Arrivals, not the beginning

Tuesday: My alarm was set for 5. I woke up on my own at 4:59, and turned off the alarm, then "rested my eyes" until 5:30, at which point there was a loud smack from the bunk below. I was wide awake, and thought that I must have been snoring, and my lower neighbor had been trying to silence me. Later on he said he had punched the upper bunk in his sleep. At any rate, I got out of bed at 5:36, and went and did some morning practices in the classroom, until a little after 7 AM. Went to the ballroom for morning sitting, and without intending to, sat next to MB. She gave me a nudge in the dark, or I might not have noticed.

Breakfast at 8, of muslix, served to us this time, with yogurt and milk. Sat near Robert, and next to Martin, MB on on my other side. A fellow named John H sat across from me. He and Robert talked about traveling, which led to discussion of the Stadium Buddy, vacuum packed socks and boarder guards suspicions of guitar smuggling. After, I practiced guitar on my own in the little classroom (right hand work, Hope, Chrysanthemum and so on).

At 10, I went and joined the lunch crew. Between then and 12:45, we made a potato mash with carrots onions and garlic, broiled squash slices, cabbage slaw with oil and lemon (also on the table, bread and cheese, water). I took a short break at Debra's (who was the head chef) request, and while I was away a pot I had on low was turned to high, and a serving pan, which I'd asked not be washed, was. Tony G and RF were first in line waiting for food.

Many things can be accomplished by simply making a good beginning, and then being patient while waiting for the inevitable results.

Many of the course participants arrived for lunch. We were 84 in number. Tony said that Curt, Igor, Sandra and Rob Rushin had just missed the plane from Chile, but they should be here by around 6 PM. Many familiar faces as I served the potatoes. It got downright quiet during the meal. Debra ended it with an announcement, and a song. Some coffee, and completion with the lunch team.

MB and I went to work on guitar in the classroom. Taylor was doing an AT lie-down... We worked on Invention 1, but then, started smelling something strange. I turned out the power adapter was melting. I tried plugging it in the other way around, which resulted in a loud pop, and a spark. This and the smell drove Taylor from the room. MB and I worked on Thrak and Growing Circle.

Tea at 4. I volunteered for some clean-up. John P said his father gave him two bits of advice: Never volunteer for anything, and never lie (life is complicated as it is). But he did volunteer anyway. So then, kicked around for a while until 5. Mopped the front entrance, which was difficult as people kept coming and going.

Lying down, sort of a nap. Privacy is getting scarce. More work on Larks and so on.

7:30 Dinner. Polenta, peas and carrot salad. My thoughts were mostly on those missing from the course. A large group version of Blockhead. RF announced that the course would not begin until the next morning, because so many people were delayed in their arrival. So, what to do with the evening. Hernan said "I want to be entertained by a hot group." And the surest way to have a hot group, was to just pick Zum. So, 9:30, in the ballroom for a performance. Igor, Curt, Rob R, Sandra arrived somewhere near the end of dinner, Igor sporting new crazy big hair.

I suddenly felt like I had too much energy... all nerves. I spent some time in the backyard, and then went for another lie-down in my bed. Debra came and found me, asking for help with her computer. I cleaned things up a bit for her, and then it was time for Zum. They played wonderfully...

After the performance, I helped put away chairs, then helped Debra a bit more with her Mac. As we walked back to our rooms, Cecilia told her that we had no water in the building... and sure enough, no water in any of the bathrooms. However, strangely, there was water in the kitchen (so it's not that the main is out...). 100+ people, no showers or flushing toilets. Ugh. This will get unpleasant rather quickly. Some very boisterous men were beating the snot out of their guitars in the hall when I found MB huddled in the corner trying to practice. We hung out a bit in the dining room, talking about the lack of water. I am on breakfast duty tomorrow morning, so I am going to bed soon.

About half an hour after writing the last entry, the water was restored.