Lately
 Well, if <a href="http://www.rjproduct.ca/2006/05/letting-their-mice-run-free.php">RJ's going to whine</a>, I might as well scribble something not too esoteric for the other 99% of the population.  RJ thinks it's the lovely weather keeping all of us away from the 'New Post' button, but around here that only lasted for four days last week and we're back into <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hpatey/141472630/">damp cold fog</a>.  It was nice while it lasted, though. I got out on the bike twice, once around the harbour to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/hpatey/138585925/">Fort Amherst</a> and once on my old commute out to Topsail Road/Park Avenue and back.  And then I spent two evenings on the hard pews at the Anglican Cathedral <a href="http://www.pateys.nf.ca/weblog/music/cbc_choral_competition.html">listening to choirs on the radio</a>!  Fortunately I wasn't under the scrutiny of anyone charged with castigating occasional squirmers.  What else?  Mom and Dad are back in the province from their annual snowbird expedition, so we spent a Sunday afternoon with them and the Taylors-Hood, eating pizza and catching up.  I shoveled out our bedroom after being inspired by the job I did on Jean's while she was a Brownie camp; gave a bunch of outgrown clothes to Katherine T-H and boxed more stuff for the church garage sale, although they didn't get there, hope they will next week because now we can't move around at all!   I went to the singalong Messiah on Friday (a post in itself), Suzuki classes on Saturday, regular work... got a proper shoulder rest for Jean ... wrote an (I hope) awesomely well-done French test on Friday.  Coming up is the <a href="http://www.sjfac.nf.net/workshops/ventdunorddance.html">Dance Workshop with Le Vent du Nord</a> on Wednesday - should be excellent! - and practicing violin for performances by the Suzuki Parents' class on June 3 and the reading ensemble on May 28th.  No plans for the May 24th weekend, since I'm not fond of shivering under canvas when it's guaranteed to be unhospitable weather for doing so.  Not terribly attached to the fishing experience, so the rest of you silly people can go freeze - I'll stay put in my heated domicile and venture out on the one of the days off if it happens to be not wintery, not a sure thing by any means.</p>
 <p>
 Hope this does the trick, RJ.  I'm working on the aforementioned Messiah post, drawing up a review for <a href="http://www.thebirthhouse.com">The Birth House</a> that will try to not gross out or alienate anyone less familiar with natural childbirth than I, and may have something on the go with Rattling Books.  Stay tuned.</p>