2/26/2017

Weekly Update 2/26/2017

This was a really slow week for me. I hardly got out at all.

 Thursday, I really wanted to go to the city walk that was to tell about Black education in Savannah. The walk would be followed by a lecture at the Massie School. I was a little disappointed in the walk, because it told less about African American education and more about architecture and overall history of the colony of Georgia. But it was a pleasant evening, and I did learn a few new things. The lecture was hard for me hear, so I also didn't get a lot from that.

Because many neighbors are remodeling their condos, updating kitchens, replacing old wall to wall carpeting with hardwood floors, knocking out walls, I rather felt as if I was being left behind. But, not only do I not want to change much, I also do not want to spend a lot of money on this place. I had, however, been eyeing my bathroom and wishing for something a little different in there. I remembered the old houses I had in the powder room in Rochester, and I always liked those. So I found some wallpaper borders, a few little wooden outhouses, and I bought new towels, rugs and lid cover. My cousin Ellen has a sewing machine that can embroider I asked her if she could make some hand towels for me, and she did a wonderful job! Although it doesn't look that much different, but I'm pleased. 

2/19/2017

Weekly Update 2/19/2017

I'm thinking of changing this blog from Wilma's Weekly Update to The Lectures I Went to This Week. Seems like that's all I ever do.

I went to the movies Monday with June and Tom. June wanted to see Fifty Shades Darker because she LOVED Fifty Shade of Grey. I have neither read the books, nor seen the first movie, but June wanted to go, so I went. I have often spent worse afternoons, so I guess for the couple of hours it took me sit there, it wasn't so bad.

Jane and I went out to Fort Pulaski on Tuesday to walk. There is still a lot of hurricane damage along the hiking trail, and because the bridge across Lazaretto Creek needs immediate attention to be made safe, the removal of debris is low priority now. We didn't get to walk out to the Cockpur Lighthouse, but we did spend almost an hour on the trails that were open.

Wednesday seemed like a long day (many days this week seemed long). I began with a talk at noon at TLC about Why I Converted to Islam. Unfortunately, the speaker wasn't able to make the appointment, so instead of a personal discussion and journey, we only heard about some of the beliefs of the religion. I had two hours to kill before the next lecture, another in the series of Savannah architects that I have been attending for six weeks, so I went downtown. I wanted to check into property tax breaks and exclusions I might be eligible for because I'm so old. There is a limited time frame (between January and March each year) to sign up, and my financial adviser alerted me last summer that I should apply. I was apprehensive. Of course, I felt hadn't taken the documents I would need, or that my income would exceed the minimum (because I had a large withdrawal from an investment account in 2016 to purchase a car), or that somehow I wouldn't do it right. But I was out of there in 10 minutes and everything is in place to have a slight lowering of my obligations for 2017. Whew! And since I had almost an hour left on the Parking meter, I went to the Location Gallery. There was an exhibit there called Page Rippers. They do this occasionally where they tear pages from a book, and artists create a painting, a collage, a sculpture, or something, that relates to the page they are given. This book was The Damned Don't Cry, which is a novel written in 1939 about a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks in Savannah, who makes good.  

Location Gallery on Whitaker St

Thursday morning, DH had a meeting of interested workers about the proposed expansion. It will be years before this is even started, but they are beginning to think about using the entire house as a museum, and converting the adjacent pharmacy to the gift shop and admissions center. They were brainstorming what docents and guides view as roadblocks to an expanded tour. This will be a continuing work in progress. In the evening, I went to a n exhibit opening lecture at the Jepson Center. A curator had assembled several photos of art galleries, each a picture of a picture, but with an unusual placement. After the speaker finished, I toured the exhibit, and it was quite amazing.

model of the proposed expand ion of  DH

time lapse photo of the Mona Lisa - the crowd changes; she remains the same

an athlete posing in a gallery with Greek sculptures

the Jepson guests, viewing the exhibit

The 10^th Annual Savannah Book Fest was this weekend. I had wanted to hear Colson Whitehead talk about his book, The Underground Railroad. I had recently read it and found it disturbing, so I was interested to learn about some of the symbolism and meanings he was hoping to reveal with the fiction book. As with past book fests, the evening speakers are not free (Saturday speakers are), and it was impossible for peons like me to buy tickets; they are reserved for corporate sponsors and large wealthy contributors - not the likes of me. Luckily, I know someone who's wife works for Georgia Power, who is a sponsor, and had an extra ticket, which they offered to me! Although I was thrilled to have a ticket, I was disappointed in the talk. He only spoke about the central figure, Cora, but not the settings she was placed in. And he read from the book. Well, I'd already read it, so I didn't need that. But I'm glad I didn't miss it. Saturday, I got up early to be downtown and ready for the first lectures at 9 am. I'm living in the past (as I often do), remembering how wonderful this festival was when I first went about six years ago. Now it is HUGE! There were seven time slots, and a total of forty-one lectures. I only went to five, because by the time I stood in line for two that I wanted to hear, the hall was full and those in line were turned away, and it was too late to get to another venue. I did hear some very good authors, however, and I've got some great reads ahead of me in the next months.

Colson Whitehead

the Book Fest at Telfair Square

2/12/2017

Weekly Update 2/12/2017

I had a week full of meetings and lectures. Starting on Monday, I went to the Library Book Club. On Tuesday I attended a review and book signing by Nancy Brandon at The Senior Center. Wednesday was another site visit for TLC series on noted Savannah architects; we went to the Harper Fawkes House. Thursday there was an interesting lecture at the Jepson Center for Black Heritage Month and the Savannah Black Heritage Festival. And finally, on Saturday, I drove to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge for a talk about the Caretta Research Project.

The Book that was discussed on Monday was The Hare with the Amber Eyes by Edmund deWaal. It is a memoir that traces his family from it's roots in Czarist Russia, to homes in Vienna and Paris, through the Holocaust, and to his own lifetime, following the collection of netsuke (tiny Japanese wood and ivory carvings, one of which is a hare with gemstone eyes). It was interesting, and there was actually quite a good discussion about the book.

Nancy Brandon is a local author, and Show Me a Kindness is her third book. The book is set in Georgia, and parts the story take place in the Central of Georgia's Railroad Hospital, which is a real building (in fact, Senior Citizens Inc is now the owner of the building and most of the lectures I go to are held there). It was built in an era when a private hospital was the accepted method of railroads to provide all employees with hospital benefits, the 80-bed hospital was opened July 1, 1927 in Savannah. More than 77,752 patients were treated at the hospital during its 36 years of existence under Central’s ownership. I bought the book, but haven't opened it yet. I'll get at it after the book fest next Saturday.  

Nancy Brandon signing copies of her book

The Harper Fawkes House was build 1842-1845 on Orleans Square in Savannah by architect Charles Cluskey for Aaron Champion. Additions and renovations were made throughout the history of the building, especially in 1895 when a third story was added, and the stairs were moved to the back gallery. It was last owned by preservationist Alida Harper who died in 1985 after living there for 45 years. She left the house to the Society of the Cincinnati (a whole other story), who still use it. I am particularly interested in the house because when I moved to Savannah in 2009, the movie, The Conspirator, was just wrapping up, and the house was featured in the movie.

Harper Fawkes House

the dining room with the wonderful painted wood grain ceilings and walls

At the Jepson, Julieanna Richardson, founder of The HistoryMakers project in 1999, spoke about the videos she has collected for the project. This is an ambitious project which aims to record 5,000 video oral history interviews with both well-known and unsung African Americans. She has collected more than 2,000 interviews so far. The most prominent Savannah civil rights leader, W. W. Law, died in 2002, before she had a chance to interview him for the project. It was very interesting, and we were shown the clips of some of the people she has interviewed.

Julieanna Richardson and her talk about The HistoryMakers

I had never been to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, although I've driven past it several times on Route 17 in South Carolina (the Savannah in the name refers to the River, not the City, as the refuge is not in Georgia). The talk was great, and after it was over, I spoke to Kris, and told her that I had volunteered at the project on Wassaw Island several years ago. She remembered! I had nothing else on my calendar, so I hiked – for about 5 minutes – and then took the scenic drive through the preserve. It was interesting, and I saw many birds, a few alligators, wetlands and marshes, a canal, and the remains of rice fields. I really prefer a urban environment, but this drive was fascinating. 

the hiking trail outside the visitor center

some alligators enjoying the sun

views of the Port of Savannah across the river in Georgia

So how's that a for a wide variety of learning lectures this week?  

I got my taxes done.  I'm not happy, but it's my contribution to America, and i'm glad I live here. And, I'm glad it's done. 

Oh, what a headache!

Spring appears to have arrived in Savannah. My little azalea at the bottom of the stairs is in bloom!  Also, the pollen has started to fill the air, and I'm going to have get a pedi if I'm going to be wearing my flip flops again. 

2/5/2017

Weekly Update 2/5/2017

Jan and Fred Visited on Monday, but left early Tuesday morning. On Monday, we went downtown to eat at the Tap House, since Fred is a lover of burgers, and I happen to think that the Tap House has the best burgers. They had been invited for a barbecue in the evening, and in order to give them and their friends some time together, I elected to stay behind in the condo, although I had been kindly included. After they were gone, I had some time to myself, and I did nothing.

My pension is screwed up again. The NYS Retirement System continues to deduct big bucks for health care that I dis-enrolled from effective January 1. When I inquired last month, I was told that they collect a month behind, so taking it out of my January deposit was to be expected (not by me!). I was also told that it would be correct in February. Not so! Alas, I know the person at City Hall who oversees these things, and I knew she wouldn't care what my check is, as long as she has her coffee, chats with her friends, talks on the phone, roams the halls, or does any of those things that so many at CH do rather than get any work done. After 2 emails, she got back to me that there is an error, but it would be corrected for my March check. We'll see.

I took Donna to the airport on Wednesday. She's going to Boston to see her son, Joe. I think Jet Blue was having a sale, and the cost of the flight was too good to pass up. She'll be gone a week.

I was back at DH on Friday, after a nice sabbatical for the month of January. It's like riding a bike – I didn't forget anything. I was welcomed warmly by Barb, Jeff and Jamie, and I was made to feel as if I'd been truly missed by them all. How cool is that? Also Friday, because it's restaurant week, Kay, Susan and I went to Ruth's Chris after The 90. That is so-o-o good!

Saturday was also the day that the Colonial Faire and Muster was held at Wormsloe Plantation. This is in conjunction with Georgia Days, the celebration on the forming of the colony in 1733 when James Oglethorpe arrived. I try to get to this event every year. Many things are the same, but some are different. This year, there was a Catholic monk from St Augustine, who explained to me that originally, all the coast of the US was claimed by the Spanish, right up to Chesapeake Bay. Who knew? I, of course, to show off my knowledge that the colony was formed as a buffer against the Spanish, told him he shouldn't be here. I have a way with strangers.  

James Oglethorpe chatting with Chief Tomochichi

the Spanish monk

a deer hide being made into leather

Colonial line dancing

In Savannah, there is one day year designated as Super Museum Sunday, also to celebrate Georgia Days. That's when over 80 museums in Georgia (and more than half of those are in Savannah) open their doors for free tours. I was at BC to give tours. It was really a nice day, and there were a lot of people who came.

The only thing I can think of to say about the final football game of the season is that at least I was watching alone, and not with all the people here who are New England fans. It was an exciting game, with a ending that I was disappointed in. But face it, Wilma, Atlanta had that game and they let it get away.