809 – Another Sandy Day at the Beach

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and friends beyond the binary, and my patrons, my patron peeps who keep the show a-going. You're rebels without a cause. I'm working on… One day I'll have a good… Hello, my little rebels without a cause. Oh, you're rebels with a cause. I'm sorry, James. Holy, James Dean. Anyway, thanks for helping keep the show going, patrons.

Hey, are up all night tossing, turning, mind racing, trouble getting to sleep, trouble staying asleep? Well, welcome, this is Sleep With Me Podcast that puts you to sleep. We do with the bedtime story. All you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press play. I'm going to do the rest.

What I'm going to do is I'm going to send my voice. I'm going to create a safe place where you can set aside whatever's keeping you awake. Did I say that already? I was so in the zone. I may have… I didn't drift off, but I guess I did drift off. I'm going to… I really did. I may have put… I didn't put myself to sleep, but my brain did. Sorry about that, listeners.

So, here's the thing. Where was I? I'm going to send my voice… Oh, I'm not sure if I said we do with the bedtime story. All you need to do is get in bed, turn out the lights, and press play. I'm going to do the rest.

What I'm going to attempt to do is create a safe place where you could set aside whatever's keeping you awake. I think I maybe I said… I don't know. So, this is interesting. I've always believed in leaning in when you make a mistake. It's fine. That's one of the important things to remember at bedtime, because that could be something I might be thinking about. And, if I started to learn good self-talk. It's okay, Scoots, sometimes you forget… I don't know what happened during that intro, but yeah, so whatever's keeping you awake. It could be things you're thinking about or things. Did I say zings or zings? But, things you're thinking about. It could be feelings you're feeling, physical sensations, travel, you know, changes like seasonal stuff or maybe life changes, whatever it is. It could be a multitude of different things, but I want to help because I've been there tossing and turning.

So, what I'm trying to do, or what I'm going to attempt to do to return to where… the path I got lost on back there, I'm going to create a safe place where you can set whatever that is aside. Or, you could hold it gently. Maybe that's a new things we'll try. You know, for me, that was the beginning of the intro. I'm going to hold that gently and say, well, I don't know what happened back there. Let me just hold onto you for a second. So, you could set it aside and come into the safe place, or you could hold it gently, or you could just hold your forearms gently. That's what I'm doing. Is there such a thing as a physical metaphor? It's like well, you don't have a way to physically hold the earlier part of the intro. But I like the idea of holding it gently, so I'm going to hold it gently by pretending… I'm not pretending. I guess I kind of am, but I'm holding my forearms.

So, if there's something keeping you awake, let's try that, if you wish. You don't have to, because it might be one of those things that gets on your nerves, right? And, you could say well, I'm going to leave it right here, and actually, I don't say this in the normal intros, but just for anything, it's not like you're getting… I have a whole… another podcast that's going on, and actually it's like a super show for… You say well, I'm moving Scoots, so I'm going to leave that at the door of the safe place, and I saw come on in, come on in, it's a safe place for the show. And, now you're moving… your moving thing, thoughts feelings, whatever, I got a whole nother pod… There's like a… That's what the creaky dulcet tones are on a vibration that communicates. So, there's also a safe place for that stuff. It's just a different place, because I'm taking your mind off of that stuff. And, I'm going to do it… I'm going to send my… That's what I do is I send my voice across the deep, dark night. I use lulling, soothing, creaky dulcet tones. That's creaky dulcet pointless meanders, superfluous tangents, open… I try… I strive… I don't achieve it all the time, but I strive for openness and honesty with my feelings and stuff.

And I think striving is an important thing. Because, it's like okay, I don't achieve that the majority of the time. You know, I can't hold all my feelings gently all the time. You say I could barely a stack of any… You've probably heard I'm a little bit clumsy, and you know, I'm a feeling… I've fumbled feelings before, and I've said, hey, I need a break. So, anyway, where was I? So, I'm going to send my voice across the universe, long creaky dulcet pointless tones. I'm here to basically keep you company as you drift off.

Now, if you're new or you're a regular listener, I'm really glad you're hear, and I'd like to help, because I truly believe you deserve a good night's sleep and a safe place to relax and unwind. So, if you're new, though, especially if this is your first time listening, let me give you a little bit of info, or it's your second or third time.

So, a couple things. Okay, structure of the show. This is one thing that throws some new listeners off, and I think I've just reached a point like give it a few tries and see how it goes. If it doesn't work for you, that's fine, but the show starts off with a few minutes of business. That's how we keep the podcast free for everybody, instead of being a paid thing or only on a paid app or whatever. So, that's a great thing, but for a new listener it's not super important. Then there's an intro. So, the intro can throw new people, and so the intro is like 12 to 14 minutes of me getting you comfortable. I think sometimes if you're new you might think it's like one big ad or… I don't know. I get feedback like that, because there's ads at the beginning or that it's… It's just a way to ease you into bedtime and kind of… I don't know. The regular listeners really like the intros, and the beauty of a podcast is you can also just start the show at like 18-20 minutes and get into the bedtime story stuff.

You know, you might the tail end of the intro, but the idea of the intro is that, in my experience and for the people that the podcast seems to work to, it's a wind-down. So, the podcast isn't an instant sleep thing. It's like I'm trying to ease you into bedtime, and for the majority of listeners… And, actually we just did this survey. It was interesting. So, some people listen as they wind down and get ready for bed, and some people get into bed and start to ease into bedtime. But, the intro's kind of just some friendly fun and banter to get you ready for bed, and then there's the bedtime story. But, you could always skip ahead to the bedtime story, or if you support the store on Patreon and you prefer that, there's like story only episodes that come out every week on the Patreon.

But, the intro is usually me letting you know hey, I'm your friend. I'm here to keep you company and to take your mind off stuff, but I'm a little bit… I'm a bit of a feeling fumbler. And, I don't know. I always try to create a metaphor of how the podcast works, so that's the intro. It's like 12 to 14, to 15 to 18 minutes, and then there's some business between the intro and the show, just like because that's kind of to help keep the show free for everybody. And, then there's a bedtime story. Tonight it'll be bedtime story… like a summer-themed bedtime story about a grain… things a grain of sand sees from the beach, different than… We did one a few years ago like this. So, a little trip to the beach, so that'll be the bedtime story. Then there's some thank yous at The end. So, that's the structure of the show.

The other things, if you're new, you don't really need to listen to this podcast. You can kind of listen. And, I think that's the other thing about the intro that sometimes you're expectation is different, because this podcast is a bit different than most of the things. Because, even I've been doing this 800 plus episodes, I'm like how does this thing work again? So, I already… So, you don't need to listen to me, and it's a bit goofy and non-nonsensical, so if you try to make sense of it or be like oh, when's he going to put me to sleep? It's more… I'm your bore friend. I'm here talking to you and keeping you company, but you don't need to listen to me so you can drift off whenever you want. So, you don't need to listen to me or take me seriously for sure.

And, if you're skeptical, like if you're new to the show and you're skeptical, of course, you'd be skeptical. Like, everybody says they're going to put you to sleep, and I'm just honest about it. It's like yeah, it's going to take a while. It might take you a while, like most listeners say two or three listens to get used to the show, or it might not work for you at all. And, that's why I have the website sleepwithmepodcast.com/nothankyou if it doesn't work for you, and then there's other sleep podcasts and sleepy stuff on there. So, just give it a try. That's my main thing is like I want to help.

Also, there's no pressure to fall asleep, which is paradoxical on a sleep podcast, but it kind of goes with what I'm saying. The reason podcasts are over an hour is because I'm here to keep you company and give you planning of landing space to drift off or to get back to sleep or just to unwind and relax. There's some listeners that you know, if you can't fall asleep, I'm going to be here. And, then you can line up episode after episode. Or, if you need to listen all night, go ahead. Create a playlist. That's what I'm here for is to keep you company and help. I'm your bore friend, your bore bae, your bore bud, and your bore bestie, and ideally, kind of like the…

So, tonight we're talking about the beach. And, you know like there's these kind of bags that are made for beach toys and beach stuff. They're made of like netting or webbing, and you know, it's been a while since we've talked about those sieves you know you play with at the beach to kind of shake sand out, maybe take the rocks out of sand, or look for stuff in the sand, and that's kind of how to listen. Like, just let the podcast almost flow through you or wash across you. Or, kind of like a vibrating bed or something you say, oh, it's just kind of humming along outside me. It's vibrating with my molecules or whatever. And, hopefully, I don't know if the podcast is the bag or the sand toys, but that the sand kind of flows out. You know when you're carrying it, maybe do a couple shakes and all, whatever's keeping you awake, is kind of like falls out and I can just hold your attention just enough to get you from the beach to your place where you can get some rest.

So, I think that's it. So, you don't need to listen to me, don't need to take me seriously. I'm more here to keep you company than to put you to sleep, so drift off at your leisure. But, really, give the shows a few tries. I really, really do hope it can help, and I know I say this a lot, because it's like… I don't know. I don't want bedtime to be something that… I want it to be something you look forward to and that's really like the pinnacle of the show is when I hear from listeners, they say hey, I don't dread bedtime anymore, Scoots. I know you're there for me not to listen to, to keep me company, well, I kind of barely pay attention. Or, the listeners that say hey, you know, I've been waking up at this time, and now I know you're there to help me get back to sleep. Or, hey, I've got this going on, and I can't sleep, so it's nice to have the company and know that you give it your all from the beginning to the end. Because, I do care. I really believe that if you get the rest you need and deserve, you can enjoy things and flourish in your life.

And, also even less that. You know, that's a big goal, but it's like that just doesn't… Man, I know that it's like you're thinking… you're clock watching during the day because you say oh man, I really want to get some sleep, but I know… I've been there, okay? So, I guess that's it. If you're back, thank you so much for coming back. I'm honored to make this show for you and to be there, and if you're new, I'm glad you're here. You know, give the show, like I said, a couple tries. See how it goes. But, I work very hard and I yearn and I strive, because I want to help you fall asleep. So, thanks again for coming by, and here's a couple of ways we keep the show free for everybody.

All right, everybody, so this is a style of episode we did maybe a couple of years ago for the… Well, we did it… I don't know if I did it in the summer and it came out in the winter, but it's to give you a little taste of summer seasonality. You know, a little bit out of season, if necessary, because when I'm recording this is different than when it comes out.

So, I want you to get comfortable, get nestled in, nestled in, because tonight you're going to be a grain of sand on a beach. There you are resting. You're listening to the waves which are barely swishing up on the shore. Like, they break almost after they've come ashore. They just do a little swish, and you could even hear a swish and then a wish as the waves gentle spread out. I wouldn't even call them waves. Well, I guess they technically are waves, right? You'd probably know better than me. You live on the beach, or your currently live on the beach.

And, you're lying there. You could feel just kind… The air's pretty still, but there's a little bit of a morning breeze. You're still in the shade. There's tall trees above you blocking the sun, which you know, you could… The nice thing about being a grain of sand is nearly 360 degree division, so you know the water and the horizon on the water is to your west, and then the east is blocked by trees. The sun's going to come up… There's also some bluffs, but you're there and you're wondering what today will bring. It's a summer day, expected to be warm and sunny. You know, seasonal, seasonal weather.

And, as you lie there, you start to hear people coming down the beach, and you remember the last time that you were here, and you're relaying things to us. You really directly appreciate that, coming on the show, and letting me speak for what you say. It was children and then an uncle appearing, but this time you see the uncle coming down first with the children following… Can you followingly? You can't. The children follow curiously behind the uncle, and you also notice that the uncle has a towel, not around his waist, but a bit higher, a long beach towel, looking a bit like an apron, because instead of the beachy print with the cartoon characters, it's turned upside… or, bottom out. So, it looks like an apron. And, he has another towel slung over his arm, and like his posture is [inaudible 00:17:22] and then another towel on his head, a bit like a hat, a chef's hat I would say if I was going to identify it.

And, he is kind of acting like a host, and then we kind of notice, we can hear, you start to hear, “Oh, hello, everyone. Just follow me. Right this way. Right this way, everyone. Welcome to our restaurant, the Beach Side Beach Spot. Sandy Shores, we used to call it until we heard from a game that said you can't use that term, so we no longer call it Sandy Shores. But, here, welcome to our restaurant. How many of you are there? Oh, one, two, three, four, five six. Now, you look like very… Now, you know this is a very famous restaurant.” And, the children are giggling as the uncle leans full in to his role as maitre d', I guess I would suppose.

“Now, I'm happy to host all of you today, but I noticed none of you are wearing our dress code. You must have only understood 50% of the dress code, because it's…” And, then the children look at one another. Dress code? “Well, swim suits, swimming wear. I see some water shirts and some bathing suits and some water shoes, but what is missing from each one of you is a screen of the sun. There is no eating at our restaurant without being covered and slathered in sunscreen. And, so I'm glad you're here, but have a seat, have a seat. We have these chairs here. We have some lovely rocks. Pull up a rock and get comfortable.”

And, the children they start to get comfortable. Some sit on the side of beach chairs that show the influence of the sea. The sands of time have gently worn away the newness of these beach chairs. There's a multitude of styles of beach chairs, and you say, “Wow, I forgot how much beach chairs have changed. There is that famous book [inaudible 00:19:45]. Beach chairs, we don't age well, which always makes you think that maybe you should take better care of it, take better care of the beach chairs.

But, you know, there's one beach chair that has the old seatbelt style seat and back, not made from seatbelt material but that's the only way to know how to call it that. It's made from not quite… Like, a material the same shape as seat belts but just slightly translucent, usually an orange or a green, and kind of comfortable. You wonder why they even stopped making those ones, really. And, the other chair is blue and, not a hot pink, more of a hot magenta. Yeah, I'm talking about you. You're a hot magenta over there that has what you'd call the seatbelt two, is the next model, I believe.

I'm not sure if it was the next model particularly for lounge chairs they used this, which was like a tube, a flat tube that didn't have anything in it, a flat tube and was still laid out. I guess it was only laid out vertically or horizontally or widthwise, where instead of being crosshatched like the seatbelt style was… Those seats are famous for causing sweat and you know, making you sweaty, and being comfortable, and not aging well. Yet another chair that says well, what am I going to do?

Then another model of chair that you wonder what they were thinking. It's a canvas chair on, again, an aluminum frame, but low to the ground with a cooler built into the back. And, you say hm. And, this one looks like it spends its winters with the other chairs, stocked away we'll say, to put a positive spin on it, in place where the webs of cobs are plenty, a place with the finest must that you could ever find. Oh, sorry, children, I've gone off on a tangent there about the chairs. What was I saying? What was I saying? Welcome to our restaurant, the Sandy Stars Restaurant we'll call it, or Sandy Shoals, and Sandy will be here soon to host. You know, I'm just the maitre d', and I'm in charge of making sure everyone is up to date on their sunscreen. Of course, no jackets required, no shoes, no shirts, no suit. You can still have service. No sunscreen, no service is how we do things here at Sandy Shoals.

Oh, sorry, yes. You're giggling at me, because I'm mispronouncing the name of the restaurant I work at. Well, what can I do? So, I have here… We've always had here since the restaurant was recently invented but has been at this location in a form for many years, the only sunscreen that doesn't advertise. The only no ad European edition. This is one sunscreen approved for imaginary use in Europe that we import here to the sandiest shoals that you'd ever seen. Yes, European No-Ad. You know, they just didn't have… This one is actually considered 100% good for your skin with nothing mind-mindbogglingly strange on here, just you know, nice lotions and zinc oxide with some other stuff, you know, some titanium.

So, rub it in children. I know you're all very experienced at the different techniques, because I know you're all classically trained in sunscreen application. So, I see you already sitting down in the choo-choo train, lining up to do one another's backs, and I like how you're changing positions so one person's always at the back, but they're not always there. And, really rubbing each other's… And, believe me, now this sunscreen is a bit… it does make you pale, and it does wear in where you look normal for a little while until it gets wet, and then you look a bit like… a bit Moby… a bit like that Moby the whale.

So, yes, apply that sunscreen, and you're doing very good. Now, let's do our arms. Remember to always do the backs of the armpit is a spot you cannot miss. Backs of the knees, tops of the feet. Oh, yes, you be welcome here. Also, did we mention this restaurant doesn't serve food? It serves experiences. So, I hope you're looking for just some experiences here today. Oh, yes, yes. You're in for a treat. Oh, Sandy Shoals is going to be here later, Old Aunt Sandy, the most famous connoisseur of beach experiences in the world. She's world-renowned for doing that, and I'm world-renowned for being a maitre d' of sunscreen, not a sunscreen sommelier, because I only believe in the European No-Ad, and nothing else is good enough for me.

You know, some are tolerable, but you know, here in the USA, I say well, there's some good Australian ones, some good Japanese screens, but we practice the European… Okay, you're right children. I don't need to explain and re-explain myself. Your applications are going well. Backs of the ears please, behind the ears, tops of the ears. Yes, full ear. Do palm, and then yeah. Oh, I like how you're using the fingertip ear massage technique. That is very good as well, very, very good. Where else am I… Okay, has everyone got the thighs and the backs of the legs, the upper backs of the legs? Of course. And, the inner thigh? Yep, okay. And, your calves, your front of your lower leg. I don't know what they call that, but has everybody done their elbows?

Yeah, I'm a little bit scattered in my screen application, but because I'm watching you all making sure you're getting everything. Because, you started in the train, you know, all lined up in a train, I know you got the backs of one another, including tucking some sunscreen down behind the… Yeah, that's really important because you say, yeah, if your pants and your shirts aren't always at the same level. Yes, and do your cheeks. You're very good. Now, I know the last time some of you were visiting this restaurant, it was not a restaurant. Technically, it's still not a… I guess, it's just a place you go. But, anyway, it's been good working with all of you.

Oh, yes, a menu. I forgot. You're right. Thank you whatever your name is, young person. Yes, so I'm looking at our menu today. Can I tell you about some of the things we're offering, because in the past we've had matchbox car racing. I know some of you were big with that. Flower reporting, sunscreen applying, and then going back up because the rain came. So, today, we're offering two courses. All of you can choose your own two courses, or a pre… whatever they call that, total multiple courses, and what we have here tonight is we have… You could have some sandcastles, some rock collecting and skipping. So, both experiences. Some beach combing or combing of the beach, and that can include driftwood. Some hole digging, which is… we could sometimes combine that with the sandcastles. Some swimming and water games, of course, of course. Bubble blowing and water balloon tossing. Okay. So, all of you would just prefer the fixed menu?

Okay. How many courses is that? One, two, three, four, fix, six. Okay. Seven course experience. I'll go up and check in with Sandy, and all of you stay here. Do not go near the water. Do not… You know, no… You know, just sit here gently. Enjoy the sounds of the sand. Think about that, and we'll be back to check on you soon. Yes, okay. Yes, good day, good day. Yes, oh, thank you. Oui-oui. That's what I'm actually going to do. Auf wiedersehen.”

Okay, so then you watch the uncle go up and the children kind of laugh and make signs at the uncle's expense. They giggle and wonder what's up with that uncle, and then not very long passes when someone comes down. And, she's in a bathrobe, and kind of a robe that it fits her like a secondary part of her skin. She moves with grace. She moves with aplomb, maybe. She moves with, even as a grain of sand, and the children are like wow. And, you know her… You don't know her as Aunt Sandy, but you knew that that's Sandy Shoals, because she says, “Welcome to my place. I'm Sandy Shoals, formerly Sandy Shores, until that video game changed my name. Or, whatever. Maybe it was Sandy Shoals. I don't even care anymore. It's good to see all of you. Welcome to my place. I see you've chosen the seven course beach experience. That is very good. My maitre d', Uncle Goofball, said that you all did an excellent job, coming in full avant garde sunscreen, European No-Ad, and that you all look very, very wonderful. So chic. So good to see all of you.

So, we're going to start today, now, I know on the list the menu was play with sandcastles first, but I thought we could get going with a little hole digging. So, I want each of you to spread out and to kind of decide how close to the waterline you want to be. Each of you before… No one move quite yet. Just picture where you want to go, and picture it in your mind, and remember that now the sun has officially hit the beach but we're still early. So, this is a good time to dig in the sand, because the sand will not be too warm to our touch. And, as I point to you… Actually, I want everyone… Hm. I don't know how to do this.

Well, everyone, I want you to go to your spot and begin to dig,” And, the children they spread out, and they start to go. “Okay, and I noticed some of you started to… I do want everyone to dig through the initial layer of sand until you hit the wet sand where it's a bit compacted. Okay. And, then I want you to look at your fingernails before you begin digging into that wetter sand. Each of you, look at your fingernails now. Take a good look at how they look. Notice there's no dirt below them for all of your mothers will want your nails to return to that state, so be sure, when we're finished, you will return to your parents with your nails in that condition.

Yes, you, with your hand raised. Yes, you will. Just do the digging, and we have old bars of soap everywhere down here, so you'll do the digging into the bar of soap. One place where you could… at my restaurant, at Sandy Shoals, where you can dig your fingernails into soap. Oh, what do you do after that? Oof, great question. Well, when we get to the course where we're beach combing, I want you to think about what materials would be good for digging under fingernails but also allowable. What would be one you would think of? Oh, the end of a bird feather. Hm. You're actually brilliantly correct. I just wonder. Well, we'll experiment on your nails with that. Oh, a piece of wood. Yes, that would be another one. A piece of stone. Um, maybe. I would say maybe to that one. Those are all good. Any other ones out there, children? No. Okay.

[inaudible 00:34:15] Go ahead and start digging now into the next level. Oh, wow. Look at these digging techniques. Now, I like how spread out on the beach you are. Some of you are above the high tide line. And, some of you are down close to the water. You're even in the water, which will make your digging… It'll be different. Your digging will be different down there, and the tide is coming in now. So, it is moving in. Yes, okay, so some of you are digging, and oh, I can here the scooping and the scooching sounds of the digging in the deep sand.

Now, you, young lady, I really like your technique. You're just doing a one-arm, like an almost arm [inaudible 00:35:08]. That is how… You know, that's how Sandy Shoals used to dig holes, and yes, I do do that, not straight down, a slow C curve. That's how I believed in… Yes, and okay, you, young person, you're digging much like a dog would dig a hole. I do find that very interesting, very exciting. Oh, we have the first child who… Oh, you're in the water. That's why you've reached water. So, that is good. That's good. You've created a setpoint, I guess. Who will be the next child to… Oh, here's a child the next closest to the water that reached water underground. And, your hole's already getting a little caved in, though, because you're so close to where the waves are touching. You're almost in a… The two of you are in a bit of a mud bog, a sand bog.

Yes, I like that. You can play in the sand or dig or enjoy having your hands and your feet in the sand there. Oh, yes, you with the graceful one arm digging, you've reached water, or you've reached sand. I can… Water, yes. Yeah, so you know, I've always found it very meditative and relaxing to dig holes. You all the way up top. Yes, you. Okay, you're almost… It's harder to get to water the higher up you go, so you'll have to be patient. Now, the good news is all of us, we are now at a stage, we have working holes. We have water sand. We have two children at the water line, and we have dry sand, and then we have medium wet sand.

What could we do with the sand? What do people do on a menu at… Oh, build a sandcastle. Okay. Now, should we build one sandcastle together, or would you each like to build your own. Together? Oof. What generation? What do you call yourselves, because I've never heard of a generation that works together yet. This is exciting times.

Okay, well, before we start working, let's talk about expectations for sandcastles, because I know there's some different… You know, now you children don't watch television. You don't even know what that is, do you? It's the thing you watch on… Well, yes. Okay, so let's just go over… There's a couple… You know, there's the Hollywood sandcastle, which Aunt Sandy's never had a Hollywood sandcastle before. I've seen the tools, and I think we have a coupe of them. Oh, you would like to try to do that with those tools. Okay. Well, we'll try to build some of these Hollywood sandcastles that look more like a medieval castle.

And, now there's other… Yes, I do call it… I call it the Little Mermaid castle, too, where you take the wet sand from the hole, or yes, from the water line, and you build it, and then you drizzle the sand on there. Yes, and then there's… Oh, you guys are gathering some stones. Yeah, there's also like building… Yes, and beach combing for things. Yes. So, shall we make a castle from all of those things? Okay. This is… I do like the way all of you are working together. That is a great…

So, how should we do this? Who wants to be… So, you're going to be in charge of using these plastic molds to make that side of the castle. Okay. And, where should we start the castle? You said, oh, a little bit away from the water, right, because the water's going up. Very wise. You are very wise, young lady. So, you'll start building on this, what we'll call if we're in the water and facing the castle, the left side of the castle. Okay. And, you… Okay, yes, young man. You're going to work on drizzling sand walls on this side. Okay.

Now, who's supplying the sand, because… Oh, so you, the graceful digger… Do you mind if I call you the graceful digger? Okay. You are going to be supplying the wet sand to everyone, and oh, you down there in the water. Okay. Yes, you have that look of a child putting their own mark within the water. You know, you're recycling your own water, aren't you? Okay, well that's very nice. So, and then the dry sand and the medium wet sand, especially for the person packing the models…

Okay, now, the two of you over here. You're kind of quiet. I can tell you're thinking. Oh, you're going to start beach collecting. Yeah, that's what I was going to say next. Beach combing. Now, anyone can take a break from building. Now, beach combing, and now here's the rules with the beach combing. There's two directions you can go on this beach. You'll never go further… Now, you see down there. That's three houses where that swing is. Don't go towards that swing. Stop at that try and that shed there. That's as far as you'll go in that direction, beach combing, and back that way, see that pile of giant rocks there. Don't go to those. Just stop right before you get there at the smaller rocks. Yes.

Now, do you usually find that you like to beach comb higher up or lower? Okay, and what kind of things are you going to be looking for? Oh, decorative things. I love it. Oh, you're going to look for pretty things. Thank you. I think… And, things to build with. Oh, like tools. Very good. So, you'll be off beach combing. Now, I remember my beach combing glory days at a place called Sylvan Beach. I've talked about it before. I used to love to comb those beaches there on Oneida Lake it was called. And, I would look for things made of plastic. Beach glass was always exciting to find. Old decorative sky flowers, when people buy their own sky flower makers. What's a sky flower? Well, some people call them… they call them the kaboomers. Yes, they go off at night in the sky. It's particularly on the Fourth of July. Oh, well, I say it in a way, because this is a fancy restaurant, I use fancy terms.

Yes, so those I would collect. Yes, used ones. They would be a day or two old. Some would be waterlogged. I used to like to look at the labels of them. There was just something enticing. My brother and sister and I, we would do that. Oh, yes, it was good. Life was… That was when life was truly not a cabaret but a beach partay. Oh, I made you laugh.

Oh, yes, other things I liked to collect. Feathers are always nice. They are. And, driftwood, if you're going to have s'more time, some more time, you know what I mean? Well, I can handle all of that if we were going to have s'more time later, which I'm just not sure we will. So, yes, we're comb… So, yes, go ahead and comb the beach for those things.

Keep looking. I like how this part of the castle… You're really doing a good job with those molds. This actually looks like a medieval castle a bit on this side, and this side looks like a place fit for Ariel and Prince Eric's replacement, Aunt Sandy. You know, they have a new Ariel coming soon, too. I don't know if Prince Eric will be in that film or someone else. Oh, what do I have against… Oh, no, I don't have anything against Prince Eric at all.

Okay, so, this side of the castle's looking good. We have our beach comb… Oh, so you're going to put a flag. You're going to use feathers for the flags of the castle. I do like that. Oh, now, what's wrong over here? You seem a little bit upset. Oh, your castle… Oh, yes, we are at the time of the day. It has happened oh so fast that even as we build, this is paradoxical of the building of a castle in the sun. Somehow the inside of the sand dries and the outside of the sand stays wet, and then you get those cracks, and then the sandy sand just drains, loses its whatever foundational ability. So, yes, it is too bad. I can see why you're not happy about that.

Okay. Well, what else should we have here? Okay. I'm very happy with… Oh, now the waves are coming in, too, so our castle… Okay, so we're done with castle building. I'm guessing we've moved on to another menu item. Okay. Well, let's see. I think it's time to go into the water. Doesn't everyone… Is everyone ready? I think your sunscreen is style good because you did such a great job applying it, and the water is still very calm and so clear. This water is crystal clear that I'm seeing.

Now, we do have to traverse this rocky area. This is one of these beaches that goes sand, then rocks, but we get to a sand bar. When it gets, yes, to your waist. So, which strategy do I use? Well, you could walk on the rocks and try to stay balanced on them, or you could crawl yourself out. When the waves are low, I like to just crawl out and swim. Yeah, just crawl out on a belly. You could be like a… when once upon a time, the world was miasmic super something. It was a great, you know, primordial… It wasn't primordial use, but I think it was primordial seas or something, and they said the first creatures, you know, they crawled out of the water and onto the beach and said hey, what's up? This is a new home. But, here we could do the opposite. Yes, we can. This is nice.

Go ahead and climb into the water. And, yeah, let's just enjoy it. Let's just chill out. Let's sit here on the ground. Can everyone sit and then still be above the water here on this sand bar? Wow. It's a sand bar built for… It's a sandy shoal almost. I was going to say we're going to have a little imaginary tea party here. Everyone sit down on the sand while the waves are low. Cross your legs, because the waves are starting to slowly pick up, and yes, I have some special tea. It's called invisible tea. And, it's a tea that's invisible. Invisible tea cups is the only way it's served.

Oh, yes, would you like one lump of sugar or two? What's a lump of sugar. Oof, it's a… We'll just have the tea by itself. It'll do just fine. It's a tea that it has a little bit of something in it, bush brush or something. Oh, yes, the best. It's bush brush that makes it a little bit sweet without sugar. Maybe it's your smile or the sweetness of you children that just worked together voluntarily. So nice to have all of you working together here. Yes.

Oh, you want to play a game. Well, we could just swim. Well, yes, adults just like to float around in the water and talk to one another. That is a thing that adults do. What if we pretend we're dolphins? No? Well, you know, I don't like playing those games, the competitive water games. They just… Sandy does not have a need for them. I'm here to enjoy the water and my time in the water and not to make a competition about it. You know, that's not really my thing. Oh, please can we play a game. Okay.

Well, we could play a game. The only game that's fair is that Aunt Sandy has to chase you. So, let's see. We could play hm. Okay. I have a game. Now, everyone move out a little bit deeper until the water is above your belly button. Everybody has to be in water that is above your belly button. It has to be somewhere between your belly button and your chest. Okay. So, get somewhere where it is. Okay, so we're going to play a game. This is a new game I call Frankie Walk. You children don't even know really who Frankie is. Right? Well, Frankie was… Like, there was Herman Munster. You don't know who that is either. Oh, like, oh Frankie from The High where they all went to high school together. No, a little bit different, but there's probably a professor. Yes, so you walk with your arms straight out, and so we're just playing a game where you can only walk through the water. It has to be above your belly button and below your chest. You know, I don't want anyone going higher than your chest in the deep water. And, you're all supposed to walk, yes, like Frankie, Frankie Stein. Well, it's like Frankenstein's friend, his creation.

Oh, you watched that show in school. Oh, that's very good. I guess that's a good thing. Mary Shelley wrote the book. Believe it or not. Do I know here? No. This was many, many years ago. Well, I don't know the rules of the game. Just keep walking like that, and I'm trying to think of the rules as we go along. Yes, it's just not my thing to just magically think up rules. Yes, because I… Oh, here's the thing. I'm going to be walking, too, like that. Oh, but I walk faster than all of you. Okay, well, let's see. You're all doing a great job of walking around like that. I'm just really enjoying. You could all do the sound effects, too.

Yes, that's very excellent. That's an excellent job. Very good. Okay, this game isn't fun. Well, I never said it was going to be fun. You said let's play a game, and I said I don't want to play a competitive game, and then I asked you all to be… Okay, well, maybe… Ah, I have a game now. I have the other part of the game, the bubble blowing. Now, all of you have to keep moving, and here's the secret. I'll be right back. Everyone keep moving, and we'll play a version of tag. I'm going to get my bubble blower. Oh, yes, I have it right here, because bubble blowing was on the menu. And, yes, I'm going to start blowing bubbles, and if you get touched by a bubble, you have to freeze. And, you can only… I have to walk like that and blow bubbles. It's very hard.

Okay. You say I did blow a bubble. You're frozen. Oh, so are you. Okay, I guess I'm better at blowing bubbles. Looks like I won this game, because you're all blowing bubbles. Okay, well, it looks like the water is getting a little bit busy, the waves, so let's go into shore because that didn't work for anybody. I guess, it was a fine game for me. Looking at the bubbles, yes, isn't it nice? Okay, we could play that game, aiming the bubbles. Well, why don't the two of you play it? It sound like you're interested in that. You could try to blow bubbles and let them drift, and okay, I see that.

Who else has something else they'd like to do with me? Okay, the two of you. Now, I have a bucket of water balloons over there, and I think it's… Here's the good thing about water balloon toss in the water. Have you played water balloon toss? You have. Okay, here's the thing. If you're tossing it in the water, you're already wet, and if you drop the water balloon, it doesn't always pop. And, the usual game of water balloon toss is you get close, and then each time you just take one step backwards as you toss the balloons to one another. Oh, yes, and the bucket with the water balloons does float. The water balloons will try to spill out of the top of the bucket. Yes, so that is a thing you could do is just toss one another balloons. Yeah, it's nice. And, oh, that's good. That's three tosses in a row.

Oh, now, what do you do when you get bored? If you get bored with it, you could have one of you stop and put your arms at your side, and the other one tosses it, and you don't… you catch it with your body. Yes. And, then you're getting wet, because it is getting warm. I mean, that's why I understand… This is why adults just like to float in the water and do nothing.

Okay, now who else is looking for something to do? Okay, the two of you. Oh, my great digger. What's your name? Oh, very nice. That's a beautiful name. That's a very beautiful name, my dear. Okay, now we're going to send you to… I want to show you some things. You know, when you first look at this beach, there's a lot of rocks among the sand here, especially higher up where the big waves crash with the rocks. I don't understand how it works, but it does. Now, I want you to look up there in those high rocks, and I want you to start to look for flat rocks.

And, at first you see there's no flat rocks up there. And, you want to look for ones… Yes, for rock skipping later. Now, we're not going to do any rock skipping now, but you just start collecting nice flat rocks for skipping. And, it will be a more difficult job for the two of you, because there'll be no rock skipping. If there's any skipping of rocks with all the other children in the water, we'll all go up… dinner at the restaurant will be close.

Oh, you don't want to collect… You want to do something else. You're a young one, aren't you? Okay, what I want you to do is… Now, I've noticed one thing as I've been at this beach is like everyone says all the rocks here are gray, but that is just not true. And, someone… some buffoon actually… It was your uncle that corrected me and said no, they're shades of gray, and I said no, they're not. There are rocks that are red and maroon color here and a multitude of other colors, but the ones that catch my eye are a reddish maroon color week. And, I feel like they're greatly unappreciated, and what I've always dreamed of doing is collecting as many of these as I can and putting them into one area to see how long they stay in that area for. Whether it's natural or people moving the rocks, I don't know.

Yes, basically, I want you to just go along the beach. Every time you see a red rock… And, I will do it with you at your side… is we're going to put it in a pile right here. A bit up… Yes, very far up from shore. Yes, at the base of that pole is perfect. That is good. Yeah, these are reddish rocks. You see, if it's close to red, maroon, or anything reddish. Yeah. Oh, boy, you have an eye for detail, rock detail. I didn't know you… You know, when people call you, you're rock intuitive. I love it.

Okay, how's… Oh, you're starting to collect all those. Here's a bucket. You can put them all in this nice bucket. Yeah, there's a little sand in the bottom. That's okay. It'll be okay. Okay, let me see how my bubble people are. Can you come in from the water? It's getting a little bit busy, you two that are playing the bubble game and the two of you that are doing the water balloon tossing. Yes, okay. We will play something We're going to play a game with the last of the water balloons.

Everyone come gather close to me. Okay, we're going to form a circle. This is a fun game that I just made up just this second, because there is just enough balloons for each person to go twice. We're going to form a circle. We're going to put our hands on each other's in the circle like this, and you're going to throw the balloon up in the air. It's going to go high, high in the sky, and it's going to come, come, come, come, come down, and we'll see who it lands on. It'll be random. Just throw it straight up in the air. Oh, whoa, oh. It landed on Aunt Sandy. Great. Okay. You get to go twice. Yes, go ahead. And, it landed on your Aunt Sandy.

You know, I have this robe on because I enjoy having a robe on. Okay, go ahead. You're next. Yes. And, throw it up. Oh, it hit me again. Great. I guess it must be my magnetism. Yes, you do get to go twice. Okay. Okay, we'll go through. Everyone go quickly, because I noticed the storm line is starting to come in once again. This happens every day at this time of day. Okay, yes, see it's a quick one. It's coming in fast.

Yes, okay. Oh, everyone has used the water balloons on their Aunt Sandy. Well, I have two. I'm just going to plop them right on my head. Yes, that was funny, wasn't it? I dropped it right on my head. You like to laugh at your aunt, I guess.

So, now, we're going to skip rocks, and it's already starting to rain. That was a fast moving… You children are very fast, too. And, we're going to skip rocks, and everyone knows how to skip rocks? Because, I don't. Could you explain it to me? Oh, hold it like you're making an okay sign, and then move your thumb away. Flick your wrist and your arm at the same time. Oh, and release your thumb. Put your finger… Let it roll off the end of you finger. Okay. Okay, everyone, when you did it say rain, rain, go away. And, then skip your rock. And, then we'll count all of the things. That's probably how many raindrops it'll be. That's a good way to predict raindrops. Yes, it is. Okay, flick that. Oh, that was twelve. Okay, go ahead. Four. Twelve plus four is like eighty. Oh, it's 16 Okay, great. Okay, go ahead. Flick it. Okay, seven. Okay. Eighty-seven, or whatever you said. Yes. Okay, you go ahead, you with the pony tails. Oh, that's a hat. Oh, okay. Well, go ahead. Oh, that was 13. We'll give you 14, though, for luck. That's like 97, I think. Okay, you. Yes, you the charming one. Oh, no. That was your brother. Excuse me. But, you could go ahead. You could take your turn. Oh, yes, 12. That's another good number.

All of you, you know, any number is great when you're skipping. Now, I haven't gotten quite down the skipping of the rocks. I've got the tossing and dropping them in the water, but I want to give the rain a good chance, because here it comes. Oh, yes, feel those raindrops. We do have to clean the beach, and that was your seven course menu here at my restaurant. My robe is wet. Yes, pick up those buckets please. No, I think we could leave the castle as it is. These chairs, I think they've been here all summer, so let's just pull them up away from the water. Thank you. Oh, you're going not hold the European No-Ad sunscreen? Hold it like it's gold, because it really is. You know, call your congressman or whatever, if they don't believe in European sunscreen here in the US. I don't understand it myself, but one day you'll have the right to have… You know, I'm just kidding. I'm not, but I am. Okay, go ahead. Yes, carry that up.

Okay, you get the towels, which we never used. They got wet from the rain. Terrific. It's really raining now. And, now before we go up… Oh, no, no, we don't just go up without saying goodbye. Everyone put your hand to your lips. Oh, boy. Now blow a kiss to the sand. Okay. And, then meet me up at… You see the shower up there. Well, go ahead and wait for me there. Okay, goodbye, Sand. It was good seeing you. Keep listening, though. We're going to… You know, we have to clean everyone's nails out from digging in the sand.”

And, so the children go up, and Aunt Sandy goes up there. And, you hear them in the outdoor shower cleaning their nails, and then Aunt actually gets a couple of the kids lined up so that they can actually take turns showering and getting clean, other than their nails. Since it's scheduled to be a bit of a rainy day. Then you hear her talking about checkers and Connect Four and color version of Sudoku, ColorKu, and then you just hear the patter, patter of the rain and the release of the water in the air, the release of the humidity, the drop in the temperature. And, you snuggle in close with your other grains of sand. You snuggle in your bed, and you rest. Goodnight.