It is good to be Scottish!

In honor of my grandmom…

Auld Lang Syne
by Robert Burns
(1759-1796)
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I’ll be mine!
And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu’d the gowans fine;
But we’ve wandered mony a weary fit
Sin’ auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidled i’ the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roared
Sin’ auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie’s a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll tak a right guid-willie waught

For auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

Breathe…..

I saw this picture and thought….everything I’m experiencing right now will be taken care of one day at a time, no matter how heart-wrenching or headache-inducing. It is usually the time of year I beat myself up for not doing what I’d set out to do. It is the time of year I sink as low as I can get and just feel sorry for myself. I’ve decided not to do that this year. I’m going to challenge myself and you all…we should believe in ourselves and our potential. We should see things that need changing and have the mental fortitude to change them. We should love those we love and those who would mean us harm…God will take care of; afterall, He doesn’t like ugly. So if you’re feeling a little down and stressed, take a nap, and then take a good long look at what you need to do to love yourself and those around you more…or at least show it. Don’t end up like the little kittie in the picture. I need my friends and I need you all to be healthy in every way possible. 🙂

Update: That bottle of wine I’ve had unopened for about a month…it is now open. I did a good job…it is yummy. I should’ve bought beer. Whatever. I’m drinking it out of an oversized coffee mug. Don’t laugh, it was that or oversized dixie cups. Yes, I put ice in my wine…another thing to add to the “weird” list. I’m going to watch the UFC, now.

Trying to keep from thinking too much…

Eggs. How? Why? Have at it.

Thank You!

My heart is full with all of your kind words. I appreciate them very much. If you have not read my post about my grandmom, please do. Much of her life was about everyone else and not about herself. She deserves to have so much more said about her.

Please pray for my dad. He’s under a tremendous amount of stress right now.

With the funeral not taking place until Tuesday (and all the stress that comes with it), I’ve decided to continue posting. My grandmom had everything planned a few years ago and my dad is following through with her plans nicely. I’m moral support…I’ll be taking him out to dinner tonight. So…I need to post…word warrior that I am. 🙂

There are a couple of sites worth our time today…they want and bring the funny. FM has a post at the Monger Horde™ that allows you to find out your aristocratic title. Mine is quite fitting. Then, when you’re finished feeling all important with your aristocratic title, you can visit Wyatt’s place and ask him an non-job related question. MAKE THEM FUNNY! Sorry…I feel the need to control right now. 🙂

Again, thank you for all of your kind words and most importantly, friendship. I feel blessed.

Helen Marjorie Cameron M…

Grandmas hold our tiny hands for just a little while…..but our hearts forever.
Author Unknown

“Surprised by Joy–Impatient as the Wind”

Surprised by joy — impatient as the Wind
I turned to share the transport–Oh! with whom
But Thee, deep buried in the silent tomb,
That spot which no vicissitude can find?
Love, faithful love, recalled thee to my mind–
But how could I forget thee? Through what power,
Even for the least division of an hour,
Have I been so beguiled as to be blind
To my most grievous loss?–That thought’s return
Was the worst pang that sorrow ever bore,
Save one, one only, when I stood forlorn,
Knowing my heart’s best treasure was no more;
That neither present time, nor years unborn
Could to my sight that heavenly face restore.

William Wordsworth

My grandmom passed away this evening. I’m sadder than I can really express. I want to let you all know that my grandmom was so much more than the frustration that I vented a few weeks or so ago.

She was born in Scotland 89 years ago and grew up in British Columbia, Canada.

I was blessed with a grandmother who always made sure I had new glasses and a new winter coat, because my mom couldn’t afford one (this is my dad’s mom, btw). She taught me how to say “momma.” She taught me how to make tuna fish sandwiches. She taught me that biting my nails was a bad thing. She was always game for Go-Fish and tic-tac-toe. We used to watch Creature Double Feature and the WWF on Saturdays when my dad had visitation.

She taught me a little bit about gardening, cooking, and about all the family history and stories. Somehow, I am related Rob Roy.

I remember when my mom’s dad died when I was little, I was sleeping over her house, in a cot, snuggly beside her bed. I heard the phone and I knew, just as when I held her hand on Saturday for the last time I knew.

My grandmom and I used to have lunch dates at Strawbridge’s in Philadelphia. We’d dress up and go window shop. Sometimes she bought me new shoes (I was an ever-growing child). Then, we’d go to lunch. We’d have a good time.

Grandmom was generous to a fault. Always sneaking me a five dollar bill, telling me, “Don’t tell anyone.” I thought it was a fun game, but she was hiding it from my grandpop. So, I’ll add brave to my description of her. She even gave me her coveted recipe for Scottish shortbread…which you can find down a ways on this blog.

She always forgave my immaturity and impulsiveness. She was always proud of me. She was proud when I became a paralegal, proud when I went to college and graduated with lots of honors, and she was proud when I got my job. She only ever begged me to not be a lawyer because it would change me. We have relatives that are lawyers…I’ll leave it at that…so when I had the real opportunity to pursue my legal career, that I wanted so much…I stuck with teaching, and I haven’t regretted it.

I was lucky to have the grandmom I had. I could’ve had any grandmom. I was supposed to be put up for adoption. So, when I think of the alternatives in my life. I am very glad, crappy childhood and all, that God gave me a grandmother that taught me to love and to be generous. On top of it all….she was beautiful. The inside and the outside made her the most beautiful woman in the world to me.

The poem I’ve chosen is one that I read in college that brought tears to my eyes. It takes a couple of read-throughs. But I have to get used to moments of joy and not being able to share them with my grandmom. There is so much I had been hoping to share with her…adult joys.

I wish I could go on and on about my grandmom. She was my best friend. Just know she was the most awesome woman who dealt with a lot, who never let it turn her into a bitter woman. She was brave, strong, proud, and sentimental.

Hug those you love. 🙂 I’ll be back to post in a few days, but I’ll be lurking. I need my friends. 🙂

The song, “Veronica,” by Elvis Costello always reminded me of my grandmom. So I hope you see its worth.

Monger Horde: Reading material you don’t want to read because you’ve already read it or it is useless…

Vicious Fabrications: Frankj’s next book…

Apparently baconless wuss-bag, Frankj, likes to write books about stuff that people can read on his site for free. He’s even created his own publishing company to promote his redundancy. Unfortunately, for us, that means he’ll attempt to write, I mean re-write, stuff that was once free, but charge for it. In fact, he’ll probably even rewrite things that were once in print and contain old information.

Here’s a list of a few book ideas and titles that Frankj is considering for publication:

1. Primer used by the Puritans
2. The 1968 Yellow Pages
3. Buy my free thoughts….please!
4. Idiot’s Guide to Pissing Off the Monger-Horde™
5. How Not to Become President: A Frankj Guide to a Defeatist’s Attitude

THE BESTEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!

The Eagles beat the Cowboys!!!!! Just thought I’d share! WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!

Can I see another shot of Owens sitting on the sideline dismayed and nutty? Please?!?!?!?!?!

This might explain a few things…

When I was going through some Christmas stuff, I found this letter mixed in with my gift cards and new blankies. This might explain to my Southern friends why their Christmas might have been a little different than I experienced up in Yankee-land. I don’t know…sounds like the South might have had more fun if this letter is true. 😉

A new contract for Santa has finally been negotiated, and he has issued the following statement:

I regret to inform you that, effective this year, I will no longer be able to serve the southern United States on Christmas Eve. Due to the overwhelming current population of the Earth, my contract was renegotiated by North American Fairies and Elves Local 209. I now serve only certain areas of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. As part of the new and better contract, I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies.

However, I’m certain that your children will be in good hands with your local replacement, which happens to be my third cousin, Bubba Claus. His side of the family is from the South Pole. He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls; however, there are a few differences between us:

1. There is no danger of a Grinch stealing your presents from Bubba Claus. He has a gun rack on his sleigh and bumper sticker that reads, “These toys insured by Smith & Wesson.”

2. Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers that children leave a cola and pork rinds (or a moon pie) on the fireplace. And Bubba doesn’t smoke a pipe. He dips a little snuff though, so please have an empty spit can handy.

3. Bubba Claus’ sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flyin’ raccoon dogs instead of reindeer. I made the mistake of loaning him a couple of my reindeer one time, and Blitzen’s head now overlooks Bubba’s fireplace.

4. You won’t hear, “On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen…” when Bubba Claus arrives. Instead, you’ll hear, “On Earnhardt, on Wallace, on Martin, and Labonte, on Rudd, on Jarrett, on Elliott and Petty.”

5. “Ho, ho, ho!” has been replaced by “Yee-haw!” And you are also likely to hear Bubba’s elves respond, “I her’d dat!”

6. As required by Southern highway laws, Bubba Claus’ sleigh does have a Yosemite Sam safety triangle on the back with the words “Back off!” The last I heard it also had other decorations on the sleigh’s back as well. One is a Ford or Chevy logo with lights that race through the letters and the other is a caricature of me (Santa Claus) going wee on the tooth fairy.

7. The usual Christmas movie classics such as Miracle on 34th Street and It’s a Wonderful Life will not be shown in your negotiated viewing area. Instead, you’ll see Boss Hogg Saves Christmas and Smokey and the Bandit IV, featuring Burt Reynolds as Bubba Claus and dozens of state patrol cars crashing into each other.

8. Bubba Claus doesn’t wear a belt. If I were you, I’d make sure you, the wife, and the kids turn the other way when he bends over to put presents under the tree.

9. And finally, lovely Christmas songs have been sung about me like “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” and Bing Crosby’s “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” This year, songs about Bubba Claus will be played on all the AM radio stations in the South. Those song titles will be: Mark Chesnutt’s “Bubba Claus Shot the Jukebox,” Cledus T. Judd’s “All I Want for Christmas Is My Woman and a Six Pack,” and Hank Williams Jr.’s “If You Don’t Like Bubba Claus, You Can Shove It.”

Sincerely yours,
Santa Claus

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas! Relax, enjoy some good food, and enjoy your time with your families (especially your kids if you have them). Maybe sometime during the day you will have the opportunity to reflect on the importance of the event and what it will ultimately mean to us as Easter approaches.

Most respectfully and sincerely,
RT

WOW!

The only way to describe what you will see when you click on this link is WOW! Apparently skiing is not the best way to experience the Swiss Alps.