Today was rainy rainy rainy. And pretty heavy rain at times. But the saying up here is that the worst day at Chautauqua is better than the best day anywhere else. It was a great day for me.
I had my 8:15 rehearsal and then we sang at the daily service. I did not stay for the sermon today, but decided to work out. I went to the gym down by the shore this time. I was able to get in a good workout, and also take a good shower and wash my hair. Trudging back up the hill in the pouring rain, carrying all my wet clothes and towels made for another work out! I had decided to skip the 10:45 lecture, and now I'm kind of sorry I did. People are raving about the guy who spoke about brain developement and early childhood emotional development. The consolation prize up here if you have to choose not to see something that you are interested in, is that they make recordings of most programs and you can buy tapes. I'll think I will definitely buy the tape of this lecture and listen to it on the way home.
I made the paper again!!! This time it was a color photograph of the whole choir singing the Sunday evening service. And there I am in the front row!!!
After lunch I attended an organ recital in one of the smaller auditoriums. An historic "tracker" organ. I love hearing any organ program I can and this one was great. Went from there to the place where Elaine Pagels was speaking again . .this time about the gospel of Judas and the gospel of Mary Magdelene. She is excellent. Then to my writing class which was really fun. I'm enjoying doing the writing, sharing it, and listening to everyone else's.
After dinner I had the once weekly evening motet choir rehearsal at the same building where I went to the organ concert today. The woman who is going to let me stay at her house on Saturday so that I can sing on Sunday before leaving to go home, is on the board of the Washington Choral Arts Society, even though she no longer lives in DC. How wierd is that? We just discovered that connection tonight!
The performance tonight was high school age kids tap dancing. Very interesting but no Garrison Keillor. But it allows me to go to bed on time tonight and be able to get up tomorrow early enough to go to the Farmer's market again before breakfast.
Time seems to be flying. It will be hard to leave on Sunday, but at least this year I'll know I'm coming back! Until tomorrow!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
CHAUTAUQUA WEEK 1 DAY 4
Here's what a typical day at Chautauqua looks like.
This morning I arose just before 7, threw on my clothes and walked to the Farmer's Market which is at the front entrance five mornings a week. I bought two pieces of vegetarian/whole wheat pizza which will be my dinners for the next two days.
On the way I bought my copy of the Daily Chautauquan. One page three were several pictures of the opening church service yesterday. My picture was prominently displayed, taken during the processional. This seems to happen to me alot, whether it's the Washington Post or the tv cameras or now Chautauqua. What can I say. . .they know a beautiful face when they see one. I'm the only choir member with my mouth open which suggests: 1. I always have my mouth open, 2. I am the only choir member who knows how to sing, or 3. I was not supposed to be singing. You make the call.
After breakfast I went to my 8:15 motet choir rehearsal. This is the smaller group that needs an audition to belong. I love singing in this choir. I could sit for hours with a good director and a good choir and sing through music. What am I saying? I do that on a regular basis!!! We sang the first weekday service. The choir leaves the choir loft before the sermon, but I went back in to listen. They get some really gifted preachers up here, and all are worth hearing. It was a great part of the day.
After church I went to the morning lecture. The topic this week is "Kids" and this was an interesting presentation by an economist (shout out to Dave. . . .I would ask if you know James Heckman, but that's like asking me if I know a music teacher from California. . . but who knows?) who was speaking about the economic implications of focusing our efforts in this country to early childhood education. Very interesting. This was a great part of the day.
I ate lunch and went to the Hall of Philosophy to stake out my seat for the afternoon lecture. This was Elaine Pagels and the crowd promised to be huge, so I went an hour early (a regular practice here) and took my knitting. I was not the first person there by a long shot, but I got a really good front row seat. Pretty soon a choir buddy joined me with her knitting. I'm officially an old woman!!! Elaine Pagels has won awards for her work researching the "gnostic gospels" which are manuscripts discovered around the time of the Dead Sea Scrolls, but which have been written about (by her and others) in recent years. She is so fascinating, and I was rivited to her talk. She spoke about the gospel of Thomas and compared it to the gospel of John, and it was so interesting. Tomorrow she discusses the gospel of Judas. Really sheds light on some of what has always been believed about early Christianity. This was a super great part of the day.
I had to reluctantly leave the question and answer part of that discussion to make it to my writing class that I signed up for. Luckily that class takes place right across the lawn from where the lecture was. The class is wonderful. Six participants and the teacher. There are three men and three women taking the class. We spent the first session getting writing prompts, writing for 10 - 15 minutes, and then sharing. It was really fun and non-threatening. The other participants are highly educated, interesting, friendly people, which is the norm for Chautauqua. I look forward to this whole week with these people. This was a super super part of the day!
I had my dinner and took a walk around the grounds while the crowds poured in from the outside world to attend the Garrison Keillor performance. The ticket to that comes with our gate pass. He had been scheduled to sign books at 5:00. I walked past the location around 7 and he was still signing books and talking individually to each and every person. I found that amazing and was able to go back to my room, get my camera, and go back and snap a couple of pictures of him. I got a great seat for the program. It was just him and a microphone. He came on stage at 8:00 and sang and told stories for 2 hours and 15 minutes! He never even took a sip of water. He had the audience positively rolling in the aisles the whole time. What an extraordinarily gifted man he is. It was so thrilling to get to see him in person. I would have loved to see a Prairie Home Companion broadcast from here, which he has done here about 15 years ago. But this was like hearing two hours of the news from Lake Wobegon. This was a super super duper part of the day.
And that is a pretty typical day. I'm hoping to maybe skip the morning lecture tomorrow so that I can go back to the gym. I don't want to miss Elaine Pagels at 2:00. It's an embarrassment of riches around here in terms of all there is to do and the lack of time to do it all. Today the Turtle Island String Quartet was on the grounds, but I couldn't work the performance into my day and I would have given anything to see them. Choices, choices!!!!! Stay tuned!
This morning I arose just before 7, threw on my clothes and walked to the Farmer's Market which is at the front entrance five mornings a week. I bought two pieces of vegetarian/whole wheat pizza which will be my dinners for the next two days.
On the way I bought my copy of the Daily Chautauquan. One page three were several pictures of the opening church service yesterday. My picture was prominently displayed, taken during the processional. This seems to happen to me alot, whether it's the Washington Post or the tv cameras or now Chautauqua. What can I say. . .they know a beautiful face when they see one. I'm the only choir member with my mouth open which suggests: 1. I always have my mouth open, 2. I am the only choir member who knows how to sing, or 3. I was not supposed to be singing. You make the call.
After breakfast I went to my 8:15 motet choir rehearsal. This is the smaller group that needs an audition to belong. I love singing in this choir. I could sit for hours with a good director and a good choir and sing through music. What am I saying? I do that on a regular basis!!! We sang the first weekday service. The choir leaves the choir loft before the sermon, but I went back in to listen. They get some really gifted preachers up here, and all are worth hearing. It was a great part of the day.
After church I went to the morning lecture. The topic this week is "Kids" and this was an interesting presentation by an economist (shout out to Dave. . . .I would ask if you know James Heckman, but that's like asking me if I know a music teacher from California. . . but who knows?) who was speaking about the economic implications of focusing our efforts in this country to early childhood education. Very interesting. This was a great part of the day.
I ate lunch and went to the Hall of Philosophy to stake out my seat for the afternoon lecture. This was Elaine Pagels and the crowd promised to be huge, so I went an hour early (a regular practice here) and took my knitting. I was not the first person there by a long shot, but I got a really good front row seat. Pretty soon a choir buddy joined me with her knitting. I'm officially an old woman!!! Elaine Pagels has won awards for her work researching the "gnostic gospels" which are manuscripts discovered around the time of the Dead Sea Scrolls, but which have been written about (by her and others) in recent years. She is so fascinating, and I was rivited to her talk. She spoke about the gospel of Thomas and compared it to the gospel of John, and it was so interesting. Tomorrow she discusses the gospel of Judas. Really sheds light on some of what has always been believed about early Christianity. This was a super great part of the day.
I had to reluctantly leave the question and answer part of that discussion to make it to my writing class that I signed up for. Luckily that class takes place right across the lawn from where the lecture was. The class is wonderful. Six participants and the teacher. There are three men and three women taking the class. We spent the first session getting writing prompts, writing for 10 - 15 minutes, and then sharing. It was really fun and non-threatening. The other participants are highly educated, interesting, friendly people, which is the norm for Chautauqua. I look forward to this whole week with these people. This was a super super part of the day!
I had my dinner and took a walk around the grounds while the crowds poured in from the outside world to attend the Garrison Keillor performance. The ticket to that comes with our gate pass. He had been scheduled to sign books at 5:00. I walked past the location around 7 and he was still signing books and talking individually to each and every person. I found that amazing and was able to go back to my room, get my camera, and go back and snap a couple of pictures of him. I got a great seat for the program. It was just him and a microphone. He came on stage at 8:00 and sang and told stories for 2 hours and 15 minutes! He never even took a sip of water. He had the audience positively rolling in the aisles the whole time. What an extraordinarily gifted man he is. It was so thrilling to get to see him in person. I would have loved to see a Prairie Home Companion broadcast from here, which he has done here about 15 years ago. But this was like hearing two hours of the news from Lake Wobegon. This was a super super duper part of the day.
And that is a pretty typical day. I'm hoping to maybe skip the morning lecture tomorrow so that I can go back to the gym. I don't want to miss Elaine Pagels at 2:00. It's an embarrassment of riches around here in terms of all there is to do and the lack of time to do it all. Today the Turtle Island String Quartet was on the grounds, but I couldn't work the performance into my day and I would have given anything to see them. Choices, choices!!!!! Stay tuned!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Chautauqua Week One, Day three
Today has given me cause to once again be grateful for the musical abilities I was born with. The choir performed twice today: once in the first morning service of the season, and once at the regular Sunday evening Sacred Songs Service. We sang a total of about 6 different pieces. I must say that the thrill of being in the choir loft at the front of the large auditorium at Chautauqua rivals the thrills I get when singing at the Concert Hall at the Kennedy Center. It's truly the best seat in the house. The other wonderful part is that I get to hear our director play the huge Massey organ. I was literally in tears this morning when he ended the service with the famous Bach Toccatta and Fugue in d minor. I played that piece as a sophomore, and even though my organ playing days are far behind me, it is beyond words to hear an artist play the piece live and be sitting in a place where the pipes literally almost enfold you. Hearing this organ played is worth the trip up.
So this morning started with rehearsal, followed by the service. This included the famous three taps of the gavel to open the season. There is also a place in the prayers where they read the names of Chautauquans who have died in the past year. It's a very touching service and also pretty long. I had my lunch and then the rooming house where I'm staying had a get-together so everyone could meet and find out about the routines.
After that I attended a concert by the US Army Field Band and Chorus from Washington DC! They put on a great show including music from Mama Mia!! When that was over I made a split second decision to walk the half mile to the movie theater (it's a darling little quaint building) and see Adventureland. Not my favorite type of movie, but entertaining. I had to hustle back to my place after that to grab dinner before going to the rehearsal and song service tonight. That was followed by another mind blowing organ piece. Wonderful conversation in the kitchen/dining room with some of my new friends. And then up here to get ready to turn in. The REAL routine starts tomorrow, Monday.
I have decided to add week 8 to the mix. Which means I'll have three more weeks after this one. I can't get enough of this place! More tomorrow!
So this morning started with rehearsal, followed by the service. This included the famous three taps of the gavel to open the season. There is also a place in the prayers where they read the names of Chautauquans who have died in the past year. It's a very touching service and also pretty long. I had my lunch and then the rooming house where I'm staying had a get-together so everyone could meet and find out about the routines.
After that I attended a concert by the US Army Field Band and Chorus from Washington DC! They put on a great show including music from Mama Mia!! When that was over I made a split second decision to walk the half mile to the movie theater (it's a darling little quaint building) and see Adventureland. Not my favorite type of movie, but entertaining. I had to hustle back to my place after that to grab dinner before going to the rehearsal and song service tonight. That was followed by another mind blowing organ piece. Wonderful conversation in the kitchen/dining room with some of my new friends. And then up here to get ready to turn in. The REAL routine starts tomorrow, Monday.
I have decided to add week 8 to the mix. Which means I'll have three more weeks after this one. I can't get enough of this place! More tomorrow!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
CHAUTAUQUA WEEK ONE DAY TWO
I guess when you live in a house that is over 100 years old, there might be some glitch in the internet connection. Maybe little mice on treadmills run it, but every so often it fails and then everything I've written is lost. So tonight I'll try to manually save save save (even though the blog site indicates that it is automatically saving) and try to get this out.
This has been an enigma day at Chautauqua. A full day where almost nothing is scheduled. This is arrival day for all the week one-ers. I arrived early yesterday to attend my first choir practice. So I had a full day to do what I wanted. The weather was gorgeous!!! After breakfast I walked around the campus for a couple of hours. This is the most glorious place to walk.
Chautauqua is truly Utopia. Sometimes you can't believe it's real because it is so charming and perfect and hearkens back to a simpler time. When you walk around in the morning you hear the cries of the boys and girls who are selling the Chautauquan Daily (newspaper). Up until this year they still sang their cries, much like in days way gone by. But they still "hawk" the papers and it's fun to hear the calls as you walk around, from the adolescent boys who voices are cracking to the younger boys with their clear high youth voices. And of course the birds are singing and the breeze is blowing. And there are dozens of different routes to take up and down lanes lined with Victorian cottages with wrap around porches. Many date back more than 100 years. There are people on the porches reading their papers, people walking dogs in small parks which are scattered around. I passed the movie house, the coffee shop, the village green with the fountain, and all the other myriad of buildings that comprise this ultra quaint community. It's like being held captive in a board game!
I read an ad in the paper about the Chautauqua marina down in Mayville, the next small town over. I got it in my head that I wanted to rent a jet-ski for a half hour or so and get out on this huge beautiful lake. I walked out to the parking lot, got in my car and headed for town. Unfortunately, at $75 a half hour, I decided that the price was a little steep, even though it would have been really cool. Too close to the end of the month. . . . .
I decided to walk to the fitness center and work out. I can join for the whole week for 30 bucks. This will be a great deal if I actually decide to work out several times. I did have a good work out, and used the pool locker room and showers to take a good shower and wash my hair. I may be able to avoid sharing the shower back at the house with the 16 other people on my floor!!!
I sat on the porch of our house and listened to the band warming up and the sound check for this evening's performance. More on that later.
After an early dinner I went to the second choir practice. We perform twice tomorrow and I was glad to have the second practice. The music is not simple, but the choir is good and I really enjoy the director and his methods. It was during that rehearsal that I decided to seriously consider coming up week 8 as well. That would give me a 2 week stretch which I would love. It would not take me any time at all to decide to spend the whole summer up here eventually. The most profound thing I've already realized is that I'm living in this room that is about 7 x 10 with a double bed, sink and small dresser, and only what I absolutely need for the week. What a great way to live. I don't know why I have all the stuff back at home. This is about the happiest I can get to live this way with only the basic necessities and a full full schedule and lots of nice people around. I don't spend one second of any day thinking about my next meal. . . .this is truly a miracle for me. And I don't spend one second worrying or thinking about what's on TV. Another miracle. Utopia for sure.
The concert tonight was a doozy!!! Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell. Now I have to say that all three of them looked pretty darn good for being in their upper 60's!!! And they sounded great. Sometimes revival groups really show their age in their sound, but these guys were great. Frankie Avalon singing "Venus." SIGH!!!! It was a great concert. And Monday night is Garrison Keillor! And all free for me since I'm singing! Why wouldn't I come back week 8 as well????
Stay tuned for that decision. Tomorrow is the Sunday service where the choir sings for the first time, and then an evening song service that we also sing. I love being a part of the choir, and part of the people at my house. So many new friends. More tomorrow!!
This has been an enigma day at Chautauqua. A full day where almost nothing is scheduled. This is arrival day for all the week one-ers. I arrived early yesterday to attend my first choir practice. So I had a full day to do what I wanted. The weather was gorgeous!!! After breakfast I walked around the campus for a couple of hours. This is the most glorious place to walk.
Chautauqua is truly Utopia. Sometimes you can't believe it's real because it is so charming and perfect and hearkens back to a simpler time. When you walk around in the morning you hear the cries of the boys and girls who are selling the Chautauquan Daily (newspaper). Up until this year they still sang their cries, much like in days way gone by. But they still "hawk" the papers and it's fun to hear the calls as you walk around, from the adolescent boys who voices are cracking to the younger boys with their clear high youth voices. And of course the birds are singing and the breeze is blowing. And there are dozens of different routes to take up and down lanes lined with Victorian cottages with wrap around porches. Many date back more than 100 years. There are people on the porches reading their papers, people walking dogs in small parks which are scattered around. I passed the movie house, the coffee shop, the village green with the fountain, and all the other myriad of buildings that comprise this ultra quaint community. It's like being held captive in a board game!
I read an ad in the paper about the Chautauqua marina down in Mayville, the next small town over. I got it in my head that I wanted to rent a jet-ski for a half hour or so and get out on this huge beautiful lake. I walked out to the parking lot, got in my car and headed for town. Unfortunately, at $75 a half hour, I decided that the price was a little steep, even though it would have been really cool. Too close to the end of the month. . . . .
I decided to walk to the fitness center and work out. I can join for the whole week for 30 bucks. This will be a great deal if I actually decide to work out several times. I did have a good work out, and used the pool locker room and showers to take a good shower and wash my hair. I may be able to avoid sharing the shower back at the house with the 16 other people on my floor!!!
I sat on the porch of our house and listened to the band warming up and the sound check for this evening's performance. More on that later.
After an early dinner I went to the second choir practice. We perform twice tomorrow and I was glad to have the second practice. The music is not simple, but the choir is good and I really enjoy the director and his methods. It was during that rehearsal that I decided to seriously consider coming up week 8 as well. That would give me a 2 week stretch which I would love. It would not take me any time at all to decide to spend the whole summer up here eventually. The most profound thing I've already realized is that I'm living in this room that is about 7 x 10 with a double bed, sink and small dresser, and only what I absolutely need for the week. What a great way to live. I don't know why I have all the stuff back at home. This is about the happiest I can get to live this way with only the basic necessities and a full full schedule and lots of nice people around. I don't spend one second of any day thinking about my next meal. . . .this is truly a miracle for me. And I don't spend one second worrying or thinking about what's on TV. Another miracle. Utopia for sure.
The concert tonight was a doozy!!! Frankie Avalon, Fabian and Bobby Rydell. Now I have to say that all three of them looked pretty darn good for being in their upper 60's!!! And they sounded great. Sometimes revival groups really show their age in their sound, but these guys were great. Frankie Avalon singing "Venus." SIGH!!!! It was a great concert. And Monday night is Garrison Keillor! And all free for me since I'm singing! Why wouldn't I come back week 8 as well????
Stay tuned for that decision. Tomorrow is the Sunday service where the choir sings for the first time, and then an evening song service that we also sing. I love being a part of the choir, and part of the people at my house. So many new friends. More tomorrow!!
Friday, June 26, 2009
THE EAGLE HAS LANDED!
Oh but I do love Chautauqua!!!
This trip will be in stark contrast to my May trip in a couple of ways. First of all, I took nothing but main highways to get here. As much as I prefer back roads, the open highway is much more conducive to listening to books on tape. The backroads require too much attention from me to be able to keep a book going. And so to that end, yesterday I listened to the entirety of Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck. Having farted around and not applied myself in junior high, I was not in the accelerated classes in high school, so while my more industrious friends (who WERE in the accelerated classes) were reading such classics as OMAM, I was sitting in an English class counting how many of the students either had cigarettes rolled up in their white t-shirt sleeves (the boys) or had hickeys on their necks (the girls). My English teachers in high school were so glad to have pure, naive me in class, that I could have gotten A's just by showing up every day and not falling asleep. So that is how it is that I have never read Of Mice and Men, and I have to say, it's a pretty good book in that John Steinbeck-ish, migrant worker, people-die-who-shouldn't-die, sort of way. And I heard the whole book between Virginia and Pittsburgh (which I have discovered since yesterday is spelled with an h on the end. . . . we didn't have that on the spelling test in high school English). I even got a healthy start on book #2, a non-challenging romance novel set in Victorian England. That should get me all the way back home.
Another way this trip is different is that, in stark contrast to the relatively high end accommodations and meals I had in May, I'm sort of "roughing it" here. I'm staying at the Ecumenical House, one of many religious based housing options. In order to stay here, you are supposedly connected to some religious practice. Now I haven't practiced religion in a very long time, however, I practice spirituality every day. So except for the fact that I must refrain from swearing and drinking for the week, I think it's okay that I'm here. Refraining from those things is sort of a moral detox for me, and probably a good thing. My room resembles a luxurious nun's cell . . .luxurious in this context meaning I have a double bed and a sink in my room. My room is special in that for an extra $10 for the whole week, I got a semi-private balcony overlooking the amphitheater where all the big productions take place. I don't have a view of the stage from my balcony, but listening to a symphony concert from here would be pretty great. However, for Garrison Keillor on Tuesday night, I'll walk the 10 steps to the amphitheater.
I share a tiny tiny bathroom with 17 other people. Luckily I have a sink in my bedroom, so "bird baths" will be the norm. I could even wash my hair in that sink if I needed to.
In this house (which is three and four stories high and comprises three buildings) there are large kitchen/dining room facilities in the basement. I have been assigned my own table to eat on. On my table is a milk crate/type shelf which holds my personal dishes and my non-perishable foods. I selected my dishes from a big closet full of miscellaneous sets of dishes which have apparently been donated by various people. I wash my own dishes and return them to the shelf on my table. I have half a shelf in a refrigerator for my perishable food. There are about 8 refrigerators in my kitchen and another of the same size across the hall. My assigned table is right next to another single woman who is in the choir. It will be nice after concerts to come back for a snack and meet with other people, and to have people to eat with every meal! There are about 10 stove tops with 4 burners each for people to use when they prepare their meals. It's a very cool system.
I had my first choir practice tonight. We practice 5 or 6 times in the week, and sing virtually every day. It's great to be singing with this group, and by singing my gate pass is taken care of for the week. . . .that's means I can go to almost any event (including Garrison Keillor on Monday) for free!
As I type this, on the night before the opening of the season, the Jamestown, NY (claim to fame. . . Lucille Ball was born there and they have a Wegmans) high school seniors are graduating. The keynote speaker is "Rudy" the guy from the Notre Dame football team who they made the movie about a number of years ago. I can hear every detail of the ceremony from my bed!!!
Chautauqua is so hard to explain to people. For me, it is the perfect antidote to a chronic condition that I have. . . . brain hunger. My brain is fed every minute of every day. So follow along, I'll try to send this again (for the 3rd time) and I'll be back tomorrow night! RP
This trip will be in stark contrast to my May trip in a couple of ways. First of all, I took nothing but main highways to get here. As much as I prefer back roads, the open highway is much more conducive to listening to books on tape. The backroads require too much attention from me to be able to keep a book going. And so to that end, yesterday I listened to the entirety of Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck. Having farted around and not applied myself in junior high, I was not in the accelerated classes in high school, so while my more industrious friends (who WERE in the accelerated classes) were reading such classics as OMAM, I was sitting in an English class counting how many of the students either had cigarettes rolled up in their white t-shirt sleeves (the boys) or had hickeys on their necks (the girls). My English teachers in high school were so glad to have pure, naive me in class, that I could have gotten A's just by showing up every day and not falling asleep. So that is how it is that I have never read Of Mice and Men, and I have to say, it's a pretty good book in that John Steinbeck-ish, migrant worker, people-die-who-shouldn't-die, sort of way. And I heard the whole book between Virginia and Pittsburgh (which I have discovered since yesterday is spelled with an h on the end. . . . we didn't have that on the spelling test in high school English). I even got a healthy start on book #2, a non-challenging romance novel set in Victorian England. That should get me all the way back home.
Another way this trip is different is that, in stark contrast to the relatively high end accommodations and meals I had in May, I'm sort of "roughing it" here. I'm staying at the Ecumenical House, one of many religious based housing options. In order to stay here, you are supposedly connected to some religious practice. Now I haven't practiced religion in a very long time, however, I practice spirituality every day. So except for the fact that I must refrain from swearing and drinking for the week, I think it's okay that I'm here. Refraining from those things is sort of a moral detox for me, and probably a good thing. My room resembles a luxurious nun's cell . . .luxurious in this context meaning I have a double bed and a sink in my room. My room is special in that for an extra $10 for the whole week, I got a semi-private balcony overlooking the amphitheater where all the big productions take place. I don't have a view of the stage from my balcony, but listening to a symphony concert from here would be pretty great. However, for Garrison Keillor on Tuesday night, I'll walk the 10 steps to the amphitheater.
I share a tiny tiny bathroom with 17 other people. Luckily I have a sink in my bedroom, so "bird baths" will be the norm. I could even wash my hair in that sink if I needed to.
In this house (which is three and four stories high and comprises three buildings) there are large kitchen/dining room facilities in the basement. I have been assigned my own table to eat on. On my table is a milk crate/type shelf which holds my personal dishes and my non-perishable foods. I selected my dishes from a big closet full of miscellaneous sets of dishes which have apparently been donated by various people. I wash my own dishes and return them to the shelf on my table. I have half a shelf in a refrigerator for my perishable food. There are about 8 refrigerators in my kitchen and another of the same size across the hall. My assigned table is right next to another single woman who is in the choir. It will be nice after concerts to come back for a snack and meet with other people, and to have people to eat with every meal! There are about 10 stove tops with 4 burners each for people to use when they prepare their meals. It's a very cool system.
I had my first choir practice tonight. We practice 5 or 6 times in the week, and sing virtually every day. It's great to be singing with this group, and by singing my gate pass is taken care of for the week. . . .that's means I can go to almost any event (including Garrison Keillor on Monday) for free!
As I type this, on the night before the opening of the season, the Jamestown, NY (claim to fame. . . Lucille Ball was born there and they have a Wegmans) high school seniors are graduating. The keynote speaker is "Rudy" the guy from the Notre Dame football team who they made the movie about a number of years ago. I can hear every detail of the ceremony from my bed!!!
Chautauqua is so hard to explain to people. For me, it is the perfect antidote to a chronic condition that I have. . . . brain hunger. My brain is fed every minute of every day. So follow along, I'll try to send this again (for the 3rd time) and I'll be back tomorrow night! RP
Thursday, June 25, 2009
CHAUTAUQUA Week 1
ON THE ROAD AGAIN!!!! (Imagine Willie Nelson's voice)
I'm in a Comfort Inn in Pittsburg on the way to Week 1 at Chautauqua. I got out of the house about 10:00 this morning. I timed it out so that I could have a nice lunch in Berkeley Springs.
I'm looking forward to my first week at Chautauqua. This year I'm staying in very sparse accomodations, and singing with the motet choir which earns me a free gate pass. This has allowed me to be able to spend three weeks total in Chautauqua this summer. This is such a good thing!
I've signed up for a writing course this week in addition to the singing, concert going, walking, meeting people, lectures, etc. etc.
While I was on the road today famous people were dying. . . Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Kind of weird to be seeing this on the tv at Applebee's at dinner tonight.
Okay out there, fasten your seatbelts! Here we go again. RP
I'm in a Comfort Inn in Pittsburg on the way to Week 1 at Chautauqua. I got out of the house about 10:00 this morning. I timed it out so that I could have a nice lunch in Berkeley Springs.
I'm looking forward to my first week at Chautauqua. This year I'm staying in very sparse accomodations, and singing with the motet choir which earns me a free gate pass. This has allowed me to be able to spend three weeks total in Chautauqua this summer. This is such a good thing!
I've signed up for a writing course this week in addition to the singing, concert going, walking, meeting people, lectures, etc. etc.
While I was on the road today famous people were dying. . . Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Kind of weird to be seeing this on the tv at Applebee's at dinner tonight.
Okay out there, fasten your seatbelts! Here we go again. RP
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