Lenin Wall - for Julia

Lenin Wall, Photograph

Julia, a lowcountry gal who lives and blogs from Prague, Czechoslovakia, recently posted an entry on the Lenin Wall. I thought I would surprise her with this shot taken right here in Charleston.

I cheated of course.

The Lenin Wall, according to Wikipedia: The Lennon Wall is a wall in Prague, Czech Republic. Once a normal wall, since the 1980s it has been filled it with John Lennon-inspired graffiti and pieces of lyrics from Beatles songs.

In 1988, the wall was a source of irritation for the then communist regime of Gustav Husak. Young Czechs would write grievances on the wall and in a report of the time this led to a clash between hundreds of students and security police on the nearby Charles Bridge.

This morning I ended my walk by strolling through the Spoleto Art show in Marion Square and treated myself as I do each year by stopping by the Ron Rocz photography tent. Ron is based in Charleston and has the most beautiful pictures not only of the lowcounty but the Mississippi Delta Blues, Russia and Peru. According to his web site the Lenin Wall has been his top selling photograph.

I got up the nerve to ask if he would mind me taking a photograph of his photograph and he was kind enough to let me do it for this very purpose. Apparently the wall is continuously painted over so each time it looks completely different.

The John Lennon Wall, located near the Certovka Canal in Prague, The Czech Republic, is a colorful, graffiti-filled, active and on-going memorial to this cultural icon. It originated in 1980, at the time of John Lennon's assassination, when an unknown person drew the shape of a tombstone on this side-street wall, inscribing John's name and dates of birth and death. Through the years, with the wall surviving political repression, river floods, and more than one re-stuccoing, visitors have and continue to add their own artwork and heart-felt messages to John.

I noticed that Ron had a book called Seeing Charleston that might be of interest if you photograph Charleston. It is a handy pocket guide with sections on locations in historic Charleston and the Lowcountry. It is filled with location and technical tips as well as inspiring quotes by famous photographers.

Thanks Ron! I've been snooping at your work for years. It was an honor to meet you.

Spoleto Craft Show Fun

Isn't this amazing? I enlarged just the inside feature. The artist was Nicario Jimenez, Artist of the Andes.




Shao Lin Xia CanDoPlanes. These tickled me to no end. The artist was an aerospace engineer who was laid off and started making airplanes out of soda cans. I bought a little coca cola plane to hang in my kitchen window. They looked delightful spinning in the breeze.


Meghan Runkle of Rare Earth Studio had these fun handbag teapots for sale and I had to take a picture for our local Tea Blogger.




Alan Daigre Handcrafted Chairs is the official featured artist of Charleston Daily Photo. It's only fair since he is renting my upstairs room. I had the apartment empty after my tenant skipped and happened to notice a "Spoleto Artist needs room..." ad on Craiglist. I slapped some paint up last weekend and dusted it down in time for him to have a handy place to stay within walking distance of the show.

Wow. His handcrafted rocking chairs are amazing. Since the individual pieces of wood are roped together they gently give when you settle in. Every person who sat in them "oooohed" and "aaaaahed". Go ahead. If you get to the show at Wragg Square tomorrow, sit and rock a spell and say "hey" to Alan from Tennessee.

Saturday Funny

Meeting St., Charleston, SC

Today's joke is snitched as so many are lately from Miss Celliana.

A young woman out grocery shopping wheels her cart up to the checkout line, only to realize that she's forgotten one item tampons. An attentive bagboy notices the woman's bemused expression and asks if there's a problem.

"Oh, I just forgot to get something important," the woman replies.

The bagboy, eager to assist a pretty customer, politely offers to go and get for her whatever item she's forgotten.

Quite embarrassed but in a hurry to leave, the young woman whispers to the bagboy that she needs a box of Tampax. "No problem, he says, I’ll be right back!".

The young woman is relieved and appreciates the help, as she waits at the register with a line forming behind her.

Meanwhile, the bagboy has misunderstood the woman's shyly whispered request, and is now searching for a box of thumbtacks.

Eventually he finds the thumbtacks, but is confused by the different choices available.

Imagine the young woman's reaction when the bagboy comes trotting back up to the register calling to her "Miss, do you want the kind that you push in, or the kind that you hammer in?"

Charleston Renovation Project

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, SC

It's going to be a beauty when it is finished but doesn't it seem like it has taken years? I can hardly remember a time when they weren't working on it.

I know I am, but what are you?

Sidewalk profiles.
I know I am, but what are you?
Charleston, SC

Bach at Ya!

So very, very cool. Snitched from Boing, Boing.

These two amazingly talented women run up and down the keys on the giant floor-piano at FAO Schwarz, belting out an astounding rendition of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Bach never sounded so good.

Somebody kiss me! I just had my teeth cleaned

Atesha & Dr. Maria Cordova, 159 Wentworth St., Charleston, SC

I scrambled from work to Roper Hospital to take (be in!) a group photo and then ran down Rutledge Ave. to make it to my dentist's office for my six month removal of tea stains. They have their work cut out for them to get my teeth shiny and white. Tea drinkers probably keep dental hygienists in business.

Dr. Maria Cordova poked her head in and politely lifted my backpack for me, not realizing it was weighed down with my camera and flash. When I told her what was so heavy it made sense to take their picture. If you live on the peninsula it is awfully nice to be able to walk to a good dentist.

Some of you know my history. When I was a kid I went to a dentist with a foot pedal operated drill. Yikes. You have to be good and gentle to keep me coming back. I hid from dentists for many years. I insist they make my follow up appointment before I leave or I won't show up for another ten years.

Thanks ladies!

A Book by any Other Name

Let's go for a bike ride and exercise our owner!
Warren St., Charleston, SC

Photo unrelated to entry. Get used to it.

My sister Barbara In Kingston, Ontario sent me a book that I set aside and didn't read. When my brother Bob from Dunnville, Ontario sent the same book to me for my birthday I figured I'd better read it.

It was a terrific book, the story of a bright young girl who was kidnapped in Africa during the slave trade. Her mother had been a midwife and she had some skills that helped her along her journey. I soon figured out why my siblings had sent it to me from Canada. The heroine of the book begins her life in America where most slaves did, on Sullivan's Island. She was sold to an owner who operated an Indigo Plantation and then to a Jewish man who lived in Charleston. Many of the names in the book are common lowcountry names today.

I'd never heard of the book before.

Here is why. The name of this book which has won numerous awards in Canada is The Book of Negroes.

I used The Book of Negroes as the title for my novel, in Canada, because it derives from a historical document of the same name kept by British naval officers at the tail end of the American Revolutionary War. It documents the 3,000 blacks who had served the King in the war and were fleeing Manhattan for Canada in 1783. Unless you were in The Book of Negroes, you couldn't escape to Canada. My character, an African woman named Aminata Diallo whose story is based on this history, has to get into the book before she gets out.

I was completely unaware that over 3,000 freed slaves had been shipped to Nova Scotia.

Author Lawrence Hill was told that his book would not sell under it's original name in the US and the title was changed to Someone Knows My Name.

I've got two copies if anyone local wants a good read or order here. Thanks Barb! Thanks Bob.

Reserved Parking

Bike Parking. Reserved!, Calhoun St., Charleston, SC

It's good to have reserved parking.

Always fun. Make your own kaleidoscope.

Wow. I didn't know how to spell kaleidoscope. Not even close.

Feeding Time in the Rookery

Magnolia Plantation, Audubon Swamp Walk, Charleston, SC

It's feeding time in the nursery! Find your binoculars and take the Audubon Swamp Walk at Magnolia Plantation. The swamp is alive with activity and noise. About halfway in, you realize that the trees are over-crowded apartment complexes of nesting birds with squawking babies. It is an awesome sight. Sadly my camera lens didn't do it justice but my eyeballs were having a happy feast. Larger version here.

Heck. I ought to get a free annual admission to Magnolia Plantation as much as I promote the place.

Check out the gator laying calmly in his path below. Some of my days have felt like that lately. Walk gingerly. Caution. Caution.

The Answer is Blowing in the Wind

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC

Photo unrelated to entry. As usual.

Each year in Shillong, the quirky hillside town I grew up in north east India, Bob Dylan's birthday is celebrated in grand style. He has never been there but when he is ready, I'll take him home and introduce him. My brother lives there still and he would have a grand welcome. I attended St. Mary's, the school mentioned in the article. How fun is this? Very fun.

Shillong singer keeps Dylan legacy blowin' in the wind
Published: May 23, 2009, 23:50
Shillong: The sunlit hall of the local St Mary's College for girls in this picture postcard capital of Meghalaya sways to the chants of Forever Young - a signature 1974 Bob Dylan track.

An aging musician with stained teeth, long hair and childlike smile strums his guitar and eggs on nearly 500 schoolgirls to join the chorus. Everyone carries placards proclaiming "Happy Birthday Dylan". It's a practice session for a Dylan's birthday concert today.

Meet Lou Majaw, the 62-year-old Dylan of northeastern India, who has been singing Bob Dylan's songs and improvising on them for the past 43 years.

Bob Dylan's Birthday Bash
Shillong: The birthday boy was missing but not the fanfare and the songs immortalized in the 60s were found still blowing in the wind. No other city, perhaps, has been celebrating Bob Dylan's birthday without a break for the past 38 years. And on Sunday, it was no different in Shillong.

Memorial Day. Thank You.

Charleston, SC

I gave a friend a ride home last week and had a glimpse into an incredible life. I caught him as he'd been sorting through his cedar chest and happened to have things usually kept tucked away spread out on his bed. I took the opportunity to snoop a little deeper.

I had my little pocket camera with me and laid out just a few of the amazing pieces that documented his story of driving tanks in Northern Africa and Italy. As most of the soldiers in WWII he was uncomfortable with my interest and repeated, "I didn't do anything really."

You did everything. Really.

Thank you.

Summer Fun

Botany Bay, SC

I don't know who the kids are but they were having the time of their lives.

I grew up in hills and mountains and clearly remember how amazing my first real beach vacation was. My kids were toddlers, the perfect age. I was living in West Virginia and spent a week in Duck, NC. It was magical. I still can't resist watching a child discover the ocean.

I started my day in high energy but crashed and burned early. I went to a fundraising pancake breakfast at Applebee's, painted the ceiling in my rental apartment, spackled to prep for more painting tomorrow (blah), had my porches power washed (thanks Charlie!), found a new tenant on Craigslist, signed the lease, and enjoyed a picnic at Botany Bay. Then sadly I hit the couch and am reviving now that it is too late to do anything. I hope everyone is having a good holiday weekend.

Lowcountry Roads

Edisto Island, SC

If I was an artist, this is what I would paint. Since I am not, I asked my patient driver to stop in the middle of the road and let me out for a moment. I love these lowcountry roads.

Friday Blog Hopping

Magnolia Plantation Gardens, Charleston, SC

Pen & Ink Illustrations: check this entry for the loveliest birthday wish to a mother.

Beautiful ads about Amtrak. It's about time, eh?

Manhole covers from around the world. Neato. As often as I point my camera on the ground you'd think I'd have some of these.

Fresh flowers die. :(. Send a Hoopla Forever Bouquet!

The Problem with Young People Today is........

Freaky YouTube Monster.

It's Friday kids! Hip, hip, hurray! I cut it close but I did make it to my matinee at the Terrace Theater just a few minutes late. I went to see Is Anybody There with Michael Caine and sat in the dark with my mug of hot tea. Let the weekend begin. What is everyone up to?

Do I have red eye?

You know you want to. Go Terminate yourself. I snitched this from the source of all good stuff: The Presurfer.

Okay, okay. I am stepping away from the computer. Sheeesh.

Edit: I changed the entry title. Don't want folks to think I've been "terminated". Good jobs are rare and precious jewels these days.

Teach a man to fish and he'll cruise forever

Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC

I didn't want to sound like a know-it-all but I could have told him he needed a bigger net to catch that ship. Harhar.

Angel in the window

Coming St., Charleston, SC

I think I saw an angel but I'm not sure.

I need an angel tonight. Lord. I need to get out of the landlady business. I came back from my trip to a "Dear Joan...." letter. My tenant skipped while I was away.

Since the room had been passed from one person to another without any gap it really does need attention. I've been painting the bathroom and I'm just not in the mood anymore. I don't want to paint rooms for other people. I don't want to pull off the stickers they put all over the washing machine and the little seahorse stickers they stuck on the tub tiles.

If I never paint another room it will be okay with me. Meanwhile, standing on the toilet to reach the ceiling started a nice steady drip of water from the back of the tank. Drip, drip. Aaargh.

Do angels paint bathrooms? This one looks like she might.

Faith, Truth, Power

Faith, Truth, Power, Duncan st., Charleston, SC

Ummmm..isn't that supposed to be Faith, Hope and Charity?

These folks set up an entry called Having Fun with Money at Work. Too bad. I really had a few projects I meant to work on tomorrow. Now I have to play with my money.

Bedtime for Joannie. I went to see Angels & Demons at Cinebarre this evening and ate a pizza while I watched murders of priests in Roman churches. I've never been to Cinebarre before but it is one of those theaters where you can order drinks and meals served at your seat. I liked it. It worked very well and they handled food service without being disruptive.

G'night kids.

What's for dinner?

I am home late after meetings, starving as usual and my cupboards seem bare. I can't really complain since this is what I ate last night. Isn't it gorgeous? It looks like a work of art. Fine, fine foodie art. Fine art and I had to eat it before it melted.

Chef Sean Brock was cooking dinner for a group that had won a dinner party at a charity auction. They set the table on the porch at Thornhill Farms in McClellanville and it was suggested that I might take a few pictures. Yes. I think so. The guests clearly enjoyed their feast, made of all local organic ingredients while I got to watch the hustle and bustle in the kitchen, admire the art work and eat it. I didn't even have to do the dishes. Am I the luckiest person in the world?

Maria Baldwin of Our Local Foods, Inc. joined me as we tasted all of the food. Curious about the other courses? Here and here. Yum and yum.

It was all so fresh and colorful I felt like I was sitting in the garden pulling it up, shaking the dirt off and popping it in my mouth. In fact, the long stringy things in the dessert? Chocolate covered baby carrots.

The whole liquid nitrogen process fascinates me.

Now, what can I eat tonight?

Smashed to smithereens

Charleston, SC

Welcome to my kitchen. This is just a small section of what my entire kitchen floor looked like this morning.

Late last year I decided to clean out my kitchen and get rid of things I hadn't been using. I put boxes of glasses, mugs and rarely used gadgets out for colleges students to help themselves. I may have gone a little far since I had trouble setting a complete table for seven when my folks were here but as a rule I am just cooking for myself and don't need as much as I used to.

That's why I was stunned this morning as I stood at the sink to suddenly watch almost all of my glassware fall out of the cabinets, bounce on the counter top and smash on to the floor. Not one thing survived the fall. It was an incredible racket. Naturally I was in bare feet and could just reach a couple aprons on a wall hook to throw down to walk on.

What a mess! All of my ice cream dishes, salad plates, drinking glasses and coffee cups smashed to smithereens. A little detective work later and I found that one of the little plastic pieces that hold the end of the shelf in place broke and the entire shelf went down hitting the things on the lower shelf and taking them with it. If I hadn't been home when it happened I would have assumed there had been crazy vandals in my home. I've swept and mopped and am still crunching glass.

Paper plates for me I reckon. :)

Yes We Can!

Yes We Can, Eutawville, SC

Yes we can!

Ooops. Maybe not. Looks like the "Yes We Can" project is temporarily closed. I couldn't even tell what it was in the first place.

Don't tell President Obama. He still has a lot to do.

Church Photo in Lieu of Attendance

Faith, Hope and Charity Church, Coach Rd., SC

I love coming across these sweet country churches. This one is in the Eutawville area.

Fig Leaf Found

A little boy opened the large old family Bible, and he looked with fascination at the ancient pages as he turned them one by one.

He was still in Genesis when something fell out of the Bible. He picked it up and looked at it closely. It was a very large old tree leaf that had been pressed between the pages of the Bible long ago."Momma, look what I found!" the boy called out.

"What do you have there?" his mother asked.

With astonishment in his voice, the young boy answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear!"

Chasing the Black Cab - Colonial Lake

Charleston Black Cab, Colonial Lake, Charleston, SC

This basket is so pretty it almost makes me want to get a bike to put it on.

Since I visited the school for the blind in Kenya I've had the urge to fill a box with harmonica's, more flutes, and music boxes etc.

Yet another bacon product. Yep. Bacon lubricant.

Happily single? Take the Quirky Alone quiz. Whoops. My score was 115 which equals: Your score was 115. Very quirkyalone: Relatives may give you quizzical looks, and so may friends, but you know in your heart of hearts that you are following your inner voice. Though you may not be romancing a single person, you are romancing the world.

When I am overseas I think that Americans work way too hard and I want to get a job renting bicycles on Folly Beach.

I bought my tenant one of these little recycled bicycles in Kenya. It was the only cool gift I found. She put it in her front window so everyone can see it.

I've been thinking about making sock monkeys wearing red dresses as a Heart Association fundraiser. Today the funniest googled search link to land people on the blog was Monkeys wear red dresses to seduce geraniums. Perfect. Now google is reading my mind.

I'll admit I only do hodge podge entries after a glass of wine. Thank you spell check.

What is everyone doing this weekend?

Massacre at the Y

Middleton Plantation, Charleston, SC

I was looking for a picture to go with this entry and came across this shot of myself at the Garden Festival at Middleton from a few years ago. It was a bad hair day.

I had a good laugh at these Euphemisms for Menstruation on Miss Celliana's blog. It's proper for me to re-post them because I was a nurse and I am supposed to talk happily about these bodily functions. There are some I've never heard of in this batch!

Euphemisms for Menstruation

10. Miss Scarlett’s Come Home to Tara

9. A Dishonorable Discharge from the Uterine Navy

8. Saddling Old Rusty

7. Massacre at the Y

6. T-Minus 9 Months and Holding

5. Game Day for the Crimson Tide

4. Panty Shields Up, Captain!

3. Taking Carrie to the Prom

2. Ordering l’Omelette Rouge

1. Rebooting the Ovarian Operating System

Saving your digital images

Pineapple Fountain, Charleston, SC

It's time to whisk you back to the Lowcountry.

Larry Collins from WCBD Channel 2 called yesterday to see if I would talk to them for a few minutes about saving digital image files. Wowza! It must be my fifteen seconds of fame :). Larry and cameraman Malik met me down at the waterfront park and hooked me up to the microphone.

The story is that someone found and turned in a camera memory card full of peak moments - birthdays, births, weddings. These are the pictures that become a family's history. If the owner hadn't saved them elsewhere they are all gone. Sad but I bet it happens a lot.

There are a lot of choices - saving to your hard drive, USB drive, external hard drive, burning to CD's and DVD's.

You all know what I do - I am a loyal smugmug.com member. I upload directly from my cards to smugmug and sort things by events or time periods. I had to have some system because I need to be able to tell folks where to go to look for event pictures and people are always calling me to find pictures from years ago. I am not an artist or professional photographer but I am a workhorse photographer and deal in bulk!

There are many free storage sites and smugmug does charge $39.95 a year but it has such attractive album displays and viewers have access to the full resolution image. I've been pleased with orders I've placed. It's been well worth the annual fee. I can get as many as 80,000 hits in a month with a few events where I have handed out the link.

Online storage sites:
Flickr.com
snapfish.com
Kodak.com
Photobucket.com
Smugmug.com

Flickr even has a Museum of Found Images album where members upload pictures they have found.

New Eye-Fi wireless will let your images flow from your camera to your computer or without taking the card out of the camera. Sounds like a dream!

One thing I did mention and need to do better at myself is to make sure someone else has the login password to my site in case something should happen to me. It would be a shame for years of photos to disappear.

I spent hours going through my grandparent's drawers of black and white pictures. I have a sneaky feeling that although we take a lot more pictures these days we won't have as many to leave for the next generation if we aren't paying some attention to how we are preserving them. With the older film cameras we automatically had built in back up with our negatives.

Larry expects the spot to air tomorrow, Thursday on the 6 pm news. Thanks guys! Make me look good.

Charleston to Kenya - Parting Shots

The AIG dancer


Labour Ward Sign


A Humble Request


Chef Sean Brock had asked for some Kenya Seeds. Since I couldn't bring back seeds I stole the Kenya Seed Company Calendar from Moses's office for him.


President Obama Belt Buckle


Trespassers Will Be Poisoned


To Be Lazy


Native Homes


Scott Gives Hacky Sack Demonstration

Okay! Back to business as usual at the Charleston Daily Photo and work tomorrow. Sob.

Charleston to Kenya - Part 4

St. Francis School for the Blind, Kenya

I'm pushing my luck showing all these entries from overseas on the Charleston City Photo blog. Hopefully I'll get them posted and move along before the official City Daily folks notice.

On the fourth day we visited the St. Francis School for the Blind. It was a long drive through some of the most beautiful countryside. Lush and green with mountains in the distance. We hadn't needed any sweaters or umbrellas so far although it was still the rainy season.

We walked the campus meeting the kids. They could tell something was up even though they couldn't see us. Most walked the paths in pairs holding hands. They gathered to "hear our voice" and then sang a few songs with incredible harmony. There didn't seem much for them to do and this was one area where I had been sorry I hadn't had more time to order gifts and toys especially for the blind. We did have enough candy to have a treat for each child and I had a few flutes, jump ropes and a tiny wind up music box.

The school had been given a water purification system by Water Missions International so we were able to see it in use and know that at least that was taken care of for these kids.

Charleston to Kenya - Part 3

The third morning we had our official meeting with the hospital board. We fully intended to learn what they were doing and see how our hospital could develop a continuing relationship with them. Happily they were prepared and had a carefully thought out plan describing what they were doing and where they wanted to go. I explained that I wanted more pictures to take to our hospital and that they should show me even the things they weren't most proud of.

They did. We started with the patient latrine (whew) and then climbed the hill to the nurse's quarters. I was most impressed that the hospital had it's own farm and the nurses had a garden as well. Nurses were out working in the farm on their time off.

We left the hospital with many hugs and well wishes as well as a formal prayer.

After lunch in Eldoret we visited two other hospitals. These were pretty tough to see. We drove up to the Endebess Hospital and were greeted by an attractive young doctor who had recently been posted there. This gal had her hands full and I was most impressed with her. Their biggest issues were malaria, HIV and dysentery and water borne diseases. They looked puzzled when we asked about our usual issues of heart, diabetes, stroke and cancer. These were not their day to day concerns at all. People had a high fiber diet, got lots of exercise and ate lean meat.

At the time we toured she had 33 patients in a 28 bed hospital. Some cots had patients doubled up and she had a few beds tucked in the storage room. Although most women delivered at home she showed us the delivery room and whispered how nice it would be to have some suction, a simple bulb syringe or laryngoscope to suction meconium like she had had during her training.

The next hospital in Saboti was even harder to see. These folks were trying to run an inpatient facility without electricity or running water. After they used up the rain water in their tank they had to pay for containers of water carried from 3 kilometers away. I'll admit it was the first time I had seen a propane powered refrigeration unit, gas heated autoclave or manually spun lab centrifuge. Half of the beds didn't even have sheets on them. They had one broken delivery table without a mattress pad on it. Wow. Yet, the number of patients they were providing community health and prevention education to was incredible. I kept thinking of the simplest things I could do that would help so much.

We were able to walk through a local market on our route this day which seemed to consist mostly of used American clothes. Once again everyone got a big kick out of seeing themselves in the camera.

Charleston to Kenya - Part 2

Plateau Mission Hospital, Kenya

The next day we drove two hours to the little Plateau Mission Hospital after stopping at a girl's school and had a greeting committee waiting for us including local dignitaries, hospital staff and board members.

We toured the hospital and had many formal introductions and speeches. The ceremony was planned for the afternoon and the whole gang walked down to see the source of their murky water at the river. We walked to the local elementary school and turned on the tap for the kiddies to drink from. Walking onto the school campus the kids were in the yard singing and dancing to welcome us. Scott became (thankfully!) our official spokesman since speeches seemed required everywhere we went. He turned on the tap and cupped water to take a first drink and them was rushed by the kids trying to get their chance.

Then we hiked up the hill to see the treatment system that was already delivered and ready to function. After speeches and prayers we were invited to officially turn on the tap and let the clear pure water flow there. There was such a rush of happy excitement it was difficult to even get a good photo for all the little shaved heads trying to get to the tap.

They had set up a tent on the hill for the commissioning ceremony and we were advised to settle in for a long afternoon. There were poems about water, songs about water, dances, speeches and sermons. The hospital board members, the pastor, the physician and head nurse matron spoke. Scott gave a speech but it apparently wasn't long enough to impress and they kept signaling him to go on...and on.....an on. The ceremony went on for at least three hours and with the children curled up in the shade under the trees, everyone settled in to listen for the afternoon.

Close to the end the women came out from under the trees with a ceremonial song and thanks. They gradually formed a circle and we were to go around to greet each person. By this point everyone was laughing and singing. We shook hands in a rhythmic manner and then rubbed both cheeks, greeting each person in turn as they continuing singing and swaying. It was awesome. They had token gifts for us and luckily I had planned ahead. Besides the bags of toys we had an official gift of a clock with a message inscribed and I had taken a quality stethoscope for the physician.

I started taking pictures of the kids and letting them see themselves in the viewer. This brought squeals of hysterical laughter from people who had probably never seen an image of themselves. They pushed each other forward for a turn and were so eager I could hardly get individual shots.

By this time we felt a connection with the hospital staff. We were to come back the next morning for an official meeting with the board but it was almost teary leaving them that afternoon. We felt that we had been lucky enough to connect with sincere good people trying to do the best they could with what they had on hand. I was impressed with both the physician and the nurse matron. My nursing background was helpful here and I took as many pictures of shelves of supplies and hospital wards so I would remember what they were working with. They explained that half of the usual hospital admissions could be prevented with pure water.

Charleston to Kenya - Part 1

Nairobi, Kenya

I've had so many experiences in the last few days honestly it's hard to know exactly what to say in a blog post. Wow.

Safely home after a 30 hour trip. The first day back after an adventure like this always feels a bit disorienting. I joked about not kissing the ground when we got home but the floor of the first Charleston bathroom where everything worked and flushed in the manner we know and love!

Quick summary: The health system I work for - Roper St. Francis Healthcare had raised the money to fund a water purification system for the Plateau community in western Kenya. The project had so much support from our staff that they decided to send three of us to go to be present for the commissioning ceremony and to develop a continuing relationship with the hospital. It didn't hurt that the Water Mission International headquarters is right here in Charleston and we were able to take a tour before we left and see the units being put together and ready for shipment. It is such a neat and practical solution that everyone who sees it wants to be part of it. Muddy water can go in one end of this thing and be turned into enough pure drinkable water to take care of a community of 3,000 people.

We arrived in Nairobi with some time to spend before our in country flight west so visited the National Museum, and a cottage industry bead factory. The beads were made by single mothers and widowed women and allowed them to support themselves. We then had enough time to visit the Giraffe Park which was definitely a highlight. It was incredible to drive up and see these amazing animals walking around in their natural habitat. It didn't hurt that they came up and gave me a smooch to get the nugget of food I held in my teeth.

We flew west to Kitale and stayed the night in the old Kitale Club. This reminded me of old colonial type hotels I had stayed at as a child in India with a leftover golf course and monkeys on the roof. The heating elements in the shower head come with a posted warning that if you didn't follow the directions you would make the heater explode. Moses, our Water Missions International contact helped us divide the loot of toys and gifts that filled my suitcase for the different schools and hospitals we were to visit.

My companions were Scott Broome the Director of our Cancer Center and Caroline Pate who works for our Public Relations Department. Scott's suitcase never arrived and he had to buy a quick new wardrobe at a Kitale Shop. Selfishly Caroline and I were relieved that of the three of us we didn't have to buy a new wardrobe in half an hour in Kenya.

Oddly exhilarated we wandered to the open air bar and on local advice tried a Tusker Beer. We were treated to a drink by a gentleman at the bar who spoke with such pride of the rich soil in Kenya, the farms, the weather, schools, people and of course everyone's favorite cousin - President Obama. Our host lived in Nairobi but had a maize farm in the area.

On to bed ready for a good night's sleep under the hanging mosquito netting.

Gimme a Kiss!

Kenya, Africa

Quick entry to let you know we are safely home. All the comments and well wishes were a treat to come home to! I thought I might have a chance to update on the trip but was no where near a computer. The trip home took 30 hours so I had a good sleep last night. All well! It has been an incredible and positive experience. More later.

Charleston Farmer's Market

Charleston Farmer's Market, Marion Square, Charleston, SC

One of the best Farmer's Markets in the south east and just two blocks from my house. How lucky am I? I like finishing my walk there with an iced coffee and always run into someone I know.

Photo posted in my absence. If all goes as planned I should be back Sunday afternoon.

Cowabanga Dude

Warren St., Charleston, SC

Cowabanga Dude!

I had to leave at least one piece of sidewalk graffiti to auto post while I was gone. I hope y'all are behaving.

View of the Harbour

Charleston, SC

Another photo for you in case anyone drops by while I am away. This is through the glass at the Hilton Riverview - one of the best views in town.

She sells sea shells...

Botany Bay, SC

One of my most frequent search links is for Sea Shells. I'll tell you that Botany Bay has more sea shells on the beach than any beach I've seen around here. Don't take them though - or they won't be there for me to enjoy!

Hot Nuts

Charleston, SC

This will test scheduling entries to post while I am away. It struck me as terribly funny that someone would choose to write "Hot Nuts" in wet cement.

All Packed!

Kenya packing, Charleston, SC

This is my suitcase with no clothes packed.

Hahah! Okay, so I got a little out of control with games, toys and candy for kids.

I leave tomorrow morning for Kenya. Our route takes us through Detroit, Amsterdam, Nairobi. We then fly to Kitale and on to Eldoret in Western Kenya. The health system I work for has funded a water purification system for the Plateau Mission Hospital and surrounding school and community of 3,000. The commissioning ceremony is a big deal and I am going to be present for that, to document the events and develop a continuing relationship with the hospital.

While I am there I will have the chance to tour a couple of schools, health clinics, an orphanage and school for the blind. When word got out I was collecting toys for kiddies everyone got involved. People at work stopped at toy stores on the way home, slipped me $10 bills, bought soccer balls and rush mail ordered double dutch jump ropes. It has been a blast. I even found little wind up music boxes for the school for the blind.

I was asked to be the guest speaker at the Our Lady of Mercy Outreach Volunteer Recognition Luncheon on Friday afternoon. The giveaway gift they handed out was a key chain light. When I told them I was packing mine to take with me they passed a plate and every single person gave me their light to take. Coolness!

So, the worry now is whether I am going to have to wear the same pair of undies for the whole trip. Between the toys and my camera gear I don't have anymore room. Heheh.

Not sure that I will have a chance to set up any pictures to post while I am away. If not, you can imagine me sitting on the floor trying to cram panties into all the outside pockets of my suitcase.

Drinking with Friends

Dining with Friends, Maritime Center, Charleston, SC

Last night was the 17th annual Dining With Friends benefit for Lowcountry AIDS Services. For years I have taken a crew of friends and co-workers to staff the Champagne Table. (I can pick my volunteers projects can't I?)

The idea is that people host parties in their homes and the attendees make a donation. Then everyone gathers for dessert, champagne and dancing at the Maritime Center from 9 - 11 pm. I didn't hear a final count but they expected about 4,000. My champagne pouring arm gets it's annual workout at this event and thank goodness we had some muscle to pop the corks.

We had a great gang rallied this year and had a blast! I drank a couple of glasses myself (quality control) and toddled on home licking my fingers after snagging some of the incredible desserts. Thanks to all my helpers for making it a fun night! I'm with Richard and Erin Larson in the photo.

Graduation Day

Washington Park, Charleston, SC

I was taking a short cut through Washington Park yesterday and found myself in the middle of the very first graduation ceremony for the College of Building Arts.

Not a traditional university, the college of building arts teaches the old traditional arts of stone masonry, architectural plaster work, ironwork and timber framing.

It's good to know people will still be able to work on these old homes and buildings. According to their web site the need became appearant after the damage doe to these grand building after hurricane Hugo and they discovered how difficult it was to find anyone who could repair them.

I tracked down a student blog but it doesn't look like it has taken off yet.

Smile!

Ben Williams, Canon Park, Charleston, SC

Turn about is fair play I suppose. I was on the other end of the camera lens yesterday afternoon when Ben Williams was assigned to take MY picture for an article in Housecalls Magazine. Ben and sidekick Ivy from Charleston Magazine made it easy and fun. He took pictures of me with my camera up to my face so I clicked right back.

We walked down to Canon Park and I tried my hardest to smile and look natural with a camera pointed a couple of inches from my face. They were a lot of fun and as usual I was stealing professional photography tips left and right. If I don't look good it won't be their fault. Thanks folks!

I found Ben's online album so you can snoop around at his work.

Yo!

North Charleston, SC

I'm finding all kinds of goodies cleaning off memory cards for my trip. This one is up the road in North Charleston, SC.

She's Overdue

Charleston, SC

Old maternity nurses are obligated to pass on these jokes. I think it's the law. I snitched this one from Miss Celliana:

A young husband comes home one night, and his wife throws her arms around his neck: "Darling, I have great news: I'm a month overdue. I think we're going to have a baby! Until the doctor confirms the test result we can't tell anybody."

The next day, a guy from the electric company rings the door-bell, because the couple hasn't paid their last bill: "Are you Mrs. Smith? You're a month overdue, you know!"

"How do YOU know?" stammers the young woman.

"Well, ma'am, it's in our files!" says the man.

"What are you saying? It's in your files?????"

"Absolutely."

"Well, let me talk to my husband about this tonight."

That night, she tells her husband about the visit, and he, mad as a bull, rushes to the electric company's office the first thing the next morning.

"What's going on here? You have it on file that my wife is a month overdue? What business is that of yours?" the husband shouts.

"Just calm down," says the clerk, "it's nothing serious. All you have to do is pay us."

"PAY you? and if I refuse?"

"Well, in that case, sir, we'd have no option but to cut yours off."

"And what would my wife do then?" the husband asks.

"I don't know. I guess she'd have to use a candle."