This past weekend was the annual Highland Games, over in Enumclaw.
I have no idea how many attend this event, but it is amongst the largest gathering of Scots and bagpipes in North America.
I have not attended a gathering in at least ten years!
So, much fun!
I really was not going to go.
But, constant nagging by an old friend, prompted me along.
I stopped going when the "forest fairies" and their ilk took over the gather!
Luckily, they did not show up this year.
But lots of "medival" re-enactor types whom know nothing of Scotland nor its history!
Very sad ...
Bangers were the menu item of the day.
Thankfully sans the 'neeps'!
Gag!
And lest I forget, deep fried turkey legs!
Lots of music.
From harp to digeree-do!
Lots of vendors hocking all things Scottish:
Tea
Cookies
Books
Scarves
Kilts
etc
I think I really need to find my bagpipes .....
July 31, 2018
July 30, 2018
Mystery Solv-ed
With the intrepid skill of Jacques Coustou, aka The Pink Panther Sometime Chief Inspector, the mystery of Who Is... has been solv-ed, as the intrepid inspector would declare!
Yes, via Facebook, which I hardly use, I found the answer!
I had a message from someone: Kim W!
So, not sure, I opened it up.
And there was a message from my friend of many years from the antique shows down in Puyallup.
Now, I have known him for very many years.
I just had no idea he was one of my readers!
Possibly sometime the lone US reader mystery is solv-ed as well!
So, I had a good laugh.
And promised myself to write him and his wife real soon!
It has been far too long since our paths crossed!
Perhaps later this year?
So many to find again,
So many faces without names in my mind's eye.
So very frustrating!
sigh ...
Yes, via Facebook, which I hardly use, I found the answer!
I had a message from someone: Kim W!
So, not sure, I opened it up.
And there was a message from my friend of many years from the antique shows down in Puyallup.
Now, I have known him for very many years.
I just had no idea he was one of my readers!
Possibly sometime the lone US reader mystery is solv-ed as well!
So, I had a good laugh.
And promised myself to write him and his wife real soon!
It has been far too long since our paths crossed!
Perhaps later this year?
So many to find again,
So many faces without names in my mind's eye.
So very frustrating!
sigh ...
July 28, 2018
July 27, 2018
Answers - 4
This time around - the BLOG:
Yes, all Posts, no matter how warped or improbable, are true.
Some quite painfully so.
Yes, I did delete some 500 posts.
The Blog was becoming an, As The Stomach Churns, soap opera.
Not the point of my blogging!
Yes, all people are real.
Gaelic Girl is Deidre MacDonald, whom hails from the Isle of Skye in Scotland and at times goes by Christine.
Oona is actually a Swedish girl named Oona, she also goes by Christine.
Swede is Swedish as well, name of Lowell. Yeah, he gets called Christine too!
Dutchman is really Irish and of the name of Kieth. No one calls him Christine!
Deceased Christine, yup, Christine.
Critter, yup you guessed it - Christine!
Sister Becca, is Rebecca or 'Wrecky-Becky!' due to cars killing themselves around her.
Cousin Rebecca is as is!
So as you can see, no real mysteries here!
Outside of Cousin Rebecca and me, no one has an internet presence.
We went with nick names because so many were named Christine!
Since the last High School I attended was in Colorado, I return there about every other year.
My last reason for travel there is now dead.
Every other year I travel to Arizona, now to look up my old partner's wifw and to see how to help her.
May she live many more years, for she has been a great mother figure!
And grandmother to my daughters, whom mostly are in awe of her.
Today, I write from Washington State.
Maybe three years more.
And then just the weight of taxes here will force me to move!
Yes, although dwindling low in numbers, my family is still in Switzerland.
Except crazy biological mother.
Only 45 miles away, and perhaps not far enough!
I worry about me sometimes.
Though with no memory, I wonder what about!
No male has gone sideways, unlike all of the women in the Spencer side.
So .... hoping not to be an exception!
Lord willing ...
Well, tired now, from dialysis, so must close.
zzzzzzzzzz!
Yes, all Posts, no matter how warped or improbable, are true.
Some quite painfully so.
Yes, I did delete some 500 posts.
The Blog was becoming an, As The Stomach Churns, soap opera.
Not the point of my blogging!
Yes, all people are real.
Gaelic Girl is Deidre MacDonald, whom hails from the Isle of Skye in Scotland and at times goes by Christine.
Oona is actually a Swedish girl named Oona, she also goes by Christine.
Swede is Swedish as well, name of Lowell. Yeah, he gets called Christine too!
Dutchman is really Irish and of the name of Kieth. No one calls him Christine!
Deceased Christine, yup, Christine.
Critter, yup you guessed it - Christine!
Sister Becca, is Rebecca or 'Wrecky-Becky!' due to cars killing themselves around her.
Cousin Rebecca is as is!
So as you can see, no real mysteries here!
Outside of Cousin Rebecca and me, no one has an internet presence.
We went with nick names because so many were named Christine!
Since the last High School I attended was in Colorado, I return there about every other year.
My last reason for travel there is now dead.
Every other year I travel to Arizona, now to look up my old partner's wifw and to see how to help her.
May she live many more years, for she has been a great mother figure!
And grandmother to my daughters, whom mostly are in awe of her.
Today, I write from Washington State.
Maybe three years more.
And then just the weight of taxes here will force me to move!
Yes, although dwindling low in numbers, my family is still in Switzerland.
Except crazy biological mother.
Only 45 miles away, and perhaps not far enough!
I worry about me sometimes.
Though with no memory, I wonder what about!
No male has gone sideways, unlike all of the women in the Spencer side.
So .... hoping not to be an exception!
Lord willing ...
Well, tired now, from dialysis, so must close.
zzzzzzzzzz!
July 26, 2018
Answers - 3
So, miscellaneous questions:
Born 1955.
Retired.
Wrote computer operating systems, disk drive management systems on large scale IBM machines.
No, I will not post a picture of my birth certificate nor US social security card! (really!?! how dumb do you think me?)
Current car is a 2018 Toyota RAV4 4X4 (not AWD!).
No, not rich, not even middle income now I am retired.
Yes, I willingly adopted four Russian kids.
Only the oldest retains her Russian.
Only the oldest struggles with English.
I do not post hardly any photos of myself because .... I am not into selfies and I usually take all of pictures!
Besides a lifetime of being made fun of over my height, size of nose, etc makes one rather withdrawn.
Spoken Languages, in order of learned: German, English, French, Yiddish, Spanish, Russian.
Written language, in order of used: French, German, English.
Today: Re-learning English, lost all of the others.
Hair was originally red.
Turned brown when I was 14.
Now grey highlights.
Eyes are color change blue-green.
As long as they are blue-green, you are safe.
However, if only blue or green, there is about to be trouble!
It used to really freak out my special :"services:" trainer ...
In that regard, US Army trained.
Assigned to the State Department, Israeli loan.
Hollywood made two movies covering my assignment - I never told!, not even in court later!
But someone did ....
Yes, I am the boy from the 1969 newspaper articles on high school student builds atomic bomb.
Well, it was just colored wheat paste and newspaper strips, but the timer and electron accelerator were real!
All I got was arrested, a 'D' for a grade and my accelerator and timer designs confiscated!
I was really ripped off!
Just because I was 40 years ahead of state of the art and state of terrorism, doesn't make me in the wrong!
My memory loss was so complete, that my great novel I was writing, was completely lost!
I have reread it, loved it, but have no idea where it goes.
And I even had publisher!
Also read two other novel outlines I laid out, probably under opioids, and had to wonder about my old brain!
Too devious ...
So that is about it, this time around.
Born 1955.
Retired.
Wrote computer operating systems, disk drive management systems on large scale IBM machines.
No, I will not post a picture of my birth certificate nor US social security card! (really!?! how dumb do you think me?)
Current car is a 2018 Toyota RAV4 4X4 (not AWD!).
No, not rich, not even middle income now I am retired.
Yes, I willingly adopted four Russian kids.
Only the oldest retains her Russian.
Only the oldest struggles with English.
I do not post hardly any photos of myself because .... I am not into selfies and I usually take all of pictures!
Besides a lifetime of being made fun of over my height, size of nose, etc makes one rather withdrawn.
Spoken Languages, in order of learned: German, English, French, Yiddish, Spanish, Russian.
Written language, in order of used: French, German, English.
Today: Re-learning English, lost all of the others.
Hair was originally red.
Turned brown when I was 14.
Now grey highlights.
Eyes are color change blue-green.
As long as they are blue-green, you are safe.
However, if only blue or green, there is about to be trouble!
It used to really freak out my special :"services:" trainer ...
In that regard, US Army trained.
Assigned to the State Department, Israeli loan.
Hollywood made two movies covering my assignment - I never told!, not even in court later!
But someone did ....
Yes, I am the boy from the 1969 newspaper articles on high school student builds atomic bomb.
Well, it was just colored wheat paste and newspaper strips, but the timer and electron accelerator were real!
All I got was arrested, a 'D' for a grade and my accelerator and timer designs confiscated!
I was really ripped off!
Just because I was 40 years ahead of state of the art and state of terrorism, doesn't make me in the wrong!
My memory loss was so complete, that my great novel I was writing, was completely lost!
I have reread it, loved it, but have no idea where it goes.
And I even had publisher!
Also read two other novel outlines I laid out, probably under opioids, and had to wonder about my old brain!
Too devious ...
So that is about it, this time around.
July 25, 2018
Answers - 2
This group covers the most asked questions ...
Yes, once again, it revolves around sexuality!
Kris is straight.
As in not gay.
Yes, Kris likes females.
However Kris has less than good experiences with them.
So, I do not write much about them.
Other than in antidotes.
I realize that long ago Christianity was hijacked in America and replaced with a violent form of political correctness.
Wherein sin is on a sliding scale, where what ever my sin is - is the least offensive to God.
Homosexuality is the most offensive.
However, The Bible clearly states that ALL sins are equal.
It also lists homosexuality always with a list of other sexual sins!
Sorry American theologians, read your Bible before you step into the Pulpit!
But all this I have said numerous times.
Back in the late 1970's and early 1980's, I had extensive friendships within the Seattle gay community.
Witnessed to them.
Prayed with them and over them.
Sat in the hospitals with them as they were dying.
By the time I started commuting to Europe, they had mostly died of aids or drug overdoses.
Very sad.
So, I do understand the issues, but not the prejudice practiced by most "Christians".
Nor that practiced by those whom are not Christian - such as my son.
I don't get it, quite honestly.
Personally, I don't care your orientation.
Unless it matters to you, in which case stay away!
And that is where at least the Seattle community as gone - straight into straight -aphobia!
So, lets wrap this up one more time!
Always been straight.
sigh ....
Yes, once again, it revolves around sexuality!
Kris is straight.
As in not gay.
Yes, Kris likes females.
However Kris has less than good experiences with them.
So, I do not write much about them.
Other than in antidotes.
I realize that long ago Christianity was hijacked in America and replaced with a violent form of political correctness.
Wherein sin is on a sliding scale, where what ever my sin is - is the least offensive to God.
Homosexuality is the most offensive.
However, The Bible clearly states that ALL sins are equal.
It also lists homosexuality always with a list of other sexual sins!
Sorry American theologians, read your Bible before you step into the Pulpit!
But all this I have said numerous times.
Back in the late 1970's and early 1980's, I had extensive friendships within the Seattle gay community.
Witnessed to them.
Prayed with them and over them.
Sat in the hospitals with them as they were dying.
By the time I started commuting to Europe, they had mostly died of aids or drug overdoses.
Very sad.
So, I do understand the issues, but not the prejudice practiced by most "Christians".
Nor that practiced by those whom are not Christian - such as my son.
I don't get it, quite honestly.
Personally, I don't care your orientation.
Unless it matters to you, in which case stay away!
And that is where at least the Seattle community as gone - straight into straight -aphobia!
So, lets wrap this up one more time!
Always been straight.
sigh ....
July 24, 2018
Answers 1
My offer to answer questions, did generate many eMails, but surprisingly were all questions I have answered before!
So, this one is about me questions:
Yes, I am an American by naturalization in 1975.
But, I was born a West German and Swiss citizen.
So, yes, a tri-national.
I attended high school in West Germany, South Carolina and graduated in Colorado.
I attended college for 25 years.
I feel if you stop learning then life is no longer worth living!
I only fouled up twice and ended up with two degrees!
Christian Apologetics and Art.
I am 6'3", currently. Was 6'5" in College.
Hmmm, injuries:
Still recovering from last October's auto accident ( broken cheek bone, eye orbit, nose).
Loss of a leg to MRSA.
Numerous knee surgeries from Skiing.
Numerous elbow surgeries from tennis.
Many foot surgeries from broken bones.
Split pelvis.
Numerous heart attacks, one stroke.
Compressed spinal column in a car crash, my poor Alfa suffered the worse of it!
Broken all ribs, thank you to a certain popular football player - now convict.
And of course my now famous complete amnesia!
(though I do have about 28 years of memory back now).
No, I really do not remember you! Nothing personal but outside of immediate family and friends, there are few memories of people.
No, I do not remember my parents.
And, my attending the memorial two weeks ago helped fill in cousin blanks.
It hurts not remembering my grandmother, great aunt and great uncle. Whom raised me.
Of course Somer, will not let me forget her!
Family is/was:
Sister - Somer.
Brother - Nichols, believed dead.
Sister - Carmen, believed dead.
Brother - Jeffery, died by drowning.
Half Sister - Martha and older than me, may still be alive in Hamburg, no idea.
Mother - still alive and crazy.
Father - died of cancer/massive heart failure.
Best Friends - Swede, Dutchman and Gaelic Girl.
Interests - Art, Christianity, Shooting, Knives, Cooking, Antiques, Canning Jars, Western Americana, History, US Jefferson Nickels, singing silly songs to my grandchildren.
Yeah too many!
Well enough about me!
I honestly think I am fairly boring .....
But, second most questions were desiring to pry into me and my life.
So, this one is about me questions:
Yes, I am an American by naturalization in 1975.
But, I was born a West German and Swiss citizen.
So, yes, a tri-national.
I attended high school in West Germany, South Carolina and graduated in Colorado.
I attended college for 25 years.
I feel if you stop learning then life is no longer worth living!
I only fouled up twice and ended up with two degrees!
Christian Apologetics and Art.
I am 6'3", currently. Was 6'5" in College.
Hmmm, injuries:
Still recovering from last October's auto accident ( broken cheek bone, eye orbit, nose).
Loss of a leg to MRSA.
Numerous knee surgeries from Skiing.
Numerous elbow surgeries from tennis.
Many foot surgeries from broken bones.
Split pelvis.
Numerous heart attacks, one stroke.
Compressed spinal column in a car crash, my poor Alfa suffered the worse of it!
Broken all ribs, thank you to a certain popular football player - now convict.
And of course my now famous complete amnesia!
(though I do have about 28 years of memory back now).
No, I really do not remember you! Nothing personal but outside of immediate family and friends, there are few memories of people.
No, I do not remember my parents.
And, my attending the memorial two weeks ago helped fill in cousin blanks.
It hurts not remembering my grandmother, great aunt and great uncle. Whom raised me.
Of course Somer, will not let me forget her!
Family is/was:
Sister - Somer.
Brother - Nichols, believed dead.
Sister - Carmen, believed dead.
Brother - Jeffery, died by drowning.
Half Sister - Martha and older than me, may still be alive in Hamburg, no idea.
Mother - still alive and crazy.
Father - died of cancer/massive heart failure.
Best Friends - Swede, Dutchman and Gaelic Girl.
Interests - Art, Christianity, Shooting, Knives, Cooking, Antiques, Canning Jars, Western Americana, History, US Jefferson Nickels, singing silly songs to my grandchildren.
Yeah too many!
Well enough about me!
I honestly think I am fairly boring .....
But, second most questions were desiring to pry into me and my life.
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