Dublin Irish Festival

[cornerofmadness]

So I bandaged up my boo-boo hand of burns and damaged nails and head to the Dublin Irish Festival in N.W. Columbus area (i.e. Dublin). I pause in Jackson for a KFC popcorn chicken and water. That thing is too big for me to eat but eh, and she gave me a HUGE water. Sadly I found out on the first turn that she also didn’t seal it. It listed on the first turn and a flood of ice and water hit the passenger wheel well (thank god that missed my gear shift).

According to DISH Columbus was supposed to have no rain until evening which is why I went earlier than usual. It rained off and on all the way there but mentally I was already all in so on I went. I hit Borders first to use a coupon on some manga (FMA 19 is out) and to pee since the festival only has portapotties. It was nice to see how green and tall all the rain made the corn on the way there. Sadly it seems Rennick’s might have sold out (like so many other farms). I’ve been shopping at their farmer’s market off and on since ’96.

I can remember back in ’96 when you could park across the street from the fest in the high school’s lot (yes I’ve been doing this fest since then) and THAT was considered distant. Oh how things have changed. You know park miles away and get school bused in. Well, we’ve moved up a step and they picked us up in tour buses and can I just say that these have been upgraded since last I’ve been in a tour bus. They have screens for in transit movies for one…

It was in the mid 80’s with a very nice breeze and it was overcast so it wasn’t too hot. The first thing I stumbled in to was a seller with items I REALLY wanted but I said too early to start carrying, I’ll be back. I shoved on and ended up in the Celtic Canine area and played with them all. The Glen of Imaal was just a puppy and she was a bad little terror terrier. My favorites, the Irish Wolfhounds were there. I really want one but I’m smart enough to know that my current life style and living arrangements are NOT what this dog (or any dog I actually like) needs.

I shopped for hours in between listening to bands and cultural talks (like what games to play at a wake and why you go out feet first). The problem with going every year is that I’ve gone from the cheap pewter to the cheap silver and now to things I SHOULD keep my paws off of. I did pay more than I should have for the beautiful pendant I got but since I’m not going to NC now I figured why not. It’s the sun spirit and moon goddess together and the sun is a chunk of amethyst (should have been citrine or amber but…)

By the time I got to the cod shopping (got another Gaelic Storm and a Lone Raven) the sun had come out and everyone was sweating and bitching and stinking. I cured that with a watermelon shaved ice which I sacked out on the grass and a half golden retriever half Irish wolfhound service dog trainee wanted it SO bad.

Naturally I couldn’t remember exactly where I came in to this serpentine festival to find that one vendor I had to buy from but it didn’t take me long to figure it out (I was naturally all the way on the other side of the damn fest). I stopped and watched the Vikings playing for a while too. I did get from this vendor something for evil_little_dog for Christmas and for me…ever see those Celtic tapestries? They had one in red of dragons as a jacket and it was NOT that badly priced. It is now mine. They had beautiful black tunic with the goddess and moons all over it which I’ve seen similar ones in catalogues. I wanted that hard BUT I live in too religious of an area. I was afraid of getting beaten (not kidding here. I have one coworker who feels she must put up 1-4 Bible verses as her facebook status daily. I didn’t mind when she only did it on Sunday but… There is tension sometimes at work with the Non-Christian profs…)

So I didn’t really buy much but what I did buy was higher (and pricier) quality. I got queasy from the heat and then shaky from the no food (should have eaten lunch there. My god the food they have now but really lotsa lobstah…NOT what I want as fest food) so I got a Dublin (Guinness) Stout flavored ice cream cone. YUM. I could NOT find the bog ponies. Pout.

I ran from stage to stage catching parts of the music all over. I danced in the grass to Dervish, the Young Dubliners, Screaming Orphans, Lone Raven and Bua. I chased around some of the Columbus and Chicago Police Pipers (there’s something about a man in a kilt).

Given that it was after 7 and a storm rolling in I decided not to stay later (or come back since music was lasting til midnightish) and since I SMELLED (so much for clinical strength anti per spirant) I opted for the quickie Chinese Buffet…last time it was cheap and not bad. The price has gone up and the quality down. I couldn’t even gag some of it down. The home-style bean curd had a greasy feeling that nearly made me lose it on the table. I filled up on soup, shrimp chips and the crab ragoon. The only things that weren’t gross.

I headed back to the other Borders to buy a manga that evil_little_dog bought last time but she must have bought the only copy of #1. I got something else and my usual coffee to fuel me home. I’m tired but it’s a good tired. I’ll try to remember to post the pictures once I get back to work. I have lots of ones I’ve been saving up.