Was it Luck of the Irish or the Hindu blessing? We'll take it.

The Honorary Irish with their St. Patrick's Day host.
Umesh, left, and Hai with St. Paul Katie

We're not sure if it's just the Luck-O-the-Irish, or perhaps the Hindu blessing exchanged this morning with our breakfast guest from India, but Kathleen scored a cool $100 at the Canterbury Park blackjack tables after a mere hour of play this afternoon.
Umesh Kunte joined Hai Dang at 10 a.m. here for waffles. Umesh is in town for a month training newspaper employees and staying at the Hampton Inn. . . without a car. A month in Shakopee without a car??? Uff Da. You can only watch so many movies and skype your family on the other side of the world so often (he's got a 7 year old who's a lot like our Emily) before weekends get to be a crushing bore.
We invited him over for a change of pace and the usual waffle/fruit treatment. When Stan and Umesh departed to tour the City of Lakes, Umesh insisted on exchanging a customary parting with his host: He bent down and touched her feet while she touched his head in this traditional goodbye ritual and blessing.
A few hours later, our Irish Katie was taking home her winnings.

When he came to our door this morning, Umesh had a deep-seated fear of
dogs. Whatever his reasons (he'd been bitten a couple of times)
Birdie would have none of it and eventually broke down our
patient guest. They're buds now.