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.