Thursday, March 17, 2011

Luck and Lush

This is the closest I could find to shamrocks.

Americans love St. Patrick's day. Thousands of other world holidays don't get nearly as much attention here, but we like this one because we like beer and today we give ourselves permission to drink a lot of it. It gets a bit complicated in the Los Angeles area, what with strict drunk driving laws and a public transportation system that's seriously lacking. But Pasadena's got a decent bus system, so drink up!

You might also want to get your lawn soused one more time today, and your outdoor potted plants, too, because tomorrow we begin our ten days of no outdoor watering. This isn't just a warning to save water for the heck of it. We'll have 40% less water beginning Friday, March 18th through 8am March 28th. So please be nice and give up your share. It's only ten days and we even have rain predicted.

Here's more information.

It's a darned good thing we don't have a beer shortage.

16 comments:

Dina said...

Beer? Is this a variation on the famous "Let them eat cake" advice?

A happy and green St. Patrick's Day to you all.

J.J. in L.A. said...

We're going to The Boat because they're serving green beer between 11 am-9 pm. And their hamburgers are to die for.

Stefan Jansson said...

I think I will have a Guinness this evening, skål!

Petrea Burchard said...

Dina, I hadn't thought of it that way but maybe so...

J.J., please don't die for a hamburger.

Steffe, some among us believe that Guiness stout is a magical substance, so we can't call it beer. But plenty will be drunk tonight, I assure you. Skål!

Susan Campisi said...

This photo put a smile on my face. It must be all that green. Even Guinness has gone green! http://www.grist.org/article/2011-03-15-irish-scientists-help-guinness-go-green

Bellis said...

No mention of St. Patrick's Day here in England, and no wonder, after the IRA bombings in the 70s and 80s. But the Irish back in Eire are lovely, friendly people. And they don't eat corned beef and cabbage (where did that tradition come from?).

Soon the lawns of Pasadena may not be emerald green like the shamrock - I'm wondering whose idea it was to shut down the water in March rather than earlier in the year, before all the plants of spring start springing up, and vegetables need planting?

Anonymous said...

Soaking the plants.

WV: Perls. I'll soak them first, then the swine.

Petrea Burchard said...

I like the green Guinness, Susan.

Bellis, "The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), which supplies about 60 percent of Pasadena’s water, is planning a seismic upgrade of its Weymouth Treatment Plant in LaVerne and will stop all water deliveries to Pasadena and neighboring cities to perform the retrofit." So I guess it was the MWD's idea. But we've had lots of rain. I haven't watered my lawn in weeks and it's still green. As far as planting, do ten days make that much difference?

The swine will be thirsty, Hiker, but I'm sure they'll wait.

Steven said...

Beer is good for you. Cheers! I am drinking a Red Strip beer right now. St. Patrick is huge in Jamaica Mon.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

Don't forget green shakes at McDonalds for all the teetotalers

they're magically delicious! <---Lucky Charms guy

Katie said...

Lovely photo. I don't have any Guinness on hand but I'll have a nip of Bailey's before bed (it pairs well with Girl Scout cookies). Plus a friend send me a packet of green Hostess Sno Balls, but I don't dare eat those.

Petrea Burchard said...

Steven, I choose to be happy for you rather than jealous.

I don't think I could take it, PA, nor could I handle Katie's green sno-balls. But I'd like to see them together on a picnic table.

pasadenapio said...

Petrea, you have been so kind to help us communicate this very important issue. Thanks so much. Part of the communications plan is to send out daily updates on progress.

I thought about pouring green beer on my grass, but my grass is already very green. Like you, I haven't watered it in a long time because there hasn't been a need.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thanks, Ann. I enjoy being on the mailing list!

TheChieftess said...

We tipped a Bushmill's on St Paddy's day...in honor of our Miss Daisy...

No need to water up here...we've still got snow up to the second story, and a weeks worth of storms a'comin'!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

I was thinking about this yesterday--what did we do in Illinois? We had a yard, but we didn't have in-ground sprinklers. Did we stand around watering with the hose? No, we didn't need to. It rained there.
I cannot wait to kill this lawn. I'd kill it right now if I didn't have neighbors to consider. Growing grass in this climate is insane.