No Parking Sign - Folly Beach

No Parking Sign - Folly Beach, S.C.

Apparently one weekend walk on Folly Beach can give me enough photo ammunition to fill a week of blog entries! As the owner of a very narrow drive in downtown Charleston I am always interested in creative "No Parking" signs and this one gets my vote of approval.

I knew the image looked familiar. I tracked back through my photos to find that it is the same image that was on a pirate flag hanging on the wall at the old Buccaneer Restaurant.  Further research claims it to be Blackbeard's flag.

Who knows where the treasure is?

Charleston, S.C.

It's clear who knows where the treasure is! The crazy little pirate dog!

I plan to take over 700 people to the Lowcountry Heart Walk in September and our theme is "Fiercely Protecting Your Heart". Participants campaign to be our Pirate King or Queen and call me to help stage their photo op. As we did in years past with our infamous Men in Red dresses, we tend to get carried away.

This group includes Cap'n Sarah Sparrow, Cap'n Diesel Dino and Private Bow Wow and represents our Rehab Team. They had they brilliant idea to include the dog and his expressions cracked me up. We went out to the pond at the back of our parking lot at the hospital and took their campaign photos today.

I like the American Heart Association because half the people I know and love wouldn't be here today without the advances that have been made in the awareness and treatment of heart disease. Join us! The little pup's expression has been good for my heart already!

G'night kids. I have to be in my CEO's office at 8 a.m. so I'd best get myself to bed.

Aaaargh! Me HEARTies!

Charleston, S.C.

I had a date with a Pirate under an ancient oak tree early this morning.

Cap'n D'Angela D'Pirate is our first candidate to be Pirate King for our health system. His team will raise funds on his behalf benefiting the American Heart Association. If they raise the most money in his name he will be our King of the Pirates and lead us into battle as we storm the city at the Lowcountry Heart Walk on 9/17.

Aaargh.

Join us!

All in a day's work, me hearties......

Charleston, S.C.

I had the hat, I had the coat, I had the saber. All I needed was a cute (ahem...) pirate. Bingo! A security guard doing routine rounds walked innocently walked by my office and I kidnapped him for my cause. Aaaargh.

After I announced that our heart walk theme was to be Pirates this year, I had to figure out a way to make it work.

Thanks to Joseph, Jennifer, Janeigh and all my pirates for posing in the heat! Whew. You were good sports.

"Fiercely Protecting Your Heart"

Ahoy there, Matey

The Buccaneer Restaurant Bar & Museum, Faber St., Charleston, S.C.

I've been here and I've been there today but right now I am happily snug in my favorite corner of my couch uploading pictures that show my path today.

These shots are from my first stop at the Buccaneer Restaurant & Museum on Faber St. I went down before the restaurant opened this morning and because I am the luckiest person in Charleston, when I asked if they would remove the glass in front of the large display case with the pirate artifacts - they did. They have an incredible collection rivaling any museum and I got to hold these old pieces in my hands.

When I went to the 21st Century Photographer's Club meeting this week, I suggested the Buccaneer as a photo field trip so my idea this morning was to do a trial run and see how it would work and I was very excited. I think there are all kinds of cool photo ops in the restaurant, from ship models, real weapons and pirate flags to a human skull. The manager welcomes the interest so I think we can work it out. Fun!

G'night kids. It's past my bedtime.

Talk like a Pirate Day

Pirate Flag, Buccaneer Restaurant, Charleston, S.C.

You will be needing the English to Pirate translator today.

Top Ten Pickup lines for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day

10 . Avast, me proud beauty! Wanna know why my Roger is so Jolly?

9. Have ya ever met a man with a real yardarm?

8. Come on up and see me urchins.

7. Yes, that is a hornpipe in my pocket and I am happy to see you.

6. I'd love to drop anchor in your lagoon.

5. Pardon me, but would ya mind if I fired me cannon through your porthole?

4. How'd you like to scrape the barnacles off of me rudder?

3. Ya know, darlin’, I’m 97 percent chum free.

2. Well blow me down?

And the number one pickup line for use on International Talk Like a Pirate Day is …

1. Prepare to be boarded.

Why do they point these things at me when I ask if I can take their picture? These are from the Tall Ship festival pirate camp. I can't believe I passed up on an offer to be a Pirates Wench that day but it was 100 degrees out and I couldn't see dressing up in heavy historical costumes. Still, a Pirate Wench, sigh. What a thing to put on my resume.

Charleston Harborfest

Charleston Harborfest, Charleston, SC

Ahem. Well worth the price of admission.

PS: There are some very cool tall ships here as well.