For those interested, I've posted a slideshow with some pics of my recent trip to Scotland at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shudson310/tags/scotland/show/
If you are looking for an OUTSTANDING travel agency, I would highly recommend The Travel Loft (http://travelloft.biz/). Tell them I sent you!
Categories: General
My wife and I are headed for Scotland tomorrow for two weeks!
Thanks a lot STUPID FREAKING TERRORISTS! I get to carry on my wallet. No iPod, no books, nuthin. And we had planned to travel the entire trip via carry ons so they wouldn't lose our luggage. Now they might lose my iPod, camera, video camera, travel vouchers and maps in my checked bag, and I'll look EVEN MORE like a clueless American!
We bought an iPod Video as an early 10th Anniversary gift this year in anticipation of the long flight over, and as a storage medium for our digital photos (when my SD cards got full). Now, we'll only get to use it for the photos, assuming they don't lose it all...
If I ever find Bin Laden or any of his evil followers, they're going to get a Sgian Dubh where it counts... Oh, wait, I can't carry that on a flight either!
At this point, Scotland the Brave is going to mean "braving the security lines and restrictions". It's worth it though: I hope they catch every one of those wicked blokes quickly -- and I STILL get to go to Scotland!
Categories: General
Thanks to Calum, I will hopefully be better prepared for Burns Night next year! As I have no Haggis, nor Scotch, I'll have to settle for some quiet reading of the great bard's works and maybe a wee bit o' Drambuie that I do have on hand!
A prince can mak a belted knight, A marquis, duke, an' a' that; But an honest man's abon his might, Gude faith, he maunna fa' that! For a' that, an' a' that, Their dignities an' a' that; The pith o' sense, an' pride o' worth, Are higher rank than a' that.
My family and I attended the Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival this weekend. I think it was one of the best we've ever been to!
We started on Thursday with the Tatoo (The word means: evening drum, bugle, or piper signal recalling soldiers to quarters. The earliest form of the word is from the Dutch "tap toe" which literally means to "close the tap" of the cask in the barrooms.). This spectacular event featured the King's Own Scottish Borderers Pipes and Drums, 78th Highlanders Pipes and Drums, 78th Highlanders Drill Team, Marine Band Twentynine Palms, Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard, cannons, HeadTalk-a drumline, and Dogs of the British Isles. Also quite moving was Isla St. Clair singing "When the Pipers Play".
On Friday, we went to the Field Day, taking in Scottish athletics (Caber toss, Sheaf toss, Stone throw), more bagpiping, shopping for Scottish items, and Scottish food. The weather was overcast and drizzling -- perfect Scottish weather. Then around noon, the sun broke out and warmed everything back up -- perfect Colorado weather!
My mom wanted to try Haggis, but changed her mind when she found out it was boiled. I passed as well... We bought the boys their own sets of armor to defend their "little princess" sister, and I got a Utilikilt!
I first found out about Utilikilts when Eliot Kimber wore one while presenting at Extreme Markup. The pockets are cool, and hold more than a Sporran. I got the Mocker version (seen here with Collin at the Estes parade)
Saturday we went to the parade. I usually march with Clan Cameron, but decided against it this year. I've got Cameron, Robertson, Baird, Sinclair, and Watchman clan blood, so it's hard to get kilts for all of them. Maybe I should get a kilt pin for each and pin it to the Utilikilt ;-) All of you Scots just winced, I know...
The festival is always the weekend after Labor Day in Estes Park, Colorado. Make plans to attend next year!
Mr. Spock was one of my favorite Sci-Fi characters growing up, but I've always held a special place in my heart for Scotty on Star Trek.
He was highly technical, and Scottish to boot! I always liked the episodes and scenes where he wears his kilt. ("Is There No Truth in Beauty?", "The Savage Curtain"). I also liked his crossover to Star Trek:The Next Generation in "Relics".
Today, James Doohan gets his star on the Hollywood Walk of Stars. Doohan will receive his star in front of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard at 10:30 a.m. Congratulations, James!
Here are a few links featuring James "Scotty" Doohan:
See also: Sci-Fi
For those non-Gaelic readers out there (myself included), it means "Unite" and is the motto of Clan Cameron.
I actually have a few different Scottish Clans in my bloodline (Robertson, Watchman, and Sinclair to name a few), but don Cameron, as they were the most recent to come to America, and because my mom gave it to me as my middle name.
I usually march with my Clan at the Longs Peak Scottish/Irish Highland Festival in Estes Park, and was married in my kilt!
I think "Unite" is appropriate for this entry, because that's also what is desperately needed at Sun. We've had too many internal conflicts, and too many confusing messages externally.
Of course, some of the other Clan Cameron mottos could work, but I don't think they are quite as appropriate:
"Mo righ's mo dhuchaich" (For King and Country)
"Chlanna nan con thigibh a so's gheib sibh feail" (Sons of the hounds come hither and get flesh)
A brisk 50 degrees F, and a lovely, misting fog envelopes the Denver metro area today. As a storm chaser, I love the big lightning storms, but the mist and fog we tend to get during spring and fall in Colorado have to be my second favorite weather type.
The mist and fog makes me feel contemplative, not depressed. It also prompts me to visit Scotland all the more. Hopefully for my 10th anniversary!
I have experienced Thundersnow here in Colorado, and I wonder if there isn't such a thing as Thunderfog?
I'm glad God likes variety, too.
See also: Weather
