Make America Kind Again

Sidewalk Graffiti, Charleston, SC 

Make America Kind Again. Don't get me wrong. I see kindness every day but I'm always happy to see more. Carry on! 

Just stopping by to say, Boo!

While I breath, I hope

Dum Spiro Spero, Charleston, SC 

Sooner or later I find everything in the pavement and by this time I thought I had read the streets of Charleston thoroughly. It was a treat to find a new old phrase. Dum Spiro Spero is inscribed on the state seal of South Carolina:

The state seal was the first of South Carolina's state symbols. It was first used in 1777, although it looked different then. At that time, it was two sided, and impressions of the two sides would be put into wax so they could be affixed onto documents. This proved difficult, so eventually the two sides were combined so that they fit next to each other on a one-sided seal, which is what we have now.

The left oval was originally the front of the seal, and it has the first of our two state mottos on it: "Animis Opibusque Parati," which is Latin for "Prepared in Mind and Resources." The picture is of a palmetto tree and represents a battle victory against the British at present-day Fort Moultrie during the Revolutionary War.

The right oval was originally the reverse side of the seal, and it has our second state motto: "Dum Spiro Spero," which is Latin for "While I Breathe, I Hope." The picture on this side of the seal ties in with the motto, because the woman pictured is the Roman goddess Spes, who was the goddess of hope.

Smiley toes!

Wentworth St., Charleston, SC  

I went to a work related farewell party at the Watch restaurant in the Restoration Hotel this afternoon. This is the second rooftop bar/restaurant I have been in recently and it is a treat to see new views of the peninsula. On my way back to my car my tootsies stopped for a smile. 

For Steve

McClellanville, SC   

You know I have the greatest collection of sidewalk inscriptions but this was a first. I slipped away from my outdoor luncheon table, leaving my companions to chat while I took a picture of the poem in the pavement that caught my eye. It turns out I was eating lunch with the poet William P. Baldwin who had written and inscribed the poem in honor of the gentleman who had laid the patio tile before passing away. Sometimes all the pieces come together.

Backtrack here to see more of my collection of concrete thoughts.

Mother's Day finds

Rutledge Ave., Charleston, SC   

In preparation for Mother's Day I am sharing a few related images I have collected over the years. Naturally I always assume that my children left them for me to find. I won't ask them. Why ruin the surprise?

Beleaf it or not

Leaf, Charleston, SC

I may be odd but I find it endlessly fascinating to see what people take the trouble to write in the pavement. You see wet cement, no one is watching, you have a stick or a key, what shall you write?! How shall you leave your mark on this city for years to come.

Leaf. 

Are you brave?

Hampton Park, Charleston, S.C.

Am I brave? I would have said, no, at least not physically brave and yet when I googled Brave Joan I found this lovely picture of me on a Cigar label. If it didn't cost $50, I'd buy it.

As the pavement turns....Valentine's edition

Scraper & Fish, Charleston, S.C.

Short stories in the pavement. As Valentine's Day draws closer I can't help wondering.....

Where are they now? Does Scraper still love Fish? Did Dundee do Jock? Does Andrew bring Heidi back to their piece of pavement on anniversaries? Did Barko and Linko settle down and have little Binkos? Are Chan! & Mike! happy forever? Did "Love No One"? find the love of his life?

Luckily I can turn the corner for another episode of "As the Pavement Turns".

Protecting the Manger Scene

Tradd St., Charleston, S.C.

Oh, I couldn't resist! I haven't really taken the "war on Christmas" crowd seriously and I am sure that isn't what this is about but the the mixed message stopped me in my tracks. They haven't taken their manger scene down yet and it is well protected.

Yay, I found an intact starfish! Most of you find them on the beach but I take what I can get.

I also found a greeting for frequent commenter William Kendall from Ottawa Daily Photo. Put a sweater on before you visit his blog. Things look a little chilly up there. Thanks for all the comments William!

David, I love you!

King St., Charleston, S.C.

David, I love you!

Whoever you are.

Not sure where the cartoon characters fit in but someone loves David and timed their design to be visible last Saturday during the Farmer's Market. In case David slept in and missed it, I am the go between. Someone loves ya David!

I just went to the Gathering Cafe for dinner and had the most delicious bowl of Panang Chicken Curry. I am a very happy lady.

Never Forget

Canon St., Charleston, S.C.

We came, we saw, we left our mark

The 4 Horseman, Charleston, S.C.

We've been winning top tourism awards lately but folks in the know have been coming to Charleston for years and many of them left their name in the pavement. Yep, the 4 Horsemen, Elvis, Jesus, the Godfather, Susan Anthony and Captain Blye. Been here, seen that, scratched my name in the pavement.

Elvis, Charleston, S.C.

Jesus, Charleston, S.C.

The Godfather, Charleston, S.C.

Susan Anthony, Charleston, S.C.

Capt. Blye, Charleston, S.C.

In memory of those who didn't

She Returns From War, King St., Charleston, S.C.

"Let us never forget their service and always be worthy of the sacrifices made in our name."

President Obama

Concrete Thoughts

Hi! Charleston, S.C.

I haven't mentioned it lately but I can boast of one of the finest collections of sidewalk graffiti thanks to the sidewalks of Charleston, S.C. and it's creative inhabitants. Here is a teaser selection from my albums:

Never Forget

Cannon St., Charleston, S.C.

Kindness

Be Kind, Charleston, S.C.

I love this quote from Roger Ebert. "Kindness" covers all my political beliefs." RIP Mr. Ebert.

Concrete Thoughts

I always wanted to do this, Charleston, S.C.

I still have the best collection of sidewalk graffiti but check out this Awesome Wet Cement tumblr and send in your own. They haven't found all of mine yet ;).

In other news, I now have the International Film Channel and may never need to leave this room again.

Funny Hahah

Smile! Charleston, S.C.

I don't do much on Google + but I check in once and a while to see what is going on and always get a laugh from the one liners by Jonco Stl.  He always seems to come up with one I haven't heard before and cracks me up. Here are a few of his recent ones. If you are on Google+, I'd add him to your circles for a daily smile.


I'm convinced the new girl I'm seeing is a transvestite.
I can feel it.

My doctor just said, "Nobody has ever died from a migraine."
So I killed him..

I thought I saw a guy wearing camouflage.
I didn't.

My girlfriend wanted me to buy her a Siamese cat.
My buddy told me that they are really expensive, so I bought 2 normal cats and glued their heads together.

Just been down the hospital to pick up an X-Ray.
He's called "Rachel" now.

I don't know why I even bother having a smartphone.
It spends so much time on the charger, you might as well call it a landline.

Laser eye surgery, what a waste of money. Two weeks and not a single laser fired from either of my eyes.

I've just finished writing a book called "How to delegate."
Well, actually my wife wrote it.
But it was me who told her to.

My wife left me because of my habit of excessive lying.
She didn't leave me.

I finally managed to sell all my old super hero comics...
I feel marvel less.

I'm being taken to court for plagiarism.
But it's just his word against my word...
which he claims is his word.

I hate condescending people.
But, I wouldn't expect you to understand.

Frodo Baggins does Charleston

Frodo B. Baggins, Coming St., Charleston, S.C.

 

"Still round the corner there may wait

A new road or a secret gate;

And though I oft have passed them by,

A day will come at last when I

Shall take the hidden paths that run

West of the Moon, East of the Sun"
Frodo Baggins

Did Frodo have a middle initial?

D