As I was walking back from my class this evening, someone saw me in my kilt. This was the conversation we had:

Him: Do you speak English?
Me: Yeah.
Him: Where are you from?
Me: Here.
Him: Here? [pause] Is that a kilt?
Me: Yeah.

He then laughed, gave me a thumbs up and I continued walking.

A week or two ago, I bought a new Utilikilt. I decided I would take a risk and by the Spartan model. This is a... a hem... specialty model, designed to be ultralight weight and breathable- particularly good for working out. From what people described it, it was basically the most comfortable thing they wore. I like comfort. Sure, it's not... the best looking thing- but it's comfortable!

I ended up with a red Spartan. I had the choices of red or purple when I ordered. If I wanted one of the more "bearable" colors (black, green, or blue), I would have had to order a medium. Because the waist on the Spartan is elastic, I figure it was better to order smaller than larger- as it would stretch. Oh- the good news about the red Spartan is that they happen to be my university's colors (or close enough)- crimson and white.



(Oh- and yes, it is very comfortable. I even like the big pocket they give. That surprised me. I was thinking I would have two side pockets, much like pants do... but instead, they make one big pocket that connects. It took a little adjustment, but I like it. It does make it a bit more comfortable to wear than the tan Utilikilt I have with the side pockets)

It happened again. (Note: Read my previous entry from tonight).



The first time, it happened between 9 pm (when I went to bed) and midnight (when I was woken up). This second time happened between midnight and 2 am. I was somewhat bothered by the first one- enough to keep me up thinking. This second one is seriously disturbing. It's a personal attack against me.

I went to bed at roughly 9 tonight. I woke up just before midnight when my roommate (drunkenly) came in, turned the lights on, rolled up a joint, and talked on the phone (not quietly, either). After he left, he and his friends talked outside the room a few minutes- again, not quietly. Finally, they left. I decide to go to the bathroom (community bathroom).

I found this on my door:



( My opinion )

Ah, writing that felt good. At first I didn't care that someone wrote that, but after thinking about it, I started to get a bit angry. I like venting with long ranty opinions.

Edit: I just realized I misspelled "mispelling"

Edit2: I'm adding all my comments to this post, under the cut.

I went to Target this morning to meet my mom. I forgot some things at the house, so she agreed to bring them to the store before she went shopping. I pulled up, got out of my truck. She handed me the papers and then stated she wouldn't be going shopping because I was wearing my Utilikilt. It would make her "too uncomfortable." I tried to say that I would leave so she could go shopping- or that we could walk in seperately, but she just didn't want to listen. She left and I went into Target.

No one said anything about my kilt. No one looked at me funny. I was just a normal customer, wearing a kilt. I've been wearing my Utilikilt most every day for the past few weeks, since I got it. I have not had any trouble. I've had one person ask me why I was wearing a skirt. I've also had one person say it made her day to see I was wearing a kilt, and another woman told me "All men should be wearing those." I've also had a few whistles. Yes, some people call it a skirt. A kilt technically is a type of skirt. It doesn't bother me. I just go along with it. I even join in the jokes. It's all fine with me- at least I'm comfortable.

Funny thing- my neighbor came over to see if I had an envelope (yeah, odd thing on a Friday night). After I said I didn't have one, he suddenly made an outstanding observation: "You're wearing a kilt." I explained to him about Utilikilts. He said he might have to go and buy one.

This weekend, I bought a new computer from Dell. It's not a bad system- not the fastest, but decent. It's a 2.8 GHz Pentium dual-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, 160 GB hard drive (that might change to 250), tv tuner, 19" monitor, 5.1 speakers with subwoofer, etc.

I'm also in the market for a new kilt I think. I'm leaning towards a Utilikilt, which is basically a modernized version of the kilt. They're plain color (most of them, anyway) and include pockets. There are three models I'm looking into at least somewhat: Original, Spartan, and Survival. It's poll time. Feel free to vote for more than one choice.

Poll #813523 Utilikilts
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 5

Which Utilikilt Should I get?

Is there any kilt you absolutely don't like?

I was checking out the new Utilikilts page (they recently revamped it because they had problems with the old one... plus, it looked bad). Not only was I pleased with the layout (especially since the last layout they used had three colums... very confusing), I also discovered the Spartan model kilt, designed for atlhetic wear. It's also the cheapest they have. It's tempting to either get that or the original model.

I know I should be saving up for the future, but kilts are just so comfortable. Another drawback is that wearing kilts isn't necessarily appropriate for every occasion. Depending on my job (or further schooling, if I choose), I may not be able to wear the kilt because of dress codes.

Plus, I just read this post, where men seem to have problems with women (or other men) reaching up into the kilt. Of course, if someone did that to a woman wearing a skirt, they'd be put in jail probably- or some other legal action... but people just don't seem to realize what a problem it is (and how illegal it is) to do it for a guy wearing a kilt. Just because a guy wears a kilt does not mean it's an invitation. Kilts are just very comfortable (that's practically my slogan). Hmm... I should make a kilt icon.

I wore my kilt Thursday to school. I got a lot of good comments, and also a lot of repeating questions. I also posted this in my MySpace blog. Enjoy!

( Kilt FAQ )

Edit: Added question "0" on Feb. 18, 2006.

I can't believe I forgot to post this. Here is a picture of me in my second kilt and my Civilization 3 shirt (what? Civ 3? Yeah--- when it came out, I was very excited and made a shirt. I was too lazy/forgot for Civ 4).

I found out this evening that today was Kilt Day (according to KiltDay.com Good thing I wore my kilt to school, then. They recommend wearing a kilt for these days as wells:

-March 17 (St. Patrick's Day)
-April 6 (National Tartan Day)
-November 30 (Saint Andrew's Day)

They also promote No Pants Day (the first Friday in May)--- even though kilts aren't really accepted on No Pants Day (no pants or pants substitutes. It's supposed to be a day to show off your undearwear [Yes, you have to wear underwear on No Pants Day!]).

Today, while I was looking online for kilt stuff, I also found lined kilts from Pittsburgh Kilts. It looks like it might be a good investment if I head back up to Alaska again.

This is not a warning. NMSU has gone plaid. I wore my kilt to school today. I wanted to last weekend, when I got my new kilt... but decided not to. Today, I decided to. Sadly, it's a rainy day. Usually, I like rainy days. It's a bit windy though... well, gusty. There are gusts that will blow through every now and then.

I think a few people have given me second looks- just to make sure they really are seeing a guy in a "skirt." Otherwise, no one's said anything. One person mentioned it- someone who's in a few classes with me and has become a good acquintance/friend. He just said, "You wore the kilt today?" (but in a good way)

The only bad thing, as stated above, is the whole wind thing. I don't have a sporran... and I forgot my kilt pin. I've been using my backpack to help hold down the kilt in the back (hopefully) and my jacket helps weigh it down in the front (with help of my hands). The wind isn't very strong, though.

So... horay for me. I'm wearing a kilt at school! In just a few minutes, I'm going to eat lunch at DG's... in a kilt. Hopefully I can get from here (the library) to there through a tunnel that's magically protected from the wind, even as little as it is at the moment.

Isn't it weird that most people don't usually stop to think about life until the very end, when it's (almost) too late? It seems very easy to get wrapped up in things to forgot about the most important things in life. Is what you're doing right now the last thing you'd want to be doing? Have you said what you've wanted to say someone? Have you achieved what you wanted in order to be satisfied that you lived a "good" (and fulfilling life)?

I've been thinking of these things lately... no real reason (do I ever have a reason for doing things?), but I like thinking about things like this. I'd like to think I have no regrets. That doesn't mean I don't make mistakes, but I'd like to go away from a situation thinking I've done all I can do. That's my goal anyway. I'm working on it. Amazingly enough, I think my kilt's to blame for this change of "attitude." Wearing a kilt is comfortable. To wear it all the time might mean defying tradition of wearing pants. It might mean having to deal with people. Did I mention that it's comfortable to wear a kilt, though? In order to do that, I have to learn humility. Humility is one of the most difficult things to learn- it's usually not so fun if we're picked on or laughed at. It happens, though. Over the past few years, I've been trying to relax myself into accepting things as they are. Usually people only pick on those who react, anyway. If I don't react, or react the way they want, they get bored.

Oh, right. Sidetracked. Point of this post: life could come to an end at any given moment. Sure, there are probabilities involved- so you probably won't get hit by a car walking across the street, but that probability is only a chance- an estimate of what might happen. It is not certainty. Why not try to make the most of your time, as best you can, while living your life? That's not to say stop whatever you're doing and just go nuts (although that would be fun). Responsibility (sadly) is apart of life as well... err.. in a way. I guess no one really needs to take that 48-hour shift job at the Kwik-E-Mart... but it is something that society has created. It's still out there, though. Post getting too long and now I'm getting confused in my own thoughts (which is a good thing! Thoughts should be confusing).

My new (second) kilt arrived today in the mail. I put it on. Quite comfortable. I bought it primarily to act as a "casual" kilt, or at least a lightweight kilt. This one is made from cotton. My other kilt is made of some poly blend- a bit heavier. Anyway... back to my story. I had my kilt on. My mom happened to be giving me money to pick up some food for us from Subway tonight. When I walked out into the living room, she saw I had my kilt on. This is the approximate scene:

Mom: Oh my god. You're going to wear that?
Me: Yeah, why not?
Mom: Y'know, I'm not even all that hungry. I'll go.
Me: It's fine. I'll go [grabbing the money as I say this].
Mom: There's a right time and wrong time to wear a kilt... and this is the wrong time.
Me: Then when is the right time?
Mom: I don't know, but this isn't it.
Me: So, can I take your car?
Mom: I was going to offer it to you, but I don't want you to take it now in case there's a chase or an accident.
Me: I'll be fine [taking the keys and leaving]

I drove (in my mother's car) to Subway. No one even commented. I'm sure a few people looked. I didn't really notice. When I got home, a neighbor drove by and I think I saw him give me a look, as if he was thinking, "What the [explitive]?"

"There is no Angus McCleud in North Kilt Town!" -Homer, talking to Willie, in "The Simpsons"

Last night, I wore my kilt out in public for the first time. This week is band camp for the Pride marching band at NMSU. While everyone works hard during the day, the kegs come out at night. The part I went to was a sectional party. I'm not in band this year (it takes a lot of time), but one of my friends is still in the section.

It went rather well. No one gave me any trouble (as my mom feared). Probably the most interesting reaction was from my former section leader, as I walked into the room. He looked over and yelled out, "Oh, s---!" (something like that). The other reactions I got were much calmer.

Before I went to the party, I was over at a friend's house. That encouraged me greatly. He was with two other people, working on some beats. They all seemed to like it, even going so far as to say that it takes balls to wear a kilt to a party.

Hmm... and I think I was only asked what was under the kilt two (or three) times. It wasn't that bad. I was able to just sit back in the corner and avoid actual interaction- just observation.

Edit: I titled this post the way I did because at the party a few people sang a ~30 minute freestyle blues.

Today was my 21st birthday. It started off like a day of errands- I went to the bank, the optometrist, K-Mart. I almost went to see The Fantastic Four, after doing the errands, I was getting hungry and didn't want to sit through a movie for two hours without lunch. Luckily, my mom gave me money for lunch to try out a new hamburger place nearby.

Nothing exciting. I spent the mid-afternoon watching episodes of Wonderfalls and drinking a tequila sunrise. My first alcoholic beverage (while legal in the US) while watching Wonderfalls.

For dinner, my mom made lasagna. For dessert, lemon cake with strawberry frosting and mint chocolate chip ice cream. Then I got to open my presents (goodie!):

Kilt (I was wearing this... I actually got it in late May/early June as an early gift)

Stargate (the movie)

Farscape: The Starburst Edition (vol. 1)

Battlestar Galactica (1978 film)

Edit: I forgot:

Fanny-pack (aka really cheap sporran) to hold my wallet and keys when I'm wearing a kilt

( Continued... )

( Edit: Pictures! )

So... I got a kilt.



( Beware the plaid! )