I had the pleasure of reading this greeting from our own Todd to our gathering

To the lads and lassies of the NorCal Rabble of XmarkstheScot, c/o Panache/Jamie:

As Burns himself said:

Here's a bottle and an honest friend!
What wad ye wish for mair, man?

And tonight, whilst you are preparing celebrate the Bard in California, I will be raising a wee dram to you, my “honest friends” in the Crystal Dining Room of the historic Crescent Hotel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Some of you may even be familiar with the Crescent due to its “ghoulies and ghosties” that reportedly walk its halls – Though I would imagine the majority of spirits I see this evening will be on the shelf behind the bar!

I have no doubt, after viewing the pictures and the movie of Jamie’s stirring rendition of the Address to a Haggis that Rabbie would highly approve of your Burns Night – save the pink kilt, of course!

Again, I wish you all the best in your endeavours to honour the ploughman-poet of Scotland this night – or as our Australian friends would say, “good on ya!”

Lang may yer lum reek (chimney smoke) – wi’ other people’s coal!

Yours aye,

Todd

Xmarks Mod Squad & Burnsian
"Have Haggis, will travel -- Wire cajunscot, Springfield"