I know better

Didja notice lots of great sand sculpture on the beach this holiday weekend? I sure did. Not far from my beach access (#16) there was a really nice peace sign, a couple of pirate heads and a man-eating alligator. All looking good when I walked Peach last night -- and all smashed to smithereens when I walked her this morning.

It occurred to me right about then that I had failed to get my family portrait shot with Toasty08 the second, which I had created over at Wanna Wanna on Wed. And if the sculptures by my house were any indication, destructive forces had been let loose on the beach Thanksgiving night. The pointlessly filled sand barrel bears silent witness. (People who know such things tell me the Aggies lost... suppose there is any connection?)

Sure enough, Millie called early this morning to inform me of Toasty’s untimely demise. I was seriously bummed. I shook my fist at the heavens! I wished retribution upon his murderers! I sniffled and I swore and moaned and bitched for all of about 2 minutes before I realized --

I had broken a cardinal rule of sand sculpture. The rule I tell all my students, the one that I alway trot out in answer when someone says, “Don’t you feel bad when your sculptures get destroyed?”

Don’t fall in love with a pile of sand. It will break your heart every time. Best to take your photo and walk away.

Well, I walked away from Toasty all right. But not before I fell in love with that happy little sandman. Even worse, I walked away before I got the shot with Peach -- the shot for which I had shoveled so much sand.

I really do know better.

Note: I may take another stab at Toasty08 the 3rd on a weekday - after all the drunk Aggies go home ;-) Stay tuned for updates.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For your holiday viewing pleasure: the best Beethoven Video. Ever.

Toasty Rides Again

What could be better as a backdrop for a beachy family holiday portrait then Toasty the Sandman?
Of course you can build one for yourself - I have even posted instructions right here if you want to give it a go.

Warning: results may vary.

The easiest way to get your picture taken with Toasty is to let me build him for you. If you are anywhere in the vicinity of South Padre Island, TX during Thanksgiving week, you can get your family all gussied up in their holiday finery and have your photo taken with Toasty by mucho-talented local photographer Millicent Frazier for a mere pittance. Weather permitting, Toasty will appear on the beach at Wanna Wanna Beach Bar and Grill starting on Wed., Nov. 26 and staying until -- he melts. Or something. Check back here for updates and status reports, or call Millie at 956-521-1770 to set up an appointment.


Season of Peace, Hope and Love

Now that the election is behind us with someone I actually voted for about to be sworn in (Hurray!), I suddenly notice it is November and Jollidays are right around the corner. Even though the scary economic situation headlines keep trying to buzzkill my optimism for a brighter future, I refuse to succumb to despair....

And now that I have finally got my new weather vane installed here at the SandBox Inn, it is always the season of peace, hope and love under this roof.

The Report from Ft. Myers Beach...

..where I am competing in my last contest of the year. I had a bad collapse yesterday, but have worked my tail off to make up for lost time and am getting some great feedback from the spectators. I am asking for my online friends' support in the peoples' choice contest here in Ft. Myers Beach. They will be posting updated photos at http://www.news-press.net/sandsculpting/ where you can look at all of them and then VOTE FOR ME! (lucky #13.) Winning this would be a totally awesome b-day present ;-) Vote early; vote often! Tell your friends to vote too. Thanks!

You can also vote via text:
To vote for me, text "sand13" to 41411 from 9:00am Saturday, November 8, 2008 to 4:00pm on Sunday, November 9, 2008.

p.s. Go ahead and cast a vote for Walter, too while you are at it (sand01). It would be great if someone from SPI were to win!

I AM SO PROUND OF MY COUNTRY!

Thank you blue collar workers in VA.
Thank you Hillary supporters in MI.
Thank you Jewish grannies and Cuban expats in FL.
Thank you KIDS in PA who stood in line for 11 hours.
Thank you to John McCain for a most gracious concession speech.
Thank you to everyone who voted for proving we are who we say we are.

And thank you Barack Obama for inspiring a nation and for appealing to our better nature.

I am going to get up tomorrow morning and shovel my ass off.