7/31/2016

Weekly Update 7/31/2016

I'll be back in Savannah Monday, so I'll update my trip details then.

7/24/2016

Weekly Update 7/24/2016

Monday started out with nothing on my calendar. But Sylvia called and said MOW had asked her to deliver meals on Wilmington Island because the regular driver had an emergency. She would do it if I could help her. So, of course, being the wonderful people that we are, we delivered 10 meals to seniors that lived down streets we hadn't been on before and didn't even know they were there.

Tuesday, I attended a AAA seminar about Viking Cruises. Since Allen and I are already signed up to go to a Rhine River cruise in October, they weren't going to sell me anything, but I thought the information would be helpful. It was OK, and it got me excited about being on the Rhine this fall.

Thursday, I spent the entire day getting ready to go. I did laundry, cleaned house, packed. My Amtrak train was scheduled to leave Savannah at 7:30. I got there early, and it was late. Of course. The train was crowded and I couldn't sleep very well. I had only purchased a business class ticket since the sleeper cars were three times the cost. When we got to Washington DC - it was Friday by then - the train emptied out and I could get a little more comfortable. I had almost two hours in Penn Station before I could get onto another train that would go west. I was finally able to pee and brush my teeth (not at the same time). When I boarded the Empire Express, there were no seats left!  I stood for about 15 minutes on a moving train before a kind gentleman offered me his seat. He probably thought I was going to have a heart attack. That train didn't empty out until Hudson, but then I was able to relax a little for the final 4 hours to Rochester. You know what I've always said about Turtle Camp? I'm glad I did it, but I won't ever do it again. Same with railroad travel.

Saturday was the graduation party for Rachel Flynn in Syracuse. We drove there in theafternoon and were the first to arrive. It was very nice, and if anyone didn't get enough to eat, they only have themselves to blame.  

Ishy and I drove to Niverville on Sunday to see Allen. We went right to his house to visit and have a swim in Kinderhook Lake.  Since I'm used to a pool, it was nice to be in the cool waters of a lake, with waves and motor boats towing skiers. Then we went to the restaurant where he works for some very vert good burgers. 

Ok, these photos are out of order, but believe me, it was the best I could do without my laptop. It was a struggle to get them loaded at all.  

7/17/2016

July 17, 2016

I did get back to the pool this week, but only once. It's been hot everywhere lately, and Savannah is included in the general Great American Heat Wave. Our temps have been in the high 90s for weeks, and it's expected that they continue. It's too hot to even go to the pool!

My downstairs neighbor, Mike, is entertaining his teen-age daughter, Moira, for a few weeks. She lives in Massachusetts, but frequently comes here, and I've met her several times. Because she has a job at Walgreen's at her home, she's been able to transfer to working here while she visits. While Mike was busy on Wednesday, I drove her out to the store on the southside, where she thought she had a position. When she told them that she lived quite a ways away, they were able to offer her something closer to where we live. It was nice to go out that far, though, as I almost never do. I went into the Hobby Lobby that opened quite a while ago. It was my first visit there. It looked just like every other Hobby Lobby in America, but now I can say I’ve been there.

When I wake up in the morning,which is never early, I never get up and out of bed right away. So, Thursday, when I rolled over and began reading fb, I discovered that beginning at 6 am, there had been a large black man, knocking at doors in MP, asking to use a cell phone. If he had knocked at my door, I never would have even heard him especially at 6 am! There were cop cars everywhere until mid morning, and, as far as I know, he was never apprehended. I thought I was safe here; I still I'm safe here. It does make you think, however.

 

Later on Thursday, I met a few of the Lunch Bunch group for a wonderful meal at Aqua Star in the Westin Hotel across the Savannah River. The group was small because many of the crowd are off someplace else for the summer. The ones of us left behind enjoyed one of the best lunches we've had. The chef really outdid himself for us. Connie usually will alert the staff to any birthdays and there's always a treat for the birthday ”girl”. This time, there was a special, free dessert for everyone - chocolate cupcakes, homemade pecan sandie cookies, Leopold’s' butter pecan ice cream, peach tartlet and berries. That was a very special treat!

 

Because I'll be gone for the last two weekends this month, I really loaded up on BC this week. I opened and closed on both Saturday and Sunday, and I had afternoon desk duty with Kathryn on Saturday. On Sunday, about an hour before I was to go back to lock up, a storm came through. I decided to go early; I mean, really, who's going to want to wander through a cemetery with thunder and lightning and driving rain? As I was driving there, the light at the intersection of Route 80 and Bonaventure Road was out. Two police cars went through the light as I was going to BC; 1 more went through as I was returning home. As the traffic was backing up (and apparently I'm the only one who knows that if the light is out, drivers need to treat it as a 4-way stop), there was no one to direct traffic. To top it off, the drainage at the entrance to my building was ankle deep, so I had to slog through that to even get to my car. I've complained, but nothing is done. So slog I must. 

7/10/2016

July 10, 2016

Monday was the 4th of July Holiday. It was hot, but I decided I should get out to the DAR commemoration ceremony at Colonial Park Cemetery. I have gone in the past, and always enjoy the demonstration, if not the rah rah patriotism. Walking back to my car, I noticed that DH was decked out for the holiday, too, with a 24-star flag from the 1820s. I meant to also go to the History Museum, but when I got there, they were Charging $10 just to park! Not gonna happen, so I left. I can go there anytime. 

reading the Declaration of Independence

DH proudly flying her 1820s flag

 

I had a nice surprise package from Allen this week. He sent me a couple of videos that he enjoys, and some tourist brochures from Columbia County, NY. Since I'll be there in a few weeks, I had a chance to go through some information. There's too much to see and do in the short time I'll be there, but it was great to look through everything. The videos were interesting, too: The Place Beyond the Pines (a thriller filmed around Schenectady, NY) and Billy Elliot The Musical (Allen says this is his favorite musical).

I had promised Sylvia quite a while ago that I would help her deliver Meals on Wheels Pet Food this week when her delivery partner would be on vacation. Sylvia hurt her back, so she wasn't able to go on Thursday, so I sucked it up and said I would do it alone. Good work! - there I am, afraid of dogs, knocking on doors where I know there is one (or more) dog, holding large bags of dog food, waiting to be attacked. I never should have said I would do it, but I finished and there are several dogs and cats in the Savannah area who are enjoying nice dinners thanks to me.

The “Project Contest” ended this week. Dave challenged me, Kay, and Lisa to create a project that would represent our home state (or country, for Dave). Dave made a bridge that connected England and Wales with flags at either end, and my car in the middle of the bridge, crossing into Wales. Lisa made a space shuttle Challenger, and told us that she was working at the space center when it blew up. Kay made the Talmadge Bridge in Savannah (great minds think alike with the two bridges). I made The Statue of Liberty from a empty toilet paper roll. We all got on Skype Sunday afternoon and videoed across the ocean to show off the projects in a 3-way chat. It was fun! I see Kay once a week, usually at The 90, but I miss Lisa and Dave terribly. It was great to see them and talk to them. 

the bridge to Wales, with my little car in the middle

space shuttle Challenger

the Talmadge Bridge, complete with sight-seeing helicopter above

my Charmin Statue of Liberty

 

After the unveiling of the projects, I had to get ready to go to BC for a tour. It was nearly 100° and it was HOT. The fox, Buddy, made an appearance! He hasn't been seen since last fall, but he was out there today. He came frighteningly close to my tour group. I'm not an animal lover, and I am most certainly not a wild animal lover. And here was this fox, leisurely slinking across Johnny Mercer's family plot, while I’m yelling “go away! go away!” I'm sure the people felt very safe with me as their leader and protector.

I watched a lot of sports this week. In addition to the tennis (some wonderful matches!), I also watched the UEFA football matches. Well, I sorta watched; the games are so boring, I mostly was doing other things while the tv was on. One afternoon, however, I went to the clubhouse and watched with some people who know what's going on, and they could tell me some of the finer points of the game and the tournament. I had hoped Wales would win because of Dave and Lisa (and Gareth Bale is drop dead gorgeous!), but it wasn't to be. Apparently they got farther in the tournament than was expected. I should stick to things I know - like Wimbledon. At least I know what's happening there.

drinking tea from my London mug while eating scones and watching the men's final

7/3/2016

July 3, 2016

June 24 to July 3 was Burgers and Beer week in Savannah. Competing restaurants in the area offered specialty burgers for $8 and paired them with Sweet Water beers. I began at The 90 last Friday, sampled Coach's on Sunday after BC, and met Kay at Churchill’s the following Friday. It was a great week. I thought Jim's gourmet burger at The 90 was the best.

The 90

Coach's

Churchill's

at home - I eat a lot of these!

At The 90, the burger was named the Southern Charmer - cheese grits, hickory smoked cheddar and pecanwood bacon blended inside an Angus beef burger topped with spinach and arugula, caramelized onion, vine ripened tomato and chipolte mayo served on a Chef made Sweetwater 420 bun with green tomato ketchup on the side. Coach's offering was the Savannah Banana Sloppy Joe DiMaggio - an American ground beef Manwich topped with fried banana peppers and Americano cheese, served on a fresh baked bun with fried plantains. Churchill's was the Bar Hoppin Burger - short rib and chuck burger, Sweetwater IPA cheese fondue, candied bacon, crispy Vadalia onion ring on a brioche roll.

At Wormsloe Plantation, a special weekend was planned for the holiday. Since I've really enjoyed the Georgia Days re-enactments that they have every year in February, I looked forward to this. On Georgia Day, the historic site is free, but I knew I'd have to pay to get in for the 4th of July. No problem! I'd just discovered that I can borrow a pass from the library! How cool is that! So on Saturday, I got in for free (not really, because I put nearly as much as the admission fee in the donation box, but that's the way I am). I later regretted doing that because the “show” was pretty lame. It was advertised as “The date is July 1780 and Savannah is under British occupation after the Battle of Savannah. Georgia's patriots have fled to the back country, leaving the city in the hands of the redcoats. Come and celebrate the Revolution! Cower before the British Artillery! Take the loyalty oath to King George! Disregard rumors of Continental militia sign-ups!” And this is what it was:

a few colonist camping out

2 soldiers

 I was really disappointed.

I watched a lot of sports on tv. Wimbledon, of course - who could believe Sam Querry? and the UEFA - go Wales! But that's about it. It's almost too hot to go out.