The Luck (and Movies) of the Irish

St. Patrick's Day, that lucky day of the Irish, is upon us.  Perhaps you're going to wear something green, attend a parade, or grab a pint at the pub. Not into all the noise and revelry?  Is a quiet celebration at home more your style?  Then maybe an Irish movie is the ticket for you.  If that's the case, allow me to share some of my favorites to help you get in the spirit of the holiday:

• Angela's Ashes  Based on the memoir by Frank McCourt, it tells of the author's impoverished Catholic childhood in Limerick.  Great for a good cry. 
• Brooklyn  A young woman moves from Ireland to Brooklyn, New York for a better life in the 1950s.  A nice coming-to-America story.
• Circle of Friends  There's laughter, tears, and everything else when a group of friends come of age in 1950s Ireland. 
• Leap Year  An American woman follows an Irish tradition of proposing to her boyfriend on leap day, but it doesn't go according to plan.
  
• Michael Collins  Starring Liam Neeson and Julia Roberts, this historical movie focuses on the revolutionary leader who helped bring about Ireland's independence from Britain.
• The Quiet Man  It may not be the most politically correct movie by today's standards, but it's still a charming one with John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

I realize my list only scratches the tip of the iceberg and that there are many other movies with Irish themes and characters worth watching.  Do you have a favorite Irish movie?  Share it with us!

Wishing you many Irish blessings from the perch.

Adieu, February

February, An Acrostic Poem

Full of snow, snow, and snow.
Everybody hates the mess and cold.
Blue skies with sun are only a dream.
Really feeling sluggish and
Under the weather.
Are we ever going to see spring?
Ready to say goodbye and good riddance to
Your 28 long days of gloom.

Super Bowl Sunday for Non-Fans

I'm about to write something blasphemous to many Americans--I do not enjoy or watch football.  Even though I went to a Big Ten school (Penn State) and my friends painstakingly tried to explain the game to me, it was all to no avail.  Football, in my opinion, makes no sense at all.  The way I see it, players run, clobber, stop, repeat, trying to get a ball over a touchdown line.  It lacks the speed of soccer and the sense of baseball.  I have difficulty not only in understanding the game, but in understanding why so many people are goo-goo ga-ga for it.

Perhaps there are others out there like me?  People who aren't planning on watching the Super Bowl this Sunday, who don't know which teams are playing, and who don't care which team will win?  I know we're probably in the minority, but we're out there--we do exist!

So, what is the minority, the non-fans, doing while the rest of the country is glued to the television and devouring all those hot wings, pizza, chips, beer, and other fat-loaded, gut-busting, gastronomic concoctions?  Speaking for yours truly here, I view Super Bowl Sunday as the best day to go shopping.  I hate traffic and crowds, so the streets will be nearly empty and the mall will be quiet.  Eateries will be peaceful, unless you go to any with big screen televisions.  The cinema will have all those prime seats available; you won't have to worry about the guy chomping popcorn loudly in front of you or that annoying couple behind you commenting on all the action.  Of course, Starbucks or any other bakery cafe will be a great place to do my all-time favorite activity of reading.

Super Bowl Sunday is therefore a win-win situation for everybody.  The fans can relish a day of sport and bacchanalian delights at home, while the non-fans can relish peace and quiet around their town.  Whether you're a fan or a non-fan, enjoy your Sunday and be safe.

Wishing you a happy weekend from the perch.

Lazy Days--More Productive Than You Think!

How are you doing with those New Year's resolutions?  Are you being good and keeping up with them?  Or have you put them aside and are experiencing the post-holiday, pre-Groundhog Day, mid-winter seasonal slump?

Up to this point, I've been good with keeping one of my resolutions (a monthly massage to work out all the kinks in my head, neck, and shoulders from computer work), but I'm starting to fall into that hibernation stage that happens sometime during the winter.  I find myself wanting to stay inside my warm house cuddled up on the sofa with a big bowl of popcorn and a movie. And if I'm not doing that, I'm in bed propped up on a bunch of pillows and catching up with the stack of books on my nightstand that I haven't touched since before Thanksgiving.

If you're like me, you might be feeling guilty about not getting out more and being productive, but you really shouldn't feel this way because doing nothing is really something.  What's that, you say?  You heard right--just as it's important for us to exercise and be active, it's equally important for us to take a break and relax.  Getting extra sleep and rest rebuilds both our bodies and our minds.  Physically, we strengthen our immune system, relax our muscles, relieve any tension, reduce stress, and lower our risk of heart disease.  Mentally, we sharpen our minds, improve our concentration, and increase our alertness, not to mention that doing low-key and fun things help rebuild our spirit.

So, take a break and do some self-care!  Have a lazy day watching TV, calling a friend, taking a nap, or doing whatever else strikes your fancy guilt-free.  That seemingly unproductive time will make you more productive when you need to be.

Wishing you a great lazy day from the perch.

Evolution of the Resolution

Greetings!  We got through the holidays and are now officially in the second week of the New Year!  Along with making holiday bills, you've probably made a few resolutions.  Of course, there are the standard ones: lose weight, exercise, stop smoking, save more, spend less, get a new hobby, etc.  Then there are the not-so-standard ones: skydive, swim with sharks, volcano surf, or eat fugu (personally, I think I'd take my chance with the sharks than with the fugu).

How did we ever get started with the business of resolutions and why is it so hard to keep the resolutions we make?

We can blame the ancient Babylonians for getting everyone on the resolution bandwagon.  They made promises when crops were planted (around mid-March) to remain loyal to the king, pay debts, and return anything they borrowed.  Later on, Christians thought about their past mistakes and made resolutions to be better in the coming year.  Nowadays, we make resolutions to improve ourselves, but it's so darn hard to keep them.

If we make resolutions that are difficult to accomplish or achieve by ourselves, we probably won't keep them.  When you make a resolution, make one that's reasonable.  If you want to knit a sweater but have never knitted before, start off with something simpler, like a scarf.  Having moral support from others also helps.  For instance, if you plan to diet or exercise, do it with another person or a group of people.

Happy New Year and good luck with those resolutions!  And should you have trouble keeping them, don't beat yourself over the head--tomorrow's a new day and technically the start of another new year.

Wishing you good resolution vibes from the perch.

Ringing in the New Year

If you're like me, you're holidayed-out at this point.  After knitting and crocheting Christmas gifts, cleaning the house, decorating, cooking, hosting, and making merry, my fa-la-la-la-la just fa-la-la-la-left.  And there's another holiday coming up just a couple of days away?  I don't think I have it in me for the next one.  I told my husband that Christmas was all about family and friends, but I want New Year's to be all about us--staying at home, relaxing, and having some peace and quiet.

Are you on the same page with me?  Are you in desperate need of some New Year's downtime in the comfort of your own home?  Here, then, are some ideas for things you can do at little or no charge (some with the help of your library and neighborhood perch librarian) to make ringing in the New Year a special one:

• Do a puzzle.  I'm not a whiz at puzzles, but a 300-500 piece puzzle is possible even for an anti-talent like me to complete before midnight.
• Watch a DVD.  Make some popcorn, cuddle up on the sofa, and watch that movie you've been wanting to see.
• Read a book.  I know I'm biased with this one, but you knew I had to say it.
• Play a board game.  Unplug from the electronic devices and play Monopoly, Checkers, Dominoes, etc.
• Take a bubble bath.  Spend some relaxing quality time with a very important person--you!
• Get some takeout.  Take a break from cooking and treat yourself to pizza, Chinese, burritos, or something else that tickles your taste buds.
• Eat chocolate.  Need I say more?

Of course, you can also sit down and write out your resolutions for the following year, but we'll save that discussion for another post.  Whatever you decide to do, have a safe and wonderful Happy New Year full of good reading!

With best wishes from the perch.

Keeping Holly During the Holidays

There's commercialism, controversy over classic holiday songs, and plenty of bah humbug during that most wonderful time of the year.  Some of us are stressed over buying presents, preparing the house, baking cookies, seeing the family, not seeing the family, or just stressed over being stressed.

Perhaps it's good for all of us to take a moment, breathe, and remember some of the lessons we learned way back in kindergarten (courtesy of Robert Fulghum) to help us appreciate and enjoy the holiday season better.

• Wash your hands before you eat.   'Tis the season to be spreading colds and viruses, so make sure you wash your hands to keep yourself and everyone healthy.
  
• Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.  They're not just for Santa!  Just be sure to have them in moderation, okay?
  
• Clean up your own mess.  Whether the party is in your own house or someone else's, keep things neat.
  
• Don't take things that aren't yours.  It's a time of giving, so don't be a grinch.
  
• Don't hit people.  There's never a reason to do this.  Just don't.
  
• Say you're sorry when you hurt someone.  We all say the wrong thing sometimes; apologies mean a lot.  And don't talk about politics.
  
• Be aware of wonder.  Look at how those beautiful, colorful lights dance in the tinsel.  Catch some falling snowflakes on your tongue.  Read a good holiday book or watch a holiday movie from your library.

Enjoy the parties, the people, the food, and yourself during the holidays this year.  Keep them happy, clean, and stress-free.

Happy Holidays and Season's Readings from the perch.