OT: What's Wrong with MOI

Well you know the phrase 'to keep a long story short'? For my mom it's keeping a short story long hehe.

In a word......... Nothing! So pleased that life will be easier for your SIL and Family :o)

well then, here's hoping my visit to Scotland will stir up the appropriate Scots genes and bless me with the gift of brevity!! It is a good thing to have. (my grandad was quite terse, IIRC, but grandma was not, especially when imparting moral instruction to grandchildren. And she cared considerably about social perception--my mum certainly inherited the what will the neighbours say thing--but again, Grandad, who was next-door-to-Glaswegian, took your perspective)

Dawne

When do you go to Gods own country ??? Did you make arrangements to go to Edinburgh ?

I want to know also. DH and I will be in Glasgow sometime in early June for the ASME gathering :-). I am hoping that the economy has improved enough by then that they will be offering a nice assortment of day trips for the tag along spouses. We will also be visiting Ireland again in conjunction with this trip. I mean, once we're that side of the pond and in the neighborhood, why not take advantage of the situation :-)). CiaoMeow >^;;^<

PAX, Tia Mary >^;;^< (RCTQ Queen of Kitties) Angels can't show their wings on earth but nothing was ever said about their whiskers! Visit my Photo albums at

Do enjoy your trip to Scotland - but I hope the weather improves before you begin your journey. We've no snow on Stronsay and only the West Mainland is badly affected, however, further south it's a different matter altogether. A little footnote, forgive me if I've posted it before. Although Orkney doesn't really consider itself a proper part of Scotland there are a few local sayings that indicate the Orcadian and, to a much lesser extent, the Scots thought process: You park your car facing into the wind to prevent door damage when you get out. You take it as a personal insult if you have to show a card when writing a cheque. You refuse to acknowledge the existence of a Shetland version of Strip the Willow. Ferry journeys should be spent reading a book or sitting on a comfy seat rather than freezing outside. You understand that 'cla thee hole' can be an affectionate tribute to your wit. 'Reed cans' contain McEwan's Export. Scotland is not the mainland. You understand the merit of choosing your words carefully, then not saying them just to be on the safe side. You know there is no difference between a 'ruckle o stones' and 'archaeological evidence of ritual practice'. You eat Kettle Chips because the way they hurt your gums reminds you of Orkney Crisps. You find trees fascinating and stare at them in amazement. You feel faintly uncomfortable when there are no kye in ear-shot.

"Bruce Fletcher" wrote > Do enjoy your trip to Scotland - but I hope the weather improves before

Yes, I've seen the news coverage. Where I am, that weather would not be considered so awful, because it is what we are used to, but when it is not normal, and people aren't prepared or used to it, it is a horrible thing. Last night when I left work, the temperature with windchill was -40C. Although my car started reluctantly after sitting for 8 hours, the radio, the fan for the window defroster, and my running lights were all frozen! I plugged the car in overnight (for those of you in warmer climes, a block heater to keep the engine from freezing solid is standard equipment here, and it is important to plug your car in at night if you want it to start at all) as I had to run a cake over to work this morning. The radio thawed first, then the fan, and after about 20 minutes of driving, the running lights finally returned. Trust me, Glasgow will not seem cold, whatever is happening.

Dawne

I shovel my path, the front walk, and my driveway. I trudge through the drifts in the back yard when The Wonder Dog gets himself tangled around a tree. I have to go out everyday, to work, to run errands, to meetings, to shop, or to church. And when it is not horribly cold, I walk The Wonder Dog. So I am out in the white stuff daily for months. And I can't say that I always jump up and down and say yippee, especially when it is -40. But.... it is still pretty. Even when I am scraping it off my windshielf.

Dawne

Which is *just* the sort of morning we had today! I took a few pictures.

Joan

Which is *just* the sort of morning we had today! I took a few pictures.

Joan

We are having a warm spell--might reach zero today. Yesterday we had bright sun and a very blue sky, and when I went out to go to church the birds were singing. I am sure they have been around during the cold, but puffed up and hidden in the fir trees, not feeling at all like singing. There was even a big magpie strutting around the church parking lot. Almost enough to make me want to break out the little paper umbrellas and have a tropical something or other to drink after Bible Study. Where is that pool boy when I need him. (probably a few blocks away--a friend just emailed that the water line on their street broke, again, and there is a large pool of water there. )

Dawne

That really sounds like fun but maybe you need to teach him how to ice skate in the pool.