Leap year (The movie)

I watched "leap year" with my mom last night, and I watched it again this morning. I only have around 4 more hours with the rental :(

Heres the trailer: Leap Year Trailer

I love this movie for multiple reasons, and as you can guess, many of the resons are because of the culture. I suppose I'm obsessed, and going to the highland games only fed it. You see, I've had obsessions with alot of cultures, I go through phases, and usually they leaves me after a few months, but not this one. I once was obsessed with native american culture, but my connection with that culture was lost nesrly completely other than my cherokee forehead, so i couldnt embrace it. I was obsessed with judaism, but had no desire to convert. Its the music that has brought me into cultures the most, folk songs and stuff. I thinkI'll have a phase with indian culture soon because of jumpha lahiri short stories, which are written amazingly. My scottish obsession, or I suppose Celtic obsession seems like it will be life-long, but anyway back to the movie.

In the movie a girl name Anna goes to Ireland from Boston (its always Boston..."Boston rose"..."shipping up to Boston"...."celtics basketball" etc.) becasue there is a tradition that girls can propose to a man on leap day, and her boyfriends has been taking forever (four years, just like my rich cousin kenny from chicago who finally got engaged!!) There are some complications with getting to Dublin though, a storm or something. Somehow she ends up in Dingle, and a man there who needs money for his bar decides to take her to dublin.

Declan: [slams Anna's suitcase on the ground] How does that work?
Anna: Can you be careful with that, it was a gift from my boyfriend!
Declan: He bought you a suitcase?
Anna: It's a Vuitton.
Declan: What?
Anna: A Louis Vuitton?
Declan: Come on. Ah, is it yourself Louis? Can I give you a hand getting into the car Louis? She named her suitcase, she's a crackpot.

Her suitcase gets stolen, and the man (declan) has a barfight for it back. They miss a train and have to stay in an inn where they need to pretend they are married to share a room becasue "right is right." THey come up with this ridiculous last name "dingle o'brady callahan." When they flip for the bed, Declan says "Heads I win, tails you lose" which is funny.

Anna: [as she forces Declan awake] You lying, deceiving, son of a - Get up, get up, get up!
Declan: Wha-what?
Anna: Oh? Heads you win, tails I lose.
Declan: [smirks] Oh, you finally got that did you? Well then, good for you.
Anna: Up, get up! This is my bed. Liars forfeit.
[as she sniffs him]
Anna: And take a shower, you smell.
Declan: [shakes head] You can see right through the curtain.
Anna: Can you?... CAN YOU?
Declan: [as he runs to the shower] Okay, liars forfeit, liars forfeit! No peeking!

There is this beautiful scene when they are getting food and Declan tells anna to have a little faither, and she says "my father was the king of have a little faith" and that she had to work two part time jobs after school and got her house reposest on christmas because of her father's recklessness. It was a really powerful scene, and Declan said "I'm sorry" and he meant it. It was almost shocking to see someone say sorry so earnestly, especially when it was someone who was something of a hellion, trickster, and jerk. They got stuck in a hail storm, so they went into a church and were invited to the wedding. While there she let her hair down a little, but her shoe came off while spinning and thunked the bride in the forehead. Ana got drunk after that and told Declan that she knows he snaps and everything, but he is really in pain before throwing up on his shoes. He just picks her up. When they get to dublin her boyfriend proposes, but when she goes home she realizes she has everything she wants but nothing she needs. She goes back to Ireland, and what took her ex-boyfriend four years to do, it takes Declan four days. They get married.

Declan: Mrs. O'Brady Callhan. Where the hell are you going?
Anna: You said no.
Declan: I didn't say no. I didn't say anything.
Anna: You walked away.
Declan: I was getting something.
Anna: Really? That was a good time to go get something?
Declan: Yeah, it was actually.
[Presents Anna with a ring]

"May you never steal, lie, or cheat, but if you must steal, then steal away my sorrows, and if you must lie, lie with me all the nights of my life, and if you must cheat, then please cheat death because I couldn't live a day without you. Cheers!"
--leap year

I loved the bar drinkers in this movie who are always fighting about things, and i loved the music. I loved that they got the superstitious aspects of it, the drinking part of it, the culture, the beautiful land, and ideals of Ireland. I loved the acting. There is something true and endearing about Anna, and as for Declan, his expressions just make you absolutely love him. His eyebrows have a life of their own, and I just fell in love with him (too bad he isnt real). And can i just say, i love the way Declan walks?? because I do! The scenes were sweet. Their chemistry was perfect. This was a great movie, and there is nothing out there like it, which makes it even more special. The accents just made it better! There are some movies that just make you want to enjoy life, and this was one of them. It makes me want to go to Ireland, scotland or bothand just be myself. Here where I live, though it is beautiful, it is difficult to be yourself, but I'm working on it.

Dammit man *hits the table* KISS THE GIRL!
--leap year

--JSparrow

Got a new ipod for christmas

Ive been waiting forever to have a nice place to put all the itunes Scottish music that I've collected. I paid a good sum of money for this ipodtoo, although 300 was a gift from my father and around forty more was from family members. I only paid around $70 for a 400 and something dollars because of christmas money. Its my christmas gift to me. I also got a $50 itunes giftcard from my mother, so i bought more folk songs! ALot of these new songs are irish too, because they are funny and make me happy. My grandpa always says that I am irish, but i don't really think we are. He likes to joke around, and all evidence that I can find only points to scotland, but points very clearly at Scotland. Who knows though, boarders blur when you consider that they are both celtic.

Alot of my songs are by Cara Dillon, she is amazing. Her voice is perfect, the melodys are perfect, and the songs are beautiful (as you can expect from these songs). I also got alot of Connie Dover songs. Right now I'm listen to "bold jaime" sung by Cara Dillon. I also got irish folk songs including "I'll tell me ma," "finnegan's wake," "whiskey in the jar" (high kings version <3), "red hair mary," "some say the devil is dead," "patsy fagan," "rising of the moon," "roky road to dublin," "fidller's green," "morning glory," "Molly malone," "the wind that shakes the barley," and "the star of the county down." Good songs. I really love these songs, I can't help it! They just make me want to dance. "Some say the devil is dead" is to a tune that an american folk song is to, but i havent been able to figure it out yet, the same with "fiddler's green," I'll figure it out soon. I have 366 songs on my ipod, and only about 70ish arent celtic.

Love my ipod so much! Love the songs on them!

--JSparrow

William Wallace

William Wallace is the hero of scottish history. He represents scottish nationalism, for even though there have been many fighters for independence, it was William Wallace who never once gave in to the english.

He became an outlaw early on when he killed the overbearing son of an english constable.He was driven by a fierce love of liberty for his suffering country and the dedication to the idea of independce. He was inspired by the latin precept (translation) I tell you truly liberty is the best of things" His wife was killed when he was visiting her one day. His daughter is said to have survived though. He fought and won many battles, and he brought the clans together to fight. He was knighted and gained the title of sole gaudian of scotland and leader of its armies. He was the fighter for the people, for it was the poor that loved him, not the nobles. He was executed when he was captured by the english. He swroe at trial he had never commited treason, because he hadnt sworn loyalty to the king.

The english king didnt want to create a martyr so he destroyed and dispersed wallace's body hoping it would be forgotten. Instead, because of the brutaily the poeple of scotland wanted to remember him.The people kept the story alive. There are places all around Scotland that have signs saying william wallace touched a rock or tree. There are constant retelling of stories.

cool fact: the referendum #1 that would ratify scottish parliament was held in 1997, 11 september, seven hundred years to the day since william's spectacular victory over the english army at stirling bridge in 1297.

I love the story of William Wallace. Whenever I watch braveheart I feel pride in my heart. I love the scene when the girl gives him a thistle when his family is being buried, and he looks at her with tears in his eyes. They fall in love when they are older, so romantic. Of course the english had to come along and kill her, but that is reality. I love the song the bagpipes play when they are saying goodbye to them "an outlawed tune on an outlawed pipe" it crushes my heart. The fact that the english decided to outlaw bagpiping is just ridiculous. They try to crush the scottish spirit, and the scots flare with the fire in their guts. Freedom, oh I wish scotland would look at itself and vote yes. There are so many people that died for freedom, and now they have a chance to gain it without bloodshed, dont they realize how much of a blessing that is?

Anyway, I love William Wallace, if you haven't seen braveheart then you've missed out, it is very near to the real story, the real big detail they left out was that he had a daughter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6zGEBhJMHA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gr_OpFxCx-A&feature=relmfu

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Braveheart quotes:

Young William: What are they doin'?
Argyle Wallace: Saying goodbye in their own way. Playing outlawed tunes on outlawed pipes.

William Wallace: It's all for nothing if you don't have freedom.

William Wallace: Lower your flags and march straight back to England, stopping at every home you pass by to beg forgiveness for a hundred years of theft, rape, and murder. Do that and your men shall live. Do it not, and every one of you will die today.

Princess Isabelle: I understand you have suffered. I know... about your woman.
William Wallace: [pauses] She was my wife. We married in secret because I would not share her with an English lord. They killed her to get to me. I've never spoken of it, I don't know why I tell you now, except... I see her strength in you. One day, you'll be a queen. And you must open your eyes. You tell your king that William Wallace will *not* be ruled... and nor will any Scot while I live.
(One thing the movie didnt mention, he had a daughter)

William Wallace: I *am* William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men... and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?
Veteran: Fight? Against that? No! We will run. And we will live.
William Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run, and you'll live... at least a while. And dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willin' to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance, to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take... OUR FREEDOM!
[Scottish army cheers]
William Wallace: Alba gu bràth!
["Scotland forever!"]

William Wallace: Go back to England and tell them there that Scotland's daughters and her sons are yours no more. Tell them Scotland is free.

William Wallace: Every man dies, not every man really lives.

Robert the Bruce: Now, you've achieved more than anyone ever dreamed. But, fighting these odds, it looks like rage, not courage.
William Wallace: It's well beyond rage. Help me. In the name of Christ, help yourselves. Now is our chance. Now. If we join, we can win. If we win, well then we'll have what none of us has ever had before: a country of our own.

"After the beheading, William Wallace's body was torn to pieces. His head was set on London Bridge, his arms and legs sent to the four corners of Britain as a warning. It did not have the effect that Longshanks planned"

Royal Magistrate: The prisoner wishes to say a word.

William: FREEEEE-DOMMMMMM!!!!!

Scottish independence

Let me tell you something about scottish people, when the english outlawed bagpipes, the scottish people hid them and started singing puirt-a-buel songs. When the english banned weapons, the scots began training by throwing 1000 lb rocks and flipping trees. When the english killed william wallace, and tried to write him out of history, the scots preserved the story. when the english took the stone of destiny in 1296, the scots, well, in 1950 they finally stole it back from westminister abbey. After centuries of opression, voting no in 2014 for independence is saying scotland has finally been broken. It is like saying that all that fighting was useless.

I am just an american, but I have scottish blood. I have a great-grandfather who refused to leave his homeland out of pride, and other family members whose hearts never strayed from the highlands. There are more people of scottish ancestry living out of scotland than the whole population in scotland, and thats not how it should be. That could change. I don't know much about modern scotland, I only know the stories and the history. I hear alot that there is no pride in scotland, and I wonder how that happened. Scotland deserves its freedom, it deserves to have the pride that the english have tried to keep it from having.

I'll write more on this later

--JSparrow

Outlander (spoilers)

I picked this book up because I had heard of it being the king of all Scottish novels. The fact taht it had a thistle on it helped too. The story was amazing in many ways. Sometimes the way the author described something made it seem incredibly beautiful.

In the tale an english woman gets transported back in time to old scotland. There she meets a man named jaime, a good-ole highland man (except for the beating, which i've chosen to ignore). She is brought to the mckenzie clan where she in under watch, because they are uncertain whether or not she is an english spy. She ends up having to marry jaime, in order to keep her from a violent english soldier determined to rape most of the main characters in the story. The english soldier happens to be the great-great...grandfather of her husband in the future, which is both hilarious and unnerving at the same time. For alot of the book she tries to get back to the rocks to go back to the future, but she ends up chosing to stay with jaime. Apparently, jaime is running from the english himself, but he is caught. They break him out of jail, but jaime is a little, um, well he is hurt afterwards. He ends of getting better, somehow after nearly dying. It ends with a pregnancy! yayy!

There was alot of sex in this book. I mean, it didnt go into detail but it definitly took up a big chunk of the book, and the book is really big, mind. There were alot of things I just couldnt agree on with this book, but at the same time it had something, something. My favorite part was when she saw the loch ness monster, it was a magical moment in the book. The author really knows how to tell a story. The transitions, and lingering thoughts at the end of a chapter were perfectly made. There was adventure, which I appreciate. There was also this intimacy with the catholic church, which is rare in books. Being catholic, I am painfully aware that movies and books often cast the church in a negitive light. It doesn't bother me that much, or all the time, but it was refreshing to hear someone say something semi-positive or at least not negitive about it. The priests werent considered lecherous either, which is a plus. My uncle is a preist, so that part about the view on the church upsets me alot.

There was one part when jaime "had" to beat her to restore her honor as a woman, and I am going to admit that my heart sunk at that part. I almost stopped reading the book, it was clearly trying to call whipping someone as normal. I got really mad, I almost tossed the book. So mad, that my faith in mankind was shaky. It takes alot to make me believe a man can love, and very little to believe a man doesnt have the capability of it. I know, I need to work on that. I understand that it is old fashion scottish culture, but I didnt like it. I am a bit of a feminist, if I havent already said so. I ended up going back to the book though, there is just something irresistable about a good story. He ended up apologizing to her, promising never to do it again, telling her embaresing stories about when he has been beaten up (which is alot), and she, like an idiot forgives him. I wouldnt forgive him, I still havent forgiven him. I only got through the book by systematically ignoring that part.

Positives and negitives, I don't know what to say. I don't know if I liked this book or not, but I am going to read the next one in the series to try and figure out the answer. There are seven books in the series, "Dragonfly in amber" is next.

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"I don't want your gold and silver, I don't want your house and land
I am going with a soldier, I have promised him my hand
But the father spoke up sharply: You will do as i command,
You'll get married on a Sunday and you'll wear that wedding band"
---(song) step it out mary


--JSparrow

The Stone of Destiny (the stone of scone)

Brought from Ireland when the celts came to Scotland, as legend has it, the stone of destiny was the symbol of Scottish rule. Wherever the stone was, the Scottish people ruled. When a scottish king got coronated it was this stone that was a key part in the ceremony. Alot of people don't realize just how important this stone was to the people of Scotland, right in the stone of destiny is what the scottish people have been fighting for centuries, and still, to this day, dont have, freedom.

In 1296 the Stone was captured by Edward I as spoils of war and taken to Westminster Abbey, where it was fitted into a wooden chair. It was almost a sign to the people of scotland, that the english were taking over. Some say that the people of Scotland took the real stone of destinyand hid it somewhere, giving the english nothing but an ordinary stone. Nobody really knows. THe stone is made out of a material taht is not found in ireland, and is only around scone, but whose to say that the legend about it coming from ireland was true?

On Christmas Day 1950, a group of four Scottish students (Ian Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Kay Matheson, and Alan Stuart) took the Stone from Westminster Abbey for return to Scotland.^[9] In the process of removing it from the Abbey the stone broke into two pieces. I watched a movie on it called "the stone of destiny" which I highly recommend, though parts of it were kind of boring. They said in the movie, that after the stone was stolen, the pride of scottish people returned to the country. Flags were waved and everything. Apparently alot of people in Scotland have this weighed down pride, instead of calling their country scotland they call it britton or something. I personally think that the english are trying to keep scottish pride low, like they have for centuries. I watched a documentary on that too, it upset me. The english have been opressing Scottish people for centuries, they wouldnt let them use weapons or play bagpipes. Especially that one king who took the stone of destiny. He hated scottish people, he even made the scots sign something saying he was the true king of scotland. I'm also going to admit that he stole some important scottish documents and relics, which he put on a beat that sunk in the ocean. All that history, gone, because an english king couldnt keep his greedy hands to himself. Despicable. Its funny, when the announcer said that the president of the highland games was born in england, a bunch of people in the crowd made this disaproving sound. Of course he was scottish though, so it was forgiven. That isnt even mentioning that hte english sold scots to the american colonies as slaves, and killed william wallace (another article I need to do).

In 1996, in a symbolic response to growing dissatisfaction among Scots at the prevailing constitutional settlement, the British Conservative Government decided that the Stone should be kept in Scotland when not in use at coronations. So the stone is usually kept in scotland now, it took centuries, but that right was ackowledged eventually. Yes, I do mean to bash the english in this article.

The Stone, although not directly referred to, was mentioned in Macbeth "...[we shall travel to be] crowned at Scone..." and in case you didnt know, macbeth was scottish...

John Balliol was the last Scottish king to be crowned on the stone at Scone in 1292.

Stone of destiny movie QUOTES:

"On that day I heard the voice of Scotland speak as loudly as it did in 1320. As long as a hundred of us remain alive, we shall never give in to the domination of the English. We fight not for glory, not for wealth, nor honors, but only and alone for freedom, which no good man surrenders but with his life."

"This road leads you out of London. Take it"

"[Worried about their previous encounter with the police] They've got our names."....."They've also got our stone!"

"It was only a rock, a big lump of sandstone, you might pass right by it, but to us, it was symbol of our freedom, of our independence. We all knew about it of course, we learned as children how it was the Scottish stone of kings, but they took it from us. And as a nation is suppose we'd forgotten about it. Time does that. It was history"

"All great schemes are crazy. That's what makes 'em great."

" Is it alright if I have a look around?.....
As long as you promise not to take anything."]

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"We were bought and sold for english gold

what a parcel of rogues in a nation"

--parcel of rogues

---JSparrow

Just got back from the highland games!!

There are very few times in my life when I have felt so incredibly at home somewhere. I loved living with my grandpa and grandma Gordon, even if I got yelled at sometimes. That was probably the last place that really felt like home to me, and I moved out before eighth grade. The highland games in NH was home to me for two days, the effect was instant (unlike with the donny dr house which took time). As we drove up and the mountains started appearing, "my hearts in the highlands" by pur started to play. It was enchanting and I found myself tearing up. Whenever I hear that song I picture myself looking at a mirror. I sing the english part, then my reflection sings the gaelic part, then we go back and forth at the end. We are talking in different languages, but we are saying the same thing.

Getting on the bus, and walking across that bridge with the mountains around me was breathtaking. Seeing the first bagpiper walk by, oh I couldn't even contain my excitment. The first thing we did was get food, of course. I tried rumplethumps, which are potatoes and cabbage mixed together. I also had caukoleeki soup, a meat pie (which my granny used to eat alot), and a scotch egg, let me just say that Scotland isnt known for their food. But what do you expect? They live in the highlands with terrible winters, sheep is about all they got. I didnt try haggis, call me unadverturoud but I just couldnt do it. We took our food to the stands where we watched a group of bagpipes play. Then the different clans came out to the song "its all for the tartan." During the ceremony, the announcer talked about a special guest that we were lucky to have. Apparently this guest just recovered from a couple of knee injuries, the announcer asked him how his knee was going. The guest marched a little and started bending his knees. The announcer said he could do better than that, so the man got on his knees, then he pulled out a ring for the woman infront of him. She said yes! I cheered so loud, what a clever way to propose. The first stand I went to I gota shirt with a thistle on it, it says "God man scots a wee bit better." I carried around a scottish flag with me everywhere, ad the woman at the stand said to my mother "Doesnt it make you proud that she is carrying the flag?" my mom said "She always makes me proud. I liked that lady, she talked to me a little about hertitage. There was a book there on the stone of destiny, which I havent done an article on! whoops

You arent allowed to have a stand at the highland games unless you completely scottish and have references, so everything was scottish. I loved that. I get lonely alot, and sometimes I think I am really weird because nobody around me cares about this stuff like me. The highland games were different though, everyone was tapping their foot to the music, wearing kilts, and having a blast celebrating. It was refreshing to see other people lvoe what I do. It was fun to celebrate my culture with people. I watched the highland dancers, which I loved!!! They did the traditional dance to "brocham lom" and the second day I watched the group and solo choreography which was just beautiful. There was a girl there that is third in the world, she is a physical therapist and has red hair. I also think she teaches the dance. You have to be built for this dance, meaning skinny and dainty.

The stands were so fun, there were pins with different crests, and scarfs with different tartans. Pouches for kilts, and kilts for kilts. Shoes for kilts, necklaces, hairpieces, earrings, flags, everything. I got two pins, one with a thistle, another with the duncan crest. I got three necklaces, one with the Gordon crest, one with lucky heather in it, and another that is celtic. I got a hairpiece with four-leaf clovers on it, and a sign thing with quotes from different scottish folk songs. I used up my one-hundred dollars for doing the mri. I also got a Gordon scarf, which I wore with the pins the second day diagonally across my shirt. I was sure proud to wear it. I get some kind of satisfaction knowing that I can wear the tartan and not everyone in the world can with the same meaning. My pride in being scottish rose ten fold when I had some of that good-ole scottish shortbread cookies. SO good!

I took pictures for photography too, I was a little shy asking, but I never got turned down. Every guy was really nice, one called me sweet heart. My step dad (irish) Barney decided to stay behind a while and sit ona bench, he said that people came up to him whenever he fell asleep and woke him up asking if he was alright. Funny. It was like everyone was all one family. when they saw my tartan they either asked me what I was or knew it straight off the bat. I saw a few Gordons, the first day on the bus,  and the second day at the resturant, but the clan wasnt officially there. Duncan was there though! I met a man who reminded me of my granny. He gave me a pamphlet about the history of the duncans and a bow with some variation of the tartan (since the real tartan can only be on a kilt or something with that clan). He gave me info about joining the clan. He talked to me for a while, he was nice. I visitied alot of the clan tents, and I got warm-welcomes all around.

Mom got root bear with a leprochon on it. She wanted the cup, so I drank it. I got it from a barrel and it was handmade, so cool! The refills were only a dollar.

There was this guy singing folk songs the whole time by the highland games rock. Every time I passed him he was playing a song I knew. I felt so smart! He sang "roaming in the gloaming" which my great grandma margaret duncan used to sing all the time in the nursing home. It got stuck in my moms head on the way back on the shuttle bus, so she sang it. When my stepdad looked at her she shook her head and pointed to me, saying "She's rubbing off on me." THere were alot of musicians, all of them were great. They made you want to get up and jump around. Albannach was there, and apparently they are really popular because there was a shirt stand and tons of people were there to see them. THe music is important to me, because it was the music that guided me to the highland games in the first place. I got to listen to all of my scottish folk songs on the ride there and back :)

We watched log throwing, which was cool. I couldnt even believe what some of those men could do! The announcer guy for it was really funny. He had a scottish accent. At one point a guy said "get over there!" to the log and the announcer said "no you didnt quite get it over there, but you certainly got it every high." One man there just recovered from a back injury. The first time he got the log he had to go backwards with it and start over. The second time he got it to flip, and the announcer said "I knew he could do it!" I cant even imagine the strenth it must take to do that! Its all becasue the english wouldnt let the scots have weapons, thats why they started tossing trees and everything, oppression is terrible, but it brings out inventive things. That log was soooo long, it was practically a tree. I was amazed. Mom and I sat on the grass eating out shortbread cookies as we watched.

I personally think that men look amazing in kilts, and I'm not the only person. Lots of people at the games admitted they looked better that way. I mean, kilts look great, even if its not a tartan design on it. The men with kilts really looked more manly to me. They also seemed really nicer. Its funny how perspective changes when you start to understand the soul behind something. A kilt looks like a skirt from a shallow point of view, but once you understand it, suddenly its a symbol of pride, manlihood, comfort, and much more. Its the traditional dress of a scottish someone who knows who they are, are proud of who they are, and are completely comfortable with themselves. I admired them, cant you tell? All the hotels in the area were booked with scottish people, so the hotels put up scottish flags. The comunity really got into the spirit, all the policemen had kilts on.

I had fun. I got to live in my scottish fantasy for two days. Its almost like it exists now! I was so happy to be there, I belong there. I cant remmember the last time I've been so thrilled to do something. I've been having a hard time lately with school, work, and a few health problems, so a little happiness goes a long way. I've decided to marry a scottish man. I'm going to get a scottish last name, he is going to wear kilts, and we are going to take our children to the nh highland games every year. The boys and girls are going to wear kilts and sing folk songs with me. When they are older and complain, well, at least they have that base ground of scottish roots. My last name should be Gordon like my moms, like my grandparents who raised me for most of my life. I'm a Gordon. Granted, I am a Duncan too, but there was more kinship on the gordon side.

well, I guess I have to fold my tartans for now.
Oidhche mhath (goodnight) to all my precious kith 'n kin!

"Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae let the Lord be thankit."

--Selkirk grace

"Oh what do I care for your castle and coaches?
And what do I care for your gay grandeury?
I'd rather be home at my cot, at my spinning
Or herding my flocks on the hills of Glenshee"
--lass of glenshee

--JSparrow

Its a funny thing...

Uniqueness is something to celebrate, I've always believed that, how could I not? I'm american!
Well, I'm unique because I love cultures, I'm unique because I picked tartans as a theme in photography. I am unique for a thousand reasons. Did you know that there are estimated 35 million people around the world today are of Scottish descent? Now that seems like alot, but compared to the 7 billion people in the world, that really isnt alot, which means I am unique!

Its funny when I am with a friend and I am telling them about my scottish adventures. They listen politely and laugh alittle, never forgetting to put a hand over my mouth when I over do it. I feel less lost when I am talking to my asian friend about the traditional food her mom cooks. I feel more comfortable when I am talking to my hispanic friend when she talks about the bi-lingual life, and you know why? Its because I am Scottish, and I know what that means. I can contribute to conversations about cultures. You have dark skin because you are african? well, I have white skin because I am scottish. You listen to songs in spanish becasue you are hispanic? well, I listen to scottish folk songs. You put some spicy spice on your food because you are from korea? well, I like beef stew and porriage because I am scottish. You wear a yukata at family weddings? well I would wear a kilt (if i was a man..) You have your symbols, I have mine. It makes me feel better. I am connected to a culture too, I just didnt know it. I just never realized it.

Its true that a person needs to have a culture to lean back on, and if there are multiple, like with me, they need to pick one that they can be proud of, and celebrate it.

--JSparrow

Tartans for me :)

Yesterday I went and got alot of tartan fabric for the photography project. I got a yard of about five different kinds and they are so pretty. The good, soft ones were on sale, so I even got the ones I really wanted. One of them is the gordon tartan, it is so pretty! I'm thrilled to have it! Another one is mcgregor, I'm not sure what the other ones are, but one is yellow, another is multicolored (red blue etc.) and the last one reminds me of fall becasue of the browns and reds. I was thinking I could wrap one around my seven year old brother (who is adorable) and take pictures of him. I could even hang one from a tree branch (I really love trees).

This weekend is the highland games in nh, and I'll be going!! There was a problem with my work, because even though I asked for the day off, the schedual said I was working. I had asked twice and made sure it was alright three times so I was a little annoyed with the mistake. My manager had said if he made a mistake he would fix it, so when I told him it was wrong he said he would take care of it. My mom printed out the events. She only wants to go to the festival for one day, which really annoys me, and even worse she wants to go on sunday because she thinks there are better things sunday (which isnt true). The problem is I will die if I have to wait another day to go, and what if we miss really fun things? It really has me down, but I cant do more than just tell my mom I would rather go both days. My mom will make her desision, and even though I've been looking forward to this forever, I guess Ill just have to accept it. She wants to go to mount washington. I love trees but we are already going to loon mountain so really, what is the difference?

Its early, and I was actually going to do my math homework, but my online textbook website is down. ALot of computer things havent been working for me. I bought an itunes gift card, and the codes didnt work for some reason. I've been going back and forth with emails from some worker named Jean without any solution. It has almost been a week. I took photos of the recept and the cards (front and back) but she says she hasnt been getting them. It makes me wish I could just go somewhere to get this done, or call someone, or even if someone could come to my house. It would be so much easier and quicker that way. I've been listening to the same folk songs for too long, I need new songs, and I'm not a very patient person. On the days I wanted to relax and do Itunes I couldnt, and if it doesnt get straightened out tomorrow or today then I'll have to wait another week.

well thats my quick morning update, I'll give you something better afterschool.

--Jsparrow

Love trouble

love is something that shows up alot in scottish folk songs and tales. There is one song called the fairy's love song where a fairy is talking about how her human love is across the river (and of course fairy's can't go across the river in scottish tales, and fairy's and humans together is a nono). The song is about how tired she is of working, the way fairy's work. The song is called "Tha Mi Sgith" which means "I am tired." There are other songs too, pretty much any song with a girls name as a title is about how a man loves her or wants her to marry him. There are also songs about weddings in gaelic. Stories like braveheart, or even something like laiden's daughter all talk about love. Robert Burns, though he had a wide range of topics has many love poems. I can't name a single culture in all of my studying and discovering that cherishes, and believes in love the way that the scottish culture seems to (Except maybe ireland, but they both have the same roots so it makes sense).

I've always been the kind of person who doesn't usually like love songs. I don't have any experience in love, so singing a song about love seems kind of hypocritical. I can never sing those songs with meaning, because I have nothing to contribute to them. When it comes to scottish songs though, I don't mind love songs because they are nice, pure of heart and are just fn to sing. Bonnie banks of loch lomond for example has an amazing story and meaning to it that I can't help but love, and a beautiful melody. "Ae fond kiss" rhymes in some places and is just a nice song to sing. I wish I knew why I love these songs so much, I can't even believe that I can sing the love songs and have my heart spread open wide.

With all of this scottish love, I've been really wondering about love. I've been really wondering if it exists and what is it? I was under the impression that someone you love is someone you can't live without, but that doesnt make sense because people get divorced, and people die, and like goes on. So I asked my mom and she said that loving someone is when you can't imagine your life without them. I believe that, because I couldn't live without my mom or my little brother, or many other people who are important to me, and I have to see them every now and then. (I brought my brother to the park and miky D's last night).

The reason I was asking is really because I've had a crush on someone for a long time. I don't think I love him, but I can sure imagine my life with him. I've liked him for a long time, and every time I see him my heart beats faster. I want to tell him everything and share everything with him, and I want to protect him. It wasn't meant to be between us, and I know that. Sometimes I am afraid that what I feel is only lack of something or just plain infatuation, I honestly can't tell. I told myself to stop liking him, and sometimes when I think about him I have to chant to myself to stop. I just can't help but feel that we are the same somehow, but at the same time I think that there are tons of other girls (and there are) that feel the same way as me, and they have broken up so I probably would too. Its infuriating. I remmember our eyes met, and I couldnt look away. I tried, in order to tear my eyes away I had to turn my head away, because my eyes wouldnt follow. He doesnt like me, and I know it, but I can't seem to forget about him. Even if we are apart for a year I still think about him, and when I stop to think about him it breaks my heart. Its stupid.

I want the kind of love in scottish tales and folk songs. He probably isn't the guy for me to have that with, so I guess all I can do is accept it. If a good guy can make me feel like I can start singing love songs, and doesn't get annoyed when I play Scottish music every now and then, he will be the one. ( a kilt wouldnt hurt either lol)

Photography class

I'm taking a photography class this year, and I'm soo excited for it! Considering how bad I am at using technology, it was probably a bad idea to take this course, but I'm ready to learn. Two of my friends that are taking it with me are experts at photography. They take pictures in their spare time, going to places in the woods, and driving all over town. They know how to make something seemingly normal, into something absolutely breathtaking. The first one is good at using the camera, she knows how to do everything. The second one knows all the terms, what they mean, and how they change a picture. In comparison, I know nothing, and I sure don't have a manual camera of my own. Mine is the simple click and take one.

Anyway, in this class he gives the unfortunate people like me a camera, and we learn how the camera works. Then we do a series of projects. For the main project you have to pick a theme to take photos of, then you have to take a certain amount of pictures of it per week. At teh end of the class you should have at least five hundred pictures using that theme, and you have to pick your favorites and create a photo book of it. Sounds fun to me!

I didn't know what to do for a theme, I was thinking of world cultures, because my room is full of cultural stuff, but that wasn't a specific enough theme. Then I thought about trees, but since the class end around january, I realized that there wouldn't be leaves on the trees for a long time during the class. My mom suggested native american things, but that would require alot of traveling, and with school and work I wasn't sure I would have the time by the deadlines to do it. Scotland of course was on my mind, it always is, but I don't have the much Scottish stuff. Actually, I have pretty much nothing. I'm going to the highland games at the end of the month, but other than that, well, what would I take pictures on? I wanted something that would inspire me to take pictures, and what could be better than scottish things? As I thought that I remmembered the scarf with the black and white tartan I wear all the time. Then I thought of the mills around here, and of course the highland games. Why not tartans? So that is my theme! Tartans!

I haven't worked with the camera much so I don't have any pictures, but I can promise I will work hard on them and put some extra good ones on here. Be prepared to tap into my mind a little, to see what I see. Since the teacher has alot of students, and there will be alot of pictures, I want somewhere to put the pictures where I can explain them properly, and talk about my thinking, thats where this place comes into play. I hope you enjoy them, I'll put them up as soon as I take them!

Here are some photos I found on the internet with tartans, thoughts?
































--JSparrow