After the Asylum tour follow the signs to Lambert’s Winery. It is a place of immense beauty and tasty fruited wines. Wines run about $20 a bottle and are quite flavorful and different.
They also have weddings at this glorious spot and the owner is quite a pottery maker. Here’s another picture of this lovely venue. Makes you almost want to marry again – well, not really, but you get my drift. Maybe a family get together in non-covid times.
This Asylum operated in Weston, WV from 1864 to 1994. It currently is a National Historic Landmark which offers tours both normal and paranormal. It holds world wide notoriety for any who has interest in this ilk.
The facility took 23 years for completion and encompasses 9 acres of floor space. In 2007 it was purchased at auction for $1.4 million. The facility is only second to the Kremlin in the stone used making it a world famous structure. The 319 acres of land on which the building lies is a wildlife preserve.
The facility walls are 2 1/2 feet thick and 20 million red bricks were used to build the facility. Several outbuildings are on facility grounds including 3 greenhouses. The institution farm provided work and sustenance for patients.
Entering the main building a costumed nurse greets visitors. I selected the 2 hour tour which included the upper levels of the facility however there are a myriad of available tours to select from. Check the web site prior to visit to ensure which tour best fits your desire. Tickets can also be purchased on line.
My tour began in the female ward which was the most cared for of the wards. Here were private and semi-private wall papered rooms and a decorative day room. During the early days of the facility this was the wing where dignitaries and the like toured.
During this era men wishing to “dispose” of their wife could drop her off at the door saying she’s insane for $25. A divorce could then be obtained. The only way the wife could leave is with husband pick up. Therefore the woman remained the rest of her life at the institution.
From the Women’s Ward to the Superintendent’s Wing..
Here the Superintendent and his staff had offices…
And the pharmacy was on this wing..
Some nurses quarters were also found here. The facility selected nurses based on their unwedability, meaning they looked for ugly and homely women. In the early days nurses earned $16 a month paying $12 a month rent.
A fascinating place to visit of a by gone era. If ever in the area stop by..
NOTE: Commercial
I have started my day with Xfinity, formerly known as Comcast. Why they ever changed their name I will never know. Was this a ploy to make it more difficult to contact them? Not that’s a real conspiracy theory.
My next step, locate the customer service number. The number is listed as 1-800-Xfinity. The Comcast/Xfinity Conspiracy Theory continues… locating the alpha that corresponds with the number to make the call.
Number accessed I am now up to 15 minutes in this new adventure. Have to call it an adventure as I am already talking loudly or screaming at the Bot on the phone who calls me by name. She is stern in her, “Hello, Kathleen,” and she apparently needs a hearing aid as she is unable to hear me.
I hear a stir in the ceiling and realize my new upstairs neighbor must hear my screams. It is 7:30 am on Sunday. Have yet to meet the neighbor but she now knows my voice. Another ax in the coffin of a condo community which already hates me. Mental note: Will need to introduce myself after call with a welcoming gift.. I digress. Back to Comcast/Xfinity.
Under the mountain of “stuff” on my desk I locate my address book. Yes, I am the last person in the world to have one of these relics. It has 4 pages of Comcast/Xfinity numbers. It states the MHC, Serial, and SSID numbers. I wonder what secrets they will reveal…
I listen to the bot questions which do not in any way correlate with what I need or want however I humor her and then repeatedly say customer service. To this response I receive an advertisement of programs which can be received for $29.95 a month, special offer. At least that got my attention as what woman doesn’t like a bargain.
I hang up and call again visualizing a human being. One arrives in the name of Filipi. She is a Phllipino with excellent English, however, after 5 minutes realizes she cannot help me. She requests my password, however, the password does not work. There is no line stating change or forgot password on the screen. We are at an impasse.
I politely relay the time I have spent and Filipi quickly realizes I need a supervisor. To this my heart sings. Perhaps she has read the “notes” on me which states customer can go from nice to #1 B-tch, in 5 seconds.. Doubt if anyone wrote in these comments “JUSTIFIED.”
I am transferred to Alicia in sales. She is an American but why I am in sales I have no idea. After 50 years of making these calls one can tell an American. Never heard a Philipino or Indian customer service rep take that name, it’s usually Mary.
Alicia takes my number and somehow I think she’s going to get this right. We have a brief, but friendly chat and get to business. She reads the notes and I ask if there isn’t a button to push where a calendar shows up to date change the vacation/seasonal service. She laughs while cruising the screens.
Alicia takes my new number and even though I already changed it with Comcast/Xfinity apparently it didn’t change through the entire system?. She changes the number assuring me if disconnected she will call me back. Fat chance, but, I politely thank her.
I am placed on hold and Alicia does not return. I am transferred to another agent after listening to 4 minutes of messages saying to have my social security number and account number available. While waiting I consider hanging up again but decide against. What do I have to lose?
It’s now 8 a.m. on Sunday and another Phillipino is on the line. How do I know? I ask. We make polite chit chat about working in NYC with great Phillipino nurses as I am a nurse. I pray I have made points with this gal and resolution is near.
This gal must have gotten an A in her customer service class as she humors me with a wealth of I’m sorry, no worries, and the like. Now they are even saying thank you for using our service. This is a new talking point.
I ask her to review the notes of the call before I rehash my angst. As she goes to the screens and reviews my service commitment she states the day of reconnection is November 22nd. This is today! I can’t believe my ears as I verify today’s date. ALICIA HAS SUCCEEDED and I am very grateful….
We test the internet and it works. CBS on line is up and running and I have only missed 15 minutes of Jane Pauley, one of my 3 CBS Queens, along with Gayle, and Nora. Life is good and I will smile as I pay the next Comcast/Xfinity bill.
The Next Day.. As I watch CBS with Gayle my service stops four times in 15 minutes. Each time I shut down and re boot. It starts. Then service stops entirely and a message from Xfinity appears with a red door on the screen. They are welcoming me back, however this nice gesture is not good news. They state I need to call the 1-800-Xfinity number. I remove my trusty address book and am greeted by Semina, another Philipino service agent.
In 25 minutes I am trained in modem, cable box, and we connect the television. The woman has golden patience and thankfully the address book holds all the 16-digit numbers needed. I learn an SN number is a Serial Number and other points which hopefully I will never have to use again.
We end our work together and she states she must write notes regarding our encounter. I am on hold a very long time and wonder what she is writing about me. I cannot begin to imagine, “Stupid old woman, lacks knowledge in anything computer.” When she returns to the call I jest about my stupidity, however she assures me this is not true. She too must have taken the upgraded customer service class on dealing with nimkinpoops. At least she did not try to sell extra service. With the cost of training me on service usage their profit would be lost.
The conversation is closed with Happy Thanksgiving, (do they have one in the Philippines??), stay healthy, good luck, and profuse thank yous. I consider.. should I leave the television on continuously as well as the internet?? And if not, what will tomorrow bring? Let’s hope not another 1-800-Xfinity call and if so maybe another sparkling foreign service worker will answer.
AS I always recommend… the State Visitor Center is the place to check out when entering a state. In this instance the Center was lovely, but unmanned.
Inside the center was the usual state tourist magazine, maps, and discount hotel coupons. Clean bathrooms abounded, and the grounds were groomed to perfection. It was here I was introduced to the WV initials. Folks in West Virginia are extremely proud of their State, their football teams, and mostly anything West Virginia. They proudly wear the WV initials on their clothing, even nurses scrubs. Have never seen anything like it. Nice to see such pride.
And let me finish with a little bit of greenery.
Upon obtaining cell phone service I began my journey to Clarksburg, West Virginia, where an apartment awaited. Since the facility was 30 miles south of my apartment decided to locate the facility where I was now employed. Driving through the town of Weston it had it’s usual array of dollar stores, chain restaurants, gas stations, and car repairs sites. Then I came upon…
As if automatically the car u-turned to investigate this vision further. A sign appeared in explanation…
After reading the sign I knew I must visit this spot the following day. I located the facility of my employ a mile down the road and returned to the vision to obtain information regarding tours. The following day was to be spent on a 3 hour tour…
While wanting to take a longer break concerns regarding my daughter’s loss of income due to the pandemic, sheriffs prowling around my condo in search of a neighbor with criminal charges, and a myriad of other issues quickened departure.
While West Virginia’s opioid crisis was concerning my recruiter assured me that none of the over 250 contract staff at the facility experienced problems, therefore, I signed on. It was a six month contract and upon arrival travelers were requested to extend. I am here till March 2021.
‘The trip from Florida to West Virginia was 12 hours. It required an overnight and a new cell phone carrier as mountain service is challenging. Driving through the state the green mountain beauty is overwhelming and as John Denver sang, “West Virginia, mountain mama,” rings true. The sunrises and sunsets are spectacular.
Welcome to West Virginia..
Montani Semper Liberi………..”Mountaineers are Always Free.“
Nestled along Florida’s route A1A just outside Palm Coast is one of Florida’s most spectacular gardens. Once the home of two prominent business people it houses 425 acres of Florida plant species. It is a must see.
The Oaks has an interesting history first inhabited by Indians then taken by the Spanish and later the British. It eventually became the property of Owen and Louise Young who wintered here for over 20 years. Mr. Young was a General Electric executive who later founded RCA. Mrs. Young ran a successful lingerie company. Upon their demise the property was willed to the State of Florida.
The gardens are maintained by a small paid staff with many volunteers from the nearby communities in support of the park. Walk the many paths, picnic along the River, and enjoy the peace which this lovely spot holds.
Upon returning to Florida found a new museum open round the corner from my condo. The Classic Car Museum of St. Augustine on US 1 is a 30,000 square foot delight of rotating car exhibits. For a meager $10 admission from Tuesday – Saturday 10 to 6 one can wander through memory land seeing these blasts from the past.
Here’s a few of the beauties…
Then some antique memorabilia..
Cars can be purchased from the museum collection and the exhibit constantly changes. It’s a great place for a meeting or any type of get together, (in non-covid times).
What a fun afternoon!
What a beautiful suburb of much history, with beautiful homes, gardens, and things to do and see.
A fun place to explore with patchwork gardens.
And interesting stores…
Some lovely churches…
And restaurants…
This is where JFK proposed to Jackie.
And Dumbarton Oaks, a world class museum of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art, terraced gardens and vistas of much beauty. While closed due to covid, a free park adjacent to the museum and gardens holds breathtaking landscapes to explore.
So after a hectic visit to the DC Museums visit Georgetown for a relaxing stroll and take in the sites.
Traveling from Virginia I did a stop over in DC before boarding the Amtrak train to Florida. This took me past the Pentagon. What a massive building structure.
This picture doesn’t do it justice. Need to see to believe.
Across the highway the US Marine Corps War Memorial Park.
…with the under construction Carillon.
and the Marine Monument..
And adjacent to the park …
The Air Force Monument is also nearby..
Much activity surrounds this area with biking, dogs, and frisbee throwing. A great place for all ages. And what views!
Washington DC is a wonderful place to visit. So much is free and so much to do.
Tomorrow: A bit of Georgetown.
Young Retiree Needs a Life 