Munchin' in Munchen

Munchen (Munich) is a wonderful city, and I was lucky to have a day to myself here today, despite the rainy, near freezing weather - but hey, it's Saint Patick's Day, so perhaps the weather was meant to remind us all of Ireland.

When you get the Irish and the Germans together, well, it's bound to be a heck of a party, and I was luck enough to happen upon the Munchen St. Patrick's Day festival near the Odeonplatz area of town.

Today you could hear the Irish music bouncing off all of the churches and old buildings.  Plus there were street performers at almost every block near the city center.  This was a day I wish I had some of my best beer drinkin' buddies (yes, that means you, too, E) with me to share the day.

I was lucky enough to first stumble upon the parade to kick the day off.

What you would expect for a nice St. Patrick's Day parade, with the small exception that apparently in Germany, if you are in a parade, you have an inalienable right to the been in any bystanders hands.  Just one more reason why I love Germany.

There was an entire platz with beer, food, beer, crafts, beer, and irish music and dancing.  The bands were awesome; the food was fantastic; and the beer was ... you know.

Wish all my friends could have been with me today - Munchin' in Munchen!

A Sporting Weekend

We are definitely getting ready for the Spring sports season - and this weekend got it off to a great start.  On Saturday morning, Will had a basket ball game - he is really doing quite well.  In the following movie clip you get to see him do some dribbling, some shooting, some passing, ..

After the basket ball game, we went to see Ali swim.  It was the Texas State final swim meet where the best high-school swimmers from the entire state compete.    As a sophomore, Ali got a silver medal in the freestyle and a GOLD medal in the backstroke!  Way to go Ali!

Then will had a baseball scrimmage - his first year in coach pitch little league.  The bar is way up this year - it looks like real baseball.  Will has started as one of the youngest kids on the team and he has had to work really hard to keep up with the older second graders.  But today he hit both a single and triple - and did a nice job at second base!