FIRST "ROUTINE" DAY

I got my picture issues figured out today so if you could not view the pictures from the last two days, you should be able to now.  Thanks to my loyal readers who let me know when it wasn't visible, and then when it was!


House of the day:

This beauty on Miller Avenue has such a beautiful garden which really doesn't show up in the picture.  This is circa 1875, very typical of some of the homes here.  Upstairs deck and side porch, along with the color scheme and porch make it a quintessential Chautauqua home!  This is about 2 blocks from my house!


Today the Motet choir (the one that is smaller and sings for the weekly services) performed for the first time at the morning church service.  I was able to croak out the anthem and the call to worship, but very impressively mouthed the words to the hymns.  I bet the congregation really thought I was singing.  


Finished my library business in time to get a seat for the very first "lecture" of the season, which was really an interview by Roger Rosenblatt of Norman Lear, who will turn 90 years old this year!  He was still sharp as a tack.  So much fun to hear him interviewed.  He was writing and producing cutting edge TV for a very long time.   


After that I went to the book review for Billy Collins' book,  "Hororscopes for the Dead,"  which is the book of the week.   The review itself was not my cup of tea, but others seemed to like it.   The book review took place on the porch of this building. . the impressive Alumni Hall.  It's gorgeous inside!

This picture does not do this building justice.  I was sitting in the sunshine on the lawn to the left of the sidewalk you see here and the reviewer was on the porch.  Later today I attended my first Reader's Theater class in the upstairs ballroom of this building.  I have taken several writing classes here.  I love this building!


On the way to the 12:15 review, people were already gathering at the Hall of Philosophy to get seats for the 2:00 afternoon lecture by one of the most popular lecturers that comes to Chautauqua: Retired Bishop of the Episcopal Church: John Shelby Spong.  I have heard him before.  He has much to say about traditional interpretations of biblical text.  He has been labeled a radical and a heretic because he ordained the first woman from the Church of England, and later when he ordained the first openly gay priest.  He believes that the Bible has been used to support prejudices and to mask violence.  Up here people FLOCK to hear what he has to say.  I don't know if I will be able to make these lectures with my work schedule, but I will have the opportunity to buy CD copies of the lectures which I may do.  I have heard him in years past.

This is a view from Alumni Hall looking across the hundreds of people who are sitting on the lawn listening to Bishop Spong in the Hall of Philosophy, barely visible by the white columns in the distance.  It's so amazing to see the huge quiet crowds straining to hear every word of a great speaker!


At my Reader's Theater Class we began reading a play about the discovery of DNA.  There were more readers than parts, so I decided to volunteer to rest my voice and just listen.  Perhaps I'll read tomorrow.  I really enjoy reading through plays!


My cohorts in the music library gig, Nancy and Jean, joined our "boss" Jared, the organist/choir director for dinner at Andriaccio's Italian Restaurant outside the grounds tonight.  We spent a couple of hours there having a great dinner and discussing choir business.  I'm really getting to know Jared this year.  He is a virtuoso organist/pianist. What treasure to listen to him play each year.  On Wednesday he'll give an organ recital on the mighty Massey, and yours truly will be his page turner!   That is really something!


One of the best parts about today is that it was cool enough for everyone to be walking around in sweatshirts.  Only 3 days ago it was sweltering.  Several big storms that went through over night changed all that.  We have a week of 70's coming up in stark contrast to the 100 degree temperatures predicted in Afton and Washington, DC!


It's been a rich and full day for sure.  I'm hitting the hay to get up tomorrow and go again!