Belated Hello from Texas!

[vps]

Ok, so I'm doing this a bit backward. I didn't notice the "newbie" area until I'd lurked a few months, and then finally posted a question a couple of days ago.

So now that I have both feet in the ether, I suppose I should introduce myself properly!

I'm a tall, bald, Iowa boy who moved to Texas about 17 years ago. I ride my Harley about 15,000 miles a year, raise Golden Retrievers, love woodworking and aquariums, used to shoot competition pistol, and generally do whatever I enjoy doing.

I was always raised that my family is, "Scots-Irish". I'm not absolutely sure what that means other than "coastal"(?) I suppose, but my grandmother was Scottish, and my grandfather was Irish/Swedish. I remember he spoke with a strong Irish accent.

I think a lot of the family gravitates toward the Swedish side, but I have always loved everything Scottish, so I chose to claim THAT side instead. So there.

My wife and I FINALLY got to take a trip to Scotland last September. Travelled around Edinburgh, Inverness, and Glasgow with a group. Now I'm really itching to go back on our own and really take time to see more things.

My main goal whilst there was to get a kilt made in the family tartan. After much researching, I ended up seeking out Kinloch Anderson's store in Edinburgh (Leith). We spent several hours there, and finally ordered a 100% hand made medium-weight kilt (MacIntyre Hunting - ancient), and all the accessories.

It arrived about 6 weeks after we returned home, and it is beautiful. So now I'm waiting for a reason to wear it (I know I could wear it to work, but I'm just not that brave!). I'll have to wait for the next festival or highland games or something.

So that's about it. Hello everyone!

-Van

[Bugbear]

Welcome.

[mrtackytn]

Welcome to X-Marks - from Music City, USA - Nashville, TN !!

[RB51]

Hello and welcome from the highlands of BC. As you'll no doubt hear from others, you don't need a reason to wear the kilt, just get out there and do it! The first couple of times in public may feel a bit strange, and you may feel out of your element a bit, but it soon becomes second nature. Enjoy!

Laurie

[Chas]

Hi vps,

Welcome to XMarks from the other side of the Atlantic in Norfolk, England.

Why not kilt up and take your wife for a drive to somewhere about an hour away. Then if the day is not 100% enjoyable - well, nobody knows you and you have not lost anything. If on the other hand, the day is a success (which it will be) your next trip need only be 3/4 of an hour away. And so on till you are kilted in and around your own neighbourhood.

Good luck and good kilting.

Regards

Chas

[hallmarktex]

Howdy!

[SFCRick]

Welcome

[Draelore]

Welcome from SE Virginia

The actual Scots on the board may correct me, but New Years Eve (Hogmanay) is an excellent upcoming time to wear your kilt. If I remember correctly the Scots did not traditionally celebrate Christmas after the Reformation and so they partied on New Year's eve.

[Sammac]

Welcome from Michigan

[KFCarter]

Hello and welcome from Savannah, GA.