'Tis a good day to be Irish!

May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.
Irish Toast

Happy St. Patty's Day! Despite the fact that my incurable procrastination resulted in my being locked out of the majority of my brackets this afternoon (I was supposed to participate in three NCAA tournament pools), I’m determined to turn that frown upside down. Why? Well, one of my favorite holidays is today. Growing up in Chicago, St. Patty's Day was right up there with the Fourth of July when it came to citywide celebrations. We're talking parades on both the North side and South side of the city - drawing hundreds of thousands of people apiece - along with the dying of the river and all sorts of other crazy traditions. So after I leave work today, I plan to get into the festive spirit by indulging in a delicious Shamrock Shake from Mickey D’s, some corned beef and cabbage and at least a pint or two of Guinness with friends. Anyway, I'll be drinking in moderation, since I have a long day of work tomorrow. But for those of you planning to cut loose tonight, here are some good calorie-related tips from Hungry Girl. Please drink responsibly!

* A bottle of light beer or a glass of wine typically has about 100 calories. (There are exceptions, of course.)

* A shot of most clear-ish alcohols -- like vodka and rum -- has about 100 calories.

* Diet sodas are great mixers. Seltzer and club soda are also good, but tonic has almost as many calories as regular soda.

* Avoid frozen drinks like daiquiris, mudslides, piña coladas, and margaritas... especially ones served in glasses the size of salad bowls. They are high in calories!

* Steer clear of sweet creamy drinks (like a White Russian) and mega-cocktails made with a ton of booze (like Long Island Iced Tea, which has five kinds of alcohol.) Those are loaded with calories.

* Most Important Cocktail Tip Ever! If you're drinking anything alcoholic, be of the legal drinking age and do not get in a car unless someone sober is behind the wheel.

And just a little something special for all of my favorite readers. Does Darby O'Gill and the Little People ring any bells? Check out a very young and handsome Sean Connery. Hoorah!

Everyone have a fabulous - and safe - night.