11/27/2016

Weekly Update 11/27/2016

I hope everyone had enough to eat this week. I did!

Thanksgiving was nice for me. I had been invited to join a group of friends at (where else?) The 90 for an amazing buffet. It had all the traditional Thanksgiving menu items – turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry, green bean casserole – plus southern favorites – mac and cheese, collards, okra, honey biscuits – and both green salad and waldorf salad, plus cake and pies for dessert. Since I was already at The 90, I watched the last quarter of the Lions game in the bar there, the only game of the day that I was happy about.

a full plate

friends at Thanksgiving outside The 90

Saturday evening, I joined Connie downtown for the lighted Boat Parade. This is an annual event. Sometime I go; sometimes I don't. But Connie had invited me to join her since Jim was still at work. We saw the huge tree on Bull Street that is going to become a tradition (so I'm told), and then wandered to the river. We thought we might see best from Rocks on the Roof, a bar that's on top of a River Street Hotel. The weather was perfect, and Connie found friends that had seats overlooking the river. We joined them and had great views. My picture-taking ability did not shine, and most photos were blurry.

the tree on Bull St

a few private boats, all lit up for the parade

the Delta Queen dinner cruise boat

 

11/20/2016

Weekly Update 11/20/2016

Not much going on this week. I went on an (unsuccessful) mission to the outlet mall to find a pair of Clarks that I could wear to DH now that it's turning too cold for my flip flops. I need a wide width, and in the whole store, there were only 5 pair, three in my size, and none that I liked. The search may continue, or I may just go to the Goodwill and find something for $4. If' I'm going to “settle”, it won't be for a $40 pair of shoes I don't want anyway.

Tuesday I attended a lecture by one of my favorite speakers. Luciano Spacher gave a talk about newspaper field artists during the Civil War. Photography was new and it was used for getting information to the public through print media for the first time in the war, but the artists were still valuable tools for allowing readers to see what was happening on the battlefield.

The Lunch Bunch met at Rancho Alegre on Wednesday. It's a Cuban Restaurant that I had not been to before. I had a wonderful frozen white sangria, and the food was good, too.  

Thursday I didn't go out. I finally wandered up to the mailbox after the football game ended, about midnight. Imagine my surprise when the gate in the fence around the pool was propped open! I went in, and no lights flashed, no sirens went off. I went up to the clubhouse door to see if anyone was in there, and I couldn't see anyone because the lights were off except for the computer room. I hadn't taken my access card, so I thought I wouldn't know if there was someone on the computers or not (it's a separate room, not visible from the door). But, I tried the door, and it wasn't locked – I walked right in. Again, no sirens, no alarms. I had been led to believe that if someone was inside the gate, or in the clubhouse, after 10 pm, the security alarms would go off. But I guess that's not true. I turned off the lights, locked the door, went out the gate and removed the trash can that had been used to prop the gate open. I emailed the Board and Management, but I'm still upset that someone could just walk right in! We have computer equipment, a tv, small kitchen appliances, all sorts of things in there that could have just been stolen in an unsecured building.

Friday, I didn't have to go to the DH because someone else wanted to work on Friday afternoon this week. That did not stop me, however, from going to The 90.

Saturday and Sunday, I was back at BC for the first time since the hurricane closed the cemetery. It's open, but only for limited hours. The gates were to be opened at 10 am and locked again at 2 pm (the usual schedule is 8 am – 5 pm, but the visitor center is only open for 10 – 4). On Saturday, when I arrived at 10, the gates were locked and I couldn't get in to set up. They opened at 10, but then I had to hurry around to get all the signs placed and the desk arranged. Sunday, expecting the same, I didn't even show up until almost 10, and the gates were open, tourists were everywhere and the BHS volunteers were patiently waiting for me on the porch. I couldn't win! I had a chance to wander through the cemetery a little, and some of it is still very sad. Not Little Gracie, however, as she greeted me with the same shy smile she always does.  

11/13/2016

Weekly Update 11/13/2016

I will not comment on the election.

The week for me was about Medicare. I had been made aware that the coverage I have through the City of Rochester and the NYS retirement system might not be the best for me. I asked friends for advice, I went to insurance company sales talks, I got advice through the counselor at the Senior Center. And I finally made the decision to change to a plan that is better suited to my needs, which are few. I may have made a mistake, but at least I will no longer pay $100 a month for coverage I don't use, so there's that. And I'm quite proud of myself. For most of my life, someone else has made these decisions for me – in fact, the NYS retirement system pretty much made the decision for me with the coverage I have. But I made this choice myself, and it feels good to take control for what I think is best.

Since getting back into my normal routine after the hurricane, and then Europe, I attended a interesting lecture on Monday this week. As part of the DH Fall Lecture Series, I had an opportunity to hear Dr LeeAnn Caldwell speak on Women in the Early 19^th Century. I enjoyed that very much, especially as we were on the eve of perhaps having the first woman president.

Donna and I went to the St John's Episcopal Church Bazaar on Wednesday. I look forward to this every year because they make the best chili. We had lunch there, with neighbors John and Dave. I didn't even bid on anything at the silent auction, as it was mostly works of art, but I did buy two used books.

On Saturday, I walked to the clubhouse because there was to be a Neighborhood Garage Sale at MP. I don't need any more STUFF, but as so often happens I did discover that I needed a pizza stone (and another book). Then I walked across the street to the Farmer's Market that's held every Saturday at the school. There was more baked goods there than fresh produce, and I find that annoying. I didn't buy anything there.

the farmers market

MP neighborhood garage sale

In the afternoon, I went to the SCT. I haven't been there in quite a while, but I was not disappointed with the performance of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. The cast was entirely children and young adults, and they all did a wonderful job with the musical. Since the Bills played last Monday night (and I won't say anything about that either), and had a bye week this Sunday, I didn't need to go to Coach's again this week. I sat home to watch other games and didn't even stick my nose out the door.   

11/6/2016

Weekly Update 11/6/2016

Back to normal. Almost. I'm still having trouble with my internal clock. And I'm still trying to get organized with all the photos and papers from the trip.

There were no Trick and Treat beggars on Monday but I didn't expect any.

I broke my shredder while trying to get rid of docs from the trip that I thought might contain some info that I wouldn't want in the wrong hands (like my flight schedule? The address of the Radisson Blu? The insurance docs? - what good would those do to anyone?). It didn't cost that much to begin with, and I wanted to get everything done at once, so I abused it and inserted too many papers at once. It couldn't handle it. I guess I'll have to get another cheap one, but another day.

I met Kay for supper Tuesday night. I was great to see her. We compared notes on our trips since she'd been to UK recently with her sons, and had also seen Dave and Lisa. And it's just wonderful to spend time with her. I've still got some people that need to be bored with my stories of the FYW airlines and the lovely European cities.

I did something on Wednesday that surprised me – went for a walk. I had promised myself that I would try to get back into a routine after Europe, but that's a promise I didn't keep. On Wednesday, I needed to go to the library, and I can't justify getting in my car to drive across the street. So I walked. And since I was already out there, I went to the path at the YMCA where I used to regularly walk. There are still a lot of trees and debris around the trail (as there are in many places around Savannah) but the path was clear. I didn't walk again.  

Did everyone watch the final game of the World Series? I'm not a baseball fan, and I seldom watch any games. But when I was in Lincolnton, during the hurricane evacuation, I did watch some playoff games with Charles. I have met a great group for friends in Savannah who come from Chicago, so I felt I had to watch the final game of the Series. I really didn't care who won, because each team seemed to be an underdog, who hadn't won in a very long time. But when the Cubs prevailed, after an exciting and and on-the-edge-of-your-seat game, I was glad that their curse seems to be at an end. It was a wonderful game, a championship game, and the Indians have nothing to be ashamed of. Good sportsmanship, and a great battle.

Thursday, I got up early to go to a seminar given by Aetna Insurance about enhanced Medicare insurance. I was told by my finance guy when I met with him that I may be in for some very large hospital bills if I don't have the coverage that picks up what Medicare itself doesn't cover. It's the enrollment period now so I need to make some choices – or not. It's so confusing. I have more appointments for more information coming up, and then I suppose I'll just have to blindly pick something. This should not be this hard! All the little things you need to know (if you go out of network for prescription drugs, is that a bad thing? Yes and no. what you need to make clear about treatment, and by whom, before a procedure begins. And put it in writing. how you can be taken advantage of when you're very sick and most vulnerable). I pay a lot – why can't I be covered for what I need?

The Bonaventure Historical Society had it's annual meeting / dinner on Thursday night. A slide presentation was given about the damage at BC, and explanations about why it is taking so long to re-open after the hurricane. There still is no date set for when the gates will be open and tourists and/or family members will be allowed in again. Issues include safety and the inability for large machinery to get down the narrow lanes of the cemetery to remove fallen and uprooted trees. 

Friday I was back to DH and The 90. Now I think I'm REALLY home!

Saturday, I had a couple of things to do. In the afternoon, I went to a memorial service for The Lady Chablis at the Lucas Theater. She died in September, and the service was originally scheduled for October, but the hurricane forced those plans to be canceled. Finally, her friends got together to host a very nice remembrance for her. Say or think what you want about her, but she lived her life exactly as she wanted, was comfortable with herself, and made no apologies to anyone for who she was. And she was wonderfully entertaining

I also went to the annual Old Fort Jackson fund raiser on Saturday evening. I've been telling Donna for years that this is the best low country boil I've ever had, but it's always been held in August, when she's in Maine. This year, they changed the date because it was too hot in August, and they decided to try something different. There was the silent auction (I bid on a couple of items, but didn't win) and the buffet. It did not disappoint. 

I had to set my clocks on Sunday to revert to EST. And then, I spent nearly the entire day at the club house working on organizing the photos from the trip. By the time I was done, I never wanted to see another castle or cathedral again! It was an amazing trip. But it took a long time to get the arrangements done.