Loch Ness Monster* Sighting

Last night before bed, Ella said she'd like to see the fog on Loch Ness in the morning. I don't know where the hell she got the idea.

This morning I woke up in a very warm bed and debated as I looked out the window at the drizzle and fog, and then over at my sleeping daughter. Is she serious? Should I wake her? Damn, the bed is warm.

No sooner had I whispered her name, than

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Lessons On The Isle Of Skye

Updated on Sunday, November 15, 2009 at 12:56AM by Bob & Brenna Redpath

Here's what we've learned: When traveling in Scotland, every chance you get - book a room in a pub. The pub should have a fireplace if possible. If they serve a good fish & chips or beef & ale pie, all the better. In Portree, Isle Of Skye, we spent a couple of nights in a cozy little pub with rooms above, and we met a group of very funny guys from Norway and Scotland around the fire. We've got a plan to hook up in Glasgow with our new friend, Billy, for the Celtic Connection music festival in January.

And: When you're hiking the Quiraing, and you think you've found a secluded place to

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Can't Blog Long, I'm Driving

We were on the lookout for the Loch Ness monster all afternoon today -- so far no "Nessy"...

We're driving around Inverness heading to tonight's B&B, near Loch Ness, only a little lost right now. Thank God for onboard navigation and cell phones and laptops and mobile wireless connections... Who needs a map? Gotta go -- we're heading out of Inverness now and losing our mobile wireless.

Heading to the Highlands -- Again

Tomorrow we'll pile into the not-so-mini-van and hit the highway. This time it's the Isle of Skye or bust -- hopefully it'll be the Isle of Skye. After two nights there, we'll head to Loch Ness and Culloden for two more nights. We can't wait. We'll post pics.

What Does Your House Sing? or Two Audio Geeks and a Microwave

A few years ago I heard a story on This American Life about a guy named Toby Lester, who identified all the electronic devices in his house according to the musical tones they emitted. For instance, in his kitchen, the refrigerator, which was always on and droning, was a b flat. Anything else that he turned on in the kitchen; his laptop, the toaster, the microwave, emitted another tone, which played against the fridge.

Immediately my mind started composing. It seemed obvious that the impact of

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