6/30/2013

weekly update 6/30/2013

This past week was a time of pretty much doing nothing. So, there isn't much to report.

I watched a lot of the Wimbledon tennis on tv. There were many upsets, and several top players are gone. I always maintained that I didn't really care about watching the favorites, but just enjoyed seeing “good tennis”. But I found that it isn't as interesting to watch two unseeded, unheard of players battle each other as it is to watch someone known. There is one more week of the tournament, so I will be watching as much as I can again this week.

It was also the week that saw me say good by to good friends Lisa & Dave who traveled back to their home in Wales. They will be gone until October, when they return to Savannah. I met them at the Rail for one last pint of Guinness before they left on Thursday, and Anne Nedd & Kay joined us. We also all went out for Mexican food after we visited at the pub. I will really miss the Winklers.

I did my regular tours at Davenport House, and I sat at the visitor center guest at Bonaventure Cemetery both Saturday and Sunday mornings. There was a huge YMCA gymnastics competition in town, and there were some families who came both to DH and BC, but I don't know if they were part of the people in town for the tournament.

Although there's a holiday next week, I don't have much on my calendar. It's looking like another slow week ahead, so I don't know if I will have anything to tell next week, either. I hope that you are all enjoying a more exciting summer so far than I am.

6/23/2013

weekly update 6/23/2013

After spending a sleepless night battling a cockroach the size of Nebraska (Allen was really funny - when I told him about this, he wrote that he has large bugs where he lives, too, but only the size of Rhode Island), I dragged myself to the local Social Security Office Monday morning, where I had an appointment to talk to a representative about my Medicare coverage. Gotta love this crap! No private room with a face-to-face person, ho no! but a seat in the waiting room, where, after waiting for over 30 minutes although I'd made an appointment, I have to yell my questions through a window where the 600 other people who can't figure out what's happening to them can hear everything I ask. My first questions is: am I supposed to be paying both Medicare through my Social security earnings AND my health care through my NYS pension. “I don't know” - just the answer I was looking for! Social Security doesn't know, the city of Rochester says no, don't pay Medicare, and MVP (independent coverage) says, yes, I need to pay the Medicare premium. There - clear as mud. So, this just adds to my fear and distrust of all things medical. I don't trust doctors, I certainly don't trust the pharmaceutical companies (who, in my opinion run all medical care in this country and only view their bottom line), and now I can't trust that I have the correct coverage.

This week was craft week chez Wilma. I finished knitting the sweater-from-hell, finally. I can't tell you how many times I ripped it apart and started over again. It's the white one in the picture. But with that one fanillay finished, I was all ready to send some of my creations to the Stitches in Love program for hospitals in low income areas. I packed them up and mailed them off. I also decided that I needed more 4th of July clutter in the condo, so I made a pillow for the recliner. I'm not really very pleased with it, but I'll have it there until I store away all my flag-related décor next month.

On Saturday I felt like the most popular girl in high school. In the afternoon, I met Dave & Lisa at the Savannah Civic Center for the Asian Fest. I had been before, and I wanted to see the Matsuriza Taiko Drummers because I had been very impressed the last time. The are a professional group that performs at Epcot, but come to Savannah for the Asian fest each year. The precision and strength that the drummer show is amazing! There were also dancers from other Eastern countries - Samoa, Taiti, Hawaii, Thailand, New Zealand. And there was food from the same places, although I wasn't able to find any phat thai, which I was really looking forward to. After that, I went to my friend Sylvia's house to have pizza and watch a 1930's film noir, Miss Pinkerton. Sylvia & her husband Charles often spend Saturday evenings watching old movies, and had invited me to join them. It was very nice. When I returned to the condo after that, there was a message on my phone inviting me to come over to Anne & Andrew's condo to join some of their friends for a game of trivial pursuit. I'm not very good at that game, but I went anyway to have a glass of wine and try my best (I did know which city the NHL Red Wings play in). So, I was busy all day, doing interesting things with friends I've made here. I was exhausted.

 



The Matsuriza Japanese drummers.  Lisa, Dave and I are not pictured here

 

I've never been one to be interested in science, but since I've moved to Savannah, I've been fascinated with tides. This week there was a super moon, and I knew the tides would be especially high. I even got up at 7:30 Saturday morning in order to take some photos. It was difficult to get a photo of the moon itself, because the nights have been cloudy, and a super moon doesn't look that different from a regular full moon unless you're an astronomer. I did take some pictures of the marshes behind building #4 at the condo development where I live. The photo on the bottom was taken last night at high tide, and the one at the top was taken this afternoon just after low tide. It's an amazing difference.

 

I read some different and interesting books this week. I finished struggling though One Drop By Bliss Broyard, a memoir about her father's passing as white. I read the first in a new detective series, The Missing File by D.A. Mishani. And I'm now reading Philip Roth's The Plot Against America, which is imagined history of what might have happened to Jews in the Untied States if Charles Lindbergh had been elected as President in 1940. All this reading will be on hold next week, however, as Wimbledon begins Monday, and I'll be spending the next two weeks in front of the tv. Someday, I'm just going to HAVE to get some housework done again, but that's not nearly as interesting to me.

 

6/16/2013

weekly update 6/16/2013

Monday started off with another walk through Bonaventure to search for artistic sculptures with Elizabeth from the historical society. It was hot, I was up way too early, and I didn't really see anything different on the walk through. It was a pleasure to spend time with someone who was raised in Savannah, however, and to hear her stories about what she remembers of some of the people who are buried there. Elizabeth is a member of the family where my very favorite monument is found, a lovely maiden holding a seashell, and she will be buried there in her family plot when she dies. She has very important ties to Bonaventure and it is so interesting to wander there with her.

the lovely monument at the Baldwin plot, where Elizabeth Ford's family is buried

Since Lisa & Dave didn't meet me at the Sandgnat baseball game a couple of weeks ago (because I told them I wasn't going to be going), we decided to try again this week. During the season, if the Gnats are in in town, Monday is $1 day, so it certainly makes for accessible entertainment. As luck would have it, this game didn't work out so well, either, as it began to rain just as I got there, and it never let up. I waited for about an hour before calling it quits, and I found out the next day that the game had been called off. Looks like there will be no baseball games with Lisa & Dave this summer.

the tarp covering the field at Grayson Stadium - no game tonight

Wednesday I was the scheduled tour guide at the cemetery for a group of high school students from Macon, Georgia. They were late, and they were on a tight schedule, so in order to give them as much info as I could in the time I had, I hurried through my walk. There I was, in the 90+ degree heat, fat, old, and sweating like a pig, leading about 30 15- and 16-year-old kids through a historic Victorian cemetery. I couldn't tell who wanted to be there less, them or me. I couldn't wait to get back to the condo, change into my swim suit, and get in the pool.

The pool is not very enticing any more. With the temps this week generally over 90, and the night time thermometer falling only to the 70's, the water is not cool and refreshing. It's more like taking a bath than going for a swim. But I did go in about four times this week.

Thursday, again, was unbearably hot. I decided to treat myself to an afternoon spent in a air conditioned museum. There are several around the area that I have not yet visited, and I have a list of places to visit this summer. On Thursday, I drove the VW up to Pooler (it was so hot, I didn't even want to drive with the top done on the car as you can tell by the photo), close to the airport, and visited the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum. It was very interesting. Most of the exhibits were about the Battle of Britain, because the Mighty 8th (Savannah's contribution to the Air Force during WWII) was heavily involved there. I usually do not like to attend museums or sites that glorify war, but it was a good way to spend a day where I could be cool and learn something about history. On the way back to the condo, I stopped at the Rail to meet Dave & Lisa for the last time before they head back to Wales. I will miss them. 

Saturday night, I met with the Dining Out Ladies that are still in town at a new restaurant in the historic district. There were only four of us, as so many have returned to places in the cooler part of the country now, or out of town for other reasons. But it was very nice to meet the few of us that were available, and the food was excellent. I had the shrimp and grits, which is a favorite of mine, but this restaurant prepared it differently, using sausage rather than bacon. I enjoyed both the company & the food.

Sunday afternoon I attended a small party at the home of one of my friends from book club. her husband was celebrating a birthday, and although I’d never met him, I was invited. It was very nice and again, I certainly enjoyed the company. 

 

thus ends another week that was pleasantly busy.   

6/9/2013

weekly update 6/9/2013

I started out on Monday with a bridge lesson. I had seen a posting for “bridge player wanted” at the mail center at the condo, and I'd seen it before. I had often thought of calling, but this time I really did it. I thought that since I had played a lot of cards throughout my life, I would not have a hard time to pick up bridge. I was wrong. There's so much with bidding, and what a bid “means” to the partner, and how to play, not necessarily to win the trick but to set yourself up tricks later in the hand. I think my bridge career is going to be a short one.

I didn't get to the pool as often this week because the weather wasn't that good here. On Monday & Tuesday there were late afternoon thunderstorms. And it rained all day on Wednesday and Thursday. I think we had so much rain because of Tropical Storm Andrea. There was some isolated flooding here in Georgia, but nothing major. The weather forecasters have been calling for an active hurricane season this year, but they say that every year. It wasn't a bad week to have to be inside so much because I watched a lot of the French Open tennis on tv.

I went to two lectures this week. One was given by a marine archeologist about discovering and researching ships that were sunk during the Civil War. He included the Hunley, which I've seen with Jan & Ishy when we've visited Charleston, so I find that interesting. At the Telfair Art gallery, the talk about a new collection that is opening. I don't think it's really a new exhibit; I think they're bringing out some paintings in the collection that are not always on display. The lecture focused on how the collection was begun, and how it evolved. Again, quite interesting to me.

After the lecture Thursday evening, I walked to The Rail to meet Lisa & Dave. It was pouring as I walked to meet them, and when I finally arrived at the bar, I was soaked. It was also pretty crowded that evening, and there aren't usually too many others at the pub. Maybe that was because people were looking for a place to enjoy their suds where it was dry. Lisa & Dave will be leaving to return to Wales soon, so my chances to meet them on Thursdays are growing slimmer. This week, I also invited myself along when they went to super after The Rail.

I had purchased a ticket for the Tybee Tour of Homes weeks ago, but they were calling for more rain for Saturday. When I woke up, however, it was sunny and nice, so I drove out to Tybee Island for the tour. It was ok. There were eight homes open - mostly new homes that were build or remodeled in the last couple of years, but also a couple of “cottages” and one church. It would be difficult to chose a favorite, but I liked one of the newer ones that had views of both the ocean and the lighthouse, and a little converted cottage a few blocks from the beach.

the little cottage that was so cute, and typical of the 1930's type of home built on Tybee

a huge, new construction "cottage" that has views of the beach & ocean as well as the lighthouse

a stained glass window in the Episcopal church that features the Tybee lighthouse

 

Sunday I had to be at Bonaventure at 8:30 to walk around with another member of the historical society to document “artistic” monuments. Everyone knows that anything before 11 am is a struggle for me, so 8:30 just about killed me. And then Elizabeth suggested we meet again tomorrow morning! I hope that's the last of it! I also had to do the Second Sunday tour. At Davenport House this week, as well as this tour at the cemetery, I had good groups - all seemed interested, many asked intelligent thoughtful questions, and it was a pleasure for me. It's not always like that, but this was a good week.

 

one of the most ornate headstones in the Cemetery

  

It was incredibly hot on both Saturday and Sunday, & when I had to be outside, walking from house to house, or tomb to tomb, I was sweating and pretty miserable. It's nice to come back to the air conditioned condo and sit with a margarita after I've been out in the muggy afternoon heat.

 

 

6/2/2013

weekly update 6/2/2013

Monday this week was the Memorial Day holiday. But, if you're retired, and all your weeks are 7-day weekends, a holiday doesn't mean much different than the rest of the time. I spent my Monday at Bonaventure. Normally, the historical society has volunteers in the cemetery visitor center only on Saturday and Sunday, and if tourists come in during the week, they need to pester the cemetery staff for information. Since even the office would be closed on a holiday, I decided I would go there and sit for a while to see if it would make a difference. It did! I was there for only 4 hours, but in that time, there was almost $200 was added to the donation box, and that's a lot of money that the historical society would not have had if I hadn't been there. So, I'm pleased with what I was able to do.

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday were days spend going to the pool, and then reading, watching the French Open tennis on tv, eating and playing computer games. This is what real retirement is like when you live hundreds of miles from your grandchildren. Thursday evening, however, I went to The Rail pub to meet Lisa & Dave. It had been several weeks since I'd last seen them, and I really wanted to connect with them again. So I wandered to the historic district in Savannah to enjoy a pint of Guinness with my friends. 

When I got back from my sunbathing at the pool on Tuesday, there was a package at the door of the condo. Marcia & Andy Lloyd had sent a painting that Andy had done of the Charlotte lighthouse. It is beautiful, and I love it. I waited almost a week to hang it, because I wasn't sure exactly where I wanted it to be, but I finally decided to put it in the dining area, along side of the other painting I own that Andy did - that one of Durand Beach in autumn. The large watercolor that I bought years ago at an antique shop of Ellison Park is in that same area, so I guess that's become my “Rochester Memories” room. 

 

 

DH might be getting a little old. When I'm in the Drawing room, I usually say that I want them to notice that there are no curtains or draperies on the windows. On one of my tours this week, I told the visitors that there are no WINDOWS in the drawing room - which is a huge lie as there are 4 large windows in there. Man, I've got to start to think when I give these tours!  Retirement can also lead to brain collapse. 

After DH on Friday, I went back to the condo for a little something to eat - always so important - and then went back out to go to the Savannah Children's Theatre production of Frog & Toad. Frog & Toad was one of Allen's favorite books when he was little, and used to read to him about their adventures all the time. Naturally, I couldn't help but think of Allen when I saw the play. As always, it was well done.

I met Lisa & Dave on the riverfront on Saturday afternoon. There were some live bands playing, some craft booths set up, and some vendors selling food along the river. Because there's no open container law in Savannah, we were able to bring our frozen margaritas to the outdoor walkway along the river where we found some places to sit. It was so nice to relax, watch the people (we played the guessing game, tourist or local?, and pretended to be fashion police), and enjoy being with good friends.

The rental unit above me is occupied again. It's been vacant for a while, but a family must have moved in this weekend. I can hear them walking around up there, and it was especially loud this weekend as they were moving furniture & boxes around; it won't always be like that. It's not annoying to have them there; in fact, I probably bother them more by having my tv on 24/7 than they will bother me.

Sunday was simply a day of watching the tennis and other programs on tv. Man, I do not like to listen to those network sports commentators and I resent that it's commonly believed that we'd rather watch any known-name player, no matter how horrible the match, than see good tennis on an outside court. Oh, well, they don't ask me, so I watch what they show.