Just a moment

Every moment is a little bit later, Charleston, SC   

I try not to glorify vandalism but this stenciled message has been on this wall for so long I decided the owners must like it. 

Postcards from Charleston

Eat Your Grits, Love Your Mother

Just for fun! I should have saved it for Mother's Day. 

Roadside signs

Hwy 176, SC 

The side of this trucking container gets painted periodically. None of the messages have been cheerful but this is the saddest. Poor pup. 

Signs & Messages

1st Class Hair Design, Line St., Charleston, SC   

Here are a few of the hand painted signs and quirky messages that caught my eye on a recent walk. Make of them what you will!

I watched yesterday's inauguration exactly where I've watched every important event in the last 40ish years - on a hospital television. These moments are imprinted in my brain, who I was with, what hospital, what waiting room. Yesterday's was one of the most awkward since if you don't know everyone you are with you can't read how a comment will be taken. Feelings are strong and raw. Healthcare is in a very uncertain time and that is one of my top concerns. All the best to us all.

King Market, King St., Charleston, SC 

Before & After Spring St. Hold me while I cry.

Spring St., Charleston, SC   

Before and after Spring St. Hold my hand while I cry. This colorful decorated and quaint barber shop is now a white box. I hope the owners are happy.

This, is now. Sob.

1st Class Cuts, Spring St. Charleston - before

Whatever, Spring St., Charleston, SC   

Home of the Hand Wash

Above the Rest - Home of the Hand Wash, Line St., Charleston, SC    

All of us could use a gentle hand wash now and then and this auto-detailing shop on Line St. used to be Above the Rest. I revisit these hand-painted sign favorites often on my walks and was saddened to see how far we've slipped when I searched back on this very blog and remembered what it used to look like.

Hand-painted signs

D & D Restaurant, Spring St., Charleston, SC  

I am a sucker for hand-painted signs. I love any place that has hired a sign painter rather than using computer generated signs. Thank you D & D Restaurant.

I'd never been in but googling for information I came up with this referral from Chef Joshua Walker:

Favorite under-the-radar spot: D&D Restaurant & Catering (114 Spring St, 843-722-2205)Walker says: “It’s an old-school, traditional neighborhood hangout, with nice folks drinking beer and listening to good music. Get the fried shrimp or ask for the ribs.”

Thoughtful messages

Everything Has Beauty, Charleston, SC  

Whew. I had a myself a busy week. I only had one day in the office squeezed between a conference in Orlando and a trip to Columbia and came back to a pile of envelopes under my door, things hanging from my doorknob, phone messages and notes taped up for me to deal with. I had work events both evenings I was home and hours of photo uploading to do after that. I needed a Joan clone.

Other than doing wash and getting a short walk in I pretty much crashed yesterday, me and George Gently snuggling on the couch catching up. I did wander a bit downtown to stretch my legs after so much sitting and these fun signs perked me up.

Have a good Sunday, kids!

Stop! She has ruined me

She has Ruined Me, Charleston, SC  

Don't deface public property. You know that.

But if you do, write an entire book on a street sign.

I can't be everywhere but luckily I have spies roaming the lowcountry saying to themselves, "Joan would like this!" Thanks Dr. G!

Violators will be dealt with

No Parking, Charleston, S.C.

 "Violators will be dealt with accordingly." 

What does that mean, do you think? It sure is polite but I bet it is going to hurt. 

Someone loves their dog

Country Roads, S.C.

It seems like one of the benefits of living in the country should be that your dog can roam free but it could be dangerous if the pup happened to be hard of hearing and didn't hear a car also enjoying the roads less traveled. These folks loved their dog enough to put up a warning sign. Keep an eye out!

Mother's Day win!

Folly Beach boat, Folly Rd., S.C.

It is the public bulletin board on the side of the road heading to Folly Beach. The abandoned boat washed up by hurricane Hugo winds has been painted so many times I am sure it is the paint that is holding it together. The boat is fair game and anyone can paint it. Artists need to take a quick picture of their work because another car full of aspiring artists can pull right up behind them and paint right over it.

I kinda hope this lasts through the weekend, don't you?

Interested in painting the boat? Caroline shares some tips in This is My South.

Holy Cow...it looks like these folks have almost every painting ever done on the boat: Folly Boat

Slow Down. Humans Present.

Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

This is an old favorite from my sign file. Someone took the trouble to paint their message on an imitation sign. It didn't last long but happily I caught a picture of it. The next time I passed it was in pieces on the ground. Not everyone got the message.

Busy but good day after an early start. I bought a cheapo "swivel store spice rack" at a fundraising sale today and have been organizing my drawer of spice bottles after a fast walk in the dark. I don't have much cabinet space so I am trying to be as efficient as I can.

I got tickets to the Rejoice! the Charleston Symphony's Holiday special. That always starts the season for me.  I do like to go to the concert that has the Gospel Choir performance. 

If the shoe fits, fix it

Peter & Sons Shoe Repair, South Windermere, Charleston, S.C.

It surprises and makes me happy that we still have shoe repair shops. It reminds me that we don't throw everything out as soon as it is worn. Also, I really like hand painted signs and shoe repair shops seem to specialize in them. To find this one I walked all the way to South Windermere Plaza on Saturday morning to see how long it would take. I am finding all the places that are within reasonable walking distance of my new house. This would make more sense on a bike but I'll figure that out in good time.

Peter must have quite a few sons because there is a Peter & Sons Luggage Repair Shop next door.  Googling the company for the link I came across a Yelp website with a few good reviews and it made my blood boil yet again at the article I read recently about Yelp calling to pressure business owners into paying for them to remove negative ads. I do hope that isn't true. I've always enjoyed Yelp reviews.

Near by I also spotted a mini me joggling board for Waldo! Cute.  Soon I will be able to provide him with a map of every joggling board in the lowcountry and he can coordinate official tours.

He has a Point

Sign on Hwy 27, S.C.

He has a point, or two or three but I don't know what any of them are. Goodness. This took some effort and is right where Hwy 27 joins Hwy 176 in the lush and green back roads of South Carolina. At least we can agree with "Adopt your own trash."

Hope everyone is having a good Sunday. It is quickly slipping through our fingers.

Thursday night blog hopping

Respect the Beach, Folly Beach, S.C.

Today's photo is from a recent walk on Folly Beach. Respect the Beach. I do, I do!

It is wild and windy out there, kids! I went out to find out what was flapping in the breeze on my porch and a chair cushion went sailing by.

I have a couple new-to-me blogs to introduce:

Moore on Running: Noah is an old friend of mine. A few years ago I watched him get in shape and transform into a lean, trim, running machine. It looks like he is still at it and coordinating spontaneous group runs. Noah is a very cool gentleman.

Joe's Retirement Blog:  Joe is retired on on the road. For the time being he is in the Charleston area and visiting some of our favorite haunts. Enjoy!

VERT Indigo: I am late to the game but have become a fan of Lisa Shimko's art. This is her art blog. Fun stuff. I want one. A bird, no a panda, no maybe a pink elephant. No prices listed but dreaming is easy.

Gotta go see what mischief Stephen Colbert is up to with the South Carolina Presidential primary. He is going to make some announcement on his show tonight. Y'all batten down the hatches. Don't blow away.

Flying Babies

Read Brothers, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Watch out for flying babies on upper King St. I believe this is one of Phillip Hyman's.

I did my walk past Piggly Wiggly this morning meaning to toss a few things in my backpack only to discover that I left my driver's license and debit cards locked up in my camera bag at work. Ooops. It's going to be a frugal weekend.

Resolve not to....

Planet Follywood, Folly Beach, S.C.

We are NOT giving up Coronas for New Years. That might be an easier way to do resolutions. What are you NOT giving up?

NE India Trip - Hey BRO!

Border Road Organization signs, Arunachal Pradesh, India

We were bouncing on the craziest, dusty rutted road system I could imagine, heading far north into the hills of northeast India when I first smiled at one of the “BRO” signs. Like the old Burma Shave people fondly remember in the US, the BRO signs boasted of the road condition (ghastly), and with a touch of humor urged caution in driving. With quirky typos, grammar and sometimes sexist sayings they encouraged drivers to pay attention, avoid alcohol, gossip and speeding, drive with caution and honk their horns in blind curves. 

I soon realized that Bro wasn't slang but the initials for the Border Road Organization and it tickled me even more that every sign started with the word BRO. I got out a pen and paper but it was hopeless to try to write in the bouncing jeep. My butt was soon numb and as flat as the hard back seat of my brother's '96 Mahindra jeep that we traveled in with three nephews and two little pups we eventually picked up in Tawang. 

The entire state of Arunchal Pradesh seems to be occupied in the business of road construction but there was little evidence of progress. Women dressed in colorful tribal-wear often with babies on their backs and knitting in hand for break time, chipped rocks at the roadside. Occasionally there would be a short stretch of paved road but it was just a tease before clouds of dust poured back in the windows from Army convoys in front of us on the dry dusty road. Indian Army soldiers with rifles waved cheerfully from the back of their trucks at my two year old nephew. Cow, goats and yaks ambled across the road. Diverted highway stretches for roadwork were marked simply – with a boulder in the middle of the closed section. Memorial tributes scattered along the route paid tribute to those who had lost their lives in the construction of the road or who hadn't heeded BRO's wise advice. I mentally designed my memorial stone in case it was needed.

On the mornings that we got an early start we saw the day unfold at the side of the road. People watched us go by as they brushed their teeth, scrubbed and washed clothes at taps and waterfalls. Groups of kids in uniform walked to school and trucks dropped off the road side laborers. Convoys picked up and dropped off soldiers at army bases. Roadside workers enjoyed their picnics and tea breaks. 

The scenery was breathtakingly dramatic. We passed through mountains that reminded me at times of Ireland, the Peruvian Andes, the Rocky mountains and Switzerland as we headed into the foothills of the Himalayas. TATA trucks stormed up the mountains with their professed religious symbols painted on the front. From Christian symbols in Shillong, Hindu in Assam, the trucks heading north soon changed to the Buddhist Om Mani Padma Hum and had solar prayer wheels spinning efficiently on the dash. The back view reminded drivers to honk their horn “HORN DO” and "Use Dipper at Night."

 

You know me, I was in hand-painted sign heaven. Unfortunately most were in spots too dangerous to pull over for photo ops. Some of the others we remembered were:

Don't Gossip. Let him drive. 

Do not rally in the valley. 

For safe arrival, no liquor in driving. 

Leave sooner, drive slower, live longer. 

Life is a journey. Don't let yours end here. 

Check your never on my curve. 

Alert today. Alive tomorrow. 

Kindness is giving the right of way. 

This is not rally or racy; drive with gracy. 

Speed is a knife that cuts life. 

Safety is as simple as ABC. Always Be Careful. 

Wanna enjoy life fully? Drive carefully.