Well, it WAS a lively discussion....
This was the third time I had signed up to attend a 1st Thursday meeting of the
Charleston Blogger group.
I've done more than 700+ postings on my blog so I wanted to meet other locals who do this.
Twice I have had to cancel my RSVP.
Tonight I made it to Barnes & Noble and, after buying a cafe mocha, was directed by the Manager to the area in the back by the CDs and DVDs where the folding chairs were stacked.
I sat myself down.
A few minutes later I was joined by Madeline. She wants to learn how to blog.
It was her first Blogger meeting but she and I HAD met before.
On a breezy Saturday morning inside Park Circle just before Christmas.
I knew she looked familiar and she said I had taken her picture before.
We were both
Tai Chi In The Park members and, yes, I had written a blog about that morning exercise session. She had read it.
Tonight, as we waited for others, we talked about our backgrounds and I told her about my Photography Group.
Madeline mentioned several local organizations she enjoyed. I said I was retired from the paper and we both laughed when she called it the
News and Courier. Each of us grew up here calling it that.
She had lived in Europe and I have traveled there so we talked about Germany. Then The Netherlands. And, of course, Belgian waffles.
A very nice B&N employee came by to check and make sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed for the meeting.
Something was indeed missing. Other members.
Almost an hour passed and nobody else showed up so we gathered our things and left. On the way, I returned my plate to the coffee section on the other side of the store.
I bade her a "safe driving" wish as we headed for our cars in a light sprinkling of rain.
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My plan is to RSVP for next month.
I still would like to meet some fellow bloggers.
Also, I had forgotten to use my
Starbucks discount Groupon.
(Click on the single picture I took for more details.)
Labels: Barnes and Noble, Belgian waffles, Charleston Blogger Meetup, News & Courier, Rittenburg Boulevard, Starbuck Groupon, Tai Chi In The Park
A Walk In The Park...
The predicted rain showers did not appear this Saturday morning so I went to my first
Tai Chi In The Park session.
This local MeetUp group meets monthly in, well, in a park.
Last month it was in Azalea Park in Summerville.
The January outdoor training event will be at the Battery, in White Point Gardens, next to the gazebo.
With benefits including movement, balance and healing. Tai Chi is a good way to stay active I have been told.
Turns out I was the only first-timer there today.
One lady had attended once before but the rest were very agile and much smoother in their movements than I.
I saw a squirrel in Park Circle that outperformed my efforts.
It was much more activity than I anticipated.
It was NOT just a Slo-Mo type of line dance, these people broke a sweat as they performed the ritual steps, dips, twists and hand movements.
Later Saturday, North Charleston would have a celebration at Park Circle, officially opening the festive holiday season lights.
Cars will slowly drive around the circle as riders ooh and aah at the annual Christmas spectacle.
As the Tai Chi session ended, the leader had added leg kicks. I was using muscles "in my core" that I had not really thought about before.
He encouraged us to "float" with the motions as we "went with the flow" or "pushed away."
My muscles are feeling the effects now. In a good way.
It was suggested that I get some books about Tai Chi to be better informed and I will. I also have found some DVDs online that demonstrate the "first four positions."
Another mentions the "first eight steps" so I don't see this as a fast education. It seems like a healthy discipline worth learning.
I'll leave all the technical and background explanations to people who have studied this internal martial art that is practiced for both defense training and for its health benefits.
When I was in San Francisco, I saw groups like this outdoors and admired the slow movements and feeling of calm and mental clarity.
We all can use some of that.
(Click on the photos for more detail.)
Thanks for stopping by.
It was a nice day in the Park (Circle).
Drive by at night to see the lights.
Stay limber.
Labels: calmness, Christmas lights, go with the flow, meditation, North Charleston, Park Circle, Tai Chi In The Park, well being, Yin and Yang
