This coming Saturday is Saint Patrick's Day, of course, and KMBC will be bringing you the big parade starting at 11:00 a.m. It is also a good time to remind everyone about the trip to Ireland that my wife and I will be hosting, along with Holiday Vacations, from August 27 through September 5. You can get more information by calling 1-800-826-2266. Another great way to learn more about the adventure is by attending one of the informational meetings set up for next week. Here's the info:

Tuesday March 20 at 10:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Sports Complex
4011 Blue Ridge Cutoff
KCMO

Wednesday March 21 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Mission-Overland Park
7240 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Overland Park, KS

At the get-togethers, you will see a great multi-media presentation about the trip and get your questions answered by the experts...the friendly tour directors. (Rest assured, you will not have to depend on me for anything important on the trip itself!)

Speaking of St. Patrick and Ireland, I plan on wearing the same tie everyday this week. I know what you're thinking: "So what?" Well, you might be surprised how many folks watching actually notice such things. Frankly, it is much more of a test for the female journalists on the air. If they change their hair-style or wear the same outfit too close together, the e-mails and voice-mails do come rolling in. Anyway, I have a great Disney/St. Patrick's tie to wear this year thanks to a viewer named Don Nelson. Back, just after the holidays, Don sent me several fun ties which he had worn when teaching Sunday School and to entertain his children. Now, according to Don, he doesn't have the same opportunities to show off his fun ties anymore but he wanted to find a way that they would still get used. Over the years, he has noticed some of the other unusual ties I've worn and he knows I visit lots of school so, in his great generosity, he sent them to me. I've worn a number of them already and, this week, I get to use the Mickey Mouse as St. Patrick tie!

That tie is probably a better way to celebrate than what I used to do back in grade school. This was during a period when I was convinced we were, as a family, really Irish. (There is a great-grandmother with the name of Hennigan, but that is about it.) As I've mentioned before, I am, basically, a mutt. A little Swedish...some German...Danish...French...English...that bit of Irish...possible sliver of Native American...and, for all I know, a pinch of Golden Retriever. But, in grade school, I went all out for that small dash of Irish heritage and dyed my hair green. Having dark hair and using food coloring, you could only see the green tint if I stood in direct sunlight and pointed at my head. I was no Dean Stockwell. (He was in a movie called The Boy With Green Hair back in the 1948.) This was in the days before you could by those aerosol cans of hair-paint. Today, if a person wanted to, they could really go for the green.

So, unless someone forwards me a can of the green spray stuff, the tie will do just fine! Please, if you are interested in taking your St. Patrick's Day celebration to the real starting point, attend one of the meetings next week. Any country with a Blarney Stone is perfect for a weatherman.