...and no, it's not dawn yet, either literally or figuratively. It is 4:30 A.M. and I have been awake for an hour. There is no point going back to sleep, as I know from much experience. Once I am up, the tapes start to play, and I can't turn them off except by starting my frenetic day. So, here is my attempt to start the day...
I have had another little setback. In the process of trying to replace stolen items, specifically my passport, I have now been told that my birth certificate, which is an original, is not sufficient. Oh, it is the one given out at the hospital, all right, and, I might add, my only original link to my birth mother. Nonetheless, I need to get a new, certified copy from back east, and, oh, by the way, it takes 30 working days. Everything else is okay, though, says the nice little girl behind the counter (is she even old enough to work?) in Beaumont (I couldn't even get an appointment in Palm Springs until April 22 - it's a good thing I decided to explore other options). As soon as I get the birth certificate, I will be ready to go.....
I had to laugh. I mean, really, this falls into the "if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong" category. So I dutifully applied for the birth certificate, and now.....I wait. I mean, really, no one is sick, no one died, if I am delayed a few weeks getting back to Vancouver, well, the Western world as we know it will not come to an end. So, why am I so anxious? Rational it ain't.
So, there's nothing to do about it except go about my week. I do enjoy my classes (as escape, they are second only to bridge....) and am actually doing some reading in support. For the Art Theft and Forgery course I just read "The Gardner Heist, by Ulrich Boser, about the 1990 theft of the Rembrandt, Vermeer et al from the wonderful Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston (where I was taken by friend Ray when I was there about 5 years ago). I do think the instructor is past his "best by" date, but the topic is interesting, and some of the factoids he drops in his ramblings are worth while. The American exceptionalism course is much, much more focused, and the book I am reading to fill in (my) gaps is called American Exceptionalism: A Double Edged Sword, by Seymour Martin Lipset. I highly recommend it as an explanation of the American psyche. (By the way, the term is really used in the sense of neither good nor bad, but demonstrably different.) Next up, for Lessons from the Bench, is Courtroom #302, by Steve Bogira. (Still on the go is Doris Kearn Goodwin's latest called The Bully Pulpit, about Theodore Roosevelt, Taft, and muckraking journalism.
And, lest you think that I am all work and no play, I also found a new (to me) mystery/thriller author. Her name is Louise Penny, and this one was called Still Life. (You all probably knew about her, right? I'm always the last to know.) Great page turner, but since I found it at a thrift store, what I want to know is how Amazon knew I might want to read more of her books. I sometimes find Amazon and Google quite creepy, you know. (Although I must say, the creepiness factor does not outweigh the ease of ordering and the speed of delivery.))
Anyway. Tuesday, friend Howard, who had not yet seen the renovations, brought some Danish over after gym (Danish, gym, what is wrong with this picture?) and on cue, appropriately oohed and aahed over the changes. And later that afternoon, I met friends Geoff and Tom for happy hour at Tropical. It was jam packed, and, for a change, someone was actually "cruising" me instead of them! Those of you who know me know that I am not really a bar kind of person. It is hard to describe the attraction of Tropical. Part of it is that all the staff know me (and no, I don't go there that often!). But the other part is that it has all the trappings of a bar, but it is outdoors in the (palm tree stippled) sunshine. I hadn't seen Geoff and Tom (friends, not partners) for a while, and Tom is heading back to Vancouver shortly, so I was great to chat, and even exchange confidences under the cover of a noisy bar! Ain't happy hour fun, especially where drinks are $3 and no one measures.
Wednesday, Robin and I played bridge, and came in first overall. I have got to say, that is such a rush. We celebrated by going out to dinner. to Trilussa, my new favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant.
(You can tell she's happy, can't you?) Robin and I have known each other for 38 years, since law school, and we still have a great time together!
And, believe it or not, after all the gym and bridge and classes and socializing, I finally had a perfectly free weekend. So here's what I did. Aside from the occasional hour spent chatting with various neighbors on my patio, I spent the weekend at the pool, my first real pool time since December. It was fabulous, the weather was glorious, in the high 80's, the water was warm to get in but enough to cool off in, and I found that I have maintained my first (and thus far, only) retirement skill, that is, being able to read on my float without getting either book or magazine wet. (I don't push my luck, though, guys, neither hardback books nor Kindle see poolside!) Although one or two people joined me over the course of the weekend, mostly I had the place to myself. And, of course, one of the benefits of living in a 55+ complex is that there are no children! Hooray for peace and quiet! So, aside from reading (books, magazines and, of course, the Sunday New York Times), I did absolutely nothing. It was brilliant!
Phase 2 of the renos started yesterday, but it is much smaller, and more easily contained. My en suite is getting a makeover; in a week, the new shower installation will be revealed. Pictures to follow.
And here it is, almost time for breakfast and the gym. You guys have helped get me through the night, and for that, I am grateful.
I have had another little setback. In the process of trying to replace stolen items, specifically my passport, I have now been told that my birth certificate, which is an original, is not sufficient. Oh, it is the one given out at the hospital, all right, and, I might add, my only original link to my birth mother. Nonetheless, I need to get a new, certified copy from back east, and, oh, by the way, it takes 30 working days. Everything else is okay, though, says the nice little girl behind the counter (is she even old enough to work?) in Beaumont (I couldn't even get an appointment in Palm Springs until April 22 - it's a good thing I decided to explore other options). As soon as I get the birth certificate, I will be ready to go.....
I had to laugh. I mean, really, this falls into the "if anything can go wrong, it will go wrong" category. So I dutifully applied for the birth certificate, and now.....I wait. I mean, really, no one is sick, no one died, if I am delayed a few weeks getting back to Vancouver, well, the Western world as we know it will not come to an end. So, why am I so anxious? Rational it ain't.
So, there's nothing to do about it except go about my week. I do enjoy my classes (as escape, they are second only to bridge....) and am actually doing some reading in support. For the Art Theft and Forgery course I just read "The Gardner Heist, by Ulrich Boser, about the 1990 theft of the Rembrandt, Vermeer et al from the wonderful Isabelle Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston (where I was taken by friend Ray when I was there about 5 years ago). I do think the instructor is past his "best by" date, but the topic is interesting, and some of the factoids he drops in his ramblings are worth while. The American exceptionalism course is much, much more focused, and the book I am reading to fill in (my) gaps is called American Exceptionalism: A Double Edged Sword, by Seymour Martin Lipset. I highly recommend it as an explanation of the American psyche. (By the way, the term is really used in the sense of neither good nor bad, but demonstrably different.) Next up, for Lessons from the Bench, is Courtroom #302, by Steve Bogira. (Still on the go is Doris Kearn Goodwin's latest called The Bully Pulpit, about Theodore Roosevelt, Taft, and muckraking journalism.
And, lest you think that I am all work and no play, I also found a new (to me) mystery/thriller author. Her name is Louise Penny, and this one was called Still Life. (You all probably knew about her, right? I'm always the last to know.) Great page turner, but since I found it at a thrift store, what I want to know is how Amazon knew I might want to read more of her books. I sometimes find Amazon and Google quite creepy, you know. (Although I must say, the creepiness factor does not outweigh the ease of ordering and the speed of delivery.))
Anyway. Tuesday, friend Howard, who had not yet seen the renovations, brought some Danish over after gym (Danish, gym, what is wrong with this picture?) and on cue, appropriately oohed and aahed over the changes. And later that afternoon, I met friends Geoff and Tom for happy hour at Tropical. It was jam packed, and, for a change, someone was actually "cruising" me instead of them! Those of you who know me know that I am not really a bar kind of person. It is hard to describe the attraction of Tropical. Part of it is that all the staff know me (and no, I don't go there that often!). But the other part is that it has all the trappings of a bar, but it is outdoors in the (palm tree stippled) sunshine. I hadn't seen Geoff and Tom (friends, not partners) for a while, and Tom is heading back to Vancouver shortly, so I was great to chat, and even exchange confidences under the cover of a noisy bar! Ain't happy hour fun, especially where drinks are $3 and no one measures.
Wednesday, Robin and I played bridge, and came in first overall. I have got to say, that is such a rush. We celebrated by going out to dinner. to Trilussa, my new favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant.
(You can tell she's happy, can't you?) Robin and I have known each other for 38 years, since law school, and we still have a great time together!
And, believe it or not, after all the gym and bridge and classes and socializing, I finally had a perfectly free weekend. So here's what I did. Aside from the occasional hour spent chatting with various neighbors on my patio, I spent the weekend at the pool, my first real pool time since December. It was fabulous, the weather was glorious, in the high 80's, the water was warm to get in but enough to cool off in, and I found that I have maintained my first (and thus far, only) retirement skill, that is, being able to read on my float without getting either book or magazine wet. (I don't push my luck, though, guys, neither hardback books nor Kindle see poolside!) Although one or two people joined me over the course of the weekend, mostly I had the place to myself. And, of course, one of the benefits of living in a 55+ complex is that there are no children! Hooray for peace and quiet! So, aside from reading (books, magazines and, of course, the Sunday New York Times), I did absolutely nothing. It was brilliant!
Phase 2 of the renos started yesterday, but it is much smaller, and more easily contained. My en suite is getting a makeover; in a week, the new shower installation will be revealed. Pictures to follow.
And here it is, almost time for breakfast and the gym. You guys have helped get me through the night, and for that, I am grateful.
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