Brother Mike's Musings...by Mike Larkin... "I love Aamco
commericals. "Double A (beep beep), MCO". If my name was Aaron, I
would do the same thing. "Hi, what's your name?" "My name is
Aaron...double AA, beep beep, RON"....

Helloo All....

We took a break this fine Labor Day weekend. You would think we
could get away from each other but we are family.

It's even more interesting when Mike has a party for one of his
kids. Since eveyone in the band (except Murph) is an uncle it's like
a scene out of 'Goodfellas'. You know the one where all the mobsters
see each other in a family setting the night after commiting
crimes...'

Just an observation....

This weekend we return to the great St Catherine's Irish Fest in West
Dundee IL. It's a great fest and we get to see our friends like
Brigid's Cross and Donnybrook. We play Friday Sept 7 at 9:00 PM and
Saturday Sept 8 at 6:00 PM. (www.stcatherinesirishfest.com)

The following weekend we hit the Trifecta -

Fri Sept 14 @ 9 PM - The Galway Tribes in Frankfort
(www.thegalwaytribes.com). A great pub!! They are having their
annual Oyster Fest...
Sat Sept 15 @ 7 PM - Celtic Fest Chicago (www.cityofchicago.org) In
Grant Park in down town Chicago.
Sun Sept 16 @ 1:35 PM - Quad Cities Erin Feis, Rock Island, IL
(www.stpatsqc.com) - Our first appearance at this Fest, promises to
be a blast!!

'Seven Drunken Nights' Ireland Tour

Time is a ticking on this one. If you haven't booked yet please do.
Thea Land rate goes up $50 to $1399 on Oct 1 so start the process as
soon as you can.

A bit of news on the actual trip. Due to an Aer Lingus schedule
change we have to change the dates of the trip to leave on June 19
(instead of June 21) and return on June 27 (instead of June 29). The
good news is that the Aer Lingus rate (non stop from O'Hare) will be
$850 round trip. This is about $50 less that first anticipated. Of
course no one is bound to use Aer Lingus to participate in the tour
so if you can find something better that's fine.

For more detail the itinerary and hotel selection contact Mary Ann
Coon at 847-344-2364 or mactravel@.... We also provide
details at upcoming shows as well.

Due to demand we our considering another tour bus. This trip
promises to be a blast!!

More Stories On the Road....

So I forgot to tell you this story about when we were in Peoria. We
were in a local Irish Pub eating and I've just wolfed down about 1/2
a lamb, a 1/2 pound of potatoes, and about 6 Guinesses. Needless to
say, my body had to "free up a little salary cap", if you know what I
mean.

So I excuse myself to the toilet. now for some reason, on the way in,
I pay little attention to the symbols on the outside of the door (and
later when I went back, it's not like they had a woman symbol and a
man symbol....it was the "Fir" and "Mna" sign. Now growing up in
America I have a hard enough time with which means women and which
means men when I'm sober so I took my best guess figuring the odds
were 50/50.)

So I head right for the stall, close the door, and start
my "business" (btw, the stall doors went all the way to the ground, I
love that...it's like having your own little crap apartment (pun
intended)). So I'm reading a $10 bill, b/c I HAVE to read
something....and these 2 Irish women come into the bathroom. now at
this time, I'm thinking "Idiots, you've just walked into the men's
room". until the 3rd woman walks in. "must be another idiot" I
think...or maybe....

D'oh!

So now I've got myself what you call a "situation"...in the meantime,
I've also mistakingly put myself in a little recon position. so these
3 women start yapping about a "friend" of theirs who is at dinner,
they are all friends with, yet they clearly hate...(done in best
Irish accent) "Did you see her hair?"..."Her boyfriend is
HIDEOUS!"..."She is such a b*tch" (her words, not mine)....

It's good to know that women are consistent everywhere...I'm sure the
3 of them went back to their table smiling at their friend and
laughing with her....brilliant!

So anyway, they are in the bathroom bitching, pissing, doing their
makeup, etc...and I'm in there with my pants at my ankles holding a
$10 bill waiting for them to leave so I can go join everyone for
another drink.

Well about 5 minutes go by and they're still yapping away...in
addition, i've got lamb/potato/guiness saliva in my throat that I'm
dying to clear, but I can't clear my throat b/c it will give away the
fact that there is a man in the bathroom. FINALLY, they leave, and I
make my move. the bill goes back in the pocket, pants up, tuck in
shirt, zipper up, flush toilet using foot....then another woman comes
in the bathroom....

and another....

The first one goes into the stall, the 2nd one to the sink....NOW i'm
standing in the stall waiting, like a horse waiting for the starting
gate to open....

Patience......patience......

I listen for the sink chick....(probably checking her hair)....I
really have 2 options at this point: wait for nobody to be in the
bathroom, or I can run for the door and hope that she doesn't look to
her left....I'm 60/40 to make it....but I need to make a decision
quickly b/c the other chick is finishing up in the stall....

So I RUN for it....I keep my head down and it's really only about 5
steps to the door, but I have to walk TOWARDS the sink area...if she
looks left, I'm screwed. I hear the stall woman coming out of her
stall...I turn 5 steps into 3 leaps and reach for the door....

But the door is already opening....

There's only 1 thing you can say to the 3rd woman coming into the
bathroom with the shocked look on her face...

"How's it goin'?", I ask, rhetorically.

Now I have to go into the MEN'S (I now will have Fir tatooed on my
brain) room to wash up....and then back to the table....

See you soon.

Slainte,

Dan Larkin
www.celticratpack.com
www.myspace.com/thelarkinandmoranbothers.com