06/24 It’s “Summertime”…..

Wow. Months have gone by since I last did an overview. Or since ANYONE has.

It must be about time for a seasonal change at least. Lots of good reading – as usual – so jump right in and come back often.

Here’s a Fish Photo Contest which raises several questions: pictures OF fish? BY a fish? The musical group PHISH? Use a fish instead of a camera? Hey, they all work for scale.

There’s a new telephone Party Line in town. You might say I phone for it.

Cool and summery meal-planning has to include cold sandwiches..right? Can someone loan me a radish?

Whoa. Blood thirsty children is a good topic. Also Camp Puff ‘n Stuff and a certain sunset at a beach on The Edge Of America. Scenic stories. Great combo.

When you have happy  dogs running around your house  you can wear a t-shirt that says “Sit Happens.” If you take pictures of them you can call it a Photo Walk.

Kittens in the house usually means there are no dogs around. Just the BOYZ: Loki, Thor and Jason. Follow their adventures right here. Almost daily depending on the attitude of the computer.

Finally, being a working Mom is always a balancing act. Here’s a view.

Thanks for checking in on the Low Country Bloggers. I’m Chuck and I invite you to wander over and see my comments.

Global warming, huh?

03/22 Sunny and Warm…

Charleston sunshine and the living is easy. Oh yeah, it just became Spring so it’s too soon for lyrics from “Summertime.”

Actually, living here is not so hot right now. Our cruise ships seem to be  infected  with a resistant stowaway bug and a new virus may be inside your computer. Be very, very wary.

The Aquarium has a new colorful creature with a distinctive look and a temporary name. You can call him Al or “cake breath,” but the public soon will have a chance to suggest a more permanent name.

And, just when you think all the proper names are in place, someone wants to change  longstanding  nomenclature. Next we’ll be calling  the chief residents at Disney World Minnie and Micey Mouse.

Take a look at a pictorial report from a local photographer who is far flung right now. She updates us on  what’s New in New Zealand. Apparently everyone is somewhere else.

The eager beavers in the forest know the seasons have changed. You’ll have a better online closeup view than standing up on the boardwalk – and you’re not allowed to step down into the swamp.

Being a Blogger means you often receive comments contrary to what you might have expected. Even here in the  “polite” Holy City  opinions and reactions fly and the fact of being anonymous often strips away the niceties of civil discourse.

We’re going to hear a lot about The Bridge Run/Walk and everyone has a view on the new Health Care Reform legislation but I wanted to tip you off about a new attraction in Atlanta that isn’t controversial. Well, maybe if you’re a Pepsi drinker.

This is Chuck and it seemed about time to update an overview of the Blogger diversity here in our Lowcountry. Get outdoors and enjoy yourselves. Thank you.

02/14 Snow, Valentines & NASCAR

Let’s call it “Polite Charleston Snow.”

It only falls every few years, blankets everything beautifully in white and then is gone the next day.  We’re an active part of the 49-out-of-50. A snow sampler if you would.

There were plenty of snow pictures online, in the newspaper and on television of snowmen, kids romping , stunned & chilled palmetto trees and the sound of “ice bergs shifting overhead.”

Everybody whipped out their cameras and became  photographers to capture the beauty and the odd wonders that appear when our familiar sights became most uncommon. Sharing pictures with friends and relatives up north or other cold climes receive a general response of “You call THAT snow?”

Some of us kicked back, relaxed and realized a snowy Friday leads into a laid back weekend and we all deserve a wintry “time out.”

Hey, be warned that not all those wet spots on the floor are tracked-in snow. Better look closer.

A walking-talking- year-round Valentine is a pleasant person with an upbeat  attitude, a positive outlook and an eye for things that please others. When you find that, share the love.

In the midst of a rare nature’s treat and a heart-felt holiday, we return again to the wonderful drama of loud high-performance cars racing around long and short tracks with restricted and un-restricted plates (whatever that means).

Hope this overview helps you to sample the diversity of blogs produced right here in our lowcountry. Keep your windshield ice scraper in a safe place so you can find it again in a hurry.

I’m Chuck and my palm trees have already recovered. Oh, and be sure to support live music.

01/26 Local happenings

First off, I’d like to thank Chuck for stepping in with the roundups lately and keeping this place from becoming a digital wasteland.

Coworking in Charleston is starting to take off, with weekly co-working sessions happening every Tuesday sponsored by the Rehava folks. Chucktown Deals podcasted (their very first one!) with a few coworking folks at today’s session. If you’re one of the ‘digital nomads’ tired of hanging out at the local coffee shop or bookstore all by your lonesome, head up to Rehava and hang out with some other fellow nomads.

Leigh is having a grand opening for her new studio space. Stop by and say hi!

Read Charlie has the photos from the latest incarnation of Pecha Kucha Charleston.

On the CSA (community supported agriculture) front, Charleston Foodie reports that Rita’s Roots, Charleston’s first CSA is leaving.

Unfortunate foodie news today that Rita’s Roots, organic vegetable farm located on Wadmalaw Island, SC, will be taking their produce North to Richmond,VA. Hard to believe that only three years ago, Rita Buchmann established the Lowcountry’s first Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program* on Johns Island, bringing locally-grown organic product directly to consumers. Now one of ten CSA programs, Rita’s product has also been readily available at area farmer’s markets and found on the menus of local restaurants.

Mike’s back in the blogging game, and he’s been sharing a few recipes.

Dan’s has a question for politically minded techies:

To what political and regulatory issues should the tech community be paying the most attention in 2010 and 11? What reforms (or assaults on our freedoms) should we view with the greatest wariness?

While you’re out exploring the world, stop by and check out my latest project: Charleston Eats.

01/24 Venturing Outside Again…

The rotten weather has shifted to California …and back to the middle of the country. Whew – finally – a breather for us in the Southeast. We almost experienced a Lake (Murray) snow effect and Canada was worried about a possible cold snap from South Carolina.

The chill whetted my appetite but not quite to the point of an 11-pound pizza. Well, depending on the toppings. And, you always want to be careful planning a SURPRISE! 70th birthday party. I know, I recently had a nice one.

Bad weather keeps the kids inside so Moms have to keep on their toes to stay ahead. And you tend to read a bit more thus a quote  such as “the body was splayed on the kitchen floor” will more than likely grab your attention.

Venturing out of course opens the door to all sorts of social events and we are always looking for new views of Charleston and what is of special interest here in the Low country.

The terrible news from Haiti did produce a rare bright spot and here are some observations – and photos -  on the bird whose ” mouth holds more than its belly can.”

Speaking of photos, a local man with a Leica muses on why he took a particular photo which prompts me to share the news of finding a new camera very suited to my needs. If you are patient, they will build it and people will buy it.

This is just a sample – an overview – of delightful blogs produced locally.

This is Chuck. Go see what the fuss is all about. Thank you.

01/09 Weather or not….

Global warming has been delayed. You might even say it has been put on ice.

There is no fireplace handy so can’t throw another log on the fire but it’s tempting to nudge the thermostat up a notch or two. Can’t remember if Charleston’s climate is listed as “tropical” or “semi-tropical” but right now it’s certainly not “typical.”

It’s safe to say that when your toothpaste is frozen the temperature is in free fall and it’s probably time to reassess your surroundings, your relationships and your expectations.

A series of cold, cold days in an unrelenting row is a good time to do some indoor testing, especially if you’re in the midst of a pell mell meltdown. And, reaching out to help someone in need is especially good when there are 24 degrees of anxiety. Sometimes a supportive kind word or suggestion is all it takes.

Ever have a sinking feeling that leaves many unanswered questions? In depth research – and underwater photography – often provides answers and allows an informed discussion of an issue. Just the facts, ma’am.

Chill out. While it’s not always Red Sales In The Sunset, selling items no longer needed is a good way to gain a few bucks, clear some space and provide treasures to someone else.

The 300th time just might be the charm. Doing anything that often is bound to bring results – expected and unexpected. Makes you want to stay the course and aim for the 400th. Or 500th?

Peeling tomatoes often is the easy part part in a tasty sausage pasta meal when you know how to do it. Has to be easier than taking the skin off those tiny little grapes. And Vice Presidents usually don’t misspell “grape” either.

“First do no harm” is part of a special oath for professionals and probably should be a goal everybody aspires to in their lives. Not a bad place to start regardless of the weather or time of year.

“Hey, look at that is another common expression that could help one share an experience on a frosty evening. I’m Chuck and hope you’ll enjoy the views I’ve gathered here for a Roundup. Thanks…and stay warm.

12/28 Old Ends HERE…

If you’re looking for gold star charts showing  “Best of the year” or “Decade Of  The Century” or “Millennium Moments,” etc. better look elsewhere. Lots of people are making their lists and checking them twice. This, however,  is a roundup of local bloggers posting their thoughts as the year winds down.

They had me at “Squeakquel” even before I started seeing Sold Out signs at the theaters. Grabbing my attention meant the search for tickets was on…A-L-V-I-N!

Delightful kitchen aromas beckoned us to nosh and chat and enjoy family gatherings . Diet is a 4-letter word that will come to mind a little bit later. Just savor the moment for now.

The red Santa suit is hanging back in the closet with moth balls in the pockets. ‘Tis the season to relax and reflect on yet another successful production.

Meanwhile, an enjoyable Myrtle Beach musical interlude was captured by an experienced photographer and he shares his love for the band with all of us. Jot down the name of the performers ( it has a familiar ring) and try to catch their live show as soon as you can.

Hey, we see a pattern developing here – perhaps setting a 20-30 year high, er, that is, a 20-30 year low. Bring in the plants and throw another log on the fire. Think about hot and humid summers.

The teens have their vampires and werewolves and  slow-moving zombies continue their undead shambling for our attention. So where does Lady Gaga fit into all this? Check here for all the answers.

A good thing to remember when using SKYPE and your webcam to communicate with others is to smile and not shake and shiver violently. Try to remember the heat and humidity that will show up here again. Eventually.

Is it possible to have a happy car crash? Sure, if your dozing dogs are doing the crashing and NOT doing the driving.

This year ends, the new one starts and the debate will continue on what defines a decade.

I hope you get to see and hear Rory Block when she comes back to Charleston. I saw the Blues and root music star perform recently and wrote about the evening at the Pour House. Thanks.

12/11 Oh yeah… Office Parties.

One big downside to being retired is missing the office parties and grazing through trays of sugar cookies in the break area. Yeah, that’s about the ONLY bad part.

Planning an office party at a bowling alley should be so easy that even a caveman could do it.

This time of year we are especially reminded of how important we are to businesses. People with products and services to sell are wise to make an extra effort to make customers feel wanted and appreciated.

As the year comes to an end, it’s often good to look back at important milestones…such as a ’stache review. And you should always encourage a new blogger when they do their first posting.

Football and Bingo usually go hand-in-hand (?) but, when you really think about it, maybe there could be a connection. This is a blogger Roundup – not The Answer Man.

It would take a whole committee to answer some questions and situations and, fortunately, some people have grouped together to share their “collective wisdom.”  It’s good to see what is on their mind(s) every now and then.

Yes, you did hear a loud sigh of relief as a semester ended and the second guessing began. Do students still stop the instructor and ask “will THIS be on the exam?” I always thought that was a good approach to studying.

Vintage bike pictures are always a treat, especially when the clever captions are supplied by a clever man who really knows his bicycles.

And that’s a good segue to discuss pictures taken one hundred years ago on large glass slides and viewing them on a modern laptop computer. This is Chuck and that actually happened a few days ago at a photography meetup.

Stay warm this weekend. Thanks.

12/08 Fourth Annual Festival of Wreaths

The Shops At Charleston Place and ASID Present:
The Fourth Annual Festival Of Wreaths

Thursday, December 10, 2009, 6-8 pm at Palmetto Café

Join us for savory hors d’oeuvres, bubbly champagne and live holiday music while perusing and bidding on locally made wreaths and mingling with friends.
All proceeds will benefit the MUSC Children’s Hospital.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.
To purchase, please visit the Orient-Express Boutique in Charleston Place Hotel or call 843-937-9142.

** Complementary parking is available at the Charleston Place garage on Hasell Street with validation during event hours

I have two tickets to this event, benefits go to MUSC Children’s Hospital. If you’re on Twitter follow #FOW.

To enter, leave a comment and I will randomly select a winner tomorrow at noon.

11/27 It’s VERY dark at 3:00am

Black Friday is officially over.

While many stores will continue their price-slashing frenzy, you don’t have to be up before the sun to grab the bargains. One early-rising shopper lamented his pre-dawn lack of caffeine.

Roaming around in the dark is no place to play games and we are reminded that the online people have their day coming up on Cyber Monday.

Don’t forget that this particular Friday or Monday is not the only option to save money. Day-by-day opportunities are on the shelf right in front of us 24/7. Sort of like going on a grocery store cattle drive if you’re into branding.

This might be a good moment to take a break and maybe grab a bite to eat. Something to keep up your strength as you pile high slices of leftovers to make some of that turkey disappear. Actually, this is a guest appearance by a person who hopefully has visited Hawaii …you know… the state formerly known as the Sandwich Islands.

Now that Thanksgiving has passed, we continue marking the calendar to the next great holiday and try to see it through a child’s eyes. I believe the countdown started just before Halloween this year. Seems to move forward earlier and earlier.

One economic surprise gift that our area received early this year might be out shadowed by an even greater one that looks likely to be really HUGE.

Here’s a football fan of America’s Team that got his birthday wish granted but who also has to contend with an automated phone dialer that keeps him irritated on a daily basis. “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”

When you decide to go out on your own and actually work from home, you should recognize that you will miss more than idle chatter by the water cooler. Look down. There also is no safety net beneath you.

Have you ever hopped on the back of a powerful motorcycle and taken off fast on a winding road? Or perhaps had the passenger sitting behind you as you navigate the curves? In college I had a Vespa motor scooter. Briefly. Check out this web log site. It’s much, much more exciting than my scooter ever was.

I did not think I would be doing another Roundup so soon but it’s always a pleasure. I’m Chuck and invite you to go and see what I’ve been up to. Thanks.