Sometimes, It's the Little Things.

This week has been one of those weeks where 

I'm a little bit bored and a little bit deflated and a little bit under 

the unsettling torment of deceptive identity. 

But then!

I take my car in, to get an oil change and otherwise prepare for winter (because I am so responsible), and I don't know what those guys did, but when I returned to my car, I found this CD case

 peeking out from under my seat.

THIS CD CASE HAS BEEN MISSING FOR FOUR YEARS.

I thought it was stolen! Long gone! 

But oh, how I have grieved the loss 

of some of the best music a girl can carry around in her car.

The rest of the day was long, and full of all of these things 

that jostled around to take charge of my soul, 

so when I got home I thought a late-night cocktail 

might be just the cure.
The question was: Bourbon? Or mustard?

Just the cure indeed.

[Do not mess with a girl and her mustard when she has had a day.]

And then today, 

I went to work at my temporary office building
from-which-they-keep-saying-we-will-be-moving
until-we-try-to-get-details-and-cannot-get-a-hold-of-them

to discover that there was no parking.

NO PARKING ANYWHERE.

So I parked illegally, flashing my hazards in hopes that the Parking Tyrant who was scoping out the parking lot would give me some grace, and ran in to grab my "this might as well just be my office anyway" binder, and hightailed it back to my sweet home.

I settled down at my table,

and discovered

 THIS CHIPMUNK IS TAKING OVER MY BIRDFEEDER!

[I am betting he is also responsible for the loss of my corn.]

We had a serious chat about it, 

a real eye-to-eye discussion, 

and I thought he understood,

but I have since discovered he is stubborn.

He has met his match however

because I am stubborn as well,

and not afraid to break the window,

while banging him away.

Thank goodness I was here,

to save the day.

All the way around,
it really is the little things.

To be a Teacher

Having stepped out of a classroom 

has opened up a need to teach...

...early mornings spent, putting lessons together,

for a whole other Purpose.

Salvaged.

When you love something--

--you have to take the good with the bad.

So, though my cottage is my most favorite thing,

 who is this critter who comes along with it,

eating my beautiful corn?!

Friendly Work Days

Taking advantage of fall afternoons

without opera rehearsal,

is beyond lovely,

just being together.

Piano Babies Make my World Go Round

Friendly Travels

For some reason, I thought that finishing a week of opera performances, followed by a Friday late night cast party, was the perfect time to leave my house at 7 am on a Saturday morning for breakfast with my Harrisburg friends in order to celebrate a new baby.

It was, however, such a lovely time despite my lack of sleep, that there are not even any pictures.

We sat around a big round table, passed that baby around, ate a ton of food. We talked and talked, all together, in little clumps, then back together again. And I thought: What a gift, that these women are still available to me, even after all these years.

Then, I went to Banana Republic, because it's there, I had a coupon, and it reminded me of my good old Harrisburg days. It was glorious.

But then, I traveled just a bit further to my dear friend Katy, who brought me to the bookstore she is now working in, which was a very magical time and a very big problem for my budgetary situation.

But THEN, we traveled together, just a bit further, 

to Nelli & Ben's new place, 

and worked 

 extensively,

 and with great joy,

 until we were beat,

but just happy to be together.

The next morning we churched all together,

and then Katy and I headed off.

In a comedy of error, we tried three times to get some food
[three times!!], but ultimately decided we should just head home.

Then, we suddenly and somehow found ourselves in the Inner Harbor,

having gotten lost in our talking and along our way.

Which, turned out to be the most beautiful way to spend a day!

 Deciding to head towards Fell's Point

 we were charmed

 as we walked around,

 amazed that we'd somehow ended up here.

 We checked out the shops,

 we took in the views.

 And then it was time to eat

at the Waterfront Hotel

 and we were so happy.

Then, we really did drive home,

 stopping at this local orchard when we got there.

 We browsed around,

 looking at all the treats.

But then, 

 we had to check out the attached winery, of course.

And somehow our day of travel turned into 

just the loveliest time together,

and we were very happy.

So, after a month of barely any friendly interaction,

this whirlwind of friendly travels was exactly what I needed.