Northern Ireland

And on to Belfast we go!!

Belfast...ahhhh....WTF, I mean seriously...why can't this city have a map or street sign that is accurate. I think we must have made at least 5 u-turns before we just pulled into a parking lot in hopes of gaining our bearings.

The confusing streets actually made us feel like we were on the Grizwald's European vacation with them as we passed the same clock tower at least 3x. Seriously...we almost named a statue of a girl holding a hoop because we saw her 3x as well. After being lost for about 30 minutes we finally found the hotel that the kiddo's were staying at.

Thank god our host for the next two nights, Patrick, decided to come meet us vs us trying to find his home. Now Patrick...how do I describe him. Lets just say he has a job my brother would love to fill. Patrick is the CEO for the Northern Ireland Football Association. Thats right, the head of the Northern Ireland national team et all.

Patrick decides to take us out to dinner at an American diner called Springsteen's so we can feel a bit at home. One of his team (executive staff, not actual footballers) meets us as his wife is from Florida & just recently moved to Ireland. Our group was split up into 2 dable as there was not nearly enough room for all 9 of us at one table. Table 1 consisted of Bettina, Joe, Kaylene, Kelly & Patrick. Table 2 was myself, Tracy & Patrick's friend & wife. All I know is that before we left for Ireland I had joked with Bettina that I was going to hit Patrick up for a job because...well A) he lives in Ireland & B) the job would be in Football!!

Well as I was peacefully sitting there eating my Truman (aka mushroom swiss burger). Bettina yells across to me that Patrick is hiring! In fact, he was really hiring, he was actually conducting interviews the entire next day. All I know is that I jumped up & immediately pointed out that he shouldn't waste his time running interviews when I was clearly the best candidate for the position. Patrick was nice enough to humor me & thus the joke about me working for him lasted the remainder of our trip to NI. No but seriously, I'd have totally taken the job....and still will if he calls or emails me :)

I did however score his NI Football pin right from his lapel.