The Family Jules

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, S.C.

This one always makes me smile. Family Jewels. Get it? Smirk.

Worth a visit this Valentine's week: Townsend Tales photographed a little romance in her yard. Someone give those possums a cigarette!

Prepare to be Led

Charleston, S.C.

Someone help me. I have to report to Trident Tech Culinary Building tomorrow for two full days of Leadership Training. Who knows where I'll try to lead you after that. Stand by.

Sigh.

Actor Pick-Up

Contractor Pick-Up, Home Depot, North Charleston, S.C.

I expect we will be filming more movies around Charleston now that talent scouts can pick up their actors at Home Depot.

National Geographic Traveller Link

King & Broad St., Charleston, S.C.

This made me smile! The National Geographic Travel site lists Charleston Daily Photo as one of their recommended links to find free things to do in Charleston. Coolness abounds my friends!

During the years I lived overseas without TV or English radio, we had two magazines delivered - Time Magazine and National Geographic. We read every article. We read them in bed, read them at the table, read them by kerosene lamps and snuggled up by the coal stove. They are probably still there forty years later. Tipsy mailmen drinking sweet milk tea from thick clear glasses as they played carrom, read and shared them at the Post Office before delivering them to our door.

We had four or five English records for the record player then - Tennessee Ernie Ford and Jim Reeves, so the thin black plastic mini records occasionally included between the pages of the National Geographic magazines were big hits. Something new to listen to! I used to be pretty good at the "Speeches of Winston Churchill" and I bet I can still recite most of "Sounds of the Whales." Heh.

Any link from National Geographic is a happy trip down memory lane for me.

I am off to do my main free and best thing, walk the peninsula.

Saturday Funny

King St., Charleston , SC

Two extra hours tacked to the end of the day would be perfect. Thanks.

I met my fried Amber and saw Dear John this evening at Cinebarre. I may have been prepared for the worst so was pleasantly surprised although I can't tell how much I actually enjoyed the movie or was simply happy to see the local scenery. I always try to see movies filmed locally so I can see what they do with the lowcountry. They used Folly Beach, Bowens Island, and Rue de Jean restaurant. I couldn't place the location of the horse barn of the house used. Anyone know?

We do live in a beautiful place. I heard that both the stars said that they would like to have homes in Charleston. I am not surprised.

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Bonus Saturday funny and then I need to get to bed:

Shakey went to a psychiatrist. "Doc," he said, "I've got trouble. Every time I get into bed, I think there's somebody under it. I get under the bed, I think there's somebody on top of it. Top, under, top, under. You gotta help me, I'm going crazy!"

"Just put yourself in my hands for two years," said the shrink. "Come to me three times a week, and I'll cure your fears."

"How much do you charge?"

"A hundred dollars per visit."

"I'll sleep on it," said Shakey.

Six months later the doctor met Shakey on the street. "Why didn't you ever come to see me again?" asked the psychiatrist.

"For a hundred buck's a visit? A bartender cured me for ten dollars."

"Is that so! How?"

"He told me to cut the legs off the bed!"

Uhoh.....Christian graffiti?

King St., Charleston, S.C.

Uhoh. Looks like a religious themed graffiti artist has added "Jesus" to the directional traffic sign. Tsk, tsk.

Pouring Rain

Charleston, S.C.

Weather is a great metaphor for life,
sometimes it's good,
sometimes it's bad,
and there's nothing much you can do about it
but carry an umbrella.

Pepper Giardino

Go Red Day - Heart Disease Awareness

Go Red for Women Day, Charleston, S.C.

Here is my Go Red for Women photo. I bought thirty helium ballons and tried to figure out how to make a heart shape out of them. Below is my template. Heheh. Not bad. I work with such cool folk.

Click here to join the Go Red website for heart healthy info and upload your photos to the national Go Red for Women website.

The Mattress Swing of Edisto

Edisto Mattress Swing, Edisto, S.C.

This is a very sad story. I didn't know the Mattress Swing on Edisto was gone until I read Charlotte's entry at Charleston Through an Artists Eye.

Frank Gadsden died this winter. The full mattress and box springs, the swinging hammock, the one that hung from the limbs of a grand live oak tree on the side of the road for at least a generation, is gone.

I certainly didn't want to sit on it, but I always liked that it was there. I originally took the picture for Robin at SCIWAY who told me about the mattress.

Post a "Go Red" Photo tomorrow

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, S.C.

Tomorrow is National Go Red Day. Wear something red, consider making some heart healthy changes in your life style, take a wacky "Go Red" picture and post it! You know I will.

Charleston Sweethearts

Charleston, S.C.

Short stories in the pavement.

Where are they now? Does Scraper still love Fish? Does Andrew bring Heidi back to their piece of pavement on anniversaries? Did Barko and Linko settle down and have little Binkos? Are Chan! & Mike! happy forever? Did "Love No One"? find the love of his life?

Luckily I can turn the corner for another episode of "As the Pavement Turns".

Science fair project gone wild

WMI, Savannah Hwy, Charleston, S.C.

Any idea what it is?

Every time I see Water Missions International featured on the national news as one of the leading providers of water purification systems to the Haiti earthquake disaster I am proud as punch that the headquarters is based right here in Charleston. The warehouse is on Savannah Highway right past Hwy 526. They are using the space behind Seacoast Church to build their mud to water magic machines.

Molly and George Greene (our heroes pictured below) owned General Engineering, an engineering company with over 400 employees. Years ago, after a serious hurricane hit Honduras they asked what they could do to help and Mr. Greene drew up a model for a water purification system on a paper napkin. They made a couple, personally delivered them and watched as filthy water was turned into pure clear drinking water. When they came back, they sold their business and have been making the units ever since.

I went to the warehouse on Monday morning to take a picture of the Roper Hospital volunteers donating a check to Water Missions for $2,500 and I stuck around to watch their faces as they listened to the tour. It is such a simple, practical solution to a problem that it is almost impossible not to want to support it. One of my volunteer gentleman came to me saying that he was in a position to make a donation and knowing of my involvement let me put him in touch with Water Missions. I was dancing around my office when I learned he gave them $10,000.

The place is hopping during this crisis. Volunteers are putting together five units a day. If you are looking for a place to donate funds they are definitely worth considering and if you live locally think about stopping by. The clean water cause is infectious.

The answer to the picture is - garnet chips. That is what is used as filtration material.

Toothy Grin

Hot Tow Mater, Cottageville, S.C.

I dipped into my "sign" file for this one so not sure if the Hot Tow Mater is still in business. The small print says "A great place to re-tire".

Someone does enjoy their job!

Swamp Walking

Francis Beidler Forest, S.C.

Lordy kids, everyone ganged up on me today. I just couldn't win. I was out of my office Thursday and Friday and came back to messages, emails, lines of people waiting to talk to me, stuff crammed under my door, taped on my door, piled on my desk and a day full of "I came to see you and YOU weren't here" said in accusing voices.

I'm really not supposed to be that indispensable, folks. One caller left her message three times as if that would somehow force me get back to my office faster.

The photos are from Francis Beidler Forest where I like to march down the boardwalk stomping through the swamp to point my camera down into the river.