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TIME OUT IN THE TREETOPS

There was always something magical about a treehouse, and I have often wondered what it would be like to stay in one.

The last time I was in Ptown at the Norman Mailer Writers Colony, I stayed in a cute little beach-themed apartment, full of light. This time around, I’m in a three-floor two-bedroom condo under the trees—and the room in which I sleep, as well as the spacious attic where I work, seem like they’re tucked up in the boughs. Childhood fantasy number umpteen—someday I’m going to live in a treehouse—complete!

Have I spent much time in it? Not much. For those of you wondering why I’ve fallen off the face of the earth, my days here have been filled with swimming, sitting on the beach or on Norman Mailer’s back porch, doing homework, attending workshop, and spending time with the other attendees, all fine writers. Instructor Marita Golden is amazing; since the workshop is all about protagonists in fiction, I’m finding I’m learning as much about myself and other people as I am about the ones I create on the page. Each of us also gets a private meeting with Marita to discuss our work, and, as a group, we’ve been out to dinner at Fanizzi’s, had a pleasant cocktail hour, and attended a jazz concert at the Provincetown Art Association and Museum [PAAM]. We have plans for the rest of the week to include a visit to the famous Pilgrim Monument and a trip to Truro Winery. Oh, yeah—I’ve also managed to cram in a visit to the Wellfleet Drive-in.

Here’s pix of my palace in the trees, where right now I’m sitting as the ocean breezes pour through the open window and skylights, and where each night, I fall asleep to the sound of rustling leaves and marvel at how, when I was a child, I never thought a dream like this would come true.

You can click on each thumbnail to get an enlarged image. Enjoy!

: The front door. My parking space is directly in front; my car wasn’t parked there at the time I took this.

: The front door.

: I love this door knocker! There’s something so creepy about it. An equally creepy fountain in the same fish shape is in the patio garden.

: My door, as you’re heading off to great adventures in Ptown!

: This is the area in the entrance hall. Plenty of hooks for bags; one of the cabinets, though, is locked; the other contains the water heater.

: Welcome home!

: The living room — we’re heading counter-clockwise around the room. What’s interesting is that smal square basket on the table is full of pennies. Weird.

: I’d love this place in the winter! Provided, of course, I wasn’t so afraid of fire!

: This couch is totally comfortable; I’ve done some reading for class on it. What’s interesting about this room is that it’s pretty dark–not the usual Ptown digs–but I like it. It’s got a cozy, warm feel to it that in winter would be wonderful.

: The furniture is nice stuff. I like these two chairs, which seem to be cane (really, feel free to correct me, I don’t know my furniture), but mostly I love the dark brown stain contrasted with the bright blue cushions.

: This is the slider that leads out to the back patio.

: The patio set. I love that bright blue color.

: Despite the fact the garden could use a little tending, I’m a bit gothic so I sorta go for this run-down, slightly overgrown look.

: This little corner garden reminds me of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Though I have no idea why, really. Maybe it’s just all the statuary.

: I’m drawn to this statue, probably because, although it may be a replica of something famous (I’m not sure), it’s reminiscent of the body casts found in Pompeii.

: The garden decor is interesting. That planter on the wall — I don’t know if you can see it well enough — has some mold on it, especially on the angel’s face. Cool.

: Enter one non-working creepy fish fountain full of brown water. I love the atmosphere on this back patio and spend a great deal of time out there.

: This lounger — even though I’m lucky enough to have a washer-dryer in my unit — is where I hang my towels from the pool and beach to dry.

: This is the view from the living room window.

: The dining room table, where I’ll be hosting a few guests.

: My huge kitchen, complete with dishwasher!

: A second shot of the kitchen. It really is a nice size for cooking — plenty of counter space. I’ve done so many more fresh meals here than I did at my winter quarters.

: The other side of the kitchen counter space.

: The window over the kitchen sink.

: The sink in the downstairs bathroom.

: This is the art in the downstairs bathroom. Interesting — the art in this place is either seashore or woodland inspired. It’s a unique combination.

: Everyone laughs at me because I always take pictures of the toilets. Why stop now?

: I really like this piece of furniture — the shelves are a pink and green marble, and the rest is wrought iron.

: Asceding the stairs to the second floor.

: The landing between the first and second floors.

: This is at the top of the stairs to the second floor; behind these doors is the washer-dryer set.

: The hardwood floors in this place are gorgeous. They’re real, not the fake stuff.

: The second floor bathroom. I like the shower doors — they’re the same kind I had growing up.

: Here I go with the toilet shots again.

: This is the second bedroom, not the master — but this is the one I chose. It’s closest to the treetops. When a rain came through at three in the morning, it was the most relaxing sound.

: The view out one of my bedroom windows. Sorry about all the dappling — that’s how it looks when I wake up.

: This is my bedroom closet. Plenty of room inside.

: The dresser in my bedroom. There’s no air conditioning, but the fact that the place is nestled in the trees makes a difference, so the fan blowing on me works just fine!

: This is the master bedroom. Charles stayed here when he came to visit. It’s charming, but just not me.

: This house is peppered with interesting furniture. I love this old fashioned school desk.

: The master’s closet.

: The stairs ascending to the third floor — technically, the attic.

: The view at the top of the attic stairs.

: The view from the skylight nearest the desk.

: This is a long view of the attic. I love it — it’s so reminiscent of Poe’s attic in Baltimore, and Mailer’s attic here in Ptown. In both cases, the writing desk faces the window at the end of the room.

: The television. I’m not using it much except to enjoy DVDs as background noise. Since it’s summer, I’ve brought plenty of killer fish films!

: This angel statue is in the corner. Creepy. I love her. There’s a candle in her bowl, which, as of this writing, I haven’t yet lit. I might some night soon — it would provide great atmosphere at night if all the lights were off.

: My writing desk.

: The corner next to the desk. The artwork to the left is very interesting — it’s drawings of flowers melded with the characters in Greek mythology for whom they’re named. Narcissus is my favorite.

: The knobs on the set of drawers in the attic.

: Another shot of the writing desk area. I love the dappled light on the floor.

: Another view out one of the incredible skylights. There are two in the attic.

: How the light in the attic window looks in the morning.

: This is the skylight nearest the work desk.

: This is the view out the window over the desk. It’s actually neat facing someone else’s house — a lot of that goes on in Ptown. I don’t think anyone’s ever in the attic across from me–there are no blinds, and there are never any lights on.

: This is how the floor under the skylights in the attic looks in the morning. It’s truly like living in a treehouse. The Swiss Family Robinson didn’t have it this good!

: Yes, I know, I have a lovely desk that faces a window. But I have this thing about working on the floor in front of a coffee table and always did, so naturally, that’s where I ended up. With the TV in front of me and windows to the side and front–just like in every other office I’ve ever had.