# Happy St. Patrick's Day from Iowa! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 17, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739 "2009-03-17T12:35:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![KnitWit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@KnitWit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KnitWit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/1 "2009-03-17T12:35:14Z")
Tonight my brother-in-law and a friend fly in from Belfast to come to lovely Cedar Rapids Iowa to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day. In a couple of days, friends are coming from Boston to add themselves to the meleé. That’s right…people are leaving Belfast and Boston to come to the city of five smells to celebrate an Irish holiday. I don’t get it. I live in Iowa and I’m running an Irish frat party for adult men who should know better. There will be drinking. There will be singing. There will be weird, unintelligible accents. The locals will ask where my husband is from and he’ll calmly reply, “West of Dubuque.” That said, I’m wearing an Irish rugby jersey and flashing shamrock earrings at work. So I guess I’m just as bad as any of the boys, except I’m what my husband would call a “plastic Paddy.” Anyone know where I can hide out for a few days until the green beer blows over? ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/2 "2009-03-17T13:05:06Z")
I don’t have one single green thing to wear - except for some boxers. Several years ago when Ireland joined the EU, I bought a bunch of Irish pennies - the last that were minted - to hand out at a St. Patrick’s day celebration as good luck charms. Alas, since then I haven’t been to one. Be safe and enjoy the day all! ---
**Author:** ![KnitWit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@KnitWit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KnitWit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/3 "2009-03-17T13:16:14Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > I don’t have one single green thing to wear - except for some boxers. > > Several years ago when Ireland joined the EU, I bought a bunch of Irish pennies - the last that were minted - to hand out at a St. Patrick’s day celebration as good luck charms. Alas, since then I haven’t been to one. > > Be safe and enjoy the day all! My husband’s crew is from Northern Ireland, so they’re still using Pounds, which confuses things a bit more, IMHO. They’re in a situation where they have to have both Pounds and Euros. One country, two types of money. Weird. I actually have tons of green stuff, but nothing quite as obnoxious as what I’m wearing…the rugby jersey my bro-in-law left me when he came a couple of years ago. It’s seriously screaming green. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/4 "2009-03-17T14:28:35Z")
Are you Catholic? St Pat’s is a Catholic holiday, no? Enjoy the green beer and the accents! ---
**Author:** ![KnitWit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@KnitWit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KnitWit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/5 "2009-03-17T14:30:16Z")
Yes, husband calls himself Catholic, but doesn’t go to mass typically. I think he just identifies culturally with the Catholic…went to Catholic schools, etc. I was raised “protestant” but am now basically an atheist in spite of the fact that my hubby sometimes refers to me as a “dirty prod.” I actually hate beer. The accents are terrific though! Oh, and the music will be good. ---
**Author:** ![KnitWit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@KnitWit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KnitWit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/6 "2009-03-17T14:31:46Z")
Here’s what I’m wearing, though mine has a slightly different logo on it and must be an earlier version : > **[Your Online Rugby Store l World Rugby Shop](https://www.worldrugbyshop.com/#gbaid795000)** > > WorldRugbyshop.com is your destination for exclusive rugby gear, rugby balls, rugby apparel, and rugby equipment. We have the best selection in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/7 "2009-03-17T20:07:34Z")
I’m still sober somehow. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/8 "2009-03-17T20:14:17Z")
_I’m_ not Catholic, and I’m sitting in Tennessee in my green sweater. But we had a St. Patrick’s Day potluck at work, which was much enjoyed (special props to the Guinness cupcakes), despite the fact that out of our 22 person office, two raised their hands when asked “Who’s of Irish descent?” Tonight I’m going out for St. Paddy’s Day with friends, for corned beef and beer. For, as someone (not Benjamin Franklin) once said, “Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.” Happy SPD, everyone. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![KnitWit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@KnitWit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KnitWit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/9 "2009-03-17T20:15:37Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’m still sober somehow. And my $1.99 shamrock earrings are still flashing. It’s a St. Patrick’s Day miracle on both counts! I can’t vouch for my husband’s sobriety here in Iowa. I assume he’s off work and already at it. I only hope I can afford the bail. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/10 "2009-03-17T20:33:47Z")
I’m having a synchroniciy moment. I’m wearing lucky boxers (with shamrocks on them). My ancestors were Irish. I live in Boston. And I was born in Cedar Rapids. Now if you’re going to be drinking tonight, that’s one coincidence too many. Almost… creepy. ---
**Author:** ![KnitWit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@KnitWit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KnitWit)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/11 "2009-03-17T22:03:05Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > I’m having a synchroniciy moment. > > I’m wearing lucky boxers (with shamrocks on them). My ancestors were Irish. I live in Boston. And I was born in Cedar Rapids. > > Now if you’re going to be drinking tonight, that’s one coincidence too many. Almost… creepy. I’m hearing faint straings of “It’s a small world…”. Neat! ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/12 "2009-03-18T01:23:31Z")
I never did really get drunk, just really tired. Good night SDMB. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/13 "2009-03-18T01:24:35Z")
PS I have an Irish playlist out the wazoo if anyone wants some tips on decent tunes just pm me. ---
**Author:** ![KnitWit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f0a364/32.png) [@KnitWit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KnitWit)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/14 "2009-03-18T01:26:29Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > PS I have an Irish playlist out the wazoo if anyone wants some tips on decent tunes just pm me. Please…no more Christy Moore…no more Irish music…can’t…take…another…fiddle-de-dee… ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-st-patricks-day-from-iowa/489739/15 "2009-03-18T01:43:17Z")
I dislike Moore’s music TBH. I prefer The Chieftains or some maudlin tenor balladry.