Gobble Wobble - Runners in the Mist

Turkey Day Run, Charleston, S.C.

The annual Turkey Day run is a 32 year old tradition in Charleston now attracting over 5,000 participants, and I walked through the festivities this morning. The fog was heavy enough to make a photographer's heart go pitter patter.

The Turkey Day Run’s mission is to raise money for local charities. Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the run are donated to non-profit organizations in the Charleston area. Additionally, more than $13,000 was donated to the Heroes Fund in 2009. This fund will assist families of First Responders who die or are seriously injured in the line of duty.

I didn't stick around long but more are photos uploading here as I speak: Turkey Day Run

My son and I are going out to eat this evening. It seems unreasonable not to start feasting before then so I have strawberry stuffed french toast and bacon ready for an appetizer brunch. I hope everyone is having a good Thanksgiving. It's hard to explain how grateful I am for all of you, this community of friends who drop by and leave such friendly comments.







Someone has to win!

Rules to Live By

Queen St. Grocery, Charleston, S.C.

Aaaah. A long weekend. Hallelujah. I officially started mine the way the very best way by stopping at the Terrace Theater to see Precious (sniff, sniff) and then decided Zia Taqueria next door passed the "comfortable to eat on my own" test. I had a couple of cheese enchiladas and a celebratory margarita.

Speaking of margaritas, here are Thirteen Rules to Live by from Lists Galore!

• Never give yourself a haircut after three margaritas.


• You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape. If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the tape.


• The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship are, "I apologize" and "you are right."


• Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.


• Never pass up an opportunity to pee.


• If he/she says that you are too good for him/her — believe them.


• Learn to pick your battles; Ask yourself, "Will this matter one year from now?


• How about one month? One week? One day?"


• When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm.


• If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!


• Living well really is the best revenge. Being miserable because of a bad or former relationship just might mean that the other person was right about you.


• Work is good, but it's not that important. Money is nice, but you can't take it, or anything else, with you. Statistics show most people don't live to spend all they saved; Some die even before they retire. Anything we have isn't really ours; we just borrow it while we're here... even our kids.


• Be really good to your family and/or friends. You never know when you are going to need them to empty your bedpan.


• If you are going to be able to look back on something and laugh about it,you may as well laugh about it now.

Author Unknown

Tea time, kids. I hope everyone has a long weekend. I've worked enough holidays, nights and weekends in my life to feel lucky every time I get a holiday weekend off.

Portrait of a Woman without Internet Access

Summerville, S.C.

Me. One week after my internet access went down. I am slowly coming back to life. ;) None too soon. I was looking for my knitting. The needles were rusty.

Bad, Bad Antiques

Hwy 17 South, S.C.

Bad, bad Antiques. Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?

This is another one of those buildings I've passed a hundred times and finally got around to pulling over and getting a picture.

Soooo........I am back online after being in exile for a week. A week! All the old hobbies and crafts I used to do (baking, quilting and painting, oh my!) flashed through my brain. I've read three books, cleaned the frig, tossed bags of old papers and walked for miles.

Each day I did some trouble shooting and then did live chat with Comcast from work. Each day they told me some other silly thing to try and promised it would be working when I got home. I bypassed the router. I exchanged the modem.

Naturally, as it is each time in my experience, the problem was caused by Comcast and there was nothing I could have done about it. In routine maintenance they went down my street, put a filter on and waited for people to bitch about having a problem with their service. Unfortunately when I did bitch they kept suggesting it was my fault. Grrrrrr. Makes me insane to think about it but I am very happy to be back online and looking forward to catching up everyone.

On the Road Again.....

Rockin' Charleston Car & Truck Show, Adams Run, S.C.

I had to add this one from the Car Show this weekend. What can I say? Nothing. The ladies who set the dogs in the little car for my camera actually said, "They have leather jackets but we thought it was too warm for them."

Lordy.

Rockin' Charleston Car & Truck Show

Adams Run, S.C.

Clearly I am not online at home yet. Aaaargh! Picture me pulling out clumps of hair. The latest word from Comcast is that it sounds like an "outside" problem. Naturally I need to dedicate tomorrow afternoon to be home waiting for a technician. Forgive me for not getting around to comment an all your blogs. I brought my lap top to work so I could do some personal business during lunch time.

My friend Mary and her husband sponsored the 2nd Annual Rockin' Charleston Car & Truck Show on Saturday. They have a nice piece of property in Adams Run with a fishing pond. Wow. I was completely amazed at what they pulled off - over 140 registered cars, a band, kids fishing, BBQ, boiled peanuts. It was a grand success. Since she arranges for profits to be donated to the American Heart Association I went out to take some pictures for her and had such a good time.

Anyone can offer an award for a vehicle category so keep it in mind for next year. Offer to make up a plaque and you too can sponsor an award. I may make up the Charleston Daily Photo Most Photogenic Car Award for the next event.

Back to work, kids. Y'all behave while I am in exile.

Bollywood South, Y'all

Darkness to Light Gala, Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

I still have no internet access at home. I'm getting shaky and having withdrawal symptoms. Isn't there a rehab camp for people like me? Comcast suggests again that it might be working when I get home today but I'll believe that when I see it.

Meanwhile, a few pictures from the Circle of Light gala. Marion Square was transformed into a beautiful setting last night. The theme was Bollywood and they went all out with dancers, rickshaws and camels. It was quite an amazing production. This time I lucked out and had actual Indians at my table and Chef Sean Brock whipped up a great dinner behind the curtain for us.

A few more photos here.

Darkness to Light

Over the past seven years, the Circle of Light Gala has raised over 2 million dollars towards Darkness to Light's mission. This national nonprofit organization educates adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. They are now serving communities in 48 states and 9 countries.

Better than a Flu Shot!

Kingstree, S.C.

Two entries today since I missed a few and had to deal with sarcastic messages about Charleston Weekly Photo on my voice mail. (Ha!) I love this quaint little tire shop. I made the driver of the car I was in circle the block a couple of times to get a shot. It's lost some of it's charm the last time I saw it so glad I got a picture when I did.

Bonus joke for flu season:

Better than a Flu Shot!
Miss Beatrice, the church organist, was in her eighties and had never been married. She was admired for her sweetness and kindness to all. One afternoon the pastor came to call on her and she showed him into her quaint sitting room. She invited him to have a seat while she prepared tea.

As he sat facing her old Hammond organ, the young minister noticed a cute glass bowl sitting on top of it. The bowl was filled with water, and in the water floated, of all things, a condom!

When she returned with tea and scones, they began to chat. The pastor tried to stifle his curiosity about the bowl of water and its strange floater, but soon it got the better of him and he could no longer resist.

'I wonder if you would tell me about this?' pointing to the bowl.

'Oh, yes,' she replied, 'Isn't it wonderful? I was walking through the park a few months ago and I found this little package on the ground. The directions said to place it on the organ, keep it wet and that it would prevent the spread of disease. Do you know I haven't had the flu all winter.'

Computer Problems

Wedding Favors, Poplar Grove, S.C.

Does it look like I went to a Lowcountry Wedding? I did! The wedding favors at Jimihatt and Angel's wedding were Moonpies and peanuts. How perfect is that? Jimihatt is the brains behind the underground dinner club - Guerilla Cuisine.

Miss me? I am in computer hell, kids. Can't get online. Sick of trouble shooting. I've resorted to reading books that are actually printed on paper. Flip, flip. I'm plunking my modem down on the counter at the comcast office tomorrow so wish me luck.

She Sells Seashells.....

Charleston, S.C.

She sells seashells by the seashore.
The shells she sells are surely seashells.
So if she sells shells on the seashore,
I'm sure she sells seashore shells.

This little shell gal was a tempting silent auction item at the 2009 AIDS Walk event yesterday. The minimum bid was a bit above my Saturday morning walk in the park budget but she was a sweetie.

Balancing Act

Hampton Park, Charleston, S.C.

Site specific art or vandalism? I suspect the later, but it is quite a balancing act.

AIDS Walk - Hampton Park

AIDS Walk, Hampton Park, Charleston, S.C.

I like uploading and posting pictures while the event is still going on and this time it probably is! I went early to catch them setting up for the AIDS Walk at Hampton Park.

They had a silent auction, vendor tables, kids activities etc. but as always lately the adorable dogs stole the show. What would happen if we simply had a "Dog Walk"?

More photos uploading here: AIDS Walk 2009, Congratulations to Ashley Redmond and her gang at the Ryan White Program for throwing a successful first event.

Chapel in the Swamp

Cypress Gardens, Moncks Corner, S.C.

I recently visited in the home of an art student who showed me a drawing of this chapel in her sketch book. Drawn from a photograph, she had never seen the actual scene or had any idea where it was. I remember the first time I walked into Cypress Gardens and thought, "What the heck! What is a stone chapel doing in the middle of the swamp!?"

It didn't belong there, of course and it isn't there any longer. It was a fake chapel built of polystyrene, as part of the film set for The Patriot, starring Mel Gibson. One reference says it finally collapsed during a wind storm in 2006.

Cypress Gardens was also used to film the Notebook. I sat up straight in my chair when the movie screen showed the familiar black swamp full of swans. Too weird. SCIWay had this story about the swans:

The lake scene with swans was shot at Cypress Gardens. The animals weren't native to the area, so they were imported and trained 1 month prior to the shoot so they would learn to follow boats and appear on screen as the director wanted. This all had to be done around the month of January so that filming could take place when the resident alligators were hibernating.

It's a beautiful spot. I've featured pictures of the gardens in spring time, boating on the swamp, the bottle tree and the secret graveyard in the woods. All this is to say, I will be busy on Saturday but the Google Data Center is holding a Community Day and you might want to go.

November 14th Community Benefit Event Set for Cypress Gardens
Proceeds will be donated to The Supporters of Historical Cypress Gardens

The Supporters of Historical Cypress Gardens and Google, Inc. will team up to host a Community Benefit Event on Saturday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Romans are coming, the Romans are coming!

Ghivens Ferry State Park, Ridgeville, S.C.

I won't make it there this year but in case you can, here is the scoop.

Castra Romana VIII
Givhans Ferry State Park,746 Givhans Ferry Road, Ridgeville, South Carolina 29472
Park Phone Number: (843) 873-0692
Please Note: Best time for the public to attend is Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.Public Demonstrations Saturday, 14 Nov.
Participants Onsite Nov 13-15 2009

You must admit you don't get invited to a Roman Encampment every day. When I heard there was a Roman Encampment last year I couldn't not go. I had just hiked across England following Emperor Hadrian's wall wearing a Roman helmet and had to see it for myself. I was warmly welcomed and it turned out one of the participants was a surgical nurse at the hospital. Always nice to have a nurse where there is swordplay, eh!

Here are a few other shots from last year to tempt you.

Wednesday Hodge Podge

J & W Grocery Store, Pitt St., Charleston, S.C.

We still have a few nice neighborhood grocery stores in Charleston.

How am I to bring you pictures if I go to work before the sun comes up and come home long after dark? Hmmmmph. Long rainy day. I ended it at the new Hampton Inn by Costco, where the American Heart Association was holding their final recognition event. I did take pictures there of course.

It's been a successful year for my pet cause. The funny moment was when Dr. Sock Monkey got an award certificate for fund raising since I entered him as a participant. He'll get to pick out a little sumthin', sumthin' for his efforts.

Meanwhile a couple of links to entertain you and I am off to get a hot cuppa tea.

Hilarious & Crazy Signage.

South Carolina Nature Journaling

See through, light transmitting concrete. Tell me that isn't cool.

Thinking of Cremation?

Lowcountry Windmill

Windmill at Riverland Terrace, Charleston, S.C.

The windmill at the end of Plymouth Rd. in Riverland Terrace finds it's home in the Quirky, SC file. I spent my free afternoon seeing Coco, Before Chanel at the Terrace Theater and then walked down to the water. I never tire of revisiting these sweet spots.

Charleston Magazine features fourteen Unique, Buzz-Worthy, Intriguing personalities and invites you to chose the fifteenth. Do you know an intriguing local personality? Submit their name here.

Back to work in the morning. My ninety six year old volunteer called to check on me. He said he'd worked with me for ten years and couldn't recall me taking a sick day before. I keep explaining that I'm not really sick but we are discouraged from coughing and sneezing all over a hospital these days. Achoo!

Drip, drip...

Charleston, S.C.

Everything is dripping today. The sky, my nose.....

I took one more day off since I still sound so congested. Tomorrow I have to go to work so perhaps I'll just put a Quarantine sign on my door and get a lot done.

My gift for you today is a link to a self guided Charleston walking tour. This one is on a real estate page but it looks pretty good. You can print it out and tuck it in your pocket next time you are walking the historic district.

Walking Historic Downtown Charleston

Bringing out the best in kids

West Ashley Optimist's Club, Bessinger's BBQ, Savannah Hwy, Charleston, S.C.

Every year at this time I make you recite the Optimist's Creed. All together now:

The Optimist Creed
Promise Yourself
To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.
To make all your friends feel that there is something in them.
To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.
To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.
To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

The Optimist's Club Mission is to:
Mission Statement
By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids.

How charming is that? If it didn't require meetings, I swear I'd join myself. Each year they have a Community Service Recognition Ceremony and I am allowed to nominate a couple of teenage volunteers. I broke my self imposed quarantine (head cold) to go to Bessinger's BBQ and proudly introduce my students. These kids represent service work done in hospitals, parks and the aquarium etc. Congratulations!

One of my favorite things about this picture is that each of them is trying to make eye contact with parents. Love that!

The only fund raising project of the West Ashley Optimist's Club is selling Christmas Trees on Playground Road each year. Make a note of it! I wouldn't get my tree anywhere else.

Grave Humor

Bethany Cemetery, Cunnington Ave., Charleston, S.C.

I feel very wicked posting during the day on a weekday. I still sound congested with a head cold and people are so paranoid about catching anything that I slipped into my office to make sure the day was in order, made a few calls, did payroll, put a sign on my door and came home. Normally I'd work through this but these are funny times so I have an unexpected free day!

Here is a cemetery joke to celebrate:

An old man was on his death bed, and wanted to be buried with his money. He called his priest, his doctor and his lawyer to his bedside. "Here's $30,000 cash to be held by each of you. I trust you to put this in my coffin when I die so I can take all my money with me."

At the funeral, each man put an envelope in the coffin. Riding away in a limousine, the priest suddenly broke into tears and confessed, "I only put $20,000 into the envelope because I needed $10,000 to repair the roof of the church."

"Well, since we're confiding in each other," said the doctor, "I only put $10,000 in the envelope because we needed a new X-ray machine for the pediatrics ward at the hospital which cost $20,000."

The lawyer was aghast. "I'm ashamed of both of you," he exclaimed. "I want it known that when I put my envelope in that coffin, I enclosed a check for the full $30,000."

Bethany Cemetery is a lovely spot. If you head up Meeting St., turn right after the railroad (just past Santi's). It is on the right before Magnolia Cemetery.

Quiet afternoon at the Clubhouse

Joanna, S.C.

I was going through an old "backroads South Carolina" album thinking of doing a "guess what small town?" feature when I came on this one. Heheh. Aren't I the lucky girl? I'm sure it was just quiet because it was on a Sunday, right?

Looking to fritter away a couple hours on the coolest links? Visit Ample Sanity. I don't know how she finds them all.

Fun Charleston Blog: Caroline in the City.

Wildstorm has been taking some beautiful pictures.

I am off to bed. My throat is feeling scratchy so I am going to go to sleep and pretend it isn't. Thank you all for your kind comments.