I made about the biggest possible Irish flub up yesterday....Really, REALLY awkward!
Let me tell you about it.
First off, some background. Ireland has been in the throes of a religious war of sorts for hundreds of years. Native Irish folk were predominantly Catholic and resisted the wealthy Protestant immigrants from England who forced the Irish into a brutal colonization.
As time has passed this battle has mellowed, especially in the Republic of Ireland where the country overthrew British rule and took control of the government. In Northern Ireland, still part of the United Kingdom, there is still a lot of infighting between the two groups, resulting in many deaths each year. In particular, a group called the Irish Republican Army or IRA is extremely militant against the Crown; this group is feared across the country. They start riots, burn shops and houses, organize drive by shootings, and even until late 1990s positioned armed members at the border and in northern towns and cities. They walk down the street in broad daylight in camo with machine guns on their backs--I've seen it myself. They are terrifying and avery real part of today's culture here, especially in the North.
Second point of fact: My roommate Stephen is from Co. Armagh in Northern Ireland.
OKAY! Background done. So, last night I was working on my US investments online (can you see where this is going already?). Stephen was cooking next to me in the kitchen.
I said out loud to myself, "OH NO! I forgot to deposit money for my IRA!"
......
Stephen freezes. Literally, spatula-in-hand freezes.
"You pay the IRA?"
Me, not thinking, "Well, of course. Everyone should."
He says nothing. He is not looking at me. I begin to emerge from my entrenchment in my finances.
LOL. I just told a Northerner that I pay the IRA. Monthly.
Roops!
So I explain it, and explain that it's something completely different, which makes him laugh, but I'm glad I caught it. He was seriously, seriously upset!
It reminds me of the time I was in a pub here and a group of American college students came in, really loud and obnoxious like we all tend to be in college, and NOT THINKING AT ALL saddle up to the bar and order a round of....you guessed it....Irish Car Bombs.
It stopped the pub dead in its tracks. I've never actually seen something like this. No one spoke. HOW offensive is that drink?! It's named after a country's war lording...think we could get a name change on that? Or, better yet, think if you ever find yourself in Dublin, you'd have the wherewithall to think about that before you shouted it to your Irish bartender? Lo'dy lo'dy.
LOL, anyway, we Americans are morons, and I love it, and I'm part of it, and I accept and embrace it. I've got a guy at work who affectionately calls me the Goddamned American, and you know what, yes. I am. We are the most God-damned country in the world, I'm convinced, and I'll be Goddamned if I'm not proud of it while I'm away. :)
So have a good weekend! Enjoy your FOOT of snow! Blech. Can't say I miss that, guys. Sorry! :P
Let me tell you about it.
First off, some background. Ireland has been in the throes of a religious war of sorts for hundreds of years. Native Irish folk were predominantly Catholic and resisted the wealthy Protestant immigrants from England who forced the Irish into a brutal colonization.
As time has passed this battle has mellowed, especially in the Republic of Ireland where the country overthrew British rule and took control of the government. In Northern Ireland, still part of the United Kingdom, there is still a lot of infighting between the two groups, resulting in many deaths each year. In particular, a group called the Irish Republican Army or IRA is extremely militant against the Crown; this group is feared across the country. They start riots, burn shops and houses, organize drive by shootings, and even until late 1990s positioned armed members at the border and in northern towns and cities. They walk down the street in broad daylight in camo with machine guns on their backs--I've seen it myself. They are terrifying and avery real part of today's culture here, especially in the North.
Second point of fact: My roommate Stephen is from Co. Armagh in Northern Ireland.
OKAY! Background done. So, last night I was working on my US investments online (can you see where this is going already?). Stephen was cooking next to me in the kitchen.
I said out loud to myself, "OH NO! I forgot to deposit money for my IRA!"
......
Stephen freezes. Literally, spatula-in-hand freezes.
"You pay the IRA?"
Me, not thinking, "Well, of course. Everyone should."
He says nothing. He is not looking at me. I begin to emerge from my entrenchment in my finances.
LOL. I just told a Northerner that I pay the IRA. Monthly.
Roops!
So I explain it, and explain that it's something completely different, which makes him laugh, but I'm glad I caught it. He was seriously, seriously upset!
It reminds me of the time I was in a pub here and a group of American college students came in, really loud and obnoxious like we all tend to be in college, and NOT THINKING AT ALL saddle up to the bar and order a round of....you guessed it....Irish Car Bombs.
It stopped the pub dead in its tracks. I've never actually seen something like this. No one spoke. HOW offensive is that drink?! It's named after a country's war lording...think we could get a name change on that? Or, better yet, think if you ever find yourself in Dublin, you'd have the wherewithall to think about that before you shouted it to your Irish bartender? Lo'dy lo'dy.
LOL, anyway, we Americans are morons, and I love it, and I'm part of it, and I accept and embrace it. I've got a guy at work who affectionately calls me the Goddamned American, and you know what, yes. I am. We are the most God-damned country in the world, I'm convinced, and I'll be Goddamned if I'm not proud of it while I'm away. :)
So have a good weekend! Enjoy your FOOT of snow! Blech. Can't say I miss that, guys. Sorry! :P
I love your posts cousin. I really admire you diving in headfirst for your goals and aspirations. I enjoyed reading this and you really do have a point. I just can't find another name for the ICB. Any suggestions? Talk to you soon.
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