Just keep painting, just keep painting. . .what do we do, we paint, paint. . .

I love being a youth counselor.

I'm saying that with a straight face, I swear.

Yes it has it's ups and downs, and sideways, and backwards, and most of the time a feeling of being generally lost when it comes to the world of teenagers.

I really do love it. I wouldn't have continued volunteering my time if I didn't.
For ten years now.

So just chalk the rest of this blog up to the fact that I'm a little nuts about what I do.

I had TWO seniors ask me this year to help paint their parking spots. The fact that the two of them are good friends is probably why they both asked me.

I've never been asked before. I did paint a mural in bedroom of one of the seniors from last year.

Parking spots are a whole other hot mess.

I don't know if senior parking spot paintings are a common thing anywhere else, but it's been a "thing" at West Orange High School for a long time. I did not paint my own (or buy my own) parking spot when I was a senior there in the so long ago year of 2000. They also allow students at Ocoee High School the privilege of painting their spot, but only in a small shield area (a shield, because they're the KNIGHTS).

I'd always wondered about what it'd be like to paint a parking spot. I personally know how hard it is to paint a mural on a wall (and a ceiling). 

I figured painting on the ground would be that much more. . ..fun.

HA!

It was just so much fun, I'm gonna wait for a few more years before I even think about doing that again!

Anyways, here's some pics. My feet are still burned, my back and legs ache. . .and yet I am so glad that I got to experience this and share my gift with these girls.  I've told them it's their graduation gift, so they now have to follow through and actually, well. . .graduate!

Robert Frost's poem "Two Roads" and Hebrews 6:19

The original idea for Annie's spot

Hey Mr. Grumpy Gills!

That memory I go back to. . .

Took a trip a little while ago with Danny and Richard (and the beagles, Copper and Skipper).
Went scalloping out of Crystal River, FL.
Listened to this song on the boat on our way out to the scalloping grounds.
Fit my feelings perfectly.

let go of my past
let go of my future
one cloud at a time
yes I'm dreaming
let me look upon her
one more time
this beauty that I love
before she's gone, before she's gone
                       "I Believe in Everything"  JJ Grey and Mofro

 
I love scalloping, and I don't eat seafood. For me it's therapeutic, diving into the clear water, blocking out all sound and thought beyond that of searching for the scallops and enjoying the underwater landscape. It's a grown up Easter Egg hunt!

If you'd like to see a accurate depiction of the Florida scalloping experience, check out this link to Pure Florida's blog. He took a Go Pro video of scalloping out of St. Joe Bay in Apalachicola.

Honestly, I needed this trip. I needed to be on the river, out in the Florida sun, enjoying the wind blowing across my face as I listened to the water splash against the boat. I needed to let go of all thoughts and simply focus on one single goal: filling my bag with scallops. Oh yeah, and blowing out the salt water in my snorkle and mask. . .ALOT!

Here's some pics of the experience. I'll let them speak for themselves.

Skipper at the Bow, Copper keeping watch

Danny caught a catfish. . .and threw it back

Richard fishing, Skipper thinking bout jumping in

Copper checkin' out the strange noisy things in the cooler

The scallop treasure!

I don't know when I'll get the opportunity to go back out into the water, but here's a shot from the first time I went scalloping. The wind may blow, the rain may fall, the lightning may. . .well, if there's lighting I suggest you get back in the boat and head back to land. . .but inevitably there's going to be a gorgeous sunset and hopefully a bucket full of little gems.