Life's a Journey

Tips for Seeing the Islands and Highlands in a Wheelchair In July and August of 2009, I traveled through Scotland with friends, one of whom has a spinal cord injury that caused incomplete quadriplegia. These are some of the resources we found useful. In discussing accessibility, I am not taking bathroom facilities into account, as [...]

Tips for Seeing the Islands and Highlands in a Wheelchair What follows in these posts represents resources we used during our 24-day trip to Scotland in July and August of 2009. I traveled with friends, one of whom has a spinal cord injury that caused incomplete quadriplegia. I am not taking bathroom facilities into account, [...]

I expected to learn a little about Scottish history and culture while traveling in Scotland. I didn’t expect to have a crash course in what accessibility means to a person with a disability. When Dale was making reservations for lodging in Scotland, he made sure he informed all concerned that one of our party is [...]

In In Search of Hunky Scots, I wrote that I was snubbed by Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland, when he gave my companions Homecoming Scotland pins but did not give one to me. We were waiting for the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry from the Isle of Skye to the Isle of Lewis.  Dale had gone [...]

My overriding goal during the trip to Scotland was to do everything in my power to keep Sara Jean’s catheter from causing her problems. I knew that if things went badly, it would mean a trip to the hospital. The catheter worked fine, but we had not one but three trips to medical facilities in [...]

Controlled Substances: Drugs whose general availability is restricted; any one of a number of drugs or other substances which are strictly regulated or outlawed because of their potential for abuse or addiction. www.answers.com I have a dark secret. As a little girl, I frequently saw my mother take little white crystals and cook them into [...]

It is no coincidence that in no known language does the phrase ‘As pretty as an Airport’ appear. Douglas Adams When Douglas Adams wrote that, he must have just come through Heathrow. To help other novice travelers face the challenge that is Heathrow, I have written these handy tips. Six Tips for Changing Planes at [...]

I had promised many of my friends that I would bring home pictures of hunky Scots. We all know that Scottish men throw hammers and tree trunks for fun, right? Should be an easy thing to get some photos of some ripped Highlander. Not for me. So far, I have been snubbed by two young [...]

I had hoped to keep a current update on all our exploits, but lack of Internet access and time have prevented me from blogging. I have lots of notes and hundreds of pictures, but I am afraid it will all have to be after-the-fact. Leaving Banff for Stirling by way of Culloden. Already dreading Heathrow [...]

I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by. — Douglas Adams Three days until we leave for Scotland. Panic is setting in — I am not ready. I am not packed. My house is not clean. I still have things to do for work. I didn’t wash my sneakers [...]