1/4/2015

Weekly Update 1/4/2015

HAPPY 2015!!!

I began this week in my typical style - didn't leave the condo all day Monday. But, it picked up after that.

It has been incredibly busy at DH. I think they are trying to get as many people through as possible because revenue is a little in question for January as the museum may have to close for a time because the wallpaper in the hall is going to be replaced, and that will be quite a project. So, there were two busloads of tourists on Tuesday. I went in to give additional tours. It was difficult as there were four or five tours going through the house at one time, instead of just one. I had to begin in a different room, and there was no time downstairs to give my introductory spiel. But, I did what I could.

And after that, I went to the Mall. Okay, not my favorite thing to do, but I've been putting off buying a new camera since I dropped my little point-and-shoot in October. I went to the appliance store that I've always gone to, and was really disappointed in the selection. I think because everyone today uses their phone as a camera, and there's not much point to having a large inventory of cheap cameras in stock. There was a small specialty shop hidden away in the corner of this strip plaza, so I went in there, hoping they could help me. I gave them the list of things I needed (which included a cost of under $100), and they had it - in fact, it is an updated model of the same Canon that I've used and loved for so long - swine camera. They also had an exhibit of old camera - many Kodaks. So as I was paying for my new one with my Rochester & Monroe County Credit Union VISA card, the sales lady and I reminisced about the “good old days” when Kodak was big in Rochester.

Then, because the Verizon Store on Abercorn is larger than the one I usually go to, I decided I'd go in - JUST TO ASK - about an iPad. One hour later, I'm the proud new owner of an Apple iPad Air. What a great toy this is. I'm certainly enjoying it, but I'll let you know when I get the first bill. I got pretty confused, but I think I’ll pay not much more than I pay now for the phone. I had a little trouble linking to the mobile hotspot that I've used to get this blog published, but after a trip to the service center, and a phone call to the customer support group, and an email to Dave Winkler, I was able to figure it out. I \appear to be back in business; it just took me some extra time to get here. 

 

Wednesday, I had the most active New Year's Eve I've had in a very long time. For years, I’ve sat home, watched tv, drank champagne. Even before I was alone, New Years was not a big celebration - party animals we were not. But this year I just felt like pretending that I’m young, and I went out. I started at 17 Hundred 90 with Donna and Helen for a glass of wine. From there, the three of us walked to Billy's, a new restaurant that we'd heard good things about. It was open, but not to sit at the bar - there was a prix fix menu, and we wanted to spend neither the time nor the money for that. We parted. I was going to meet Dave & Lisa later, and I had about an hour to kill. I didn't want to go to another bar because two beers is about my limit, and I knew I was going to be over that. So I went to a little coffee shop near Leopold's. I ordered a nice latte and sat down to play on my iPad. There was a 20-something at the counter, too, and I explained that I have a new toy and was just starting to get used to it. I asked if he could help me with a few things, and he was very willing. We chatted - “where are you from” “do you live downtown”, the usual things you talk about in Savannah - until I had to leave. I met the Winklers at Juarez and we had Mexican for our New Years Eve feast. We had planned to go from there to City Market, but I'd never been to Abe's on Lincoln, and wanted to see what it was like. We all enjoyed a Guinness there. (Once I was in there, I think this might be the second time in my life I'd been there. It looked vaguely similar to a bar Jan and I Had been in when we were tourist in 2007 - small, old, pub-ish. I can't remember my children's names most days, but I remember a bar I was in one time long ago?) From there, we wandered over to The Rail, where a very good singer Danielle Hicks, was performing. She’s young, gorgeous, and had a great voice - reminded me of listening to Juliet Lloyd in years past. Lisa & Dave wanted to stay for the fireworks, but I was nervous about driving back out to Whitemarsh Island, so I left downtown before midnight. I was just pulling into the gates at the entrance of the condo when midnight arrived. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

started out at 17 Hundred 90

moved to Abe's on Lincoln

then for just a minute to watch the Orange Bowl outside at City Market

ending up at The Rail to listen to Danielle Hicks

 

On New Year's day, I had been invited to Sylvia & Charles' house to watch the Rose Bowl. It was a pretty lame game, but the food and company was good. She cooked a traditional Southern new year's day meal - roast chicken, collard greens (something green to grant lots of money in the new year) and hoppin' john (black eyed peas for good luck).

Friday I was back at DH for my afternoon tours. They were crowded. As I was giving my last tour of the afternoon, I looked around at the wallpaper and thought to myself that this would be the last time I would see the brick patterned paper on the hallway walls. Although it's been planned for a long time to replace it, I guess I never really thought that it would suddenly be next week! So I asked and was granted permission to take a couple of photos to remember it by. 

a close up of the wall paper

Add caption

 

Donna unexpectedly met me in the gift shop when I was finished, and from there we went to the Gutstein Gallery where a few of Suzy's woven wall hanging were on display. I've been meaning to do that, but haven't, and now the exhibit is nearly over. After that, we went to 17 Hundred 90 for a drink. And, then to Billy's Place, since we weren't able to get in on New Year's Eve. We had another drink - a brown russian, amazingly tasty - and I had lobster bisque. It was great. Donna had planned to meet Connie at 17 Hundred 90 after 8, so we went back there again. This time I had a glass of water. 

Suzy's woven wall hangings on display

 

On Saturday, I met Beth to see Into the Woods. It was ok, and I liked Meryl Streep (although she is no Bernadette Peters!). But I didn't like that the reprise of the Agony song by the princes was left out and that Milky White was a real cow. In the musicals I've seen, Milky White was a wonderful parody of a cow, and a hit in the show, and the second duet by the princes was so much fun. Whatever. I was happy to spend some time with Beth, and Anne Nedd joined us. I pretty much knew the movie would not measure up to the live production, but I wanted to see it anyway.

And of course, there was the football. Good win, Panthers, but since the Cardinals were really beat up with injuries, that was not too much of a surprise. I was delighted the Big Ben and the Steelers have been ousted. Sunday, the football was not good. I was hoping that the Bengals would go far, and of course, I didn't want to the Cowboys to win. So, now that the Bills and the Lions are both gone, who is there left for me to cheer for? I guess I'll wait til next year.

On the plus side, Downton Abbey began it's 5th season. Not many surprises in the first episode, but I think they needed to remind us of what was going on in everyone's life. But I'm glad it's back.