Sin Auld Lang Syne

I was researching today, in a very modern and lazy manner, the meaning of Auld Lang Syne. I've always been interested by the song,  as I identify fairly strongly with my Scottish roots (M. Mac Tavish was my great-grandmother) and always want to learn more about it. When I was in Edinburgh a while back (incidentally one of my favourite cities to be in), I purchased swatches of my clan tartan to have shipped back to Canada after I returned. I'm quite proud that I'm the one of my family to return to Scotland after Great-Grandma left, decades ago. 

Anyway, Auld Lang Syne. It's really a beautiful poem—I've discovered I seem to quite like Robbie Burns. Here's a (Wikipedia-sourced) copy of the lyrics, and translated into modern English, too. (It tends to make sense if you sort of mouth it along in a Scots accent, but the translation is helpful for clarification.)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind ?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne* ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo,

for auld lang syne,

we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !

and surely I’ll be mine !

And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,

and pu’d the gowans fine ;

But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,

sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,

frae morning sun till dine ;

But seas between us braid hae roar’d

sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !

and gie's a hand o’ thine !

And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind ?

Should old acquaintance be forgot,

and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !

and surely I’ll buy mine !

And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,

and picked the daisies fine ;

But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,

from morning sun till dine^† ;

But seas between us broad have roared

since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !

And give us a hand o’ thine !

And we’ll take a right good-will draught,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

I think it's lovely. I definitely would like to get in the tradition of singing it, and the customary circle as well. 

 

Cramming

So, a month. All too often I seem to be doing the 'it's been too long' speech…so I'll leave off it this time. I do feel like a general update is in order, though.

I recently switched to veganism, after nearly two years of vegetarianism. I found it was no longer ethically enough to soothe my conscience. Research into it—how chickens are the worst treated animals on the planet, for instance. Or how 'they' get that dairy cow to produce your 2%. Or what the fashion industry does to foxes for the one piece that is desired for a finished product.

It's sickening. Compassion and empathy over profit and greed, any day.

What else? My family is moving, so while I have my semi-permanent home on my university campus, they'll be hauling all of their things hours northwest of here to settle in a tiny town of four hundred people (that jumps up to nine hundred in the summer).

Wow. Crazy, yes?

I've fallen in love with the uni lifestyle—definitely something I'm glad I did. I'm currently on a break, and (shh!! Don't tell my folks!) visiting my hometown. I'll swing by my old place on Sunday, surprise them all.

Speaking of surprises, yesterday I had a delivery made to my Mommy (the librarian I used to work for, and who I've adopted…) that was me, with a bow stuck to my face, carrying a pen. She was surprised, and we spent about four hours or so together, going out for supper, looking at photos, and talking, talking, talking! (Turns out local pizza is way better than chain! So much flavour!)

A friend of mine put me up last night…at his grandmother's. I know, ridiculous, right? We had to get out of town by 0730h to be on time for his 0830h class, and I had set my alarm for 0630h. It didn't got…. His grandmother, lovely woman, came down at about 0705h, asking if I was going in with N today, and if so, I better get up!

Needless to say, I rushed through my toilette, and was ready and waiting by 0730h. (He was a few minutes behind.)

Now I'm sitting in the café in his (used to be mine, too!) college, waiting for the Winners to open so I can spend the gift card that I can't at home, and then go to Fabricland for the same reason. A crazy day ahead of me, that's for sure!

Confusion

I've been AWOL again, but I have a pretty good reason that's actually so private and far reaching that I'm not comfortable even attempting to censure and post it. For those of you that care—I think I've got a solution on the horizon. Maybe. Wishful thinking…?

Anyway, I visited Vernon last week, got to ride my great-uncle's boat (awesome!). My favourite one was actually the night before we left, we got to go out late and go around in the twilight. The half light…I sat at the very tip of the bow, so if you closed your eyes or only looked down, you couldn't see the boat and could almost forget about it. It was absolutely breathtaking.

I think I've made an unfortunate discovery—apparently I'm more vindictive than I thought I was. I'm not okay with that, so it's something I need to work on.

I have to go now, I have a fashion show tonight and tomorrow that I get to partake in. Looking forward to it!!

To Do For France

It is literally a week until I leave for France. I leave at 0540, Friday the twenty-ninth of June. Holy freaking cats, that's soon. Here's what I have to do before:

• Contact my exchange family
• Clean my room
• Find space for my partner
• Gut my closets and wardrobe(s)
• Be ruthless
• Take undesirables to Thrift Store
• Purchase and load MP3 player with Zumba songs to choreograph
• Scholarship/Awards/Transcript/Residence forms filled out and mailed.
• WRITE MATH DIPLOMA
• 'Bonding Time' with my mother
• Grocery shop for the needed snacks 
• Rehearse my (trite) French phrases
• Make bed ready for return
• FINISH SCHOOL PROJECTS
• Two FAS (Fashion) modules
• One Art piece
• SLEEP
• Transition to Parision time
• Apron for my 'Mommy'

Well? Any strategies…?!

Janome 2160 QDC

Today, I bought my second sewing machine…but the first modern one. It's a Janome 2160  QDC, and it's pretty cool…! Lots of settings that I'm looking forward to playing with, and it'll make my clothes-fixing work easier—lots of different buttonhole settings, zigzags, straight stitches, decorative…so much variety!

I'm really looking forward to working with it. My first project will be over the next few days, I'll bring it into the lab and make my Mommy's apron she asked for. Yay!!

Blessings

I get to do so much tomorrow…OSEF meeting, watch my brother's football game, check my sewing machine (and maybe purchase it?), watch a movie with friends….

I am damn blessed.

Frantic

It's been a while. Let's see, what have I been up to. I went for a hike Sunday, mucked up my knee somewhere between there and Monday, it's still killing me. I need it to be okay for Friday—that's my Grad! Eek! I had a grad test-run for my hair, and it should only take half an hour to forty-five minutes. I'm very pleased with that! 

What else…hmm. My psychology class ended today, but I have to do huge amounts of work to get the final project done by Friday. I'm worried, there's some things I don't understand within the reading of the surveys.

Also, I have to get stuff (how technical!) ready for Grad: cap and gown deposit, hemmed dress, giving up on Sears' late delivery of the shoes I won't be wearing, finalized decals. Plus get my house ready for my family to arrive on Thursday. 

Gah, this is a busy week, it seems like everything has been piled on all at once!

Catch-Up

No post last night—I went to the school dance. For the first one in over ten years that they've held, it was pretty awesome! A few people showed up drunk, but it didn't get shut down, so all's well that ends well.

Today I went on Roadside Clean-Up, talked with my Mommy (long story short, dear friend I used to work for), and picked about one-and-a-half bags of garbage between the two of us. It was actually a relatively clean stretch that we got! It was all a fundraiser for the library, apparently to put in a new book security system, so I was pleased. We did about 11 kilometres, at $100/km.

I've booked grad photos for tomorrow, 1230h, so I might end up joining the masses and purchasing a corny, formal and staged version of myself. (I secretly love formal photos, though, so yippee!)

Sentimental

My brother was being a total sweetheart today—when his class went on a trip to the local farmers' market…he let me have some of his black jelly beans (the only ones I eat; he happens to love them, too) and a make-up sample from Avon, I think. It's completely not my colour—I wear red lipstick or no lipstick—I was so touched….

I'm going to miss him.

Aloha

I'm so very tired tonight…my last night in Hawaii. What a trip! I've gotten lost in the US, I've been to so many touristy places (Byodo-In Temple, Iolani Palace, Polynesian Cultural Centre, Waikiki, Maui Divers Jewellery, Kualoa Ranch (twice!), Pele's Chair, Waimea Valley, and I'm sure there's more I can't remember).

I've done the luau, the hula show(s), the SUP, the surfing.
I've done beach, rock, walking through forest.
I've swam through currents, waves, ocean, river, waterfall, jacuzzi.
I've walked over roads, sand, grass, dirt, wood-chips, rocks.
I've been sunburned horridly, gotten better, worse again.
I've driven on country road, city road, freeway.
I've bought food, jewellery (custom!), hats.
I've been woken by rooster, rain, chirping, mother.

I've had an amazing time.

Pack, Tidy, Eat

Another day of now knowing what to write. Hmm. I'm finalizing my stuff for Hawaii, as I leave Wednesday night, but it's not real yet. I still have things to throw in my bag, and a carry-on to pack and load into the vehicle. Then I have to tidy this my room, where a friend of mine, who will play house-sitter, will be staying. Other than that…make the bed, tomorrow I'll sleep on the couch so the sheets are fresh for her (read: freezing with not-ever enough blankets).

Anything else? Oh, yeah, I tried a new sandwich today for lupper, it was soooo good! Soft  Laughing Cow  cheese, finely sliced English cucumbers, and Indian na'an bread. Yum! I saw a friend put it together at our mutual Zumba® training, and decided to try it, because I know I love all the ingredients. It was so good! I have enough to make it for the rest of the week that I;m in town, so I din;t have to eat the meat-lunches that work serves. (Ick.)

Friendly Family

I have a bit of a guest recipe tonight—I conned my sister into eating supper, with the bribe that I'd feature her here, and put a link to her deviantArt.
Here is the cut-and-paste version of what she said: "scrambled eggs (obviosly) it has:4 eggs,a teaspoon of chopped ginger,1 red bell pepper,! slice of gouda cheese&franks hot sauce         i really felt like spicy food tonight lol XD"

For those of you who, like me, have difficulty reading that, I'll work at translating.

4 eggs
1 tsp chopped fresh ginger
1 red bell pepper (seeded)
1 slice gouda
hot sauce to taste

Scramble all ingredients together in a pan, cook through. Serve. She says it serves 1-2, depending on hunger!

Sexy Psych…?

So, my first college class started today (whoopee!), and it was great. So much knowledge! We discusses how sex was(n't) the same thing as love, and how the DSM does or does not define homosexuality (it's not a mental disorder anymore!), and how different socio-economic groups rate differently on standardized intelligence tests.

I'm sooooo loving this!

Also, I got to go to a first-response training type meeting, and I'm sure that will that, I'll brush up on my terminology and treatments. Very cool!

A rather odd thing my mother said when I came in from class: "So, any cuties in your class?"
Mother dearest…that is not at all why I'm going. No…simply no.

So, between those and the poor sleep I got last night, I am so tired…bed, blankets, pillows…here I come!

Parenthood

Today, I've been pondering parenthood. Or more specifically, styles of parenthood. I've seen parents who have so many different attitudes towards their kids and other kids…it puzzles me.

Due to confidentiality issues, I can't disclose what truly made me wonder today—but they were two different attitudes and behaviour sets that didn't strike right to me.
I don't know yet if I will be a parent, and if so, what kind of parent I will be. I'd like to think I'd be 'good,' though good is so intensely subjective. I'd like to be accepting, understanding, lenient and firm, politically correct and always using my head.

I'd like to never get angry, never be loud, never dole out unjust punishments.

I'd like to teach my child(ren) to be mature, responsible and kind people. I want to instill love, rarely embarrass, and have them always know I'm in it for them.

I never want my children to question my love for them, my dedication to them, and my endurance for them.

I want to always know my children are taken care of, and never need something I can't provide. I want to give all of my self, but have enough to give more.


I realize this is hardly rational, hardly practical, hardly feasible.

Yet, I still want it. Do all future parents feel this way? Does everyone have an ideal relationship in mind, and strive to reach it? Does my craving for perfection outweigh my ability to guide?

Could I ever succeed? Could you? Will you? Did you?

Flatlined

I am utterly exhausted today. It's been a trying day at the house, as anything holiday-related always is. Today we finally took down the decorations from their celebration. I don't celebrate, but I can't denounce it completely while I live with them. I'm so ready to leave this place today.

Sister Of Mine

I've been thinking of my sister a lot today. Thinking of us through our (albeit short) lives so far.

When she was born, I was a stubborn little kid who firmly believed (don't laugh!) that sisters could only ever have little brothers. So, my new baby sibling had to be a brother. You can imagine my dismay when I saw for myself she was a…well…she. (In her honour, though, by the time my brother came around, I wanted another sister sooo badly, and I was convinced that the opposite of what you wanted came true, so I professed to wanting a brother. And I got…a brother.)

We (my sister and I) fought all the time when we were (younger) kids. I remember a few games we played, though…the most memorable being spin-offs of her favourite movie, Land Before Time blahdeblah (I still hate those!) and our favourite TV show that we both could stand—Jungle Run. Man, I miss that show…!

I remember some of the really good times, for me anyway. Like when I took a school project that was due, and turned it into a story for my sister. It was a dino story (stupid movie influence…!) about the first snow ever. For a nine-year-old's writing, it was pretty decent. And then there were photos of the 'snow' happening…I wonder if we still have it somewhere.

Our, or rather, her early years at school were difficult for us. We fought more than not, and she caught on pretty quick to my 'race you to school so we're there sooner' tactics. (I was sooooo smart!)

Her friends, too—I've rarely liked any of them. That's a whole barrel of oil I'm not opening now! I finally like one of the few she's got now. I didn't like her five years ago, but she's grown into her own, and I really like her. She's good for 'my girl.' And I even have them both on Skype (which makes me feel like an ancient relic!)

Need-To-Know Basis

So I haven't written anything in ages—I've been 'busy.' Watching Bones. So far I'm done up to Season Four, Episode Ten. One and a half seasons left until I'm done all that Netflix has to offer! I have to say, I love this show. Zack Addy is one of my favourites, and so is Brennan, of course. I love her wardrobe…! Plus the music on the show is fantastically perfect for me. So, I'm using my baby blanket as an excuse to sit in front of the computer for hours, 'embroidering' and watching TV.

The real reason I got spurred to write today, though…slightly odder.

I'm the sort of person that always has to know. Tell me to do something, first thing I'll ask is 'Why?' It's not me being offensive, or insubordinate (mostly!), I simply need to know. I don't trust  without proof, I suppose.

So, more to the point of the story—I received a Secret Santa this year for the holiday I don't celebrate. (Atheist!) It was apparently put into the backyard, by the back door. So, it's someone that knows me, where I live…and was present for or around a certain conversation I had about a month ago.

During my November Book Club, I talked with someone about our local holiday festival, and what she had purchased for the silent auction to bid on. It was a 2012 Holiday Barbie, and I mentioned that (despite how much I disagree with Barbie now that I can actually look at evidence) I had always wanted one, with the pretty dress and fancy presentation.

So, today I unwrapped the mystery gift…and it was a 2012 Holiday Barbie, with these tags.

To Mahara from Santa.

Dear Mahara—Santa says "once in a lifetime" —Wishing you a wonderful Christmas—Santa

The thing is, I don't recognize the writing. I thought it might be my 'Mom,' but it's not hers. And it's not my mother's writing, either. Not her ex's, not the kids', not anyone I know. 

The weird thing? The signature on the small tag is almost exactly like the ones I remember from the 'Santa' letters that used to be left at our house after 'he' visited. So…I don't know. The writing doesn't look forced to me, like someone's trying to mask their patterns. It looks genuine.

One thing is for sure, it's genuinely confusing!

What's the most surprising, and pleasant, gift you've received? How did you react?

Deck The STRESS With Boughs Of HEAD-DESK!

Today, the only thing that's really sticking out for me is how much I hate this time of year. Rather, I hate the stress that permeates it. The whole 'feel good, peace love and joy' stuff is great, but throw on some 'I've got to find gifts!' to some 'When does this need to be shipped by—yesterday?!' and a dash of 'Now I have to have "family time!"' and it sucks.

I honestly can say that my favourite part of the season is after the big holiday (that I don't even celebrate!) and before New Year's Eve. I can do New Year's, though usually with a very dear friend/cousin/sister/mind-mate of mine. (Unfortunately, seeing as neither of us are going to visit family down South, we won't get to have our holiday together, second year in a row!)

Other than New Year's, I'm really not into this whole holiday stuff. I shudder to think of how I'd incorporate that into child raising, should that be an option. Dear heavens, my child would be messed in the head!

What about you—what do, or don't, you celebrate? Why? How does your family act around that …occasion…?

Well, I Could Have Told You That!

I saw this as one of the similar quizes…I had to take it, if only for a laugh. Oh dear.

Your Family Is 92% Dysfunctional

Your family is more than a little nuts. And you definitely should think about moving on. This doesn't mean you need to completely cut your family out of your life... But it does mean you need to create a healthy support system of your own. One that doesn't involve your family. Even if you've already made a clean break from your past, it still may be haunting you. Checking in with a therapist from time to time is probably a good idea.

Is Your Family Dysfunctional?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes and 3 Stupid Ones

Really. I'm so surprised.