Updates!

Just a quick note on some previous blog posts.

"Little Buddy" or "Purtle" (for pool/pet turtle) as my siblings named him/her was successfully released into his/her new home in our pond. I had kept Purtle under observation in a small aquarium at home for a few days. The first day Purtle didn't show much activity- probably due to extreme exhaustion from swimming so long in the pool filter. In fact I tried to release Purtle the first day I found him/her but Purtle had other intentions and remained lazily on the bank. Since I was concerned with Purtle's behaviour I took him/her back up to the house and made a nice habitat. Over the next couple days Purtle perked up and exhibited normal turtle behaviour, even munching on some duckweed and strawberries I had placed in the aquarium. I finally released Purtle on a warm sunny day. This time Purtle exhibited normal turtle behaviour and scuttled into the water, seemingly very pleased with the new accommodations.

My Bagpipe chanter finally arrived. I need to find a descent instruction book with some basic songs and such but until then I have been using the internet.I found that there are only nine notes I need to learn. (Not too bad!) However with no sharps or flats and no way of creating dynamics I need to learn complex patterns of grace notes and trills to create a descent sound. (Tough!) Eventually I shall graduate from the practice chanter to a practice goose (think baby bagpipe) to learn proper technique with the bag before adding drones. However for now I am content to work with my chanter. It is rather quiet so I can practice without annoying the neighbours which is a plus. I find the chanter sounds like a cross between a recorder and a kazoo and that when I play it I feel kindof like a snake charmer.

My painting has been coming along quite nicely. I just need to add a bit more detail around the branches, but other than that it is done. I will probably hang it in my living room or bedroom until my sister (who commissioned the painting as her birthday present) returns to the province or gets a home in which she can hang it.

In other news... I am still unemployed :(  
Most recent extremely choppy Service Canada hold music was :

• a Celtic version of My Hear will Go On
• a Techno version of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
• and the Forest Gump Theme song which I only recognized because we played it once in High School band, and even though we were terrible we did a better job than the Service Canada phone line.