On Memorial Day weekend I went to the Scottish Highland Games in Costa Mesa and it was true to the name. There were plenty of men and women in kilts, plenty of thick beer to chew on throughout the 100 degree day and…plenty of highland games. Also, the huge massed pipe and drum marching band at the beginning and end of the games.

The actual games include tossing an extremely heavy log (technically called a “caber”) end over end and trying to do it the farthest. Also, other feats of strength including pitchforking a huge hay bail up and over a bar that gets raised every time. And then of course tossing the hammer. Another huge weight up and over a bar.

YES, there are men and WOMEN athletes. I know, hard to tell with everyone in skirts…ha ha ha…. say it to their faces. There were some big boys and girls there let me tell you, lads!

Also there was a ton of vendors selling Scottish and Celtic clothing, gifts, music, food, and everything else a Highlander could possibly want or need.

But of course the crowd favorite, and MY favorite, was the music. There were individual pipe band competitions like this here with the judges standing right with the bands and in this case, The Nicholson Pipe and Drum Band going through several tunes and marches.

And of course, the massed pipe and drum band comprised of all the clans and their pipers! A REGAL spectacle LADS!

This is an annual event and really draws a big crowd over the holiday weekend. If you have any interest in Scottish heritage or the celtic traditions, go check this out. “Aye it’s hot out, butat leeesht it ain’t freezin.”…. As they say………

I recently went to New York City. This time was totally different than the last few times I went. This time I did not take advantage of the sweet bar hours and thus, was awake during the day and I really enjoyed myself. New York has really changed over the last few years. When I was coming off the bridge from Queens, there were actually regular looking folks there walking their dogs and talking and smiling. In that area 20 years ago, smiles were produced in the front seat of a car pulled over in an alley.

The city just keeps going up and up and up and was really a sight!

I was up early on a weekend day (I know…sounds unbelievable!) and people were out riding bikes and walking dogs and getting on with their days. There was SUN!?!?! It was almost too good to be true. I took a ride up the West Side Highway and Jersey never looked more green or beautiful. Even the Bronx side had a lot of green and cool architecture and paths for residents to enjoy. The buses and trains seemed to run pretty much on time, and people were generally…. happier. EVEN in these tough times. It really was inspiring.

I also went to the Bronx Zoo. It was truly an adventure. You can buy a pass that gets you and your family into several zoos and aquariums around the 5 borroughs all run by the Wildlife Conservation Society. The WCS has been around for years and spends most of it’s time trying to save habitat around the world. Their web site is totally cool with a great deal of information on it: www.wcs.org. So, a group like this managing the wildlife preservation and education for NYC is a winning combo!

So what’s my point? Go to New York and have a good time! There is SO MUCH there! And booze too, don’t get me wrong….