Ragdale Revisited: Day Eight

Slept well finally but not until going to bed at 2:00. Worked after dinner. Read the beginning of “Dark Life” a young adult thriller by Kat Falls who is here with us now. The front of the book, across the top, is printed with, “UNCORRECTED PROOF: NOT FOR SALE.” 

Up early (for me) at 8:30, coffee, newspaper, organized photos I took yesterday. Worked editing and proofing more work from 9:20 until 1:00. I am amazed at myself.

Had a wonderful chat with Sarah. Very interesting, a Chatty Kathy but everything she says is interesting and she speaks so rapidly that you don’t have a chance to get bored. I asked her all kinds of quesitons about “being a photographer.” 

One interesting story: She grew up in the Gardner Museum in Boston. Her father was the curator (only the second one after Mrs. Gardner opened her museum.) They lived on the fourth floor of the museum. Apparently Isabella Stewart Gardner brought an Italian Chateaux, brick by brick, and in  1903 opened her musuem. 

You may remember the museum from this event: On the night of March 18, 1990, a pair of thieves disguised as Boston police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and roamed the galleries, stealing 13 works of art, including: Rembrandt's Storm on the Sea of Galilee (1633), A Lady and Gentleman in Black (1633) and a Self-Portrait (1634); Vermeer's The Concert (1658-1660); Govaert Flinck's Landscape with an Obelisk (1638); five drawings by the Impressionist artist Edgar Degas; and Edouard Manet's Chez Tortoni (1878-1880). The works have not yet been recovered. The $5 million dollar reward leading to the return of the art works is, as yet, unclaimed.

Lunch: Chef made salmon salad “just because/” leftover corn bread/ fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers/ 

Worked some more after lunch. Cleaned up and set up my room for the “Cupola Party” tonight.

The residents are invited to a party at the main house on Sunday for the Board, Alumni, and contributors who helped with “A Novel Affair” which is a fundraiser. Stephanie Kallos (who is here with us) will do a reading from her book and “cocktails and hors d’oeuvres” will be served. Just automatically we are included as residents and are already considered alums.

Cupola party was an resounding success. Everyone showed up. Before we knew it we were all half an hour late for dinner. But Linda, the Chef, had come to the party too so she didn’t mind. I put 13 of my poetry pieces around the room and received many positive comments on them. I had some photographs running on my computer of what the view out of the cupola would look like during the day (it was dark by party time) and several of the visual artist: photographers commented on how wonderful the photos were and what a good eye I have. Everyone was tickled with my room, the cupola, my toys and were so pleased that I had put on this “reception.”

Dinner: Spicy vegetarian chili with help yourself sides of cheese, onions, jalapenos, and chicken cubes. Also served with home made chips, salsa, and guacamole. Chocolate brownies and ice cream for dessert. People continue to hang out around the table later and later after dinner  talking about everything. I have gotten such positive feedback about my work from so many people. Not sure if I will be able to get my sweater over my head tonight at bedtime.

Goodnight.