Finding Joy in Snarkville

I have a few, wee minutes to share the BIG plan for the Queen Mum’s birthday and the aftermath.

As most know, the Queen Mum lives too far away from Snarkville.  So, we video chat often to keep in touch and it is wonderful, except for that part that she’s drinking wine at 2pm my time and I’m wondering if it would be ok to join her.  Anyway.

So, for her birthday, Duke asked if we could get cupcakes and have a party.  It took about 2 seconds for all parties to agree.  So, we bought cupcakes in Snarkville and cupcakes were purchased in Far, Far, Away From Snarkville.  Then we met online.  Well the joy didn’t end there — it seems that the Queen Aunt joined us too online and there was a video party full of cupcakes, candles, and songs.  I’m pretty sure it was the best long distance birthday possible.

But, I have to tell you that my son picked out the cupcakes here in Snarkville.  He picked out “2 bite cupcakes.”  They were little and cute and he wanted those.  Ok, no problem.  We had our party and I put them away and didn’t think about them again, until I came home from knitting last night.  Prince declares — “You can not call it a cupcake if it takes you longer to peel the wrapper off than it does to eat it.”

Maybe we will have to do Cross Country Cupcakes again — this time with REAL cupcakes.

Or alternatively, Bah-Humbug!

First, it appears I only can post these days on holidays, for this I’m sorry.  I have something highly stressful going on and rarely can vent without a massive need to talk about it — which doesn’t make me good to be around.  Until this passes (and it will SOON), I’ll look forward to the day when I’m back with you all more often and more snark. Anyway, greener thoughts…right?

Now, I’m going to admit something here that I’ve never said out loud.  As much as I dislike the Hallmark holiday of Valentine’s Day and it’s forced love, I don’t care for St. Patrick’s Day more.  I know that the vast majority of people think this is a happy go lucky little day in which you wear bright green and drink oddly colored beer.  I however do not.  Allow me to outline (in my favorite form) the reasons.

1. I wear a lot of green.  It happens to be my favorite color.  I believe it to be nature’s neutral (look outside — nature uses green as much if not more than browns) and there is a shade of green that looks good on everyone.  Yes, even you in the back row who is scrunching your face up and declaring that green looks horrible on you — you just haven’t found the RIGHT green.  But despite the fact I can be found wearing green most days, it appears that I’m hardwired to be contray and always want to wear red on St. Patrick’s Day.  I also forget this odd rule about wearing green until someone happens to mention to me that I’m not in fact wearing green.  Oh, well.
2. I do not get the point.  Is the point to go on a pub crawl, get incredibly drunk, and act stupid?  Well, then I’ve celebrated a lifetime of St. Patrick’s Days in college (Sorry, Daddy), and I grew up (a little) and don’t find it much fun anymore.  Is the point to celebrate some connection to our Irish heritage, then why is it that I rarely seem to find actual Irish celebrating?
3. What’s the deal with the leprechauns?  When I was younger and learning about these little guys, we were taught how they were tricky and mean.  Why are they now suddenly leaving candy and goodies for kids?  Don’t we really have enough holidays where we hype our kids up on sugary goodness.  Pots of gold are all nice and all, but I’m not building a trap any time soon.
4. So little is actually known about St. Patrick, the man, that we end up celebrating horrible stereotypes and cute cartoon of the Irish people.  On one level it is mildly annoying, on another, it is downright offensive.  At least some part of me is Irish, and I’m not a drunk, a cartoon, or cheap — I do however, really like potatoes — so that’s something, right?
5. Finally, all this craziness means that much of the US is missing the real holiday that is occurring today.  Today is the Queen Mum’s birthday!  She has been forced to endure countless combo birthday/St. Patrick’s day cards, green cakes/pies, and perhaps a pint of beer or two.  The poor woman has suffered enough.  I declare the silliness with a St. Patrick’s Day to end and the celebration of a birthday to begin!!!  Happy Birthday, Mum. We all love you and this afternoon we will have cupcakes together!

Now, in other thought provoking radical ideas.  I’d just like to mention that I happen to hold on of Time Magazine’s “10 Ideas Changing the World” — Idea number three in fact.  In the words of the article: “Calvinism is back.”  Who would have thought that 50 is the new 30; Pink is the new Black; and Calvinism is the radical idea??  (I do love being ahead of the bandwagon.)