Other -- Hotel Fountain

Bin Laden is dead

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
— Martin Luther King Jr.

That being said, I do hope his death will serve as a catalyst for peace, not for more violence.
Other -- Pond Lily

Niagara Falls

I traveled to Niagara Falls ON yesterday (for the first time since I was 10), and had a great time with gypsy_stranger  (who successfully navigated us there).  We visited the Falls, the Butterfly Conservatory, and Skylon Tower, had dinner, watched the lighting of the Falls, and then went home.  As always, I took many pictures.  Here's a few:



A barge caught in the rapids leading to the Horseshoe Falls

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Altogether there and back, I was awake for 20 hours on 5 hours sleep, so I was quite happy to get home!  Next time I go to see the Falls, I don't think I'll do it as a daytrip.
Other -- Leadbeater Kilt

Fergus with Fotos...

Here's some of the pictures I took at Fergus.  They've been reduced in size to allow easy viewing for dialup users.



The Fergus Pipe Bands (a tiny town with two of them!)


Tom Leadbeater (putting the "wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle wiggle!" in his kilt)


Diana Gabaldon talking about her books (and trying to gracefully dodge audience request for spoilers, poor woman)


Tom Redpath, and a newly shorn lamb

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TLOTR Shieldmaiden

Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games

 I'm at the Fergus Scotish Festival (by myself this time, my friend who usually goes with me is at a wedding this weekend).  I'm enjoying myself quite a bit (there's something to be said for traveling on your own, you don't have to compromise on what you want to see or do, or when, and strangers are more likely to strike up a chat with you -- it's Fergus, it's pretty safe).  The downside is there's no one around to hear my smart-ass jokes (at least, no one who knows not to take them seriously).

When I packed to come here, I decided at the last minute to bring the Mac, not the PC (and forgot to pack the USB cable for my camera as well), and as a result, I have no place to insert my SD card, so I can't insert any pictures into this right now.  It's a good thing I recently purchased an 8GB SD card, or I'd be in trouble.  Also, my hosts at the B&B I'm staying at are awesome.  When they found out I was having trouble connecting to the internet with my supposedly "mobile" internet connector, they gave the the password for their wireless system.

So far, my favourite part of the weekend has been watching Tom Leadbeater perform (he's going to be on again tomorrow as well, but he's playing at the same time as Leahy, so I don't know what I'm going to do in terms of decision making -- I want to see them both!).

I attended the Tattoo last night (good, I thought, but not as good as last year, IMHO).  Today I've been to lectures on Scottish immigration & emigration (the professor is one of the consultants for Ancestors in the Attic), kilt-making, Scottish dance, and beekeeping; I've watched a sheep-shearing demonstration,  and I've also met Diana Gabaldon, who waxed poetic on the virtues of a certain Scottish companion on Doctor Who, and how that lead her to select 18thC Scotland as the backdrop for her books.  Any lecture that mentions Doctor Who out of the blue has to be a good one.

Hopefully breakfast won't take so long tomorrow (it's not that it's just a big breakfast (which it is);everyone got so chatty that we were still at the table at 11am and breakfast had started at 9!), and I'll be able to run down to the shops before heading to the Festival itself.  I also hope the rain lets up.  It's not nearly as bad as last year, but it makes it difficult to take photos.