Multi-purpose Clothing

I just bought a couple of pairs of shorts in a sale. Nothing surprising there as the summer is nearly over here at 57.5° north, but I was interested to note that they are advertised as "insect repellent". Given the voracious appetites of the local midgees (see previous posts) and clegs (horseflies) I will no doubt get to test them soon. Somehow I doubt they'll be so potent as to dissuade the bug population from chewing on my lower legs.

You Cannot Escape

There is the inevitable McDonalds "restaurant" a short distance from where I work. In a city where I suspect that McDonald is the commonest last name, what amuses me about it is the local colour added by having a Gaelic phrase on the sign by their front door. While I would love the phrase "Greasaidh Air Ais" to have been put their by a disgruntled employee and translate as "Greasy rubbish" or something similar, I asume it more likely renders as "I'm Loving It".

Bug Alert

I'm used to dealing with midgees in Scotland, but after running in the woods Monday I had to deal with a new infestation: deer ticks. While we are very careful of them in upstate New York where Lyme disease is relatively common I rarely actually encountered any. But Monday I brushed 8 off me after the run (with only one getting any purchase on me with its jaws), then found 5 the next day embedded in me, all tiny. Good thing bug bites get a good reaction out of my skin I guess, makes the little b****rds a bit easier to see.