4/29/2018

Weekly Update 4/29/2018

LISA!

I spent the first part of the week cleaning and getting ready, and then she arrived Thursday! I did walk with Jane and go out to lunch with Barbara, and I also volunteered at DH, but mostly this week was all about Lisa.

She drove from her Dad’s home in Florida and arrived in enough time for us to be able to meet the Lunch Bunch for a nice meal at a new Savannah restaurant,The Grove. It was nice and everyone, naturally, was delighted to see Lisa. We walked around downtown for a bit, and then had to go back to the condo to rest up from that exertion. We met Kay at The Rail after she got out of work; after all, it was Thursday, and when Dave and Lisa lived in Savannah, that’s what we did on Thursdays. Tequila Town, a very good Mexican Restaurant, is not far from The Rail, so we walked there for very good food. Lisa had been up since very early, so we went back home and went to bed.

Friday, I told DH I couldn’t be there, and Lisa and I started the day by going to the pool. We got in the water and swam for a while, and it was delightful. We just hung around the condo for the afternoon, and then went to The 90 for drinks. After all, it was Friday, and that’s what I do. After a little time visiting with people there that we know, we walked to Churchills for Guinness and something to eat – like a really tiny soft pretzel.

On Saturday, we had been invited to meet at Connie’s cute little historic home for lunch. Kay, Jane and Helen also were there, and I don’t think Lisa had met Jane or Helen before, so she widened her Savannah circle a bit. After that, Kay, Lisa and I walked to the SCAD Sidewalk art fest, at Forsyth Park. It was crowded with people and dogs (you know how I would have enjoyed that!), so we kinda wandered through quickly, and then went in search of drinks. First stop was Wet Willie’s on River Street. We sipped our frozen cocktails while people watching. Then, we went to Rocks on the Roof, one of my favorite places to watch the huge cargo ships going in and out of the port. And lastly we ended up at Crystal Beer Parlor, but because we’d already had enough to drink, and were falling asleep, we opted for just non-alcoholic drinks and things to eat. We were pretty full, too, but that didn’t stop us from eating.

Sunday morning I got up really early, because I was so excited to take Lisa to the Auspicious Bakery.  It's only open 2 day s a week - Tuesday from 2 til 6 and Sunday 6:30 am until they sell out.  Well, we got there at about 7;30, which is like the middle of the night for me, and the sign on the door announced that the hours had been changed to 9 am to 2 pm on Sundays - we were too early.  Crap.  So we were out of luck   Fortunately, there's a Krispy Kreme not far from there, so we went there for a few donuts.  Lisa then met Kay at Forsyth Park to walk (they used to do that on Sunday mornings when Lisa lived here) while I opened BC, did some laundry and got caught up on some things.  After Lisa returned to MP, we went to the pool for another nice swim, and then met Kay at City Market to listen to a 70s and 80s music duo, and people watched.  We also went back to River Street for another nice Wet Willies.  And they carded me!  Are you kidding?  Well, that bartender got a nice tip, I'll tell you that!  No one, and I mean NO ONE, has suggested in any way that I'm not 21 in decades!  We met Anne and Andrew Nedd, and Barbara for a lovely dinner at the Italian place on Wilmington Island in the evening, and that was very nice. 

It's been a grand week, and I have a few more days with Lisa before she leaves.  I'm going to miss her so much.  

4/22/2018

Weekly Update 4/22/2018

HAPPY EARTH DAY!!  

Sunday, I deleted all my songs from iTunes while trying to sync to my phone. I’ve been struggling with eating too much and not walking enough lately, and I wanted to get some missing songs from the laptop iTunes to the phone. The hearing aids, because they’re linked to Bluetooth, make it so that I don’t have to wear earphones - I can listen to the phone wirelessly! I’m telling you, this technology is wonderful. Unfortunately, the user of the technology is an idiot, and I deleted all my songs!  From the laptop AND the phone. Imagine how happy that made me!  So Monday morning, I tried something else. I never have the phone linked to wifi in the condo because I often forget to switch back to cellular data and when I’m out, the wifi hooks up to some provider called xfinity, which is worthless. Since I never come close to using all the allowed data, I just leave the phone hooked to that. But it occurred to me that iTunes might only work when linked to wifi, so I turned the phone on, connected through wifi, and synced with the laptop. And all my songs magically appeared again! Icloud, maybe? Anyway, I’m good to go, and I don’t know how that happened, but I’m happy again. So, the walking regimen has been re-instituted; the eating thing, not so much.

I went shopping again Monday, as it was too cold to sit at the pool, and I'm on a never-ending quest for sneakers and capris. Someone had told me that I should try Kohl’s, so I did. I had semi-good luck. I found a pair of shoes – the right size and brand, but not a color I liked, and I paid too much for them (although still less than the “outlet mall” - outlet schmoutlet). And a pair of knit short pants that I think will do for DH. So, I guess I’m happy. At least I’m happy that the search is over. And while I was out, I went to the Walmart for a few grocery items. Guess what I found? Snoball Ice Cream! I NEED this!

The rest of the week was pretty normal. I had an appointment for my hearing aids on Tuesday, and since I’ve been doing quite well, and haven’t had any problems, that was fast, and I don’t have to go back for three months. I got my hair cut again on Wednesday, to neaten it up a little for my visitors. This is the problem with short hair – it needs to be cut often; my old frumpy ponytail could just get longer and stragglier and never need any attention. Thursday, I had a tour at 8:30 am at BC. Not being a morning person, this was a stretch, but I think I did ok. It was for seventh graders from Athens, GA, and wasn’t bad. I went a lecture at TLC on Mills B Lane IV, a preservationist in Savannah from the 60’s. He did a lot of work around Columbia Square, where DH is located, so I enjoyed that. Friday was DH, and the tours were large, but I prefer it like that, and then I met Kay at The 90.I watched two Tottenham Hotspurs games this week, one tie and one loss. I had hoped for better, but I guess it’s getting me ready for the Bills season, I suppose. Speaking of which – who made up that 2018 season schedule! It sucks! I was back at BC on Saturday to hand out maps and answer questions. There was a fender bender fight in front of the visitor center, and the police came to make a report. Luckily I wasn’t involved, but that surely must have dampened someone’s vacation.

 

4/15/2018

Weekly Update 4/15/2018

I began this week just as I did last week – running errands. I began the errands just as I did last week, too, with going to the library to return one book and pick up another. I had made an appointment with Beltone to try hearing aids again. I have been having more and more trouble in a lecture environment, and with some voices, so I wanted to try again. I had the tests, and the technician ordered the hearing aids. From there, I went to Bacon Park to walk. The weather had turned cooler again, and the pool was not going to happen, so I needed to walk. I had just enough time to get to the Goodyear Service Center to have my oil changed. From there, I went to the Outlet Mall in Pooler. What a huge disappointment that was! I had hoped to get several pairs of cropped pants for the summer season at Christopher Banks, the store where I had such good luck shopping before going to Europe the past two years. I was horrified to see an empty store in it’s place! I couldn’t find anything in any other store, and believe me, I tried. I was in Talbots, Old Navy, H&M, Anne Taylor, and several others. Who has decided that everyone fits into something called “curvy fit” - where the legs are so tight and pencil thin, only a per-pubescent girl would look good in them? I was also looking to buy new sneakers. I have logged a lot of miles on my old New Balance shoes, and I need to replace them. Again, no luck. I guess the same people who decided that we all look good in pants that seem to be painted on, also believe that neon orange or lime green and hot pink running shoes are what everyone wants. What a wasted trip!

oh NO!

Barbara and I tried a new restaurant on Tuesday.  I had picked the hearing aids up in the afternoon, and this was my first chance to try them out.  Technology is amazing!  They are linked to my phone through BlueTooth, and I can adjust them in many different ways right on the app.  I can change from noise reduction to voice clarity, from auto driving to restaurant setting, and I can save settings for places like DH! A new, very expensive toy!  The restaurant, The Atlantic, is really a neighborhood upscale bar, in Ardsley Park instead of downtown. It was very good, and we liked it. I’m a burger-and-fries girl, so spaghetti squash fritters, sweet potato stuffed mushrooms, and garlic shrimp with prosciutto, are not thing I normally eat. But they were all very good! 

can you see the hearing aids?

I met Helen and Jane at Connie's on Wednesday. She has a wonderful little patio where we sat, visited and had lunch. Wall’s Barbecue is just across the back lane from her house, so we went there for take out. Why didn’t I get any pictures?

Thursday evening, I went with Barbara out to the Tybee Post Theater for a performance by two singers who sang the songs of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. It was really very entertaining. I did get a few pix there.

Friday, after DH, instead of going to The 90 like I almost always do, I attended a ribbon cutting event for one of the several Bonaventure Tour companies. The BHS does not really compete with these companies, as our tours are so infrequent, but I have come to know a few of the other guides. A new store front opened on Bonaventure Road, not far from BC. To support the efforts, I went to the opening. And to my surprise, Bird Girl was there! And not only that, but she was really Brittany, one of the bartenders at The 90. We both had an evening off. 

how cool is this!

4/8/2018

Weekly Update 4/8/2018

I had many errands to do on Monday, so I started at the Walmart to get my Cadbury eggs at 50% off. I’m good for another year now. I returned library books, and picked up another that I need to read for a future book club. I got a pedicure (and I need a haircut, too, but that will be a task for another day). I renewed my auto registration. And I went swimming! It’s been a cold spring – something I don’t have to tell my friends in New York about, as they’re still getting snow – but it was sunny enough to sit by the pool, and once I’d warmed up a bit, I did get in the water. It was refreshing. I had hoped this would be the first of several dips I would be able to take this week, but alas, it was not to be; I have not been back since.

Tuesday, Jane and I drove to Bluffton. She wanted to walk there, and we both had no other obligations, so this seemed like a good day to spend extra time together and drive to South Carolina. We walked around the historic district, and then came upon a new museum: The Garvin-Garvey House. Built by a former slave c. 1870, it was constructed by hand, and was used as a residence for the family. It is located near the Bluffton Oyster Factory, which is currently in operation. The last member of the Garvin family who lived in the house died in 1954, and it fell into disrepair. The town acquired it in 2003 and began restoration on 2013. It opened as a museum on park land just one year ago.

Wednesday was the 50^th anniversary of the assassination of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. There was a talk sponsored by TLC at a local church, and I went to that. It was interesting and rather inspiring. Some of the points that Dr Robert Pratt, history professor at UGA, made were things that I had not thought of before. Also interesting is the fact that I can remember EXACTLY where I was when JFK was killed, but do not remember MLK or RFK.

Tours at DH were out of control on Thursday, and they expected the same for Friday. Extra docents were called in to handle the crowds, and it was exceptionally busy. Kay had trouble getting through all the traffic to meet me at The 90 after she got out of work. There’s no explanation for the large number of tourists, unless they are all here for the Savannah Music Fest. This is not the first year for this festival, and I don’t remember it ever being this popular, but it’s the only thing I can think of. So, it was also expected that there might be more visitors at BC, and I went there on Saturday afternoon to give an additional tour if it was needed. It was beginning to sprinkle, so few people showed up, and Elizabeth could handle them just fine – I left. But I was back again on Sunday afternoon for my regularly scheduled tour. There were a lot of people, and one tour was added. It was a cool day, but at least it was dry. 

4/1/2018

4/1/2018

HAPPY EASTER!!!

I attended a Women of Savannah Walk sponsored by the Massie School on Tuesday evening. We started in Calhoun Square and walked up to Wright Square, with talks about Abigail Minor, Flannery O’Connor, Andrew Low’s wives, Mary Musgrove, Nellie Low (Juliet, too, but mostly her mom) and Alice Riley. It was interesting. They said they might do another one someday, and I suggested Paula Wallace, Alida Harper Fowlkes and Anna Colquitt Hunter.

outside the Andrew Low house on the walkiing tour

The library book club has been rather unsatisfying for me for quite a while, and I haven’t gone. But I decided to try the book club at TLC. This month, discussion was on Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neal DeGrasse. I had not read the book, because it had never become available at the library (and I’m so old fashioned that it never occurred to me to find it online). I’m sure I was the dumbest person in the room, and not because I hadn’t read it.

Saturday, Barbara invited several friends to join her at her condo for a pre-Easter dinner. It was delightful. Since I am never the one the ask to provide a salad or dessert (go figure), I took a bottle of wine and some craft Easter baskets. I’m not good in the kitchen, but I can do crafts! Sunday, I relaxed – watched some football (I’m beginning to call soccer that), took a walk, went to the pool for a short time, and read. It was a nice holiday weekend.  

June with her delicious coconut cake

my little craft baskets