10/28/2013

weekly update 10/28/2013

It seems as if my swimming days are behind me. I didn't get to the pool even one time this week. I did, however, go for walks. I've found another thing I like about my iphone - I can tune it to Pandora, set it to the Buddy Holly station, and it makes my walking easier. I did that four times this past week. I don't think it will last, however; I don't like to walk. 

 

the path at the Y where I walk

I also am right back into lecture season. This, also, is at an end as there is nothing on my calendar for next week. Last week, I went to a talk on Mary Telfair given by the Victorian Society, a lecture about the Georgia economic recovery (based almost entirely on slavery) following the Revolutionary War at CHS, and another lecture at the Jepson Center for the Arts about the Great Migration and how is was depicted in African American art in the first part of the 20th Century. All very interesting. And, I was lucky that my friend Donna went with me to all the lectures.

The Ladies' Dining Out group were scheduled to meet on Friday this month, instead of the usual Saturday, so after DH, I went out to Tybee Island with the group to a place there that I'd been to a couple of times for lunch, but never dinner - Sundae's Cafe. It was very nice, and I had a really good piece of beef, loaded with crisp fried onions, and tasty mashed potatoes. And a peach martini. It's always good to be with that group.

Saturday, it was my day to open BC and then take the first shift at the Visitor Center. Donna met me there as I was ending my time because we were going to drive out to The Landings on Skidaway Island to go to an annual wine tasting that we've been to a few times before and have really enjoyed. But, here it gets into that stranger-than-fiction scenario. As Donna was waiting for me to finish answering a few questions, the tourist I was talking to asked me if I was from Massachusetts because my accent was not Southern. Well, no, but Donna mentioned that she had lived there for about 5 years a long time ago. They got to talking, and this tourist couple live on the same street that Donna had lived on, and they knew some of the same people! What are the chances? The sidewalk festival at The Landings was very nice, and I bought two bottles of wine (one a very very sweet bubbly Moscato that I'm hoping to have when Allen visits on Thanksgiving), and a slice of to-die-for pumpkin cheesecake. There was also a used book sale at the library, but I didn't buy anything. That is probably the first time I’ve been able to pass a used book sale without purchasing at least a few books. Not that there wasn't anything I found interesting - but I have so many books on my shelves now that I need to read, I don't want to have more. Also, the Corvette club had a show, and that was, of course, interesting to me. There were a few small craft booths, but I don't need anything in that department, either. The weather was perfect, and it was nice to be able to have something nice like that to do. 

a magnificent 1956 'vette

 

Sunday, since the Bills were playing the Saints and I pretty much knew that wasn't going to be something I'd want to watch, I joined Lisa at the SCT production of Charlotte's Web. The musical had been playing for two weekends, but I've been busy and haven't been able to get there. I always enjoy the plays, and didn't really want to miss this, so I put my big girl Buffalo Bills t-shirt on and went to the play. Naturally, I had my phone and I could watch the scores before the lights went out. At intermission, I turned the phone back on, and was not surprised that the Buffalo game was essentially over, and that the Pats were leading by a wide margin, but I was surprised that KC was hanging on by a thread and the Lions were losing! Before the second act began, I knew that the Chiefs won, but it looked like Detroit was going to lose - they were down by 6 points and less than a minute to go, so I turned the phone off and just accepted it. Imagine my surprise when I saw the final score! Go, Matt! 

it's illegal to take photos at a performance, so i hope I'm not arrested.  this is the wonderful SCT

 

I'd like to say something about game 3 of the World Series, but I didn’t watch, and I don't know what happened. Ask me about football or tennis, but that's the best I can do. Baseball is alien. I also know very little about auto racing, but this past weekend was the Savannah Speed Classic. I have no idea what that is, but I could hear the race cars when I was doing my tours at DH. My tours end on the back porch where I wind up by telling a little about the gardens and the fate of the house following Mr Baynard's purchase from Mrs. Davenport in 1840. The roar of the engines was so loud that I had to speak up. And, as I was sitting in my condo Saturday morning, quietly reading my book, I could hear the cars again. The track is on Hutchinson Island, across the river from River Street in the historic district, near the big Westin Hotel, about 12 miles from my condo. Those cars can really make some noise!

10/21/2013

weekly update 10/21/2013

Still in the pool. I went swimming four times this week. The water is, naturally, getting cooler, but I'm still getting in. I hope to be able to say I was in the pool into November, but it's beginning to look like that's not gonna happen. The forecast fo the coming week is for the temps to get into the 50's overnight and only into the 70's daytime, so I'm afraid the water will cool down too much and then not have a chance to warm up enough during the day. When I don't do my laps any longer, I won't be moving at all.

What began as a slow week ended in a flurry of activity.

On Thursday evening, there was an exhibit opening and lecture at the Jepson Center featuring ashcan school artist Robert Henri's painting of Spanish people. Donna and I went a little early for the lecture to see the paintings. The exhibit is built around one of Henri's works that is owned by the Telfair collection (the Jepson is one of the Telfair museums). It was interesting to see all the portraits, and to find in the pictures the appeal that Henri had for the Spanish people of many levels of society. We met Lisa, Kay, Anne and Andrew at the talk, and then stayed for the wine and hors d'oeuvre reception.

Donna, Lisa & Kay at the Jepson reception

the lovely Lisa as a Spanish lady painted by Robert Henri

Friday, following my normal tours at DH, I stayed downtown. Donna came and we went to dinner at a new Zunzi's that had opened up, and it had a rooftop patio where we enjoyed happy hour and something to eat. Since I wasn't full from that, and since doors to the Lucas weren't opened yet, and since we were close to Leopolds, we walked there for some ice cream - pumpkin spice. The Lucas was showing Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and I had wanted to see it on the big screen. On the tours at Bonaventure, I always talk about the movie, and it's been a long time since I've seen it, so I wanted to refresh my memory a little for the tours. It was really interesting because I saw so much more in it than I remembered - scenes that I recognize from around Savannah, some references to things that I would have missed if I didn't live here, and of course, the part at the cemetery. I thought there would be nothing I recognized because I knew that a movie set had been made in the cemetery involving styrofoam tombstones, but there were some scenes that were definitely filmed there - the gates, some of the headstones, Johnny Mercer's grave.

the lovely Wilma as the Bird Girl

Saturday there was a house tour. Donna, Lisa and I met at 10 am to walk through 8 houses in the historic district. Its' always fascinating to see how the other half lives. The people who live in these homes have a lot of money! They are all decorated with original works of art, fine antiques, and have the mark of an interior designer with very good taste in all the rooms. I, on the other hand, have no money, and bought nearly everything I have from Rooms to Go, and just tossed together what I like. the only original artwork I have is a cross stitch of DH that I did. Oh well. Its fun to see. Since this is a fund raiser for St Vincent's school, which is right next to the magnificent St John The Baptist Cathedral in Savannah, there was a tea in the courtyard of the school. We enjoyed little sandwiches, cookies, and tea while we gave our feet a rest. 

Dolls dressed in habits that the nuns at St Vincent's would have worn

one of teh houses on the tour

And, of course, the thrilling Sunday afternoon at Coach's to watch the Bills stun me (and others) when they won in Miami! Surrounded by 'Fin fans, but wearing my red Bills shirt, I couldn't believe it when the clock ran out and we still had the lead. But lets not get too puffy here - if we didn't have the defense, there would be no offense. the D won that game for us. it was ugly, but a win's a win.

 

Someone said that they couldn't find the blog from last October, so I'll add just two photos of the décor in the condo this year. My, but aren't I festive! 

 

10/14/2013

weekly update 10/14/2013

It seems as if I'm back to being quite busy. Maybe it's because Lisa & Donna are here and it's easier to do things with friends than it is to do things alone.

Monday, I had book club. I didn't finish reading the book that was on the list for November; it wasn't that interesting. This is two meetings in a row that I didn't finish the book on time (although I did get through them both eventually). I'm already reading the book for next month, so I hope I'll have a little more to offer then.

Tuesday, I went to the lecture at the CHS, and Lisa walked over from her house in the historic district to meet me. It was nice for me not to have to sit all by myself, although I've never let that stop me from going to do something I wanted. The next morning, at 6 am, I got up and drove back to the CHS museum and joined other history enthusiasts to walk the route that the American patriots had tread when they tried unsuccessfully to retake the city of Savannah from the British on October 9, 1779. It was a disaster for the Americans, and each year there is a parade and a ceremony to honor those who died in this battle. I've been before, and enjoyed it. I must, because it takes nearly an act of god to get me out of bed at 6 am.

I got out my old pumpkins, witches, and assorted Halloween props to place around the condo this week. But, as they are the same as I've had every year, there's no need to put photos on this blog.

I called Comcast, and to my total surprise, they sent a technician out to move the tv that was in the bedroom I used to sleep in to the guest bedroom. Since moving a tv is no longer just a matter of unplugging it, and rolling the cart to the other room, but involves two cables, a box, three remotes and a set up program, I wasn't going to do that myself. But now, when someone comes to visit, there's a little tv in the guest room that they can watch. it wasn't doing anything in the old blue room, so I've changed it a little. That also involved rearranging furniture in both those rooms. I'm exhausted.

Thursday night, Donna, Lisa & I drove out to Tybee to a bar to listen to Anne & Duane play. And to enjoy one of those wonderful chicken parm dinners that we had last time we went out. I also had two glasses of wine, so when they played an oldie, we got up to dance. It's been a very long time since I've danced in a bar. It was great. I wished I could have had someone take a photo for this blog - not!

Friday, I went downtown to give the tours at DH. I was there a little early, so I wandered over to Broughton Street where they are filming the new Spongebob movie. It's supposed to be a combination of live film and animation. Several storefronts on Broughton have been painted and renamed, and there was an over turned pirate ship in the street, surrounded by cannonballs imbedded in the asphalt. But, my favorite “prop” was an old VW, maybe a 1966. What a great car! I didn't see Antonio Banderas, but I didn't expect to. 

this is the gallery where Suzy works, changed into the World of Coral

a pirate ship overturned in the middle of Broughton Street, and cannon balls in the asphalt

a really cool car, and the license plate is from Salty Shoals 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had no plans for Saturday, but Donna called and invited me over to play rummikub and eat. She also had margaritas. What's not to like?

This week it was a Second Sunday tour week. I didn't have a lot of hope for the Bills since we were playing Cincinnati and we are without a quarterback, so I didn't go to Coach's to watch the first half. I watch some of the early game on my own tv before going to the cemetery, and the score at The Ralph was about what I'd expected. I gave my tour, and when I checked my phone, the Bills were only down by 1 touchdown and it was early in the fourth quarter. My lucky omen this week was that I knew Julie Dixon and Andy Lloyd were at the stadium watching the game, so I hoped that with that little piece of luck, they Bills might pull it off. Well, they gave it a good shot - they tied the game and it went into overtime, but it all collapsed from there. We lost be 3 points. So, what am I supposed to do? I've tried everything - wearing the red shirt, the blue shirt, the gray shirt, staying until the end of the game, leaving at the 2 minute mark, not going at all. I don't know what else I can do. Maybe it's not me? Anyway, I was in a pissy mood when I got back to the condo, so, of course, I ate. I then got a message from Sandy, who lives in my condo development. She said her son was going to be singing at a local restaurant / bar, and would I like to go. I didn't, besides I'd already eaten. But watching the Jags get beat up by the Broncos (actually, it was better than I had hoped because I believed Peyton would get more than 50 points on the scoreboard) wasn't cheering me up much. Aaron plays acoustic guitar and sings mostly folk songs, so I decided to go and listen for while and I had a beer while Sandy and I listened to him sing.

10/7/2013

weekly update 10/7/2013

Donna and Lisa are back! Donna arrived from her summer in Maine on Monday, and Lisa flew back from Wales for 2 months on Friday. It was wonderful to have these two friends back in town.

This is to prove that I'm pretty much a southern girl now – the weather is turning cooler now. When it's only in the 80's, I can't decide if I should go to the pool or not. Maybe the water is too cold. IN THE 80'S! TOO COLD! Man, I've forgotten what really cold is. I did have my furnace checked this past week, so I'm good to go for the coming season. Last winter, I never even turned it on, so maybe paying to have it looked at is a waste.

There was a lecture at the big art gallery, the Jepson Center, on Thursday. A new exhibit by Robert Henri, American artist of the ashcan school, is opening soon, and this lecture told a little about his biography. I went with Donna, and we both thought it was interesting. But the best part was the appetizer and wine reception following the talk. Very classy, very nice. I had thought about wearing a Buffalo Bills tee shirt to the lecture because the bills played (well, kinda, the less said the better I think) on Thursday, but I'm glad I didn't. Men were in suits, ladies in pearls - OSM was rampant.

Kay picked Lisa up at the airport on Friday evening, and then came here because I had Lisa's car in the parking lot at the condo. We met with Anne Nedd and Donna and went out for supper. It was really nice to be with them.

Saturday, no one was scheduled for the morning at BC. I penciled myself in, and then I told my friend Elizabeth that she wouldn't have to be there to unlock the visitor center as I had my keys and I would do it. Then, the afternoon volunteer never showed up, so I stayed for another shift. I called Elizabeth again to let her know she wouldn't have to come back to lock up, either. It was a long day, but I wasn't doing anything else anyway, so it didn't matter. Some tourists that I had been on my DH tours the day before came to the cemetery. I told them that I never get tired of hearing myself talk.

Since there was no Bills game on Sunday (therefore, we couldn't lose), I didn't need to go to Coach's - I could watch from the comfort of my sofa. I watched the early games, and then went to Lisa's to park my car and walk with her to the Party in the Park, an annual event that I really enjoy. Each year, there is a theme to the party, and groups of families will bring picnics and dress up. I was afraid that the tropical storm Karen was going to get to Savannah as the music started, but it remained a beautiful evening. Lisa, Donna, Anne & Andrew Nedd and I enjoyed our wine and snacks while listening to a grand concert by the Savannah Philharmonic.

good friends at the party in the park

the philharmonic orchestra playing under the bandstand