All right, then. It's been two years since I last posted in this blog. I think it's time to resurrect it, just in time for more summer adventures. We don't have huge plans for this summer, though I am planning a trip to Thunder Bay, Ontario to play with my living history group at Fort William Historical Park. It's been awhile since I've been to Canada, or played with the Regiment, so I am looking forward to this. I'm still involved with Celtic Nations Pipes & Drums, though in the last two years we've undergone quite a transition. We lost most of our drum corps when our lead tip was relieved of his duties. They're now playing with another band, and I wish them well, because I never wanted them to leave and felt horrible and stunned. I then took on the duties of drum sergeant (basically, rehearsal organizer and liaison with the piping leadership) just to get us back on good footing again. We lost more drummers to retirement, family illnesses and job changes, to the point where we had no snare drummers, no tenor drummers, and just me on bass. I started taking tenor lessons with a world-class tenor/snare drummer and I've come along great, but I still have quite a bit of practicing to do to get it all down. I injured my back last year, either doing weights at the Y or with bad posture during band rehearsals while wearing the drum, so playing the bass became very painful. I either played tenor as a bass drum or put the bass on a jury-rigged walker/seat. Two years ago, we brought the Shamrock Club Colorguard Pipes & Drums into our little rehearsal collective, and now we are called the Greater Milwaukee Pipe Band Association, though each of the three bands (the third being the Greater Milwaukee Fire & Police Pipes & Drums) maintains its autonomy and does its own gigs. Earlier this year we lost two of our best pipers to a job change, and while I am very happy for them (since they are pretty much starting a music program from scratch at a school in Virginia), I miss them terribly, because they were amazing guidance for me. This year we are competing as one Grade 5 band, because we don't have enough to support a Grade 4 band, with members of all three bands represented. I think we'll do very well. I've changed jobs twice in the last two years. I got a lab job in October 2010, and I thought it would be the be-all and end-all since it was pretty much my dream science job. A year later, the company moved from Milwaukee to Madison and all that changed. It became the job from hell. I resigned in March and went back to Target, but in a better position than I'd had before--more hours and lots of hard work. I enjoy it a lot. I'm not backing down on my dream of working in a lab again, though. Brendan the guinea pig is now two years old and a happy, healthy, and hungry guinea pig. He has a lot of character, as guinea pigs do. He is a beggar for food, and likes to either hang out with me on the couch or run around on our bed. He has special blankets for these out-of-cage adventures so he doesn't wet the couch/bed. All in all, I'm pretty happy with our city life. I don't get enough country in my city, though. I keep telling Mr. City Mouse that we should go on a day hike through one of the parks or drive out to one of the Kettle Moraine units, but he's not a country mouse in the least. His idea of an outing would be going golfing at one of the city courses. As it is, he isn't much up for outings unless it is something he really wants to do. He likes his computer, his ESPN or Fox Sports/Fox Soccer, and his technology in general (though I can't talk him into upgrading from his little cell phone to something a little more user-friendly, or even talk him into carrying it with him). Some of our upcoming summer adventures: Summerfest--the Red Hot Chilli Pipers are playing for that event this year instead of Irish Fest. Milwaukee Highland Games and Wisconsin Highland Games--Our band will be competing. Fort William Historical Park--just me, for their Celtic Festival. Parades--Burlington Chocolate Festival/Memorial Day Parade, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa 4th of July, and a few Maybes Festivals--PrideFest, German Fest, Polish Fest, Scandinavian Fest, Irish Fest, Festa Italiana, and I want to go to Indian Summer this year Other possibilities: Golfing at Lake Park, Reclaiming our Heritage, Bristol Renaissance Faire, Chicago Highland Games (we are not competing, but I'd go to see the bands anyhow), Big Island Rendezvous, and The Big Maybe--US men's soccer World Cup qualifier in September, against Jamaica, in Columbus, Ohio. It's a Tuesday.