Daily Archives: November 26, 2010
BRRRRRR!!!!! . . .
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When Jan got up about 7:30 it was 42 degrees and raining.
By 11:30 it was up to 43 degrees and raining.
Wheeee! Heatwave!
About 12 the rain had slacked off so Jan went out to reload the bird feeders and I went out to re-align the sat dish. It had been blown slightly off target due to the high winds we had all last night.
Then about 1 I called Direct TV to get our DNS West Coast feed turned back on. What I found out was that to get the West Coast feed turned back on it was going to cost an extra $6 per month, but I would now get 2 new channels, CW and PBS, that I didn’t have before. These two extra channels had previously been an additional $5 each, so I didn’t get them since this would have increased our DNS service from $14 to $24, almost doubling the cost just for two extra channels.
I’m cheap. What can I say.
So now our DNS is going from $14 to $20, which I’m not crazy about, but at least I’m getting something out of it.
About 4:30 we drove up to La Brisa to meet our friend Maria for supper, after which she and Jan were going to play Bingo again down in La Marque at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
And she did good. She won $95 on a game and she was really happy.
Of course, when I ask her how much she’d spent the last 4 weeks to win that $95, she said she didn’t want to talk about it. I don’t think she wanted me raining on her parade.
Well, if she had fun, I’m happy.
It’s supposed to be even colder here tonight, with a low of 33 degrees, the coldest so far this year. But at least the rain is supposed to be going away.
More tomorrow…
I thought you might want a repeat of our visit to Colonial Williamsburg last year. Enjoy.
George Washington and Benedict Arnold…
Posted on July 1, 2009
Today Jan and I visited Colonial Williamsburg, and although it was interesting, it was also disappointing in a way.
A lot of the buildings are closed on different days so it’s not possible to see everything on one visit. So, many buildings were closed to us today. Plus, only a few buildings are set up to be toured.
The best one we saw was the home of Peyton Reynolds. Peyton Reynolds was the first President of the Continental Congress and the house dates from the 1720′s.
The interesting thing about this next picture is the table is not fully set. According to our guide, the table would be set with 1 meat dish for each person. So with a table set for six there should be six meat dishes on the table, not just three.
And there should also be six ‘heavy’ desserts on the table. I’m not sure what constitutes a ‘heavy’ dessert.
Is it by ‘weight’, or how it sits in your stomach after you eat it?
Also interesting is the windmill. It’s known as a ‘single post’ windmill, because the single post pivot allows the windmill to be turned into the wind for better performance. This windmill was used as a grist mill to grind grain and the blades would have been covered with cloth to catch the wind.
We also got to watch a trial reenactment at the Williamsburg Courthouse.
High Sheriff
One interesting thing was that the audience got to participate as jurors, plaintiffs, and defendants.
Judge and Jury
Court Clerk
I tried to get Jan to pose in the stocks, but I think she was afraid I wouldn’t let her out.
Also interesting was the Williamsburg Magazine and Armory surrounding by the barricade fence to help protect it from attack.
This building was where the militia’s guns and powder were stored in case of attack.
The Virginia Colony Governor’s House
The Bruton Parish Church was interesting, also. It is one of the oldest Episcopalian Churches in America and services have been held here continuously since 1715.
Bruton Parish Church
You could also take rides in authentic-looking carriages.
There were also actors portraying famous and not-so-famous people. Here we have Benedict Arnold, pre-traitor.
Many people don’t realize Benedict Arnold was actually a Revolutionary War hero and won many battles for the Colonies before he went over to the Loyalist side. For what seemed to be political reasons, and perhaps jealousy, he was repeatedly passed over for promotion. This perceived injustice ate at him until he arranged to turn West Point over to the British. But his plan was discovered and he barely escaped capture by George Washington.
And speaking of George Washington, he was there also, along with his aide de camp, the Marquis de Lafayette. One of the children present asked him if he was President. He said he had no idea what that was, and it didn’t sound like something he’d want to do.
As I said, I wish more of the buildings were open. You’d have to go back over several days to see all the buildings. Of course, that’s probably their idea.
And when you consider that for the same price we could have gone to Busch Gardens – Williamsburg, I mean, Colonial Williamsburg doesn’t even have any roller coasters to terrorize Jan on.
Bummer!!!
Tomorrow we’re going to see Jamestown Settlement and the Yorktown Battlefield.
Maybe they’ll have roller coasters.
Thought for the Day:
Sometimes the only difference between an ordeal and an adventure is your attitude.
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