More about St-Paddy's day, weeks later: Forgot to mention that the kids came to the gig, and the parade. I've got two little redheaded daughters, about as Irish-looking as they come, and this year was the first time I've brought them to the parade. The mayor of Montreal, along the parade route, spotted them sitting there and walked straight over to Littlest, handed her a parade sticker and wished her a good St-Patrick's day. Little did he know that her nearly identical sister was sitting beside her with her shock of red hair tucked under her tuque (hat). Had he known, he probably would've stopped for a photo opp. Anyway, it'll be a nice story to tell Littlest in a few years.

So yeah, after the parade, the kids and Poli attended the gig (it was in the afternoon), and they got to see us play one set. The problem was, though, that the entire city of Montreal becomes like the Bowery on St-Pat's, and very early on, there were things going on in the Pub that aren't exactly suitable for little children -- scantily clad, wasted college students bumping and grinding and swearing come to mind. So, the trio left the chaotic surroundings to return to the sanctuary of home - but not before the girls were given some juice, on the house, by the guy running the pub, just 'cause they looked so Irish.

That night I was *so* happy to return home to a quiet evening with the three people about whom I care most. My days of wanting to hang out in bars are long gone, that's for sure.

Oh, this past Monday night we had our last jam before this Thursday's gig. We actually sounded pretty good, so I'm hopeful things will go well.

And btw, how about da Habs (Montreal Canadiens)! In the middle of Monday's jam, we started seeing lights in the sky over the city and wondered what the hell was going on. Suddenly it occurred to me that maybe someone was shooting off fireworks to celebrate the Habs winning their game and playoff series. Next thing we knew, a building just a block away from cf and marv's was also shooting fireworks - over the freeway, and over some dead, dried-up trees(!). Sure enough, it turned out said Habs had just eliminated the big, bad Bruins.

(Fortunately no fires were started. :-)

This town is going to go (has already gone) mad with hockey fever if they continue. Just Saturday night, people were honking their horns in the streets for hours and partying together -- and that was just for one win, before the series was even over.

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