7/28/2013

weekly update 7/28/2013

Due to the hacking experience this week, and other issues of privacy, I've changed the name of the blog.  Only the name has been changed.

I'll tell you -- this was not a good week.

My computer got a virus, and my email was hacked. Since I know so little about this stuff, I didn't even know what was going on. But it was incredibly slow whenever I tried to load something, and the keyboard wouldn't work when I tried to compose messages on the laptop (the ipod was ok). So, I had to take the laptop into the repair shop for diagnosis & repair. He said I'd loaded a virus without realizing it when I “updated” adobe flash. And, when he fixed it, I lost my homepage (that I can fix), all my bookmarks and my history (those I can't find). So I've been trying to slowly rebuild. Yahoo also closed my accounts and forced me to change my password because they thought something had been compromised, but I needed to wait 36 hours before they would allow me to do that.

Like I need this shit.

I spend most of the week in the condo, pouting. 

 

But, congratulations to the Duke & Duchess of Cambridge on the Birth of baby George. I'm somewhat of an anglophile, so this was interesting for me. I guess if you've only got a handful of names available to chose from, George is as good as any.

And then on Saturday, I began to think that enough is enough, and I headed out to conquer another item on my summer bucket list. I put the top down on the car and drove south past Darien, almost to Jeykll, and visited Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation. This was once a thriving rice plantation on the Altamaha River. Five generations of the same family lived there beginning in 1806 until the last surviving member died in 1973 and left the estate to the State of Georgia. It is now a state park. The drive down was the best part of the day. The black flies at the plantation were incredibly annoying, the guide tour guide in the main house was frustrated that he had to give a tour for just me when no one else was there (man, I hope I never give anyone that feeling at DH!) and he hurried through it. Also, he spoke so softly I could barely hear him. And it rained - no it wasn't just rain, it was a horrific storm - as I drove back to Savannah. I made the biggest margarita you've ever seen when I finally got back to the condo. 

the main house was built in the 1840's. Charleston, it's not, but it does have some charm

I can't believe I was able to get a picture of myself while I'm not swatting at the flies

 

Today was Bonaventure day, and I was to help at the visitor center for the afternoon. Since there was another volunteer during that time, I went to the historic district and wandered around, hoping to answer questions there if anyone needed more info. But, I think they mostly were suspicious of me, and thought that I was checking them out for inappropriate behavior. And the few people who did have questions were asking where to find the Bird Girl from the Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil book - she's not there; she was moved at the request of the family in 1994. So I wasn't that much help to those people, and I probably will not try that again.

 

7/21/2013

weekly update 7/21/2013

First thing Monday morning, I decided to try the trip to Maine again. The prices were back down (could it be I should always try Monday morning?), and I was able to book without any trouble. Unfortunately I have to fly Delta, but it can't be helped. I hope they lose money on the incredibly cheap fare they charged me - yeah, right.

I continue to try to get the pool when I can. I don't like to go on the week-ends, because it's often more crowded than I enjoy. And Fridays are unlikely to find me there, as I have to be at DH in the afternoon. It's becoming more and more of a struggle to get there early (by early I mean before 10:30), before anyone else shows up and I can swim with being interrupted. After I do a few laps, I like to sit in the water where it's cool and nice and read my book, or play some hand-held free cell. This it how I’m passing my summer, and it's grand.

On Wednesday this week, I was one of three guides at Bonaventure who were scheduled to give tours to 75 high school students visiting Savannah from Tennessee. It was HOT, 95º, and muggy, and very uncomfortable. I mentioned to one of the girls who was complaining about being too hot, that it's really difficult when you're old and fat! I did my tour, and couldn't wait to get back to my ac condo.

Thursday evening, there was a lecture at the outdoors patio at the Ships of the Seas Museum. This was sponsored by Gray's Reef, which is a 20-square-mile National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Georgia near Sapelo Island. It was a little more technical than I could understand, with explanations of some of the sonar tracking devices they use, but it was also very interesting. A wide variety of fish and sea plant life is living and thriving right off the coast near here.

Driving back to he condo after the lecture, at about 8:30, I was reminded that I don't get out in the evening very often. I had the top down on the car, which I don't do much as it's generally too hot and I'm more comfortable with the air conditioning running, and the sky at sunset was a delightful patchwork of baby blues and pinks. It was wonderful driving along the island expressway.

Saturday evening, the Lady's Dining Out group met at a new restaurant on Broughton Street. A day or two before, a dam up river from the city had released some water due too high levels that were created by a lot of recent rain. That, as well as an especially high tide, was expected to cause very high water along River Street; in fact, the parking lots along the river were closed for the weekend in case the water flooded the lots. I wanted to see this, and since high tide was slated for just before we were to meet for dinner, I drove into the city a little early to see for myself. The water was high (and very dirty). It was not close to over flowing, but it was high. There were 3 huge container ships at the port, probably because it would be so easy for them to maneuver with the water level as it was. But that was a double-edged sword, because I watched one leave the port, and it must have cleared the Talmadge Bridge underpass by perhaps only 10 feet.

the floating dock where the yacht is moored is almost at street level

a huge container ship barely makes it under the Talmadge bridge on the way to the ocean

The dinner was very nice. The restaurant was lovely - great service, delicious food, tasteful decor, good friends.

Sandy doesn't really have tats all over, it's a reflection from the logo on the window where we were seated

7/14/2013

weekly update 7/14/2013

Since there's only one place in all of Chatham County that has good bagels, I went out there Monday morning. I'd finally eaten the last one from my last splurge and I bought a dozen more. I was pissed off that there was only 2 pumpernickel ones left, but I think I'll get by. I also went to the fabric store for a pre-made American flag applique, and the Walmart for a $3 tee-shirt. When I was at Colonial Park Cemetery on July 4th, and surrounded by all sorts of DAR members wearing scarfs, hats, shirts, and everything you could imagine, and I didn't have one patriotic piece of apparel that I could have worn, I decided I'd try to get a little more American for next year. So I did that. It was a morning of errands, but that's about the only time until the weekend that I was out of the condo. I did, however, get to the pool for 4 days.  The water is warm, but I like to go there. 

On Tuesday, when I got back to the condo after spending time at the pool, there was a big box on my doorstep. All the baby sweaters and blankets I'd made were returned “address unknown, unable to forward”. Cool. I guess their loss is the Goodwill's gain.

On Thursday, Donna emailed that Delta had airfares to Portland from Charleston for less than $200. Since I'd been toying with the idea of visiting her there this summer, I thought this sounded like something I could do. but oh no - not with Delta. the scourge of the airline industry! I tried to book online on the laptop, but some of the fields that were “required” didn't allow any entry. nice. So I went to my ipod. I could get through the multi-page application there, but it rejected my credit card, saying that the “code” wasn't valid. Now, I shop online ALL THE TIME, and I know what my code is, but I looked at my actual credit card to make sure I didn't have it wrong. I checked, too, to be sure that I'd entered the card number and the expiration date correctly. Nope, all fine. I needed help, so I called the number for their customer service. I enter all the numbers I needed to talk to a representative, and was then told by another computer generated voice that I could stay on the line or I could request a call back. Call back is good. So, I waited about 15 minutes, and then was told by THAT customer service rep that she would have to transfer me to a tech rep, who promptly disconnected me. I'm seething by this time, and decided to try another online booking source. Well, Priceline got me as far as “we're booking your flight now” before telling me that it couldn't connect to Delta right now, and I should try later. Later, the prices were $40 more. As of now, I have no flight reservations, but I'll continue to try. The worst part is, I can only fly Delta or USAir. So I may have to encounter this again.  If I still have trouble when I try again, it's going to look pretty good for staying in Savannah all summer long and forgetting any travel.

I hold the belief that the words “customer service” should be banned from the English language; there is no such thing.

There was a terrific rain storm on Friday. Just as I was about to leave DH after my afternoon tours, it just poured. The people on my last tour were trapped in the gift shop, until we finally gave one couple plastic bags for their purse and shoes, and they waded barefoot and with their pants rolled up into the street. Another couple waited for the tour bus, which stops right outside out door, but the puddles were so deep, and although the bus pulled as close to the curb as it could, they were up to their ankles trying to get on board. As I drove back to the condo, there was an accident where President Street meets MacIntosh Blvd and police were trying to direct traffic, but the rain was falling so hard it was difficult to see. Amazingly, I made it back to my condo just fine, perhaps due to the fact that it required no backing up to get there. There were dire warnings on the tv of flooding in the Savannah area, and the rain continued all night. My poor little car's canvas top was soaking! If this is a foretelling of what it might be like in a hurricane, I'll be among the first to leave when they call for an evacuation.

 

 

is that my little red car passing by this overturned boat?  could be - I was there, going in that direction

Saturday I decided to check another museum off my summer bucket list. Since Pinpoint Museum is only open on Saturdays, I drove out there. It was a nice day for a drive with the top down anyway, so I headed out towards Skidaway Island. Pinpoint is an area that was settled in 1896 by former slaves from Ossabaw, Green & Skidaway Islands It was the site of several coastal industries including shrimping, crabbing and oyster harvesting operations, most notably ASVarn & Sons seafood cannery, which operated from 1936 to 1985. US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was born & raised in Pinpoint. today, the museum is the old canning factory, and there are guided tours that explain not only about the industry, but also about the people who lived there. Very interesting. I stopped at Sandfly Barbeque on the way back to the condo, because I think they have a dinner that's every bit as good as Wiley's. 

 

the docent showing some visitors some crabs

the facotry / museum

 

Sunday, I had to lead a Second Sunday Tour at BC. It had been raining for most of the morning, but when I got to the cemetery, it had let up. It continued to sprinkle off and on for the hour I was out there with the tourists, but it wasn't bad. The coming week is calling for rain for the first part, but it should return to the normal hot, muggy weather later.

 

7/7/2013

weekly update 7/7/2013

In Savannah, city hall historians offer tours on the first Tuesday of every month. I always forget, but somehow I remembered this month, and set off on Tuesday for the tour. It really was interesting. We were told about the history of city government, the building itself, and given a tour of some of the interesting places inside. The city hall that is in Savannah today was built between 1904-1905 on the site of the old City Exchange, which had housed government agencies as well as other offices. At that time, the port of Savannah was right outside, along River Street. Today the port is upriver, on the far side of the Talmadge Bridge, but in the early 20th century, City Hall would have looked over the busy port. We looked up at the stained glass of the dome, were told about the mosaics and the fountain in the vestibule, and were shown the inside of the council chambers. An interesting fact I learned that I didn't already know is that there are two statues near the facing Bull Street near the top of the building. One statue represents Commerce, and the other Art. Having been built in the early 20th century, it's amazing that they would have picked Art to represent this city, when the Savannah College of Art & Design, which is so important to everything in Savannah today, and wasn't even established until 1978.

looking up the stariway into the dome

council chambers

On Thursday, being the holiday, there were many events planned around the city. I got up very early, turned the DVR on to record the tennis, and headed out to Colonial Park Cemetery for a ceremony honoring Lachlan McIntoch and Button Gwinnett. They were two important colonial citizens in Savannah; McIntosh was a military leader who was the brigadier general in the Continental troops of Georgia, and Gwinnett was a politician who was one of three men who signed the Declaration of Independence from the colony of Georgia. In 1777, McIntosh and Gwinnett fought a duel of honor in Savannah, and McIntosh was injured, but Gwinnett died. At the large monument to Gwinnett in Colonial Park, there were speeches, fife & drum, bagpipes, a costumed soldier telling the story of the duel, and ceremonial wreathes laid at the tomb. It was interesting.

a Revolutionary War soldier telling the story of the Duel between McIntosh & Gwinnett

In the evening on the 4th of July, I wandered over to Donna's condo although she is in Maine. I had thought that I might be able to see the fireworks on River Street from her third story screened in porch, but it didn't work out. I sat there in the dark for a while, with a glass of wine, and then decided I wasn't meant to watch any lights in the sky, and walked on back to my own place.

 

I cut my hair. It was getting pretty long, and I don't mind being about to just tie it back with a clip or in a pony tail, but shampooing was getting tiresome. I finally had enough on Friday, so I took the scissors to it. I meant to only trim a little off the ends, but I got carried away. oh, well, it'll grow back.

 

thursday

friday

 

Saturday afternoon, I was looking for something interesting to do, and I wasn't going to go to the pool on a holiday weekend. So, I went to see The Lone Ranger. naturally, I wanted to see Johnny Depp, but I have to admit, Armie Hammer is not bad! It was actually a re-telling of all the Pirate of the Caribbean movies, only the scenes changed to the wild west.

And, of course, what I did most this week was sit in front of the tv and watch tennis. The good tennis fans in UK waited 77 years to have another Brit win the championship, and Andy Murray did not let them down this year. I also watched a lot of Aerial America, one of my favorite series that's shown on the Smithsonian channel. I've thoroughly enjoyed episodes that I've seen, and on the 4th of July, there was a marathon. Each program is an hour long, and shows one state from the air, while telling of history, geography, architecture, and famous people. On the NY State show, there was quite a bit about Rochester, including George Eastman and Kodak. I'm amazed at how much of America I've seen, thanks mostly to Jan Waggoner, who's allowed to tag along on many trips all over the country.