NorCal X Marks Burns Supper: plan now!

[Alan H]

After dinner and the refilling of the glasses.........

I, Alan H once again took the floor and alluded very briefly to other Scottish Authors. I pointed out that Robert Service actually wrote a poem to the Kilt. It was then time for the unveiling of a new poem, humbly penned by me and offered to all, and a toast to that which brings us all together...THE KILT!

To The Kilt


Step up, Me Lads and strop on yer kilt
In noble colour and mighty swing;
of leather and wool, and right stoutly built
that keeps all fresh, aye there's the thing.

It's blue for the skies that spread out wide
o'er the lands that we remember dear;
and blue for the sea that stands beside
the land, and the far horizon, clear.

It's green for the grass in the stony glen,
for the tread of the cattle, the cry of the swan;
the memory of forests that stretched far, back then
nigh lost to us now, but in memory, ne'er gone.

And yellow for the sun on the summers day
and the way your lass looks in the early morn.
Oh, let not that memory fade away
for of such is our humanity, daily born.

Red for the blood that our fathers have shed
on fields at home or under a foreign sun.
Forget them not, nor their hearts that bled
for Freedom and the Right, 'til our day is done.

Black for the night, and the end of the day
when brothers hands lower the lid of the ghastly tomb
and silent we go, and with bowed heads we pray
into that everlasting and sacred gloom.

But then, White for the purity of soul and heart
and white for the snows upon Ben Dubh.
For remember that death shall not us part
and love and memory shall see us through.

Whe'er braw, muckle man or keen, sprightly lad
whe'er youth of slight age, or a great weathered yew
bring out then, the tartan, and be ye glad
to strap it round your waist, and wear the colors, true.

Aye, buckle it tight and clear-eyed look out;
step up me lads and strop on yer kilt.
Wear it with pride and be memory's redoubt
and be ye a Man, and proud, to the hilt.


January 2007

ah, but I digress...........

BTW, who brought the Caol Isla 18????

Ah, I neglect the necessary. What Whisky was in attendance?
Caol Island 18, Speyside 15, Macallan 12, Balvenie double-barrel, Glenlivit 15, Ardbeg 12...........gaaa, there was at least one more, but I'm blanking out!

ANY-way, moving on.... way2fractious delivered the toast to the cook, which I had intended to be a toast to Madalyn, our Organizer Extraordinaire, but wound up being a toast to Yours Truly...I am humbled....not just by the toast, but also by the really nice sporran flask that Richard gave me. It's GREAT! Thanks, Richard!

Here is Richards toast....

Some of us can make our stuff
(with reference to a needle):
Some just have to buy our things
(or beg, or borrow, or wheedle).
Then comes the one, who with aplomb,
can do whate'er is wanted,
and do it with such flair and flash
that we suspect he's *haunted*!

Now, I have that text 'cause way2fractious handed it to me, and I've kept it. Bunchdescendent delivered the toast to the lasses and garned a few laughs and giggles by pretending to read the Gettysburgh Address...shuffling papers and starting out again "accidentally" with a facilities report. ....and then finally proceeding on to verse (which I don't have a copy of).

But let it never be said that the lasses let the lads have the last word! The elegant and thrifty (ask Panache about his ladys dress) stood up to reply.

Now, you must understand that Panche and the FHBCAG are not your everyday pair. Nobody else I know can dress up as a Highwayman and Jessica Rabbit and still have people take them seriously. The FHBCAG admitted that in fact Panache had written her toast, had assured her that limited editing was acceptable, but no more than that, and she DID after all memorize it....which she did.

I don't have the text here, but I HOPE...**HINT HINT* that it will find its way onto this website in this thread, soon!....Because the line about the how "I shall love thee 'till our checkbook all gang dry" is a screamer.

[Monkey@Arms]

Indeed, the First Annual NorCal X Marks Burns Supper was a rousing success.

Kudos to Alan H and Madalyn for putting together this fun and friendly gathering. I'll leave it to those who have the photos and texts to do the detailed report, but can confirm the food was wonderful and plentiful as was the Whisky The toasts and addresses were done with flair, well paced, and well received The bagpiping, and dance music were terrific (dang that Alan H is multi-talented), but alas, I'm afraid I may personally have set back the art of Scottish County Dance so far, that it may never reemerge again on this continent.

Best regards,

Jake

[TimC]

Ray - if you're bringing the 12 yr 'Livet, which should I bring; 12 yr Spreyside, 12 yr Macallan or 15 yr 'Livet? I guess the question is, which one will run that cold of yours off quicker? See ya tonight.

-Tim

[cessna152towser]

Thanks for talking the time to provide that very detailed report, Alan. Now we need to see pictures please!

[McMurdo]

That was a great report Alan thank you for it a' that, an' a' that,

I almost feel as if I were there.

[Panache]

It was a fabulous time! Madalyne was unsung heroine of the evening. So we need to sing her praises a bit. Without her this would have not happened.
Bravo Madalyne! And a bravo to all the friends who came and gathered together in good fellowship. The F-H.C.A.G.hereby suggests that the formerly "Invisible Joan" be now referred to as the "Luminous Joan" (for reasons that will become obvious when the "Nor-Cal Burn's Night Pictures" thread is set up).

Here is Ray's (Bunchdescendant) "Toast to the Lassies"

First of all, please let me take a moment to thank our lovely and talented hostess, the Amazing Madalyn for her tireless work in organizing this wonderful Burns Supper.

I would also like to thank Alan Hebert. I am especially grateful to Alan as it is an act of great faith to ask a man attending his first Burns Supper, and as ignorant as I am of Robert Burns, to give "The Toast to the Lassies."

In the common language, which is sometimes referred to as "in the vulgar" or "sic vulgaris" when referring to Latin, which we are not...

...This toast being neither sick, nor vulgar, nor in Latin....

This toast is to the Lassies in our lives, the ones that stick by us through thick and thin, for better or worse, the very individuals that support our kilt wearing. The love of our life that looks the other way as we purchase more kilts online. The ones that bring us food and water whilst we type furiously to our fellow kilties online, late at night, ignoring all other sights and sounds…..

I seem to be straying from the point…..Sorry all…..

**CLEARING THROAT**

Getting back to the matter at hand,

I shall proceed...............***RATTLE PAPERS****

Four Score and 7 years ago, our forefathers….……..

Oh...wait… **SHEEPISH GRIN** **SHUFFLE PAPERS**

Wrong speech... **ADJUST GLASSES**

I have inspected this jobsite at great length and this is my list of deficiencies starting with……

Oh.... wait...Sorry. How did that get in there… HEH HEH....that one was for work……..

***SHUFFLE PAPERS***
***SWITCH GLASSES***

Ah...here we go.

A Toast to the Lassies

Now, here's to the lassies
In skirt, dress and sashies.
The kindest of mankind,
'Til they change their mind!

Then the barbs, like a dart,
Go straight to your heart.
From sweetness like sugar,
To "off wi' ya, bugger!"

Then, as quick as you please,
They set your mind at ease.
Everything is all right,
And it's cuddling tonight!

They keep the home fires burning,
And help with the earning.
But, they know the spendin'
And are good at ear bendin.'

They want to talk feelings,
While our senses are reeling.
But what's to explain,
They just confuse us again!

They keep us in clean shirts,
a pressed kilt for the kirk,
and socks and shorts,
Ah, they're such good sports!

We'd be lost without them,
just don't try to out-pout them!
But they're quick to concede
It's us that they need!

They tolerate our weakness
And our goofy- and geekyness.
And they're there by our side,
Not just along for the ride.

So, lads, if you please,
Don't get down on your knees.
But stand and raise your glasses,
And we'll toast the bonnie lasses!


Well done Ray!

[Panache]

The lovely Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess recited the "Lassies Response". She noted that she didn't have time or inclination to write a response , so she made me do it.

In her own words:

"This is poem to Panache,
by Panache,
recited by me"

The assembled rabble laughed heartily and cheered her wonderful delivery of the following lines:

The Lasses’ response

O, MY Luve’s like a bright peacock
That’s always in full plume
O, My luve likes kilts far too much
He’s a rose in tartan bloom

So fair art thou ma kilted lad
So deep in Love am I
I’ll put up with this whole Scot-thing
Till our check book gang dry

Till our checkbook gang dry my dear
And our credit is all gone
And I will Luve thee still my dear
When your preening is all done

And fare thee weel, my kilted Luve
Walk proudly down the mile
Ma vain yet bonnie highland Luve
Tartan peacock ye have style!

(With apologies to Robert Burns)

Cheers

[cessna152towser]

A cute parody from the FHCAG. Excellent.

[McMurdo]

Wonderful to the Lassies and response.
I'm sure Rabbie wouldn't mind.

Sounds like a great time was had by all.

[bunchdescendant]

Although Panache wrote the Reply to the Laddies, I have to give credit where credit is due.

I researched Burns Suppers with some help from Alan H. and Panache. The Toast to the Lassies came from:

http://www.worldburnsclub.com/supper/poetic_lassies.htm

and I have to attribute the author, AFAIK, as being Steve Krull of Wichita, Kansas.

I did however, adjust one line to make better sense.

Thank You Steve Krull, wherever you are, for a great toast.

(lest I be accused of plagiarization!)

Ray