So a couple of weeks ago I went over to Erin’s again.. heh that new puppy is a little much.. she stares at me so.. I got bored for a while.. you can see by my pictures I just meandered around the house.. I tried to get out.. but sometimes it’s just better to nest.. who said that.. yes even a bachelor likes some down time..

Then I went to the Madonna show.. G Hollah!! wow was that fun.. a lot of driving.. we went to Atlanta.. three girls and me..there was a lot of LOUD singing all the way there.. I thought I might have to start hitchhiking.. Show was great and then back to KnoxVegas.. It was Thanksgiving.. I was in a coma after that meal.. I said no pictures.. I was a little bloated.. Derby Pie, Turkey, every kind of potoato and family member imaginable was in town.. and of course there’s football all day..

Speaking of football some of you might have heard that our legendary Coach Philip Fulmer is no longer going to be our coach. So we decided to have a phinal tailgate for Phillip.. it was freaking freezing and raining.. ugh.. the photos are lovely.. although my sweater shrank a little on that day..as did my spirit.. We’ll miss you Coach Fulmer.. tear.     So now I have been slaking Santa but for some reason I keep chickening out.. although I think I will be ringing bells for the Salvation Army on Thursday.. When the heck is the work Holiday Party??

– Erin Donovan

]]> http://thealbinobowler.com/index.php/2008/12/philip-fulmers-last-game-and-more/feed/ 0 http://thealbinobowler.com/index.php/2008/09/ummm-can-i-come-home-now/ http://thealbinobowler.com/index.php/2008/09/ummm-can-i-come-home-now/#comments Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:03:50 +0000 Dan Thompson http://clarisnetworks.biz/albinobowler/?p=161

    So the the last two weeks have been fun since we have been back in Knox-Vegas..

I think there was unpacking and then repacking to go out to Norris Lake for the long weekend.. you might see my tremendous tubing skills.    She was a little afraid to let me go boarding.. personally I think she was worried I would put her moves to shame.. duh..I did just float around for a while I think everyone thought that was safer.. since my life jacket is still in a box at Dans..    So this past week was uneventful.. grillin’ and chillin’ and then last night she got some VIP tix to the Village People.. sweet.. I thought it would be fun so off we went.. I am not sure those are ALL the originals.. but it was fun and  scary at the same time.. Chaps and a headdress?? wow.. but we had fun until well the whole YMCA things was a debacle.. but hey I had a gyro at the end pf the night so who can complain.     Okay I have to get out of here.. she’s going to a going away party and needs to make some photo montage.. do you think it will have me in it.. I am such a camera hog.. Cherrio Peeps

– Erin Donovan

    Hello me daft friends..I love it here.. the rain has been an annoyance, but it has not slowed us down from seeing everything..glen to glen you know..

    So when I last left you I was looking forward to a trip to the Glenlivet distillery. It was fun..see photo..or maybe Dan will take that one out..you can see it on my facebook page, maybe. There’s a lot to making it I swear I remember..water, peat and something else.

    Then we went to Clava Cairns..remember to roll your rrrrrrrr’s. These are burial chambers and standing stones..you know how my trick knee gets so I had to sit.

    There are so many funny things about this trip I cannot share with you here.. Erin will have to tell you face to face, to protect the innocent of course.

    The last stop of the day was at the Culloden Battlefield. Whoa Nellie these Scottish were serious..and there is a lot of history just behind this one battle. I am going to have to go look it up when I get home..internet is way to expensive here and Starbucks is too far away!! I’ll give you the update though..don’t worry lassies.

    Tonight we actually were piped into dinner. Yep a wee Scottish man and his bagpipes played us into dinner. Of course the girls were more interested in a party going on in another room where fellows from another distillery were having a party. Alas, they came back..awww

Saturday     I went in search of the Loch Ness Monster..better known to locals as Nessie. As you can see by the photo all I found was a topiary planter. Phew. A trip to Urquhart Castle.. which was way cool.. lots of Fishermen in their little boats. Did I mention there is a lot of walking over here..my calves are killing me and I don’t mean those cute Highland coos.. that’s how you say it.. Then we got a little lost..no one was hurt. Oh side note we saw a bridge from the Harry Potter movie.. who knew? We went to a lovely hotel..great view..in the rain… Sunday Woke up to some unexpected guests, spiders..I being the stronger man on the trip shooed them away. Another yummy experience..I know I am pale..but this water takes the cake..

    I have taken my Dramamine. TWO ferry rides. We went to the Isle of Mull and then a passenger ferry to the Isle of Iona. Wow..We made it although some how one of the people from our group got on the wrong ferry..seems he wanted to get back to England..he’s back and the butt of many jokes. We’re just happy he’s back. This island is where they brought Christanty to Scotland..a couple years back…563 AD. Another interesting fact.. the Book of Kells was illuminated here by the Iona Monks. Don’t tell them I told you..but I fell in the sand..I was running and tripped..it was awkward.

Monday     We are headed for Glasgow.. Hmm rain imagine that..did I mention they have fashioned me a rain poncho? Kill me.. Today there was a lot of driving..moors and green scenery. There are a lot of movies filmed here.. we saw Hagrids house from HP movies.. Rob Roy was filmed up on one of the hills..when I say hills I mean HUGE mountains..and Braveheart..and a couple of others.

Glen Coe is also home to a lot of ice and rock climbing..and a little massacre of the MacDonald’s..no not Ronald..see? daft.     Ahh I have to go.. will write more when I can..I hopefully will be home soon if I live to tell the tales.. there are a lot of funny ones..enjoy the photos..   – Erin Donovan

Wednesday

    So since I last typed.. ooh they are all starting to blend together now..I told you about two castles.. after our last night of carvery..that’s what Alex our tour guide calls it when they carve your meat.. it is a little funnier to the folks who have been here since day one.. seems all the hotel wanted to give them for dinner was turkey, roast beef and gammon or ham to you and me…

    So we headed out to the Northeast. First stop South Queensferry. One question.. will it ever stop raining? Seems we are breaking records here for rainfall. GREAT!! now say it with a Scottish accent and it sounds better.

We meandered around the seaside city..I had my first bite of fish and chips.. I thought that was more England.. but what do I know? I would have liked a pint.. but not for lunch. Went into some stores.. but nothing interests me.. a lot of tartans but nothing in my size. Back on the road to Firth of Fourth.. c’mon people I cannot make this up.. it’s GREAT!!  Of course we went of the Forth Bridge in to the Kingdom of Fife.. I hear pipers..To all the golfers out there.. I went to St. Andrew’s.. this is where I stick my one good arm up and say na na na boo boo.. I tried my had at putting on the green and called it good, eat your heart out lads..

Thursday    Started off with a cup of coffee. Ah sweet nectar. Criminy it is still raining.. and might I add, hard. We went to Crathes Castle.. the gardens were our first stop.. great flowers in the rain these girls are killing me..and I think there may be some mold growing in my box. Although there was an awesome strip of grass that could be used for lawn bowling if you asked me.. but you didn’t. Then we took a tour of the castle.. I was not in one photo here..not allowed.. personally I would have looked cool in some of those areas, it’s a 16th century granite tower house.. Erin had her head hanging out at one point.. silly girl..     Then we went to Craithe Kirk. This is where the Royals worship when they are on holiday. As you can see by the picture.. if it’s good enough for the Queen Mum.. its good enough for Albino MacBowler. Erin had to go to the gift shop.. seems the Royals have corgis.. and so does her mom.. less room for me in the bag..

Went and had some lunch meandered around and went to the old train station where I saw the Royal Flush.. or Loo.. sort of creepy. I got my picture taken there.. I can’t take one in the church, but I can take one in the loo.. go figure. Well back to the hotel to dry out.. hopefully tomorrow will be a little drier. We are going to the Grampian Hills.. this is Scotland’s Whiskey Country. Glenlivet Distillery is our first stop.. there may be no more photos after that one.. – Erin Donovan

MONDAY

    So as you might have guessed WE MADE IT!!  One last problem before we got on the plane though.. I heard them say her name and then tell Erin she had to go back out to the check in desk.. I felt anger in her stride.. they asked all these questions..she nicely told them “she” gad not missed anything..”they” were the ones that told her she was on this flight.. needless to say.. we flew first class to Scotland.. hoorah!!

So we landed in Edinburgh and made it to the hotel.. my first bus ride of the trip..made it in and then we hit the ground running.. We hit Edinburgh Castle.. wow I have a hard time understanding these chaps.. Of course they’ve never seen the likes of me sooo. Oh did mention it’s been raining since we got here? Great I forgot an umbrella and my green rain gear. Bollocks.. I saw my first fella in a kilt..seems a wee windy doesn’t it?? Ah the Scottish Lion.. hi five.. Then just some more photo ops and history and I am outta here.. we went to some Witchery place for lunch.. I saw no witches and no one offered me lunch.  Back to the hotel then. They say then a lot here. I think I shall change my name to Albino McBowler.. what??     Had some supper and then we were of to get tattoos!! Well that’s what I thought, a bowling ball tat with fire or wings.. no I was sorely mistaken.. we went to THE Tattoo. Um for those not in the know.. think men in kilts..Erin was drooling..a lot of bagpipes and drums.. It was awesome.. a sight to behold. There were performers from all over the world.. yep even home..well Missouri.. My fave were the Norwegians..Well time to go back to the hotel and get some much needed sleep.

Upon opening the door Erin starts laughing and says.. “Kenny Rogers Roaster!!!” *snort* yep.. Red light coming in the window from the neon sign outside.. I took this moment to have a creepy photo taken of myself..you like?? TUESDAY     Ahh the phone is ringing I am trying to sleep.. oops someone overslept..so those two running around in a fury to get dressed.. I combed my hair and off we go.

First stop Doune Castle.. pretty cool digs.. a lot of history and a lot of stairs.. these guys had it made. Although I imagine it was friggin cold in there during the winter.. I am pretty cold it is still raining and about 16 Celsius ..hey I’m in the UK, slack please. Oh did I mention the coolest part of this castle? Think Mel Brooks.. Holy Grail.. parts of it were filmed here.  A photo for the scrapbook.. some lady brought a stuffed cat to take pictures of all over Scotland..who does that??

Anyway seems she thought I was dapper and asked me to sit with her cat.. Erin handed me over and well she man handled me and made me sit ON the cat..awkward to say the least.. I know there are going to be a lot of photos of me and the feline..

Next stop Hamish.. I thought snacks.. nope it’s a friggin’ cow.. moo.. if you notice in the picture he thought maybe I was a snack.. I was pulled to safety before I was drooled on or whacked with his big ___ horn.. oh they did have a little snack bar I of course had a scone.. funny sight.. they have a Dolly CD on sale.. you go girl..    Ok more sightseeing.. another castle.. Stirling.. now here’s where some battle were fought.. I am not going into it, suffice it to say your are computer people Google it!! I learned a lot.. I’m telling you this place is cool and so much to see.

     Now truth be told the most fun I had was in the gift shop. There were the Scottish bears..some jousting and my fave..Nessie.. where’s Waldo? Heading back to the hotel was fun.. I have some stories to share.. but you never know who reads my posts and I don’t want to get anyone in trouble.. so for now I’m signing off..    We are moving towns and hotels tomorrow so I am not sure about the internet.. but I’ll keep taking photos and thinking about y’all..

Peace

– Erin Donovan

    Erin is an awesome photographer / videographer… and we *think* she can write… so we’re expecting great things from her (no pressure girl… really.  I mean we wouldn’t just give out the Albino Bowler to just anyone, but no pressure).  Be sure to check back and see what all the Albino Bowler has found to get into, and remember, “If it’s not Scottish, it’s crap!!”

– Dan Thompson