And I thought Chicago was the the Windy City...

Thursday, September 15th at 1:11, I just had one of those moments... I got a new office chair at work, and the seat is much shorter than my old one. I went to sit down and completely missed it and fell on the floor! It would have been totally embarrassing, but everyone was at lunch so no one saw! Well, it's embarrassing now that I have shared it with you. My rib cage, and head, actually hurt from the impact, haha. Regardless of injury, it's still funny. 

On Monday here it was the windiest day of my life in Ireland, gale force winds left over from Hurricane Kathy which never made landfall on the other side of the pond. Check out her path below:




Apparently hurricanes begin off the coast of Africa, travel up North America, then come full circle around to harass Ireland with their winds. People were like literally being blown around on the streets. Chicago is meant to be the Windy City, but Ireland as a country is entirely more windy than even the most intense wind tunnels in-between Chicago skyscrapers. But a little Chi-City trivia for you, the "Windy City" is not actually referring to the weather but to the "hot air" (i.e. exaggerations) the politicians exuded in the bid to have the World's Fair in Chicago in the late 1800's. It's also said to have began with a rivalry between Cincinnati and Chicago journalists taunting each other in the headlines of newspapers. But the true origin is often contested, as with most nicknames, it's hard to remember how or who started them. And since the weather is actually pretty windy in Chicago, the nickname stuck.

World's Fair Colombian Expedition in Chicago 1893

One nickname I wouldn't want is "Angel Faced Killer". Many of you have probably heard of Amanda Knox, the American exchange student (wrongly) being held in Italian prison along with 2 others for the murder of her UK roommate that occurred when they were both studying abroad in Perguia. After being in prison for 4 years, her appeal has finally been heard, and a decision about her acquittal could be made any day now. A naive, aloof, and with a flaky personality, Amanda did herself no favors in convincing the fantastical Italian authorities that she is innocent. But the DNA evidence does not lie. I am in the middle of a great new book, "The Fatal Gift of Beauty: Trials of Amanda Knox" by Nina Burleigh, an investigative journalist. After I ordered it and opened to the cover, I was thrilled to find that the author (another investigative journalist) of the book "The Monster of Florence" Douglas Preston had fully endorsed Nina's book. Monster of Florence is an amazing labor of effort that covers the Italian investigation and subsequent trials of various people in the case of a serial killer that stalked the hills of Tuscany in the 70's and 80s. The book reveals the numerous and frustrating flaws in the Italian justice system and the paranoid delusion of it's chief prosecutor, Giuliano Migini. I highly recommend these books as great reads, and interesting true stories, and a stark reminder to American and Irish citizens that you do not take your rights with you (as my mother, the lawyer, always use to tell me) when you leave the country. So be mindful of local policies, customs, and law when you go abroad, have adventures but be smart. Even in countries that are romanticized like Italy that appear 1st world, but actually have 2nd world justice and legal systems. I've seen too many episodes of Locked Up Abroad to be blase. Ever see Brokedown Palace?

On a lighter note, last weekend we went to a benefit at the GAA (remember, Gaelic football) club for a fellow that played football in the 90's who now has Motor Neuron Syndrome. I never mind knocking a few back for a good cause, and had never been inside the club house at Clan Muire (Peadar's local club) before. Surprise...the bar is made of potato boxes. Whyte Brothers potato boxes you better believe.

This was taken the night before Ireland played the USA in Rugby. I decided to support Ireland and wear my green dress, green nail polish, and then drink orange cocktails in order to support my new allegiance to Ireland with their national colors. It was Rugby so I didn't care. I still support the USA in matters more important.

See the WB etched into the box on the left hand side of the bar? That's a potato box from the farm.

Peadar heard today that he got tickets for the GAA final which is basically the Superbowl of GAA, and its Country Dublin vs. County Kerry, guess which team we'll be rooting for? "Com'on you boys in blue!" is the saying (Blue is Dublin's county color.) The whole town is buzzing in anticipation on Sunday's game. I'm taking Monday off. Guess why.

Amanda Lynch, Peadar, and I at a Dublin GAA game in '09

Catch ya on the flip side.

XOXO

Amanda