STARTING OVER

June 24, 2011

Well, good luck finding me!   Starting over is a good title because I sat down to blog and couldn't get into my own blog.  This is because since I sold my house and moved, I discontinued the satellite service and email that was connected with my blog.  So I'll have to start over getting people to know where I am.  I guess if that's the worst thing that happens to me today, I'm leading a pretty wonderful life.

I'm back in Chautauqua!!!  And living in the darling little condo I signed up for almost exactly a year ago!  I arrived yesterday mid-day and was settled in within a couple of hours.  I LOVE settling in!  I have always had a nearly Christmas Eve excitement about the prospect of moving into a new place and unpacking and deciding where everything goes. I was positively giddy by the time I drove up to the front door of 12 Pratt, Apartment 2.  And last night I did what I have not managed to do for the last several months. . . . . fall asleep at 10:15 and wake up at 8:00.   For the last couple of months I have been finalizing the sale of my house, packing up, getting rid of stuff, giving stuff away, making decisions about the renovations of my new place, worrying about my dog, and packing for Chautauqua, all simultaneously.  Every time I woke up to use the bathroom it was murder getting back to sleep with everything to consider.  Now, it seems, I'm worry-free, settled in, and ready to roll in my wonderful summer home.

The two other ladies who rent apartments 1 and 3 and I had a wonderful dinner last night upstairs with the owners of the house,  Walter and Anne McIntosh, from Australia.  Wonderful food and company, and a new thing for me. . . .drinking wine at Chautauqua.  Not something I could do at the Ecumenical Houses of last year.

I am well into book #1 for this next week:  Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan.  These are 5 stories told from the point of view of children in Africa.  Really grim topics. . . not a happy book.  But beautifully written and worth the effort.   Once you get past the author's use of multiple languages during dialogue the stories just roll in a very compelling way. I really look forward to hearing him speak on Thursday!

Today I did my Wegman's shopping, walked out to Turner Rec Center to get my photo pass for the season,  got my season fitness pass,  bought a bargain book of 10 movie tickets, and began to process the groceries.  Tonight is the first choir practice.  Tomorrow's practice is early due to the double concert of none other than the Morman Tabernacle Choir!

I'm luxuriating in sitting in my condo which is smack in the center of everything and listening to Jared Jacobsen practice the huge Massey pipe organ in the amphitheater, merely steps from my front door.  Oh man. . . it's good to be home.

So I'm starting over. . . new email address, new blog address, new accommodations here, new house in progress, new season at Chautauqua.   Life is good.