Hola, Internet

It has been a busy, busy month. My project for Environment finished up with what I think was a fairly well-received presentation, covering my many hours of research. On the whole, good times.

There was a little time, also, for fun. Jamie threw a solstice party (only one day late!), which was very entertaining. I have been for some good runs with Katie, both around the neighbourhood and through the river valley. The family attended kd lang's concert, and we were all very impressed by her voice and the absolute ease she has onstage - she just looks so happy to be there that you can't help but be happy as well.

I also climbed Grizzly Peak in Kananaskis with Mike, Keith, and our high school classmate Jenna. Some big-horned sheep stared at us in a vaguely threatening manner. The climb was pretty exhausting, but it was very gratifying to make it to the top and peer over the cliff back down to our car parked on the lonely shoulder of Highway 40. The views of the Kananaskis Lakes were unclouded and the temperature was just right for hauling yourself up a mid-sized mountain. A shortcut on the way down led us into a fairly challenging jumble of scree and rock outcrops, but we scrambled down in good order. The next day I was just about as sore as I had been the day after the Calgary half-marathon three years ago, but it was absolutely worth it on both occasions.

The other highlight of the trip was Boopsie's graduation. She is a Yunk Ladee now and looked beautiful with her blonde curls and her pale blue cocktail dress. I also applaud her for having chosen a grad dress that she can actually, like, wear to other stuff later in life. This is in contrast to my own choice of a floor-length lavender gown slashed on one side to reveal a white underlay. Anyway, the ceremony was expedient yet entertaining, and the banquet had an Under The Sea theme that turned out to be pretty cool.

This week I am doing a few things: back to work for the gummint, back to school, and Becca and Alex's visit. The first has been a bit "aaah!" so far, because people had the temerity to do work during my absence and so now I have a lot of catchup to do. The second has yet to start, but both of my classes that both look pretty cool. The third is pretty awesome. Diane came up for a night, too, and it was great to see her, though she had to go back to Toronto after only a day here. So now it is just we three. After Mass this afternoon we went to the beach out in Ottawa's west end in hopes of evading death by broiling. Of course, this ensured that big old thunderclouds rolled in about an hour after we arrived at the beach, so we went home a little early for lemon-pepper salmon with herbed pasta and a green salad. Currently we are all bumming around with books and computers, thinking of watching Rocky Horror. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday evening. I think I'll get back to it.