The Gathering Place, A place to blether

I did not know that, gwenlee!! I guess I have been properly warned!! I will have to get my trusty bb gun and stop any of you rustlers out to get my cows!!! That is the most hilarious thing I have heard all day!! Thank you for the laugh!!!

Nice to meet you Sonee. I'm glad you found us. Everyone here is so nice and we have a lot of fun. Hopefully you can go to a Celtic festival or Highland game soon. They are so much fun. The music, dance, and athletic event and demos are great. Plus you make friends who share your same interest. In two weeks My family and I will be heading to Culloden, GA for the games there. It will be the first game of the season for me. I'm also a Scottish Country Dancer which is a lot of fun. Maybe you can check around for a group in your area if you are interested. The fees vary from place to place from free to just a couple of dollars per class. But it is a way to get into the games and festivals because when the group is invited to dance they get a pass to get in free. My daughter does it with me she is 14, but we have classes in the area that have kids as young as 5. I think the little ones are so very cute. Well I gotta go again it was nice meeting you--oh don't lose any sleep while protecting your cows, we Donnachaidhs raid when you least expect it, But if you get an invitation for a steak dinner from us then you know WE HAVE STRUCK AGAIN. LOL

You'll shoot your eye out !

I think learning Scottish Dance would be fascinating!! I am gonna have to check it out around here!! My kids would love it!

Well....as long as you invite me to partake in the steak dinner (it WAS my steak first, after all!!) then I guess that's okay!!!

ME?? Shoot my eye out?? I didn't say it was a Red Rider!! Besides, my name isn't Ralphie, so I might just be safe!!

Wow! A lot to catch up on! This is great! Now where do I start?

Mike! Good to see ya! Trying to find a job is a real bummer isn't it? You were working for the transit system there, were you not? I can't remember. Well it sounds like you had a good day out and got some good ole MacDonald's! wonder if the meat came from Sonee's cows?!

Hey Gwenlee! So nice to see you again. I have been worried about you. had no idea you were so busy, but glad you are safe and sound and not sick. You have a lot on your plate right now with all the games and such. I bet you will have lots of fun. I hope you have good weather. I really want to try for the Gatlinburg games next year. Maybe drag Susan along with me so we can all meet! That's assuming Clann An Drumma will be there again next year. Are you staying in a hotel there or camping? Do you camp at most of the games? Well have fun and don't work too hard.

Hey Coyotemoon! Good to hear from you. Mescal is a really pretty area. Like you say, the agents don't want to spend too much time on land. But the land prices have gone up so high here, it surprises me they still feel that way. I hope you find something soon. Thanks for your suggestion for hubby. He is feeling way better now. I am so relieved. That is a small world that someone you know has moved to Casa Grande! It is quite a growing community. I moved here 5 years ago and can't believe the growth in just these past few years. I hear we are even getting a shopping mall in the next year or two now! I am not one for shopping but I do hope they have a good book store! You take care and keep us posted.

Hallo Sonee! Ciamar a tha thu? Great to hear so much about you. When one has been out of work for a few years, it is hard to get a job. I know, I have been there. I haven't worked in two years so it would probably be hard for me too, especially at my age. You most definitely have to check out the Highland games! I bet you would have a blast being around all those folks who love all things Celtic. Oh if you like romance books then you MUST MUST read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. The protagonist is a Scot named Jamie Fraser. The books (5 of them) start out in Scotland in 1743 and then they have to leave for the colonies. You learn a lot about Scottish Highland culture and the battles and then some American history too. But it is the characters, Jamie and Claire, you fall in love with. Anyway, check out the Diana Gabaldon thread in the Book Stop to learn more. Bummer about your photography studio doing that to you. Glad you can stay home with your kids. In the meantime, hang out with us too!

Well hello to everyone else. JP! I know exactly where Mesa, AZ is. It is an hour from me. We don't hate snowbirds here, just the way they drive! We actually like them to come here because it really helps our tourism and economy. Haven't heard from you in awhile. You must be out working.

hi to Allen too!

Hope everyone else is doing well.

Yeah, I worked there about two weeks. They had to let me go because I stumbled near a third rail, which is what powers the trains. All third rails are active.

McDonalds isn't too bad pricewise for downtown. You could do a lot worse.

Another one of my favorite places to eat lunch at when I'm down there is, believe it or not, Marshall Field's. In the basement, they have their own food court. When I eat there, I usually get the fish & chips combo, which is about $6.50.

Ooh, that must have been scary, Mike! Chicago is a big big city, isn't it? I have never been there. Have you lived there all your life?

I've lived in Chicago my entire life.

I could probably tell you how to get around my city better using public transportation than I could via streets .

Say you wanted to go from my house to one of the big local destinations, Navy Pier. I would tell you to walk to 95th Street, which is the main street in my area and a block from my home, and get on either the CTA Route 95W or Pace (our suburban bus system) Route 381 buses. Take either one as far as you can go, which is the 95th Street Red Line train station. Transfer there to the Red Line train. Take the Red Line train north (the only way you can go from 95th Street) to either Grand Avenue or Chicago Avenue. Both the #60 Grand Avenue and the #66 Chicago Avenue buses will take you to Navy Pier.

I know that because I've done it.

Mike, I have talked to a lot of people who live in the big cities who don't even own a car. They take public transportation all the time. However, we don't have that here. We HAVE to have a car or a bike! LOL Too hot to walk! I hear that Phoenix is going to build a rapid transit system in the next few years. They need it up there BAD despite all the freeways they have up there. Tucson, however, has the worst traffic ever! They only have one freeway and that is way on the west side of the town and mostly people use it to drive through Tucson! LOL

You have great food in Chicago, I hear. Somebody told me once why it was called "The Windy City" and it had nothing to do with being windy! I forgot what it was now. You'll have to remind me.

Hallo a h-uile duine!!

Nobody told me those Donnachaidhs worked at McDonald's too!!! When I said it was alright I only meant for you to share with us Lindsay's, not the whole world!!!*looks around searching frantically for the bb gun* LOL

I don't think I could handle public transportation for very long. I like being in control too much to let someone else drive me around!!!


Feasgar math Ròs!! Tha mi gu math, tapadh leat. Ciamar a tha thu fhein? I would LOVE to check them out, unfortunately there aren't any around here. I checked this afternoon!! HaHaHa...believe it or not I just checked out part of the Diana Gabaldon series yesterday!! I looked in on the Book Stop and decided to see what she was all about!! I'm glad to stay home too, sort of!! I'd like to find something I can do from home, but no luck so far!!

What do you mean they had to let you go for that?
Just because you almost killed yourself, you lost your job?
Seriously, I don't quite understand why they let you go for that. I understand the whole third rail thing, but not why you lost the job over it.

Sorry, I am just curious.

Hi everyone!
I have not been here in a couple of days. I am just swamped with work!
Went to ceciliastar's hometown the other day. Didn't see her though.
I am back in the office but really busy writing reports and such.

btw way celticrose. I am now working in my second career field. My first was photography. I have a Bachelors Degree in it. Worked in that field about 7 years.
Actually I left it about 19 years ago.

Talk to you all tomorrow...
...maybe

It was explained to us during the orientation that if we did anything around a third rail that posed a safety hazard, even if it was inadvertent (like stumbling), and there was a member of management around, we'd be fired. It is required by state law. I was right next to the shift Operations Chief when I stumbled.

It was explained to us during the orientation that if we did anything around a third rail that posed a safety hazard, even if it was inadvertent (like stumbling), and there was a member of management around, we'd be fired. It is required by state law. I was right next to the shift Operations Chief when I stumbled.

Mike is this true? I am just in awe..

Its good to see you Gwenlee

Hello everyone trying to catch up on all these posts..
My day went very fast. I am still having trouble catching my hour of sleep back.
Celticrose, the deal with the reservation is there is many tracks that are privately owned. We do have a casino now and have another large one comming in. Yes we refer to them as Indians also.
Have a good evening..

Slainte Mhor

Wow Mike, sorry you stumbled. I realize what a safety hazard the third rail is. I just did not realize the consequences a stumble could have, even when it is not intentional.
Good luck on your search for a new job.