Friday, July 31, 2009

Dear Deer - Kate Micucci


Sunday, July 26, 2009

catch the tri-tool

About midway through this video of a Coney Island sand sculpture contest, I caught a brief clip of someone carving with an SoB Tri-Tool. And then I recalled seeing an unusually high number of orders shipped off from SoB World Headquarters to Brooklyn in recent months.

The tri-tool - which is available in 3 sizes - is flying out the door about as fast as Amazin' can make them. (Yes, for now each tri-tool is handmade by the amazin' one hisself.) Here is the video we made to illustrate the many uses of the tri-tool.


Link

Friday, July 24, 2009

Hip Westcoast ArtRave features Sandsculpture by Kirk Rademaker of sandguy.com

(The cool gear-stuff sculpture is closer to the end, so be sure and watch all the way through)


Sunday, July 19, 2009

How I managed to get swimmers itch without going swimming

I know from years of experience what the critters in the water of beautiful Glen Lake can do to me. I read "The Good Earth" in one night while trying not to scratch when I was too young to fully comprehend it. I have scars still from where I did scratch.

So I no longer swim in Glen Lake. Much as I want to, I just don't. I will kayak on a beautiful calm morning and that is exactly what I did on my last day there. All the way to the cove and back but never leaving the vessel. Sure, a little water splashed on my legs - it's a tiny kayak.

Didn't make the connection when I started itching on the long drive back to Texas. There were mosquitos in my cheap room in Hayti, MO. Didn't make the connection when I woke up in the middle of my first night home, skin burning from the hole I had scratched into my right ankle in my sleep. Texas mosquitos love me and find me when they don't find anyone else. Didn't make the connection until today, when I noticed that the bites were still angry red and itching in all the same places they had been for days now.

Duh.

Yes, you can get swimmers itch even if you don't swim. If you are me, anyway.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Fun in the sand - create a ball roll!

I have seen this done before, but the videographer gives some great suggestions for folks who haven't tried this yet. Well done!


Monday, July 06, 2009

tip of the hat, wag of the finger (and a bow to Stephen Colbert)


I recently had a friend in town for a few days. We ate out a lot, and I thought I would share some thoughts on dining experiences we had on beautiful South Padre Island -- both positive and negative.

Tip of the hat to Gabriella’s. I really really like this place. It feels comfy cozy; the wait staff (that I have encountered) is friendly and attentive, and the food is so tasty! I don’t see how this place can help but succeed.

Wag of the Finger to Island Grill. It is trying to be the second coming of Dorado’s - which is certainly a worthy goal. But I felt it failed. I give them an “A” for effort but a less than passing grade for execution. I hope they will find their own path and I will give them a few weeks to get the bugs out before I try them again.

Tip of the hat to Psychadeli. Yes, the line sucks and we all hate to wait but there is so much to look at while you are waiting! The whole room is a massive magical mushroom inspired work of art and I absolutely love it. And of course the belly-thrilling morsels are totally worth the wait. Welcome back Psychadeli! I had forgotten how much I missed you and am so happy you are back and better than ever.

Major Wag of the Finger to Las Olas at Pennisula. I have had good experiences there in the past and defended this place when others attacked it -- but no more. There was much to be unhappy about - the chairs are too low for the tables and it was freezing cold. But the worst of it was the veal that was so tough as to be inedible and the obnoxiously-loud rock music that made conversation a challenge and seemed totally inappropriate for a pricey (and completely empty) waterfront fine-dining experience. Even worse, the waitress shrugged off our concerns and made no effort whatsoever to appease us. No wonder the place was empty. I will not be coming back.

Tip of the hat to Naturally’s. I keep trying new things on the menu and haven’t come across a bad choice yet. My out of town friend really enjoyed it as well, going so far as to say he wished his little burg (Corpus Christi) could support a similar dining experience, though he didn’t see it happening any time soon.

Word to all Island eating establishments: more vegetarian choices please! And could we please please pretty please have even a little salad bar somewhere - at least during the busy season?