and of my 13 posts, several were made by my brother Turpin when he was visiting our mother this summer (she was fascinated by the site and so I used my login to create a shortcut for her - one day she told me her rear end was aching terribly - I asked if she had called her doctor - she said, no, she'd just spent six hours sitting at her computer reading XMarks).

So, I finally bit the bullet and ordered my first kilt, a 13oz wool Black Watch from SWK. I've read the boards about their great service, but was still shocked to find that they'd shipped it fifteen minutes after I ordered. My head was spinning, but I know that the jones I've been building towards for almost six months will be assuaged quickly.

I also ordered a belt, buckle and sporran strap from Steve at Oconee. That jones will take a little longer to assuage, but the great craftsmanship should be worth the wait.

I don't really have any choice about the sporran. Turpin would disown me if I get anything but a Thorfinn - at least for my first one. Maybe he'll give me a family discount.

As to my screen name - my name is Mark - my son started calling me Markus Farkus (this was in the early 90's, so this was a lot better than Marky Mark) - thus Mkfarkus. These days he usually shortens it to Farkus.