Newbie in Northern Arkansas

[captjamie]

Hello all: I am a newbie to the whole Scottish culture, although I've known about my Scots blood since childhood none in the family ever took part in showing their Scotch pride. My name is Jamie Michener and I live in the Ozark mountains of Northern Arkansas, where I work as a self employed Carpenter, doing Home repair and remodels. I was born and raised in Northern California, where my family had been for 4 generations, For a while I held a US Master Mariner's License and drove tug boats on SF Bay, hence my forum name of captjamie. I recently joined my family clan, MacTavish, My Great Grandfather was a Thompson his wife was a Gibbins (Irish). I blame this mixed blood on why I am so confused! . Recently I started working out and have begun to practice throwing, I hope to compete in at least 2 Highland games this year, more would be better, but convincing my wife (who is Portagese) is not always easy. I do believe that once she attends her first Scottish festival she'll be hooked. Guess that s enough for know. Hope to someday meet a lot of you.
Jamie

Friends

[Spartan Tartan]

Welcome from Oklahoma City, OK!!

[macwilkin]

Hello all: I am a newbie to the whole Scottish culture, although I've known about my Scots blood since childhood none in the family ever took part in showing their Scotch pride. My name is Jamie Michener and I live in the Ozark mountains of Northern Arkansas, where I work as a self employed Carpenter, doing Home repair and remodels. I was born and raised in Northern California, where my family had been for 4 generations, For a while I held a US Master Mariner's License and drove tug boats on SF Bay, hence my forum name of captjamie. I recently joined my family clan, MacTavish, My Great Grandfather was a Thompson his wife was a Gibbins (Irish). I blame this mixed blood on why I am so confused! . Recently I started working out and have begun to practice throwing, I hope to compete in at least 2 Highland games this year, more would be better, but convincing my wife (who is Portagese) is not always easy. I do believe that once she attends her first Scottish festival she'll be hooked. Guess that s enough for know. Hope to someday meet a lot of you.
Jamie

Friends

Which games are you thinking of attending? There are several Scottish organizations & festivals in Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri -- Fayetteville, Ft. Smith and Springfield all have upcoming Burns Suppers, for example.

Welcome, by the way, from across the border in SW Missouri!

T.

[captjamie]

Cajunscot: Not sure what a burns supper is? but sounds interesting. I am thinking/planning on the Games in Batesville AR in April, not sure beyond that, did not know about Fayetteville or Ft. Smith, have heard of the one in Springfield-I think it conflicts with another event that my wife and I are committed to. Any dates that you know about I would greatly like to see them, I am still searching the net for events in our area of the country.
Thanks Jamie

[McFarkus]

from Chicago. Burns Suppers celebrate the birthday of Robert Burns, the poet laureate of Scotland, who wrote many poems and songs including Auld Lang Syne.

[captjamie]

McFarkus: thanks for the Info, boards like this are a great way to learn.

mate

[celt72]

Welcome from Seattle! I've spent a lot of time in NW Arkansas camping along the Buffalo River and Lake Oauchita. Beautiful county!

[macwilkin]

Cajunscot: Not sure what a burns supper is? but sounds interesting. I am thinking/planning on the Games in Batesville AR in April, not sure beyond that, did not know about Fayetteville or Ft. Smith, have heard of the one in Springfield-I think it conflicts with another event that my wife and I are committed to. Any dates that you know about I would greatly like to see them, I am still searching the net for events in our area of the country.
Thanks Jamie

Burns Night or a Burns Supper is a celebration of Robert Burns, considered by many to be Scotland's greatest poet. This article from Windsor, Ontario, has a nice explanation of the customs and traditions of Burns Night:

http://www.windsorscottish.com/sc-ho...burnsnight.php

And here are few more links to bookmark:

http://www.springfieldmissouriscots.org
http://www.swmocelticfestival.com
http://scofs.webstarts.com/
http://www.celticozarkian.com/

Yours aye,

Todd

[Chas]

Hello Jamie,

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

Regards

Chas

[captjamie]

Thanks to of you for the warm welcome. Todd thanks for the links, very helpful, hopfully we may meet someday. Martin, I live near the Buffalo river its only an easy three mile hike from my house.

Cheers mates
Jamie