I had a wonderful sleep on the couch in Mishawaka. I highly recommend it.
We went out for breakfast (by car) to a lovely place that served massive freaking French Toast
. With 100% maple syrup. I was full for most of the day.
John went off to work, and Sonia gave me a tour of Notre Dame. She works LITERALLY under the gold dome of the university, could it be any cooler. It's such a gorgeous campus - well, the bits not under construction are gorgeous, but that just tells you what a popular place they are, that there's so much extra being built.
Also very religious. There's a basilica right beside the dome and a recreated Lourdes grotto behind that. Everyone prays. Mary and Moses are everywhere. The painting on the inside ceiling of the dome is Mary ascending into heaven (no toenails), and the point on the top of the dome is not a point. It's a 19 foot statue of Mary.
As well as all this, somewhere along the way, an Irish connection developed, and the university American Football team is called the Fightin' Irish, and their mascot is an angry leprechaun
. I just LOVE it.
We went shopping for some university brand clothes, and then university urban outfitters, some university Starbucks iced peach tea lemonade and finally some university books. There were a lot of kitschy Irish kids tales and photos of Ireland and even a big ol' memory photo and story hardcover book about that time ND came to Dublin to play another American football team in the Aviva, and the book was called "Happy Returns" and had a picture of the Claddagh on the cover. Hmph.
It would be SO EASY to just keep buying awesome stuff. The books were so cheap and so good. Then we went to hell.
Hobby Lobby.
It's like a pinterester's dream AND I CAN'T TAKE IT ALL HOME WITH ME!!!!!!!! :''C
I walked so many aisles, Sonia had to have me paged over the PA, and they couldn't really say my name. I wasn't lost, so Sonia went to charge her phone in the car and I finished looking at all the wonderful things I want and can never have.
DAMN YOU, IRELAND!!! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!!!!
as the movie quote goes...
~~~~~~~~~~
When we met back at the apartment with John, he started giving me lessons on IPA craft beer, as well as bourbon and Tennessee whiskey. We drank a Zombie Dust pale ale, and then all headed out to The Pub, which is the name of a perfect mid western, slightly divey diner. We had some totes amazeballs craft beers and I had the "All American Burger" with tater tots so I am living the dream, baby!!!
Sonia and I had an argument with the John about how to say "It was AAWWful" in Irish, which we maintain would likely be said "Bhí sé úfÁÁsach" but he thinks should be calmly said "úfásach a bhí sé." It went on for quite a while, and all ended in poor Monica in Ireland sending a strongly worded voice message over WhatsApp in Irish telling John where to stick his Harvard Irish....
We watched The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which Sonia and I had rented because John is just back from a few months in India, and it was light hearted enough to get away from the Irish debate. It turned out to exceed most people's (very low) expectations, which we'll take as a success.
And then it was time for the fightin' Irish to go to sleep. :)
Fightin' Irish
Saturday, August 08, 2015
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
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Comments

2025-02-11
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Tony
2015-08-10
The trip is "Auwsome" , much better than Burma. Great detail of all your activities.
Bernie
2015-08-10
Your blog is making me forget to do all the other things I should be doing!
Romy
2015-08-21
Just starting to catch up with you now Mary. How did you cover so much ground already??? Will read on..... "Litrally" days behind.