Upcoming Ireland

Kristie and I are going to Ireland, this weekend to visit my mother's hometown and her brother, Tommy. I've never met the chap, but I've had some interesting conversations with him on the phone. We are meeting them the night of a birthday party in a pub (I'm still not sure whose birthday it is). Imagine this: a loud pub, an uncle I don't know, a step-aunt who was my mom's friend as a child, throngs of strangers, and Kristie and me. That's a recipe for success! And what does one get an Irish stranger for his or her birthday? An Irish joke book? A Guinness key fob? Knickers?

I'll probably have a beer.