Stray sock

Tellis Pharmacy, King St., Charleston, SC

This is a public service announcement. Someone is missing a sock.

Monday Funny

Ben Sawyer Bridge, Sullivan's Island, SC

Cajun Confession

Boudreaux was feeling guilty, so he went to confession.

"Father, I kinda took a little lumber from that new construction site."

Priest: "What did you do with the lumber, my son?"

Boudreaux: "Well, Father, my porch, she's had a hole for a long time. I'm 'fraid someone will break their leg, so I fix the hole."

Priest: "Well, that's not so bad."

Boudreaux: "Well, Father, I had a little lumber left."

Priest: "What did you do with it?"

Boudreaux: "Well, my poor dog, Phideaux, he ain't never had no place to get outta the weather, so I make him his own little doghouse."

Priest: "OK, anything else?"

Boudreaux: "Well, Father, I had a little lumber left. So you know, my truck, she ain't never had no place to get outta de weather either, so I make her a two car garage."

Priest: "Now, this is getting a little out of hand."

Boudreaux: "Well, Father, I still had a little lumber left."

Priest: "Yes?"

Boudreaux: "Well, my wife, she always want a bigger house. So I add two bedrooms and a new bathroom."

Priest: "OK! That's definitely too much. For your penance, you are going to have to make a Novena. You do know how to make a Novena, don't you?"

Boudreaux: "No, Father... But, if you got the plans, I got the lumber."

Charleston in the News

Chalmers St., Charleston, SC

Charleston has been popping up everywhere in the national press lately and Notoriously Nice Mike tracked down all the articles and links for us:

I hate to mention this to people who don't live here:

Charleston routinely makes travel and style magazines' top-ten lists, or gets nice mentions in national papers like the New York Times or regional magazines like Southern Living, but this week the city got glowing write-ups in two very different, glossy, national rags.

Forbes profiles what we call "historic Charleston" (everything below Calhoun and a little bit above) with emphasis on historic preservation and the exploding culinary scene:

"Charleston today has to be included among the handful of great eating cities in America, and it may be the only one where you can taste a local, close-to-the-ground cuisine being born and defined from plate to plate."

For Gourmet it's mostly about the food. (It's nice to see that my usually forgotten West Ashley gets a mention.) The dek?:

"Beyond the picture postcards, Charleston is a lovely port city that’s fast on its way to becoming a serious food capital."

*It's not that I don't want you to vacation here. It's that I prefer if you don't move here. Metro Charleston is crowded enough as it is. And yes, like you, I'm "from off" but I got here first.

Thanks Mike!

Note: Last year's picture. The Crepe Myrtles aren't in bloom yet.

My new Sweetie

2006 Scion Xa, Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC

Heheh. I took her out for her first photo op. Isn't she a little cutie?

I bought my old car from a 93 year old gentleman after my divorce and I've been driving it for seven years. I am long overdue. I am one of those boring "save money and buy what you can afford" gals. It took a while but she is all mine.

Many thanks to Eungen Hunter at Summerville Ford Mercury. Last time I called about a car he drove it all the way down to my office so I could walk out the door and look at it. It made complete sense to call him this time.

Priceless

Vanderhorst St., Charleston, SC

The natives have been restless lately.

With the nice weather it's tempting to leave my windows open at night to enjoy the fresh air. Unfortunately with my bedroom being at the front of the house I also get to hear every word yelled out by tipsy hoards of college students roaming from party to party. "I Love You Man! I Mean It!"

Yawn.

This gentleman lived across the street for awhile. He had turned to write down his phone number so I could call him before I called the police. Each roommate had the same shirt made especially for their party. Priceless.

Busy Weekends

Spring St., Charleston, SC

Whoops. I missed posting the Easter Bunny picture this year.

I can check a couple of my events off the list after hosting a volunteer recognition luncheon for 130 today at the Charleston Marriott on Lockwood Drive. If you haven't been in there since it was the Sheraton it's time to go back. They invested bucket loads of money into renovating. As long as I can get the banquet room with the doors opening into the courtyard it is a lovely place for an event.

All went well, no major bloopers on all the award certificates, or programs. What a wonderful crowd of people I work with. We must have made a good impression because one of the waiters decided he wanted to come and talk to me about being a hospital volunteer as well.

Then..(drum roll)...I bought a car! I'm tickled pink. I bought an adorable little 2006 Scion Xa with very low mileage and came home feeling like I got a great deal. I've been driving a 1997 Lumina I'd bought from one of my senior volunteers years ago. This is definitely a step in the fun direction.

Foggy Bottoms

Folly Beach, SC

I like fog almost as much as the gaudy blossoms. Presurfer linked to some foggy landscape shots.

Blossoms everywhere!

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC

It's hard to resist posting colorful pictures right now. The lowcountry is a garden.

I'm checking events off my list one after the other. I need to sign over one hundred award certificates before bed for an award luncheon tomorrow. Tea is in order.

Here is a quick smile to make your visit worthwhile. I am off to find a pen that works.

The Broom Game

Whitepoint Gardens, Charleston, SC


Untitled from ze frank on Vimeo.
Official Broom Game Rules & Regs:

The Broom Game is a game in which a player holds a broom over his or her head, spins in a circle 30 times in a row, throws down the broom, and jumps over it.

1) The broom must be gripped with both hands, and with the bristles pointed toward the sky.

2) The player must look up at the bristles of the broom at all times. The player must spin as fast as s/he can

3) Thirty full rotations are required (which is why a second person, the Count or Countess is required). Be sure that the Count does not get tricked into counting seconds instead of rotations. Novice Counts often fall prey to this trap.

4) No matter how many times the player falls, s/he must always resume spinning in the same direction s/he was spinning in before the tumble.

5) There is no valid excuse for stopping short of 30 spins.

Hmmmm. What do you think? Can it be that hard? Let me know if you try it.

Thursday Funny

Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC

A wife begins to get a little worried because her husband has not arrived home
on time from his regular Saturday afternoon golf game. As the hours pass she
becomes more and more concerned until, at 8 p.m., the husband finally pulls into
the driveway.

“What happened?” asked the wife. “You should have been home hours ago!”

“Gus had a heart attack at the third hole,” replied the husband.

“Oh, that’s terrible,” said the wife.

“I know,” the husband answered. “All day long it was, hit the ball, drag Gus,
hit the ball, drag Gus . . . “

Secret Mission

Charleston, SC

My taxes went in the mail on Monday. My accountant puts them together since I have to deal with rent from tenants etc. and he has moved his office to Daniel Island. When I was ready he tried to save me a trip by letting me know that he would be in town for church on Sunday and I could leave them at Second Presbyterian.

I banged on the door of the education building where a janitor was supposed to be working with no luck. A choir member let me in the side door of the empty church and I wandered trying to think of a safe place to leave my taxes. I felt like a spy hiding an envelope and leaving a message telling him where to find them. "Psssst....manila envelope in the church foyer, in the desk, under the crayons."

Luckily he is a regular church goer and was able to drop the completed envelope back on a return visit.

Okay kids. I hope everyone gets a hefty tax refund. I am off to bed. Y'all turn the lights out.

Playing with the big kids toys

SCRUBS "U" Health Careers, Charleston, SC

I'm getting old. Ending the evening with fifty teenagers exploring surgical careers has ended the day with me crashed on my couch. Yawn.

The nurses outdid themselves. They handed out safety glasses and let them use a laser to burn their name into a wooden tongue blade. I was relieved we didn't set off any smoke detectors. They laid out plastic bones and let them practice orthopedic surgery with drills and screws. Pretty cool stuff. It's nice to see kids appreciating the opportunity to learn something they are really interested in.

Monday Blog Hopping

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC

There was a peacock at the high school I went to. Their screeches sound like children being murdered and were the soundtrack to my boredom in classes.

Julia, our lowcountry connection in Prague was there in person to hear President Obama's speech.

Now we are talking hats

Summerwind had her baby. More baby pictures please!

Imabug shows off his coverdogs.

Lost & Found on a grand scale.

Tomorrow.

Waldo led me to Figuring it out at Kitchen Tables. Times are a changin' kids.

Anyone else watching Saving Grace? Naturally I am hooked in time for the season finale.

I've always poured champagne at the Dining with Friends benefit. This year's event will be held at the Maritime Center on May 2nd. Follow the link for more information on hosting a party yourself or join me as a volunteer at the Champagne & Dessert finale. Stop by and say hey if you are there.

UFO Welcome Station

UFO Welcome Center, Bowman, SC

Things are looking pretty sad at the UFO Welcome Station in Bowman, SC. I took the top picture in 2004 and the follow up this afternoon. Most of the fencing is missing, loose sheets of metal blow in the wind and the ramp is at half mast. Jody Pendarvis once gave me the royal tour, lowered the ramp and let me climb the ladder to peak at his private quarters in the upper level space ship. Not everyone can say that they've been in a space ship's private quarters.

I try to circle the block if I happen to be going through Bowman and the situation today looks pretty pitiful. I wonder if Trident United Way would accept it as a Day of Caring project. Do you think Habitat for Humanity would work on a spaceship? Does anyone know if something has happened to Jody or if it simply became too much to keep up?

When the aliens do land they are not going to be happy at the state of the official UFO Welcome Station. It is the only real cool and quirky thing in Bowman. I wish the town would adopt it, maintain it and make it a museum.

Thai Treats in Santee

Thai House, Santee, SC

It's been a heavenly day in South Carolina with bright skies with while billowy clouds. I started off buying fresh tomatoes at the Farmer's Market and ended on a long drive in the country. The lowcountry is a garden of color at this time of year.

We were hungry around Santee and in my continuing campaign to try the green curry at every Thai restaurant in SC we stopped at the Thai House in a little strip mall in Santee. My face must have been so downcast when they said they didn't put eggplant in their green curry that they offered to do it just for me. I can look so very pitiful for a cause. :))

I sat next to the display of framed pictures of past customers (you can see them on the left) and it seemed only fitting to make sure I was included when they expanded their showcase to cover the whole wall. Grandma and Grandpa were visiting from California so they rallied three generations for a group photo, sent out a complimentary Thai pudding treat and packed us off with Thai travel brochures.

Yum, yum!

My Sweet Baby

1965 Caravel Airstream, Charleston, SC

My sweet baby. Yep, she is a vintage 1965 Caravel Airstream and she is mine. She has been tucked away in the woods on the back of my ex-husband's property for years. I'm going to have to do something with her but I haven't told her yet. Ssssshh!

Today was the first time in over five years that anyone has been inside and look how perfect everything is. I took a couple of the curtains home to wash but other than that she was in great shape and just needs a wipe down. When I bought her years ago from an elderly couple I had the seats re-upholstered, sewed curtains and refinished the wood and hinges. The outside skin could use a good polish but shined up nicely going through a car wash today.

I suppose I'll have to sell her eventually since I don't own land or a vehicle to tow her. If anyone has a dream spot on a lake that needs a guest cabin and wants to share her let me know. The canvas chairs and an inflatable canoe are tucked inside the cabinets ready to go. There is a CD player and an electric tea kettle. What more could anyone need? Meanwhile, if I need to sell her, it looks like inflation has hit the Airstream market while she has been in hiding. Wowza.

Friday Funny

King St., Charleston, SC

I snitched this evening's joke from Miss Celliana:

Erchie and Jock, are sitting in the pub discussing Jock's plans for his forthcoming wedding.

"Ach, it's all going grand," says Jock. "I've got everything organised already: the flowers, the church, the cars, the reception, the rings,the minister, even ma stag night..."

Erchie nods approvingly.

"Hivvens, I've even bought a kilt to be married in!" continues Jock.

"A kilt?" exclaims Erchie, "That's braw, you'll look pure smart in that!

"And what's the tartan?" Erchie then enquires.

"Ach," says Jock, "I'd imagine she'll be in white..."

Overworking my Printer

Magnolia Plantation, Charleston, SC

Anyone else notice that now that you can do such nifty things with computers, desk top publishing and great paper products, that you end up doing a lot more work for an event?

I am sure that half the stuff I do people used to simply turn over to a printer. Now I sit at my desk for hours designing flyers, programs, invitations, editing, and churning them out on my printer. Sheeesh.

With Volunteer Week coming up I have one event after another lined up for take off. I have 46 kids coming to learn Surgical careers on Wednesday, co-host a recognition lunch for 130 on Friday, host a luncheon for 120 on Saturday and am sorting through 66 applicants for a health careers summer camp that I only have 44 spots for.

I've been furiously working on invitations, response cards, programs, hundreds of personalized award certificates, name tags etc., etc. I'm scrambling to stay ahead and getting home late every night this week. Did people really used to turn it all over to a printer shop? Sounds kinda dreamy right now.

Star Search - Not

Kiawah Beach, SC

I play talent scout a lot and enjoy it. I suggest folks for photo shoots and on occasion tv spots. I choose interesting characters for profiles in local publications. I get a real kick out of it.

Our health system recently decided to stop buying stock photos for brochures and newsletters and hired a photographer. They use employees as models and often ask me to pick one of my volunteers. Volunteers have posed as patients, grandparents and support group members and we look forward to seeing their pictures in print. I had lined up one of my gentlemen for a photo shoot at Kiawah this afternoon when they said they wanted me in it as well.

Huh?

I work behind the camera not in front of it. This was a whole new game and I enjoyed watching a professional photographer in action and aim to steal as many ideas as I can. It was windy and cold at the beach this afternoon. Photographer Mic Smith patiently tried to get us to smile into blinding sun with sand blowing in our eyes. Our hair was whipped to shreds. If he can get our motley crew to look good for this project he deserves all the credit. I think I can still crunch the sand grit in my teeth.

Meanwhile, not the professional shot here but check out my fancy bonnet. It took both hands to hold it on in the wind. Fun note - I got to pose in a "grandma" shot pushing an adorable little gal on a swing. I think I'll send it to my kids. Heh.

Walk on.....

Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, SC

I did a pretty good job of bribing hospital staff to walk around the campus for National Start! Walking at Work Day. Folks were told they could walk at any time but that certain employee leaders would lead groups at specified times. Our beautiful campus makes it look like they are going for a walk in the woods.

So many of our projects supporting the Heart Association involve ....ahem...unhealthy fundraising practices ranging from selling candy bars, Krispy Kreme Donuts, cupcakes and bake sales, it was nice to be part of an actual healthy event for the cause.

Here is the My Start Online page with lots of helpful features from the American Heart Association for anyone who likes to log their steps or miles.

Yep. I practically had to lay on my belly for the shoe shot.