Irish beer. I'll take a cold Guiness draught or Smithwick's any time! 

Before I close this to head to the nearest pub--I do have a few St. Patty's Day pet peeves I'd like to get off my chest.

You don't have to add O' to the beginning of a name to make it Irish if it's already Irish (O'Dunn sounds completely silly). 

A four-leaf clover is not an Irish symbol. A shamrock has three leaves (and reminded St. Patrick of the trinity). 

Green beer is okay..but it seems kind of like a half-hearted gesture to just throw a few drops of food coloring into the pint glass. It's the whole keg or nothing!

One more Irish Blessing:
May your home be filled with laughter
May your pockets be filled with gold*
And may you have all the happiness
Your Irish heart can hold!

*With gold at more than a thousand dollars an ounce, that sounds like a pretty sweet deal!