Can't Bury 'Em Under the Porch...

Last night I took my son for dinner at Texas Roadhouse, the local steak eatery, to celebrate him surviving finals week. My daughter works there and we sat in her section.

Roadhouse is one of those places where the waitstaff will gather around your table and sing at the top of their lungs if it's your birthday, and they've got a saddle on a sawhorse for the kids to get their picture taken on.

Any of you see where I'm going with this yet? LOL

I'm sitting there enjoying my Killer Ribs and mashed potatoes, when suddenly a posse of six, black-shirted waiters and waitress descends upon my table, saddle/sawhorse in tow. Led, of course, by my red-headed daughter. They plunk the saddle down next to my table and refuse to go away until I slide out of the booth and get on it.

Once I'm comfortably (?) seated, my daughter screams across the restaurant, "Hey y'all, this is my Mom and she just published her book! Can I get a big ol' YEE HAW?" By this time my face is red, and my son is laughing so hard he's falling off his chair. (It taks so little to amuse a 15-year-old.)

After the obligatory yee haw, I was released and I crawled back into the booth, already plotting my revenge. Oh yes, she knows it's coming. Sometime, somewhere. Muaahahahaaa.

Actually, it's nice that she's so proud of me. And at least she didn't scream that I'd just published a trashy romance, or a spanking book. LOL

Scotophile Monday

Welcome back to Scotophile Monday! The following are selections of news snippets from selected Scottish news sources. All sources are credited. Enjoy!

Litter Police Patrol Glasgow Streets - In Body Armor

A force of 30 uniformed enforcement officers are now patrolling the streets of Glasgow to crack down on litter louts by imposing £50 on-the-spot fines. With body armour under their smart tunics (just in case...), they issued 120 fines in the first week - and the publicity got many others to think twice before dropping litter. Read more

One Less Munro to Bag

Peaks in Scotland that are over 3,000 feet above sea level are classified as "Munros" - after Sir Hugh Munro (1856-1919), who produced the first attempt at an exhaustive catalogue of such hills and mountains. From time to time, the list has been updated as a result of more accurate measurements. Mountaineers and hill walkers in the UK and from around the world, become enthusiastic "Munro Baggers", attempting to climb them all. Recently, there had been speculation that Foinaven in Sutherland might meet the requirements - a number of amateur surveyors claimed that it was above the required level. But this week surveyors commissioned by the Munro Society, using new satellite technology, checked the mountain - and found it was 12 feet short of 3,000 feet. Even though it's not a Munro, but a "Corbett" (between 2,500 and 2,999 feet. Read more

Nessie Captured on Video?

A lab technician from Yorkshire has claimed that he has shot a video of a black object, about 45 feet long, swimming at about 6mph in a straight line across Loch Ness. Described by a marine biologist and "Nessie" watcher as "some of the best footage ever seen", the video is to undergo analysis in the coming months. Read more

Bronze Age Cemetery Found on Barra

Researchers on the TV Channel 4 archaeology programme "Time Team" have uncovered a Bronze Age cemetery on the island of Barra in the Western Isles. Over 50 archaeologists and a television crew undertook a three-day dig at the Allasdale sand dunes and uncovered 4000-year-old burial kists (small stone boxes used as coffins), some containing perfectly preserved skeletons. Read more

Badger Badger Badger Badger...

THEY come out at night and upset your bins... No, it's not the local gang of hoodies, but Britain's heaviest land carnivore, the badger. While hoodies just get slapped with Asbos when they step out of line, the poor old badgers - despite being a protected species - are facing a cull as the government attempts to eliminate bovine TB. Show the critters you care on National Badger Day, next Saturday, by joining a fundraising walk or by making a donation at http://www.badger.org.uk/.
This article: http://heritage.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=898842007

Scottish Wildlife Web Cams

Get the best view of Scottish wildlife. Click here

Scots Gaelic Film Screened at Cannes

A Gaelic language film made on the Isle of Sky, which was recently screened at the Cannes Film Festival, has secured UK distribution and so should be seen by a wider audience. Entitled "Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle" it is the first-ever Scottish Gaelic feature film. It tells the story of a young man who visits his Grandfather in hospital. Angus wants to find out the truth about the death of his parents and the truth behind his Grandfather's ancient, incredible, fearful stories. Stories from the whole swathe of Gaelic history of poisoned lovers, bloody revenge, water-horses and Spanish gold. His Grandfather hijacks Angus' life for one last time, leading him to one of Scotland's most treacherous mountains, The Inaccessible Pinnacle, and an ancient truth he never expected to find... See also http://www.seachd.com/.

This Week in Scottish History

June 10 1688 - James Francis Stuart born. In honour of the "Old Pretender", this is known as "White Rose Day" in Jacobite circles.
June 10 1719 - Battle of Glenshiel, Jacobites with Spanish assistance, and government forces clashed.
June 10 1727 - Death of King George I and accession of George II.
June 10 1768 - Construction of the Forth and Clyde canal started. It was to take 22 years to complete.
June 10 1903 - The floral clock in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh, began operation - initially driven by clockwork and with only an hour hand. But it was the first of its kind in the world.
June 10 1939 - Sir Jackie Stewart, three-times world motor racing champion, born in Dunbartonshire.
June 11 1560 - Marie of Guise, widow of King James V and Queen Regent of Scotland, died.
June 11 1488 - Battle of Sauchieburn during which King James III died attempting to subdue a group of rebel barons.
June 11 1975 - First oil pumped ashore from British oilfields in the North Sea.
June 13 1831 - Birth of James Clerk Maxwell, first Professor of Experimental Physics at Cambridge University. He created the electromagnetic theory of light.
June 13 1975 - Rate of price inflation reached 25% in the UK.
June 14 1940 - Queen Mary, Aquitania, Empress of Canada, and Empress of Britain arrive in the River Clyde with the first contingent of Australian and New Zealand troops.
June 14 1946 - John Logie Baird, inventor of the first television, died.
June 15 1945 - Queen Mary leaves Greenock, taking nearly 15,000 GIs home to US.
June 16 1338 - Siege of Dunbar Castle by the English was raised.

THIS ONE'S FOR THE GIRLS!!

Congratulations to Belmont Stakes winner, Rags to Riches!!!

Get better soon, SJ!

Author of the following is JM Ward. Our mutual friend SJ Willing is ill in the hospital - just a few days after his book came out! So all his friends are getting together to pimp his book for him.

Feel better soon, SJ!!

-----
Just a few days after S.J. Willing's first novel, CYBERIUS III, was published in December 2005, SJ landed in the hospital. Fast forward 18 months, SJ's new novel, POSEIDON VII, has been released by Samhain with a beautiful cover by Vanessa Hawthorne, and guess what... *sigh* SJ's back in the hospital.

Fortunately, it's a lot less serious than it was last time. Unfortunately, SJ will probably remain in captivity--er, a patient at INOVA Alexandria Hospital, for at least a week. Which makes it kind of hard to push out the book video and excerpts.

Or it would, but I figure there's no reason why somebody else can't do the honors on SJ's behalf. Click the Read More link below:

First, for your viewing pleasure, is a link to POSEIDON VII's very first video (drumroll, please):

Click here

Second is a link to the book and cover itself:

Click here

The blurb is actually too modest. This SF romance scorches the pixels. I know first hand. I was one of SJ's beta readers on this, and I had to keep fanning my screen...and a few other things besides. ;-)

The G-rated, action-enriched excerpt can be found here, but I'll see if I can find something sizzling to whet your appetite. Until later.

Cheers,
Jean Marie

Stonehenge vs. Olympics??

OK, I don't often get serious here in my bloggy, kilt-ridden playground, but this ticks me off. Politicians are politicians, no matter where you go.

A former Transport and Heritage minister is calling for Stonehenge to be removed from the list of World Heritage sites.

Salisbury's Conservative MP Robert Key says a failure to deliver long overdue improvements means Stonehenge no longer deserves the listing.

He claims money for improvements is being diverted to the Olympics.

He is writing to the UNESCO committee asking for the British government to be called to account.

Unique archaeology

"A plan is there which has been discussed endlessly but they've failed to make a decision," he said.

A £600m plan to drill a tunnel for the nearby A303 trunk road and build a major new visitor centre has been on review for more than a year after Transport Minister Stephen Ladyman said costs had risen too far.

But those campaigning to preserve the unique archaeology of the region say the plan is the only compromise that could work for the area.

TV archaeologist and Labour Party activist Tony Robinson said he was very worried about the future of Stonehenge.

Cultural legacy

In an interview with the BBC's Politics Show he accused the government of "leeching" on the iconic image of the monument to win the bid for the Olympics.

"As a nation we're in danger of letting Stonehenge down badly. Most politicians don't get heritage, they think they can just leech on it, exploit it, that it doesn't need tending," he said.

English Heritage, the government agency that runs Stonehenge, do not dispute visitor facilities and access are inadequate, but still hope improvements will be made in time for the Olympics.

"It is a stated aim of Visit Britain and the government to maximise the benefits of hosting the Olympics," a spokesman said.

He added that the Stonehenge project would be a major contribution to the cultural legacy of the games.


Source: BBC News

Thirteen Lesser-Known Celtic Goddesses

Thirteen Lesser-Known Celtic Goddesses Pretty much everyone knows about Brighid, Cerridwen, Arianrhod, Epona and the Morrigan. The following list gives sheds a bit of light on some of the goddesses who reside in the better-known ladies' long shadows. 1. Abnoba - Goddess of woods and springs; protectress of hunting and beasts. From her name, the name of the English river "Avon" is derived. 2. Aeval - "Lady of Sexuality". Among the Celts of Ireland, Aeval was the Fairy Queen of Munster. She held a midnight court to determine if husbands were satisfying their wives' sexual needs, or not, as the women charged. 3. Aife - Scottish Warrior Goddess who stole a magick alphabet from the deities and gave it to humans. For this act and her meaness she was turned into a crane. Sacred to Aife: The crane, the lance. (The Celtic Ogham alphabet is said to be based on the images of cranes flying.) 4. Arduinna - Gallic Goddess of moon, woods and hunting in the Ardennes. The Ardennes Forest in France is named after Her, were Her special domain. 5. Beag - Mistress of the Well, owner of the Well of Wisdom. 6. Fotla - Irish Mothergoddess; one of the mothers of Ireland. 7. Scathach - She is the patron of blacksmiths and warriors. 8. Sulis - Goddess of the thermal-baths of Bath. She was also a goddess of the Underworld, Wisdom and Fortunetelling. 9. Druantia - "Queen of the Druids". Mother of the tree calendar; Fir Goddess. Fertility, passion, sexual activities, trees, protection, knowledge, creativity. 10. Habetrot - A "spinning" Goddess. Spinning is both Pagan lingo for spell casting and for the turning of the Wheel of the Year. Habetrot is best known for her powers of healing which were linked to her skills with weaving fiber. All who wore the clothing she made would never fall ill. 11. Nehalennia - Primarily associated with protection of travelers over the sea. Her known temple locations are always on the coast, and surviving inscriptions often praise her for successfully completed voyages, or implore her for similar journeys to come. 12. Stine Bheag O'Tarbat - This old woman, who lived near Tarbat Ness, was said to be very powerful, with special mastery over the weather. 13. Uroica - Goddess of heather and heather wine. (I think she's my favorite!) Sources: Joelle's Sacred Grove Celtic Realm Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Dog's Eye View 2. Christina's Shoebox 3. Samantha Lucas 4. Amanda Young 5. Jenny's Wandering Thoughts 6. Off the Wall Thoughts 7. Emerald City Guy 8. NJ Walters 9. Will Write for Food 10. Shelley 11. Qtpies7 12. Seeley Deerborn 13. Michelle Pillow 14. Philly Transplant 15. Bending the Twigs 16. On the Lake Front 17.

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Playing With My Toys...

While my creme brulee flavored coffee is brewing (gawd, it smells GOOD!), I've been (vewwy carefully) recoding the html of this blog so that I can start truncating long, rambling posts behind a "Read More" cut. OK, OK, don't everyone cheer at once.

So here's you're reward for clicking on the "Read more" link:

Scotophile Monday

Adventure Racers Insured Against "Nessie Attack"
The 196 competitors in the recent Adventure Racing World Championship had been insured against attack from the Loch Ness Monster (known locally as "Nessie") as they swam and kayaked across the UK's most voluminous area of freshwater. Read more

John Paul Jones - Bonne Homme or Pirate?
He may have been Scots-born but, as a firebrand captain in America's emergent navy, Jones had no compunction in harrying his homeland as part of the colony's revolutionary war against Britain. Read more

Delight at Foals' Births
THREE rare foals belonging to the globe's last truly wild species of horse have been born at the Highland Wildlife Park. Read more

The Sporran: Definitively Scottish
The sporran, or sporan in Gaelic, has come a long way from a doeskin bag containing ammunition or daily rations. Read more

Scots Beaches Win Environmental Award
Seven beaches and one marina achieved "Blue Flag" status which is recognised worldwide for locations that meet tough standards of cleanliness, environmental management and provision of information. Read more

Coastal Erosion May Wash Away Key Sites
Thousands of archaeological sites around the Scottish mainland and the Northern Isles are at risk of being washed away by the sea, according to experts. Read more

Scottish Castles Photo Library
Click on the links below to access good size photos of around 100 Scottish castles. You can access them individually - or take a tour, as each page is linked to the next. Read more

This Week in Scottish History
June 3 1726 - James Hutton, founder of modern geology, born.
June 3 1774 - Poet Robert Tannahill born in Paisley.
June 3 1931 - The company formed by John Logie Baird televised the Epsom Derby which was then transmitted by the BBC.
June 4 1818 - First recorded inter-club golf match - between Edinburgh Burgess Golfing Society and Bruntsfield Links Golf Club.
June 4 1977 - Damage estimated to cost £15,000 caused by fans who dug up the pitch at Wembley after Scotland defeated England 2-1.
June 5 1592 - An Act of the Scottish Parliament came into force "concerning the Office of Lyoun King of Armes and his brether Heraldis" creating the best regulated system of armorial bearings in Europe.
June 5 1723 - Adam Smith, author of "The Wealth of Nations" born Kirkcaldy.
June 5 1975 - Referendum held on British Membership of the European Community. In Scotland the vote was "Yes" 1,332,286; "No" 948,039. Turnout was 61%. Only Shetland and Western Isles had majorities against.
June 6 1838 - Thomas Blake Glover, founding father of Japan's industrialisation (including Mitsubishi) and Japanese Navy, born Fraserburgh.
June 7 1329 - Robert the Bruce died, Cardross Castle.
June 7 1811 - Sir James Young Simpson, pioneer of anaesthetics and chloroform, born.
June 8 1772 - Robert Stevenson, engineer, who constructed 18 lighthouses around Scotland, born Glasgow.
June 9 597 - St Columba died.
June 9 1942 - First US troops (over 10,000 men) disembark from Queen Mary on the River Clyde.

Humor – A True Scot
They say that a "True Scot" in North America is one whose ancestors came from Scotland - but who were born in North America to save the fare...

Gia Dawn, This One's For You, Darlin'

Because I promised Gia Dawn I'd dig out this adorable photo for her:

Out of town!

Dear readers,

I will be at Lori Foster's Readers 'n Authors Get-Together in Cincinnati today through Sunday.

See you on Monday for my regular Scotophile Monday post!

Carolan