being sandy feet

The Kick Ass Kennel Club aka "The Posse"

2010-02-28T17:16:00.002-06:00

SPI Song Circle Party this Wed.

2010-02-25T20:12:00.003-06:00

Music in the SandBox Song Circle Series

While I am taking a bit of a break from house concerts (next up: Jennings and Keller in May!) I have decided to try something a little different next week, in honor of the spring break visit of my all-grown-up-and-musical nephews.
The first ever SandBox Song Circle is scheduled for this Wednesday, March 3 in the back yard- potluck at 5:30, music starts at 7(ish). Everyone is invited! Come prepared to play, sing or listen.

Sort of Like Karaoke, only better!

As the name suggests, song circle participants arrange their chairs in a circle and see how much fun we can have strumming, drumming and singing together. Everyone gets a turn to sing, lead, or request a song. Everyone participates and yes, listening is a form of participation. Here are some guidelines I picked up, courtesy of PortlandFolkMusic.org:

Song Circle Etiquette

Come prepared to listen or to sing.
When your turn around the circle comes, you may present a song, lead a song, request someone else do a song or pass.
Songs with choruses are encouraged for singalongs.
If the presenter requests that instruments accompany his or her song, join in. Be mindful of drowning out voices with loud instruments.
The "blue book" (Rise Up Singing) is often used for singalongs. If you use it, let others know what page your selection is on.
Have fun!

More info at http://www.sandboxinn.com/songcircle.html

Caught in the google loop

2010-02-15T20:19:00.002-06:00

Researching specific image ideas for an upcoming sand sculpture contest sculpture, I am using the search terms "contemplative" and "back" in a google image search. On page 2 of this image search, I encounter one of my own sand sculptures: this one.

I find this a bit mind-boggling.

Happy Trails, Number 69

2010-01-12T19:01:00.005-06:00

Today I got on a boat with Scarlet Colley, Mary Laddis, Rozzi the dolphin dog, some island visitors and a whole bunch of formerly cold-stunned green sea turtles -- each of which sported two new finrings and a unique number scrawled in white out.

These were the survivors and our mission was to return more that 60 of them to the wild as Texas Parks and Wildlife had deemed the water warm enough. We chugged across the bay from PI, picked up the turtles at the Sea Ranch and then headed north.

We (gently) tossed turtles in spurts, carefully observing to make sure that each one grabbed a big lungful of air or two and then dove down deep. "Bubble butts" - distressed turtles that float on the top of the water - are cause for concern and must be retrieved with nets and brought back to land for tests and medicine at Sea Turtle Inc.

We had to bring three "BB's" back to the Sea Ranch. Wishing numbers 1, 10 and 29 a speedy recovery -- and a ride on the next boat out.

I'm sure there are lots of women aged 50-60 willing and eager to bear your love child, dude

2010-01-10T13:12:00.005-06:00

I stopped flushing money down the match.com toilet ages ago. However, I still receive and sometimes read the "matches we've chosen for you" emails -- primarily for their entertainment value.

Here's a good one:

outspokenman10
55, Kingsville, TX
5'8" (172.0cm),
Seeks: Women 50-60

He is divorced
His faith is Christian / Protestant
He definitely wants kids

"Perfect Pair"

2010-01-06T16:51:00.003-06:00

What it is: an adult beverage comprised of pear vodka and fresh-squeezed whatever (today it's oranges)
When it is to be consumed: at precisely 5 PM after an at least somewhat productive day (slackers don't get perfect pair rewards 'round here)
Where: On a deck, preferably in the sun's waning rays

Additional Information: This is not a sociable drink, nor is it something you drink more than one of. Too much damn trouble. So you better make it good and big enough the first time.

Sez Who: Me. The keeper of the inn. That's who.
Official Mac Time: 4:57 PM

Notable Deaths in 2009

2009-12-31T17:56:00.002-06:00

A lot of worthies passed away in 2009 - but one the New York Times somehow failed to note:

Donald P. Wierenga, an educator, builder, artist, optimist and humanitarian, died on April 20. He was 78.

The world is a sadder and poorer place for his loss.

Just in case you were wondering what is pissing me off today...

2009-12-28T12:31:00.003-06:00

All the stupid airport security crap that we have to go through and TSA doesn't even pay attention to their own "watch lists" -- preferring to spend their time patting down clearly harmless folk like you and me while letting known terrorists breeze through without a second glance.

stupid stupid stupid stupid

Joyful Noise

2009-12-19T18:56:00.001-06:00

Living right downstairs from one�s rental unit can be noisy. Vacationers like to listen to music. They drink beer, they exchange jokes and they laugh. Vacationers frequently keep different hours than I do, But much as I value peace and quiet, I have to tell you that I get a little nervous when I don�t hear anything up there. Are they not enjoying themselves? Are they perhaps quietly plotting against me and/or my property? Strange as it may seem, I am comforted by the squeaks, rattles and flushes of daily life coming from above.... to a point.

Extremely inebriated shrieking and hostile rap music played too loud make me even more nervous, as does overwrought emotion (I can�t hear distinct words, but I can hear emotional tones) and mysterious crashes. The rhythmic bouncing of a pool cue may start my toe to tapping but can soon lead to madness. And there was a time that the plumber-foiling �please jiggle the handle� toilet - whose pipes drain inches from my head when it is in bed - frequently ran all night. Sleep hours went down: water bill went up.

I do have favorite noises: the flurry of activity that indicates impending mass exodus (usually followed by a period of blissful silence) was one of the first I was able to recognize. But my very favorite noises are the joyful ones: a snippet of �The Entertainer� banged out on the old upright grand; the crack of billiard balls followed by a hearty cheer; guitar flogging and lusty singing and even the happy thumpiness of dancing.

Those joyful kinds of noises don�t bother me in the slightest. Unless they go on past -- oh 2 AM, say.

a day at the beach

2009-12-14T18:40:00.000-06:00

toasty the sandman

2009-12-03T18:34:00.004-06:00

Giving Thanks

2009-11-26T11:20:00.002-06:00

On this my first Dad-less Thanksgiving, it is all too easy to be angry/sad and feel like my loss trumps all blessings.

I am trying really hard not to go there.

Instead, I am thinking about the family members I have still. Friends new and old. So many people I love and who love me. And I will continue to give thanks for the special time I had with Dad Feets who even now remains a model of unconditional love that will inspire me to be a better version of myself forever.

Sunset at the Most Beautiful Place in the World

2009-11-22T14:57:00.002-06:00

My entry at the Treasure Island contest is dedicated to the memory of Don "Dad Feets" Wierenga

The SandBox Inn Trash Art Gallery

2009-10-31T10:21:00.002-05:00

Raybo and I have been busy fine-tuning the installations in time for the upcoming Anais Mitchell house concert.

"Shovel Fish" by sandy feet (thanks to Nancy for helping to collect shovels)

"Ruffles the Unlitter Bird" by (need to find this out)

"Daisy" by Lori Brass

Getting ready to commit art...

2009-10-06T10:08:00.002-05:00

Trash art.

Real Estate broker Laurie Gaudi - who, not so incidentally is the only certified eco-broker on the Island - along with the unlitter campaign is sponsoring a trash art contest as part of this year's Sandcastle Days festivities. It's all happening Oct. 15-18 in Isla Blanca Park so if you want to compete against me for the $100 cash prize (adult category) then you'd better get busy.

Sez me.

(Many thanks to Nancy Marsden for her huge contribution of discarded sand shovels to my personal collection.)

Getting closer....!

2009-10-05T09:29:00.003-05:00

It's going to get real noisy here pretty quick with all those bikers roaring to the shore, but after that the sand sculptors begin arriving - 24 of them this year! - and then we start finding that magic in the sand down at Isla Blanca Park.

Hooray!

See who's coming to compete this year right here.

Well here is some disturbing news

2009-10-02T12:45:00.001-05:00

Padre Island: possible early casualty of climate changes?

The seas will rise. The storms will increase. Padre Island National Seashore will be irreversibly altered by climate change, a new report says.

On Thursday, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization released a report on the top 25 national parks being changed � or about to be � by trapped greenhouse gasses warming the earth.

�The park service has to indicate that it is serious about this, and so far it has not,� said Stephen Saunders, one of its three principal authors.

According to the report, Padre Island could be one of the first units in the national park system to literally disappear. The low dunes are already losing their protective vegetation as weather patterns change. The sand itself is being pulled offshore as stronger storms become more frequent.

Barrier islands like South Padre are naturally dynamic and normally would disappear eventually in geologic time, but the report predicted climate change will greatly accelerate its destruction.

�Padre Island could be totally submerged by rising seas,� the report states. �Padre Island has the world's longest stretch of undeveloped barrier island, much of it less than three feet above current sea level.�

Hans York Coming to the SandBox Inn Oct. 10

2009-10-01T09:49:00.003-05:00

Mark your calendar: Hans York is playing in MY BACK YARD (the SandBox Inn - 117 E. Saturn Lane, South Padre Island) on Oct. 10, 2009. - his song "Listen to the Moon" helped inspire my winning sculpture in Virginia Beach last week.

This show is open to everyone and I hope all my music-lovin' Island friends will turn out for it - suggested donation is $20. More info at hansyork.com and sandboxinn.com

Still in Virginia Beach..

2009-09-27T06:48:00.005-05:00

And still savoring the momentary thrill of winning two medals at the contest here. I ended up calling it "Tell It To The Moon" and yes, it is personal.

Winning second place and - even sweeter - scuptors' choice awards could well end up being the high point of my year. (I have posted photos of all the masters sculptures on my flickr stream.)

I don't fly out until late afternoon so today feels like a bit of a vacation. Neptunefest is still going strong (check out the percussion set-up in the short video below) and there are still a few of my fellow sculptors hanging round.

But I am ever so ready to be back home on beautiful South Padre Island.

Tentative Title: Communing with the moon

2009-09-23T22:17:00.002-05:00

Am handstacking huge walls. Scaring myself. Don't see how they can stand, but maybe they will. And maybe those scattered T-storms they keep mentioning will scatter themselves somewhere else.

Today's photo is a closeup of the focal point of this forced-perspective thing I have been playing with lately. Tomorrow I will back up and show you all the sand I moved today.

Seaturtle Inc Auction

2009-09-13T11:38:00.003-05:00

JoAnn Evans is the proud owner of the latest Tony Schaub masterpiece - "Junior's Birthday"

And we used to think that embedding Christmas lights on a sandsculpture was cool

2009-09-11T08:34:00.001-05:00

Whoa.

the garden path

2009-09-08T16:37:00.003-05:00

So this is what I have been working on.
During this record-breakingly hot summer I have been trying my hand at landscaping a footpath from my driveway to Dad�s Annex. I uprooted lots of grass and weeds, toped the existing path with a layer of Australian pine needles, of which I have an abundant supply. (They keep down the undergrowth.) Then a layer of sand/dirt excavated from the annex�s foundation. And onto that is stomped/pressed/embedded all kinds of stuff including shells, rocks, concrete stepping stones I made - some with Dad�s help, driftwood and rocks from his sizable collection, and pieces of tile and marble I have collected. When finished, I will poor diluted glue on the packed sand and see how it stands up to weather and time. The new beds I am creating will be filled with good soil, planted with pansies and show off my collection of Dad�s �birdcastles.�

It is hot, slow, sweaty, labor-intensive work, and sometimes it feels like punishment.

But when it is done it will be magical.

Let's Stop Yelling at Each Other

2009-09-04T09:52:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I went to my dentist - a pleasant, capable professional with state of the art equipment in a spotless environment who just happens to practice in Matamoros, Mexico. I had my teeth cleaned, xrayed and examined. I needed two fillings, one of which was done on the spot; I will have to go back next week to take care of the other one. My bill for yesterday�s work was $77.50. I can�t say for sure how much these services would have cost me on this side of the border, but I am guessing something like $300 - $500....

I have been entrusting my chompers to my Mexican dentist for 3-4 years now and in the process figure I have saved myself thousands of dollars. Was the care as good as what I would have gotten in the US? Can�t say for certain, but so far so good. Is it better than what I would have gotten had I paid for what I could actually afford in the US? Most definitely. Because I probably would have had to let my teeth rot in my head had I not had the Mexican alternative. What is the reason for the huge disparity in fees between two clinics that are only a few miles away from one another? Not a clue.

So.
I have this friend who prefers to remain anonymous for reasons that shall become evident. Let�s call her Betty. She is self-employed with no dependents and makes just enough of a living to meet her modest needs. After going for decades without health insurance, she decided to get coverage to prevent her family from having to bail her out in a worst case health scenario. She was relatively healthy for someone who had gone without regular medical care for so long, but she did have one pre-existing condition that made finding a provider difficult. It wasn�t cancer or a heart murmur or anything terribly exotic. Just asthma - a condition some studies suggest as much as 10% of the US population has to deal with. When she finally found a company that would cover her, it was because she lied about the fact she had had problems with asthma all of her life - at the urging of the gentleman who sold her the policy.

She had learned to live with the occasional flare-ups by self-medicating with drugs she was able to purchase in Mexico without a prescription, and she had gone for years without having to see a doctor. But the day came when she was working out of town and caught a cold that sank down into her chest, leading to serious breathing complications. She went to a minor emergency clinic, but the staff there was unable to help her and finally convinced her she had to go to the hospital. She was in emergency for a total of ten hours, responded well to treatment and was able to get herself home. The total bill for her 10 hours in the hospital? Just a hair over $10,000. Yes, that is $1000/hour. For asthma. The bills were duly submitted to her insurance company and of course the adjustors were suspicious, immediately demanding all records for any doctor visits made over the previous 5 years. Since she had been self-medicating, there was no paper trail so the insurance company did in fact end up paying 80% of the bill. She was still out $2000 that she could ill afford but did finally manage to pay off.

That�s the good news. Of course, the bad news is that now there _is a paper trail. She officially has a �pre-existing condition.� Insurance companies no longer have any interest in competing for her business so she is essentially at the mercy of her existing provider. If this company raises the premiums to the point where she can no longer afford them or finds some other reason to dump her, she has to hope she can hang on long enough to qualify for Medicare.

Ladies and gentlemen, healthcare in America is broken, and it is not going to fix itself. Almost everyone can agree that some sort of reform is necessary. What shape that reform will ultimately take is in the hands of the people we elected to lead us. Let�s tell them - respectfully and rationally - our concerns, and then step back and let them formulate a plan. They have the research. They know what the budget of the richest country in the world can handle. They have access to the experts and the most able problem solvers this great nation can produce. Let�s give them a chance to fix this problem. If they fail, then we can elect someone else and it will be _their turn to take a stab at it.

And please please please let�s stop yelling at each other.

Solar power is becoming more affordable

2009-08-27T08:01:00.002-05:00

And South Padre Island is the perfect place to take advantage of the falling price of solar panels.
I was reading online about a company - Sunrun - that takes on the bulk of the up-front costs so you don't have to throw a bunch of money at it all at once.

They offer better deals to communities who band together on this - wouldn't it be awesome if South Padre Island were the first solar-powered town in Texas?

Read more here....