un petit cadeau du Canada

[lupinesque]

Hi all,

I spent the past week at a conference in Quebec (City), without HP 
books, Walkman, or internet access, and spent *almost* no time 
thinking about HP.  It was very good for me.  There were two 
exceptions:  there was a kid there who looked so much like Harry I 
wanted to go up to him and muss his hair (it was the only 
inaccuracy).  Fortunately for my career, I resisted.  

The other exception was that I bought myself a French copy of PA, 
excusing myself with the argument that it would be a great way to 
practice my French.  Actually, it really is.  If in another lifetime 
I'm a foreign language teacher, I'll recommend the technique of 
reading a book one knows very, very well in one's native tongue.  I'm 
reading it really slowly, absorbing grammatical rules I'd long since 
forgotten, and picking up vast amounts of French vocabulary: hibou 
(owl), balai (broomstick), baguette (wand), Chocogrenouille 
(Chocolate Frog).  I'm sure they will come in handy next time I'm in 
a French-speaking country.  ;-)

I have a report for you Sirius lovers out there:  the back cover has 
the studliest Sirius I've ever seen.  He's unshaven (ooh!) and 
scowling (swoon!), and has a haircut and attire that suggest he hangs 
out in the very coolest cafes.  There's also a drawing of Lupin that 
makes him look very nice, but old enough to be Sirius's dad.  He has 
heavily gray hair and bags under his eyes along with the patched 
clothes and smile, collectively making him look kind of like your 
favorite uncle who's just suffered a long bout of pneumonia.  I'll 
scan them in if I can, because there are websites with the front 
cover (same as the French) but I've never seen one with the back.  
Don't hold your breath, though.  I don't have a scanner.

Amy