11/26/2017

Weekly Update 11/26/2017

This exasperation with trying to get music onto some portable device so that I can listen to my tunes while walks continues. The MP3 I got at Walmart last week was a waste. I ordered an iPod exactly like the 2 I have that don’t work any more from eBay. I thought that I could just load my tunes and I wouldn’t meed a charger or any of that stuff since I already had it all from the other iPods. Nope. I couldn’t get iTunes to recognize it, and after spending a half a day trying, I took it to my geeks. Because the old iPods are so old, iTunes doesn't support them, and ‘m never going to get my tunes loaded. More money down the drain. I actually thought about buying a new iPod for $200, but just to listen to music? I don’t need a place to play games, or another camera – I JUST WANT MUSIC. The Geek suggested that I could load some of my iTunes playlists to the phone, but I was running out of memory when I was in UK and taking photos, so I didn’t think that was an answer. Perhaps there is none.

But wait! I have become increasingly frustrated with Facebook, to the point that I deleted my profile. So, if I'm not going to use that, I can delete the app and free up a lot of space. And that’s what I did. Perhaps I won’t have to give up on my walking routine just yet.

I did walk at the Y a few times this week. And I saw this lovely white heron by the pond. Leaves in Georgia are no match for Western New York, that’s for sure, but we do get a few colors. This lovely, big white bird, sitting in a tree with green, gold and red leaves, reflected in the still pond waters was amazing.

In case anyone was worried about me not having enough to eat on Thanksgiving, rest at ease. Not only did I have a feast on Thursday at The 90, But I was also invited to Barbara’s condo on Wednesday evening for a pre-turkey dinner turkey dinner. After all the Lean Cuisine I’ve been having lately, real food tasted very good. But it will be hard for me to get back to my regimen.  

Barbara with her turkey

A full plate

at The 90

Chef Jim

After I got home, I watched some really bad NFL games, relaxed with pumpkin spirits, and kept smiling at the picture Allen sent. 

this stuff is GOOD

Allen van Field

Saturday, I started out really early to drive to Kay’s house, and from there, she drove us to Fernandina Breach on Amelia Island. Dave and Lisa were visiting her dad and stepmom in Florida, and we arranged to meet for 24 hours half way between here and there. We both arrived at the hotel at the same time, and it was so good to see them! We went into downtown Amelia Island to do some eating, drinking and shopping. The small town is full of antique shops, art galleries, restaurants and boutiques of every kind. We ate at a very good Mexican restaurant, and later stopped at The Palace Saloon. Built in 1878, and converted to a saloon in 1903 for the sailors who arrived at Fernandina Docks from all over the world. It survived prohibition by selling special wines and 3% near beer, and is known as Florida’s oldest continuing service bar. And you can smoke in there! I didn’t think there was any place in America where you could sit, drink some suds, and enjoy a Marlboro, but here it is! After we drove around the town for a some time, we went back to the hotel where we enjoyed a lively game of Scattergories. Then, we walked to the restaurant across the street from the hotel, and had more to eat and drink. It was just grand to be with these great friends!  

Mexican for lunch

tin ceiling, brass foot rail, mirrored bar - it's all so cool

a swinging bar stool at the last stop of the evening

We had breakfast at the hotel in the morning, then Kay, Lisa and I walked on the beach and collected seashells until time to check out. We were all reluctant to say good by, so we visited a State Park nearby, the Kingsley Plantation. Located on Fort George Island, Zephaniah Kingsley purchased the plantation in 1814 when the area was still Spanish territory. Because his wife was African, when the United States gained the territory in 1821, the civil liberties of free blacks were lost, and the Kingsley family moved to Haiti by 1837. The plantation manor house and ruins of many of the slave cabins remain. The last person to live on the property, Willie Browne, died in 1970, donated the land to The Nature Conservancy before his death, and the National Park Service acquired in it 1990. It was interesting to walk around and imagine what it must have looked like when it was huge cotton plantation. Then, we all said sad goodbyes and parted ways. Driving back to Savannah, I kept “watching” the game on my phone NFL app. Finally, we have a victory! 

Kingsley Plantation manor house

the ruins of the slave houses