Greetings from Tacoma!

Greetings from Tacoma, WA! Here is my home for the next ten days or so.

 It's hard to imagine that two people have to share a room this size during the school year. Between my food stash and my book stash, I'm definitely spread over both desks, and my clothes are spread out on the bed I'm not occupying.

Yesterday and today have been mostly 'meet and greet,' but we've been treated to two amazing readings already also. And workshops and classes start in earnest tomorrow, bright and early. I've been running the last two days, getting to know the surrounding area a little, and recognize that there may not even be time to do that so much. My cohort is filled with interesting people who are as excited about this as I am. The 'returning students' are friendly and welcoming.

This is all going to be happening so 'immediately' that I don't know how much I'll be able to write about it. We have a breather on Thursday, so I'll aim to update then.

I'm aiming to be well-prepared but relaxed with the food thing, but found the opening catered dinner very stressful tonight--the combination of hordes of  unfamiliar people and cheese-covered salads at every place setting tripped one of my switches for a moment there...

On a more positive note, I had bought some gluten free granola bars made with gf oats, a little apprehensively as I wasn't sure that even gf oats would work for me, and it seems to be fine!

Back home, I packed pretty light. I found that computer case at the thrift store and used it as a carry-on for my clothes--slightly awkward and not perfect, I may shop at the thrift store again for a better space arrangement!

 Of course, now I'm here, I'm not sure that I brought enough clothes. I've been handwashing with "bronners" already.

I should introduce "The Warthog!" This little sweetheart is the new addition to our family--'our new car!' We got her when Phil's nephew and his girlfriend came up so that they could have transportation, and our next set of guests, and maybe winter driving for us. She gets great gas mileage, and check out those udders behind the back wheel! (They're just drips of expandable foam but I'm calling them udders.)

Yes, she's a rusty tub, but we have some sandy ideas for clearing her up. It's funny how now that we have her, I'm noticing cars just like her all over Homer. Subaru is a ubiquity up in AK: they work very well there, but most people have the newer and bigger models. Proud, we are!

Thanks for reading!