Hi Indians,
Just an update on our Ireland trip. Muscular Dystrophy Ireland has arranged to have us picked up at Dublin Airport on Tuesday Morning their time at around 10:00. They are also providing us with a Hoyer type hydraulic lift for while we are there.
Mary and Tom        

That's wonderful, Tom!!  I know you are going to have a grand time.

      Have a great trip and be safe...    

Tom that is great news and the MD assistance will make your trip more enjoyable. Blessings.

Great you're getting some help over there Tom.  Hope you have good weather.

Hi Folks,
I thought you might be interested in a couple of things about our flight to Ireland don't get me wrong I am not complaining.
 I am the first one on the plane and the last one off and when I get in the seat I am there for the duration of the flight. . The TSA is afraid of wheelchairs. I know that Mary and I look like typical terrorists. I do understand their reasoning. There are so many places that they have to check.
 Tom

I don't know Tom - the last time I saw you and Mary you sure didn't look like typical terrorists to me.  But I think that was either at church or at the Legion Alumni Breakfast - who would expect terrorists there!!!

Well Tom, I hope you have a good time over there and enjoy every minute of it, wish I could help you over there, then fly on over to Finland, but that will not happen, so you have to have a good time on your own CCS friend.  

--Last edited by Thure on 2008-03-23 21:40:32 --

Hi All,
 The plane left Dublin 3 hrs and 10 minutes ago to pick us up. It is due to land at Dulles in 3 hrs and 15 minutes at 5:19. It takes off at 8:15 this evening.
Mary and Tom  

  bye and Have the time of your life. Bring back wonderful stories.

Hi everybody,
 I am sitting looking out across the valley to the mountains. It reminds me a little bit about the view that we used to get of Two Top from the front porch of our house at 52 South Union. There is no view there now because the field across from it is grown up.    When I was there the Fire Department burned it every year. There was always great excitement when when they showed up to do the burning. Now of course that can'be done. The field came up a beautiful green.
Mary and Tom

Tom, when I was in Scotland I marvelled at how green every thing was.  The air was so clean and clear.  I envy you and Mary...I dearly love that area.

Have a great time.

Hi everybody,
Yes everything is green like Scotland. There are daffodils every where they plant them all along the roads and they also grow wild.   .
 I was awiting for Mary outside the LIDL grocery store. The Irish seem to run everywhere they go. They get out of their cars and run across the parking lot, run thru the store run  to checkout and  then run out the door and tear away in their cars. I guess I notice it more because Virginians are slowerr moving except on the highway.
Mary and Tom

Hey Tom, have you heard any bagpipes while there.  Pauline heard them in Scotland but I don't know if the Irish play them or not.  I'm a Frenchman, or French Irish.

Bill, the Irish wear kilts, have their own tartans and yes, play the bagpipes.  Do they have ceileighs in Ireland, Tom?  Celtic music and celtic dance... Oh, I would love to go back to Scotland next year!!!!

Hi all,
 No we haven't heard any bagpipes here they do have  them in Ireland and they are called ullean pipes . The Scotch pipes are played by blowing into them the Irish ones are played by squeezing on a bellows.i am sure that Pauline knows the difference They sound different.
 Thought you might be interested we contacted Airbus industries complaining about the seating on our plane. They only build the planes and the airlines have the seating put it. We are working on getting better handicap seating. The plane that we flew in is really not accessable. The aisle armrests only fold halfway back. They take me to the seat with an aisle chair and then slide me into the seat, but with the armrest the way it is they have to lift me over the arm and my bottom is too heavy. The scary part of it is that it took three men 15 minutes to get me into the seat when I am in the seat I am there for the duration of the flight until I am lifted off which also took 15 minutes. If the plane had to be evacuated I would be helpless. Please say a little prayer for us.
If the arm went all the way back Mary could push me out of the seat. Hope I didn't bore you too much. Another thing is that they have aTV for each seat which is nice but I would rather feel safe.
Mary and Tom.    

Did you know that the Scottish bagpipes are used in the St. Patrick's Day parades because they are easier to march with.  The Ullean pipes are usually played sitting down.

  Hotdog did I learn a something this morning.  Thanks Tom and Pauline. Tom, prayers for y'all on your return trip.

Us again,
I said that we didn't hear any bagpipes but we just watched the Tullamore Celtic Festival and they had several people playing Ullean Pipes. it would be almost impossible to march in a parade with the Irish pipes The festival at one point had 2600 people playing and singing all at once.
 Thought you would be interested to know that Hal Ketchum is putting on a concertt here. $55.00 per ticket. We'll wait and hear him on The Grand Ole Opry.
take it easy,
Mary and Tom

  Tom,  I hope you find your return trip a little easier... It is almost time for us to return home too. we will probably leave around the 28 of April take two days to get there... by then it will be warm out and the flowers will be up.