OUT OF THE FRYING PAN. . . . .

And into the fire!  And here I thought I was going home to a less scheduled life.   Not so much.

Trip back from Chautauqua uneventful.  The new little Honda distinguished itself by doing the trip on one tank of gas.  Those halcyon days of not using gas are over for 10 months.  Glad I have this spiffy little car!

Stayed at Sandy's for the first night.  Sandy is the one with whom I had the weight-loss challenge of the summer of 2011.   Final results. . . Sandy (on Weight Watchers) lost over 10 pounds.  Ruthie (on good intentions and weak will) gained a couple.  I think Sandy won.  

When I awoke yesterday I left Sandy's determined to have a place to live by day's end.  And the early arrangments I had discussed with a friend came to fruition and I landed at the most beautiful 1750's vintage brick house staying with the lovely Jean Brokamp. . . .maven of Nellysford.   Jean and I had met at a party on New Year's Day, hit it off, and sometime after that the wheels went into motion that has allowed me to share her lovely home. . . at least for now. 

I have a gi-normous bedroom and an equally huge bathroom on the second floor.  Jean has moved to the first floor so I got her former digs. . . the master suite.  Probably bigger than my whole apartment at Chautauqua!   After semi-settling in, I departed for Charlottesville.  I picked up my new glasses.   Turns out I did not have a brain tumor. .  .only old, dirty, scratched glasses.   My, but the world is clear now!

Then I went to Verizon and bought an IPhone!  And a hand-held Wifi connection.  Now I can take the internet with me wherever I go.   No more satellite.  However, this little semi-ancient Gateway laptop that I have been writing on all summer is probably sensing that it's replacement is waiting in the wings and has decided to meet it's final days with me by being surly and temperamental.  Hmmmmmm.  I have a couple of books it should read.    It is tacitly refusing to join any secured networks, even when I have the password.  It even refused to play nice with the new internet gizmo.  My IPhone, however, loves the new gizmo when I'm in an area of low reception.    I am now texting!!!!  And I've communicated with both boys several times via text. . . Chad even answered me while he was on the air!  This is a life-improvment for me of enormous proportions!

The bad news is that I am turning into one of those people who I have disparaged for years. . . . . those connected to their phones.  But this thing is just so much fun to play with!  I can summon up the weather, keep a calendar, check and answer email.    And I haven't even begun to look into Angry Birds.   Lord, help me. . . .I'm f-a-a-a-a-l-l-l-l-l-l-l-i-n-g!

My mail is arriving at 75 Hillcrest once again, and waiting for me are the three books I ordered last week from Amazon. .  .and which I got for free (even the shipping) because of my new Amazon.com credit card.  Some people acquire air miles. . . . I acquire books.   All three books are by a late season speaker at Chautauqua and are about Mindfulness.   I think this is an area I need to study.   So I am.

Tomorrow I head for DC.  Chad and I (via text) have scheduled lunch together. . . I hope at the Fairfax Wegman's so that I can have sushi!!!  Then I have my audition at 6:30 after which I'll meet Dave at the Cafe Deluxe for dinner.   Wonder if I'll be able to see the earthquake damage at the National Cathedral.  Very sad.  Then I'll stay in Springfield and come home the next day.

Once I have this computer glitch solved, I'll begin including pictures (which I can take on my IPhone) into my blog.  And everyone can see the progress on the Crappy Little House.

Oh yes. . . I went to see Chester.  He was nice enough, but to say he has switched his loyalties would be an understatement.  What a fickle little bastard!!  On the other hand, boy did that turn out great!

Stay tuned for more news from the Fire!

# 65

FINAL THREE TAPS OF THE GAVEL.


FINIT


(sniff)

TO RECAP. . . . FOR THE LAST TIME

It's Sunday morning.   The wind is blowing..  . .but maybe it's just a strong breeze.  It's all we're going to see of Irene as she blows her way through New York State and New England.  But we can tell she's out there.  It lends an appropriate pall to our very last day.   This is truly a poignant experience..  . wrapping thing up.  But as I sit out here on my porch and see almost no one about and I realize that most people have left already, it becomes clear that it is time to go.    Two performances left.

In the last 9 weeks I have:

Read 9+ books and heard most of the authors.  I have heard authors whose books I have not read yet.

I have attended dozens of lectures on many topics.

I have performed in choir over 50 times, singing well over 100 pieces of music.

I have worked out faithfully at the gym, 3 to 4 times a week except for this last week when I decided to be a slug.

I have seen 27 movies.

I have taken 5 cooking classes, one mosaic class, one reader's theater class, and a class about Jungian philosophy.

I have enjoyed massages instead of buying gasoline.

I have attended dozens of concerts,  organ recitals, two operas, and every play and drama event offered.

I have attended at least a dozen brown-bag lunches featuring drama presentations and book reviews.

I've seen the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Bill Cosby, Straight No Chaser, Steve Martin, and Allison Kraus.

I have walked and biked every where I have gone with the exception of taking the tram last week when Janet, Nancy and I went to dinner at Andriaccio's.

I have written 62 blog entries.

I have made many new friends, and particular my two house mates who share my porch.   Susan and Barb and I have all signed up for next year as well.

I have spent time with  my closest friends. . . .Nancy, Janet, Betty, Deloras, Susan L., Penny, Phyllis and Bill, and not enough time with Jean.

I have hosted parties on my porch, planned and spontaneous.

We have experienced a power outage, earthquake, and the outskirts of a hurricane!

To say that the summer has been Rich and Full would be an understatement.

The challenge to all Chautauquans is to go home and make sure that all this info helps us to make a difference.   I accept that challenge.     Full Steam Ahead.

(More blogging to come as the year progresses!)   

WHIPPERSNAPPERS!

Ah yes. . . the old tv shows.    The Real McCoys starring Walter Brennan.   He was the consumate old man. . . a geezer in many respects.   Pronounced limp, a cane, a crotchety attitude.  To him, young people were whippersnappers.

Now that I'm into my 7th decade,  I can see why older people might think that.  I'm still drawn to children. . in small doses.   I love nothing more than to find a kid to talk to.  It always thrilled me and it still does.  I'd rather have a spontaneous conversation with a little kid than just about anything.   But week 9 has been especially nice in that most of the kids are gone.   School is starting.  There is not the plethora of bicycles careening haphazardly through the streets, nor the screams of tantrums on the plaza, nor the cry of little ones during the lectures.    And I do like that.

But I have had a couple of run-ins with young people that were golden.     Take Mac.  He's my paper boy.  I don't know  how old he is, but I'm guessing 15 maybe.   Every single morning Mac has delivered my Chautauquan Daily. . . .my life-line to the day. . . to my front step.  It's sitting there when I get up in the morning.  In fact,  if it weren't for Mac I might be having to set an alarm.  But Mac, like most teenage boys,  negotiates his way through space with freakishly large feet.   And he tramps with them.  . much like the large Billy Goat Gruff tramping across the bridge.    So every morning, around 7:10,  I hear those footsteps coming.   Up the 4 steps onto the porch, inches from my head which is at the end of my bed just on the other side of the open window.   I hear Mac veer right to deliver Susan's paper.. . . .then TRAMP!  TRAMP!  TRAMP! he comes back around to my door, pausing only milli-seconds to drop my paper, then TRAMP! TRAMP! TRAMP! to Barb's door and then TRAMP! TRAMP! TRAMP! off the porch.  I'm up and ready for the day! 

There was one day around the end of week 4 when 7:30 arrived and no paper.    Around 7:45 a couple of girls came by, stopped to study the listing of customers, and then gently, and slowly, put the paper down.   They delivered the next morning as well, I believe.   I figured Mac must have been the carrier for the first half of the season only, and we would need to adjust to these new carriers. But before long Mac was back. . . .TRAMP! TRAMP! TRAMPING his way back into my awareness.  On top of the paper the morning he returned was a little typed message introducing himself and saying he was sorry for missing a couple of days, but that he had broken his arm and was in the hospital.   For the rest of the summer, up until this past week, Mac has delivered the paper with one arm in a cast.     As I waited on the porch Friday to intercept him as he TRAMPED onto the porch so that I could give him a tip,   I realized what a responsible good kid he was.   He had just had the cast removed. . . but I have to say the lesser weight on his arm did not soften his steps.   I had come to expect and anticipate those steps, and I'm grateful for the role he played in my summer life.

Mac . . . NOT a WHIPPERSNAPPER!

Last night as I was sitting in the movie in my favorite place. . . front row center of the balcony. . two young girls scooted in front of me to sit farther down the row.   I would guess them to have been late teenagers.   They watched the movie, Beginners, while sitting next to me.    At the end of the movie, one of them turned to me and said,  "So, did you like the movie?"   I was kind of surprised that a young person would initiate a conversation with me.  Especially when she had a friend with her.   If that had been me and Joan we would have been biting the sides of our mouth to try to keep from laughing at what was no doubt the rude remarks we had made to each other about the old lady next to us.     Startled I replied,  "Yes, I did like it.   It wasn't what I expected from the previews, but it was a good movie."   And the girl continued,  "How was it different from what you expected?"    And so went the conversation.  She really seemed interested in what I had to say.   We chatted about the movie all the way down the stairs.  Not once did I catch her punching her friend behind my back.   As I took one path towards home and she took another, she called out and waved to me,   "Enjoy your evening!"

That girl. . . . NOT A WHIPPERSNAPPER!


It's Saturday afternoon. .   . .some of my bags are packed.   Patti on the shore of North Carolina has weathered the hurricane.   It's supposed to turn windy up here tomorrow,  as a matter of fact there is a breeze kicking up right now.   But that appears to be all the impact we'll have from Irene.

Nine weeks ago, we started the season with two performances of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.    We're ending tonight with two appearances of Bill Cosby.   I'll see the earlier one and then go to my 27th and last movie of the year.

One more full day left.   Full steam ahead.

FINALE #1

This is my 61st blog entry.   Which is funny because when I formed the writing group I'm in back at home, one of the first challenges we made to ourselves was to commit to write 10 minutes per day.   And by the second meeting we were all admitting that we just couldn't do it.  Myself included.   And yet it's been the easiest thing in the world for me to sit down and recap my experience here.   Of course with this kind of input, I think it would have been unhealthy of me not to deprogram myself on the computer each night.  And I don't consider this "writing". . . more like reporting.  Maybe that's the difference.

Our final weekday service was this morning.  No more motet choir!  And they threw us a curve ball.  The weekly preacher had to leave by 10:00 in order to catch a plane in Buffalo. . . and since he tends to be somewhat long winded, it was decided he would preach first and then we would sing.  Usually we sing early in the service, and then we leave before the sermon.  I had promised to meet Betty at 9:30 and didn't have anyway to let her know that I would be late.   So I was stewing in my juices just a bit.  But there's always a silver lining.   One of the Friday church traditions is that Jared plays the Widor Toccatta from Symphony #5.  This was a favorite piece of mine when I attended St. James Methodist Church in Danville, Illinois as a child.  Our organist let fly with this piece one Sunday and I was hooked.   I learned to play it (after a fashion) when I was an organ major.    My having to stay in church this morning meant that I did not miss the final playing of the piece this summer.  I literally had to wipe away the tears that were spilling on my music folder at the performance.  There's NOTHING like sitting directly under those pipes when that organ is going full tilt.   YIKES!    And Betty understood.    She and I made a quick trip to Mayville to run some errands.  She took me to a couple of neat out of the way places with promises that we would return next year.

My last Jung class.   Man was that an eye-opening and profound class.  So glad I got to take a class with the Chautauqua Rock Star Kaye Lindauer finally.   Hope to get another one from her next year.  I have some new reading to look into.

My final massage of the season.  This time with hot stones. . . .what the heck.  And since it's cool out, the hot stone massage was heaven.  I'm a noodle.    Mary is the best massage therapist I've ever had.  What a treat I've given myself this summer.   How lovely to be mortgage free!

So choir tonight.  This is the Chautauqua Choir . . . the big choir which will sing for the final Sunday night service before we all go home.

Then my 26th movie of the season tonight.   Beginners.   Have wanted to see it all summer.   To do that I'll miss seeing the Beach Boys tonight. . . .but it's pretty much the Beach Grandfathers now. . . .and only one original left.   What's the point with the Wilson's not there????

Jan and Craig from Canada stopped by.   I've gotten to know them the past two years because they stayed at the ECOC house when I was there.  They are only in for 2 days here at the end.  They are from Ontario Canada and it was great to see them.

Tomorrow I REALLY have to start packing!    Full steam ahead.

WINDING DOWN AND WINDING UP

Today began the beginning of "goodbye" parties.  However, I bet alot of them go like this. . . . .Barb and Susan and I (my apartment buddies) shared a bottle of sparkling Rose' to commemorate our first season as neighbors, and to say goodbye to Susan.  . . .scheduled to depart Saturday morning.   In the middle of our party her phone rings. . . .Southwest Airlines telling her that her connecting flight through Baltimore has already been cancelled for Saturday due to that frisky lady. . .Irene.    So as we are sipping our bubbly. . .she is rescheduling to leave on Monday morning instead.  So we're saying goodbye. . .but she's not going.   I'm sure she will not be the only one.

My first full season, but I'm sure this is a unique week nine as we ponder the Civil War, earthquakes, and impending hurricanes.   We have been in a Utopian bubble for nearly 10 weeks and yet we are learning that the real world is out there and we must go back into it.

Phyllis and Bill Duty left this morning at 8:00 and I'm hopeful that they are now safely arrived in Richmond, Virginia to see their son.  But I hope they get out of there before the storm hits.

It appears by all the computer models that I will be west of the storm for my drive back.   Beautiful weather here. . . ..but as we pack and wrap up our themes and classes,  services and events we are aware that lots of people need to get safely home.    And so it goes.     I will love love love these last three days.  Full Steam Ahead.

CHESTER

Today I got the email I have been waiting for.   The Nelson's who bought my house and have been keeping Chester, my dog, for me all summer, have decided they can't live without him and want to keep him.

Four years ago this fuzzy fellow showed up on the doorstep of my friend, Mary Hannah.  He seemed to be alone and possibly the victim of abuse.  After a dinner of eggs and bacon, he decided that she was his new keeper and he hung around even as she came and went from work. 

When she decided to move to the town of Clifton Forge, and then got a cancer diagnosis, I told her that I would take custody of the then, unnamed dog.  I had a new house on 7 1/2 acres.  It would be fine.

From that point on the black dog became mine.  I named him Chester for his bad back leg.  He needed surgery on said leg ($$$$$) and eventually I had to surround my property with invisible fencing to keep him from chasing the neighbor's cows ($$$$$$$), but I had my country property and my dog.   It was perfect.

It soon became clear that Chester basically owned 338 Coles Farm Rd.  Even though he was getting on in age, this was the perfect place for him.  With acres of land to "woo" on,  woods in which to chase and catch groundhogs and possums,  a stream to swim in. . . this was his heaven.    For the whole year my house was on the market, it killed me that at some point he would be removed from this land.

Then came the Nelsons.  Who, in spite of having a dream of owning a German shepard puppy, offered to take care of Chester for the summer while I came to Chautauqua.   And my dream came true.  After 9 weeks of "ownership" they have decided they can't give him up.   So Chester will live out the rest of his life on "his" property.  I couldn't be happier.  I will miss the old guy. . . and I will visit.  But he is one of those angel dogs who is being spread out over several owners.  And everyone who has him will learn from him, and he from them.    So to the Nelson's. . . .thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving my boy.   My guess is that with your guidance, he can learn to love that puppy when the time comes.   Full steam ahead.

EARTHQUAKES AND HURRICANES. . . OH MY!

To be completely honest. . . I missed it.  I was sitting on the lawn outside the Hall of Philosophy listening to George Washington and Thomas Jefferson speak.   The Williamsburg historical enactors were here.   But walking back from that I heard the conversations about the earthquake that had hit Virginia!   Amazing!  Then my landlady, Anne came out and said she had felt it up in her apartment, and my friend Nancy later confirmed that she had felt it too, inside her apartment.   Incredulous!    So I go up to the gazebo where you can buy CD's of the lectures, and the young man behind the counter was asking people. . ."Did you hear about the earthquake in Virginia?"     So I asked him what city in Virginia it had hit. . .and he replied,   "Martha's Vinyard!"     I waited a second and said,  "No, I mean the epicenter."   And he replied,   "Yes I think it hit there too!"  Apparently it's pretty easy to get a job at the gazebo selling CD's.

I called Casey who described the shaking that happened in his building that scattered desktop detritus and book shelves. He said Chad was on the air when it hit and was "covering"' it live!    Then I called Sandy in Afton. . .which was much closer to the epicenter (where I understand it also hit)  and she said there was some real rocking and rolling going on there for about a minute, but that to her knowledge, no major damage.  I'm starting to feel pretty grateful that my house renovation had not started yet.   I'll have to see what gives at 75 Hillcrest when I get home on Monday.   The funniest part was the Facebook posting called  "East coast hurricane devastation" and featured a picture of one plastic lawn chair tipped over while the other ones were still upright.

And speaking of going home on Monday, the Weather Channel shows the path of a certain Hurricane Irene as it comes up the coast this weekend.  I had no prior knowledge of this storm, so it will be interesting to see if I am driving through any of that on Monday.    The real world rears it's ugly head into our little Utopia up here.   But it's getting closer to re-entry time, and re-enter I shall!   Full steam ahead.

S.D.O. IS IN THE HOUSE!

Well I don't know if it's week 9 or that fact that the theme is Civil War.  But the luminaries are emerging.   Today I saw Gail Sheehy walking down the brick walk with my friend Susan.   She is here for a time each year and very often speaks although she is not scheduled this week that I know of.   Her most famous book is Passages from a number of years ago.  She has also written about caregiving older parents.

During my first or second year here, I was attending an opera in the opera house.    At intermission I stood to stretch and it didn't take me long to notice that about three rows in front of me, none other than Sandra Day O'Connor was stretching as well.   Come to find out she has a place here and is here for part of most every season.   Last year one of the most popular evening presentations was An Evening With Sandra Day O'Connor.   I admire her greatly, and she was in part what influenced me to go attend a US Supreme Court session last fall.   An unforgettable experience.  Well,  she is back for this week and attended this morning's lecture on the causes of the Civil War.    She's pretty easy to pick out in a crowd, even with a plethora of white haired ladies about.

The eating orgy continues.  Tonight I was invited to the Disciples house for Bill and Phyllis Duty's annual lasagna dinner.   It's always a good time to spend with these lovely friends of my parents.  They are the reason I'm here at all and any time with them is special.   Tomorrow night is the Italian restaurant with friends.   Nancy left a piece of blueberry pie on my step when I had gotten back.   Everyone is cleaning out refrigerators and eating up food and saying things like  "Here, take this salad (or these steaks, or this ice cream). . . . I'm never going to be able to eat it up."     Well I have news for them. . .I'm never going to be able to eat it up either!   Next year there will be no week 9 trip to Wegmans.  I'll just sit in my apartment and wait for the food to show up!

I took advantage of the beautiful day. . . the high was 70!. . .to walk around the grounds and take the pictures I've been meaning to take all season.    Some of my favorite gardens.   A stacked stone wall and steps that I'd like to copy for my house.    Shots of the Bell Tower.   The days are dwindling down to a precious few.    Full Steam Ahead.

GLUTTONY: THY NAME IS RUTH!

Any of you that are reading this have to promise me that you will not go back to my first week and reread how I was determined to lose 10 - 15 pounds.   Ahhhhh. . . memories.  What I had not anticipated is that the last week brings with it the last round of goodbye eating and drinking!!!  Today after church we had the choir potluck.  There was is no sign-up, so everyone just brought what they wanted to bring.  It was pretty well rounded but heavy on desserts.   And now I"m a bit heavy on desserts.  If I wasn't diabetic when I woke up this morning, it's entirely possible that I am now.

But wait. . . there's more!     So tonight my neighbor Susan had yet another of her famous porch dinner parties, and I was invited to this one.   Lovely wine, chicken salad, artichoke salad and strawberry rhubarb pie for dessert.    Followed by choir and the Sacred Song service.

But wait. . . .there's more!   After SSS,  I had to have my weekly gathering of Nancy, Janet and I for wine and snacks.  Nancy provided the snacks.  I could not eat one. . . I was still stuffed.  I managed to choke down a glass and a half of wine.  About 10 minutes into that party, there was a knock on the door and Phyllis Duty appeared.   She was returning from another event and stopped by.   So we added her to the party and hilarity.  

Tomorrow night I'm going to Disciples for Phyllis's annual lasagna dinner for all of her closest friends.   Tuesday night Janet and Nancy and I are going to Andriaccio's. . . the local Italian restaurant which I've never been to but is right across the highway from the grounds.   This will be our goodbye dinner.

There is a lovely bottle of sparkling rose' in my refrig for a goodbye toast of my two neighbors.

And the theme this week is Civil War, and I anticipate going to all the lectures and presentations along with my Jung class which meets 12:30 - 1:30 all week.   So where to fit the gym in. . . . I just don't know.

I'll come waddling into Afton next Monday at some time.    We're taking this season out in style.    I hope I won't need insulin injections!    Full steam ahead.

AND SO IT BEGINS. . . .

The ending. . . that is.    Today was Saturday, the official ending of week 8.   And I had my very last trip to Wegman's.   I had my sushi for lunch and then brought some home to have here.   This week I will be eating up stuff and planning carefully so not much is going home.

I worked out this morning, and eschewed my shower afterwards. " I can go to Wegman's smelly if I want to," said the petulant child that was me.   And so I did.   But first I went to AT&T to see what was going on with my phone.  The place was packed with Saturday customers in line for something. . . .maybe the white I Phone that was on all the posters outside????  I don't know, but they didn't seem to want to let me jump the line to point out that I had absolutely no service.   Considering how I smelled, I'm surprised that everyone didn't run screaming to their cars the minute I came in the store.  However, in a moment of genius (which may have been washed off if I had taken a shower), I decided to try my phone.  And voila. . . it worked fine in Lakeland.  So at least I know it's not the phone, it's some tower around here that must have gone kablooey with the big storm.   But that leaves me phoneless for the time being.   Not that I was using it that much.. 

So back to Wegman's I went.  Enjoyed my last sojourn there.  Stopped for a parting bottle of sparkling rose. . . not usually my drink of choice, but was highly recommended by Chef  Lynn this past week.  So I bought a bottle for me and my house mates to use to toast the end of a glorious season.  It's "on ice" in my refrig as we speak ( or as I write.   . I guess we're not speaking).  

Here's what's cool. . .  I went to the evening orchestra concert tonight.  However, I was painfully aware, as were my seat mates no doubt, that I still had not taken a shower.    (Okay, sue me).   So I left after the first overture, came across the street to my apartment, turned on the radio because tonight is a live broadcast of the concert through the Buffalo NPR station.  I listened to the Elgar Cello Concerto as I took my shower and washed my hair.  Now I'm sitting on the porch doing this as I hear the thunderous applause from the concerto.   There will be a 20 minute intermission, after which I will mosey on back over to watch the Brahms 4th Symphony (ahhhhhhhh) but this time I will be clean.  This could NOT have happened at the Kennedy Center.

So tomorrow is Sunday and the start of week 9.    Full steam ahead.

WITH APOLOGIES TO DAVID LETTERMAN

The top 10 things that happened to me in the last 24 hours:

10.   I finished off a container of wild rice.  Used it in our final cooking project.  One less container to take home!

9.     I dreamed all night long about making today's final project dinner for my class.

8.     We sang a great lively gospel-y number in church this morning.

7.    In spite of a torrential rain event late this morning, still have managed to not have to take a shuttle or a tram all summer.  I'm determined to make it to the end.  Note to self:   Buy large, golf-style umbrella and leave here for next season.

6.   I purchased copies of all of Otis's sermons for the week, plus a copy each of two of my favorite lectures.  Plus my friend Nancy, who visited on week 2, sent me a CD of David McCullough's latest book to listen to on the way home.  DM was here last year discussing the writing of this book about the historical American figures who studied in Paris and the French influence on our country as a result.   I have plenty to listen to on the way home!   I might have to keep going on 81 until I finish.  Who knows where I'll end up?

5.   I began planning multiple "last week" events with various friends. . . . . that last opportunity to do something together before the end of the season.  Most of these plans involve eating and drinking.   Weight Watchers here I come!

4.   For the last day of "flavor" class,  my group prepared our final assignment:   make something with the umami flavor  using chicken, green beans, melon and/or grapefruit.   Our chicken and portobello mushroom on rice with dijon sauce,  green bean salad with red onions, grapefruit and grapefruit vinagrette with mint, and melon balls drizzled in agave nectar and sprinkled with cinnamon came out great.   All done WITHOUT a recipe, I might add!   Such fun to cook as a group.

3.  Anticipation of tonight's Blood, Sweat, and Tears concert.   I need my college boyfriend, Donnie, to be here with me for this one!

2.  Otis Moss and his last sermon.   A phenominal week of phenominal preaching.


And the #1 thing that happened to me in the last 24 hours. . . . ..

1. The 47 minute phone call with my son last night!   And his agreeing to go with me to see Paul Farmer (see week 1) when he appears in DC on September 12.     YIPPEE!!!!!

BEST LAID PLANS. . . . .

 I came up here fully intending to lose 15 - 20 pounds.   I mean. . .how couldn't I???  No TV. . . . only my own two feet or my bike to take me everywhere I was going.   For the first two weeks everything was great.   I lost 2 pounds.  How easy is this???

Well, 6 weeks later it will be a miracle if I haven't gained.  Not that I've been overeating. . .but I guess I have.  For me, overeating is having a both halves of a portobello sandwich instead of just half.   Tonight I had both halves.    I've ridden my bike less but still I haven't ridden a tram or shuttle all summer.   I have been drinking wine. . not every night, but it is wine, afterall.   I've had a total of three ice-creams.   I'm going to have to break down and join weight watchers when I get back.  There's just no other way, I guess.

But that is the only down-side of this summer as far as I can see.   I fully intended to work out this morning. . . went to choir in my stretch capris and t-shirt (we wear robes. . . don't worry).   But I was diverted at every turn.  Best laid plans. . . . .

On my way to the post office, pre-going to the gym, I passed the radio booth where Diane Ackerman was being interviewed.   She is the author who spoke today.  Her book,  One Hundred Names for Love was the book of the week.   She was riveting on the radio.   I just had to stay and hear what she had to say about this experience of helping bring her husband, Paul back from a major stroke.   It's a good thing that I did, because at her presentation this afternoon, she turned out to be one of those authors who just reads the book the whole time.  And I had already read the book, so I left and attended the orchestra rehearsal instead and watched Mei-Ann Chen, this week's conductor rehearse the orchestra.   I saw her last year and was so captivated by her conducting style.  Then  when I went back to Afton I discovered that  she also was  conducting at the Wintergreen Music Festival. So I got to see her twice last year.  She is a fabulous conductor.   Silver lining to the "author-that-read-the-book-I-already-read" debacle!

Tonight I have to make up the last of my basmati/wild rice combo that I brought from home to "use up."   Susan, my neighbor in the next apartment over, and I are making our final project in our flavor class, and I think we're going to use the rice.   We're using chicken, grapefruit, melon, and green beans (all ingredients assigned by the teacher) to create a dinner that features an "umami" flavor.  Just learned about that this week.  There's sweet, sour, salty, bitter and Umami. . . which is kind of like savory.   So our dish is supposed to explode with umami-ness!    Should be fun.    Let's just say dijon mustard and mushrooms will be involved!

Nights are getting cool.  Several people have reported bats in their houses.  And the other day, as I was walking home from the farmer's market, I was advised to avoid Miller Avenue since there was a family of skunks about.     The critters are already looking for shelter.   Full steam ahead.

BY THE WAY. . . . .

Besides the flavor master class, this week's topic is quite good.  The theme is Sparking a Culture of Creativity and Innovation.  The speakers are using this theme to suggest ways that we can get out of this economic situation and get back to getting some forward movement going.   One speaker told of the innovative companies that are using their creative juices and out of the box thinking to create positive growth and dynamic working conditions for  employees.    One speaker mentioned empathy. .  the ability to understand where someone else is coming from.  That word could have applied in almost all of the weekly themes.

And it's amazing how topics bump into each other and enhance each other.  I'm about 1/3 of the way through with next week's book. . . bestseller The Warmth of Other Sons.   About the black migration from the South to the North after the Civil War (next week's topic).   While I'm staying each morning for each of Otis Moss's sermons, and having heard his choir on Sunday, I have a great deal more empathy with the long road that has been forged by the African-American citizenry.  It's all connecting.   I'm starting to realize that the black population in my hometown, Danville, Illinois probably arrived during this migration because the Illinois Central Railroad was a major carrier during the migration, and the C&EI railroad which went through Danville was an offshoot of that.   It's all fascinating.  The book, by the way, is well worth the read.

Tonight I saw the movie "A Better Life" about an illegal Mexican immigrant who is working in California and trying to raise his 14 year old son.  It is heartfelt and eye-opening.   Empathy.

On the more frivolous side of things. . . I also had a massage today,  took session 3 of my flavor class where we explored the world of salt, and made spaghetti sauces.   I also had a great talk with Duncan, my builder and I eagerly await the new plans he is attempting to email me in spite of computer problems on his end.

It's no wonder it's hard to fall asleep at night in spite of being physically exhausted.   So much to think about. . . . . . Full steam ahead.

A SALUTE TO SOUR, RUMI, AND JUNG

Day 2 of Flavors class:  Topic:  Sour!   We tasted vinegars, plain yogurt, buttermilk and other sour foods.  We also got a taste of Agave nectar which is definitely not sour.  But I have heard about it as a more healthy sugar alternative, and it was pretty wonderful.   So many new things to learn about.

As a culminating activity, we were put in pairs and told that we had been invited to a dinner party (hypothetically) and the only thing we were asked to bring was the salad dressing.  Once we had our partners, she passed out pieces of paper that told us what kind of main dish was being served.  The choices were by countries. .  . .France, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, etc.    Lucky for me and my partner, Kevin, we got Greek/Mediterranean.   We had a "pantry" full of ingredients with which to work.    We created an olive oil/balsamic, garlic, red onion, kalamata olives, capers and feta cheese dressing.    I got to practice some of my new chopping skills! After everyone had worked on their dressings, she came around with lettuce to put in the bowls to be tossed.  Then we all tasted all the homemade dressings.   All were fabulous.  I wasn't so sure about how ours was turning out, but everyone, including the teacher, proclaimed it one of the best.  What fun.   Can't wait to see what we do tomorrow.

My friend Betty had invited me to the 3:15 social hour at the Disciples of Christ house. .  .where I have stayed during the past two summers.   Betty is one of my best friends up here.   The speaker today was Kaye Lindauer who teaches classes all summer.  Some of her topics are Storytelling,  the poet Rumi,  Jungian theory and practice, etc.   Betty highly recommended I see this presentation on the poet Rumi. . . who I am embarrassed to say I had not been familiar with.   I loved the presentation.  Kaye is a very effective speaker/teacher.  I was so impressed that after the presentation I felt compelled to do two things:  1. go right up to the front gate ticket booth and sign up for her class on Jung for next week,  and 2. go to the book store and get a poetry collection by Rumi.    Now when I woke up this morning I had no idea that by 6:00 in the evening I would have these two new interests (actually, from what I can deduce, that is a very Jungian experience!).   But there you have it.   The world is waiting for open minded people to discover its secrets!

So maybe the days are dwindling down up here. . . but the opportunities for new, significant learning are not.   Full steam ahead!

MASTER CLASS!

I began my last class today.  Kind of the culmination of my cooking classes. . . . . A master class in Flavor!  It meets Monday - Friday this week from 12:30 - 2:30.    Today was really fun.  First we tasted 5 different varieties of Jelly Belly jelly beans and tried to guess what they were.   It was harder than you might imagine.  Especially the "spicy mango" one.   One was "buttered popcorn."

Then we each had a bowl with dried cranberries, corn, and tomatoes.   We tasted each and told how many different flavors or textures we experienced.   There was an aroma test of 6 different smells. . . .we couldn't tell by looking what we were smelling.   There was vanilla, smoked paprika ( got that one thanks to my chicken chili recipe!), almond extract, bitters (never had any experience with this), mint, and one other I can't remember.

Lastly, we tasted 5 different sweeteners and guessed which was which. . . sugar, Splenda, honey, maple syrup and corn syrup.

At the end of the class ( literally the last 10 minutes) she whipped up the greatest salad made with watermelon, feta cheese, kalamata olives, balsamic vinegar, a drizzle of olive oil, and red onions.  It was superb.  She didn't measure anything.  . . . just threw it together.  Such an interesting combination of tastes that really worked well together.

The purpose of the class is to free us up to create our own recipes while we are cooking.  I'm proud to say I already do this alot.   But as the week goes by we will be cooking and making up recipes.   The chef for this class is Lynn Novo, of Comfort Sisters in Naples, Florida.  She was the teacher for my whole foods class and my knife skills class.   She is a great teacher.

Big rain storm tonight while I was in a cabaret concert at the theater.   It's quite cool tonight.  Great sleeping weather.   Fall is in the air!

OTIS

Four years ago today (week 8, 2007) was my first full day at Chautauqua.    I know that on Wednesday of that week I was moseying (I mosied, even back then) by the amp during the morning worship service, and I heard Otis Moss preaching.   No longer a churchgoer, even back then, I was pretty much riveted by his delivery.   So much so that I came back on Thursday and Friday and then bought the sermons on CD.   The following year, I selected my one week at Chautauqua based on when Otis would be here.

Otis Moss III is pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. .  Barack O'bama's church.   Otis is a powerful black preacher.   He has a true gift for preaching, and what he says is always important and dynamic.   And he's back for the whole week.   And he brought his choir again.

The choir, a gospel choir extrordinaire, traveled all night on a train from Chicago to sing with us in church this morning and to present the Sacred Song Service tonight.   It is wonderful to hear and to sing gospel.   The Choral Arts Society gets to sing gospel every year during our Martin Luther King tribute in January or February.  It's one of my favorite concerts to sing.    Another reason why I hate to miss the dedication of the MLK Memorial on Aug. 28, which CAS will be singing for.

Gospel singers sing from their toes. . . with completely wild abandon and excitement.   The sound is intoxicating and the energy is contagious.  For this morning's service all the women were dressed in white dresses. . . all different, all beautiful.   Tonight everyone was in colorful dresses. . . . . some with an African influence, all stunning.   There must have been alot of luggage coming in off that train!   As I write, they are on their way back to the train in Buffalo to ride all night so that they can get to work tomorrow morning.  What a gift for us all.

It's week 8 and Otis is here. So each morning, when the choir is dismissed after the Lord's Prayer, as usual,  I will circle back into the amp to listen to the sermon.   It will be a great way to start the day.

ACCESSORIZING

I know.  It's too early to select accessories for my new house.  I mean, right now it's but a shell and I haven't even met with Duncan, my new builder yet.   But this weekend is the second of two arts and crafts shows that run on the plaza.  These are top notch artisans.     And you know what that means. . . . KA-CHING!$$$$$$$   But such gorgeous stuff.  When the show was here on week 4, I enjoyed looking but escaped with only buying a leather fanny pack to more easily carry around my gate pass and other paraphenalia.  I've used that every day since. . . it was a good purchase.

But today I started getting inspiration for how I'll decorate my new place.  And to that end, I met a lovely Japanese woman who makes the most extraordinary baskets from palm fronds and natural ingredients which she collects near her home in Florida.    I bought a small basket from her to display on the wall unit that will surround my fireplace/tv.   Artistically,  I love texture, and am drawn to those items that make me want to pick them up and touch them.  Her woven art was exceptionally beautiful, and once I figure out where my walls are and how big they are, I may want to get another piece from her.     I also bought a print from a lovely woman named Laura Wilder who does prints from sketches that she then carves into whatever material ink printing uses.  They are all so beautiful, and exactly the look and colors I want for my walls.  I then took that print to another really nice artist who makes rag rugs.  We looked at the colors in the print, picked them out from her sample board.  Once I know the size of living room rug I want,  I'm hoping to commission her to do it.  I'm excited about surrounding myself with beautiful things.  Frankly, this makes me want to go home, get into that storage unit, and get rid of a whole bunch more stuff.   I'm so excited about my renovation project and it will be fun to get started and watch it take shape, using my newly purchased items for my inspiration.    I think I'll keep blogging through the renovation, and have my new computer whereby I can include pictures of the progress!

There's a beautiful, bright orange full harvest moon rising over the trees as I sit on the porch.   I've attended two drama productions today.  The Shakespeare Love's Labors Lost which was fantastic!   And then there was an extra, three-character play this evening that was extra for the season.  Entitled "Brothers Size", it was about three African American young men, two of whom have been in prison.  Very very well done and powerful.   I know I've said it before, but the company of young actors this year has been exceptional, and I won't be the least bit surprised to see some or all of them rise to recognizable stardom.   What is special about up here is that tonight, once again, I sat down in the audience to watch the "Brothers Size" and I found myself right next to one of the company. . . .a young woman from the Julliard School who has been particulary wonderful in several productions.  I had a few minutes to chat with her about the season and about her studies.    Rarely does the audience get this kind of access to actors.

So tomorrow Week 8 starts.  And Otis Moss has arrived.   Otis was the preacher during my first week ever at Chautauqua 4 years ago, and the next year I came back specifically on the week where he was preaching.   He presides at the church in Chicago where Obama attends when he is in town.   He brought his 90 voice choir with him, so we will sing two pieces with them in the morning, and then they will sing the entire Sunday evening service. . . giving us a night off!   The theme of the week involves Creative Thinking and I'll be taking my 5-day master class in Flavors.   Same teacher as my Knife Skills class.   Really looking forward to cooking every day!

We may be cranking down to the end, but it's full speed ahead until August 29!

THELMA AND LOUISE

Today, as I continued to eschew the lectures,  I decided to walk the perimeter of the grounds instead of going to the gym, which I will do tomorrow.  On that walk at least two cool things happened:  1. I found two beautiful fall leaves on the ground.  When fall is your favorite season (and it is mine) then to have it start during mid-August, knowing that you get it all over again once you get back to Virginia, is pretty darn wonderful.   2. I went past a wonderful little cottage that I have always admired only to find one of my choir friends on the porch. . .it's her cottage.  Not only did I get a tour of this wonderful little house, but I got invited back for wine on the porch at a later date.  The circle of friends expands!

Then I went to Wegmans and had sushi as I have done once every week.   I attended a presentation by the Chautauqua historical society about the big Colonade fire of 1961.    Very interesting.

Then I stopped by my friend Janet's house and we hatched a plan to blow off choir (which we are allowed to do once a week) and instead, get in the car and go out to dinner in nearby Mayville.  There was a certain Thelma and Louise feeling about this.   In Mayville we ate at Webb's which has an upstairs porch overlooking the lake.  It was wonderful.   We drove back the long way around the perimeter of the lake.  Then we sat on my porch and drank wine while listening to Clint Black perform in the amp, merely yards away.   Two other friends joined us.   There was a full moon and it was cool and wonderful.  

Ended the night by checking in with my wonderful friend Betty at the Disciples House.    I love my summer friends and the fact that I get to see them easily and often.     Listening to Clint Black (although I never laid eyes on him) was not too shabby either!

HALCYON DEFINED

I think I like the word halcyon almost as much as I like the work eschew.  I looked it up today and it means "tranquil" according to my pocket dictionary, which by its very nature needs to keep the definitions short.  But I think it goes deeper than that and also has an element of nostalgia in it. . . .at least for me.   As in:  Oh those halcyon days of yesteryear!    Actually, come to think of it,  yesteryear is a pretty cool word too.

ANYHOO. . . . . .today I eschewed the lectures once again, and spent the day looking forward to those events I had already planned to do. . . some of my favorites.    After singing in church I mosied to the post office for my mail, of which there was none.  Let's just say that the cards and letters are not pouring in   . . but on the bright side, neither are the bills!   I should mention that the weather today was exactly what the weather would be if someone gave me a weather menu and asked me to choose the perfect day.   For some people that would be a hot sunny day on a beach.  But for me it was today. . . . .it got all the way up into the low 70's. . . .  there was a bright blue sky with puffy white clouds. . . .there was a slight breeze all day. . . .and jackets were required toting paraphenalia.     GORGEOUS!   

I sat on my porch and put in some serious reading time on next week's book:  One Hundred Names for Love.   Then I made my brown bag lunch and headed for the theater.  Today's noon time topic was "Love's Labors Lost which opens tonight and which I will see on Saturday afternoon.  They have set the play in 1920's Chautauqua with the set to match.   I'm really looking forward to the production and I love the theater brown bag events.  Only one left next week!   Then as I strolled back towards the plaza, I stopped in to the two art galleries and went through all the displays.  I love doing this and the art work up here is phenominal.  What a treat to have two galleries within walking distance.    After that I strolled through two antique shops on the plaza. . . always fun.   

Then it was back to the porch to read until the 3:30 author presentation.  Phillipp Meyer. . . . author of American Rust.   He is definitely not a public speaker. . . but then I don't think that's a requirement of a great writer.  But he had written his speech and read it and it was great.  Certainly much better than Amy Dickinson's reading of her book for 45 minutes.  He described his background that related to the topics in the book, and also his process as a writer.  Loved his presentation, and especially sitting on the lawn in this beautiful weather.

Tonight I will attend choir and then will see my 3rd movie in 2 nights.   Tonight is "In a Better World."  The people coming out of the movie house last night having seen this were raving about it.  Last night I saw the bi-weekly movie classic which was "The Ladykillers" starring Alec Guinness and a young Peter Sellers.  Hilarious.  Then I saw "Another Year" a subtle British drama about the characters and their lives over the course of the year.  Some phenominal acting. . . very enjoyable.

So come November when the cold winds start to blow,  I'll be thinking back on those halcyon days of the summer of 2012 at Chautauqua.    Does 3 months back qualify as "yesteryear"?

CAN'T DO EVERYTHING. . . . .

I'm taking a lecture vacation this week.  The theme is The Economy. . . . and I'm reading the synopsis of each lecture in the paper the next day.  I think the speakers this week are good. . . .but I just can't absorb anything else, and I'm a little Economy-ied out.   Such a tough subject.  

It's hump day of week 7 . . . only 2 1/2 weeks to go.  And I'm being wooed back home little by little.

I received my second email today from good old trainer George (if you can characterize age 34 as being old).  How many trainers write chatty emails to their clients?   Mine does.   It will be fun to get back to working out with the gang at 5-Star Health and Fitness again and to see how much his adorable little daughter Anisten has grown.

And then there was the phone message today from none other than Norman Scribner. . . .artistic director of the Choral Arts Society.   He wanted to personally invite me to participate in the mass choir being put together to sing for the opening of the Martin Luther King Memorial in Washington, D.C.   Oh I would love to do that.  But alas, the ceremony is Sunday, August 28 when we will be doing our final services here.  And even if I was to be able to leave early to sing the performance, the rehearsals start immediately.   Another tough decision.    Although in the grand scheme of things. . . what delicious, amazing choices I have.  I am so grateful for all of them.   But hearing from Norman personally (well, at least on the message machine) was enough for me to begin to salivate at the thought of rehearsing with Choral Arts again for what will likely be my last year (and his!).  

So I'm still blissfully happy up here.  Especially with today's weather. . . .a very cool, breezy, and mostly sunny day.  I'm taking a jacket to the movies tonight!    But little by little my brain is getting ready for the transition.   Life is good indeed.

HEARTSTRINGS

Let's face it. . . I'm not a particularly emotional person.  At least I'm not someone who, say, cries at movies easily.   I don't easily well-up with tears when saying goodbye to people, or hearing a sad story.  Don't know why. . . just don't.

If I do get caught feeling an instantaneous welling up, there is usually music involved. . . . or else some memory of raising my boys.   Triggers are funny things.  Sometimes just the thought or image of some past event can cause the reaction.  For example, I can burst out laughing out loud at just the thought of a cherry tomato dropping to the ground and bouncing across the floor.  You would have to ask my friend Joan to explain that one, but I suspect that if she's reading this, she is laughing out loud as well.   How lovely to be able to bring up uncontrolled laughter.   Tears are another thing altogether.

I never cease to have an emotional reaction to the sight of a young woman with two small boys in tow.  If I could have one day in my life to do over, not to improve it necessarily, but just to live through it again, it would most likely be any random day with my two boys when they were about 5 and 8 years old respectively.  I miss those days alot. . . I'm lucky to be able to dream about them now and again.   I have dreams where my boys are that age, and they are talking in their little boy, unchanged voices, I can smell their little boy smells, and we are doing the stuff we used to do. . .maybe in the car on the way to soccer practice, or hiking a trail in the Smoky Mountains, or shopping for junk food on New Year's Eve.   It is always bittersweet to wake up from those dreams, but I am thankful for them.  I tried to appreciate those times while I had it, but I don't think anyone ever does.   So I'm busted. . . . I've just admitted that the sight of a woman with two little boys always gets to me.  And if I have the opportunity, I sometimes say to her:  "Oh wow. . . appreciate this time.  It goes too fast."

Okay that's one instance.    So today it's raining steadily and I just spent the last hour in the amphitheater listening to the orchestra practice for tonight.   It's community night, and anyone who plays an instrument can sit up in the orchestra and play along.   So they pick well-known and easy listening classical music.   I had with me the book I'm currently reading because nobody does multi-tasking better than I do.   I can read a couple of sentences or a paragraph while the conductor is stopping to give directions.

I didn't have my paper with me and I couldn't quite remember the line-up of pieces, but I knew I would recognize most of them.   So they start the second piece and I can't quite place it.   It's soft and slow and I decide to continue reading.   Then suddenly an electric shock goes through my body as the orchestra gets to one of the main themes of the piece.  And I know this piece.  It's Howard Hanson's Romantic Symphony (#2).  And the reason I didn't know it at first is because I'm most familiar with this one theme.    It's the Interlochen Theme.   When I worked at the National Music Camp at Interlochen for 5 summers, this 8 bars of music was used to end every concert.   It is a beautiful, slow,schmaltzy tune.   And boy does it hearken me back to sitting in Kresge Auditorium of a cool summer night in northern Michigan.   And it was funny too, because the tradition was that at the end of that theme, there was to be no applause, but just a quiet getting up and leaving of the audience.   It was even printed in the program that this is what was to be done.   Well, of course, like up here, there were first timers in every concert.   So at the end of every poignant playing of the Interlochen Theme, there would be a smattering of applause by the newbies, followed by a deafening "SHHHHHHHHHH!" from the rest of the regulars as they attempted to force the tradition down everyone's throats.   So instead of a gentle ending to the concert, there was the sound of millions of leaking balloons. . . every time.   Rarely did it work the way it was supposed to.   Ahhhh. . . .memories.

So today I'm wrenched out of my book by this gut-wrenching theme (which plays several times during the movement of the piece).   Each time I can feel the emotion in my throat as I remember the wonderful summers at NMC.   But then, in a "piling on" gesture by the universe, on the last repetition of the theme,  I look up in the choir loft behind the orchestra and there is a mother with her two little boys watching it all transpire.   Let the sobbing begin. . . . . . .. .

MORE REVIEWS. . . . . CHOP CHOP!!

I know. . . I missed yesterday for all one of you who follow every day.   Sunday is hard because of our "after the evening service" party.  By the time I get home, I often can't blog.    Take that to mean whatever you like!  :)

BOOK REVIEWS:

I finished American Rust by Phillipp Meyer.  I really enjoyed this book.  It's fairly dark, but with compelling characters and a modern day "hard-times" setting.  The theme for this week is THE AMERICAN ECONOMY: BEYOND A  QUICK FIX.   Believe it or not, themes are selected 18 months ahead of time, and the timing on this one, what with the new developments in congress and the stock market crash is pretty serendipitous.    At any rate. . . I liked the book alot.  Went to a book review of this book today and the reviewer was terrible as far as I was concerned.   But that happens.   I look forward to seeing Phillipp Meyer on Thursday.

I also began next week's book:  One Hundred Names for Love: A Stroke, A Marriage, and the Language of Healing. The author is Diane Ackerman.   I've only just begun this one, but I know I will really like it already.   Others who are reading it just rave about it.

Now for two recent movies:   I saw SUPER 8 which is really popular this summer out in the real world.  I'm not usually a fan of sci-fi action, but the previews were appealing so I grabbed a friend and went.   I LOVED this movie.  It's Steven Spielberg, and it really has the look and feel of ET, which I loved.  It's kind of like ET for the next generation of kids.  More action. . . less cuddly alien, but still a great movie which kept me super interested the whole time.  

Yesterday I saw "Buck" which is a documentary about the man who was the consultant for the movie The Horse Whisperer, with Robert Redford.   He (Buck) was a student of the guy who was the original horse whisperer.   It was so fascinating to watch him work with horses and to hear his life story.   As a former child horse back riding nut myself, this was wonderful.  Makes me want to get back into the horse riding business.   But after the trip my brother and I took in 2004 where we took a mulitple-day trail ride across the Lewis and Clark Lolo Trail in Idaho, I'm not sure I would survive the muscle soreness that horseback riding brings.  But this was a stellar movie.  Netflix this one for sure!

Now as to CHOP CHOP. . . . . I took my Knife Skills class today.  And it was wonderful.  Three hours in a class with lots of vegetables and really sharp knives, appropriate cutting boards, and a great teacher.   We sliced and diced celery, pared and chopped apples, minced garlic, fine diced onion,  medium diced zucchini and yellow squash, large diced potatoes, chiffonaded basil, sliced bread and tomatoes and julienned carrots.  With all those veggies she made up a menu of Tuscan bruschetta, minestrone soup and apple crisp which we all enjoyed at the end.  Except for one loose cannon named Jerry, the class went smoothly and no blood was shed (although it seemed like Jerry's blood might be shed for reasons having nothing to do with his cutting himself with a knife!).   Next week I take her (the Chef whose name is Lynn Novo from Naples, Floriday) master class in FLAVOR which meets for 5 days.

It is so hard to absorb that we're into our 7th week already.  The time has flown by.   And believe it or not, fall is in the air.  Today it was in the 70's and sunny.  We hear flocks of geese overhead about daily now, and there actually are some small leaves on the ground that have the fall colors.  The word out is that we can begin seeing meteor showers if the night is clear and we're out from under the trees.  

Sounds like a plan.

I LOVE LUCY. . . . .and Sandy!

It is only fitting that on this, Lucille Ball's 100th birthday, that I was in Jamestown, NY. . . .the town of her birth, for my weekly Wegman's run.   These people up here are very proud of their most famous daughter.

And she shares a birthday with my BFF from Afton. . . Sandy!   Sandy is every bit as much fun to be with as Lucy was to watch.  Must be something magical about August 6.   And if I recall, this was the day that Lucy Baines Johnson got married many many years ago.  And now she's divorced.  So that kind of debunks the whole "August 6 is magic" argument right there.

But anyway. . . Happy Birthday Lucy and Sandy.  You have both made many people happy!

The Straight No Chaser concert last night was jam-packed.  Even more than for Steve Martin or Allison Krauss!   This makes me very happy.  That all ages and generations can get that pumped up about a group of guys singing without instruments!   This bodes well for the world, is all I can say.  And they were phenominal.  By the time my friend Nancy and I mosied over for the concert, we were SOL on finding a place to sit.  We stood and happily watched the backs of other attendees for most of the concert.  . . just getting fleeting glances of the group when someone moved.  But it was worth the stress on my 62 year old feet to stay for the whole thing.  What a talented and charismatic group.

We went back to Nancy's for dessert (my friend Nancy is not only an exceptional Ceramic Artist  - as opposed to "potter". . . .there's a difference - but she is a great cook and baker as well).  On my way home, about an hour after the concert was over, there was still a long line for those that wanted to meet the 10 members of the group Straight No Chaser.  Everyone was yucking it up and having a great time.   I don't know of many other celebrities who are so generous with their time once the concert is over.  Of course, it does take awhile to get 10 autographs.   And of course, I could watch everything from my front porch. 

Today is reading (American Rust. . . I'm loving it), choir practice and the movie Super 8.   That's after I worked out this morning and went to Jamestown for groceries.  I should have looked for Vita-meata-vegamin!

HELP!

No, I'm not in trouble.  But today at 12:15 I attended a screening of the Beatle's 1965 movie HELP!   Apparently there was a Beatle's class that met this week.   And I was wondering how I could have possibly missed signing up for that one.   Who WOULDN'T take that class?   But then I checked the catalogue and it met from 9 - 10:30 AM - smack in the middle of my choir obligation.   Oh well.

But it was so great seeing it in the theater with an audience.  I  might have thought it was lame if I was sitting at home on my couch watching it on Netflix. . . . .if I had a home. . . . if I had a couch.  

But in the theater it was a wonderful combination of The Three (make that Four) Stooges meet Monty Python.  And then in the middle of a scene they would break into a song.  And oh, that's where it got powerful.   The whole movie was like a roller coaster. .  . laughing hysterically one minute, and then choking down tears the next as we saw them young and happy.  Before John got Ono-ized and serious (however Imagine came out of that period so it wasn't all bad).  And you're watching them sing, and you know how the story ends for two of them.  It was really something.  Great discussion afterwards.   Another opportunity to go back in time. . . .like riding my bike home from choir makes me feel 8 years old again.   Today at 12:15, I was in 9th grade and stifling the urge to scream every time Paul came on the screen!

The final whole foods class met today and we divided into 4 groups and made salads using grains.   One group used couscous, and the other three, including ours, had signed up for quinoa.  So our group, to be amenable, offered today to switch to farro. . .which is listed on the package as "an ancient grain."  I have had no experience with farro.  But we just threw a bunch of stuff in, and boy did it turn out great.  If I do say so myself, the class liked our salad best.  And I'm a new farro devotee.  And it was great fun chopping and cooking and creating with a group.   Kind of like having neighbors!

I'm heading off to my friend Nancy Nelson's apartment (not to be confused with the Nancy Nelson who bought my house) for dinner and then we'll go see Straight No Chaser, a well-known a capella group.  I put off Wegmans and sushi for lunch until tomorrow.  I was too busy today.   HELP!!!!

BACK IN THE KITCHEN AGAIN!

Today is my sister Bonnie's birthday.  She is 64 years old.    Paul McCartney once wrote a song about this day, just for her, I'm sure.   Other than the fact that she tried to kill me twice during childhood, and succeeded in making my brother, Chip, have two shorter fingers than the rest,  she's been a pretty good sister.  I guess she decided early on that keeping us around took alot of pressure off her, parent-wise.  So Many Happy Returns, Bon Ton Kadiddlehopper.    You're older than me!!!!

Cooking Class #3 started today and will end tomorrow. New chef.  Liked the first teacher of several weeks ago just fine, and loved some of the recipes.  But she was an advocate of using frozen or canned (YIKES) vegetables, and thought the microwave was the greatest invention of all time.  I was in the unique position of taking her recipes and adapting them for fresh cooking.  It's usually the other way around.

This class is called Whole Foods, and much more up my alley.  I'm hearing alot of what I already know.  But today she made an uncooked pasta sauce with fresh tomatoes, onions and garlic (both raw) and spices and it was very tasty with the whole wheat pasta she cooked.   Also she made a dessert with fresh peaches and blueberries and very lightly cooked phyllo dough. YUM!  Tomorrow we're divided into groups and making salads from ingredients our group decided on, and which she will buy by tomorrow.  One of the guys in my group suggested lobster, but she drew the line.  We're going to make a quinoa based salad.  

After this class I'll take her Knife Skills (I'm hoping this is for chopping vegetables, and not for potential murders) one day next week.  And then the following week, the pentultimate experience. . . a 5 day Master Class in Flavors!   The fact that right now I'm pouring Garam Masala (see former blog entry) on nearly everything suggests that I may need some newer, more subtle techniques for adding flavor to food.   We'll just see about that.

I'm sitting on my porch with a lovely glass of wine listening to the whistles and cheers at the end of the evening's orchestra concert.  I attended the 1st half. . . Beethoven Egmont Overture and a Max Bruch violin concerto.   Then I came home to get my laundry out of the dryer, tidy up the place and blog while I listened to Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz from over here.  Pretty sweet.  

This afternoon we watched a spider beginning to spin a web in the frame of my part of the porch, and this evening he is just sitting pretty as you please smack in the middle of a gigantic web.  . just waiting for supper to come by.   There is one long strand that is anchoring the entire bottom of the web, and it would be so easy for me to just reach up there and ruin the whole thing.  But then I could never do that.   Bonnie could do that. . .but I couldn't!

FROTH

Froth:  foam, made mostly of air

I have always wondered whether or not,  if I stayed up here for the whole season, my head would explode around week 6.   Well, we're smack in the middle of week 6, and while there are no explosions on the horizon that I know of,  my brain feels pretty full.   All the more reason to have a "froth" day.

There was no choir this morning because we had to report to the Hall of Philosophy to sing the 2011 CLSC class up the stairs for their "graduation."   Oh I wish I had the writing gifts to explain this one to you.  But it would take a book.   In a nutshell, the CLSC (Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle) is the world's oldest book club.   And if you sign up and read the required number of books and join the graduating class, then week 6 includes your ceremonies.   And they are patterned after the original ceremonies of 130 years ago.   So we crank back the clock, and march this class and anyone who is on the grounds from previous classes across the grounds in the morning, lead by a marching band, to the golden gates that have been constructed over night in front of the steps to the hall. . . . . oh geez. . . I'm trying to describe it.  And I can't.  You wouldn't understand.   So it was raining this morning, which RARELY happens on the graduation day.  So I find myself at 9 o'clock in the morning, wearing my Door County rain pancho which protects me from the elements but causes me to simulate a steam room of sweat underneath,  holding an umbrella, which seems like overkill but prevents the music from getting wet, singing verse after verse of an ancient hymn while little children spread flowers (oh there I go again.  .trying to explain).  . . . anyway.   A truly unique experience. And "frothy" when compared to our regular daily church service.

I skipped the morning lecture and finished reading my latest book.   I needed to finish, as Thursday is author day.  And although I'm going to miss the author because of my 2-day Whole Foods class which starts tomorrow,   I said I'd read it and I did.  There is nothing frothy about this book. . which I did finish.   It's called The Tiger's Wife by the author Tea Obrecht who will be here tomorrow.   The interesting factoid about this book is that it reads similarly to the Salman Rushdie book last year.  Part fantasy. . . convoluted multiple stories, jumping back and forth, to and from various time frames.   But this author is 26 years old.  I wanted to see her just for that.  The book is very sophisticated and I can't imagine someone that age being able to write this.   But I'm glad to have finished it.  It was not frothy and was getting in the way of Ruth Powell's theme of the day:  FROTH!

I did start next week's book:  American Rust by Phillip Meyer (who I will get to see).   I can tell I will enjoy this one.

But back to froth:   went to my massage.  Can't get much frothier than that.   Then this afternoon I went to the movies to see Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in Larry Crowne.   And it was frothy!    And I needed that after the first 15 movies I've seen this summer, many in foreign languages with subtitles, and pretty much all of them mentally challenging.    I liked the movie. . . . a sweet little romantic comedy.  My criticisms would have been that the dialogue was weak in parts, many of the circumstances unbelievable and a couple of out and out examples of ethnic stereotyping that were a little disturbing.  But who doesn't like Tom Hanks?  And his wife, Rita Wilson who has a small part is very good as well.

Tonight there is a dance concert which I'll probably go to see at least a part of. . . .  Haven't seen any dance this season so I guess I'll go to this one.  I usually like them.

Oh and by the way. . . from last night's Old First Night event:   the person who has been at Chautauqua the most consecutive summers was a cute little lady in the front row. . . . . .97 SUMMERS!!!!!   Nothing frothy about that!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Well  no doubt my sister Bonnie, who I think is a faithful reader, is reading this and saying,  "Aw, Ruthie is wishing me a Happy Birthday on her blog!  How nice.  I won't remind her that my birthday is not for 2 days."

Or my Afton BFF Sandy is saying,  "Aw, Ruth is wishing me Happy Birthday on her blog!   How nice!  I won't remind her that my birthday is not for 4 days."

Alas. . . I'm not wishing either of them Happy Birthday although I did mail cards to both this morning.   Oh what the hell. . . . Happy Birthday Bonnie and Sandy!

Actually, today is Chautauqua's birthday.  It is the annual Old First Night and it is a special, completely funky family reunion-feeling occasion.   At 12:15 today the Chautauqua Community Band (membership open to anyone. .  really) played an hour long concert on Bestor Plaza.   Blankets and chairs were set up early as people staked out their band watching territory.   I went to the movies instead.  I would have loved the American-ness of the concert, but there was a screening of a feature which appeared on NOVA about building Gothic cathedrals.  It has been recently nominated for an Emmy or two and it was great.   I love anything that demonstrates building of any kind.   Of course, this being Chautauqua, the film-maker was there so he answered questions.

Walking back across Bestor Plaza, where the remnants of what appeared to have been a very successful band concert were being cleared away,  I found my body veering quite uncontrolled toward the ice cream place.   Well, it was a birthday!   So I guess I had my week 6 ice cream cone.  Not to be confused with my Week 3 ice cream cone or my yet-to-be-eaten Week 9 ice cream cone.   Although I had a better understanding of the health crisis in America as I watched the girl behind the counter CONSTRUCT my small sized cone.  She practically needed a ladder to get all the ice cream on.   I said,   "No, no, no. . . I ordered a small!"  Well I don't have to tell you what her response was. . . . . . of course. .   . . "This IS a small."     My come-back was,   "Then how could you possibly make a large?"    She smiled again and said that usually for a large they have to subsidize the cone with an additional dish.      Of course, I did not insist she take one dip back.   I wanted to be polite after all.   So I scarffed down the whole thing.  Buckeye Classic . . . . YUMMERS!

Tonight is Old First Night. . . the campiest concert/event you can possibly imagine.  There will be group singing,  a vesper service, the "Number of Years" roll call where they find out who has been here the most seasons.  The winner will be in the neighborhood of 90 years or more of consecutive years of attendance. .  and there will be several of those!  The there's the "Generation Roll Call" where I think the top number is 8 generations.   It is Chautauqua's 137th birthday. . . .we'll have to see how many generations that is tonight.  Then there will be the "Drooping of the Lilies" where all attendees will have brought a tissue or handkerchief which they will drop in unison to commemorate all the departed.  There will be the reading of post cards from many years ago.  There will be the "Battle of the States" and either New York, Ohio or Pennsylvania will win.  Interspersed between these events will be the winners of the Boys and Girls Club airband competition.  Each division put together an extended lip-synch presentation last week and we will see them tonight.  Then they will give away a bicycle, sing God Bless America, and it's all over for another year.

Lots of long-term Chautauquans eschew this exercise in nostalgia and funk.  I've been once a couple of years ago when I was here for week 6.   But I think I'll have to give it a go tonight.   How can I resist?   Someone has to represent Virginia!!!!  Besides, our choir rehearsal tonight was cancelled!

I'm getting ready to head down to the Bell Tower which turns a nice round 100 this year.  There is a specially commissioned piece written for "Brass Ensemble and Bell Tower" which will be played at 4:30.  Something you don't see every day!

So Chautauqua turns 137 and it doesn't look a day over 125.    Many Happy Returns!

WEEK 6 ILLUMINATI!

Illuminati : plural from the Latin illuminatus:  enlightened

My choice of this title will become apparent shortly.


Week 6 Theme:  Iran: From Ancient Persia to Middle East Powder Keg

Our "enlightened" and high profile speakers include:

      Weekly preacher:;  Rev. Raphael Warnock - he is the current pastor of The Historical Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. . . .  .which means that he has assumed the pulpit once occupied by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

     Today's lecturer:  Robin Wright, journalist with the Christian Science Monitor who has covered Iran.  Tomorrow will be Azar Nafzi who authored the book Reading Lolita in Tehran.

     Afternoon lecture today and Friday: Karen Armstrong - a bonafide Chautauqua rock star. . . .her lectures are attended by hundreds and hundreds of people all spread out over the lawns for as far as one can see.   She will speak today on Ancient Iran.

    Tonight in the amphitheater. . . . . Dan Brown. . . author of the DaVinci Code and others.  Hence the Illuminati reference.

The opera The Magic Flute is running in the Opera House,  Shakespeare's Love's Labors Lost will open in the theater, tomorrow night is the annual Old First Night celebration of Chautauqua's birthday.   It's a rich and full week coming up. 

I'm off to join in the fun. . . . .