Top Ten Things Not to Do on St. Patrick’s Day

Here is the 37th installment of Ten Top Lists of What Not to Do by Marie Ann Bailey of 1WriteWay at http://1writeway.com and John W. Howell of Fiction Favorites at http://johnwhowell.com. These lists are simu-published on our blogs each Monday. We hope you enjoy.

a patty

Top Ten Things Not to do on Saint Patrick’s Day

10. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not dye any of your body hair green. If you do, at best, you will get strange looks and a possible reprimand from your boss. At worst, you will have to live with the color until the hair grows out or your divorce is final, whichever comes first.

9.  On St. Patrick’s Day, do not try to wish everyone a happy day with a made up Irish brogue. If you do, at best, you might offend a genuine Irish person. At worst, the genuine Irish person offended might just be the local police officer.

8.  On St. Patrick’s Day, do not believe you need to bring your homemade corned beef and cabbage to the office to share. If you do, at best, you might have coworkers avoiding your cube since the smell of cabbage might lead them to believe it is something else. At worst, the hazmat team from office services will have foamed down your work area before you have a chance to explain.

7.  On St. Patrick’s Day, do not think Guinness stout drinks just like any other beer when you go out to celebrate with your coworkers. If you do, at best, you might have to find a ride home. At worst, you might have to rehearse your apology for the coworkers and your boss in an effort to salvage your job.

6. On St. Patrick’s Day, do not sing your favorite limericks no matter how innocent you believe them to be. If you do, at best, you will start a round of Limericks that aren’t so innocent. At worst, the local authorities will be called in to calm the disturbance reported by those within earshot of what can best be described as X-rated songs.

5.  On St. Patrick’s Day, do not follow the suggestion of a coworker to play a Leprechaun at the cake and coffee gathering. If you do, at best, you will be the laughing-stock till next year. At worst, you will be asked by your boss to play the leprechaun at the family St. Patrick’s Day picnic and there is still snow on the ground.

4.  On St. Patrick’s Day, do not wish everyone Erin Go Bragh unless you know what it means. If you don’t know what it means and you say it to the wrong person, at best, you may get some weird looks. At worst, you may find your self embroiled in a political battle with someone with a different view.

3.  On St. Patrick’s Day, do not think Bushnell’s in coffee is no more harmful than sugar. If you do, at best, you may find yourself slurring your words when you say Erin Go Bragh. At worst, you may find yourself totally wide awake and unable to find your way home.

2.  On St. Patrick’s Day, do not put any kind of green-colored hat on your head. If you do, at best, you will look ridiculous. At worst, there will be several photos snapped that you will pay large sums to have deleted.

1.  On St. Patrick’s Day, do not drink anything green.  If you do, at best, you will have the lips of a lizard. At worst, you will need to schedule a dentist appointment to have your teeth restored to their original color unless you plan to attend a vampire convention.

16 comments

  1. Charles Yallowitz's avatar

    Ah, Guinness. The beer that drinks like a meal.

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  2. Marie A Bailey's avatar

    Good morning, John. What a great list! #3 is one item that I have had way too much experience with. Back when I lived in Berkeley, CA (long before my husband made an honest woman of me), my then-boyfriend and I frequented a local establishment called Brennan’s. It was a bar/cafeteria. Yup, in the center of the place they had a large rectangular bar for us drunks and a cafeteria and tables and chairs for the families that streamed in on Sunday afternoons. Every Patty’s Day, they opened up a special kiosk where people like myself would line up for Irish coffees with green cream. Sometimes if the line was too long, I’d opt for Guinness, but I did enjoy my Irish coffees. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy being drunk and wired at the same time 😉

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    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Great story. Thanks. lived in the Bay area for ten years. UC folks were always amusing especially when high.

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      1. Marie A Bailey's avatar

        And there are stories there too 🙂 I never took much to getting “high.” Never saw the appeal, unless I had insomnia 🙂

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  3. S.K. Nicholls's avatar

    Gee…I have been doing it all. No wonder my coworkers didn’t bother with a going away party when I retired. They were glad to be rid of the smell of corned beef and cabbage.

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  4. Kevin Brennan's avatar

    Guinness is considered medicine in some places. It’s nice to be able to say, “Doctor’s orders!”

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    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      Charles said, “Drinks like a meal.”

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  5. Andra Watkins's avatar

    I told Marie my pinky toe is green…………….

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  6. Cayman Thorn's avatar

    I loves me my Guinness. But really, thank God I’m with an Irish girl . . it saves me the embarrassment of a top 10 finish.

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    1. John W. Howell's avatar

      I am also with an Irish girl. Saves me even more.

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  7. Unknown's avatar

    […] girl. And okay, so maybe she doesn’t care whether I mention her or not, but my man John is okay with me doing just that. And while I’m busy with shout outs, a big thank you to the […]

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