I can't believe I live here.

It's been raining and I've been so overwhelmed with school and life that partly it's just been head-above-water time. Mufasa got his first tick and had an allergic reaction. We've been at the vet an awful lot in the last few weeks.

...Then the clouds parted yesterday and the sun shone and it was Saturday and I suddenly had a series of, "I can't believe I live here" moments. Mufasa and I walked along the lido this afternoon. I love that the clouds do this thing they're doing here... the little wisps half-way down the mountainside. If you click on the image you can see it larger. It was actually sunnier than it looks.

I'm designing a travel course for Spring semester (on the culture and history of the Deep South) that involves going to the National Civil Rights Museum, the Grand Ole Opry, Dreamland Barbeque and building a house with Habitat for Humanity. Wouldn't that be great with a big group of students? We could probably accomplish a lot, a group of 25 or so of us.

And so this is my life now. I love the students.

Chocolate and coffee are their own food groups. Here are three varieties of chocolate from my last shopping trip: a dark choclate bar that was on sale (It had over 70% cocoa and crushed cocoa beans inside, too. I ate the whole thing already. I still fit in my size 4 jeans, so it's okay...), ever-present Nutella and crazy-yummy Swiss dark chocolate hot cocoa mix (YUM!).

I still can't move in yet, but I'm loading furniture into the garage. Having a key is real progress. I go over just to walk around and imagine what it will look like in a couple of weeks. I'm buying furniture and test drove a funny, little bitty car yesterday.

One of my colleagues has six kids so he and his wife have really had to be economical as they've tried to set up house. She introduced me to used furniture stores and yesterday we found a *gorgeous* Mexican-inspired buffet/china cabinet, dining table and rug. I bought them. They'll be delivered soon. My apartment is going to be wonderful -- and huge -- when it's ready in about two weeks. This is the view out the front. It's in a *very* nice neighborhood. I saw a beautiful Swiss (surely a banker) man driving his silver sports car away from that yellow building yesterday. Can't wait to see what his story is!

There's an old woman who lives in the building. She doesn't speak any English, but I've understood that she wants to help with my laundry when I move in. I hope she can cook. I'd like for her to teach me how to make new Italian dishes...

One of these days I'll write about work and the kids... it really is fascinating being here.