REPORT: June 30, 2010 - Wednesday - 5pm

OBSERVED: fair - clean

COLLECTED: nothing


Today T. OCEAN and I met a Dad - JUSTIN - and his son - MILES - along the path to the beach preparing to pick up trash. "It's his idea" JUSTIN said, gesturing to his almost-five year old son. So, I asked MILES - what made you want to pick up the trash on the beach? His reply - "Well, I like the ocean; and I want to take care of it." It's kids like MILES who not only give me hope for the future, but amaze me that they 'get it' at the tender young age of four. How awesome!

The water was clear and warm with a light chop. The blue crane came back for his (or her...) evening supper. Down where T. OCEAN and I played, there was plenty of debris for me to still throw away. But this time, it was nice to know I had a like-minded child nearby doing the same thing.

With a looming storm coming out of the west, we had to leave sooner than T. OCEAN was ready. He cried the entire walk up to the showers, gnats swarming, and far-off charcoal clouds teasing but not yet producing any rain or lightning. We kept to our plan to go home, hoping tomorrow will continue to be kind so we may swim again.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 29, 2010 - Tuesday - 7pm

OBSERVED: only beauty

COLLECTED: seashells


Stopping by my beach late evening after work, I make time for only what I can immediately focus on - to be present with my direct environment. I feel the warm sand surround and hug my feet; I breath the green and salty ocean air; I hear the tinkering of seashells knocking against one another as the slow evening current glides over them; I carefully collect my most favorite sea-gems, rinse them, and place them gently in my t-shirt; I walk back up to see the giant driftwood as it becomes more overgrown by the reeds and dunes that protect it.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 26-28, 2010 - Fri-Sun - evenings

OBSERVED: a moderate to enormous amount of trash, all kinds; none of it, however, in the water. The close-up photo contains all pieces of plastics, different kinds - one tangled in with seaweed branches, one was shell-like, one was a rope pieces, etc. Arranged together, they looked surprisingly natural.

COLLECTED: nothing



Very recently, I have seen some strange and some funny things on our beach.


First, the curious, unsettling and bizarre...

- (Am I in Miami?)...A big black man in a tiny red and white speedo, and a partly top-less photo shoot with two young busty women and an old man taking place further up the beach.

- Picked up two bottles: one water bottle, one empty gallon jug that held a used needle. Perhaps a considerate junkie who then "forgot" to take the bottles to the trash?

- The two collections of snuffed-out cigarette butts so carefully exterminated that their smoking ends were pinched off and clean. There they were - right at the water's edge. I could easily imagine two people side-by-side in their metal folding chairs taking a break to watch the water or perhaps their child, and they chain-smoked through the whole thing, all while the tide was out. Then, finishing their conversation, they left their tidy souvenirs behind for the tide to come back in and take out and disperse (as it eventually will; only in this instance, I took them to the trash bin).

- And lastly there was the one from 2 weeks ago: walking up to my cousin and aunt sitting in one of the rented, wooden double-deck chairs, an umbrella opened over-head, and between them in the sand was a used Trojan (wrapper included). The only thing to properly do was what my aunt did - gracefully cover it with sand and continue with our conversation.


And for the funny...

Of course, it cam from my son, T. OCEAN. While walking down the sandy path to the shore, a youngish woman passed us by in what looked like a work-out swimsuit, bag flung over her shoulder, sunglasses on. She gave us a nice smile as she breezed past us. As we approached the beach's edge, I see that she has gone right up to the water, feet in the washed up waves, and is doing several yoga asanas facing out into the sea. T. OCEAN, knowing a few of them himself, begins to imitate her every move; only she has no idea he is doing this since he is behind her and out of sight. This goes on for quite some time, and the three older ladies in their beach chairs were watching the entire thing, giving me a 'thumbs-up' all the while. Unfortunately, my camera failed me, and an opportunity to capture a genuinely funny moment is now only in memory.


To the just plain cool...

Several weeks ago I noticed a new bird on our beach. It may be some kind of a crane. It's almost a bluish tint with beautiful white streaks across its cheeks and a white single plume behind its head. For the first time, it stayed long enough for me to notice it was hunting hermit crabs in the wet sand after the water pulled back out into the ocean. It did not seem to mind people around as long as it wasn't being chased. Mostly, it just wanted dinner.

Finally...even though the water was still comparatively choppy, it had calmed down enough to take T. OCEAN out past the shore break where the sand dips down and waves roll rather than fall. Holding him at my side, he kicks and kicks and kicks, and experiments with paddling his arms. We take turns doing this AND riding the long (and now more easy) shoreline - rolling and dipping and crashing into one another. It is two hours of pure fun, my swimsuit FILLED with sand.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 25, 2010 - Friday - 6pm

OBSERVED: fair - clean; one soaring pelican, schools of small white fish

COLLECTED: seaweed, sand

The shore break was long again, this time filled with bits of seaweed churned to a pulp by three days of rough surf. I knew just looking at it that T. OCEAN would end up with bites. Within thirty minutes the backs of his legs were completely covered with welts; luckily, I remembered to bring the Sting Zapper ointment and applied it right away. He played up on the sand for a while longer, though insisted on making sure he HAD to stay out of the waves by asking here and there if he could go back in. No, I said. Perhaps tomorrow.

The water's edge looked like a pesto of watery seaweed; yet just a bit further out was perfectly clear and much calmer. Too deep for T. OCEAN though. And if I go, he'll follow me. Better to stay on shore.

There was some rubbish about, but not too bad - a bottle here, a cup there, the usual bits of plastic. An easy pick-up, and a short but sweet outing. Back again soon enough.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 24, 2010 - Thursday - 4pm

OBSERVED: fair - clean

COLLECTED: plastic bottle cap, seaweed, sand, shell


Today's ocean was like yesterday's - heavy chop, strong shore break, hardly any seaweed either in or out of the water, and only a few pieces or trash. In fact, had I picked up yesterday's like I planned, there might not have been any today. Only a plastic water bottle (always water bottles...a strange irony in my opinion), a broken piece of foam cup, and 2 bottle caps. Not too bad, really.

Again, T. OCEAN and I played the "Slip-N-Slide" along the shoreline neck-deep in sea foam. Again, we were flanked by families who lost personal items trying to wield their bodies against the tidal blows. Glasses, goggles, and a swim trunk went flying never to return to them. Even we were out of luck this evening when a little yellow ball we had been tossing around in the waves went under only to be swallowed into the white froth. I generally feel pretty bad when this happens. Not because we can't replace it (like perhaps glasses or jewelry), but because we have inadvertently contributed to the ocean's pollution. It's not quite the same as the cigarette butts left by the thousands all over the sand. It's not that deliberate or apathetic. But it ain't great either.

We'll try again tomorrow as the currents should be calmer. Except we'll keep the next ball well above the tide line.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 23, 2010 - Wednesday - 5pm

OBSERVED: a fairly clean beach!

COLLECTED: nothing (I keep forgetting)


The waves were big today, and the rip currents strong enough for the lifeguards to be flying red flags. Luckily, we arrived just in time to see them leaving, their work day done - a "go" sign to my husband (T. OCEAN's dad), C. LEV; and out he swam into the waves, floating and body surfing. T. OCEAN and I mucked it up in the "soup" - that thick ocean foam created by a heavy shore break.

Today that shore break was strong enough to knock us over. But knowing its power, we simply road it - skimming the sandy surface while getting completely soaked - kind of like a Slip-N-Slide. As soon as T. OCEAN is able, however, he would much rather be out in the deep with his father. Soon enough.

The few pieces of trash I meant to deposit in the garbage were quickly forgotten when I saw T. OCEAN limping out of the water because a mass of sea lice bites had covered the entirety of his back left leg. I took him home immediately.

We are in day 65 of the Gulf Oil Disaster, and still the well is not capped and millions of gallons of oil are gushing out everyday. Pensacola, Florida is now seeing not only tar balls wash to shore but inky goo, and a large oil plume is a mere 5 miles from their coastline. Every time I read the news it is as if yet another panel, another department, another sub-organization is being formed to deal with the fallout of this crisis. The politics between local, corporate and federal officials are unending. There are north-eastern states who want to begin making plans for when (and if) the oil will make it into the loop current and come up the Atlantic Ocean into the Gulf Stream.

It all makes today's and each day's interaction with our beach all the more special, the more precious. Today was one of those. Day 65.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 21 & 22, 2010 - Mon / Tues - 5pm-ish

OBSERVED, both days: an enormous amount of trash

COLLECTED: nothing


It makes sense that there was more junk entwined within the seaweed since the currents were picking up. Still, on both of these days, I made at least 3 trips back and forth to the trash can dropping in everything from shoes, plastic utensils, bags, wrappers, to bottles, rope, and fishing line...all the usual suspects really. Today, I found these white flats nestled neatly above the tide line with not a woman in sight to claim them. They were filthy and judging by the sand in them, had been there for a while.

T. OCEAN now notices trash on his own, and leads me by the hand to show me so that I may pick it up. This is not a job I want him to do, so I am happy he asks me to intervene on his behalf. Finding and picking up debris isn't something I've made a point of, but it's instead become something he has noticed ME doing, then emulates. It's a good thing , I think, even if it does mean he's often yelling "trash" on the various walks around town, or in places I would not expect to either find trash, nor hear a tiny voice belting that word out at random. At least he is beginning to see that those things don't belong where they are, AND we can do something about it.

Today, the ocean's waves were heavy and long near the shoreline. We made the most of it floating up and down the incline into the deeper water. The few surfers and paddle-boarders did not get much of a break, however, as it was a good chop to contend with. Sometimes it's nice to feel that the ocean is in change - her force, if respected, can be a lot of fun to play in. After 3 hours splashing around today, T. OCEAN is finally sleeping soundly. Yes!

Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 20, 2010 - Sunday - 5:30pm

OBSERVED: trash, and lots of it.

COLLECTED: nothing


Spotted in a small area, and in less than 5 minutes I collected and threw away a piece of a shoe, a hand-full of plastic bits and pieces, bottles, and from the water - a Doritos bag, a very large plastic bag, and another large piece of plastic. So much friggin' plastic!!! Later, I picked up 3 water bottles people had left along with a metal beach chair right on the water's edge. I guess it's a holiday weekend (Father's Day?). I wish this kind of complacency no longer bewildered me, but it does. Either way, I feel a little better with those few items now picked up. Helps me sleep at night - what can I say...

Makes me really respect those Kauai beaches I visited 4 years ago. There wasn't a trash receptacle in sight for most of them; yet the sands and sea water were immaculate!! Pristine even. Perhaps there is simply more regard for nature there? What's their secret, I wonder... And, I miss it.

A heavy shore break and looming thunder storms with lighting chased us off the beach sooner than expected. It didn't stop us from enjoying the short swim we did get in. Hopefully to go back again tomorrow for another evening dip.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: JUne 19, 2010 - Saturday - 5pm

OBSERVED: fair - clean beach; several low-flying pelicans, an osprey, and an unusual new bird

COLLECTED: nothing


Found and threw away many cuts of old rope and fishing line - big/small, short/long; plastic bags and wrappers, utensils.

It was first time I've seen this bird! And I don't know what kind it is. Anyone out there know? It looked to be about 2 feet tall and a blue tint.

T.OCEAN wanted to play "Hatchling" - where he gets buried in the (make believe) Loggerhead sea turtle nest. The boy gets a far-away look in his eyes, completely zones out, and watches the sea.

Another June evening in his element.

Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 18, 2010 - Friday - 3pm

OBSERVED: fair - clean

COLLECTED: seaweed, sand


It was all T. OCEAN's idea to go out to the beach while the heat of the day maxed out (3:00). The dry sand close to the dunes was scorching hot. The sea absolutely warm and clear though thankfully refreshing. Plenty of fish swam near us, and only a small amount of plastic was found scattered up on the shore. We played in the sand intermittently, then cooled off in the small waves. Summer on the beach.

Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 17, 2010 - Thursday - 5pm

OBSERVED: clean - wow!

COLLECTED: seaweed, sand


We went to the north end of the beach near where the catamarans are docked high up close to the dunes. It's often less visited and typically a little cleaner. Only small bits of plastic scattered here and there - which I have come to expect on this Delray Beach, so I tend to consider this "clean".

But the most pleasant surprise has been our first siting of a sea turtle nest. The yellow sign posted on the nest mound is an exciting and welcome sight. By August, this beach is sprinkled with the small yellow signs, and then the deep caves of emptied, hatched turtles - signs of life that go on between moons.

The water was again very clear with a light chop. Easy swimming for T. OCEAN. And an easy way to see the schools of fish darting up and down the shore like a silver curtain. Beautiful.

Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 16, 2010 - Wednesday - 7pm

OBSERVED: fair - clean

COLLECTED: sand, shells, seaweed


As I write this, T. OCEAN sits finishing his spaghetti dinner and watching the rest of "Ocean Drifters", a National Geographic movie from about 15 years ago. This and "Jewels of the Sea" are favorites. They were sponsored by Chevron.

The last part of "Ocean Drifters" summarizes the importance of the food chain from the most microscopic to the largest creatures along the Gulf Stream. How important even sea plankton are as a primary food source, yet absorbing all materials in the water - natural, chemical and otherwise. It doesn't take much for me to wonder what will happen - with what we can and what we cannot see - along the Gulf Stream, just out beyond our horizon.

Last night our president spoke in the Oval Office about the disaster in the Gulf. He says he has a plan. Perhaps a better plan than the oil company ever did. But I am deeply suspect about the realistic ability to return the oceans, marches and beaches to their original state. Sarcastically, I think....we'll pick up tar balls and drop off plastic. Sometimes, it just feels too great.

It's been a few days since we've been able to get to the beach, and I feel like I'm drying up. I'm physically tired and moving slowly, but we eventually make it out there just before 7:oo in the evening, hot and sweating. With the heat index, it's in the low 100's, and ocean is around 85 degrees, surprisingly warmer than a few days ago yet still refreshing after the long walk.

Trash was strewn around from day-trippers: plastic ziploc bags and wrappers and bottles. But the water was mostly clear except for bits of seaweed, and the tide was far out and only a light chop, perfect for T. OCEAN to test his metal again. He constantly walks out further and further, loving the feel of waves knocking against him. He's learned their timing and knows when to jump up and bob around, instinctively doing a little dog-paddle. These days even if he goes under, I know he can handle it and he won't panic. Still, I insist he stay close to me. He remembers and forgets, remembers, and forgets. A dance we do in the water.

I notice my body feels relieved and lighter on our walk home. The swim was good. The fresh air cleared my mind. We can now face the night at ease.

Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 13, 2010 - Sunday - 6:30pm

OBSERVED: fair - clean

COLLECTED: nothing (I forgot)


At first the beach looked really clean, then I spotted a brightly-colored tangled, ribboned mess probably left after some kind of party. I found it oddly pretty in spite of its misplacement. I also picked up a water bottle and plenty of plastic scraps both in and out of the water. But you know...that water is JUST SO BEAUTIFUL!! Between the raking, evening sunlight and clear warm, warm water, it's so hard to resist. I often can't believe how FEW people are out enjoying it too!

It's always fun to see the helicopters, kite-boarders, paddle boarders, and if there's good surf - surfers. But today, we had the motorized kite-flyer "guy". They like to direct themselves up and down the coast on calm evenings, and frequently go up fairly high. T. OCEAN usually spots them first.

Just another evening on the shore with the kid...

Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 11, 2010 - Friday - 7:00pm

OBSERVED: Fair - Clean

COLLECTED: clean, dry seaweed and sand


The beach was pleasantly cleaner this evening. And even though I did pick up trash strewn around the upper, sandy area - most of it was from what people had probably left throughout the day: plastic wrappers, bags, flip-flop, lighter. The remaining seaweed along the shoreline had lessoned and appeared to have very little debris trapped within it.

We headed out later in the evening (7 - 8) to purposefully avoid the intense heat, making it easier to impose a "no swimming today" rule upon T. OCEAN. His sea lice bites are finally subsiding, and it's worth making him wait another day or two before we get in the water again. He made the most of it by running and playing and throwing sand everywhere. It would have been nice, however, to go in and swim - the water was 82 degrees and still very clear. Soon enough...

REPORT: June 10, 2010 - Thursday - 6:30pm

OBSERVED: lots of seaweed in the water and along shoreline & plastic, plastic, plastic, and more plastic

COLLECTED: nothing


Plastic everywhere! Bags, pieces, parts - on the shore, in the water, in the sand. And the shore line was caked with seaweed. Once again, Lady Ocean was doing some serious house-keeping and it showed! But in the water, between those bits of seaweed and grasses (and wrappers) was the clearest, warmest water! So lovely.

Unfortunately however, for T. OCEAN, the South Atlantic is teeming with sea lice right now, and he was sustaining multiple bites along his neck and shoulders as he swam. Within 15 minutes he was red and blotchy, so I pulled him out well before he was ready to call it quits. He already has bites scattered all over his torso and upper legs. We probably shouldn't let him get in the water for the next week or so until the peak season subsides. But, it is IMPOSSIBLE to bring him to the beach without allowing him in the water! The boy just cannot help himself. Even in the chilly winter weather back in January, he would still find a way to get himself soaked head to toe, shivering.

This bit of forced hiatus yet to be imposed my child (starting tomorrow) leads me to another question which is far from unanswerable right now: what will happen if we can't swim in the ocean for an unknowable length of time because the water is too toxic? I can't imagine taking him to the beach and NOT get in the water! He simply will not be able to comprehend why - day in and day out - the one thing he knows and loves so well will be off-limits to him (and me). What will we do if that happens? Will we stay here? Far too many questions, and too few answers.

For now, it's strangely comforting to remind myself that the sea lice will subside (just like the man-o-war did); and the time for moon-jellies and Loggerhead turtle nests and shark migrations will come - each it's own season.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 9, 2010 - Wednesday - 4:30pm

OBSERVED: trash scattered throughout a lot of seaweed and in the water - fair

COLLECTED: seaweed, sea sponge, black water beetle (deceased)


The tide was in and the chop was heavy enough to to not be able to safely take T. OCEAN out. So we ended up playing along the shoreline. Within the 30 square feet or so of area we navigated, I picked up:

9 bottle caps
4 plastic bottles
1 beer can
3 straws
2 plastic utensils
5 bits of plastic
1 plastic bag
some wrappers

Much of was literally washing ashore as I stood there. It was almost as if a party had just taken place (bottles, straws, etc.), and it it was time to clean up. Like today, the ocean - she was cleanin' herself - and it all was hangin' out there on the shoreline.

The last thing that washed up was a small, foam soccer ball - a lot like the one we lost out in the waves a few months back. The ocean gives, and the ocean takes and then gives back something altogether new. But it's up to her as to when and how and what it will look like. It's not the first time we have lost something out there, only to have it replaced beautifully some time later. Seems like a fair and yet mysterious system to me.

Either way - T. OCEAN happily brought his latest "present" home, delighted.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 8, 2010 - Tuesday - 3pm

Observed: Holy Sea Cow!!!!! We swam with a manatee today!!! (Almost) nothing else was really all that impressive.

Collected: some shells


That's right - the water was warm and super clear. After swimming for about an hour, we spot a very large dark shape coming up in front of us about 10 -15 feet away. No fin came out of the water, but we picked T. OCEAN up and out of the water just in case. Then, running along the shore-line we followed the creature north until we saw the manatee's snout come up and out for air. I ran further up to tell the 2 kite-boarders to keep a lookout not to hit him (or her...). Then we went back out into the water and got a closer look. How huge, and graceful, and FAST! If you look closely in the picture above, it's the dark shape just below the small-crested wave in the top, right corner.

And shortly after that, my favorite sea hawk flew overhead. It's gotten quite about bigger since last year, and the wing span looks close to 2-3 feet! It dove in for some fish. It's amazing to watch it above and then dart down quickly and accurately on its evening hunt.

What an awesome day for being outside. Even the weather, as hot as it is, was as close to summer perfection as it gets.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 7, 2010 - Monday - 6:30pm

OBSERVED: fair - clean

COLLECTED: seaweed, sand, several shells and a piece of crab's shell


After work I stopped by the ocean only to wish that I had been wearing my swimsuit. The water was so warm, clear and calm; and even though thunder could be heard coming from the north and gray skies loomed overhead, it was incredibly beautiful out. The recent rain had increased the humidity and perfumed the air along the dunes and grasses. There was some trash to pick up, but not too bad. Plenty of small shells and scattered seaweed, and no sign of the orange foam bits from two days ago.

There's a very large piece of driftwood, probably as tall as I am, that is well-hidden off a path that is slowly becoming overgrown with saw-grass, reeds, tiny plants, and succulents. Today I had a chance to take a picture of it.

While walking the beach, I thought about something my Jamaican neighbor once told told me when recounting how there was a tremendous amount of seaweed washed up on shore. She said, "Oh, the ocean's just cleanin' itself. That's how I 'tink of it, ja know. It's just cleanin' itself from all the muck en junk. It's a good 'ting."

And with that thought, I wonder, how will the ocean clean itself if there's oil in it? What would that end up looking like? Can the ocean clean itself - just like that? Well, I do love the idea of the ocean "cleanin' itself" - like it's got it all under control...


Probably a lot better than we ever will. And that's a great thing.


Your,
Little Mama Sea Keeper

REPORT: June 6, 2010 - Sunday - 6:30pm

nothing to report due to early evening storms...so much lightening! and a black, black sky.

REPORT: June 5, 2010 - Saturday - 4pm

Observed: fair - clean; some trash on shore, water clean; strange orange and green foam bits along shoreline; above-normal amount of soft sea sponge along shoreline

Collected: seaweed, sand, sea sponge of various shapes, shell pieces, orange foam bits, and a small pile of trash (fishing wire, plastic cups and bits, drink pouches, broken plastic bottles)


Green Flag! The swimming was awesome with a light chop, clear water, 79 degrees. T. OCEAN felt comfortable enough to hold his own and would make little swims into waves on his own. Every time a big wave came and hit him, he would exclaim, "that was so much fun!". The bright orange (and some green) foam bits are odd and disturbing since they were trapped in seaweed up and down the shore line.

REPORT: June 4, 2010 - Thursday - 4:30pm

Observed: fair - clean

Collected: seaweed, sand, shell

We had 10 minutes before we were chased off the beach by a huge front coming in from the south; it was just enough time to take a quick-dip into the 79 degree water which was clear and very refreshing

REPORT: June 2 - 3rd, 2010 - Tuesday & Wednesday

No news.

Thunderstorms and lightening keep us away from the beach.

T. Ocean gets super stir-crazy & wired. I get sleepy and blue.

I finally received a return email from both Surfrider and Volunteer Florida. Turns out, Volunteer Florida isn't organizing anything yet -- "Because oil has not reached Florida’s shores, volunteer opportunities with the oil spill remain limited."

A weird response considering their own website shows various FL Counties beginning to organize and plan ahead for clean-up. All except Palm Beach County, where I live. Funny how this is one the wealthiest Counties in Florida, and there was no sign of early organizing efforts for beach clean up. With that in mind, I contacted Surfrider who is heading up efforts for Marin County. They had some information on early efforts and are a reliable resource for coastal clean-ups and keeping tabs on the overall health of our oceans.

I can't help but wonder if FL couldn't be better prepared? I keep getting the feeling that there isn't any sense of urgency that we may be seeing some oil here. Only in that we're loosing tourists' dollars. We'll see. For now, I'll do my own little part and clean what's in front of me -- helps me sleep at night.

REPORT: June 1, 2010 - Tuesday - 4pm

Observed: fair - clean, some plastic debris

Collected: seaweed, sand, 2 shells

The water is 80 degrees; thunderclouds overhead threaten but hold out--we swim and play for almost 2 hours; few people out now, the beach is much cleaner; only small bits of plastic along the sand; the water is clear, but the current and shore break are strong; plenty of white and pink shells shards line where the water meets the shore, when the waves wash over them, it makes a marvelous sound like a breeze on chimes

REPORT: May 30, 2010 - Sunday - 6pm

Observed: Lots of debris and trash

Collected: seaweed, sand, sea pod, shell piece, hard plastic piece, clear plastic

It's the Sunday of a 3-day weekend, Memorial Day weekend, and it shows. More people out means more trash. It took me 3 trips to carry all of the trash I collected in just the small area my son and I were playing near. I don't know what angers me more -- the oil spill which will take years, perhaps even a generation to clean and repair, OR the inability of everyday people in any given weekend to pick up their own wrappers, bottles, and junk. It amazes and disappoints me--the degree of ignorance and abject disinterest in the lack of personal responsibility we as a culture and nation for the very environment we DO have control over.

In spite--or rather,despite--the trash in and out of the water, I decide to focus on the fact that I am first and foremost a mother of a little boy who only wants to get in the water and swim. We go in. And not only do we make the best of it, we enjoy every wave, every moment to its fullest. He has bites from sea lice all over his chest, but he is completely unconcerned.

The smell of brine is heavy in the air. One brown pelican flies over-head near the shore line. The water is laden with seaweed near the shore break and strewn on the sand. The surf is choppy, and the break is strong.

REPORT: MAY 29, 2010 - Saturday - 6:27pm

Observed: Fair - Clean

Collected: samples of seaweed, sand, wood, plastic bottle cap, sea shell


Life Guard sign says: “No Hazards”, the water is 80 degrees; a wedding party is taking their pictures, the girls wear blue, the men wear black, and the bride is in white, the ocean is their backdrop; the Sea Hawk flies overhead looking for her evening meal; it’s overcast with no rain, some clouds puffy, some streaked; few people out, some swimming, some swimming in their clothes; T.Ocean plays in the waves, sea lice bites all over his chest but he does not care, he smiles and laughs at each wave that hits him; plenty of seaweed on shore but not as much trash as yesterday, except for a long black rubber thing and some broken glass, and bits of plastic.