I'm awake early (5:22 a.m.) in this strange land on Victoria Day. By "strange land" I don't mean Canada, but Calgary, Alberta, where at this time of year it's quite light outside already. In fact I could see the hint of dawn at 4 a.m. when I awakened, unable to fall back to sleep. (I got up and proceeded to continue reading a book I have found remarkable, called The Kite Runner.)

My wakefulness probably relates to the tall cup of coffee I drank during a late lunch yesterday in the mountains. We were having a picnic lunch with friends in the light rain (and then sunshine) during our day trip to Banff National Park. On the way back as I rode shotgun in our friends SUV, I napped, no doubt compounding reasons I feel so wide awake (now at 5:32 a.m.) on this national holiday.