3/31/2014

weekly update 3/31/2014

This was a very busy week for me. For someone who is quite content to sit in front of a tv, sleep late, read a book, and pass the time in solitude, I really had much to do this week. I played trivia in a bar, attended an interesting lecture, went on a day trip to Macon, Georgia, did amazingly large tours at both DH and BC, visited some historic ships that are docked on the river, and went to two theater productions.

Donna's sister, Nancy, is in Savannah for a visit from Portland, Maine, so on Monday, I met them at a restaurant in the historic district for a light dinner. I've been wanting to go to the Monday trivia night at the Crystal Beer Parlor for a long time, so since I was already in the city, I stopped there on my way back to the condo. I did poorly, but I thought it was fun. I think I've convinced Dave and Lisa to come with me when I try again. The game is set up for teams, which is one reason I didn't do well this week; my little team of only one person was competing against larger teams. I'm not discouraged, as my competitive nature has been suppressed through the years to the point where I don't expect to win anything, and I'm not disappointed when I don't. As I sat and tried my best to answer the questions (how long is the term of the president of France? what does “exempi gratia” mean? who was the smallest president of the US?), I watched the diners being served their dinners - man, everything looked good! That means next time I'll go hungry and get something to eat while I stumble with the questions. The Crystal Beer Parlor is the only bar in Savannah that serves Genesee Beer, another plus. I will be back.

 

On my walk at the Y on Tuesday, I saw a snake swimming in one of the ponds. It was about 3 feet long! I tried to get a photo of it, but I couldn't - I wasn't going to get close and ask it to pose. That's scary. Now I've found another reason to give up the walking. In the evening, there was a lecture given by the Savannah Victorian Society. This group does not meet often, the the talks are always interesting, and I know a lot of people who belong to this group. A professor of fashion design at SCAD talked about Victorian dresses and styles. It all made me very happy to live in a time when I can wear my jeans and t-shirt almost everywhere I have to go.

On Wednesday, Donna, Nancy & I drove up to Macon Georgia to see the cherry blossoms. The city has thousands of trees, and there's a festival each spring. Because it's been so cold in the south this winter, some of the blossoms were delayed, but we still saw some wonderful blooms. I had never been to Macon before. The city is quaint, and the old buildings have been maintained while the new buildings add a more 21st century feel to the city. Macon is not as big, nor as historic, as Savannah, but it was a nice day-trip. We also stopped at the Ocmulgee National Monument Park, which is near to Macon. There are Indian Mounds there that date to the Mississippian Period, 900 -1300 AD. It was a nice day to do some sight-seeing. 

 

Thursday I spent running errands. It is almost a punishment for me to have to go to the mall, because I hate it. But my supply of bagels was exhausted, I did my last crossword puzzle in the car on the way back from Macon, and I needed new shoes. So I decided to get it all done on Thursday. The search for the perfect shoes was arduous. I am picky, and I know just what I want - the same shoes I've always worn before. Styles change and leave me behind, but after searching in many stores to find something I could settle for, I happened upon a shoe store in a strip mall that had Clark's - not only that, they had black, low heeled, clog-like Clark's. Exactly what I wanted. Now I won't have to drive out that way again for many more weeks. The whole experience exhausted me, so, although there was a lecture at the Jepson, and Thursday is Dave-and-Lisa-at-The-Rail night, I skipped both those entertainments and just stayed in.

The Nina and the Pinta, replicas of two of Christopher Columbus's ships, are docked along River Street. They will be there for a week or so, and I wanted to see them. They are small, and I couldn't imagine sailing across the ocean in one of those ships. It was very interesting. Not many people were visiting that morning, so I could ask all my stupid questions (does this boat have a motor now? yes. What are the highest waves you've ever experienced? 6 - 8 feet. Was is scary? no) I went from there to DH. Not only were the normal crowds large, but there were two bus loads of visitors at the same time. I am very much a but-i-always-do-it-that-way person, so to have to get off my routine and skip from room to room out of order was upsetting. I think I handled myself well. After that, I went to 17 Hundred 90 for a drink with Donna, Nancy and another sister, Denise, who's in town from Florida. I'm beginning to like going there. It's only two blocks from DH, and it's relaxing to go and have a nice martini after my tours. Still not finished, I then went out the the Wilmington Island Methodist church to see a local performance of The Man Who Came To Dinner. Many friends from Book Club were involved in the production, so I wanted to support them. The play was very well done. My friend, Sylvia's, husband had the lead, and this was obviously not his first attempt at treading the boards - he actually WAS Sheridan Whiteside. Well, done, Charles!

 

Saturday I had to drag myself out of bed early to be at the cemetery by 9 am. With all I had done all week, it was getting more and more difficult to get up, but this was the day of our big fund raiser, the Annual Home and Garden Tour. I hopped on an orange and green bus downtown, and told a little of the history as we drove about 29 ticket holders out to BC, and then led them around the historic part of the cemetery while telling the stories of some of the people who are buried there. It was pretty much the same as I give on the Second Sunday Tours, but there was also a horticulturalist to talk about some of the trees, plants and flowers, and two costumed “residents” to give more of the story. It had rained all night Friday, and it was cloudy & gray when I woke up, so I didn't wear my long black skirt and cape. Mud and puddles were everywhere, and so rather than risk destroying the costume the very first time I wore it, I went in my jeans and t-shirt. I'll wear my Victorian garb next year – maybe. That wrapped up early, so I had time to go to a matinee at the SCT of The Importance of Being Earnest. It was delightful. Unfortunately, there were only about 10 people in the audience (and I fear I was the only one who was not a parent or grandparent of an actor). These kids work so hard, and do such a terrific job, I wish they could be rewarded with packed houses and large appreciative audiences. 

 

By Sunday, I was exhausted. I didn't do anything but take a nap and watch tv.

3/24/2014

weekly update 3/24/2014

Monday was St Patrick's Day. As I said last week, it's a really big deal in Savannah. Millions of people come into town to get drunk. Since we expected a lot of tourists, I said I would go to Bonaventure Cemetery to sit tin the Visitor Center to answer questions and hand out maps. I was there for 3 hours and handed out 3 maps; it wasn't worth my time. It rained all day, and I suppose that everyone who wasn't standing in the rain watching the marching bands and politicians parade around, were stuck inside. Going to visit a cemetery loses a lot of appeal in the rain.

I had visitors in town on Wednesday. Cousins Linda and Denny Dalton came from North Carolina. They have recently moved to the east coast from California, so this was their first trip to Savannah. They came out to my condo to visit in the morning, and then I took them around to some places in Savannah: BC, Massie School, The Cathedral. They treated me to a very nice lunch at Vic's. We parted so that they could rest a bit, and have time to explore on their own. 

 

On Thursday, I met them again, and we took the trolley tour around the City. It's a great way to get a good overview of all that is here. I needed to go to the cemetery in the afternoon because there was a information meeting about the plants and trees that will be the focus of the Home & Garden Tour next week-end. Although I didn't have a chance to show them many of the interesting museums or houses in Savannah, I'm glad that will save something for their next visit. Now that they have a feel for everything wonderful about Savannah, I hope they will return. It was wonderful to have them here!

Thursday also saw my return to The Rail after a few week's absence. I met Lisa & Dave, and sat outside for a pint.

Friday, not only did I have my tours at DH, but I had also volunteered to usher at a Music Fest performance. I finished my guide duties and had a couple of hours to wait until I was supposed to be at the Ships of the Sea museum for the concert. I went to 17 Hundred 90 and had one of the wonderful martinis that the bar tender there makes. I'm getting so that I enjoy going there, but it's better when Donna goes with me. The music as quite nice. The first part of the performance was an Irish singer, Aoife O'Donovan. She has a wonderful voice, and reminded me of Juliet Lloyd. After the intermission, a group called The Lone Bellow played. “Bellow” only begins to describe it - I thought it was just noise at first, but as they continued, I found I really enjoyed the music. I was even dancing a little over in the corner where no one could see me. It wasn't hard for me to be out-of-sight; my duties for the evening consisted of guiding concert-goers to the bathrooms. And in Savannah, where every event is accompanied by a bar, it was a necessary duty. The concert was at the patio of the Ships of the Sea Museum, and I love being there on a nice evening, outside.  This photo is the stage before the concert began.

Saturday, I needed to be at BC to open the Visitor Center, and then there was a walk-thru for the Tour next week, to time it. Buses will be bringing tour-participants to the cemetery, and we will be on a strict schedule to get them back on the buses at the end of the time. The best part was standing around after we had timed ourselves, and listening to the other guides. Most have lived in Savannah all their lives and have family at BC, and will be buried there too when it's their time (not for a while yet). They also know some of the people buried here and remember them, or remember hearing stories about them. It is amazingly interesting.

After that, I went to the Oatland Wildlife Center because this was the week-end for the Sheep to Shawl Festival. The sheep that are residents at the center are sheered, and then the wool is carded, spun, dyed, and made into artworks on a loom, or by knitting or weaving. There are other demonstrations as well (home churned ice cream - with samples! oh my!). Unfortunately, it began to to rain so I left after not to long. It was great to see Suzy there with her weaving group, but she was busy and I didn't have a lot of opportunity to chat with her. 

Sunday - back to BC. It was not raining, so the cemetery was crowded. I like when it's busy because the day goes faster. I was really tired, so I watched a little tv and then went to bed early. I didn't watch The Good Wife, and I should have. What a surprise!

3/17/2014

weekly update 3/17/2014

♣ Happy St Patrick's Day ♣

This is a really big deal in Savannah. It's an all-weekend festival, and it seems to go on and on. This is the only time of year when I'm glad I don't live downtown. It's crowded, it's noisy, it's out of control. So, I sat in the condo most of the week. Not to let the holiday pass completely unnoticed, however, I did buy some corned beef at the deli and enjoyed some great sandwiches. Also, I wore the Rugby shirt that Ishy had bought for me years ago when we first visited Europe. Our first trip was to Dublin, and she gave me this wonderful reminder, as well as all the great memories. I wore it on Friday for my DH tours. 

 I had a great time on Wednesday, as I spent most of the day in front of the TV watching the blizzard as is closed in on the Northeast - again this year! On the Weather Channel, there was a reporter stationed at the Irondequoit Bay outlet, which is not far from where Ishy lives, and he would give updates frequently throughout the day. It was so nice to sit in my comfortable southern climate and watch him struggle with the wind and snow. 

 In an amazing turn of events, I dragged the vacuum cleaner out of the closet in an effort to pretend that I'm still a good housekeeper. It died. I do not mourn it. I went to the Walmart and replaced it with a cheap Dirt Devil. I have found that more expensive is not always better. In fact, the more bells and whistles, the more opportunities for something to go wrong. So my heavy Hoover self-propelled turbo suction machine has been replaced by a little sweeper.

I have been sneezing to beat the band. I think it's that time of year in Savannah when pollen fills the air - and my sinuses. This year, it seems that my eyes are especially itchy. I hope this doesn’t last long, because I may have to turn on the a/c before I'm really ready to.

3/10/2014

weekly update 3/10/2014

The week began with Book Club on Monday. We all read books or stories by the famous local author, Flannery O'Connor. During the discussion, we found that no one really liked the depressing works she had written, and we all wondered why she is so highly regarded as a literary icon. I didn't even want to read the book, but I persevered and finished The Violent Bear it Away; I don't recommend it. I joined the Book Club in the first place to force myself to read books that I wouldn't pick up, and to have a discussion with others about what we'd read. This month did that for me, and I'm glad. Now I can get back to reading some books that I bought at the Book Fest, things that would interest me more.

I made an appointment to have my a/c unit cleaned and checked before I turn it on for the season on Tuesday, but I was stood up. I also want to have my dryer vent cleaned, and Anthony gave me the name of person who has done that for other owners. I called him, but he didn't return my call. I'm trying to keep my maintenance up-to-date, but I'm not very successful. I have another company coming on Monday - I hope - and they should do both chores for me.

As it turned out, I didn't have to rush to get my a/c ready. It's been incredibly cold. I'm really beginning to give up my support of global warming. As I was shivering on Friday, I kept reminding myself that in Rochester, the temps were in the minus degrees. Our pool is undergoing a renovation, and it's supposed to take about 3 weeks. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to begin my tan in March, which is what I have done since moving here. Now it's beginning to seem like I'll be happy to be in shorts and flipflops, and maybe not a swim suit, in April!

The tours at DH and BC are growing. This is the beginning of the tourists season here. I had many visitors at both the museum and on the Second Sunday tour that I could impress with my knowledge and speaking skills. un-hun.

I treated myself to real, good, coffee house coffee twice this week. That's something I almost never do. I was too early for a meeting of the Savannah Music Fest volunteers on Wednesday, so I wandered to the Starbucks after I found a place to park near the Lucas Theater. Say what you want about Starbucks, and their contribution to commercialism in America with their overpriced java, they do make a good cup of coffee! After the tours at BC on Sunday, I (mistakenly) thought there was a free philharmonic concert at the Telfair Academy. It wasn't to begin until 5, but rather than go back to the condo and risk not being able to get up enthusiasm to go out again, I just went downtown. I went to the Espresso Bar and got an iced coffee, which I took to the square while I waited for 5 o'clock to come. When I went inside for the concert, I was surprised to find that I needed a ticket, and I didn't have one, and it was sold out. So I didn't get a free concert. It was a very nice day, however, so I drove around a little and took some pictures of the green water in two of the public fountains. The water is turned green for St Patrick's Day each March. 

it's difficult to see the green water at the Forsyth Park fountain, but in Columbia Square, by DH, it really looks green

 

I took a journey down memory lane this week. I'm finally reading Big Russ and Me, the memoir by Tim Russert, about growing up in Buffalo, NY. If he were alive now, we'd be about the same age, so many of the things he talks about in the book ring very true to me. I especially liked his remembrances regarding FOOD. When I was young, and living at home, dinner was never an adventure. Every night it was meat, potato, veggie, and dessert. This was the same in most homes at that time, I believe. A real break from that would be an occasional spaghetti dinner, but that was as ethnic as my family every got. When I was older, however, I had a chance to find out that there was more than that. Tim Russert brought back many of the memories of some things I miss here in the south. We have wings here, of course, and that began in Buffalo, but I've only found one bar in the area that has Genesee Beer. When I was in Rochester, a fish fry was always available every Friday - wonderful beer battered, crispy deep fried white fish with oily fries and cole slaw. The Charbroil on Island Cottage Road was a favorite place to enjoy a Friday fish fry. You can get a fish fry in Savannah, but it's not the same. Also in the book I was reminded of Beef on Weck. I don't think that ever became really popular in Rochester, although you could find in on some menus. But there was a little roadside stand in Leroy that made the very best beef on weck sandwiches, and I would go there whenever I visited my friend who live in Leroy. And hot dogs - there was a different brand mentioned in the book, but I remember Zeigle's hot dogs. Fat, natural casing, pop-open hots that were only good if they were grilled over a charcoal fire. I've traded these delights for Low Country Boil and shrimp and grits. But I would give a lot to have a beef on weck, or a Zeigles white hot now. 

And also, traveling way back in time - HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLEN.  March 12.  Hope it's a good day for you.  I love you.   

 

3/3/2014

weekly update 3/3/2014

It is returning to spring in Savannah. With temps in the 70's early in the week, I couldn't help but put the top down on the car and motor around to do some errands. By Wednesday, it got cooler, dropping into the 50's again, and it rained all day. Thursday was sunny & bright, but still cool. When I was out fo my walk at the Y, I noticed my little friends, the turtles were sunning themselves on a log. Theyr'e as ready for spring as I am, I think. 

 

It's been a while since I've gone to The Rail with Lisa and Dave, so I wanted to do that again. I took along my pocket Pictionary game to play while we were there. Good times! It was dark, but Kathy got a photo of us. 

 

What's one of my favorite things to do in Savannah? The Savannah Children's Theatre. After DH on Friday, I changed into my comfy clothes back at the condo before I remembered about the performance this weekend, so I went to a Saturday matinee of And Then There Were None, a mystery play based on the Agatha Christie thriller. Well done!

I didn't watch the Oscars. Since I'd seen very few of the nominations, and wasn't really interested in seeing any of the others (well, maybe Gravity), there didn't seem to be much point in watching.