It all started last weekend. We visited our local Irish Pub, The Blarney Stone, as we usually do to say farewell to the week that has just come to an end, and to say hello to the weekend. It’s a great place to have a drink or a few, some good food and to meet some fun and interesting folks. If you’ve never been, you need to go. It’s a fun and friendly atmosphere!
Saturday afternoon I did some fundraising for the Run for the Animals outside of the Book Bin in Onley, VA. For 2 hours “work,” we did pretty well! I sold 44 feet of duct tape, several raffle tickets, and some dog toys and other miscellaneous items. Saturday night we met some friends at the pub for dinner and drinks. While there we were told about the “Selfie Scavenger Hunt” that was taking place in the town in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Last year was the first year of the O’Nancock St. Patrick’s Day Parade. It was a hit! So they were doing it again this year and adding some fun new additions to the weekend’s celebration (like the scavenger hunt). No matter what “prizes” were involved, I just thought it sounded like FUN! There I go again, just looking for anything to do that might be fun. Wandering around town trying to figure out which business or landmark was being described in the clue, then taking a selfie in front of said business/landmark…um, yeah! I can make that fun!
Fundraising in front of the Book Bin
Sunday came along, I ran 12.5 miles which is my longest run to date, then went to bed early. My Run for the Animals Half Marathon is only 4 weeks away! Monday was uneventful. Tuesday after work I finally made it to Attitudes Fitness for a Pound class! I really need to start getting into a groove with that since my Pound Pro Camp is next weekend! I want to start teaching classes ASAP, so I need to get busy getting a clue as to how to construct and instruct a class. It just so happened that Tuesday was The Blarney Stone‘s 10 year Anniversary so we had to go and give our blessing! And have a couple of drinks and dinner. Also it was my mom’s birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!
Happy Birthday Mom!
So much to do, so little time!
I spent all afternoon Wednesday getting supplies and putting things together for the O’Nancock St. Patrick’s Day Parade. I, along with some friends, were taking part to help promote AnimalWhiz’s fundraising for the Run for the Animals! I didn’t have anything big planned. I mean, I had all kinds of ideas! But with such little time and not enough resources, I just planned on dressing up CJ in some celebratory green garb and made some t-shirts to promote AnimalWhiz for myself and anyone else that wanted to sport one.
Thursday after work, it was such a nice day, I thought it’d be perfect to go for a run and then wander around Onancock to get my selfies done! So, that’s what I did. I went home, picked up CJ and Chris, dropped Chris off at the pub while CJ and I ran 5 miles, then wandered around and took my selfies for the selfie scavenger hunt.
The first place we stopped was Kerr Place. I tried to get a good selfie of myself, but have come to learn that I’m not very good at taking selfies. So I took a nice photo of CJ in front of the historic landmark! Then I attempted to get one of the two of us. Not so good. Oh well! I had a nice picture of CJ at Kerr Place! 
Our second stop was the Roseland Theater. Again, I made a miserable attempt at a selfie, but got a great shot of CJ with the theater behind him! Lightbulb moment. CJ should be the star of this selfie scavenger hunt. So the rest of the photos were CJ selfies, with a few here and there of the two of us. It was so much fun! People would stop by and say hi and some would ask what we were doing. When I told them they thought it was great! CJ was a great sport and has since been a feature at a couple of the local businesses where he selfied. If you want to see his selfies just look for the #stpatsonancock tag on social media. You’ll see all his photos!
Me and CJ at the Historic Cokesbury Church
CJ at the Chesapeake Bay Pizza Company
CJ outside the Blarney Stone Pub
Today, Sunday, was parade day. I had a long run to get done, so I planned on heading out early this morning so I could get back and have plenty of time to get a few things done and to get prepped for the parade. I ended up getting off to a late start, decided to run 10 miles instead of the 8 I had “scheduled” (it was just too nice and things were going so well!!!), and when I got home I had to stretch and foam roll for about 15 or 20 minutes.
While I was in the shower I thought of something I wanted to put on the t-shirts I made to wear in the parade, so I had to try to get that done real quick because I only had about a half hour before I had to get on my way to line up. I was able to get one t-shirt completed. Good enough. Gotta go!
When we got to Onancock, there were people everywhere! So much for getting there early to get a decent parking space and to have a drink beforehand. My fault! But CJ and I made it to the line-up with plenty of time to spare. I got CJ all dolled up in his parade gear, then we took some pre-parade photos with ourselves and some of our parade “neighbors.” The parade itself was fun, there were tons of people, and CJ got to visit with dozens of kids and other people along the way. Some people even recognized him from all of his selfies. He’s kind of famous now I guess!
CJ selfied in front of the practicing bagpipers before the parade
His Handsomeness all decked out for some O’Fun!
Me and CJ posing with Elroy the Elk!
After the parade was over, my friends and I headed to the pub, and so did everyone else! It was PACKED!!! The inside was packed, the outside was packed, it was the place to be! We had dinner and a few drinks, then headed home. CJ was spent. He’s been sleeping all afternoon. He did run 5 of the 10 miles with me and then there was all of the parade excitement. I can’t say I blame the poor fella! That’s one heck of a busy day for a 9-year-old senior puppy.
One Last Selfie pair outside the Pub with Gus the Bardic Troubadour playing in the background!
Tomorrow should be a nice rest day for all of us, then it’s back to being busy come Tuesday. I should be able to make another Pound class in the afternoon and then it’s back to the pub for some corned beef and cabbage! Wednesday through Friday will be busy with preparing for a road trip, baking because I plan to hold a Bake Sale for the Run for the Animals the following week, and then we’re heading to Philadelphia for my Pound Camp. More excitement awaits…and you’ll all hear about it soon.
AnimalWhiz 