When I rounded a corner after going to a posh bathroom (I thought folding down the corner was being elegant but they put their own custom sticker on the end of the toilet paper roll) inside one of the rooms at the hotel where we had lunch today, this was the view. As far as I know this is the Barracuda’s first game of chess and I can’t imagine a more gorgeous setting for it even though we didn’t finish it to allow others to play. All three of us fell in love with playing on an outdoor set and seriously want one of these in a weed-infested plot in our backyard that has driven us crazy for years. We had an all day tour today that involved border collies herding ducks, the cutest little owls I have ever seen, lunch at the hotel & chess, a steamboat ride across Loch Katrine (KAH-trin, Glasgow’s water supply at a chilly 38 degrees), and the joyous discovery of personalized kid’s stuff with the Barracuda’s name on it. Such things simply don’t exist in the States or Canada, and I was starting to get worried when we were striking out in England and Ireland where his name is supposed to be much more common. I found the shoelace holders that are already on his shoes now, he found the mug, and my guess is he’ll remember finding his name in Scotland for the rest of his life. The videographer was also with our group again today, and we are front & center in one horribly cheesy tourist group moment. I’m not sure I want to see if my rear also appears when the final edit comes out tomorrow but know Barracuda will be thrilled. He still can’t get enough of himself when the Glendalough footage is aired. Tomorrow is an at sea day, which means I’m probably staying offline because I’ve found the further we are from land the crappier the Internet connection is. I stayed off yesterday from exhaustion because we didn’t get back from Giant’s Causeway until around 7 and I knew we had to be ready by 8am for today’s all-day tour of Scotland. We’ll get a recheck from the doctor on the rash (nearly all gone) in the morning and hope to get clearance to play in the pools!

i was surprised with a new hamster yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!! i am so happy and she well jumps a little but i just think she is jumping for joy, i havent named her yet but i will soon!!! but other than that she is pretty patient and sweet and calm!!! i love her and she might be pregnant and we know she already had kids at petco.!!! YAY!