10/28/2012

WEEKLY UPDATE 10/28/2012

On Monday, I had signed up for a lecture on disastrous hurricanes on the southern coast throughout history Very timely, since we expected Hurricane Sandy to arrive in the coming week. Some of the historic hurricanes - Hazel, Hugo, Floyd - which have caused much damage in the past, were discussed and photos were shown. Georgia, it seems, has been spared much of the destruction that other parts of the country have suffered, mostly Florida. And Sandy proved no different. We had some wind on Friday & Saturday, but it was more a refreshing breeze than a terrifying wind. We didn't get one drop of rain. I think Rochester is going to be more affected by the storm than we were. So, my candles, flashlights, and bottled water are safe in the closet to wait for another day.

Wednesday, I was invited to Donna's for lobster soup (she's from Maine) with Susan & Helen. The meal was wonderful, and the company was grand, as well. Donna can also make a fine pumpkin pie martini. ohhh...

Thursday, following my MOW deliveries, I drove out by the Mall to go to the Social Security office. I need much more information on Medicare than I already have, because I’m going to be forced to enroll next year. It's all so confusing - what plan, what cost, what's available - and I looked through some of the literature, but put it away for another time. Besides, might the election change things for me and thousands of other seniors? Who knows?

It's been two weeks since I’ve had to lead a tour at DH, so I was a little rusty. I told my first group that Isaiah Davenport came to Savannah from New England in 1809, which is an outright lie - he came in 1807. Do you think any of those tourists will report me to the Visitor Bureau as leading them astray? For the most part, however, it’s just like riding a bike; you don't forget.

Again this week-end is my turn to open and close the cemetery visitor center. It seems that I’m doing this more week-ends than I’m not doing it. As soon as I opened, and left the desk in the capable hands of another Historical Society volunteer, I went back tot he condo to pick up Donna. We drove out to an exclusive neighborhood on Skidaway Island because Suzy was participating in an art show there. Donna & I had gone last year, too, and we remember a wonderful wine tasting at the Village Grocery Store (eat your heart out Wegmans; Weggies could learn something from this place!). There was also a car show with mostly 'vettes (a 1956 model showed the original sticker price - less than $5,000 - and the “extras” - a 3-speed manual transmission and an AM radio), a library used book sale (in spite of repeating my mantra “no more books” I couldn’t resist and I bought 3 new books there), and the art show. The wine tasting was wonderful. I bought 2 bottles; Donna bought a case. But also included were tastings at the deli, and I don't mean little scraps of sliced turkey or american cheese. They offered chicken waldorf salad, fresh tomato sandwiches, chocolate bread pudding, asian noodles, crab dip, salmon spread, chili, wraps, and other wonderful treats. The samples were tiny, but there were so many of them, you could eat lunch there!

I had to get Donna back to her condo in the early afternoon, because I had a tour to give at Bonaventure. This was a group who had scheduled a special tour, and there were 4 “characters” in the cemetery who told the stories. I was involved as a guide who would fill in with other information as we walked between the performances. The tour was to take 2 hours, and I was really surprised that the rain held off until after we finished. It was probably because of my actions that the skies didn't open - I dragged my raincoat every step of the way, and it was a nuisance. But just like remembering to carry your phone with you, and that insures that you no one will call you, the raincoat & umbrella held the wet weather at bay. I like these tours, but am a little disappointed that they haven’t asked me to be at Little Gracie's tomb.

Sunday, after I closed the cemetery and was relaxing with the Gieants game, Donna stopped over. We watched the DVD's I'd borrowed from the library - the TV series Fury, the Story of a Horse & the Boy Who Loved Him. Oh, man, was that ever a long time ago!

I must be a southern girl now - I watched a college football game on Saturday. Georgia played Florida. That's a HUGE rivalry here, and I'd heard about The Game all week. I got back to the condo from Bonaventure just at the start of the second quarter. It was a sloppy sloppy game: 9 turnovers, 24 penalties for more than 200 yards. I'm gonna stick to watching the NFL, where the playing is professional.

And, another difference between Rochester & Savannah - I think I'm one of maybe 4 politically liberal people in this area (and one of those is “friend” on fb. Although we think the same, I'm really tired of the propoganda she posts there constantly). Coming from Cuomo country, this is totally different. The worst thing they can throw at a candiate for congress is to say he backs Obama's programs. Nothing else is relavent. Apparently that's enough for voters to turn him out on the streets. Only a little more than a week to go. I've DVR'd all my programs just so i can fast forward through the political ads.

No Buffalo Bills game this week. At least I can't complain about a loss. Ever wonder what I'll have to write at the end of the season?