Wow, what a week it’s been. This post is going to be more like a personal journal entry, that might simply ramble from topic to topic as so much neat stuff, idiotic stuff, and amazing stuff has happened all in the past week!
And all of that stuff has prevented me from posting recently. Which to start with… which is most interesting to you.. what will keep you reading…
Let’s get the crappy stuff out of the way first. My crazy landlord has a thing or two coming to them, and I think they are realizing that. I think that they are realizing that just because I live in a small town, it don’t mean I’m stupid and always easily intimidated. I’ll have much more on this when things get straightened out – and as much as I’d like to tell you more, I’ve take Balbulican’s advice, and agree that I should be somewhat quiet on the matter until things have been worked out to their completion.
Big city landlords that move up to small towns seem to forget that in these small towns, we still do business on our word and our handshake. Character means something, you know? Oh yes.. a picture is worth a thousand words as well. Ten pictures are worth many thousands of words. I wonder what the landlord’s lawyer will be thinking upon receipt of pictures and evidence that his client has lied to him?
Ok.. next issue. I had an AWESOME Christmas!! How about you? It was one of the best Christmas’ personally speaking, that I’ve had in years. For a number of reasons.
Christmas day itself was quiet, as I spent it with my lovely business partner and our son, 2 1/2 year old David. Instead of turkey, I did my own traditional lamb roast for dinner. Simmered in leeks, rosemary, and garlic. Ahh.. much better than turkey any day!
Two days later, we did the family thing, and my ex-wife (who is not really divorced from me at all) came down and brought my other three boys, and we did a big Scott family thing at my brother’s place on the 27th. Then, I had two of my older sons staying with me for a few days, before my lovely ex-wife needed to drive back home to Ottawa.
I was supposed to join my lovely ex-wife for New Years eve, but my landlord came up with some issues that I had to deal with, and in the end, he certainly paid for the fact that his actions motivated me to deal with him as I felt the necessity to do so, and therefore was unable to spend my New Year’s Eve in the manner I chose. I believe that this will be a decision that will have repercussions for my landlord for years to come.
But it was not all bad, for my wonderful business partner gave me a very special gift. When I was younger, I began to take bagpipe lessons, but when I was ten, I was forced to give it up as rheumatism and a few other conditions took over and made it impossible for me to continue.
I’ve always had it in the back of my mind though, to learn the bagpipes, and low and behold was an awesome gift from my business partner under the tree – a blackwood practice chanter that she had purchased and imported from Scotland. A beautiful piece of work, and for a practice chanter, a lovely sound as well.
And sheesh.. wouldn’t you know it, but this little 2 1/2 year old of mine was also impressed with this lovely musical instrument. So I decided to introduce David to pipes and drums, as well as the Scottish Tenor, Kenneth McKellar.
I truly believe it must be in his genes. He has taken to the sounds of the pipes and drums, and loves it. Tonight, he and I sang Amazing Grace as well as Scotland The Brave while listening to various pipe band renditions of those arrangements. In fact, do you know that David even fell asleep while listening to Scotland The Brave? It was like a lullabye to him. His mouth slowly trying to make the sounds of the words come out as he hugged me and listened.
I can’t wait to get him a kilt.
Do you know that there are (or perhaps this is an old statistic) more pipe and drum bands per capita in Northern Ireland than there are in Scotland? An interesing statistic. What is even more interesting is how my wee son took to the sounds of those pipes and drums, after spending much of his life listening to The Wiggles.
Anyhow, it seems David loves the pipes and drums, and now I must practice my notes on my channter, and get us both kilts. David seems to also like drumming, as does my eldest son. There might be an interesting future here, even if I can’t sing Amazing Grace in key with off key bagpipes.
David sure likes trying to sing the words of Scotland The Brave though.
I am also moving my business to another location here in town over the next month. As a result of this gift of a practice chanter, mixed with David’s desire to listen to bagpipe music, and my need for a lot of time in spending on upgrading the new location before I move there, I am sure blogging will be very light for a while.
Perhaps when I have more time, I’ll have a video or a recording of me and David singing some wonderful tunes together, along with some pipes and drums. If that doesn’t scare you off, then you’re a much better person than the German Kaiser of the first world war, who called my ancestors, “Ladies From Hell.”
Nicely for me, real ladies seem to think it’s kinda cute or something, when David and I sing together… the attention is very nice 🙂
Happy New Year to everyone, and I’ll have more on my new musical hobby as soon as my landlord gets put in their place too. It’s quite an interesting story, which I’m looking forward to publishing when I can.
In the meantime, “Scot’s Wha Hae.” And mixed in with a bit of Ulster “No Surrender,” I’m sure I’ll be reporting back to you that all’s well in Ianism land soon. And getting better… not just on to victory, but a sound and total achievement for honesty, handshakes, and freedom.
One mind at a time. One step at a time. Liberty vs. tyrants.
Wha’ will be a traitor knave?
Wha’ can fill a coward’s grave?
Wha’ sae base as be a slave?
Traitors coward, turn, and flee!
Wha’ for Scotland’s King and Law
Freedom’s sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand or freeman fa’,
Caledonian, on wi’ me!
By Oppression’s woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain our dearest veins
But they shall be—shall be free!
Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fa’ in every foe!
Liberty’s in every blow!
Forward! Let us do, or dee!
Ah yes.. Liberty is in every blow.. forward, let us do, or die.
My ancestors were libertarians as well, it seems. And with great thinkers like David Hume, John Knox, Adam Smith, Alexander Fleming, Sir Alexander Graham Bell, Sir Walter Scott, Andrew Carnegie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and so many more, I guess my wee son, as well as my other sons, are all in good company.
Let us do or dee..
Just about the same as, “Give me liberty or give me death,” huh?
Maybe it IS in the genes.