It's been a very good day!

I started the morning with breakfast on the back deck of the ship watching sailboats in the harbor and enjoying the sun on my face. It was totally blissful. I could get used to starting my days this way.

After breakfast, I headed to the library to plan my day since I was anticipating that things would finally happen, i.e. boxes, lists, and workstudy students. At 9:00 the supervisors attended a meeting to meet and greet the 26 workstudy students who would be assigned to various areas. They were given a great surprise by one of the life long learners who will be joining us on this voyage. He gave each of the workstudy students $500 to spend on the trip. It was wonderful to see their reactions. They were so appreciative of his generosity - I saw several students fighting back tears. We were then assigned our students and got to meet with them to talk about who we all are and what we'll be doing together for the next 100 days. I'm really pleased with my students and I think they will be a great asset for the library.

After meeting with them, Eileen (my assistant) and I sat through 2 1/2 hours of meetings. Yuck. I've had enough of meetings. I think that is the last of them though...for now. After lunch, Eileen and I returned to the library to help some of the faculty members set up materials for their courses. And then the most wondrous thing happened. The boxes arrived!!!!! 13 glorious boxes full of books. Life is beautiful. Eileen and I immediately started opening and unpacking them but unfortunately, we weren't able to finish the project at that time because the Parent's Reception was starting and the library was being consumed by them. We tidied up a little bit, grabbed some of the reception food and took a break. It was well deserved.

I also took a break to switch my belongings to my permanent room. Sweet!! I love it. It has a huge window and a small banquet of seats that encourages lolly gagging. I'm in seventh heaven. Unfortunately, my unpacking efforts have created total chaos in the room which is not conducive to lolly gagging. Need to work on that.

After dinner on the back deck with some really aggressive seagulls we were surprised by an early lifeboat drill. It was supposed to be at 10:00 rather than 7:00 so people were a little late gathering at the appropriate place. We all looked really dorky in our life vests but at least there was solidarity in our dorkiness. It's tough to feel embarrassed about it when the high level administrators are sitting with you looking equally lame.

After the life boat drill, Eileen and I returned to the library to finish shelving the books and getting some other stuff done to get caught up and have a fighting chance tomorrow when the faculty members bombard us with more requests. I'm feeling really good about everything that has been accomplished today. A nice change from the last several days when there hasn't been any progress in setting up the library.

Yesterday was rather frustrating because we were in limbo without the materials we needed and were basically in the way of the big party. Eileen and I decided it would be best to give ourselves the afternoon off and I took the opportunity to go back to Coronado and sit on the beach for a couple of hours. It was just what I needed even though I came back with a bit of a sunburn. The price one pays for nirvana.

Tonight we sail for Ensenada! The ship leaves the dock at 11:00 pm and everyone is planning to be in the Faculty/Staff lounge which is at the front of the ship with phenomenal views. It will be worth loosing sleep to participate in this. Everyone is so excited that the adventure is about to begin.

The students board the ship beginning at 10:00 so that will probably be a good time to be elsewhere since I'm told it's total chaos. Eileen and I will do a few more projects in the morning and then get some time in the city while the students get settled in. And then the semester begins in earnest. Holy Crap!