JiM's Dreams

Ok, now that the whisky fumes have cleared...
Lovely fun this morning. The massed bands piped and drummed and escorted the colors into the main area. The flags of the US, Scotland and the British Isles were flying in the breeze and it was all very stirring.

Things noted throughout the day included: utilikilts, kilts made of denim or chino material for modern day wear. I only barely managed to talk the husband out of purchasing one to wear while working in the garden. (Pauses for moment of careful reflection of kneeling husband in breezy kilt in sunny garden). There were sheepdog trial demonstrations and you have to be impressed at the rural genius who looked at the behavior of wild dogs/wolves and said to himself "I can make use of that hunting behavior and still have my sheep at the end of the day!" I mean, watching these dogs sneak, skulk, shimmy and run from cover to cover before driving the sheep exactly where they want them to be is very impressive. We skipped the live steel demonstration. For me, it's too much like watching a NASCAR race. Either it's all going to be just fine and you've spent an afternoon watching someone drive in circles or there's going to be an icky disaster and who wants to see that? 6' claymores in the hands of unarmored dandies strikes me as the primal definition of "accident waiting to happen". Besides, they were holding them all wrong.

Bands to listen to included: Wicked Tinkers - digidiroo(sp?) and pipes, drums and an Irish bronze age style horn. Very fun, upbeat and personable. I especially recommend the song "Wallop the Cat". The other band we especially liked was "Bad Haggis". Pipes and guitar and an array of South American instruments. Again, an unusual combination that really worked.

Spider Robinson said that all good music is really Irish music. I think I am willing to expand that to say that all good music can find a place in Celtic music.

We're off to another concert tonight and I'll let you know how that went.