2/24/2013

WEEKLY UPDATE 2/24/2013

Jan left Savannah to drive back to Gulf Shores Alabama early Monday morning after a pretty full week-end of book talks. It was great to have her here; it was great to have my uneventful life back.

I worked at my income taxes this week. I completed & mailed my returns for the feds and for Georgia state. I'm glad to have that behind me, and I'm equally glad that I don't have to pay anything. Well, I guess that's relative - I DO have to pay, but I paid enough up front so that I don't have to write a check now. I have to pay estimated, and because of the fiscal cliff, the estimates for 2013 aren't available yet. So, while I'm going to have to send a check before March 31, I have no idea what it will be. How am I supposed to do this? I suppose I'll just send what I have for the past years. After all, if there are great changes in the tax law, they will be for the very very rich or the very very poor. I am neither.

On Thursday, I had offered to pick Anne Bessec up at the doctor following her cataract surgery. I got lost trying to find the medical pavilion, my car was really too small since Anne has a cast on her leg, and I was late picking her up. By the time I showed up, I was not happy. But, what are friends for. Someone will have to do this for me someday.

On Friday, I met a member of my library book club for lunch. I don't know why she asked me to meet her, but I went. Sylvia & I had a nice lunch, and while we exchanged life stories, we talked mostly of books.

It rained all of Friday night and most of Saturday. I wonder if this is the end of the storm that dropped so much snow on the mid-West. I hardly matters to me, since I go out so infrequently. I used the Saturday hibernation mode as an excuse to watch Argo on pay-per-view. Good movie!

Today I opened Bonaventure and then I had desk duty in the afternoon. It was rather slow, but that was ok. After I closed up, I came back to the condo to get some laundry done, and to watch some tv. My neighbor called to see if I wanted to watch the Oscars, so I went next door for a while. I'm not too interested in the movies, since I've seen so few of the nominations this year, but I like to see the dresses.

No pictures this week. I didn't do anything worth recording. Maybe next week.

2/17/2013

WEEKLY UPDATE 2/17/2013

My laptop was ready to be picked up on Tuesday, & I was delighted to get it back. There was nothing wrong with it; he generally just got it cleaned up & updated. He suggested that I might want to think about replacing it with something more up-to-date. After all, it's almost 4 years old. I just don't want think of transferring all the files, photos, docs etc that are on the laptop to something else. I'll think about it another day.

I watched The State of the Union. No comment.

Jan was scheduled to arrive Wednesday evening. So, in a stunning turn of events, I cleaned. I rarely do that any more, but thought I'd better make an effort for a special guest. She arrived a little after 8 pm after driving all day from the Gulf Shores of Alabama. It was good to see her again, & we stayed up talking and getting each other caught up. She, of course, had a lot more adventures to tell of than I did

On Thursday, we decided to visit some places that Jan hasn't seen on previous visits to Savannah. We began at Massie Heritage Center. This is where all tours of Savannah should start, as it gives a very informative history of the area as well as a good description of the forming of the unique planned city that is still very much in evidence today. After that, we went to Green-Meldrim House, which is where General Sherman stayed in December 1864 after his march across Georgia which pretty effectively ended the War of Northern Aggression. Several previous attempts to visit that museum had been unsuccessful, so it was wonderful to finally see it. Following that, we went to Temple Congregation Mickve Israel, one of my favorite places in Savannah because its so interesting. Exhausted, we then enjoyed a sit down, relaxed tea at the Gryphon Tea Room. Before we knew it, it was time to head for the Dave Barry lecture that was a part of the Book Fest. Always humorous & entertaining, it was a good talk. We ended the day by watching The Conspirator DVD because the docent at Green Meldrim had told us that some scenes were filmed there. We didn't recognize that house, but it made us want to visit Harper Fowlkes House, where much of the movie was shot.

So Friday, that museum was our first stop. The house was much more interesting than what I'd remembered from my other visit there. As we were wandering back to the car, our bad manners had us peeking through the open door of a townhouse under going renovation. A carpenter was going in carrying some lumber & he invited us to come in and see what they were doing. It was nice to see the inside of a beautiful renovated row house in the historic part of Savannah. My neighbor Suzy was helping to set up an exhibit in an art gallery at one of the SCAD spaces, so we called her to meet us at Leopold's for lunch. Leopold's ice cream parlor has re-named its flavors in honor of the book Fest - for example: Wimpy Kid custard, Dave Barry berry, or Alex Cross chocolate chip. It didn't make the ice cream taste any better (I don't believe that's possible) but it was fun. We then got to see what Suzy was working on. It's difficult to describe - three dimensional art that's made from threads in vivid primary colors. Very interesting. I was tired, so we just slowly walked down to River Street, caught the free river ferry, & went to Rocks Rooftop bar for the view & drinks. That refreshed me enough to go to the James Patterson lecture. He, just like Dave Barry, was interesting & entertaining.

Saturday was the full day Fest. We had to get up early to be at the first talk by 9 am. There were 36 authors speaking, many at the same time but in different places all surrounding historic Telfair Square. So, we needed to pick & choose who to listen to. We listened to some together & split up for some. (Jan went to hear Al Gore while I opted for Isabel Wilkerson in one session; I wanted to hear Karen Thompson Walker because I'd read her book The Age of Miracles - excellent! - while Jan heard Hoda Kotb; we both heard Claire Cook & Bruce Cameron). Each one I heard was excellent. There is also a sales tent, & we each bought several books that were written by participants. Jan got one signed, but I just want to read the ones I bought. While we were there, I got a text message asking if we'd like to join the dining out group that was going out that evening. I used to go out with them one a month, but haven't done that in a while. Well, we agreed to meet them, & we had a very nice dinner with them.

Sunday, we went to church. While touring the Meldrim-Green mansion, which is owned by St John's Episcopal parish, lastThursday we were encouraged by the docent to return for worship services on Sunday. Since Jan wanted to go, and I was up early enough to get ready, we went to services, followed by the reception at the Meldrim-Green. The historic house is not a museum - it is a parish hall that the church owns & uses. We then went to    the Uffizi exhibit of the renaissance Italian art. This was my second visit to see the show, but this time I had the audio headset, so it was more interesting. Our final Book Festival lecture was in the afternoon, so we we went back once again the Trustees Theatre to hear Dave Baldacci speak. He talked less about his writing and more about some interesting meetings & occurrences that have happened to him since he's become a best-selling novelist. I'm beginning to think that all authors wish they were Dave Barry and no matter what genre they write in, they talk in humor. But an enjoyable lecture. On the way back to the condo again, we stopped for she crab soup and warm bread.

Bruce Cameron speaking at the Book Fest

Jan will be leaving to go back to Alabama tomorrow, so for her last evening here, we plan to watch the last season 3 episode of Downton Abbey while sipping wine & eating crackers & cheese. It has certainly been a different week for me, but very nice.

Drinks at Rocks on the Roof

2/10/2013

 

                                                    Weekly update 2/10/213

I'm writing this from the business center at the condo club house, not from the comfort of my own condo.  This is the reason for no photos.  I'll try to add photos during the week, so if you're interested, check back next you view this site, and see if there's anything new. Overall, it's been a tough week for techno-challenged Wilma.

First, my TV remote was not working. The number pad buttons weren't working, & it was impossible to change channels. So, I called my friends at Comcast & told them I wanted a service man to bring me a new remote. Nope, can't be done. They would mail me a new remote in 3 - 5 business days & it would cost me $10. When the customer service gal in the Far East asked that was acceptable, I said it wasn't. She checked with her supervisor & told me that if I send the old remote back the would not charge me. How's that for a deal? But what can I do, so I agreed. They could have mailed an elephant in the box they sent a hand held remote to me in, & the return box was almost as big. Now, I can't adjust the volume or turn the TV on or off with the new remote! Think I'm going to call & complain? Nope. Through trial & error, I've discovered that if I use a combination of the remote that came with the TV, & the Comcast remote, I can watch my TV. Not simple, but it's what I have to do, I guess.

Then, my laptop was so-o-o slow, & it wouldn't load my email. I've been having issues with it hanging lately, so I decided that it probably needs to have a tune up. I probably opened a link I shouldn't have, or haven't updated to all the latest versions of everything - yup, somehow my fault. I took it in Thursday & don't have it back yet. But then I notice that I'm also not getting any mail on the iPod. While its not strange that no one sends me newsy notes, it is a little unusual that I didn't receive a magazine ad or an organization update for so long. So, after I played around for a while, sending myself "test" emails, I realized that it isn't something I had done or not done -- it was Yahoo! Seems that there's been problems since an update last December, but of course, when things don't work, the first thing I turn to is it's MY fault. And I took the laptop in for that! I don't know when I'll be getting it back or what it's going to cost.

Back to reports of my incredibly busy life:

I was able to borrow Beasts of the Southern Wild from the library this week. Suzy came over one evening to watch with me, & Donna watched with me once. I needed to see it more than one time because I don't get it. Very strange. The little girl actress is good, but I think the man who played her father should get an Academy Award.

The highlight of my week was watching the weather channel as Punxsutawney Phil was proved to be a liar, & a huge blizzard hit the northeast. In honor of the ever, I put the top down on the are as I drove around sunny Savannah on Saturday.

Saturday was the annual Colonial Muster at Wormsloe State Park. I went out to see some of the activities. There are costumed people, dressed in colonial get ups, shooting guns & cannons or doing chores from the 1700"s like black smithing, cooking, making soap, spinning wool, etc. I'd been before, but this year there were some new things. Native Americans had a part in it, & that was interesting (it was especially interesting because there were some kids asking questions that adults wouldn't ask - is that bone in your nose real? Yes, but I can take it out like an earring.  Is your skin really that color? No, it's a chalky like substance I rub on to make it more red. Did you make the arrows? No, but someone did & they are handmade using traditional methods. Are you a real Indian? yes, but I'm Cheyanne, & the Indians in this area were the Yamacaw. This man was very kind & informative.). There were also a lot more kids in costume, even a little baby who was probably about 6 months old. That was fun to see. Most of the people who participate camp there overnight - in colonial tents. They eat the food that they cook on their campfires & really get into this. I talked to one 10-year-old girl (her name was Hannah, one of my favorite names). She & 3 other kids had slept in the daub & waddle house that's a permanent part of the colonial life center at Wormsloe. It was an interesting way to spend an afternoon.

And today is a second Sunday, so I had a tour at the cemetery. It's also Super Museum Sunday in Savannah. Most museums waive their admissions fees on Super Sunday, but I wasn't able to go because of the cemetery. I was surprised that there were so many for my tour because everything was free, but some people showed up fora tour of bonaventure anyway.  It was almost 70 degrees, and the azaleas are just starting to bloom.  Lovely.

 

 

2/3/2013

weekly update 2/3/2013

AND THE NEW WORLD CAHMPIONS ARE: 

 

Exciting, good game! I enjoyed “watching” the game with Allen - we were texting back and forth all through the action. Or inaction.  Question - why is it that there can be a 35 minute blackout with not one commercial, but when the game is actually being played, there's an ad every 2minutes? speaking of commercials, I think my favorite was the Joe Montana pizza stain. anyway, it's gonna be a l-o-n-g off season. I wore my Buffalo Bills pajamas for the last time for along time. I'll pack them away until next September. 
 

It's resaturant week in Savannah. That means that several really nice places have prix fixe 3-course dinner for $30 (and a few offer $15 lunches) with limited menus. It's a very good chance to try some different places. But, for the past few events, I've been stuck on Bistro 45. It is wonderful, and I went again this year. The food is wonderful, the service is excellent, and I went with Donna so the company was grand, as well. It's in the historic Marshall House Hotel in historic Savannah, and the setting is nice too.

Saturday, I got up real early and went to a 1-day defensive driving course. I had hoped that I would be able to pick up some hints to make me a more confident driver, but it wasn't that way.  Apparently, in Georgia, you can be ordered by a judge in traffic court to take this class.  When you get your completion certificate, they will either reduce the points against your license, or reduce your fine, or both. So, there I was, with a bunch of drunks and speeders who didn't want to be there anyway. I was by far the oldest person in the room (although one of the teenagers was from Pittsford - what are the chances?), and I have grandchildren older than most of the the participants; I could just imagine Sarah in a class just like this. Well, I don't think my ability to drive has been enhanced by knowing that if you refuse to take a breathalyzer test you can lose your license for 1 year (I don't drink & drive), or that speeding can get you between 1 and 4 points against your license (I don't speed). at least I went, and with all the bad drivers in that room, I don't feel as if I’m that dangerous on the road, in spite of the opinion of State Farm.