Cá raibh mé? Where was I? Where have I been and where have I left off with these postings? I thought about posting my comments at each individual thread but at this point in time it seemed pointless. The world has moved on. So, here are a few of my ramblings in regard to the subjects that were discussed. This thread could be a catch all for now.

Cá raibh mé? Bhuel, bhí mé sa Nua Eabhrac an tseachtain seo caite. Chuaigh mé ar an mbus ó Connecticut go dtí Nua Eabhrac. Bhí mé ag LegalTech. Cad slua gnóthach! Agus bhí mé ag caint i nGaeilge ansin. (Tá an scéal fada.) D'ith mé mo lón ag Ullbeach agus d'ol mé Guinness ag Muc Agus Fead ar an W47th. Labhair mé i nGaeilge ansin. Scríobh mé "go raibh maith agat" ar an bhfáltas. Cheannaigh mé an leabhar "Live from New York: an Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live" ag an stáisiúin bus. Léigh mé "Teacher Man" scríofa ag Frank McCourt nuair a bhí mé ar an mbus ar an mbealach abhaile.

All the while I thought about Mac Léinn's (is breá liom do fhocail freisin, a Mhac!) postings on what this discussion board is all about. In New York, I heard many languages spoken. It made me envious. During the day I used my cell phone to call home to leave messages i nGaeilge even though my wife would not understand. I wanted the people around me to hear Irish. I am fortunate that my position calls for my need to use Irish whenever and wherever I can. I am like the Forest Gump of the Irish speaking world in that I have immersed (inflicted, punished, depends on your point of view) those around me with the language of our heritage. And like Forest Gump, but in reality, I have spoken and been in the same room with the likes of Gerry Addams, the McCourts, Bertie Ahern, Mary McAleese, and others. These are amusing long stories for another time. The point is that I have an innate need to master the Irish language. Mastering English has been a life long ambition too!

Thus, whenever I posted here, I attempted to translate what I thought I was saying in Irish into English. This way, the more fluent could determine if I were really saying what I thought I was saying. I mainly did this for myself but I heard from those who were just getting into the language that they enjoyed seeing examples simultaneously in Irish and English. I am at that point where I am abandoning the practice, though I do believe that we intermediate students need more intermediate materials. There seems to be an abundance for basic and advanced but not for those in the middle. My little ditties at Daltaí immersion weekends are an attempt to fill this gap. As ludicrous as it may seem, the phrase "English and Irish" at this discussion board means literally ("not literally, that would be hideous" - Alan Partridge) in boolean speak just that. The intent of the board, however, is that English or Irish are allowed whereas in the other half of this discussion board only Irish is allowed. Common sense would call for lengthy messages completely i nGaeilge would be posted in the Irish only section. I regularly attempt to read both sections but have not yet posted in the Irish Only, and I will not until I am ready.

There are times when I think there should be three discussion forums:

1:) Mostly English with some Irish - very basic - as in a Bunrang;

2:) Irish or English but mostly Irish - as in a Meánrang;

3:) Irish only - as in a Ardrang.

Bhuel, sin sin, go fóill. Nílim ag caint faoi na ábhair éagsúla. Déanfaidh mé mo cheachtanna anois.

Áfach, tá mé ag dul go dtí Esopus. An bhfuil sibhse ag dul freisin?

Maidhc

Scríobh Maidhc: D'ith mé mo lón ag Ullbeach agus d'ol mé Guinness ag Muc Agus Fead ar an W47th

Maith thú a Mhaidhc! Tá mé sasta go bhfuil tú ar ais. Muc Agus Fead - Pig and Whistle, nach ea? An chuala tú ceol riamh nuair atá tú in Nua Eabhrac? Má atá súil agat, feic Murph's Guide to Trad Sessions at http://www.murphguide.com/tradsession.htm

Go raibh maith agat as do chomaoin. Scríobh tú freisin:

During the day I used my cell phone to call home to leave messages i nGaeilge even though my wife would not understand. I wanted the people around me to hear Irish.

That's so cool! I do the same thing, except not on the cell phone, ach nuair a bhfuil mé leis m'athair agus tá daoine eile ag cainte ina dteanga. I start talking to my Dad in Irish and I've instructed him to simply reply with either tá or 'sea. It's so cool to see the expressions on others' faces because they have no idea what language we're talking and I get to practice my Irish.

Thinking of tá or 'sea, reminds me of T'is, which reminds me of Teacher Man. An dtaitnionn sé leat? Ba mhaith le mo mhac ina munteoir (is mac léinn ag Rutgers (Scarlet Knights Abú!), agus thug mé an leabhar sin aige agus thaitnionn go mor leabhar aige.

Sea. Pig N Whistle. Go raibh míle maith agat don "Murph's Guide to Trad Sessions." Cloisim ceol ag Playwright i Hamden agus Anna Liffey's i New Haven (Nua Neamh) i gConnecticut.

Níor léigh mé T'is fós, ach léifidh mé an leabhar seo go luath.

Quote: Scarlet Knights Abú!

Bhuel, Cónaíonn Bobchait Anseo ag Quinnipiac!

A Mhac,

I should put in another dallán gan náire for:

Scythian - Celtic Music"Celtic with an edge." Four-man band plays a range of styles from traditional Celtic to Celtic rock, with strains of gypsy and klezmer.
www.scythianmusic.com/ - 15k - Cached - Similar pages

If you do a search for Scythian in Google you get them as the first entry!

Cén fáth an dallán gan náire? Mar de m'iníon! Is í Erin a mbainisteoir. Is iontach an cailín í. Agus tá Scythian go han-mhaith.

I try to get away with using Irish with people I know. My dad doesn't like me to speak it often because he doesn't understand and it annoys him, but I can say slan and ask for uische. I can get away with it more with my 4-year-old (not actually mine) but that is because he is little and can't stop me. All he says at present is slan but we're working on it.

Beir bua agus beannacht