"Got Green?" Blog Hop... to be shure, to be shure

Aloha,

First of all, thanks y'all for so many awesome comments re. breaking 100 followers:)

I know so many of you are well beyond 100, and there were probably a few rolling-of-the-eyes by some readers, but I got such a kick in hitting triple digits that I couldn't help sharing:)

(Like I said, I so appreciate everyone stopping by - and will be hopping over to yours later today :)

As promised, here is the teaser info for my first Blog Hop:

Designed by Leigh O'Covington :)

As I was born and reared in Dublin, Ireland, I'm mad excited for this Blog O'Hop with its theme of "Got Irish - Get Pinched If You Don't Post!"

The linky list will officially open from March 12 to March 16, with the invitation to post the next day, which is, of course St. Patrick's Day :)

As I love taking my info posts down to the personal, let me share a quick story about my first St. Paddy's Day in the good ol' U.S. of A.

Growing up in inner city Dublin, America was truly a magic land.

Y'all had cars bigger than boats, ice-cream parlors on every corner and no crime ('cos the bad guys were always caught just before the 9 o'clock news came on.)

When I got my Green Card and arrived here in Jan. 1996, the first place I lived was Key West, Fla. 

(Now that is a post allll of its own :)

So, there I am, a single lad of 26, living in a crazy small town... and this thing called Spring Break happens.

Oh.

My.

Gosh.

Which is how I found myself in the middle of thousands of Irish-for-a-day revellers on Duval Street.

I swear I paid for not one drink on what was a long day... as soon as the peeps heard my accent, it was like, well, here's one example:

"Dude, where you from? You talk funny."

My Alter Ego: Super Flying IrishGuy

"Dublin."

"California?"

No, Ireland."

"Get out of here!"

"What?? I just got here!!"

There would be a veritable round of hugs and high-fives, followed by a call to the buddies and it was all over bar the shouting for another round.

I remember waking up March 18, and all I could think of is - wow, how cool that everyone wanted to be me for a day.... that was so much fun:)

And so it is even to this day. And even though I became a naturalized citizen in 2003, St. Paddy's Day is still a rocking day - if not the mad, crazy par-tees of yesteryear:)

That's why I'm hosting this Blog O'Hop...

What does St. Paddy's Day mean to you!

I'd LOVE to hear your Irish stories.

What's your traditions?

What do you cook?

What are your favorite memories, or future plans to visit the Emerald Isle?

Word Count total is 333 (say it in an "Oirish" accent, it makes more sense :)

To help promote the O'Hop, I'd much appreciate any support you could offer.

Please feel free to grab the button above or to the right, which was designed by the fahbuhlouss Leigh Covington :)

(If you do, can you please add the link to the button - thanks :)

To keep it interesting, I've got a few prizes lined up.

(So far) they include a:

$30 Visa Gift Card

One query critique

One three chapter edit

All prizes by me, a former journalist and current editor-in-chief of my imagination :)

If anyone is interested in donating a prize, please contact me via email.

Credit will so be given, of course:)

(And, if I may borrow the coolest way of ending posts from David Powers King)

My name is Mark, and don't mess with my Lucky Charms :)