Guess what I did this afternoon? No, really - guess. I'll give you a hint: it involved living out my ultimate parliamentary geek fantasy, complete with costume. After spending more than a decade working on the Hill, I finally got to sneak past the green curtain and into the House of Commons - right up to and including the Speaker's Throne, where I spent the last hour overseeing an emergency debate into the recent meltdown at Chalk River.

Don't worry, I haven't suffered a psychotic break with reality. It was all part of this years Queen's Model Parliament, and thanks to a friend on the organizing committee, I got to be an honourary Speaker -- robes and all! I had real live pages -- three of them -- at my feet, poised to leap into action, and a sacred duty to make sure the debate stayed civil, relevant and -- most importantly -- parliamentary.

It was the first time I've ever seen the House from that vantage point -- in fact, it's the first time that I can recall being in the backrooms behind the chamber since -- well, ever. I arrived on the Hill long after the days when reporters were able to roam freely through the members' lobbies, which would have made the whole experience worthwhile even if I hadn't been allowed to take the Chair. But I was, and I did, and it was every bit as fabulous as I had hoped it would be.

During my hour of ultimate parliamentary power, I recognized members, ruled on points of orders, said 'Order, order,' while giving the whole room my best 'watch it' face, and generally had the time of my life. I even got to preside over a vote. All told, by the time my replacement -- a jovial fellow by the name of John Baird -- showed up to take my spot, I wasn't remotely ready to hand over the robes. If only there was some way to become Speaker without going through all that bother of being elected to the House of Commons, it would totally be my dream job.

Anyway, big huge sloppy thanks go out to the whole gang of model parliamentarians, the real Speaker of the House, Queen's University and everyone else involved in the Model Parliament program, which looks like a lot of fun, and almost, but not quite makes me wish I was still young and fresh and full of ideals. Although then I wouldn't have gotten to be an honourary speaker, so it's all about tradeoffs.

(And yes, before anyone asks, there were pictures taken, and as soon as I get copies, I'll post them for the general amusement of all.)