4/28/2014

weekly update 4/28/2014

I got out more this week than last week, so this update won't be so boring.

Monday, I packed all my Easter décor away again for another year. And I made my annual day-after-Easter trek to Walmart for 50% off Cadbury eggs. I'm well stocked up now. 

 

a well-stocked freezer: bagels, stouffers lasagna, cadbury eggs (breakfast, lunch & dinner)

I did a few errands on Tuesday, beginning with finally buying myself a purse. I lost both my phone and my ipod last week, and although I found them again, I'm getting frustrated about being so scatter brained. I decided that I need to have a place to keep all the things together, not just in my pockets, particularly if I'm going someplace where I need take more than my wallet, my phone and my keys. I paid way too much for a small backpack, but it was exactly what I wanted, so I paid it. Then I had the car washed and cleaned inside and out. It needed it. And then I drove out to the Southside to watch the Savannah Challenger Cup Tennis. It's a tournament I've been to before and enjoyed. There are not a lot of big names (in fact, there are none; the only entrants that I had heard of were Jack Sock and Donald Young), but it's good tennis. It was a beautiful day, and I sat in the warm weather and watched a couple of matches, including a nice doubles. 

watching great tennis

Donald Young

 

Wednesday, I did more errands. The library used book sale began, and it's held at the branch that's way out by the Savannah Mall. As long as I was going out that way, I stopped at the deli to load up on bagels. At that same plaza, there's a beauty supply store. Donna had given me some hair coils that are very very handy when twisting my hair into bun - just like my grandma. I broke one, so needed to replace it. I only bought 4 books and 1 dvd at the library sale, but I still have books from last year's sale that I haven't opened yet. I window shopped until it was time to go back toward the city for the next in my series of lectures on personalities of WWI. This week was Rasputin. And, since I was on a roll, I then went out to the Social Security office to check on my application. I applied in February and haven't learned yet if I've been accept to collect at my next birthday, which is 3 weeks away. I'm getting a little anxious. But, wouldn't you know, they close at noon on Wednesdays. I know no more than I did before. 

at the book sale, this little boy amassed a large quantity of books, then sat down under a table to enjoy them while his mother browsed.  how wonderful!

 

Thursday was the grand re-opening of the condo pool. Major repairs had been done, but it has now opened again and we're ready to go. I went swimming in the afternoon, and it was grand! The water temp was not as cold as I'd expected it to be, and I got in and paddled around a bit. There was a pizza party to celebrate that evening. My friend Suzy was in charge, and she had asked me to bake brownies. Yeah. I told her not to be concerned if she heard fire trucks outside because of my lack of baking acumen, but they seemed to be successful.

the beginning of the renovation...

...the middle...

...and the end

neighbors chatting at the pool party (thanks to Suzy, in the pink) and some mighty delicious brownies

AHH!!!

 

 

Saturday morning, I was out and about early. The Georgia Historical Scotty was holding it's annual book sale (but I didn't understand that this was not the same book sale that I'm used to, where you can get a whole bag for $5. I thought the prices written inside were the ORIGINAL prices, surely they couldn't be resale for used books! I was wrong. But I now know that I won't be buying anything at this sale in the future). The Georgia Historical Society building is right at Forsyth Park, and one of the most popular events that SCAD sponsors, the sidewalk art competition, was just beginning. It's amazing what these talented young people can do with a sidewalk square and some chalk! I spent some time watching them create some amazing and colorful pictures.

all along the walkways, students were adding the art as people wandered around to see them

one of the grand, colorful creations

 

Sunday, the Savannah Victorian Society met at the Patrick O'Connor House in the Victorian district which is being rehabbed by a professor at SCAD. The wonderful home, built in 1885, is in pretty rough shape, but I loved seeing the rehab process, talking to Mr Abraham, and seeing the possibilities! I'm hoping that one day, the Society will be able to host it's annual Christmas party in the completely redone house. 

outside

inside

All in addition to my normal DH & BC duties! I am WONDERWOMAN! 

 

4/21/2014

weekly update 4/21/2014

HAPPY EASTER (a day late)

I didn't do a lot went on this week. Just the usual - DH & BC (although I did have an extra tour at the cemetery on Thursday), and my lecture at the Senior Center on WWI.

The best thing that happened was I had a visitor! My cousin, Jen Cranch, visited from Rochester. She's a teacher, so for her spring break, she flew to Jacksonville, rented a car, and drove along the coast back to Rochester. I was so glad she decided to spend a couple of days here with me. She's been to Savannah before, so we've already done the tourist things. We did get to Massie School and Owens-Thomas House, but mostly we visited. It was wonderful to have her here. We did try to get up to see the eclipse, but it was too cloudy, and we couldn't see anything.

I wished I could have provided her with better weather, but it's been a rainy, wet spring here. In fact, on Friday, when I left DH I nearly had to swim to my car!

Easter Sunday was quiet and lazy for me. Nothing going on, and I didn't even leave the condo. I hope you all had a nice holiday.

4/14/2014

weekly update 4/14/2014

Monday started out dry, but it turned to rain in the afternoon. Tuesday started out rainy, but the sun came out in the afternoon. Springtime in Savannah.

Monday was also book club meeting. We had read Defending Jacob by William Landay, a sort of murder mystery that I found interesting. Like many others in my group, I almost never read crime drama books, but this everyone seemed to find this to be a good book.

And Tuesday, there was a meeting at the Clubhouse to brainstorm a few ideas for the pool (which will be opening next week after the repair work is finished. hooray!) and other ideas that might enhance living here in Mercer Point. I like everyone else, have my own agenda - what I want to see here and what I don't. There isn't going to be a meeting of the minds, but that's what being part of living in a community is about.

Wednesday, a tour was scheduled for BC. It originally was scheduled for 3 pm, which would have given me time to attend the second in the WWI series of lectures I'd signed up for. The tour group was ahead of schedule, however, and I had to meet at the cemetery at 1:30, and I missed the biographical sketch of Gavrilo Princip, the assassin who killed Franz Joesph & Sophie. The tour group was made up of seniors. We split the group into those who could walk without trouble, and those who would need to go slower (or were using a waler or had oxygen attached to them). A few wouldn't even try, and just waited on the bus. I had the slower group, and it was tough. There are a few places to sit, and I talked about some of the interesting people who are buried here while we rested at the Colonial Garden part of the cemetery. I skipped some interesting plots, and focused on Little Gracie and Johnny Mercer. I hope I did ok.

Thursday, I was just going to stay in and read the next book I picked up off my bookshelves. But I needed to go out and get a few things. The HOA meeting on Tuesday reminded me that I had wanted to buy an azalea plant for in front of my building, and maybe a few little annuals, too. I went to the Home Depot not far from my place and got a lovely pink azalea and some bright yellow marigolds that I think can stand the full sun. Since I never garden, I have no tools, and that made it impossible for me to dig a hole for the azalea. I did put the marigolds in because I could use a tablespoon to make a place big enough for the little plants. Anthony was going to loan me a shovel, but I don't think he had time on Thursday. Friday, while I was at DH, Bob & Suzy got busy and planted the shrub, so now we have a little color out front. Thanks, guys!

my little flowers adding some color to the entrance at Building 5

 

If Wednesday was Senior Day at the BC, Friday was Family Day at DH. In a mid-afternoon tour, a family of about 10 kids joined my group. I always get nervous when kids are there because my tours generally are a lot of history that most youngsters find boring (adults, too, probably, but they have ELECTED to be there; kids have to go where their parents tell them to). But this group was amazing. The kids didn't touch anything, they listened to me, they didn't make it difficult for the others on the tour. In fact, at the end, when I wrap by thanking everyone for coming and wishing them all a fun visit in the rest of Savannah, I complemented the adults in this group on the behavior of the children. They really were good. After that, I went to 17 Hundred 90 for a drink with Donna. She's going to be going to Maine next week, so this will be our last chance to sit in that bar and have a Friday night martini for a while.

Saturday afternoon, as I was doing a little kitchen work - very little - Donna stopped over. We took a bottle of wine and some crackers, gathered up Suzy, and went to sit on Donna's wonderful porch and watch the sunset and visit. It was very relaxing and WONDERFUL. It's been a tough week for me, and this was just what I'd needed.

Sunday evening, I had invited Donna, Dave & Lisa for dinner. I wasn't sure if Lisa & Dave would feel like it, but they came over anyway. When I've gone to dinner at their house, it's always gourmet - wonderful homemade soup or fresh root vegies - but I'm very old and I cook the way I've always cooked. That meant chicken casserole and lots of warm bread. But I think this week has showed us it's not what we have on the plates in front of us, but who's around the table, that's important. Thank you.

Wait! Colin!  Don't walk away from us so soon.  It's not time!

4/7/2014

weekly update 4/7/2014

Lisa & Dave joined me at the Crystal Beer Parlor this week for Trivia Night on Monday. We did horribly. All three of us felt really stupid. But at least I was able to enjoy another Genesee Beer. I don't know if I'll be doing this much in the future.

Tuesday, I drove to Charleston. I'd purchased tickets to the Family Circle Cup tennis tournament there a long time ago, so I got up early and headed off. I was there in time to watch the last 3 games of the first match on Center court, and then stayed to watch Venus Williams win her match. I left after that to find my hotel while it was still light out, thinking I'd have better chance of finding it if it wasn't dark. I'm terrible at trying to find my way, particularly when I'm alone and I don't have a GPS, which I can't understand anyway. It wasn't too hard to find the Days Inn, but as soon as I'd checked in, I regretted thinking that this hotel would be ok - it wasn't. Too late, I was stuck. I went back to the Tennis Center for the night matches and watched Serena Williams get beat. If anyone had told me that morning that I would watch Venus win and Serena lose, I wouldn't have believed them. But that is what happened. I got a pretty bad sunburn watching the afternoon matches, and it bothered me enough (or maybe it was the horrible hotel) that I didn't sleep well. I decided not to go back and try to purchase another ticket for the Wednesday sessions, but just got in my car, put the top down on the 'vert, and drove back to Savannah.

 

I made a slight detour to visit the ruins of the Old Sheldon Church. I had passed the signs on the highway every time I've driven to Charleston. Some friends who had visited told me that it was not much, just ruins, and others had said it was impressive. I found it to be somewhere n between those two assessments. It was just old ruins of church that had been destroyed during the Revolutionary War, but it was also interesting as the headstones in the church yard were from 1771 to 1996. There weren't more than 30 headstones, so it wasn’t a big plot, but I was amazed at the range of dates. 

 

I was back in Savannah in time to go to the first of the series of lectures I'd signed up for at the Senior Learning Center. I haven't done much with this group for a while, but they were offering a course on World War I “personalities”. I signed up. The first biography was Archduchess Sophie, who along with her husband was assassinated to start the World War. I thought it was very interesting.

Thursday, I attended a lecture on Marilyn Monroe at the Jepson Art Center with Donna. Since this is an art gallery, the focus was on “art”, and the photographs of Marilyn and later iconic art, such as Andy Warhol's prints. Because we all know the sad story of her short life, it was interesting to learn how she affected art. As we were enjoying the reception, a wonderful 1960 Cadillac convertible pulled up outside the art gallery with a real live Marilyn waving from the back seat. That was so cool! She came into the reception and sang some songs to entertain us all. 

Friday I had a strange tour at DH. On the last tour of the day, a group of 6 told me that they would have to leave because they needed to be at another historic house museum for their last tour at 4:30. They were upset because “no one told them” that the tours didn't go on late into the night, but ended at 4 or 4:30. So, I hurried thru and told only the what I felt were the highlights of the house so that they could see everything and still be out in 20 minutes. My normal tours take about 40 minutes, so I had the feeling that I was cheating the others on the tour that didn't get my full spiel. After the 6 tourists left, I apologized to the remaining members of my tour group, and then went back and told some of the stories that I usually include in my talk. I'm so rote with my tour, that if I get off track or get things out-of-order, I don't know what I've already said and what I'm repeating. I think I did ok, however, and I hope I did well by the ones who needed an abbreviated tour as well as those who were there for a “normal” tour.

After that, I went to 17 Hundred 90 for a drink. This is getting to be a habit, but not one I don't like. Donna met me there, and as were having our drinks, Lisa called. A childhood friend was in Savannah visiting her, and she wanted to know if we would mind them joining us. Of course not! So the four of us had a nice visit.

When I got up on Saturday, the sun was shining and it was pleasantly warm. Since the tours at DH had been so full on Friday, I assumed BC might be crowded as well. The azaleas are at their peak, and the cemetery is gorgeous. It wasn't my day to be there, but I went anyway to see if I could help with the crowds. I was there for over 4 hours, and it was very busy, just as I'd expected. But it was not a bad way to spend a lovely afternoon. Sunday it rained all day. I didn't expect the crowds to be visiting to see the lovely blooms, so I didn't go.