Kenosha St. Patrick's Day Parade.

 I thought about titling this post "Men in Skirts!"  But that joke has probably been used so many times since Braveheart and Rob Roy came out, that there is no point going for a cheap laugh.  Still... I couldn't resist. 

Anyway!   On a Chilly Saturday Morning, I woke up early and  froze my butt off so I could hear the Pipers!   And any other marching band that joined in.   Nothing makes a Parade better than a good drumline. It does not have to be an Irish or Scottish Pipers Group.   It could be a amature Highschool marching band or a College Marching band.   Heck!  Even a group of Taiko drums!   I'll take the rhythm and beat of the drum sets to match the cadence to the marchers.  No wonder I liked the Army parades so much.  (My platoon won the marching competition in Basic.) 

In traditional fashion,   The city of Kenosha dyed the Bay Green for the event (Typical Wisconsin...  Making the Bay Green....   Get it?   Green Bay....    Packers?   Hello?   Is this on.....?)  A bunch of Germans and Mexicans trying to be Irish... I LOVE America!  Every culture has their day.  ( Even the Swedes!   Although we usually have to share it with the Norwegians...  Because no one can tell the difference.)  But instead of focusing on their differences,   I think it brings us together as a nation when we focus on the similarities. 

Like BEER!   Everyone loves beer!  Am I right?  (Can I get an "AMEN!")    And nothing says Irish better than Green beer.   Which I plan on Having at least once today...  as I follow the Pipers through their Pub Crawl. 

  They are going to several Bars and Pubs today.   including the Clubhouse!    It will be later though,  and probably crowded.  ( And by that time, I'm sure the Pipers will be thoroughly sauced up... so their playing will be top notch!)  I'll see if I can blog about that later. 

In the mean time,   This week was crazy!  Monday started out in the 70's!   Then dropped down to freezing mid week.   Then warmed back up on Thursday.. Only to drop back down and with snow on Friday!   And I always thought March Madness only referred to Basketball.  (And I don't like Basketball very much.)   Turns out, the weather simply has not made up its mind if it will allow Spring to start yet. 

 I forgot to mention the WIND!  Yesterday,  the wind was so strong and crazy that Trucks were tipping over on the Highway.  A common thing in Iowa and North Dakota.   But kind of rare here. (from my experience.)  The wind was rattling all of the Windows and doors of this place like I was under threat by an Army of Zombies trying to break in.   (My "Zombie Apocalypse" scenario.)  

I did manage to catalog my first Robin sighting this week.   Monday I believe... I saw this guy in a tree above me.   It was the first one of the year.   But soon after,  the Robins started popping up all around.   I remember in Iowa,  the Robins would show up in February!   And clean all of the crab apples off of the trees as they waited for the snow to melt.  We are not that much farther north from there... but it seems to take an additional month to get them to come this far.  

As I watched the rest of the Parade pass by,  I took a few pics of the other bands and Dance schools.  I did not stay long after that.  

 Especially when the sirens  and horns  were bursting my eardrums.  By the time I made it back to my Subie,   the field where I had parked had become a Mud bog!  

 I watched as a Muscle Car was being pulled out by a 4x4 truck.   All that was happening was the path was getting more and more tore up!    I remember those early days of my Jeep experience.... I would get that poor Comanche stuck in mud and have to be rescued.   I was young,   DUMB!  And did not have the experience or skill to get myself out of those situations.  (But still found my confidence level high enough to try!)  

Now I have a Subaru!   AWD and traction control!   And I'm  Older and just a little bit wiser (I think...)   So I did the "smart" move... And pulled forward  over the curb... between two parked cars. 

  Yeah, it was a cheat.  And a bit Cowardly...   But I discovered the Graveyards are filled with "Brave" Soldiers.  And "Cowards"  seem to live longer.  (Murphies Law of War:  Never share a foxhole with someone braver than you.)  Translation:  Reckless bravery often leads to dangerous situations.

Maybe that is why I got a Green Lucky Duck today.   It (The Silver Eagle Subie) is not a Jeep,   But I still like the reputation of a Subaru and its ability to handle most driving situations with control and handling.  And avoiding unnecessary Muddy Situations helps.  

So now I'm off!  To see if I can grab a Beer at the Clubhouse and wait for the Pipers to arrive.   I'm not sure if I will stay long or how the crowd situation will pan out, but I have been in the Clubhouse when there was a party going on and it was tight.  Hopefully I will find it all blog worthy for a future posting.  

In the mean time...  I'll try to make every second count.