You are as old as you feel...
Well, now that we all have been told to hunker down and isolate in our homes, my back goes out more often than I do!
Old joke, but for this older citizen, I now am cooking more at home.
NOT wandering into restaurants, craft breweries and bars as I was wont to do.
It is the new CoronaVirus reality.
I am that guy people often like to describe as older, or people of a certain age!
Less than a month ago, this "old man" enjoyed the touring U.S. Navy band in concert at CSU.
This was when we could join a crowd for a musical evening.
I made sure, on the way out afterwards, to stop and shake the hand of the Conductor, Kenneth Collins, Captain, USN.
I leaned in and told him this old Marine enjoyed the show put on for us by the Navy, His smile faded a bit with this inter-service jibe.
Earlier this month I introduced my kid brother (he's only 77) and wife to Turkish cuisine across from Tanger Outlets in North Charleston.
I miss dining out now that we are under siege by a virus but I also have always been a big supporter of live music here and at touring concerts nearby.
A weekend of The Blues with Gary Erwin (Shrimp City Slim) was enjoyed up in Camden, now shut down as a serious site of the virus that has affected us all.
Was it only a month or so ago that we could assemble there for several days of music and friends, mingling with fellow Blues fans?
With all the shutdowns and closures, I am NOT gallivanting all over the place.
Not enjoying music and new places and new adventures.
Almost makes me feel older. But, as they say, get up, get out and stay busy and entertained.
Sad to see a small cabaret playhouse close its doors because of this disease shutdown.
34 West, on Meeting Street at Pinckney - across from the always crowded Hyman's Seafood restaurant - has given me many fine evenings of laughs and camaraderie.
Such places and restaurants are having problems adjusting to the NEW times of fear of infection in crowds.
AND, all of the tickets I had bought for shows at the PAC and the Gaillard, have been canceled or postponed to September. Fingers crossed!
Oh well, we adapt and move on.
This lack of outside draws and entertainment makes me enjoy my personal exercise area at home.
Health clubs and public gyms are closed and I am fortunate to have ready access to machines that will keep me fit and toned as we all see social changes.
I also can do my binge-watching of Netflix and, HULU and Amazon Prime as I pump away at staying fit and healthy.
Someone "my age" enjoys retirement and free time to the fullest. I have traveled to Atlanta and Raleigh to see The Rolling Stones (twice in 3 weeks).
Saw Robin Williams in concert the night before he went in for a heart valve transplant.
Enjoyed Paul Simon twice; Madison Square Garden sellout crowd for Billy Joel in NYC; a chilly night in Charlotte with
John Fogerty and the recent "revival" of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Lyle Lovett, Taj Mahal, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, 'Keb 'Mo, Tab Benoit and Leon Russell a few times.
Heck, I covered the Beatles in the 1960s when I was a young photographer for the San Diego Union-Tribune newspapers!
Maybe I am one of those Keen-agers?
(Thanks for stopping by, It gets lonely here at home. Click on the photos and links for more details and come back often.)
I love company.
Labels: #Billy Joel, 34 West, home gym, Istanbul Shish Kabob, John Fogerty, Keenager, Netflix, people my age, Robin Williams.The Stones, Taj Mahal Trio, U.S. Navy Band
I got busted yesterday....
No, not for taking pictures.
This was the second time I've seen Taj Mahal at the Pour House.
This time I worked my way down front.
Really close.
The way I used to do when he played the Music Hall downtown.
There everyone was on their feet so you really could NOT stay in a seat and see anything.
But I don't use flash anyway in music venues.And there's no seating at the PoHo.
So I was good. No security and certainly no police.
A few days ago, an alert officer came into my back yard to discuss my
"code violation."
"Huh?" I yelped in surprise when he said I was in trouble with the law in Hanahan.
I glanced at my burn barrel, with cardboard boxes ready to be set on fire on a non-windy day. He had no problem with that.
"You're breaking Code chp 18-27," he said with a suddenly grim face.
I responded with another
"Huh?" and added
"what's that?"
He now was holding a thick metal rectangular box and was writing on a form.
He said
"You have grass and/or weeds over 12" tall. They MUST be cut."
I did not make any comments about the rough and dangerous job it is to be a police officer.
I did not mention that my daughter, a detective with a police department in California, had never mentioned code enforcement nor parking meters as an odious part of her work shift.
For a change I kept quiet.
I was guilty.
My lawnmower was not working and no young guys had come to my door offering to cut my lawn.
My bad.
The Code Enforcement Officer told me I had 10 days to correct the problem or a summons to appear in court would be issued.
Instead of delaying and possibly being hauled into court, I plugged in my weed eater and took a few minutes to knock down the few inches of grass.
He said the offensive problem was only in the front yard but I took care of the back yard too.
Can't be too careful.
(Click on the pictures for more details.)
These are old file photos showing a police car in my driveway a few years ago, a teenager - now probably 21 - who has done yard work in the past and a view of my front yard one morning a few months ago.
I did NOT whip out my camera and take any pictures of the officer yesterday. With or without flash.
Yikes. "Book him, Dano!"
Labels: Book him Dano, Code Enforcement, Hanahan Police Department, Please click http://photo.meetup.com/687., Taj Mahal Trio, unsightly grass and/or weeds
Photography is light .....
Taking pictures at a music concert is a challenge.
First, there might be a sign saying "No Flash Photos."
Well, I try to shoot natural light so that's not the main problem.
The
Pour House has GREAT sound. But, sometimes I am "fighting" the light man.
Changing the lights suddenly is not good. Or flashing them in your eyes. Dimming the lights - ouch! Hard to calculate exposure.
The
Music Farm has great lighting.
There's a balcony level on each side too. Gives different views.
Still, the BEST concert experience is down on the floor.
Being jostled by dancers. Drinks spilled on you. Arms pumping the air excitedly blocking your shots.
Usually, the brighter the stage, the more detail of faces in the crowd.
Shows at major venues are often so well lighted, you can have your camera set same as a regular sunny day.
Then you can freeze action at 1/200 sec.
THAT'S a "light day" at work for me.
(Click on photos for more detail.
Taj Mahal at the Pour House was SRO so more of a challenge shooting from back of the room.
Acoustic Syndicate set up additional flashing lights.
April Mary was an opening act at Music Farm.) Thanks for stopping in.
Labels: Acoustic Syndicate, April Mary, light show, Music Farm, PoHo, Pour House, Taj Mahal Trio
Was it only a month or so ago that we could assemble there for several days of music and friends, mingling with fellow Blues fans?
