WEEKLY UPDATE 9/30/2012

Oh, crap! it isn't easy getting old. on Monday this week, I went for Medicare counseling. I’m going to be forced to make the decisions about all that stuff in a short time. do I need Part A & Part B? Do I need drug coverage? Do I need supplemental? and what will all this cost me? Too many options! why isn't it simple? why isn't it as easy as you sign up, you pay into it, and you're covered? The counseling I had wasn't that helpful. I believe she was actually paid by the government to convince me that the more coverage I pay for, the better off I’ll be. And she certainly showed her government training with her ability to avoid answering questions. I'm just going to have read a lot more, and then hold my finger over the list of options while blindfolded and choose.

Tuesday I began my first day of duties as a docent at Massie School. It was a bout as boring as I thought it was going to be. I did, however, have a couple of tourists ask for a tour, which is more than I thought I would get. I think I did ok with that, and most of the questions they had, I could answer because I already know quite a bit about the history of Savannah, and the way the city was planned. It didn't seem very interesting though, and I don't know if this will last long.

Thursday there was a meeting of Savannah chapter of the Victorian Society, of which I am a member. The “meeting” was held at the Massie, school, so for the second time this week, I drove to Calhoun Square. I didn't remember to take my camera, and I meant to get some photos to add to this e-mail that didn't work out. Luckily, however, I can report that I did remember where I had parked the car.

I did my MOW and my tours at DH. But that was just about all I felt like doing. In fact, I didn't even open the door on either Saturday or Sunday. I decided not to go to Coach's to watch the Bills game. Last week I didn't go because I didn't think I would need to watch the Bills beat the Browns. And this week, I didn't think I'd need to see them lose to the Patriots. That turned out to be a wise choice.

So, it was really a do-nothing week. But I'm getting to enjoy doing nothing, and it's quite easy.

9/23/2012

Coping with my disappointment that Brian & Sharon have canceled their visit here next February was with my usual flair, I ate and shopped this week. The more I eat, the more I have to shop - because my clothes don't fit any more, but that's what I do. And I had great success with my shopping. I bought a TV and DVD player for the beach room. Now I have one more place in the condo to watch Downton Abbey, and I can sleep in there, too. I guess that's a win-win.

I called Monday morning, even before I purchased the new TV, to schedule an appointment to have Comcast come out set me up with the “box” that I need (a digital converter? they can't convert thru the cable???), but after waiting on hold for 20 minutes, I hung up. I needed to get to my already scheduled oil change, and I never realized that it would take so long, and then not even be able to talk to someone. Tuesday, I called Comcast again, with a little better luck. I was only on hold for 15 minutes this time, but thru all that I had to listen to all the wonderful & exciting things that comcast would do for me, like being able to get my DVR programs in any room, or get email on the TV screen. What's not mentioned, is what these things cost. When I finally was able to speak to a real person, who actually spoke with an accent I could recognize, I asked why I didn't get HD or extra channels that I pay for on all my ti’s. The answer is - wait for it - because I don't pay extra. I can pay for those rvices INTO my condo, but to get them in EVERY ROOM would be another $20 a month. hummmm. I wish I had a an alternative, but Comcast is the only cable provider here in Savannah, and I'm not able to have a dish because it would “look” unsightly from the outside of my unit. So, I'm stuck. The Comcast tech rep came out on Wednesday to hook me up with the cable connection to the new TV. Now I can watch TV in there, too, but only the basic channels, if I want to. And all this “service” is only $100 a month.

I went to a couple of interesting lectures this week. One was on Tuesday at the Visitors Center, sponsored by the Coastal Heritage Society. It was about the War of 1812 from a Canadian perspective. The speaker had some interesting insights, and learning about some of the battles from the view point of the other side is always intriguing. Also, he was a Canadian, who works for the parks commission there, and lives in Niagara-on-the-Lake. When he said that, all the memories of theater, b&b's, shopping, dining in that wonderful town came flooding back. I also attended a lecture at the Senior Center about Savannah in the Reconstruction period following the Civil War. This will be a 9-week series, so we only did background during the first talk.

There was a showing of Gone With the Wind at the Lucas Theater on Friday evening. Lisa wanted to go, so I joined her there. It was different to see a classic movie like that on the big screen, not on my tv. The ending hadn't changed: Scarlet was still going to think about it tomorrow.

Saturday I needed to go to Bonaventure because this was my week-end to open and close the visitor center. I also was scheduled for the first shift at the desk, to answer questions and hand out maps. Well, the replacement volunteer never showed up at 1 pm, so I stayed for the whole day. It hardly matters as I have nothing else to do anyway. The Ladies Dining Out group met that evening at an Italian restaurant downtown. The food was good, the company was great. We haven't been together in quite a while, and the ladies who escape to the north were back (except for Donna - I miss her a lot). So it was nice to be together again.

Sunday morning, it was back to Bonaventure to unlock that gatehouse, but I didn't have to stay today. I bought a morning newspaper on the way back to the condo, and read that while waiting for the early games to begin. I decided not to go to coach's this week - after all, the Bills were playing the Browns, so what was the point of watching that blow out? When I left to go back and lock up, all the games were in the 4th quarter and most were pretty much decided. I didn't think I would miss much. When I arrived at the visitor center, and turned on my ipod to check the scores, the Lions had come from behind to tie the game, the Chiefs were tied in their game with the Saints, the 'Fins & Jets were tied, and the Colts had just missed a field goal to hand the game to the Jags. And there I sat - counting the money from the donation box, without a tv to watch the OT of the games, and wishing I was someplace else.

One of my aunts in Rochester unexpectently died this week. My mother's brother's wife. Most people I left behind have ignored me totally, but this aunt wrote to me occasionally and sent me holiday greetings since I've moved. That has meant a lot to me. Rest in Peace, Aunt Lil.