3/26/2023

 

Weekly Update 3/26/2023

Monday, as I was doing my normal weekly housework (which isn’t much – I leave most of it for my monthly house cleaner), I felt it was time to clean the porch. The furniture, carpet and railings are all covered with yellow pine dust. I think the bad time for the pollen has passed, so I wanted to get those things cleaned up. I brought all the furniture in and placed it in the shower. I hosed it down. The cushions are only surface washable, so I washed them in the kitchen sink. I vacuumed the carpet and brushed the railings. That’s a horrible job, but it’s done now. I sat out there a couple of times this week to read my book.

Wednesday this week, I had to work even harder to get my fat ass out of the recliner to walk. I was wearing my leggings, which do not have pockets, and my keys were tucked into the waistband, as I always do with those pants About half way finished, I tried to assure myself that the keys were there, but when I touched my waist, the lump was missing! The keys were gone! I retraced most of my steps, and it took about twenty minutes before I finally spied them on the curb. I had tried to comfort myself in the search saying things like: it could be worse – losing the phone or wallet would be much worse, or the items on the key chain could be replaced – it would be a hassle, especially the car keys, but it could be done. I was so happy to see them on the side of road, taunting me and screaming “be more careful!”

Kay and I went to the cemetery on Saturday. It was long past time, as the Christmas things I’d left for John and Dessie should have been replaced long before now. But, when I went to put spring flowers for “my soldiers”, I was surprised to see someone else had left white poinsettias for them. This was a surprise, as no one has added anything since I’ve adopted the sites. Very strange. I don’t know how to find out who might be doing this, but as we drove out of the cemetery again, we went past two of the other Chapman graves, for John’s father and his great nephew. They both had white poinsettias too. Perhaps a Chapman family member has decided to add reminders, or perhaps no Chapman family members still live in Savannah, but had visited for the holidays and left something when they were here. That might explain why I haven’t seen anything from someone else in so long. It’s a mystery.

Annie is getting cuter. She smiles now. It seems impossible that Adrian could get any cuter, but he’s just adorable as well! Someone I know from DH has opened a children’s shop on Whitaker street. It has lots of high end clothes and some nice books and toys. When I was in Hobby Lobby with Kay (she needed to buy spring flowers to place on Liam’s headstone), I saw the most adorable mother goose stuffed toy. It was so soft, and it was battery operated to read Mother Goose rhymes. I sometimes think I should be buying these things for Adrian and Anne, but, I don’t. I can’t imagine that they lack any great toy, or any adorable item of clothing. I just sent money. It’s very tempting, and fun to look, though.

3/19/2023

 

Weekly Update 3/19/2023

I’m continuing to sort and alphabetize old employee records at City Hall. It’s taking much longer than it should because I read a lot of the stuff. Like, who was disciplined and for what, what the racial make up is for police and fire personnel as opposed to labors and “scavengers” (trash collectors) – no surprises there. But I was astounded to read as the final entry on a card for a policeman “killed in the line of duty” written in red. I googled it and found that he died after being shot on Victory Drive by an escaped murderer in 1976. How awful! Most of the entries are more mundane than that.  

I haven’t been been to a Wednesday happy hour with the Old Ladies group in quite a while, and I had time to go this week. I drove out to Wilmington Island and joined them. Instead of my usual white wine, I had a Guinness.

Thursday I led TLC book club in a discussion of The Library Book by Susan Olsen. I was very nervous, but it went well. A large part of the reason it was not too difficult is that the people in the group were, for the most part, friends that I know from book clubs I’ve attended through the years. I really liked reading the book again. It’s one of my favorites. I’m not in hurry to volunteer to do this again real soon, though.

On the way home, I stopped at a car wash on Louisville Road, one of the ways I frequently drive on to get from the city back to my apartment. It has intrigued me. It’s always busy, but today there was only one car waiting, so I stopped. I only got the outside washed, and it cost about the same as the drive thru place I usually go to. But this guy was amazing! He obviously took pride in a job well done, on my car and the other that he worked on. I’m going to have to stop again and have them clean the inside and wax it, too. (a side note: I have never seen so many gold teeth – the washer, the other patron, the owner, who introduced himself and worked on my car – all had brilliant sunny smiles!

I walked at Tom Triplett park one afternoon. It was really a nice day to walk and there were other walkers, people fishing, and even a kayaker. As I was meandering around the pond, other walkers asked if I’d seen the alligator. Well, no. And I can’t say I’m unhappy not to have noticed. I watched very carefully as I continued on. I even asked a couple of fishermen if they had seen him, and they both responded that they hadn’t seen one today, but they knew they were in the water as they’ve seen them before.

Sarah and Jack had some professional photos taken of the adorable Venuti family.

3/12/2023

 

Weekly Update 3/12/2023

Not much was going on this week. I finally got around to doing my taxes. I usually get them done before the end of February, but because of that mix up last year with the stimulus check, I waited until I was sure I’d received all the information I needed. It’s not my favorite thing to do, but now it’s done for another year. And I also mailed in my first estimated payment for tax year 2023.

I have not seen my friend, James, in any of the squares around Savannah for several months. I was beginning to become concerned. I would always walk through Chippewa and Johnson Squares, because that’s where he likes to sit with his guitar, and sometimes I’d go to the fountain in Forsyth. But I haven’t seen since last year. This week I saw him as I was walking back to my car after being at City Hall. I’m glad to know he’s ok.

I enjoyed lots of lunches out this week. I met John and Mike at a little Italian place on Liberty Street; June and I went to Jalapeno’s; Denise and I met in Pooler because she will often suggest meeting for lunch when she comes out this way to visit her hair dresser. None of these people had to twist my arm to get me to go out for lunch.

So, not a lot going on. But here’s a couple of photos. A Lamborghini was parked in front of Davenport House on Broughton Street. I did not mistake it for my Hyundai sedan. And, as I was on one of my walks this week, I saw that some utility company must be getting ready to bury some cables. But when I looked again, and saw green, orange and white flags, I wondered if maybe it was just somebody getting ready for St Patrick's Day.

Adrian and Annie are perfect. There have been some really adorable photos “family” photos posted this week. What a good looking group they are!

 

Weekly Update 3/5/2023

I finally got my hair cut. I’ve been trying to grow it out to all one length for The Wedding, but it was looking awful! It bothered me that it was always in my eyes, it looked as if I hadn’t been brushed it in months, and I was really tired of it. I’ve been thinking about giving up on my plan for a few weeks, and forgetting that one length plan. Tuesday, on my way back from CH, I stopped at Publix for a few groceries. As I was in the parking lot, I noticed that the Great Clips had no one waiting. So, I went. I have been having my hair cut at a salon, and it cost anywhere from $60 to $80, and each time, I got someone new. I started to think that if I’m going to have someone who doesn’t know what I want or what I’m trying to do each time, I may as well go to the cheap place. Great Clips did just fine. I feel a lot better.

Tourism is picking up in Savannah. All my tours at DH were large, and I like it ever so much better when there are a lot of people, so I can show off my wealth of information. I also did a tour at Bonaventure Cemetery. I haven’t done a tour there since before the pandemic, and I thought I’d be rusty. There are so many tours that are booked now through the Historical Society, they asked if I could help out this one time. I’m glad I went because the azaleas were truly magnificent. It’s rather like riding a bike – I seemed to easily recall what I’d said on all my past tours, and I was able to answer any questions they had. It was a perfect day to do that.

I couldn’t put it off any longer – I filed my taxes. It’s not a big deal because I have almost nothing to report. I’ve used the same software for several years, and they save my info (is that a good thing? all those and identification numbers out there? but is anything safe? USPS mail can also be hacked. H&R Block can sell my info. I don’t trust anyone). But now that’s done for another year.

I got up really early Saturday morning to attend the commendation of The Weeping Time. In March of 1859, 436 men, women, and children were sent to Savannah from Butler plantation near Darien GA to be auctioned in the largest sale of human beings in US history. There was torrential rain throughout the two days of the sale, that’s why it is named The Weeping Time. I’ve been to this solemn ceremony before, but not for a few years. It was very moving.

Adrian and Annie had some fun in the snow this week.  Annie is getting to be a beauty, and she's only two weeks old!