Superstorm Sandy Donation Sites

Broad St., Charleston, S.C

We still have flowers blooming in our window boxes while the north east has been whipped to shreds. The Post & Courier passed on these donation sites accepting contributions for victims of the superstorm. Let's do it. 

The Red Cross: If you would like to give to the Red Cross, which has opened more than 190 shelters along the East Coast and has hundreds of disaster relief workers on standby, you can donate online, by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10. The Red Cross is also seeking blood and platelet donations. To learn more, visit RedCrossBlood.org.

The Salvation Army: You can donate $10 to the Salvation Army by texting “STORM” to 80888. If you are already volunteer-certified, you can sign up to help out with disaster relief.

AmeriCares: You can donate to AmeriCares’ relief fund to help the organization, which is distributing supplies to 130 clinics in the 13 states affected by Sandy.

World Vision: Despite flooding at its Bronx, N.Y. warehouse, World Vision is organizing relief efforts. You can text “GIVEUSA” to 777444 to make a $10 donation, or donate online to help.

Operation USA: If you would like your donations to go to efforts abroad, Operation USA is helping victims in Haiti and Cuba, who were also deeply affected by the storm. In addition to donating online, you can text “AID” to 50555 to give $10.

International Medical Corps: Another option for donating abroad is the International Medical Corp, who are coordinating efforts in Haiti.

New York Blood Center: You can donate blood, which will be used to help injured people, as well as hospital blood banks affected by the storm.

Stretch & Smile

Yoga Marathon, Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

I was walking downtown this morning and tried to time my walk to coincide with the Yoga Marathon at Marion Square thinking it might be a fun photo op. It was but my timing was off and I had to leave before the actual event started. No worries, I think I got the relaxed and fun part of the event.

This is the 9th Annual Yoga Marathon benefiting Louie's Kids. 

 

Crepe Myrtle Season

Crepe Myrtle, Charleston, S.C.

Charleston's colorful summer gift - Crepe Myrtles trees. They have a distinctive smooth bare trunk. When I was teaching my kids the names of trees I would always say, "Myrtle! Get some clothes on!"

Cavallero Supper Club on Wheels

Old Cavallaro Restaurant, Savannah Auto Mile, Charleston, S.C.

Two and a half miles away from the Charleston peninsula which must have seemed like the countryside then, the Cavallero was an upscale restaurant best known for it's steak dinners, live big band music and dancing. Rick Hendrick's car dealership bought the property after the restaurant closed. People still had such sentimental attachment to it that it was restored before it turned into a Honda dealership.

I remember being in it for a luncheon event but it was long past it's prime even then. Any readers have any memories of dinner and dancing on special evenings at the Cavallero?

 

What a coincidence that googling for historical information I happened upon this vintage postcard for sale on eBay today showing the interior of the old Cavallaro supper club. 

St. Patrick's Day Parade - King St.

St. Patrick's Day Parade, King St., Charleston, S.C.

They might not look like it here but this gang consists of some cracker jack Emergency Room staff from Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital! More photos here.

Cemetery Walking - 2nd Presbyterian

Eva, 2nd Presbyterian, Charleston, S.C.

They left the side gate to the cemetery open at 2nd Presbyterian for the Gospel Choir members to practice and I slipped in along with them yesterday morning in between the rains. I made my rounds visiting the lost children, Eva, Jane and simply "Our First Born". These little tombstones are heart breakers every time but I wished I had a blanket for the Eva statue. She looked so cold and alone.

Winter in Charleston

Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

We can't complain about winter this year, can we? These gorgeous gals were hoola hooping in Marion Square this morning as I walked by. Thanks Sara and Chandler! You made a perfect Charleston Daily Photo for February!

Will I be deported if I don't watch the Super Bowl? I just got home and am aiming for my corner of the couch and Downton Abbey on Masterpiece Theater. I promise to watch the highlights in reruns and act interested tomorrow.

Amuse Me

Muse, Society St., Charleston, S.C.

Isn't it pretty? The flowers are still blooming and it looked so pretty and European I couldn't help grabbing a shot as I walked by. It is the upper porch of Muse restaurant on Society St.

Who schedules a meeting at 3 p.m. on a Friday? Sigh. Made me miss my regular Friday matinee although I reckon that is what I get paid for, and I am grateful for that.

I also missed Stephen Colbert at the College of Charleston. Lots of photos being added to this article in the Post & Courier. Go Stephen!

I am getting together with a gang of women friends who worked at the hospital. All but three of the group has retired so I'll listen to them going on about their fun day trips, frequent vacations and midweek lunches while I keep plugging along. Just kidding ;)  I love 'em dearly. I made dessert. See ya ladies!

MLK Day Parade, Charleston 2012

MLK Day Parade, King St., Charleston, S.C.

Martin Luther King Day Parade on King St. I try to go every year. He was such an incredible man I like to see people celebrating in his honor. More photos uploading here: MLK Parade Charleston 2012

PS: The extra day off doesn't hurt either, does it?

A new Super Hero - Mr. Peanut

Presidential candidates swarm the Holy City

Mayor Riley at Marion Square, Charleston, S.C.

Holy confusion, kids! The city is swarming with Republicans, giant black SUVs and buses with Newt Gingrich's face plastered on the side. Newt leered in the window overseeing my caprese sandwich at Caviar & Banana. One gentleman in the crowd had a vehicle with a giant stuffed dog on the roof and a sign saying "Dogs Against Mitt Romney," so that settles that.

Newt Gingrich's bus outside Caviar & Bananas

I had planned to meet my blog buddy Chuck to talk about a few of his photo projects and to hear about a speaking engagement I had suggested him for and I didn't realize what a hotbed of activity I had picked as a location. We were directly across from the Sottile Theater where the debate was taking place.

Earlier that morning, however, I had timed my morning walk to hear Mayor Riley stake a claim in the lowcountry for President Barack Obama. He was surrounded by College of Charleston Democratic students. I ran into reporter David MacDougal who wrote the event up for the Post & Courier.

"I speak from a city and county where, four years ago, a majority of residents voted for Barack Obama as president," Riley said.

"In about an hour, in an event that is apparently closed to the press (at the Sottile Theatre), candidates will be talking" about why they should be elected to lead our country, Riley said. "We have a leader in this country. He resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and his name is Barack Obama."

Book 'em, Dannno!

Halloween 2011. Easiest costume ever! I asked our Security Officers to leave a couple of their shirts in my office over the weekend. A retired Charleston Police Officer loaned me his hat (thanks Tom!).  We passed out candy all over the hospital. I work with such great people! Good fun.

Boo Charleston!

Halloween Charleston - Lauren's St.

Halloween Charleston - Lauren's St.

Halloween Charleston - King St.

Halloween Charleston - King St

Halloween Charleston - King St

Fun walk this morning. How cute are the wee skeletons? Pretty darn cute!

World's Best Cities

Charleston, S.C.

Not sure how I feel about all this recent publicity for Charleston. We know it's the best place to live but do we have to tell everyone? Sssshhhh. I've highlighted the cities I've been to so I can see where I need to go next. Clearly I need to get back to Europe. 

The world’s 20 best cities are:

1. Sydney, Australia, 85.1
2. Florence, Italy, 85.0
3. Charleston, United States, 84.7
4. Cape Town, South Africa, 83.9
5. San Francisco, United States, 83.7
6. Santa Fe, United States, 83.0
6. Quebec City, Canada, 83.0
8. Barcelona, Spain, 82.8
9. Vancouver, Canada, 82.5
10. Rome, Italy, 82.4
11. Kyoto, Japan, 82.3
12. Chicago, United States, 82.2
13. Paris, France, 81.9
14. Bruges, Belgium, 81.7
14. Venice, Italy, 81.7

Read more: The world's best city | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/sydney/visit/worlds-best-city-423142#ixzz1bC2IPHpy

Yard Art on Legare St.

Legare St., Charleston, S.C.

Someone with a green thumb is having fun decorating. I can't help peaking through the fence to see what is new each time I walk by.

There is a new blogging posse in town!

2006 Blogger Meet Up, Charleston, S.C.



Back in Ye Olde Early Age of Blogging we were a motley crew of writers, newspaper editors, photographers, actresses, technology folks and scientists. It was wonderful for me because it took me out of my usual familiar healthcare circle and shook me up with a new and fascinating cast of characters.



Dan Conover from Xark was working at the Post & Courier at that time and made contact with some of us individually. We had a first gathering of lowcountry bloggers meet up on the patio of the Riverview restaurant overlooking the Charleston harbor in 2006 to sniff each other out and put faces to writers we already knew so much about from their writing. Bloggers gathered outside to pose for a photo op on the pretty blue mustang – the only car with a blog of it’s own - Mustang Rolling.







Dan recruited many of us to be in his zombie film Brunch of the Living Dead and I finally did something that made my children proud. Many of the friendships last to this day. Heather developed the Home Ec101 blog into a book, Gene Glave turned her blog into a one women play and sadly passed away this summer, Chuck keeps us current with the music scene, Kelly Love Johnson moved to Austin and Jared is still our weather guru. The scientist moved out of the Airstream, the artist packed up her camper but is still painting and Vera still knits at every event. Eugene kills me with his Friday dinner pictures and the Kittens are still skipping on the keyboard. Notoriously Nice Mike the first lowcountry blogger I met, is mostly nice on Facebook now.



Blogging ranks thinned out after members moved to Twitter and meet-ups became “tweet ups” or Social Media meetings. With the instant reactions people got from Twitter, later Facebook and now Google +, it seemed like blogging might disappear.



Apparently not! The first recent flurry of new activity were folks like Doug and Susie who had moved to the lowcounty and LOVED it. They posted pictures of the lowcountry sights they were discovering and featured meals at local restaurants.



Now there is a new blogging posse in town! They are young, they are stylish, they work out, cook, they almost all seem to be blonde and every one of them is drop dead gorgeous. Wowza. Check out this picture from a recent blog meet up.



Welcome to lowcounty blogland, ladies! I've been scrambling to add newcomers I discover to my Lowcountry Blog side bar. Holler if I've missed you.







Hmmmm. I feel like a Bloggy Matriarch.

Before & After - Unitarian Cemetery

Unitarian Cemetery, Charleston, S.C.



I matched up another scene from the U.S. Geological Survey collection. I was tempted to ask a random tourist to stand in the same spot as the gentleman in the picture but they were dressed in such baggy, sloppy clothes that it didn't have the same effect.



This picture was easily recognizable as the Unitarian Cemetery. It is titled: Charleston, South Carolina, Earthquake August 31, 1886. Displaced monument in the cemetery of the Unitarian Church.



Thanks again to the Librarian commenter for leading me to these fantastic old photos. There is enough on the site to entertain me for awhile! I added another few blossom photos to my cemetery collection while I was there.



I am off to bed, kids. This is the summer of the kayak and if the skies are clear I intend to explore a bit of Lake Marion in the morning.