4/9/2023

 

Weekly Update 4/9/2023

Happy Easter

I got downtown a couple of times this week. I helped with a mailing at DH on Tuesday before I went to City Hall, and then I was back on Thursday for my tours. I’ve been doing these tours for so long, I really know what I like and what I don’t like – I don’t like when no one is there and I twiddle my thumbs, I don’t like small children who have no interest and sometimes do not behave, and I don’t like COMFORT ANIMALS! On my middle tour, I had a large group, and one family had three children and one family had a pet dog. The dog was small, but not small enough to fit in a purse. Angela, the DH person who sells the tickets told them that if they carried the dog so that the claws would not harm the wood floors, it would be ok. WHAT? She knows how I feel about dogs, and she even suggested that I let one of the paid staff do the tour so I wouldn’t have to. But, I’m a trouper, and I forged ahead. The dog was fine, the children were fine (for the most part; the dad had to take the littlest one out about half way though), and I had no problems. I don’t want to have to do that again – ever.

The CMA monthly meeting was on Wednesday. The usual meeting place is at the temple, but since it was Passover, they could not have us there. We met at Massie School. Massie doesn’t have kitchen facilities. I’m used to paying for the catered lunch, but this week I had to take my own sandwich. Again, it’s not what I like to do, but I sucked it up, put some chicken salad between two pieces of bread, and went ahead.

There was a lecture at Ships of the Sea Museum on Thursday evening. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, and that garden is one of my favorite spaces for attending a talk. There is a traveling exhibit of artwork painted by Arthur Beaumont, who was the official artist of the US Navy in WWII and beyond. Most were watercolors, but there were a few oils as well. I had a chance to tour the exhibit before the lecture, which was given by Geoffrey Beaumont, the artist’s son. Very interesting, and the pictures of aircraft carriers, submarines, and destroyers were very good.

It rained all day Friday and Saturday, so I wasn’t able to get out and walk. And I didn’t miss not walking at all. When I finally was able to get out again this morning, I was angry to see that the security gates at the front entrance were again broken. I don’t know if some drunk ran into the gates, or if it was just someone who maliciously destroyed them by breaking the bars, but who knows how long they’ll be open now. They had been broken since last October, and were fixed less than two weeks ago! So much for security!

Denise had invited Jane, Helen and me to her house for Easter dinner. It was delicious! I think she’d wanted to cook a lamb, but we rather discouraged that, so she made a wonderful pork loin. And broccoli salad, sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, asparagus and rolls. We had both red velvet cupcakes and chocolate layer cake for dessert. I had made little Easter baskets with chocolate candies, Denise had a bunny for everyone, and Helen gave us each a little plant. It was great to be with those good friends.

I believe that Adrian and Annie also had a great Easter. Adrian was hunting for eggs, and Annie was just looking cute, but not all that interested in the goodies in her basket.