[My original text for this entry begins with an apology for tardiness in chronicling. A further explanation may now be in order. For several weeks I was unable to log in here because of some unknown problem at the other end. If anyone else out there experienced the same glitch, you know what I mean.]

It may be time to apologize again for a delay in the Chronicles. I've been meaning to report about St. Patrick's Day; but, for starters, it took me ten days to finish my account of those events. (I do, after all, supposedly work for a living.)

The day before--which some call St. Urho's Day--I joined some of our little band's members at the pipe sergeant's house, which I'd just learned was on the same street as mine: half a mile away at the other end. Turned out to be the former home of the English prof who served as my adviser back in my State-U years; I'd never actually set foot there, however. Some acquaintances of our officer's, members of a Canadian pipe band, joined some of us local players/wannabes. All I'll say about it now is that the experience reaffirmed my observation that the Highland bagpipe is too loud for confined indoor spaces!

Late next afternoon I accompanied our three pipers & as many drummers (two from out of town who regularly help out, plus a new guy from New York City on the bass) on a prearranged St. Patrick's Day "bar-hopping" excursion--during which we also passed the glengarry for dollars. Originally expecting to open doors for the players, I also found myself assigned custody of the bag we stuffed our take into. First time I'd worn my kilt (Old Sutherland, modern colors!) in four years. Our pipe sergeant "expressed amazement that I had a kilt; what I found amazing was the fact that its tight waist didn’t bother me..." (I've added inches since acquiring it; it already was big enough to give a new meaning to the term "the whole nine yards.") No need to include too many details. We picked up a free-lance piper in one of the joints: a new band member with experience. Twice we visited perhaps the town's leading dining establishment, where the Canadians were performing; we didn't compete. Later our pipe major designated me MVP for my door work & for sticking with the band the whole evening!