Monday Musings: Charleston

"Charleston, oh Charleston, I still hear your sea winds a blowin'..."

Wait a minute...that's not quite right, is it? Glen Campbell was singing about another city by another sea.

I headed to Charleston last week for a conference. It's the first time I visited the city and I was excited to fly in early enough to see some sights...but you know what they say about best-laid plans.

This little guy went missing within the first 20 minutes I was in town.

Now, I don't know about you but I'm just not me without my iPhone. Sad, but very, very true.

I figured out right away where I must have left it...in the airport shuttle van.

But what if it fell out of the van while I was exiting. Or what if the driver found it and immediately started calling China or sold it to a stranger down at the port?

Once I stopped panicking I realized that while I didn't have my iPhone with me, I did have my iPad and I had connected all of my Apple products via the iCloud. This meant I could download the very cool (and free) Find My iPhone app.

I spent the next 5 hours watching my iPhone cruise around Charleston until the nice driver dropped it off at my hotel for me. Did I tell you that the app has Google maps on it so you can actually see images of where your device is, not just a map?

Of course, this little mishap caused me to stay in my room staring at my iPad instead of sight-seeing. I did make myself go to the restaurant in the hotel for a meal and enjoyed some Indiana-raised roasted duck from Maple Leaf Farms...yummy!

After I was reunited with my long lost phone, I snapped this photo from my hotel room window. My room overlooked Marion Square. It was in the 70s most of the time I was down in Charleston so by Noon each day the square filled up with college students and young families enjoying the gorgeous weather.

The conference I attended was quite good (more insights later) and among many other things, I learned a little bit about South Carolina's history and its rich farming background.

Did you know that South Carolina farmers used to raise lots of rice, indigo, tobacco and peaches?

In fact, today in just a couple of counties (it might be four) South Carolina raises more peaches than that other state that claims to be the "Peach State."

That's your history lesson for the day, boys and girls!

Another cool fact I learned is that the trees in the photo below are NOT palm trees. These beautiful plants that grace the South Carolina flag, as well as line the streets of Charleston, are Palmetto trees.

I loved all the big homes across Charleston with the wide sweeping porches, Palmetto lined walks and hidden gardens.

I decided that if I owned a home with porches like the ones above in a southern city like Charleston, I would invest in a gorgeous Southern Belle dress and wear it at least once a week. While standing on my porch waving to tourists, I would call out, "Y'all enjoy y'ahselves now."

Boy, now I really want to go download a couple of Glen Campbell songs..."Like a Rhinestone Cowboy..."

A Delightful New Project from Dixie Chick Sisters

"Blue skies, green water

White birds in the air

Brown skin, blue collar

And the wind blowin' in my hair"

That's the chorus to the song "The Coast" on the new album Court Yard Hounds by two of the three Dixie Chicks (DC) - sisters Emily Robison and Martie Maguire.

I was a big fan of the Dixie Chicks and was sad when country music turned its back on the group.

No, I didn't agree with what they said on that stage in London (I think it was in London) but then again I don't particularly like it when any musician, actor or entertainer uses their celebrity to pontificate. I don't think Shakira, Susan Sarandon, Julia Roberts or other celebrities should be testifying as experts in front of Congressional hearings, but they do.

However, we do live in a country where free speech was, is and will be fought for so I don't really understand why the Dixie Chicks were treated like they were. If you don't like what they stand for, don't buy their albums or go to their shows but don't force them totally off of the radio and out the door.

For example, I don't like it that the sales of one of Carrie Underwood's songs on iTunes went to support the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) - this group is not your local animal shelter but an extreme animal rights group - so I didn't buy the song and I don't buy any of her other CDs but I don't want her off of the radio. It's my choice not to support her or her causes - that's my right.

Wow, I really got off track there...but back to the Court Yard Hounds.

I really like the new project by the DC sisters. It's mellow and has some great lyrics.

Emily and Martie were known for their skill on multiple instruments like the fiddle, banjo, guitar and mandolin in their DC days but they have beautiful voices and harmonies too.

My favorite songs are "The Coast," "I Miss You," and "It Didn't Make a Sound."

"Ain't No Son" really reminded me of the Dixie Chicks sound.

I could really tell that Emily Robison had recently been through a break-up...I think some of her feelings are reflected in the songs which she mainly co-wrote with Martin Strayer.

If you are a fan of the Sheryl Crow, I think you'd like the Court Yard Hounds. Don't dismiss the album as country - it's more than that.

This CD is in my car and the songs are in my iTunes Shuffle. The songs haven't made it into my Exercise playlist but they are on my Work playlist!

Have you bought any new CDs or songs lately? If so, I welcome suggestions!

Day 3 of the Summer Slim Down

As I started my journey to fit back into my super cute black swim shorts by July 4th, I decided to start with a vigorous walk after work on Tuesday. Unfortunately, a storm blew through that evening so I did some crunches instead.

Slow and steady wins the race, right?

Luckily the weather has cooperated since then with two gorgeous summer evenings - perfect for walking.

To prepare for my walk Wednesday evening, I pulled up my iTunes to create a playlist for my iPod that would inspire me to pick up my pace and get my heart a pumping!  

Unfortunately, I realized that my recent listening habits tend toward a more laidback type of listening!

I pulled my "Exercise" playlist of 27 songs that I tried out during my walk last night. Most of them were OK. A couple really made me pick up my pace - like "Ruby" and "Paralyzed." And a few just didn't make the grade!

I didn't have a lot of time to search iTunes today but I did grab a Katy Perry song (Hot N Cold) that I usually groove to in the car. I'm hoping to use a couple iTunes cards I got on one of my wheel & dealing trips to CVS to pick up a few more songs.

An iPod is good, but company is better when it comes to exercising! Lil' Sister came over and walked with me tonight. It's great to have an exercise buddy AND time to catch up on each other's lives.

I know I won't always have a real-live exercise companion, so I'm looking to you for help. Have any go-to songs when it comes to exercising?

Send them my way. I only have 17 days to trim down...wow, really didn't do the math until just now.

Maybe I'll just stick with the bigger pair of swim shorts! Cookie, anyone?