Friday, July 2, 2010

HOLIDAYS

This Sunday marks the 234th birthday of the United States of America. . . .. this is how STEW begins his latest blog entry.

So this is how I want to begin my blog entry this morning. . ..with a slight variation on a theme. . .;-)

Wednesday, June 30th marked a 'blessed event' in the O'Shea Family: the 22nd Anniversary of Justin O'Shea's natalicia. . . Yes I was born 22 years ago. Following old traditions we celebrate The Day with its Octave . . .eight days.

Wednesday evening we celebrated with a quiet fun dinner at home. . .Mom and Dad, Mme Bouvier, my gramma who drove down in her spanking red VW, Peter and I enjoyed a great meal. . .with birthday cake and making wishes and blowing out the candles. . . .and singing. . .of course! Never miss an occasion to sing!

Thursday, the first day of the Octave, our work-week ended! My boss gave us a long holiday weekend and provided lunch that day for all of us. . .including a spur-of-the-moment improvised birthday cake! A bakery cake with a lighted sparkler sputtering on top. hahahaa

Since I enjoy the privilege of being a member of the DaSilva Family now I had dinner with them last evening. A big dinner. . .Mama always makes a BIG dinner for all her children. . . . .ahem. This was a fun affair, with great food, lots of red Portuguese wine in big bubble glasses with long stems. . . . .the kind of glass which makes "only four glasses in a bottle". . .hahahaa. . .and of course singing.
Another huge birthday cake to feed the whole family. FUN fun fun.

There will be more partying this weekend as the entire O'Shea family will be home for the long weekend. My brother [12 years older than I] with his wife and two sons; my sister [10 years older] with her husband and son and daughter. My favorite [and only] niece and my three nephews really like their
Unca Justi [ that's the way they said it when they began to talk and thus it has remained. . ."Unca Justi". . . ..and I like it. Makes me feel old and patriarchal. LOL

The boys like hanging out in my room. . . .so.. . .I am careful. . . . .shall we say?! hahaha and are apt to just walk in with no knocks. . . .but that has changed: If the door is CLOSED, KNOCK AND WAIT. . .! ;-) They are old enough now to observe "age-appropriate behaviour". . . hehehe. . .My bro's two boys, the oldest of the four kids, tend to be "forgetful" . . . I also have two teen-age cousins who are just plain nosey !!!

It is always fun having all of us together. . . .a LOT of story-telling. . "remember the time. . .?" happens at meal time. . .suppers tend to be longer. . . with lots of chatter. So we remember together who and why we are. . .

Sunday will be a busy day. . ..After morning Mass. . .we ALL make a grand entrance at St. Peter the Apostle. . ..just the sheer number of us. . . La Grande Dame leads the way in and down the aisle. . . .then there is the after-Mass de riguer Mom's Sunday Brunch.

Then later that afternoon the Guests arrive for the O'Shea Annual 4th of July BBQ. . .all of the DaSilvas will be here also this year, plus friends and colleagues of Mom and Dad. . ..and assorted friends of everybody.

My job at this event is the go-fer-boy: I am the drink server. . .this year Peter will join me in that work. . . .lest the feast go dry! Last year one of Mom's colleagues at the college pinched my butt. .. Cougar!!! hahahaaa

I hope you all enjoy your weekend and various holiday traditions. . .

ciao . . . .Unca Justi. . . .hehehe

14 comments:

PhotosbyErich said...

FUN stories Unca Justi. You do realize how many of us live just a little bit "vicariously" through you as you regale us with these tales don't you?

Happy 4th to you, the O'Sheas, the Bouviers, and the Da Silvas!

J said...

Happy birthday. Are psychic butt pinches permissible?

JustinO'Shea said...

hmmm. . . sleeping elsewhere. . .hmmm
Never entered my devious mind. . . I could sleep at Peter's. . . hmmm. . or he sleep here. . . s'why I now have a lock on the b'room door. . hehe

JustinO'Shea said...

THANKS, J. . . .
Psychic pinches> hmmm. . . .try it and see. . . .

Jim said...

Now I know why you are so likable....you are a Cancer! (So am I, tsk,tsk)
Have a great holiday weekend and be generous with those 'drinks'!

ken said...

Happy Birthday/4th.
sounds like a great family week.

Gary Kelly said...

When I first read your latest dissertation early this morning, I thought bah humbug. This bloke is living in la-la land.

Then I thought a bit more about it and decided that maybe living in la-la land wasn't so bad after all.

I mean, I can't expect everyone to be a grumpy old fart like myself. Besides, I like to be different... so the less grumpy old farts there are, the better I like it.

So, even though it pains me to say it, and even though it goes against every fiber of my being and natural instincts, happy birthday Mr O.

Bleh.

JustinO'Shea said...

Oh Mr K. . . .you say the nicest things!

;-)

Unknown said...

This weekend sounds like the start of a good movie. Throw in a little mistery and maybe a little mayhem and you've got yourself a movie deal.
Enjoy it for all it's worth Unca Justi.

JustinO'Shea said...

K, Stew. . .what sot of mayhem do you have in mine? hehe Peter will be here a lot too. . .mayhem? Likely! LOL

You want to direct the film?

Btw, we watched AVATAR on a huge, huge tv screen last night. No 3D yet, of course. Even so, it is magnificent color and animation. Felt like I was there. . almost.

When the kids need some R&R down time I'll lock them in the TV room downstairs and they can live out their fantasies. . . with COOP in charge. hahahahah

Anonymous said...

Have a good one Justin, thinking of you I am, all sounds wonderful mate.

Greg in Adelaide

Unknown said...

Nah! No mayhem for you. Your family is too nice. If it were my family, mayhem would ensue for sure. Someone would end up in the hospital or something. I would never wish that on you.
But I am sure that having Peter around ups the fun factor a little.

Gary Kelly said...

Years ago there was a hit song by Petula Clark called Color My World.

And that's what love does.

Even I know that.

JustinO'Shea said...

. . . .Your loss ! ;-)