Yup, its the 247th anniversary of the birth of Robbie Burns, the Immortal Poet..if it wasn't for him there wouldn't be New Year's, women the world over wouldn't swoon at loooove poetry and the universe would be deprived of the finest cuisine known to humanity... the Haggis..

time for the Emperor of sausages, bashed neeps and tatties and copious amounts of single malt and the gathering of good comradship for a wee drap o' kindness yet...

its party time....

I used to live three blocks from his home in Scotland......

Downhill, I trust, Gunny, so that the Whisky flowed in the right direction...

Been to two regimental Burns' functions so far, an afternoon ' party' and an private do.. Tonight, the Good Padre and I are guesting at an ' exclusive' club for movers and shakers who are fronting a 'first ever' Burns' Supper with all the folderol and fooferah that supposedly entails..As the missus is locally renowned as a Gaelic singer and Harp player [ what else would a padre play? ] she's getting the top treatment as I get to tag along, skulk in the background and scoff down the single malts and enjoy the ceegars with the boys in the backroom while she takes centre stage...

After a week of eating haggis and associated ' appetizers' the kilt is a wee bitty tight and stretching at the seams so I'm thinking its rabbit food and low cal dressing for the next week or so to get back to ' fightin' trim ...

Barkeep, a Diet Whisky...make it a double and hold the carbs...

Sounds like a great time! Wish Yuma had some kind of social activities and such.....what does pass for socialization in Yuma is akin to hugging a cactus.

Introduction from a TAD Marine here in Sierra Vista, AZ (which is no bussling metropolis- what's the opposite of metroplis? Oh yeah, BF Nowhere):

"I came here from Yuma, so I'm REALLY glad to be here. Many people may seem shocked to hear that I'm glad to be HERE. That means you've never been to Yuma."