The other half of moving

You'd think after having moved around all over the world I'd remember moving is a two part process -- packing and then (its more tedious counterpart) unpacking. All of yesterday and much of today was spent cleaning out, rearranging, and unpacking; trying to fit what was Austin into my side of the Dallas house, which after seven years' worth of accumulation seems very small. Out with the unnecessary, not especially interesting furniture, in with my old Austin favorites. My chair, my ladder, the old second hand bookcase. Nowhere enough room to put all the books; though I must say many of them made it out of their crates and boxes and are helping to make my new space familiar and warm. I even sawed off some pretentious bed posts with considerable satisfaction. It helps too that the place has been freshly painted and that my bedroom opens up to the garden, which I managed to spend some time in today. We've got lovely tomatoes, peppers (jalapeno, habanero, tabasco), and cucumbers and a variety of herbs, in addition to some fantastic fig trees. The peaches didn't do so well this year. We're extending the garden in length and making preparations to plant more tomatoes (cherry), and perhaps some squash and eggplant, in addition to whatever else we can get to come up. I'd like to experiment with some lettuces and greens. We've also got all variety of wildlife -- birds (cardinals, hummingbirds, blue jays, barn finches, etc.), frogs, a rabbit (who so far has only left evidence of his existence), and lots of bugs and butterflies.

I'm taking this weekend to get settled here and will resume work Tuesday. In addition to reviewing and signing the fellowship papers, I need to look into student visas for both Argentina and Bolivia and inquire about affiliated registration at the University. Haven't managed to pick up my running schedule again yet, though I have managed some late night biking with Augie. A note on late nights in the country: they're dark and beautiful and balmy despite the heat; you can see the stars and hear the frogs and see for quite a distance and tonight there were free firework displays to be had on the horizon all round. All said, a very nice after dinner show.