just call me the queen of may

So today is May Day or the first day of May. It is also a bank holiday meaning no work for anybody except for us. I was wondering about this very special day that gets everybody out of work. Why is it called May Day? Why does it even matter? Most of the people I asked couldn't really give me an answer. "Well it's the first day of May so..." was basically the response I got. So...Facts that are neat about May Day:

• origins were pagan
• exactly 1/2 a year from Nov 1 another cross-quarter day (more pagan stuff)
• previously known as the Celtic celebration of Beltane
• One might dance around a Maypole today and even be crowned "Queen of May"
• on previous May Days you might have come home from dancing around a May pole to a basket of sweets from your neighbor
• May is the Virgin Mary's month so you might do something in honor of the Blessed Mother's favorite month
• Here in Ireland I might come across a bonfire or two
• May 1st is also known as international workers day-a holiday first celebrated in the Soviet Union

So there now we all can answer the question-What is May Day?

So Ireland seems to operate like a tropical location without the heat. It'll rain and then be sunny; then rain some more and be sunny. I don't know if I've planted myself in Belfast during a run of excellent weather or what but I'm quite content with the temperature. Despite having a keen dislike for extremely hot temperatures stories about 80 degree weather in New York created a small bubble of jealousy in my chest. Eh plenty of hot weather awaits me upon my return.

Having completed two weeks we, Curious Doings, are quite well along with the show. We've devised several pieces that have only to be cleaned up and fit together. Roles have been assigned I am most definitely a sportsmen as are most people in the company.

Wednesday night our neighbor Andrew took Daithi, Sarah, Aoife, and I to a pub someplace out of town to a session. It was lovely to go out and enjoy the music and the beer brewed right on the premisis. I had a chocolate stout which was very tasty and a lighter beer called Belfast Blonde, really, REALLY yummy.

Still adjusting small pangs of homesickness here and there. They come and go and mostly come when I'm sitting around doing nothing which doesn't happen very often.

Well that's all for now!

have a good one!

JEN