chuckography

Looking Back......

2012-02-02T12:09:00.010-05:00

The next posting will be my 500th.

Giving a lot of thought to that blogging milestone.

While this one touches on long ago memories, I believe the next should be looking forward.

Tougher to come up with pictures of that.

Here's the Boyd Boys, the terrors of Ansonborough. Well, at least on our corner of Society Street.

My older brother Jerry at this time was still my taller brother.

My younger brother Dennis has just celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary.

He asked me to be his Best Man at their renewal of vows ceremony.

My Mom flew out from Charleston for my graduation from the University of San Diego in 1968.

She and my wife Judy grinned along with the new grad.

I had worked for 7 years with the San Diego Union-Tribune newspapers.

Next I would join CBS Television News and cover the Charles Manson trial for four months.

Moving to Los Angeles found me leaving news and getting into tour and travel.

Universal Studios Tours was followed by 7 years with the Southern California Visitors Council to promote year 'round travel to the state.

I moved to the midwest and, after several years of promoting Kansas City, I was selected to head the Missouri Division of Tourism.

It was neat wearing a suit with a vest all the time.

My kids described a vest as "my extra pockets."

I eventually "got called up to the tourism majors" and moved to Tallahassee.

Being with the Florida Tourism Division was the culmination of my travel industry experience.

I came back to my hometown, look after my 95-year old mother and retired from The Post and Courier newspaper.

My youngest child just had her first baby so I think that's the "future" look I'll concentrate in my next blog posting.

I DO have a lot of pictures of little 4-month old Aiden.

(Click on the pictures to see more detail.)

Some are small, older files so they may not enlarge.

Next month also marks my 6th year of being a blogger. The number of hits has slowly risen and January showed 3,000+ pageloads.

That's the highest monthly total so far.

Taking Liberty With A Meeting.....

2012-01-28T13:14:00.010-05:00

I retired from The Post and Courier newspaper about 71/2 years ago.

Shortly after my last days working down on Columbus Street, I was invited to join a group of other retirees at a quarterly luncheon. They had been doing this for years.

My first time was at Ryan's in West Ashley and there was a nice group of men, many of whom I recognized. Lots of food. Good company.

Looking around, I asked if no ladies had ever retired from the paper and was told they had a "ladies only" group.

About a year later, I was informed the quarterly gathering had moved to East Cooper to the The Point Sports Bar & Grill next to the Shrine on Patriot's Point.

Somehow during the next several years I must have missed a meeting. Now I was in charge of setting them up every three months.

Rule of thumb: don't ever miss a meeting.

At last October's lunch, we were told the restaurant would be closing so we started looking around for a new site. We had several months to check for a good one.

The Liberty Tap Room (formerly TBonz) in Mt. Pleasant was the choice and looks like we'll be happy there.

I worked with Kelly to book the space and she said we'd have the downstairs Raw Bar as a private room.

Didn't really know how many would show up (I taped a note with directions to the front door of the closed restaurant we had been using).

The General Manager James Romano was kind enough to have tables moved around so we would be clustered together for easier conversation. Our server was Chris who did a fine job.

That's really why we gather ..to reminisce and find out what's been going on with each other. And to enjoy a great lunch.

It was a beautiful sunny Friday and the turnout was above average. Several wives came along and sat together for lunch in the main restaurant.

I had e-mailed the meeting announcement - with directions to the new site - to about 25 members and sent postcards to the other 60 members.

Computer usage is not common across the board.

A few years ago we changed the name to THE 134 GANG.

That was the street address for the paper when it was on Meeting Street for many years and the number selected when it moved to Columbus Street.

The Gang has a new hangout.

(Click on the photos - twice - for more detail.)

This is the 498th posting on my blog and I'm starting to focus on the 500th.

The first posting was March 2006.

Double Your Fun ....

2012-01-25T11:34:00.011-05:00

So, I'm running classified ads in my paper and they produce lots of responses.

For example, I'm offering my older computer monitor for sale after I moved up in size.

But I'm hearing ridiculously LOW offers. Yikes.

Wait a minute, isn't there a way to connect TWO monitors to my computer? How hard could that be?

Then I could slide all those pesky (but necessary) icons over to the smaller screen and leave the BIG screen free for BIG images.

Be easier to read text too.

And, speaking of enjoying more screen time, the new 60-inch television makes watching football more exciting.

Looks like one of us is missing a helmet??

Actually only the cat sits this close to the screen.

And, usually only for football.

The picture is so big and so crisp, you pick up your camera to capture a moment.

Digital and High Definition were made for each other.

Craig Ferguson of the CBS Late, Late Show went to Paris a while back and did a low budget week of segments.

This week's reruns gave me a chance to snap a shot of his robot skeleton side-kick in a suit.

Geoff Peterson has on a beret. And wearing pants.

The usually austere show pulled out all the stops with music, dancers and hand puppets to promote the series of overseas shows.

The hoopla is appropriate for the Peabody Award-winning late night talk show hosted by the Scottish-American comedian.

He debuted 7 years ago and it was announced that when David Letterman retired, Craig would move into that earlier slot.

We'll see.

The white bunny's comment was "Ooh La La."

Up On The Roof.....

2012-01-22T16:27:00.013-05:00

The concept was simple: get up high and look around.

Bring your camera and join up with some fellow photographers.

Shoot pictures from the top of a downtown parking garage.

There are several so we announced we would start down by the harbor on the Cumberland at Concord parkade.

Oops.

We learned there are TWO garages by Waterfront Park.

After a while, all the Photo Group members found each other.

Rain was predicted but the dramatic clouds enhanced the photo walk.

Eventually 23 camera-toters were part of the evening program.

This outing will no doubt be repeated because not all the "high spots" were sampled this time.

Once you get up high and enjoy the change of angle, you look toward other rooftops to explore.

We could see the gas space heaters blazing away at GRILL 225 Rooftop Bar, so some roamed over there.

Three of us - with cameras and tripods - tried to blend in as we casually sauntered through the lobby and rode up in the elevator. We peeled off our blue name badges.

What a GREAT place to view down the entire length of the renovated Market.

The fiery flaming gas heaters were complemented by tall plexiglass panels
that made it comfortable for outdoor dining.

The food aromas were very enticing as we pressed close to the panels to avoid reflections.

We were far down at the end, away from the diners, and I doubt if we were even noticed.

I glanced down and saw the former Seaman's Chapel that now is Mad River.

We agreed it was time to take a break and have some food.

Through the use of cell phones, word was spread.

We pulled several tables together as other photographers joined us.

I left after a cold beer and a super Reuben sandwich with fries. A darned good guitarist was playing.

I learned we had missed a quick rain that had passed through while we were munching and sharing digital photos.
The group continued on to another parkade and have posted some beautiful pictures.

(Click on the photos to see more details.)

Eugene, co-coordinator of the Photo Group, said the idea of shooting from the parkades "just popped into my head."

I told him that the year I lived in Minnesota, I had heard the Twin Cities call their parking structures "Ramps."

Next time you're parking downtown, take your camera and head up to the top and look around.

It's quite a view.

Order a Moosehead?

2012-01-21T10:16:00.012-05:00

Does anyone remember the reference to the Bull Moose Party?

Don't know why I happened to think of that as I sipped a beer last night in the "neck" area of peninsula Charleston.

I was in the Tattooed Moose, a place that's becoming a Must Stop bar on my way home from downtown.I ordered a 400 Pound Monkey, brewed by Left Hand.

They have a loyalty program that sounds interesting: win prizes by drinking 100 beers there.

A fellow next to me was jotting something on an official looking card.

"Only 67 more to go," he answered when I asked if this was the 100 Club or whatever it's called.

I commented a person could take a few days off from work and run through a hundred and be awarded a brass plaque on the wall.

Right now there were only five top prizes.

As I looked around I noticed the well-worn wooden beer cooler.

Man, if that thing could talk!

Several people walked into the picture while I was taking a 15-second exposure.

None would register though unless they stopped and stood still for a few seconds.

It was a busy, crowded Friday evening so no staffer was standing still that long.

I had skipped the recent celebration when Guy Fieri of the Food network showed a 8-minute segment of the Moose on his DDD (Diners, Drive-ins & Dives) tv show.

Of course, I tuned in at home and raised a beer toast.

Jen and Mike Kulicks, the owners, said it was a gala evening.

They have a souvenir of Guy's visit spray-painted above the wooden beer cooler.

(Click twice on the pictures to see more detail.)

To take a 15-second photo, the camera MUST be sitting on a flat surface and kept still. You can NOT hand hold it.

If I had joined the Beer Club, I would have only 99 to go.

Should I Save This For Halloween?

2012-01-17T20:17:00.008-05:00

I had just read something online about making pictures called "Horse Maning."

You know, a horse's mane?

Online that's what they called it and I looked up the term a bit more.

It refers to the Headless Horseman and actually was a popular photo theme in the 1920s.

That was about 100 years after Washington Irving wrote the Legend of Sleepy Hollow tale.

This setup was posed at the end of our January Photo Group meeting.

I had mentioned the term earlier and received only quizzical looks in response.

The other term we bantered around was "Planking."

I don't think we got that one right, according to the official rules of how to plank.

Kevin did it properly. He had his arms pinned to his side and his entire body was stiff as a board.

I was thinking of it more as a levitation picture and my Photoshop work needs more work.

My intent was making what he was lying on disappear. Not quite.

No sense trying it again though.

Online it says that photo fad has come and gone.

(Click twice on the photo to make them appear larger.)

This shows how we arranged one body to be holding aloft the head of another person.

No one was injured in the making of this photo.

No heads were lopped off.

Remember Candy Cigarettes?

2012-01-16T10:26:00.007-05:00

Here's a sight you don't see too often nowadays.

Well, maybe in North Charleston.

A diner with a cigarette in his/her mouth is fading from the scene.

A person with a CANDY cigarette is even more rare.

Yes, I added the "glowing" red tip at the end.

It's how I remember them when I was growing up.

This friend, and member of my photo group. was surprised on his 50th birthday with a dinner at the Texas Roadhouse across from the K Mart at Otranto.

I had not been there before.

It was a delightful, raucous, noisy, fun-filled evening with some good steaks.

The "Gag Gift" bag had the candy smokes, candy dots on strips of paper, vintage candy bars, a bottled soft drink and other items from the 1960s.

Didn't see if there were any tiny wax bottles with a sweet liquid inside.

There was a presentation of a small Sock Monkey puppet to the birthday boy.

Several others appeared and Sock Monkey Business ensued, each trying to outdo the others in outrageous poses.

Oh my.

As I looked around the table, almost everybody was snapping pictures.

That's expected from a group of photographers.

But there were only three cameras.

The rest were "cell phones" that also took pictures.

I held my camera up to my ear and said "Can you hear me now?"

On the way out I stopped to take a picture of a colorful restored jukebox.

Nice touch, and very appropriate for a 50th birthday celebration.

(Click - twice - on the photos to see more detail.)

Didn't use any Photoshop this time, except for adding the "fire" on the end of the Candy Camel.

At this place, they call the bread just "toast."

One (Semi) Giant Leap....

2012-01-14T08:57:00.006-05:00

To travel in space is to leave Earth.

Blasting off on a Shuttle Mission would require trained Astronauts and a huge support team.

Those fellows who landed - and walked - on the moon rightfully claimed a "giant leap for mankind."

The flag and the Lunar Rover they drove are still sitting up there on the lunar surface.

They left the keys in the ignition, I understand.

That pesky GRAVITY makes it extremely hard to jump high enough to "leave" earth.

My photo group recently was on a downtown Photo Walk and I suggested we experiment with levitation.

Several of us would pose, crouch and count down "3-2-1" and then jump as high as we could.

The others in the group - with cameras set at a fast shutter speed - clicked rapidly to record our momentary elevation above the ground.

It was a fun experience and created some interesting digital results.

None of us made it very far up into the sky.

On my way to dinner the other night, I saw an old picnic table next to a brick wall.

I handed my camera to a friend and showed him the area I wanted to include.

We waited until several passersby had passed by and then I stood on the bench seat of the table.

I posed as if I were airborne and he snapped the shutter.

Later, using Photoshop, I "removed" the outdoor bench and table by covering it over with a clone of the bricks.

I am keeping an eye out for something much, much higher for my next launch into space.

(Click - twice- on the photos to see more details.

Look closely at the bricks beneath me.

The next "leap" will have to be spectacular!

In China, It's Called Just "Food."

2012-01-10T17:45:00.015-05:00

New to Charleston - and Mt. Pleasant - P.F. Chang's opened a few months ago in Towne Centre.

Not Chinese food. It's called a "China Bistro."

There's been one in Myrtle Beach for quite a while.

One of their two trademark guard horses overlooks Highway 17 and the other, the parking lot.

The bartender I talked to said the use of brick and wood was done to reflect the Lowcountry feeling.

"Each Bistro has a distinctive mural," she added.

The main dining room has a 5-panel mural that looked to me sort of like an oak tree.

That certainly would work here.

But, instead of having leaves, it appears to bear cherry blossoms?

Then I noticed that the bar is a pass-through design. There are stools for service outside as well as tables.

A nice covered open air patio is equipped with gas heaters and shades that pull down when it's bright and sunny.

> Somebody obviously studied our weather before they built this place.

I didn't try the food this time. I had bought some in a grocery and had it in my freezer at home.

Just stopped in for a beer and saw they had a nice tasty stout on tap.

(Click - twice - on the photos to see more detail.)

I saw ours listed on their web page as a recent opening along with a new Bistro in
Grand Rapids, MI, Providence, RI and Dulles, VA.

Bet none of them has a year 'round open air bar and patio.

Gotta love our Lowcountry!

Now I Need A Coffee Table...

2012-01-07T22:58:00.019-05:00

I just created a 30-page Coffee Table book.

The 9" x 12" hard cover book is filled with colorful photos I've taken with my small digital camera - a Canon S90 - at concerts, music venues and Blues Festivals.I don't own a SLR (Single Lens Reflex).

This is really slick looking!

An online company called MyPublisher makes it easy and simple to do.

I was able to self-publish it in just a few days so you KNOW it can't be too complicated.
I was surprised that it wasn't very expensive either.

One of the members of my local photography group brought a beautiful one to a meeting a few years ago.

We passed it around and were impressed with the quality of his book.

His wife had tapped into his photo files and blew him away with the surprise Christmas present.

In fact, he told us, she did a 2 for the price of 1 deal and he sent the other one to his son.

I downloaded the free software and then gathered together the pictures I wanted to include in my first book.

There are many page layouts just a click away.

You can easily change your mind, enlarge or shrink the photos and choose to use captions or not.

I decided to have text only on the cover and on the spine.

My photos include a 2-page spread of a Paul McCartney concert in Charlotte.

There's a shot of me holding a ticket to a 1965 Beatles concert in San Diego.

Other music venues include the Pour House in West Ashley, the Music Farm, North Charleston Performing Arts Center, the Tin Roof, Home Team BBQ, Windjammer, the old Dough Re Mi and the Charleston Music Hall.

Trombone Shorty is on the cover, joyfully performing at the College of Charleston Cistern.

John Mellencamp is onstage in Columbia, as is Billy Joel and James Taylor...in three separate shows.

I was front row center for a ZZ TOP show and have an extreme close up of one of the two long-bearded guitar players.

The trio's drummer is clean shaved but his name is Frank Beard.

(Click on the photos - twice - for more details.)

Take a moment to see what kind of book you can make with MyPublisher.

They have various special offers and I think you'll be pleased with the possibilities to be creative.

I'm planning a sequel.

A REVOLUTIONARY kinda town....

2012-01-06T09:14:00.012-05:00

Remember! This is a sea port so a "typical" breakfast here should contain seafood.

This is no Grand Slam that you can get anywhere.

This is a cheese and crab (lump and claw) omelet.

With a side of creamy grits.

I skipped the biscuit at the Marina Restaurant for an English muffin. It seemed tasty and appropriate.

My morning had started down in the historic district at
The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon where I gave a photo presentation.

The owners of the building are the South Carolina Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Better known as the D.A.R.

The Fort Sullivan Chapter started their meeting after some socializing and inducted several new members before I was introduced as the morning guest speaker.

My topic was CHUCKOGRAPHY and how taking pictures has been entwined through all my life. Well, so far.

I mean, I'm still living it.

Grew up about 10 blocks away on Society Street in Ansonborough and my first picture shows my dad and his older brother, holding a bike.

It was probably taken in the 1920s.

The next shot is my grandmother standing on the Cooper River bridge when it was still under construction.

I have good photo files.

Early Kodak Box Brownie photos of me in grade school, as a high school photographer and a Marine Corps Combat Photographer 1957-1960 followed.

That led to a photography scholarship at the University of San Diego and becoming a staff photographer for the Union-Tribune newspapers there. And so on.

My folks always told us were related (six "grands") to Charles Cotesworth Pinckney.

I felt right at home with this group.

We might even be related.

(Click -twice- on the photo for more details.)

If you have not taken a tour yet of The Old Exchange, please do so.

It's a direct link to Charleston's roots way, way before the Civil War.

Thanks for stopping by. Please come again and join me on making an historic tour.

Light Up The Sky.

2012-01-03T09:40:00.006-05:00

Be sure to click on the link to enjoy the London New Year's Eve fireworks show. WOW!

It's like having a spectacular finale all the way through the booming, flashing and intricate 11-minute aerial celebration.

Last time I saw something that memorable was an indoor display at the Paul McCartney concert up in Charlotte. Indoors!

The Chinese really started something with that gunpowder thing didn't they?

I stood for several minutes on my front porch Saturday at midnight, watching MUCH smaller explosive displays in my portion of the sky.

I know that fireworks are banned in my little town of Hanahan yet, scant yards away, over the boundary into North Charleston, sale and use of such dangerous - but beautiful sights - are legal.

My older daughter is a police officer in northern California and says her real worry is people firing guns into the air.

A falling bullet coming back down is moving as fast as when it was fired.

One particular nearby celebrant had apparently paid big bucks for big booms. He/she set off a steady barrage of chest-thumping aerial bursts.

One after another, a long, long light show tore into the sky, sending colorful fragments screaming through the night.

As we remarked on the fiery display, a Hanahan police car - with its lights turned off - quietly coasted by and made the turn at the corner, heading up to the source of the rockets.

The loud and bright shots continued to soar skyward so I assume the yard of the launching pad was across the city limits line and my local lawmen had to sit and watch the show.

(Click on the photo - twice - for more details.)

Indoor pyrotechnics are startling. In the 5th row, I heard the booms, saw the flash and felt the heat. Yikes.

Something new under the sun...

2011-12-31T11:46:00.009-05:00

I think the image on your computer monitor is called "wallpaper."

I know a "screen saver" changes images quickly.

But wallpaper is a single photo you usually select to display constantly.

This is a nice soothing picture and I like it.

It's part of a theme called "OCEAN" from Google/Chrome/G Mail..Whatever it's called.

It changes throughout the day based on my ZIP code.

Which tells it what time zone I am in.

As the sun moves across the sky, the screen reflects different times of the day.

I grew up in coastal Charleston and lived in Coastal San Diego for 10 years.

I have seen the sun rise in the ocean and set in the ocean. On my left and on my right.

Now I can experience that on my computer monitor.

I don't think it factors in the end of Daylight Savings.

(Click on the photos - twice - for more details.)

I went out for a few hours the first day this was displayed.

When I got back, I saw the scene also had had several hours pass while I was gone.

That's pretty slick.

A VERY wet day....

2011-12-28T11:42:00.015-05:00

Standing in line at the South Carolina Aquarium could have been soggy.

My out-of-town relatives were weather prepared.

A friendly staff person was handing out loaner umbrellas to make sure ALL were kept dry.

My younger brother and his wife had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary the day before.

Family had arrived from Florida and North Carolina to share their day.

I was invited to tag along with these visitors.

Well, yes, of course I brought my camera.

I haven't spent much time lately around youngsters.

They sure add excitement to any adventure.

Being short they do not hesitate to manuever their way to the front of a crowd.

They want to see.

So, they go to where they can.

Charlie and Kelly, their parents, said it had been several years since they had been to the Aquarium.

The little girls had been told they were going to see the James Island Festival of Lights that evening.

I suggested they might want to explore the Fire Museum near Tanger Outlet Stores.

They were standing in front of me looking at the jelly fish.

They said they were beautiful.

They were right.

They pressed their noses against the thick plexiglass looking at the cavorting otters.

Enjoyed close up looks at tiny alligators and turtles.

The younger child "Izzi" said she liked the otters the best.

Her sister Karlie said the sharks were awesome.

I don't think they even saw the small waterfall in the MOUNTAINS exhibit.

They had eyes only for the critters.

Water drips down even on a sunny day so I was shielding my camera from the elements. Got the shot I wanted.

A slow shutter speed makes the water appear to flow smoothly.

I was asked to suggest a place for lunch.

Joe Pasta met with approval from everyone.

Been there many times in the evening before shows at the Music Farm or Charleston Music Hall.

Had not been there for lunch but was aware that it was family-friendly and the server did a fine job.

He apologized that the 4-year old had been served an adult-size meal.

He said it would be charged at the kid's menu price.

She started with a fork but soon Izzi "took things into her own hands."

(Click on the photos - twice - to see more details.)

Looking around, as the sun came out brightly, I saw quite a few families with children.

Most were using forks - but not all.

To New Heights....

2011-12-26T11:39:00.010-05:00

We've all seen those roll around tall ladders in stores.

You know, the staff pushes them where they want them then uses a foot pedal to lock them in place.

Not so much a ladder as a rolling set of stairs.

Not a cherry-picker or a lift bucket like you see outside used by tree trimmers..

Not the complicated looking X shaped scissor-like contraption.

Anyway, I was in Mt. Pleasant at the new BOTTLES wine and beer store.

Talking with one of the owners, I noticed a nearby "stair ladder" and asked if I could climb up and take a picture?

He said "Sure, just be careful."

About a month ago, just after they opened the "not-so-big-box" spirits superstore, I had looked up and snapped a picture of the interesting chalk mural at the back of the store.

A little bit distorted from below.

Now I was on an equal level. It was a nice sturdy shooting platform.

The large drawing is at the end of an aisle marked "Local Brews."

Hmm. I saw Holy City Brewing Company drawn in chalk. I had had some of their tasty Pluff Mud Porter at several places around town. Here it was available at the Growler Filling Station in the center of the store.

The Palmetto name is familiar. I had learned it was Charleston's oldest beer maker when I toured the downtown facility.

The newest - and swankiest - brewer would be Westbrook not that far away right there in East Cooper.

They had just started selling their beer in 6-packs of cans and Palmetto was in bottles.

As I carefully climbed back down, I realized there was a fourth "local" that was missing from the mural. In fact, it wasn't for sale in the store at all.

Must be a story behind that I thought as I had my growler bottle filled and sealed.

Too bad.

(Click on the photos for more detail.)

I was surprised it had taken so long for a BIG wine and beer store to open in Mt. Pleasant.

Glad these fellows decided to do it.

I know I'll be back.

Might even climb up high for another overview.

Carefully of course.

Musical Ambassador ....

2011-12-23T21:57:00.008-05:00

Clay Ross is an Ambassador of Jazz.

No, he really is.

He has that title from the State Department.

He's a talented young man from Anderson, SC who has made a name for himself on the music scene.

Clay blends Brazilian folk with American Bluegrass and wraps it all together in a jazzy package.

Clay brought his 6-man band to the Pour House last Tuesday and had the place jumpin'.

Many here remember him from Gradual Lean as he honed his jazz chops.

Then he headed up to New York, traveled back and forth to Brazil and created a sound and style he calls Mantuto.

Ze Mauricio was the Percussionist who played everything in sight to make amazing sounds.

Edward Perez was on bass (with cowbells?!) and Richie Barshay was excellent on drums.

Rob Curto on accordian and Rob Hecht on fiddle held center stage with Clay for a glorious evening.

The second set began with a quiet salute to Jack McCray who died last month.

Jack was the founder in 2008 of the JAC, Jazz Artists of Charleston and a close friend of Clay.

"We'd meet for brunch at Joesph's and he always asked me to play 'Melancholy Baby.'"

"I never did so this one's for you Jack."

(Click on the pictures to see more detail.)

The sound - as usual - was just perfect. Not easy to do with the varied percussion instruments, balanced with strings.

Clay made a point to walk around and chat briefly with everyone in the place during the intermission. Have not seen that before.

Nice guy. Very ambassadorial.

My short "Stax of wax"

2011-12-19T21:18:00.014-05:00

It started as a project to convert the music on a 12" LP (Long Play) record to a CD.

An album I really liked was NOT available online as an Mp3 so I needed to do it myself.

My turntable had not been used in years. I blew off dust and saw the only speeds were 331/3 and 45.

My folks had a pile of old 78s downstairs but I had no way to listen to them.

My small collection seemed centered in the early to mid-sixties.

I recently took pictures of CCR's John Fogerty in a concert in Atlanta so I knew he still had The Voice.

The LIMELITERS were very big in Folk Music in the Sixties.

I'm sure the individuals went on to bigger and better things but I'm just not aware of any huge follow up hits.

I did come across some 5th Dimensions and a Mama Cass Elliott disk.

Wonder if she ever would have stopped by the California Dreaming restaurant here and looked out on our harbor? Do they serve ham sandwiches?

Saw some other of my musical friends from the 1960s recently.

Paul Simon performed in Atlanta earlier this month with an 8-piece band. No sign of that other curly-headed fellow he used to sing with.

Sweet Baby James Taylor played in Columbia last year and his son was onstage with him.

He looked older than his dad did on the album.

Record cover art. Wow.

Now THERE was a remarkable 12" x 12" canvas for artists and photographers.

Sometimes, inside, they would spread out and cover the entire 12" x 24" surface.

Huge four-color wall posters often were enclosed.

But, it's time to get back to dubbing a hard-to-find album by Craig Hundley.

That's the one that started this nostalgic trip back in time.

Craig was a 12-year old prodigy in the jazz world.

I never saw him perform but the album caught my ear.

Does anyone else out there know anything more about him?

He'd be about 50-60 now and I hope he continued playing.

No trace of him online though.I Googled him.

I'll make sure his music continues even today on Smartphones and I-Pads.

Getting A Needed Trim...

2011-12-16T12:00:00.011-05:00

Heard a loud and familiar sound the other morning.

Really noisy. It kept going. Non-stop.

Sounded like a wood chipper. Remember the movie "FARGO?"

Yep, It was a branch grinder. A really large one.

The contract crew fromSCE&G had come to my street to clear overhead wires,

Guess putting them underground was not an option.

Naturally I walked out with my camera to see the before and after.

I'm sure they get a lot of people standing around with cameras.

These guys really know what they're doing.

The guy in the cherry-picker bucket started above the heavy growth.

The wires soon appeared as he cleared out the prescribed areas.

The fellow on the ground who was tossing cut branches into the chipper said it had been about 6-7 years since this street had been pruned.

I've read complaints about excessive cutting or the trimming resulting in "ugly" trees.

I have no problem with what they did.

They're trying to help me not lose power during a storm.

I appreciate that. A lot.

Sitting in the dark, either too hot or too cold, is not pleasant.

Hey, trees grow back.

(Click on the pictures to see more details.)

I hope these fellows get positive feedback on what they do. The heavy snow 2 years ago - thankfully very brief - sure made branches sag VERY low.

Luckily outages were rare in my neighborhood.

Better Than Sliced Bread....

2011-12-14T15:27:00.009-05:00

Easier to use than a toasted cheese sandwich if you're changing channels on your new tv.

Or want to listen to music through your new receiver.

Or stream movies from Netflix with the Roku. Or turn on your Blu-Ray DVD player.

Volume control at your fingertips.

You also get to stash 6-7 other remotes in a drawer. Not needed anymore.

The Harmony by Logitech controls EVERYTHING in your media entertainment setup.
You merely decide what piece of equipment you want to use and download online information about it.

A logical sequence is tried out: 1. turn on the television, 2. turn on the digital cable box, 3. turn on the AV receiver.

Press one button and all those steps will be taken when you want to watch tv!

Music? Decide if the sound is coming from a CD or through the television and do the settings in proper sequence.

Press one button for music. One for a movie.

There's even an additional button for "Every thing else."

My only problem now is trying find a updated VCR player. I have 2300 movies on tape. The alphabetical list of titles fills 50 pages.

At least my 1300 CDs will still play by pressing a button.

Yes, I am looking into converting the CDs to Mp3s.

(Click on the photos for more details.)

My stack of old equipment is impressive.

But, unfortunately, it's all "old school" and really has no value today. How many VCRs do you have sitting around your house?

Holiday Season Lighting.....

2011-12-11T10:14:00.011-05:00

This actually was taken LAST Christmas. I saw this colorful scene while visiting my Mom.

I don't put up a tree at home.

My brothers and I still remember the year Dad brought home a bright shiny aluminium tree.

And set up a floodlight with a color wheel that slowly revolved.

My family quickly realized that blue and orange are NOT Christmas colors.

And, neither is pink.
Some downtown restaurants show the traditional seasonal colors.

This one does all year long.

I note the City puts up an annual "Holiday Tree Of Lights" in Marion Square each year.

Guess it would not be prudent to call it a "Christmas" tree.

Too bad.

When I lived in Tallahassee, Florida, I used colored lights to outline several wooden "reindeer" I made and set up in my front yard.

Now I get nervous driving back from Myrtle Beach at night.

I don't like seeing REAL deer eyes shining alongside the road. Yikes.

Sesame Burgers and Beer in North Charleston near Park Circle presents an unusual sight.

From the inside, the beer signs reflect in the window and they appear to be hanging on trees.

Well, not quite as dramatic as this.

Photoshop helped me "flip" the signs so they read correctly.

Then I copied some - and added more - to decorate the tree.

Look back. I'm sure you noticed the red bicycle on top of the green Basil sign.

'Tis the season.

(Click on the pictures to see more details.)

The other patrons at Sesame thought I was crazy, snapping pictures looking though the front window.

They didn't see what I could see.

"Gonna Be ON Tv Soon...."

2011-12-06T21:00:00.014-05:00

Stepping up to a larger flat screen television set MIGHT cause a problem.

For my cat.

And, for me.

She has never paid attention before but the bigger, brighter image seems to catch her attention.

She favors the Detroit LIONS, the Jacksonville JAGUARS, the Cinncinati BENGALS and the Carolina PANTHERS.

At first she walked carefully over and around the various tv remote controls.

Some were quite old and some were brand new.

There's even one now for a ROKU unit so I can stream Netflix.

I'm waiting until I install my Blu-Ray DVD player before I consolidate ALL into my universal remote.

I took the batteries out of the ones I'm not using now.

The cat has moved closer but - so far - has not pawed the screen.

Apparently, football is the mainstay of her tv watching.

She does not seem to be interested in Comedy Central.

Not even Jon Stewart on The Daily Show or Stephen on the Colbert Report.

I knew my kitty was curious.

I just assumed she had a sense of humor.

(Click on the pictures for more details.)

Streaming movies is a great way to see big, vivid films. The cat's not much of a cinema buff but let's see what happens when we check out Animal Planet.

Still Crazy After All These Years...

2011-12-05T10:39:00.010-05:00

Took a run over to Atlanta this weekend to see Paul Simon.

Another "Legend" on my Must See list.

Check!

It CAN'T be that many years since The Concert In Central Park?

Say it isn't so "Mrs. Robinson."

There's gotta be "50 Ways" I like this guy.

"Rhymin' Simon" still has the pipes to belt out his classics.

An 8-piece backup band adds a lot to his show too.

A New Orleans-feeling scene filled the backdrop for some Rhythm of the Saints.

I missed his earlier national tours like Graceland so I knew I wanted to see him this go around.

Northeast of downtown the Gwinnett Center Arena is a fine music location.

I saw Jack Black and his Tenacious D there a few years ago.

Someone said Paul Simon had played Atlanta just a few months before and sold out the beautiful amphitheatre at Chastain.

That would have been a more recent Concert In The Park.

(Click on the photos for a larger image.) The security staff was VERY accommodating of us camera-toters and that's always appreciated. Popping a flash is kind of distracting but the fans were happy.

My Canon S90 didn't bother anyone.

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps"...

2011-11-30T13:46:00.013-05:00

Last night I attended a TRIBUTE by local musicians at the downtown main library auditorium..

It honored the 10th anniversary of George Harrison's death.

George often was called "The Quiet Beatle" but his musical legacy continues and grows a decade later

Didn't get the names of the performers but a few I've seen playing around town.

Here the V-Tones showcased "Noodle McDoodle" on kazoo. Please note it's an ELECTRIC kazoo. Nice sound and appropriate to the song.

About 30 players were there and "Gently Weeps" was played three times that evening.

There was an impromptu duo who offered a tender treat.

They had met that night at the library and found they both planned on doing the same song.

They practiced together in the hallway and came out and played it together.

The finale for the hour and a half show was six musicians on stage as we all sang along on "My Sweet Lord."

During the show in the 200-seat auditorium, several library patrons had ducked their heads in.

Silence was not strictly observed that night.

(Click on the photo for more details.) There should be a link to 5 of George's greatest hits.

Hope they all are familiar to you.

I saw the "Fab Four" in concert in the 1960s in San Diego.

The BIG Game...

2011-11-29T12:19:00.009-05:00

Well, actually it was pretty much a blow-out but the IMAGES of the game were big.

Sunday I was visiting my Mom at Sandpiper and mentioned I was getting a larger television.

She asked "how big?"

I said if it was turned on end, it would be 5 feet tall (60 inches).

Mom said "Remember, I'm 5 foot two, with eyes of blue."

I said "Mom, we both have green eyes." We laughed.

I came a cross a photo of my small house on James Island that I rented when I first came back to Charleston.

Yes, there was a tv, of sorts.

The whole house was only 20 feet wide and the living room was 10 feet across.

I found a North Charleston sports bar called SPORTZ that featured a projection tv screen that was 20 feet wide.

Bigger than my house!

The two fellows from Sears picked up the old 46 " set and asked where I wanted it.

"Over there on the side of the room..but, I would really like it downstairs."

I want ahead of them and they carefully carried it down the stairs and put it down out of the way in my spacious "Charleston Basement."

Whew!

Thanks fellas.

That would have been quite a balancing act for me to move.

(Click on the photos to see more detail.)

Now I am in the process of adding other new equipment.

So much high tech has happened in the last 6 years I have to scramble to catch up.

I want to stream Netflix movies.

TOSH.2260

2011-11-26T18:14:00.009-05:00

Daniel Tosh is the star and producer of TOSH.O on Comedy Central.

He brought his offbeat stand-up comedy style to Charleston for the first time Friday night.

Daniel filled all 2260 seats at the Performing Arts Center.

Twice.

His target audience is the 20-30 year old crowd and they trekked north to see the situational comedian talk of everything from shopping in Charleston on Black Friday to global unemployment to handicap parking spaces for the "lucky ones."

He started the show with a smarmy "As many of you know, I was born in North Charleston.

He continued "I went to North Charleston College and some high school I forget the name."

"My dad works at Boeing and my mom takes crap off trees and sews it into hats."

The young crowd loved it.

If you've ever seen his show or one of his concerts, you know I really can't quote much of his act.

And, for that, we thank you.

(Click on the photos for a larger - but not much better quality - image.)

Since cameras were forbidden, I feel my shots from the 14th row came out pretty good. I didn't feel guilty because I was surrounded by I-Phones and other cells stuck up in the air taking pictures.

We were warned if you held your phone (or camera?) up "too long" they knew you were videotaping and you would be in big trouble.

I guess that means you couldn't be his "Viewer Video of the Week."

Black Friday !

2011-11-24T13:54:00.017-05:00

It's a fine working television.

It has a "big" screen (well, 46" measured diagonally) and has served me faithfully for about 6 years.

That's a LOT of football games and Comedy Central.

Oh yeah, and PBS and the History Channel.

It never was designed to hang on the wall but, placing it in the corner worked fine.

I understand it would help the economy if I were to go stand or sit in line around midnight.

Maybe get a newer model.

They have made fantastic advances in the last 6 years since I bought this for $999.

The fad of 3-D movies in theaters seems to be winding down. Too expensive.

Don't think I would want to wear tv-viewing-glasses at home.

My comfortable chair's distance from the tv has been perfect for a 46" set.

But I believe the stores are willing to give me a much larger size for about what I paid all those years ago.

Think I'll check it out later tonight.

You can tell I'm serious.

I cleared space for something newer, slimmer and awesome.

(Clicking on the pictures makes the images bigger. Even then the old tv is still going to be only a 46" screen - measured diagonally.) Shopping at midnight is for people who really like crowds. Saving money always keeps you warm when it's chilly. Good luck out there!

Walking On Air .....

2011-11-22T16:18:00.021-05:00

My Photography Group did a little downtown Photo Walk Sunday.

On the way, I showed them how to "levitate."

Online, I had just checked the concept of appearing to defy gravity and it's fairly simple.

You need a good camera that can take a picture at 1/4000second.

And 1/8000second is even better.

Have the subject jump as high as he or she can. Snap the shutter.

Pass the digital camera around so everyone can see on the screen that the subject is suspended in air.

Some appear to be much higher than others.

Age and agility counts here.

And other factors.

We gathered around 10am at the gazebo in White Point Gardens (foot of Meeting Street) and worked our way up to the Market area.

I keep forgetting all the quaint alleys and beautiful homes and curving streets in the Historic District.

Oh, that's right, that's why tourists come here and carriages clip-clop by.

One of the "tricks" a member shared with us was attaching his camera to his tripod. Well, duh.

He extended all three legs and set his timer to take a picture in 8 seconds.

Then he raised the tripod over his head - the camera is now about 5 feet higher than his extended arms - and he angles it about where he thinks it should be.

The shutter clicks. Bring it down, check to see if it caught the super high angle he wanted.

If not, repeat. Gotta love digital cameras.

We were nearing the market - and lunch at Tommy Condons - when somebody asked what time it was.

In this age of cell phones that also show the time, I looked at the wrist watch I still wear.

I glanced and saw there was a sun dial in front of me.

Use it? Check my watch? Pull out my cell phone?

I knew at least two had been adjusted for the end of Daylight Saving Time.

The intended purpose of the Photo Walk was to find natural letters and numbers.

Not signs but individual images that could be combined to spell out names.

Very, very personal gifts.

I decided to try using my middle name LEE.

Almost there.

I saw some iron work letters caught by other members. It looks like I found the other "E."

I also DID capture a "C" and an "H."

I'm well on the way to spelling out my first name.

Either Charles or Chuck.

(Click on the photos to see much more detail.)

Look around and see if you can spot any letters or numbers in nature.

Trains you to look closely at what you see.

Nice exercise.

Thanks for walking along with us.

A Bright Idea...

2011-11-19T13:18:00.019-05:00

So you've finished having dinner or maybe you had just a sandwich.

Probably with a beverage. Or two.

Now you wait for the bill in the familiar black folder with a place at the top to tuck in your credit card.

But, wait a minute, THIS check wallet has a light inside. You can see the amount and look it over to decide how much to tip.

Lighted. In a dark bar. Or in a restaurant. Yikes.

This was at The Roost, a sports bar in Avondale. The light displayed the Camel logo but so what? Good for that company.

Yes, I had tried the "Old Leghumper."

A robust porter produced by Thirsty Dog Brewing Company.

Not to be confused with its "12 Dogs Of Christmas."

Well, duh, that's a seasonal ale.

Oktoberfest is finally over.

That was back in September.

(Click on the photos to make them bigger and brighter.)

Ever since they were forced to drop the iconic cartoon Joe Camel, this company has shown ingenuity in getting its brand name out to the public.

I see it on "Smoking Area" signs pointing outside. Usually close to the $7 a pack cigarette machines.

I'm glad I quit smoking about 25 years ago.

Unusual Harbor Cruise...

2011-11-17T08:54:00.011-05:00

The 148-year old Star of India sailed again last weekend in San Diego.

The iron-hulled beauty was at full sail during what used to be an annual event.

It has been 4 years since the last sailing of this floating maritime museum.

When I went onboard last summer, I heard rumors she might sail again this year.

Tied up at the dock, she has only a few sails unfurled so it's quite a sight to see her in full glory.

Unfortunately, I wasn't there for the actual sailing.

I received this photo in a daily newsletter I get online from my old days of working for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

In the 1960s my Mom came out from Charleston to visit.

She and my young son Chris made a tour of The Star.

Last summer, Chris was aboard again, with me, his wife and my 16-year old grandson.

In this interior picture I exaggerated the tilt of the ship for effect.

I mean, we were still safely at the dock.

Underway in the 1860s, I am sure the early travelers suffered through a lot of rough seas.

And many tedious days of calm when the wind power died down and the sails were slack.

Hmmm. I wonder if an iron-hull attracted lightning?

(Click the photos that I took to see more detail.)Thanks for coming aboard. Feel free to walk about the cabin.

A Few Big Wheels...

2011-11-15T12:30:00.010-05:00

The new Sky Wheel in Myrtle Beach is the tallest in the United States.

It's listed as soaring 200 feet above the beach community.

I'm not really taller, that's just a sneaky camera angle.

The camera doesn't lie but the image CAN be manipulated.

For contrast, the long-time Navy Pier Ferris Wheel in Chicago is a mere 150 feet high. Way to go South Carolina!

The London Eye tops us both at 443 feet tall.

Each of its "cabins" holds about 15-20 people and you can walk around to take pictures and marvel as it slowly rotates continuously.

In Myrtle Beach, the air conditioned capsule seats up to 4 riders/gawkers on each side.

Signs are posted to warn you not to move suddenly or do anything like rocking or swaying during its 5 revolutions.

I did shift around a bit - carefully - to look east and west.

This is the best view I've ever had of the beach, the Atlantic and downtown's new Boardwalk.

The afternoon for my rotations was timed perfectly.

The shadow of the wheel could be seen on nearby buildings to the east and along the beach toward the pier.

Your view changed as you rose, went over the top and started down again.

Looking west, the gentle arc of beachfront properties were back-lighted and impressive.

Checking online, I see that currently the tallest of all the Wheels is in Singapore.

It towers 541 feet up in the clouds!

Wonder if it's equipped with oxygen masks that drop down from the overhead? Yikes.

(Clicking on the pictures makes the image larger for your viewing enjoyment.) From the top of the beach wheel you look down on Ripley's Believe It Or Not.

Support Live Music....

2011-11-13T22:06:00.014-05:00

On Halloween a year ago, I saw Robert Randolph and the Family Band at a club in Washington, D.C.

This time there were no masks and no wet T-shirt contest winner.

The Music Farm was packed Saturday night with RR fans and most knew what to expect.

This was my 5th or 6th (7th?) time enjoying the talented musicians and the evening of fast-paced dance fun they present. Cousin Danyel on bass was in fine voice.

I knew 15-20 ladies would be invited up on stage to "Shake Their Hips" and 1 or 2 local guitarists would have an opportunity to play a song as The Man backed them on his pedal steel guitar or a 6-string.

Yep, all that happened.

Lots of new songs were added to my favorites from over the years.

Robert "marched" and "came to shout."

This night he did not stand, kick over his chair and demonstrate the proper way to dance to his music.

The night before I drove to Myrtle Beach for a House of Blues evening with Los Lonely Boys.

Well worth the drive!

The Grammy-winning Texican Trio of brothers took over the stage and had the crowd on its feet for more than 2 hours.

Henry Garza showed his impressive guitar chops while brother Jo-Jo backed with his 6-string bass.

Brother Ringo pounded the drums and added vocals to the smooth harmony. And, yes, that IS his actual name.

Destined at birth to be a Texas drummer.

It would appear that HOB has eased its policy on banning cameras and cell phones that take pictures and videos.

(Please click on the photos for more details.)

Photoshop helped me create my imaginary sea of lighted cell phones.

It's actually not that far fetched!

"Jazz" McCray died yesterday...

2011-11-10T19:32:00.007-05:00

"Charleston - NOT New Orleans - is really where American Jazz began."

My friend Jack McCray said that a lot back when we both worked at The Post and Courier.

Jack was a writer and music expert that I was never able to surprise with any of my offbeat questions about jazz. I would even look up little known facts to tease him with but he always was a step ahead of me.

He died Wednesday after being MR. JAZZ in this city for as long as I can remember.

He wrote a book about the Charleston music roots.

I bought it.

He signed it for me.

I'm glad he left me a memento of a nice guy.

A few years ago, I did a salute to Mr. Jazz on my blog. That was a fun day.

I heard a LOT of good jazz upstairs at Mistral's on Market Street. And at McCrady's.

Yes, Jack was the driving force behind those Piccolo Spoleto Jazz Fests.

He used to share stories about noted music places like the old Chef & Clef, also on Market Street.

I was born here but left when I was a teenager to join the Marines.

When I came back in 1993, I appreciated the city a lot more.

After I started at the paper and got to know him, Jack would tell me what I had missed.

Now, I'll miss him.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Marine Corps birthday. It's our 236th.

Run Forest, Run !

2011-11-09T13:34:00.013-05:00

My Photography Group has its monthly meeting tonight and I scrambled to select some photos to take with me.

We come up with an optional theme each time for the popular SHOW & TELL.

Tonight it's "Things Found In A Forest." You can bring 15 or so of your favorite shots but I try to include a few themed one too.

Yesterday I realized I hadn't foraged in a forest lately so I strolled around my yard instead. The red leaf sat alone among all the browns and green grass.

Yes, I removed all the other colors with Photoshop.

My large magnolia tree in the front yard had already bloomed with its beautiful - but brief - delicate white flowers.

But, deep in my "forest," I saw scaly growth on several limbs.

I believe it's called lichen.

Checking online, I see that's a combo of fungus & algae.

Looking down I saw another additon for tonight's presentation.

The cones were scattered amidst the large leaves.

I tweaked the picture a bit with Photoshop to add some detailed drama.

While we were growing up, my brothers and I would throw these at each other, pretending they were "hand grenades."Playing "WAR" during the 1940s seemed like the thing to do. Almost patriotic for my WWII Youngest Generation.

I also will share with the group my visit to the newest craft beer brewery that has popped up here.

What a fine addition by four enterprising young men.

Holy City is on Dorchester Road between I-526 and I-26, tucked behind some warehouses.

The friendly Tasting Room is cozy and comfortable. I sampled small tastes of all four of the lastest offerings.

The Bowens Island Oyster Stout (ABV 5.5) was introduced only a few days ago and joins their Pilsner and the Pluff Mud Porter (ABV 5.0), a nice dark beer that's become popular around town.

I bought a jug of Hurricane Category 3 IPA(ABV 7.0) to celebrate the end of "H" Season.

Drink local, I say.

(Click on the photos for more detail). It's only been a few years since South Carolina allowed brewers to provide beers with more than 4.0 or 5.0 ABV (Alcohol By Volume) and Coast Brewing was the leader in persuading our lawmakers to make it legal to sit and sample a beer at the brewery. Thanks Jaime!

"Book 'Em, Dano..."

2011-11-05T10:36:00.011-04:00

My Mom taught me to enjoy reading.

Thanks for a lifetime (so far) of a very fulfilling habit.

In short, I have LOTS of books lying around.

Often I will have several book-marked to resume reading again when I'm sitting at the kitchen table.

Or another on the couch.

Or pick one up again at my desk.

In the car, I keep an audio book in the CD player.

So, it's no big surprise I found Paper Back Swap, a club where you list books you have to trade and other members pick which ones they want.

Online, I look at their list and request any that interest me.

Paperbacks, hardcover and even audio books.

We receive a point after we mail them and they are received.

We then use the point to "buy" a book. All we pay is postage to send it out.

Ah, but it gets complicated when you meet an author and he signs your book.

David Baldacci wrote a short note to me in the front of his latest book at an Authors Luncheon a few years ago.

I had mentioned to Dave I had reviewed one of his earlier works for The Post and Courier.

His note praised me as a reviewer though I doubt he had seen what I had written for the paper's Arts & Travel section.

Pretty trusting guy.

But wait, it gets even more involved.

Lawrence Block, another writer I really enjoy, sends out a newsletter about specials and new books he's working on.

I saw "Ariel" and noted that the scary story was centered in Charleston, SC.

Well, naturally that was ordered, along with a Matthew Scudder book and one other.

When they arrived, I saw that all three are autographed.

I have a growing small stack of books I will NOT be swapping.

(Click on the photos, etc. etc.)I think the best audio books are the ones narrated by the author. It's not like song writers who can't sing. Tina Fey was the perfect reader of her book as was Craig Ferguson.

Who's YOUR favorite author?

Airplane Hidden In Plain Sight....

2011-11-02T23:22:00.014-04:00

I asked "Where can I park to take a photo of the new Boeing 787?"

The guard looked down at me through my open window and said "You can't take a picture of the plane." Huh?

I had just driven past on my way to the library, saw the plane and pulled up to the guard shack.

In the paper it said it had been flown to the Charleston plant to help train the people who would be delivering new planes to airlines.

This particular model was running about 3 years late so there had been plenty of time to prepare for this service but, until now, there had been no plane to use for practice.

"You are on Boeing property right now and you are not allowed to take ANY pictures of the plane, any buildings or anything else," the guard sternly continued.

He then directed me to pull up about 100 feet on Air Frame Drive, make a sharp left turn and U-turn myself off their property.

Then I was back on South Aviation Avenue and I snapped a picture as I drove by on the public highway.

Uh oh, looks like you can see Boeing buildings in the photo. Yikes.

(I had taken a picture months earlier of the huge Dreamlifter cargo plane that hauls parts of the 787 Dreamliner across the country).

Of course All Nippon Airways passengers boarding the new jet that (finally) now is in service, probably can take all the pictures they want.

I see online you can take tours of the Boeing plant in Everett,Washington.

Better not try that in North Charleston. They have at least one surly guard there.

(Click to see more details on the photos.) Hmmmm, I thought Boeing would be a little more accommodating to the public now that they had an actual plane to display.

Halloween has come and gone....

2011-11-01T12:45:00.011-04:00

Actually this is NOT a Halloween picture.

It was a life-size poster in a theater lobby for a horror film.

All I had to do was stick my head through the hole above the creature's hand and assume a properly terrified face.

I think I did a good job.

The cutout was rather large so I attempted to darken the open space around my face.

The arms were part of the poster so I added color because they represented MY arms.

The overall effect is truly in the spirit of October 31.

Here's another paper cutout that gave me a photo opp.

I like the way both the "Duke" and I have our belts fixed.

He's on the left.

This was taken during a stay in St. Louis when I had my two grandsons come over by Amtrak from mid-Missouri to stay with me a few days.

To this day their mother does not know I was late - about 20 minutes - in meeting the train and the two teenagers were waiting alone at the train station. Yikes.

Michael, the older boy was on the phone when I rushed in, out of breath from running.

"Grandpa, I was trying to call Mom but nobody answered."

YES!

It could have been scary.

(Click on the photos for more detail.) Recently I attended the wedding /reception for both Grandsons. They each brought up the railroad station situation but, fortunately, their Mom was standing far away and didn't hear. Whew.

"Say hello to my leetle frond...."

2011-10-28T21:55:00.011-04:00

The secret to keeping palm trees neat is to trim them twice a year.

On a Tuesday evening.

Toss the clipped fronds over the fence and the city comes by on Wednesday to pick up yard debris.

Works year after year.

Of course the trees seem naked and embarrassed.

I have four in my front yard.

Actually, four and a half.

The newest one is coming along nicely.

On Wednesday morning, the slanting sun rays highlight the trimming.

Oh, in case you're wondering, my house is NOT red, white and blue.

That's a color-shift effect created by Photoshop.

The siding really is light gray above the brick bottom portion.

I saw an actual shift-in-color the other night at THAI HOUSE in West Ashley.

The walls were stark white before Mary, the owner, decided to change the look and ambiance.

Now it's warm and soothing.

Comfortable and inviting.

I remarked about that to her when I stopped by for another fine dinner.

Hey, I'm a color expert as well as a palm tree trimmer.

(Click on the photos for more detail).Mary said they have finished the roadwork on Glenn McConnell Parkway and the work on the facades of all the buildings around her is completed. "Finally," she added. "Lots of parking spaces now. Come on by."

No CHIPOTLE Grill Here. Why not?

2011-10-23T20:17:00.016-04:00

It seems like authentic Mexican food to me. If it really is, that's good too.

Chipotle Mexican Grill draws my appetite's attention when I travel away from Charleston.

A very large burrito that takes at least two hands to hold.

Sauce running down your chin and your arm.Dripping from your elbow.

Tasty tortilla filled with rice, beans, salsa, peppers and chicken, etc., etc.

And crispy chips and guacamole. Add a cold cerveza or a tangy 'Rita.

Found just where to go for lunch Saturday when I arrived in Columbia for a free annual Blues concert.

GPS navigation on my Smartphone took me right there, exiting I-77 just past the entrance to Fort Jackson. Hungry soldiers in camo uniforms also knew the way to Chipolte.This army travels on its stomach.

I have found these grills all over the country - but not here in Charleston?

Suggestion: somebody look into opening one (or more) here.

The headliner for the 17th annual Blues Festival was virtuoso Leo Kottke, a marvelous 12-string acoustic guitar player and songwriter.

The Grammy-winner often was the musical guest on Garrison Keilor's Prairie Home Companion.

I also have 4 of his 20 CDs in my collection.

Another star of the program was Wanda Johnson, a popular Blues performer who plays around Charleston often.

Miss Wanda also has performed across Europe and China - with Shrimp City Slim.

She just keeps sounding better and better and charmed the crowd with songs from several of her CDs.

As the sun sank lower, her dancing and clapping fans cast their shadows on the front of the stage.

Word of Mouth Productions, producers of the annual free show, announced they have started planning the one for next year.

"We're looking for a nice Fall weekend when there's no football game in town," is how Geoffrey Graves explained the logistical guidelines.

The person in charge of weather this year really nailed it.

It was a beautiful day, cooling in the evening so jackets felt really nice.

An array of delicious food with terrific aromas was all around and smiling beer vendors offered domestic and imported beers at a very reasonable price.

As I bought drink tickets, I tried to let them know how much I appreciated the FREE concert. It takes money and hard-working volunteers to make events like this happen.

We sat back in our folding chairs and listened to a really good sound system.

This was held at Martin Luther King public park near 5-Points and street lights added to the ambiance to end a wonderful day of outdoor music.

(Click on the photos, etc. etc for more details.)The Blues Festival website has sound bites by the performers and more information about the upcoming 18th annual event.

I plan to be there .... after a hearty lunch at Chipotle.

Unless there's finally one opened in Charleston.

Thanks for inviting "Moi"...

2011-10-20T15:52:00.008-04:00

She doesn't drink craft beers but still throws quite a party!

Miss Piggy is a gracious hostess.

And I learned her first name is Lorelei.

I asked what sign she was born under and she replied "I was born OVER a sign - Becker's Butcher Shop. I moved as soon as I could."

When I mentioned I used to work for a newspaper she quipped "I bet you have a snout for news."

She obviously likes the party scene.

She and her Muppet friends were really glittering when I saw them in the lobby of the Palmetto Grande Theatre in Towne Centre.

I just stayed for a moment because I was in search of the new MOUNTAIN in Mount Pleasant.

It's on Coleman Boulevard.

Well, as far as I know, it's the ONLY one in town.

It is NOT open yet for trail hiking.

Or any kind of traffic.

Wouldn't it look great up on the peak if we had another heavy snow fall as we did in February of 2010?!

(Of course you should click on the photos to see more detail.)

The displays in theater lobbies for upcoming movies are really quite elaborate. I even sat on the couch with the Simpsons.

Yes, I had to move the barriers out of the way but I did that later with Photoshop.

Thanks for coming to the party.

Lucinda Williams .. my 4th time!

2011-10-18T11:15:00.015-04:00

The BLESSED lady was back in Charleston.

Miss Williams had her contacts in this time.

No eyeglasses were offered from the audience to help her see the lyrics.

That happened at the Performing Arts Center in 2008.

She played the Charleston Music Hall Sunday night and remarked that she really thought it was a great venue. "I like the twinkling lights behind me. They look like stars."

I agree it's a beautiful room and under-used for visiting acts.

More intimate than the Music Farm where I saw her a few years ago.

Her touring bus was parked right at the curb out front.

How convenient can you get?

"BLESSED" is the name of the new album by the 3-time Grammy winning singer-songwriter.

She was backed by long time bassist David Sutton and drummer Butch Norton.

Lead guitar was Blake Mills.

They formed a tight musical group.

Her nearly 2 hour show (short intermission) was a sweet mixture of Blues, Country and folk rock.

There were some very tender moments when she put aside her guitar and sang from the heart.

I also enjoyed Lucinda in Memphis in 2002 at the Beale Street Music Festival.

I look forward to the next time.

(Be sure to click on the photos for more details.Security didn't bother her camera and phone-toting fans and the lighting/sound was excellent.) Support live music!

Saturday in my neighborhood...

2011-10-16T14:53:00.016-04:00

Tanger Outlet Stores in North Charleston has LOTS of parking lot room all around it.

Saturday about 300 neat looking cars & trucks filled some of that open space.

The Street Thunder Classic Car Show, presented by the Corvette Club, had set up a vast array of vehicles, lovingly restored.

I won't call them antiques because I remembered them all and even owned a few.

Well, never did have a Corvette.

But I saw a '65 Mustang and a '57 Chevy that looked familiar.

I remember friends who were told to remove their rear-view mirror fuzzy dice.

Their parents said they blocked the view.

Not good for safe driving.

Hey, remember this was growing up in Charleston in the 1950s.

We had drive-in restaurants.

And these youth-gathering spots served beer.

That evening I revisited the beer memories at Coast Brewing Company on the old Navy Base.

Food Truck Rodeo. Live music by Noodle of the V-Tones. Acres of free parking.

Free admission.

Bring your kids and folding chairs.

This was my first time watching the food wagons circling.

Coast had pints of their product on sale and two fellows from the downtown Beer Exchange offered several brews from Palmetto and Westbrook.

A big hoppy brewers family outing.

There were six trucks this evening.

Cute names like Hello, My Name Is BBQ.

You knew what they were offering to eat.

Pot Kettle Black.com was a little more mysterious.

To me, so was Roti Rolls. The longest line seemed to wind way out from Diggity Doughnuts.

I have to add Tokyo Crepe was there, along with Strada Cucina and Geechee Island.

Support these innovative mobile food purveyors.

I'm sure I've heard the V-Tones play with a stand up bass before.

It is nice how it harmonizes with a well-played ukulele.

This evening the music flowed from beneath the moss covered oaks and added to the party atmosphere.

Live music, various foods and lots of beer.

Great night in the "hood."

(Click the photo for more details. Some have been Photoshopped.) Stay alert for more appearances by the Food Truck Rodeo Brigade.Good eats. Thanks for stopping by.

The Day Was "In-Tents" ...

2011-10-10T18:54:00.020-04:00

The 6th annual American Music Celebration at Freshfields Village Green had a big surprise.

Gary Erwin (a.k.a. Shrimp City Slim) has played and promoted The Blues in this area for many, many years.

At Kiawah he works with the people who monitor the Tourist Tax and, fortunately, they took a liking to blues and root music years ago, and help fund his musical activities down there.

"We included a large tent in the budget this year because, if it rained, the whole event would be cancelled. Our residents, businesses and visitors all would be hurt by inclement weather," said Bill and Marilyn Blizard, co-chairmen of the Accommodations Tax Committee.

"The brand new tent is 40 feet by 90 feet and cost about $2,600. We think it's a smart investment," Bill Blizard continued.

As if to underline that statement, hard rain cells passed through the area about three times Sunday.But, the show went on.

The line up of talent included Eddie C. Campbell, backed by the North Carolina trio The King Bees.

He was followed by Buddy Whittington and the Randy McAllister Band.

McAllister is the drummer but also plays harp and added a Cajun washboard and spoons to this outing.

There is no alternate site available and, luckily, the Kiawah area events have not been interrupted before. The low clouds and winds made a great statement about the wisdom of the two tents.

A smaller one covers and protects the performers and their equipment.

The finale for a music-filled afternoon was Biscuit Miller & The Mix.

Dave Miller (red shirt) grew up in Chicago and now lives in Indianapolis.

He formed the band in 2000 and continues to serve up a soulful, blues-funk stew.

This day there was no rain on his parade.

Here is how the crowd looked in 2009.

(Click on the photos for details.) The dates have already been set for next year. Mark October 7,2012 on your calendar. As Gary says "Rain or shine." Thanks for stopping and listening.

An Early Birthday Celebration....

2011-10-08T19:58:00.011-04:00

Colonel Michael J. Colburn, USMC, was the "leader of the band" and it was quite a musical evening.

The United States Marine Band was in town at Charleston Southern University last night.

It was my first time on the campus but I followed the crowd and eased my way to a seat in the front row of the balcony at Lightsey Chapel.

Duh, of course I had my camera.

As many people know, I'm a former Marine and November 10 my Corps turns 236 years old.

This evening of military music was a great way to mark the upcoming birthday in a special manner.

A member of my Photography Group - also a former Marine - responded when I posted I had some extra tickets.

The concert was free but you had to arrange tickets in advance.

It was a near sellout. All the seats downstairs were filled and there were just a few vacancies in the balcony.

I remembered that John Philip Sousa had led the band known as "The President's Own."

The grand old "March King" composer was the 17th Director in the late 1880s but the band was created by an Act of Congress in 1798, more than 200 years ago.

It's mission - then and now - is to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.

My evenings at the White House and at Corps Headquarters on "I" Street in DC have not happened yet so this probably was my best bet to hear them play.

The first half of the show was Sousa marches, overtures and other military tunes.

Some of the symphonic melodies reminded me of concerts at the old Memminger Auditorium when I was in high school back in the 1950s. Yikes.

The second half saluted the era of the "Greatest Generation" with the music of the 1940s. "Roadies" dressed in Marine utilities hoisted a large xylophone onto the front of the stage for several selections by SSgt Jonathan Bisesi, soloist. He played well-known classics for that very resonant instrument.

The evening ended with a medly of songs for each branch of the service. We stood proudly for the Marine Corps Hymn.

I had owned a set of "dress blues" back in the day but I had never seen such bright scarlet tunics as worn by the members of the orchestra.

Pretty snazzy guys and ladies!

(Please do click on the photos for larger vews.) It was a bright and colorful and patriotic and nostalgic evening. Charleston was fortunate to be a city on the 2011 National Concert Tour. Thanks CSU.

Brilliant Bank of America!

2011-10-05T15:41:00.013-04:00

Wow. What a bold step Bank of America.

Especially for a bank.

Your new $5 fee to access our own money to make an ATM/Debit card purchase was brilliant.

The government NOW will be able to save some dollars by eliminating printing dollars.

The paper one dollar bill.

The gold dollar has been around for quite a while but not used much by the public.

The earlier Susan B. Anthony also was pretty much ignored.

But now the largest U.S. bank has made it clear we should NOT use plastic when buying anything. This is after decades of convincing us we SHOULD.

Instead, we are encouraged to hand over real money.

Wrinkled, folded, "who knows where THIS has been" cash.

Moolah. Simoleons. Dinero. Buckaroos.Wampum. Smackers, Greenbacks.

If you're in a restaurant you should plan to pay with Bread, Dough, Cabbage, Lettuce or Clams.

The Canadians did it years ago by minting ONLY one dollar coins (loonies) and $2 coins (Toonies).

No more paper ones and twos. People then HAD to add jingle to their pockets.

Even the Euros and Pounds Sterling use coins instead of smaller denomination paper bills.

Oh, I'm dropping my account at Bank of America.

They charge you for printing checks, charge you to have a checking account and, I believe, charge you if you want to talk to a teller to ask for your cash.

They are just too fee-free with my money.

(Don't bother to click on the images. They all are from the Internet and tend to shrink and decline in value .) Think you'll stay with Bank of America? My mattress will get lumpy stuffed with paper money and those coins are gonnna be a problem.

Shopping At A Chain Store..

2011-10-03T12:27:00.009-04:00

It's "officially" FALL and Saturday underlined that fact.

My photography group participated in the 4th annual World Wide Photo Walk in the evening and the weather was fantastic!

About 30 of us gathered by the impressive fountain at Waterfront Park at 6pm.

Most were lugging large SLR cameras, a variety of lenses and tripods.

We all wore red and white stick-on badges.

When we all clustered together, passers-by would look around and ask "what's going on? What's the event?"

As darkness fell, one of the photographers stopped on the way to the Battery and aimed her camera at a brightly lighted dining room scene near Rainbow Row.

The barn-like doors were thrown open wide and she liked the set table with people preparing to enjoy a meal. Candles flickered.

A voice boomed "PLEASE! This is a private residence and we do NOT appreciate you taking pictures!"

She shared the story and, as we all passed back by and saw the open door, frankly we too thought it was a new small restaurant. Oh well.

I call this "Sycamores At Sunset."

If you know for sure these are not Sycamores, please let me know and I can change the title.

All trees should have little signs that identify them. And adding the Latin genus would be nice too.

Here's a scene from the foot of Broad Street.

Fortunately there is a raised landing up above the very narrow sidewalk at the Old Exchange Building.

Do you remember when there was a costumed Revolutionary War person standing up there greeting the passing cars and tourists?

Saturday night there were a dozen people with cameras and tripods taking long time exposures.

Waving and wearing red and white badges.

(Details can be seen by clicking on the photos. See if you can spot where I did some Photoshop work.) Thanks for joining our evening walk. Please join us again.

Return performance....

2011-09-30T16:17:00.008-04:00

Tuesday night I saw Scott H. Birham.

Again.

This time he played at the Pour House.

And I'll remember him.

Going in, I thought the name was familiar but couldn't place him.

Turns out the last time I saw him was at the Village Tavern....September 8, 2005.

Oh, he's probably played here since then but I had forgotten his unique "style".

The man is very profane.

No church picnics in the future for Scott.

The "F Bomb" was one of his milder terms.

The PoHo has one of the best sound systems in the region.

Scott brought along a battery-powered Bull Horn.

He used that a few times with his guitar.

Well, not at the same time.

Here's a shot I took back in 2005.

Might be the same guitar.

Definitely the same hat.

Or one just like it.

Scott also plays a 12-string and THAT'S pretty impressive.

Now the Mount Pleasant club is called the Charleston Village Tavern with new owners.

And a new sound system.

Wonder if they ever saw Scott play with the old set-up?

It was fun thumbing back through my photo files.

Digital photography means never having an actual negative.

That takes some getting used to.

(The pictures show more detail when you click on them.) Thanks for listening in and, if Scott's language offended you, just remember that detail the next time he's in town.

Signs of the times...

2011-09-29T17:03:00.011-04:00

Let's see..I DO have a Smartphone that can take pictures and make videos.

And place calls.

And it "shoots" photographs.

Better NOT try to go in this place. I've been warned.

But, here I am being enticed. Beckoned.

A hearty pint of soup would be good.

As I recall, this was outside an Irish Pub in New York City.

You would expect to see something like this outside EVERY such establishment.

I'll keep my eyes peeled.

I sent this to a buddy of mine whose name is Lobb.

He wasn't nearly as excited as I thought he would be.

I told him I saw this in downtown Atlanta.

He didn't believe me. I said "but I rode its elevator!"

This one gives pause.

Auto insurance companies would frown on this type of behavior.

Safe driving would be the best way to not be stopped by the police.

When you drive so fast that ANY of the tires leaves the road, you're being reckless.

Yet I saw warnings like this posted all over Folly Beach.

At the risk of offending those who wear green in Mid-March, I did see this clever ad on a wall in Montreal.

It was a polite message of course.

And I never would have thought to look in that direction.

And it was a fun place.

I asked for the Soup Of The Day.

(Click on the photos. Aw, go ahead.) It's fun to take signs out of context. Keep your eyes open and alert for messages to have fun with later. I sure do. Thanks for signing in.

The PoHo... Inside and Out

2011-09-27T12:59:00.014-04:00

Several music venues surprise me with the variety of their activities.

The Pour House is a good example.

Not just great musicians, like the Lee Boys, but the actual facility itself.

There's a huge deck out back that pleases the smokers who can drink and cough, er, I mean light up, as they enjoy live music.

Of course there's a second bar out there too.

In front, facing Maybank Highway, there's a small deck for El Bohio dining that's been added.

Recently the owners Alex and Vanessa Harris offered the outside walls of the place for a music mural competition.

I remember the tiny bar-with-jam-bands they had on Highway 17.

It was about half-filled with several pool tables.

They've come a long way.

And the Charleston music scene has benefited greatly.

The PoHo is packed each year when Leon Russell comes to town.

The North Mississippi All-Stars draw a full house as they rock the rafters.

Taj Mahal was a surprise booking recently. Last time in town he played the Charleston Music Hall.

Nice call Alex.

The deck often features local musicians who really enjoy the raucous welcome they receive when they hop onstage.

The sound system outside is just as fine as the famed one inside.

And, don't kid yourself...these hometown bands also have a loyal following.

That's a smart way to build business - and a great way to thank the music fans.

Of course, most of the crowd heads inside when the main act starts.

Or if it starts to rain.

(Yes, clicking on the picture - twice - makes it bigger. Lots of details.) Thanks for stopping by on this nice Fall day. Hopefully hot and humid is over for the year and there's more deck time. Come sit outside with me.

Respect....

2011-09-24T19:09:00.012-04:00

The Museum of Modern Art in San Francisco has a rooftop "Arts Garden."

It's a very touchy-feely area.

Kids like to check out the SFMOMA sculptures and other large-scale artistic works.

The security guards seemed very lenient. Well, at least on the roof.

Older children find a different attraction at the Tosca Cafe, dating back to the 1920s.

It was a quiet early evening when I wandered into the hushed, uncrowded 90-year old North Beach watering hole.

The place was nearly empty except for a handful of regulars. It filled up later.

Unlike the Irish Coffees down at the Buena Vista, this place had glasses ready for an adult hot chocolate laced with brandy.

They call it the House Cappuccino.

Glancing in the mirror behind the bar, I saw a group of men-in-fedoras come in and walk past me.

Yikes, their suits with wide lapels looked like a gang of 1940s mobsters had arrived.

I was curious but cautious.

Turns out it was a bunch of guys who liked the earlier fashions and they meet monthly at the Tosca. It's the perfect setting for them.

Bet the guy with the white spats told somebody to bring him a hot chocolate.

Later that evening I found myself at The Saloon, the city's oldest bar.

I was there to listen to some Blues and this was the right place.

A regular said he liked coming there "because the kids don't.".

I also saw they have a no nonsense approach to running a bar.

(Click on the pictures to make them bigger. Usually works.) I had mentioned the "mobster" guys earlier so here they are. Thanks for stopping by. Ever have an adult hot chocolate?

99 Bottles Of Beer On The Wall .....

2011-09-22T09:37:00.017-04:00

When you return from vacation, you have to unpack.

And put things away.

And process nearly 1100 photographs. Yikes.

This is a pleasant chore though.

People without cameras miss that chance to RE-visit.

I remember smiling when this beer was brought to my table.

"Here's lookin' at you, kid."

My Smartphone has an app called "Brewster" which lets me tally every new beer I try.

It also lets me add a check mark when I repeat one.

And it shows on a map WHERE I had that beer.

This particular one is mapped in San Leandro, a town southeast of Oakland, California.

My son lives in San Diego so this amber ale appears on the map there.

His dog Sadie was dozing while guarding the front door.

When I opened this one, she was suddenly alert and we had an instant connection.

Might say I passed a Lab test in my choice of beer.

While still up in Northern California, we headed out to "climb a mountain" for a great view of fog rolling in.

Actually you drive up higher and higher and park. It's only a short walk from the parking lot to viewing spots.

Well, it WAS at 2,300 feet elevation.

This is the Richmond-San Raphael Bridge which takes you past San Quentin prison.

It sort of reminded me of our old Cooper River Bridge which did have the County Jail beneath it on the Charleston side.

The view was breath-taking and the fog DID seem to creep in on tiny cat's paws.

My daughter pointed out you can barely see the SUTRO TOWER on Twin Peaks in The City By The Bay.

That's it poking up in the upper left.

I left 90 degree weather here so the cooler California temperatures were VERY welcome.

I had packed long-sleeved shirts, jeans and slacks, remembering Mark Twain's classic "The coldest winter I ever spent was one summer in San Francisco."

That same afternoon, we had a snack and beverages at Lake Chalet.

This is a tranquil waterside park, right in the heart of downtown Oakland.

The after-work crowd sat out on the pier under colorful red umbrellas, took rides in an Italian gondola and watched rowers glide past as the lowering sun reflected on nearby buildings.

Yes, I sampled another local beer. I put it on the Oakland map.
Of course you should click on the photos for more detail. Twice. Then you can find the Sutro Tower. It was MUCH warmer in San Diego so I had to buy shorts, t-shirts, flip-flops and sun block. They'll get lots of use back here. Thanks for tagging along on my trip. More to come.

House Of Blues? No, House Of BREWS

2011-09-15T21:34:00.026-04:00

I wandered around a tasty converted house a few days ago.

It was very crafty I might add.

Here is one of the back bedrooms with the closet doors removed.

Now THAT'S a nice way to furnish a room!

Reminds me of college.

Some of you may know that I am developing a taste for craft beers. The word "light" on beer labels was beginning to annoy me.

They all seemed to be light on taste and variety.

I recently enjoyed a beer brewery bus tour that carried our small group to three local craft beer makers: PALMETTO BREWING downtown, COAST BREWING in North Charleston on the old Navy base and WESTBROOK BREWING in Mount Pleasant.

These are dedicated beer producers who love to experiment.

So here's a place to buy hundreds of these distinctive brews from all over the world.

And, they have four kegs tapped so you can sit down and enjoy a beer.

Here's the Master Bedroom I just walked through in Mt. Pleasant.

This converted home opened a few months ago. It's called HOUSE OF BREWS.

This I believe used to be the dining room before the whole house was dedicated to all things brewed.

Yes, that would include tea.

And a variety of tea pots and beer glasses.

In Belgium, there is a glass for each type of beer.

As I said in an earlier blog, "they had me at KWAK." This brew haus makes it possible to have that experience.

They have bottles of that beer AND they can sell you the cute bulb-bottomed glass in a wooden holder.

Then you go home and fill it up.

A house is not a home..until it's filled with beer.

(Click on the photos to see more details.) Thanks for stopping in. Wish I could pour you a beer.

Actually I'm drinking one right now.

A Foggy Day...

2011-09-11T23:28:00.009-04:00

Saw this in San Francisco.

It was posted on the side of a downtown bus stop kiosk.

Not surprisingly, there was a bank of thick white fog rolling across the "City By The Bay" even as I stopped to take my lop-sided skewed photo.

During my week there, the fog appeared every day but one.

And that one day was crystal clear.

I had just taken a taxi up quite steep Russian Hill and had clear views of Coit Tower on an adjacent hill.

The crisp downtown high rise buildings sprawled below me.

The next day I was aboard a Ferry for a cruise from Oakland to the Ferry Building on the Embarcadero.

This HAS to be the best travel bargain ever.

Go from point A to B to C and enjoy a changing harbor view along the way.

On the ferry return trip, I watched the fog inch over the hills of small Angel Island.

It was a regular ferry stop to pick up day-trippers and their bicycles.

I am assuming these are multi-speed bikes with fancy gears that let you pedal up and down the hills.

Of course, this is fog-in-motion.

Not a blinding "white out" that blocks out everything for hours at a time.

If the table with a view is empty, just wait a few minutes.

The swirling mist probably will clear away.

Your seat by the window is ready. Enjoy.

(Click to see more details. Unless it's foggy.) London has the pea soup-type fog. This one is fun to watch as it creeps along. Please stop by again to see what else happens on this recent trip. Did I mention the guys in theGentleman's Club who dress like 1920s gangsters? I will.

Things you learn "on the road"...

2011-09-07T16:22:00.011-04:00

The world famous San Diego Zoo has approximately a gazillion visitors a year.

It has many helpful signs to make your visit more enjoyable.

The animals are grouped in logical clusters - country of origin - and arranged so they are easily visible to the public.

Oh, they can duck into their caves and hiding spots but usually are right out there.

I like that they also identify every tree. Because the zoo is also a noted zoological garden, I guess they almost have to.

No, I did NOT place my hat on the head of a cute baby seal.

It was a statue next to where real polar bears frolicked in the water.

Yes, the water was cold.

You can walk around the giant place or take a guided bus tour.

Overhead is an aerial tramway that takes you across the entire zoo.When I looked down, the monkeys were gawking up at me.

Just as famous - and a lot older - is the San Diego Harbor.

This is a real Navy Town.

There are TWO aircraft carriers to tour and they serve lunch on the fantail of the USS Midway. Hey, Patriots Point.. hint* hint*.

Larger-than-life statues form a Salute To Bob Hope and the dockside centerpiece is a GIANT statue of the Navy nurse in Times Square being kissed on VJ Day when Japan surrendered in WWII.

In fact, the whole harbor area was filled with 20 different ships, from Tall-masted schooners to a Russian submarine admitting visitors.

The Queen of them all though was the 149-year old STAR OF INDIA.

Her sails unfurled, she was a stately reminder of the harbor history.

Her iron hull - the first ever - was 3x the thickness it actually needed to be and enabled her to survive all these years.

Once a year she sails around the harbor and I bet the 150th anniversary will be something extra special!

(Click twice to make the pictures bigger.)

It was fun visiting San Diego again.

My blog started 5 years ago writing about things that happened there. Go back and check it out.

Thanks for dropping in.

Burglers ....Orange Alert!

2011-09-05T15:32:00.010-04:00

So you plan ahead for your vacation.

You have the post office hold your mail.

The newspaper is asked to NOT stack up the daily news in your yard.

The porch light burns night and day.

Don't want the bad guys to know you're away.

You come home to find the yellow pages directory has been hanging on your gate for 10 days. In a bright orange bag so it'll be noticed.

No signs of a break in and nobody ever steals phone books.

Good grief, I just downloaded 1098 pictures from my digital camera.

Two full memory cards.

Back in the day, a 35mm camera could shoot about 36 shots and then you had to stop and reload another roll of film.

A strong reminder that photo processing was expensive.

But, without digital, I might have missed a shot of my grandson testing his new/old Pogo Stick.

Andrew and I had gone to a HUGE Swap Meet in San Diego. He spotted this and the haggling started.

He bought it on the way out. Smart young man.

He and his sister Alex took me to see the extra high surf generated from a storm in New Zealand.

I mentioned we have The Washout at Folly Beach.

People were being alerted that high surf meant more possible peril to life and limb.

Surfers were out in force.

Danger is a warning to some and an attraction to others.

The grandchildren asked if I remembered the roller coaster at the beach that was built in 1929.

I said I did recall the wooden "monster."

I then changed the topic to ice cream.

Andrew's 3-scoop banana split looked VERY good.

I asked the counter man to make me one too.

Hey, bananas are healthy.

They are good for you.

(Click on the photos to see more details.)

Yes, of course there will be more vacation photos! Do come back and see what else happened in my personal vacation from retirement.

Backstage Pass!

2011-08-20T13:23:00.011-04:00

Behind-the-scenes. Finally!

I returned to my native Charleston in '93 and discovered the MUSIC FARM about 3-4 owners ago.

Have attended shows there for years and years.

Working at the paper, I really had no reason - or justification - to request a Media Pass.

I retired 7 years ago and started writing this blog a few years later.

I enjoy a local trio THE DEFILERS and their Punkabilly/country sound.

Arleigh Hertzler, guitar & lead vocals, was great playing at The Mill but I can't take all the cigarette smoke there.

He said "Chuck, we're playing The Music Farm in August."

I put it on my calendar.

Arleigh arranged for me to come up the stairs and enter the Green Room where many of my favorite players hung out.

I looked out the window, down at the stage. Just as Robert Randolph and Jimbo Mathus had done.And Little Feat and Acoustic Syndicate.

I passed on through (it really IS painted green) and quietly went down the backstage stairs.

Stickers were plastered all around of other bands who had played Charleston.

Painted arrows pointed the way back to the Green Room or out to the stage. Often this area is darkened and lighted only by a stagehand with a small flashlight, directing performers.

I peeked around the corner and stuck out my camera.

Awesome view.

It certainly was worth the wait. Thanks Arleigh.

Play well.

(Click on the photos for more detail. Welcome to the Backstage Tour.)Listen responsibly (ear protectors!)Thanks for humming along. Come back soon.

Good news and bad news...

2011-08-18T10:18:00.010-04:00

Well, the oil change thing turned out good.

The fine people at TIRE KINGDOM in Mt. Pleasant looked at my coupon, good for a $17.99 service and said "Hey, we have a coupon online that will save you even more."

And they did. And it did.

In addition to changing the oil, adding tax and disposal fees, topping off all the car's fluids, rotating the tires and totally checking out the car, the total was $18.05. Wow.

Not only that, they have a hallway from their waiting room right into a Starbucks. Sweet.

So, riding high from this exchange, now I find I'm battling TWO banks.

Circle the wagons, Pilgrim, we're surrounded by people who want to mess with us.

Each month, one bank routinely ignores the password I use. Same password every month. Gets bounced.

Today it also did not recognize my computer. Same computer for almost two years.

Then, of course, it shut me out because I had tried too often.

I have a call in to my "personal banker."

The other bank pays good interest on MY money but it decides the hoops and hurdles I have to overcome to earn it.

So many transactions in a certain amount of days. BUT, they keep track of the "allowable" days that are credited.

Oops, we disagreed on one of the days. They say I was a day short. They kept the interest.

I have a call in for that "personal" banker too.

(Click on the pictures to see gigantic enlargements!) When clipping coupons, don't forget to check online too. Stuffing your money into a mattress gives you a comfortable feeling no banker ever has.

Not Exactly Chump Change....

2011-08-16T20:24:00.011-04:00

My 5-year old car needs some attention.

Well, they aren't even making my Saturn Ion anymore!

It was under an extended 5-year warranty (the pay-extra-to-extend-total-coverage) until the first of the year. Of course, the day that ended I expected trouble to start.

Not at all. It's been a fine car.

It was my first NEW car since I pushed a 1973 VW Super Beetle out of the new car showroom.

The mileage is low since I'm retired but it still needs to have the oil changed.

Notice the sign suggests I ask for details. That hint is in much smaller letters.

Had not really shopped around yet so I drove in and was told it would be "about 45 minutes wait for an oil change.

I had a novel with me so no problem there. "So it'll be $17.99, right?" I asked for details.

"Yes. IF you pay with our company credit card, otherwise, the regular rate applies."

Counting a $3 charge for oil disposal (Isn't THAT what they do?) and taxes, it actually would cost about $34.95

.
I did not have their credit card nor did I want one.

I drove home to start some comparison shopping.

Apparently the LARGE price is not the best way to sort out who is going to change your oil.

You know the dealer would charge more - well, if I still HAD a dealer.

Reading the tiny, tiny small print I see some offer 5 quarts of oil and others will give you 6. Disposal fees are $2.50 or $3.00.

Oh, you want REAL oil, not synthetic? Sure, but that good stuff runs a couple of dollars more. (Does OPEC know we can make fake oil?)

I see some will rotate your tires. For free.

Better ask for details.

(Click the images to see more detail. The small print still will be small though.) I once saw a sign that offered to change your radio push buttons for $1. Each?
Thanks for stopping by. Check your brakes.

Good Shot(s)!

2011-08-13T15:46:00.010-04:00

A new restaurant bar named HoM has opened on upper King Street - in the 500 block - near Cannon Street.

One thing that sets it apart from all the others...it has two professional ping-pong tables in the back.

Not pool tables, but Forrest Gump-style paddle and little white ball set ups.

These are not the spindly legged shaky tables we all have seen in basements and rec centers.

The real deal. Sturdy. And there are LARGE graphics hanging on the wall.

At this particular table, you hear "Good shot" said aloud often.

On the way there, I had passed a quiet softly-lighted fire station on Cannon Street.

I had grown up on Society Street a block from the similar-looking station on Meeting at Wentworth Street.

After I left the Ping-Pong Bar, I was walking back to my car, aware that it was a nice slightly warm evening in a quiet neighborhood.

But, when all the red lights started flashing, I knew these firefighters were headed out on a possible emergency.

Unfortunately, they often have to make house calls.

I snapped a quick shot and wished them a safe evening.

(Click on pix for details.) Whoever chose that graphic above the table had a sense of humor.

Daunting. Dirty Harry-ish.

Play responsibly and stop by again.

Back in the day...

2011-08-09T19:56:00.012-04:00

I have worked with - and for - advertising agencies.

There, I'm not ashamed to admit I tried to convince people they needed to buy something.

Actually I had a client even BEFORE I joined an agency in Florida.

A wealthy local businessman wanted to be a professional race car driver and somehow he hired me to find him a sponsor. Or several if possible. Racing is 'spensive.

First step was create a brochure that explained what we were selling, what the benefits of being his sponsor were and, finally, what it cost.

This is the cover of the folder I developed to combine racing and business.

Unfortunately, he was a better business owner than driver. He NEVER finished a race so a sponsor would not see his name on the car at the front of the pack.

That's a tough sell but he was a nice guy.

After I did join a small agency, one of my clients was the North County Fair and they challenged me - the new guy - to come up with something different.

Well, sure.

Rides, animals, 4-H, cotton candy, family, balloons, wholesome fun.

Mix all that together and you come up with a vivid colorful piece of cross stitch (needlepoint?) art.

Wish I had taken a better shot of the huge billboard. Looked sweet!

I have seen my share of advertising ideas and unusual promotions.

One memento I treasure is a Life Time Membership card I was awarded when I retired from the newspaper.

It was an ad man's ideal dream. A value that continues to generate goodwill.

Something you show your friends.

This is so great THEY want one.

The clerk taking the card is impressed.

People nearby watch in awe as the card is run through the machine.

You hear a little murmur of envy from the crowd.

What a concept!

A friend - a customer - for LIFE!

What could go wrong?!

No...really?!

(Click on these old photos and they MIGHT get larger. But, probably not. That was old technology.) Read ads, clip coupons and go shopping. Don't buy groceries when you're hungry. Thanks for stopping by.

Let There Be Light(s)....(a "sample" ad)

2011-08-06T11:54:00.007-04:00

Do you need an 8-foot long light for your shop or garage? I found four very old ones and they're $10 each. As is.

I've cleaned them up a bit but you probably will want to spray a coat of white paint on before you wire them up.

The two 75watt bulbs are NOT included.

Hey...$10 each to light up your life.

My dad probably brought these back to his shop in the 1970s when he was remodeling and retro-fitting drug stores. He installed a string of them to light his own workspace.

These four he stashed in a corner, out of sight, behind something. I just spotted them, stacked neatly.

Somebody called and asked if they had reflectors (no), if they were wired with a plug-in (no)and were they ready to use (no).

I reminded him these things sell for $80 or $90 online at Tru-Value and Amazon.com. And the bulbs are not included there either.

Another guy said a friend had told him about these. Wanted to know if the red, green and yellow still worked??

Seems he was looking for STOP lights.

(Click on the images to see more detail). This is a typical ad I compose to help sell items I find in my Dad's old workshop or around the house. Click on the link to see others. A picture in an ad makes it much more effective! Thought I would just show how my blog helps me sell things. Thanks. Shop responsibly.

Dog - and Cat - Days of Summer...

2011-07-31T17:31:00.012-04:00

Saw this in a cart at Sam's Club a while back.

I didn't ask the "cat lady" how many she had.

The packaging look on the bag has just changed but I'm sure my kitty recognized what I brought in from the car.

It's August and I hope she knows how lucky she is to be living the good life as an INSIDE cat.

MAN, it's extra hot right now.

Summer time and the parking gets choosey.

It's "Park Southern Style" time. That means in the shade.

Oh sure, you'll walk further but you're rewarded when you get back to your car.

Cruise slowly through the parking lot looking for a good spot.

Yes, the shady space tucked under the trees.

Thank goodness there was one left.

When I come back, it will be cooler when I open the door and climb in.

If you've been to a place before, you just figure where the shade will develop and pull in there.

Beats baking on the tarmac in August.

I've been doing this for years. Even when I lived out in California.

In San Diego I saw cars double-parked at the entrance to a hiking trail.

And it wasn't even in the shade.

(Click on the photos to see the shady spots in more detail.)You really should wear a wide-brimmed hat these days. Protects the tops of your ears from sunburning. Stop by again. Thanks.

The "Other" Purring Machine....

2011-07-27T17:33:00.011-04:00

[From the Kitten Diary]
OK, the guy that lives here with me seems to be working out fine.

We had a little trouble right at the start with that trip to the animal shelter.

We had only just met and what happened there was a big surprise - and painful - but he seemed apologetic.

I like the dry food and he buys BIG bags of the crunchy stuff.

The scratching post is not as much fun as his couch but he settles down and seems calmer when I get up here.

The ring thing is new and shiny and it spins nicely.

He unpacked something a few days ago that seems to have a mind of its own.

I hoped it was maybe another kitten - a playmate - someone to chase around.

Nope. THIS is no cat!

Doesn't smell right.

It moves around so we could play together.

Likes to run in circles though.

And I'm not too sure about that strange purring sound.

And, Boy,it turns on a dime, I mean REALLY sudden fast turns. What the...?

It goes under furniture where I can't go??

I jumped up on the couch but it looks like it can't get up here. Didn't even try.

It went UNDER the couch. What a doofus.

The thing stayed in the living room until today.

All my toys in the kitchen were picked up and put somewhere out of reach?!

A few pieces of Meow Mix Kibble I had been batting around disappeared after this "thing" wandered around under the table and chairs.

I sense the fur I've been shedding is missing too.

Keeping my eye on this newcomer.

(Click on the photo for more detail) This is the FIRST entry from the cat's journal...probably not the last.

My Business Was Carded...

2011-07-24T22:29:00.022-04:00

So 20 years ago I was living in Tallahassee and formed a business to create photo business cards.

Unique. One of a kind.

I showed people they could have their face, their store, their product on a VERY personal card.

Oh, a few people had tacky cards printed on flimsy Kodak photo paper.

But, mine were real cards, printed on a 6-color high speed press in Toronto, Canada. You could even write notes on the back.

Find a need, fill it better than anyone else for a fair price and you'll succeed.

When I came back to Charleston I still would keep my eye out for a suitable business for my cards.

Say you were on Folly Beach about 12 years ago and you owned a bar/restaurant that overlooked the ocean

Now, THAT's the picture you should have on your card!

Of course, a few years later, the view was completely blocked by a 4-story Condo but you see my point.

A pretty scene. A pretty card.

Sometime you just wanted your face on the card. Or be pictured in front of the sign on the front of your place.

It was fun giving out MY card for Boyd Multi-Media

Keep in mind that picture of me WAS taken 20 years ago. The phone number is accurate though after all these years.

Well, the area code was updated when we changed from 803.

Actually, I did meet a guy when I was still in Florida who had a unique card.

His you could even call MORE unique because it was printed on a thin, thin piece of wood.

And it's one of the few I've kept.

Wonder how many trees died for his cards?

Now, you can go online to design and order your cards to hand out. The price is a LOT less than I used to charge so I guess I'm no longer in that business.

I get mine online and was able to be fairly creative.

My Smartphone also now can display my QR (Quick Response) code.

Other Smartphones can scan it and bring up and store my web site.

Good thing too because I just changed to Gmail so I have to order a batch of new cards now that I'm no longer on Comcast.net.

(As usual, click on the photos for more details.)Thanks for stopping by to read my blog. Leave your card.