8/29/2021

 

Weekly Update 8/29/2021

I did a couple of adjustments in the apartment recently. When I get depressed, I spend money. Works like a charm to pull me out of it.

The cushions that I had on the chairs on my porch were not “outdoor” cushions, and they were looking pretty stained with the rain that comes in when the wind is blowing. So, I thought I needed ones. I’m pretty fussy, of course, and wanted something very neutral, a basic color, nothing to showy. The rug that is supposed to be out on the porch is now in the guest bedroom, where it will remain until after the hurricane season. It’s quite possible that I’ll have to buy a new “outdoor” carpet, too but I won’t think about that today. The new cushions are very comfortable, and I can’t wait for Kay to come over and sit out there with me, enjoying some wine.

I also wanted to add some shelving. With Adrian, I want to display more family photos, and there’s no place to put them. I moved a print from the wall over my computer work area to the bedroom, and hung two shelves there in my office. I don’t think they’re as sturdy as they should be, so I’ll have to be careful not to place anything too heavy on them. But a few framed photos should be fine. I asked Robin to send me a new picture of the Rachel and Hannah, and she sent a very nice one. In addition to the ones of Sarah, Jack and Adrian, I’ve got one of Emily and Aaron, and an oldie of me and Allen. It makes the apartment a little more personal.

I was at DH three times again this week: my regular tours on Wednesday, additional tours on Friday (many docents are AWOL because of exposure to COVID or they have not returned from summering in the North yet), and the final lecture on Alexander Hamilton. I am committed to the wonderful people at DH, and I want take a very small part in making it thrive and attract visitors to learn the great stories of the Historic Savannah Foundation, the Davenport Family, and this wonderful house. So I keep showing up. They will not get rid of me easily. One thing that was weird this week: I wore a black dress on Friday (no waistband, easy to launder, I love this dress) and I paired it with a necklace that has a blue pendant. I didn’t realize it until I looked down at my feet, but the pendant matched my blue toenails perfectly! Am I a put-together fashionista or what? And another rather strange happening: a younger couple did not put masks on, and I had to remind them. They did not have them, so they needed to go to the desk and get some. They rejoined the group, but I was very uncomfortable being the police. I apologized after the tour, and they said it was ok, that they had just forgotten. But no one hates wearing a face covering more than I do, and If I have to, so do they.

I finally finished sorting all the property assessment records at the City Hall archives this week. I thought I might be able to complete the project, so I got up real early on Tuesday to get downtown and get started. When I got there, no one was in the archives, and the guards were new, not recognizing that I show up every week. I offered to remain in the public areas until an employee could verify that it was all right that I be there. After waiting for only about 20 minutes, I was allowed to go back and continue the sorting. But after I’d only been doing that for an hour, Luciana came back from the city-wide meeting with the mayor and told me that effective immediately, no one who is not a city employee would be allowed in the building because of the increase in COVID hospitalizations. I expected the guards to throw me out, but I soldiered on, and they never appeared. I did finish everything: the records are all sorted by wards, placed in boxes, and the boxes are all labeled. Not knowing what the requirements for safety will be in the coming weeks, I asked it I could have a little time off. I’ll be on leave until October, and that’s fine with me. It’s really a nice feeling to have this project, that I’ve been working on since April, all finished.

On Friday, Jane, Denise and I met for dinner and then drove out to the Tybee Post Theatre for a Carole King tribute concert. It was four very talented ladies who are with the Savannah Stage Company, singing the hit songs of Carole King. Who wouldn’t like this music? But I was also reminded that not long ago I had been to a Rolling Stones concert at the same place. I was sad to learn that Charlie Watts had died. You would expect that Keith Richards or Mick Jagger would be the first to go (or maybe Brian Jones), but not Charlie Watts.

The weekend was dull. I didn’t do anything, even going to the pool was not great as I had to leave after only about 30minutes on Saturday, and it was too crowded for me even to get in the water on Sunday. I watched some NFL, and a few things on Netflix, and read my book. Not having anything on the calendar is not a bad thing for me. Except when I’m bored, I eat.

Adrian is still perfect!  

8/22/2021

 

Weekly Update 8/22/2021

I went to DH three times this week! I had my regular tours on Wednesday, I filled in for tours on Monday, and I went to the third lecture on Alexander Hamilton on Tuesday evening. They're never going to be able to get rid of me!

I also renewed my lease at the apartment. It’s not due until mid-October, but I know I’m going to stay, so why wait? The rent is going up a little, but I expected that.

The library book club was scheduled for Tuesday, after I returned from volunteering at City Hall. But I’d mis-read the email, and didn’t realize until too late that I needed to register. Really? I’ve been going to this book club for almost a year, and instead of just sending me the link to the zoom meeting, I was supposed to register? So I missed it.

On Thursday, I met Denise and Jane at the Henry’s Restaurant that’s downtown on Drayton Street. I really like the Henry’s that’s in Pooler and I’ve been there several times. It’s like an all day breakfast and lunch place - nothing fancy, but good eats. I’d wanted to try the one downtown. The food is the same as what they have in Pooler, so it wasn’t that special. And now I know.

than that, I’ve done almost nothing here. I did get to the pool twice, and it’s been a while since I’ve done that. The weather is not cool, but it’s been overcast and cloudy, so the bright sun doesn’t beat down all the time. In the evening, it’s pleasant enough for me to sit on my porch to read my book. That’s another thing I haven’t done in a while because the heat has been too much.

A few weeks ago, I posted a painting that advertised Coco Cola that is on a brick wall of a building here in Savannah. On my meanderings this wee, I found one for Uneeda Biscuit. Oh, my, how old is that?

I’m very tired of Brittany Spears, Meghan and Harry, and The Pillow Guy. But here’s something else I don’t want to hear any more about: the Jeopardy host saga. I’m very glad no one was recording some awful things I’ve said in my past. And I never liked Mayim Bialik as host. I kept wanting someone from wardrobe to tell her to brush her hair, and get clothes that are in her size, not two sizes too small. Is this going to have to be something else that I need to give up because I can’t stand all the drama?

Adrian is WONERFUL!  He's smiling and is as cute as can be.  

8/15/2021

 

Weekly Update 8/15/2021

When I got home from City Hall on Tuesday, I had a visitor. Well, not really. A turtle had somehow become lost and was in the hallway outside my front door. When I approached him, he pulled his head and legs into his shell. I wasn’t sure if this was a snapping turtle, and I’m not a real fan of wildlife anyway. But I wanted to help. I carefully picked him up and took him to the edge of the pond. I left him in the grass there, and when I checked about a half hour later, he was gone. I don’t know if he made his way to the water, or if he had wandered back inside another building. But I feel I did my part to help him out.

The second of four Hamilton lectures was this past Tuesday. I found it less interesting that the first one, mostly because it was a military critique of the Revolutionary War. Battle strategy is not a huge interest for me. But, driving home, there was the most incredible sunset. It looked as if the sun was a huge red beach ball on the horizon. As I was stopped at a red light, I was able to snap a photo, but this really doesn’t do justice to how magnification it was.

I attended a TLC lecture on Thursday (it was actually on Wednesday, but I had access to it on youtube on Thursday) about the Byrd Cookie Company. That was pretty interesting. The last time I was on an airplane, and that’s been a very long time, the “snack” was Byrd Cookies. I was surprised that any one outside of Savannah knew about these cookies, although they are very well known locally.  There are Byrd's cookie stores everywhere, they are sold in very gift shop, and the bakery is in Savannah.  It is almost 100 years old, and the fifth generation of the family are the owners and operators.  And the cookies are good.  

I had been asked to give a tour at Bonaventure on Friday, but since it was Friday the 13^th, and I’m triskaidekaphobic, I declined. But the chairperson contacted me again because they were desperate, and I decided to suck up my fears and help out. It was a great tour with an interested group who asked intelligent questions. It was very hot, and I was dressed in long pants and sock and shoes because of the gnats, and I was uncomfortable. But the knowledge must be so much a part of me now that I had no trouble at all remembering what I needed to tell them, and I was able to answer the questions they had. I hope I don’t have to do it again, but it’s nice to know that I’m still capable. I haven’t given a tour there in almost two years. The BHS was extremely grateful to me for stepping up, and it’s always nice to be acknowledged and thanked.

In the evening Friday, I had a text from Allen to remind me to watch the pre-season Bills game. I would have not remembered (like I didn’t remember the Spurs game on Sunday afternoon), and I’m not really into pre-season games that are meaningless. But it was really wonderful to have the tv tuned to an NFL game. I hope the whole season isn’t ruined for me. with politics. Just play the game!

Saturday evening, I drove all the way out to Tybee for a Harry O’Donoghue concert. It used to be quite easy to get there, but it’s a long drive now. The concert was somewhat disappointing because he sang maybe three or four songs, then shared the stage with three other musicians. They were talented and entertaining. But, I would have preferred to listen to Irish folk songs and the pleasant banter and jokes that I’ve come to expect from Harry O’D.

Adrian was on vacation all week. He met his Venuti relatives when they visited Jack’ s family in eastern NYS and Vermont. There were pictures of him hiking (well, strapped to Jack in a sling) and swimming in the lake (well, Sarah was dipping his feet in, and he was not happy about that).

8/8/2021

 

Weekly Update 8/8/2021

Everyone has been intrigued by the story of Alexander Hamilton. I’m sure that’s because of the Broadway production. But even DH has caught the fever. There is a series of lectures on him that continue for four Tuesday evenings is August. I went to the first one last week, and was very impressed. It is a 30 minute lecture, followed by a 30 minute performance to enhance the lecture. The first lecture focused on Hamilton’s mother and his early years in the Caribbean and his move to NYC. There was much I didn’t know about the story, and I rather pride myself on being a history aficionado. I’m looking forward to the next three performances.

Among other ailments, I’ve been itchy lately. I don’t know what this is. I have not changed my laundry detergent or my bath soap. I suspected it might be bed bugs, (I believe you can see them if you look closely, but I could see nothing). I laundered all my bedding in hot water, but it didn’t seem to help. I requested that the apartment send someone to spray for pests in my apartment. That has seemed to help a little. Or maybe I’m just too fat and my clothes are too tight and are causing irritation. Who knows?

Wednesday, I was back at DH. What an inconvenient it is to have THREE things hanging on my ears; my glasses, my hearing aids, and now the mask again. In the overall scheme of things, this isn’t a huge deal, but it seems a little unnecessary.  

On Thursday, the forecast was for rain all day. Instead of meeting in Green Square, I met my friends at Whole Foods for coffee. They have pumpkin spice latte already, so the choice was easy for me. Also on Thursday, I had a zoom meeting with TLC book club. This club can meet in person at the Senior Center, or on line, but I was on line this time. We are still reading about British mystery writers in the Golden Age.

People Magazine this week features a local story on the cover. I paid $6 to buy this magazine, and I don’t know most of the “celebrities” in it, so it’s pretty much a waste of money for me.. The murder has been BIG news here for a long time, and I wanted to know if there’s anything to add to what my local news media has reported. About 2 years ago, there was a boating accident involving a drunk 17-year-old in which a young girl was killed, across the river from Savannah in SC. He is from a wealthy and prominent family of generations of lawyers. He has still never faced any consequences for this “accident”, although an investigation was still underway. He, and his mother, were found murdered at the family hunting lodge in June this year. Local gossip is that Paul Muraugh’s murder is retribution for the death of the young lady, and that the mother was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. But whatever happened, it will never be known. The rich are different.

8/1/2021

 

Weekly Update 8/1/2021

It is with much anger that I writing the blog this week. Savannah has reverted to a mask mandate. On Monday, the mayor reinstated the mandatory mask requirement for inside all public buildings. That means grocery stores, the library, and Davenport House, places I go to and like to go. But now, although I’ve worn a mask when I was supposed to, kept my social distance from others, and was among the first to get the vaccine, I’m now “punished” because others don’t think these things are important.

Moving forward (what choice do I have?)--

Tuesday was supposed to rain all day, and I almost cancel going to City Hall. Between the bad weather and the mask, I felt I should just stay home. But I braved it and went out. It never did rain, and I was alone in the room to do the sorting for a few hours. Once I went back home, I joined on online lecture with the Mellon Institute (I have no idea how I got on their list) about Emmett Till. I learned nothing that I didn’t already know, but was once again struck by the brutality.

I didn’t find out until Wednesday that three friends at DH, including the Assistant Director, are sick with the COVID virus. They all have had the shots, and we have been very careful with other guidelines. But they are sick, very sick. I can’t help but wonder if unvaccinated tourists, anxious to be out and doing something again, have come into our city, taken the tours, and spread the virus to those who volunteer to make their visit as interesting as possible. What is wrong with people?

I was pleasantly surprised when the BHS received a letter addressed to me from California. Apparently, a member of the Society read the newsletter and had some information about Dessie Roberts. It wasn’t much, and added little to what I’d already found, How nice it is that someone would take the time to write! And that the letter would be delivered!

I was supposed to meet Kay for lunch on Thursday. Her son, Adam, was visiting from Dallas, and I wanted to see him. But I felt that I could not risk exposing both of them to the virus since I’s been at DH the day before, and several times last week. So, I had to give that up and stay home. In fact, I stayed home a lot this week. I didn’t even go to the pool. I mostly stayed inside and read or watched tv. I have not watched a lot of the Olympics, but I’m watching a lot of Netflix and Acorn TV.

And of course, there’s that Apple of my Eye – Adrian. Jack and Sarah are continuing to add photos and videos to their album and I check about a hundred times every day for new updates. There are some darling videos of him spitting up, and also of him rolling over. I wish I could post them, but this is a public site, and they have asked me not to. He is just one month old today. With all the frustrations and crap going on around me, Adrian is the light.