5/26/2013

weekly update 5/26/2013

This week, I received photos of Sarah & Emily. Sarah is a pitcher on the JV girls softball team at her high school. Emily is a gymnast who has recently won 2nd place in a state wide competition. They are both beautiful.

This was a week of auto mayhem. It began when I couldn't get the back window to fully close. This has happened before, so I dragged out my repair receipts to see if it might be covered under warranty (what are the chances?), but last time, it was the passenger side window; this was the drivers side. In order to avoid taking it back to the dealer and waiting a long time out there, I tried to get it fixed at the Goodyear service station on the corner. As I was doing that, I realized that the car wasn't locked, and the more I tried to lock it, the more I understood that it wasn't going to happen. So, that needed to be addressed, too. The mechanics at Goodyear couldn't do it, and said I'd need to take it to the dealer. Crap. At least they didn't charge me anything. They shouldn't - I must be one of the most loyal customers they have and I believe I’m putting the manager's children through college with the repairs, oil changes and general maintenance they've done for me. So I made an appointment to take the VW to Vaden on Tuesday afternoon. They kept me waiting for 2 hours, then told me that it would take 6 hours and almost $1,000 to fix. Whoopee! Since I had not packed a toothbrush for an overnight stay, they shuttled me back to the condo, and came back to pick me up Wednesday when the repairs were done. The man at the desk “found” a coupon to give me 10% off the work, and that helped. But it was still a big chunk. I hope this is it for a while. I fear that when it begins to cost me more in monthly repairs than a car payment, I'm going to have to do something with the old girl. I don't want to. I want the VW to be the last car I own. 

 

I had plans to go to the Sandgnats (extremely) minor league baseball game with Lisa & Dave on Monday night. I try to get to one game each season, so this was the night I’d planned to get there. The more I thought about it, the less I wanted to leave the car in a parking lot at Daffin Park with the doors unlocked and the window down, and it also looked as if it was going to rain. I told them I couldn't make it. But, then, I thought some more and why not? So I took a chance, downloaded a coupon for the price of admission, bought myself a Bud Lite, and settled in. Lisa & Dave decided that since I wasn't going to go, they wouldn't have a good time (what???) and they passed on going. I found another friend there, Susan Gentry, and I sat with her and some of her friends. The 'Gnats won, but it was a poor game, lots of errors.

 

On Friday, before I started my afternoon at DH, I walked to the Savannah Box Office, which is very close to DH, to get a ticket for the evening's performance on Urinetown. It was being performed by SCAD's School of Entertainment & Arts at the Lucas Theatre. The theater is also close to DH, but I went back to the condo to get something to eat before going back for the 8 pm curtain. The musical was well done and I enjoyed it very much.

Saturday I drove out to Wormsloe Plantation for the War of Jenkins Ear festival. I guess festival isn't exactly the right word I want, but they were having a series of demonstrations & talks about colonial life to celebrate the holiday weekend, so I went. Imagine my surprise when who was there but none other than the founder of the royal colony of Georgia, James Oglethorpe himself! I've heard so much about him since I've lived here; I've seen his statue in Chippewa Square many times, and walked past his bench on Bay street often, but I'd never met the man in person. What a wonderful man! And to listen to his stories of the founding of the colony was truly amazing. There was also a musket firing show, and the same park ranger who gave Marcia, Andy & me a guided tour less than two weeks ago was dressed in colonial garb to tell the same stories that he had told us.

I had to bite the bullet this week and I turned on the a/c. I had hoped to be able to put that off until June, but I was getting too uncomfortable in the evening and when I tried to go to sleep at night. So, I hope to have an even temperature in the condo for the summer in spite of what it's doing outside. I've also worked on trying to get my Medicare straightened out. Nothing with the government is ever easy, but I keep plugging away. I hope to get it taken care of soon, as I'm technically over the age limit now, and have three months to get the elder-specific insurance.

 

Sunday was the normal - open Bonaventure and then return to answer questions and give directions in the afternoon. And, then close up again. Sunday at closing is when I’m supposed to count the money in the donation box and total it up for deposit by the treasurer of the historical society. But, this Sunday was so busy, I didn't get to lock up until almost 4:30, and the City locks the front gates at 5. I certainly have no intention of being locked in a cemetery, no matter how lovely, overnight, so I simply locked everything away and left it. I plan to go back tomorrow, perhaps to open up the visitor center for a few hours - after all, it is a holiday, and there may be people wanting to visit on a day off - and I'll finish up with the money then.

5/19/2013

weekly update 5/19/2013

Marcia & Andy were still in Savannah as this week began. On Monday, I took them to the Oatland Wildlife Center.  Since that's the only zoo-like attraction we have here (and the world's lamest zoo at that), I thought it might be something different in the middle of all the history. Besides, we had the whole morning to kill since the Telfair didn't open until noon. After viewing some armadillos and buffaloes, we went back to the historic district and had lunch along River Street. By that time, the Telfair was open, so we went to the art gallery. The current exhibit is not art, as in paintings & drawings, but art, as in chairs & seating. Not as interesting, but it was what we got. Then, a trip to Leopold's for ice cream. I think I take everyone who visits me to Leopold's for ice cream, and it never disappoints. We rode the free water taxi across the Savannah River and back, and looked at the waving girl statue. Then, guess what? - we're hungry again. So we found a restaurant that had a second story balcony, and we were able to get a table overlooking River Street and the river. It was a perfect day - not too hot, with a gentle breeze, and we just sat there and enjoyed the food, drinks & company. And, to top it off, a tug boat went by. Andy had watched all day for a tugboat on the river, and because it was low tide, we didn't see any boats going in or out. But as we sat there, a big tug floated past on it's way to the port.

 

Tuesday was the last day Marcia & Andy were going to be in Savannah, but their flight didn't leave until mid-afternoon. That gave us the morning to do one more sight-seeing adventure. I took them out to Wormsloe Plantation. I have been there many times before, but I've never had a guided tour. A ranger was on-site this morning, and he was leading a tour - in a golf cart, so we didn't even have to hike! Because I'd never had a tour before, it was really nice for me to learn something new. It was nice for Marcia & Andy, too, since most of the stories he told were not something I could talked about. Then, back to the condo for a quick bite to eat, a last minute check to see if they had left anything, and then they were gone. My condo seemed very silent for the entire afternoon. I missed them immediately.

But it was a wonderful visit, and I certainly enjoyed having them here. I hope that they may come back some time. They already have plans to go to Alaska this summer, and I know they'll have a great time there. But, perhaps Savannah will be another trip another time.

After they left, I returned to my natural boring state. I didn't do anything on Wednesday or Thursday but get back into my awake-all-night-sleep-all-day routine.

I had to move my car on Thursday night because they are re-surfacing the blacktop at the condo development, and Friday was going to be the day that Building 5 would be done. Since there was no way I would be up before their 9 am starting time, I needed to move my car the night before. The project is complete now, and I'm surprised at how quickly it was all done, and at how nice it all looks. There is fresh sealant on all the surfaces, and all the lines and handicapped spaces are crisp and white with new paint.

My Thursday nights now will be freer for me, but not as much fun. It's going to be different without Dwight, Pam & Jim, Andy, and the others.

Friday, after my afternoon at DH, I went to the Savannah Children's Theater. There are two productions playing concurrently now, and I was only able to go on Friday, so I had to make a choice. I opted against The Velveteen Rabbit (after all, I already know how that ends) and for Zombie Prom (which I'd never heard of). Do I have to say that I enjoyed it thoroughly? I am never disappointed there.

Saturday, I drove out to Rincon, GA, about 45 minutes from where I live, to go to a Civil War encampment. It was rather interesting, although, I imagine there are others that are better. In Savannah, I have seen many Revolutionary War reenactments, because this area is full of colonial history, but I have not been to many War of Northern Aggression shows. This was full of craft booths, food tents, and kiddie activities, but there was a recreated battle camp with a few tents and cannon firings. The “actors” seemed more interested in chatting with each other than in talking to the visitors, but I did find one gentleman who informed me that America is going to hell in a hand basket, pretty much ever since the South lost The War. As a liberal New Yorker, I just smiled and nodded.

Sunday was another do-nothing day. It is my day to open and close Bonaventure Cemetery, so I needed to be ready for that at 10 am and 4 pm. I didn't, however, have to answer questions in the gate house. 

 

So, that's my week in review for this week.   

 

 

5/12/2013

weekly update 5/12/2013

I didn't do much this week until Marcia and Andy arrived on Friday. This week was all about them. I did, however, do the first house cleaning I've done since the last time I had guests. So I was exhausted on Thursday.

Friday, I expected they would arrive from Charleston about 10:30 am. I was certainly shocked when I first opened my eyes and the clock said 10:25. I haven't moved that fast since the time I thought I'd missed book club. I was showered and dressed in less than 5 minutes. I still had time to spare, and it was so wonderful to see them enter the Mercer Point condo community. We spent that afternoon taking the trolley around Savannah, and touring the Visitor Center Museum and the Railroad Museum - both highlights of their stay here, I'm sure. Being the excellent guide that I am, I was unable to find the Pink House for dinner, so we decided on Vic's at the River. However, by the time I steered Andy to a parking place, we were actually as close to Pink House as we were to Vic's, so it was back to plan A. We had a very nice meal there, and then back to the condo. They skyped with Maddie & Zack, and those kids are so-o-o cute. They both said hi to me, but not enthusiastically, since they have no clue who I am.

Marcia, Andy & I on the trolley tour

 

Saturday, we got up early to drive to Jekyll Island. Andy drove again, which probably made them both feel safer. We first went to take pictures at driftwood beach, and stopped briefly at the Horton House ruins. We had a nice lunch at the Crane cottage in the historic district. Before taking the tram tour, we had just enough time for a quick tour of the sea turtle museum and hospital. (I made them do that because it's my favorite thing to do on Jekyll). Then we took the tram tour around the historic district, and were able to get inside 2 or the “cottages”. We drove back to Savannah along route 17, because it's a more scenic drive that on interstate 95, and looked for a seafood place to eat. Of course, since don't really know all the restaurants around the area, so I directed us to Uncle Bubba's, which is around the corner from the condo. It was a long day, made better by the two bouquets of flowers that were waiting at the door of my unit when we returned - both Allen and Brian had remembered me and had send flowers to me!

on Driftwood  Beach

 

Sunday, being Mother's Day, we went out to brunch. I had made reservations at the Pirate House, and the meal was very good. but the biggest surprise was the waiter. when he greeted us, he said to me that he had waited on me before and he remembered me. Well, I've eaten there twice in three years, so I suppose that could be true, but it didn't seem that he would remember me. Then he said, no it was when I had been a tour at Bonaventure Cemetery for his wedding! yes, of course, when a couple requested a tour for their wedding guests last December, I was one of the guides - I remember him too. But I never would have recognized him like he did me. I guess I made a good impression that day. WE had a lot of time between the brunch and when I would need to be at the cemetery again for my Second Sunday Tour, so I made Andy drive around some non-tourist parts of Savannah, primarily where I used to do my meals on wheels deliveries. Then they were forced to listen to me in full docent mode and I did my tour at the cemetery. Back to the condo again, we had the beef stew I'd made earlier in the week, and then settled in to watch the my Sunday night TV shows. 

 

brunch at the Pirate House (it's unusual that someone has to hold a gun on me to get me to eat. And, you can notice that I've got two plates of food, so it's not exactly that I'm not doing my best)

5/5/2013

weekly update 5/5/2013

Not much doing this week. The weather in Rochester has been better than it was here this past week. It's been cool, and cloudy, and has been raining off and on all week. In Rochester, I think it was sunny and the temps were in the 70's. It's really weird to have the weather there be better than the weather here - that doesn't happen often.

Donna is gone back to Maine, with a stop at Princeton to see her son, Joe (now known as Dr Joe) receive his PhD. What a wonderful accomplishment! But, I will miss her a lot before next October rolls around again, and I won't be going and doing as much as I do when she's here.

I did get out a couple of times this past week. I went to see the movie 42. It wasn't as good as I hoped it would be, and I was a little disappointed. And, on Thursday, I went to the Used Book Sale at the Senior Center. I had donated many of the books I'd already read, then went to load up on more to read. I bought 13 books; I wish I had counted before I checked out instead of waiting until I got back to the condo, because I avoid doing things in 13s if I can - i'm triskaidekaphobic.

So, this is pretty much what I've done all week:

 

sit in my chair, feet up, in my 'jamas, with a glass of wine close by, and reading a book.