Sunshine, Shovels, Frisky Birds - You Wish You Were Us.

Take 2: Tule Ponds at Tyson's Lagoon with Zoe, Katrina, and Auriana.

We slaughtered some weeds with shovels. That pretty much sums up the work in a nutshell. Now to the details...

It was really fun to say the least. It was hard work - but not really that hard, just weird because I hadn't done much for weeks. So going from couch potato to out in the sun doing shovel work is a mega body shock... No more laziness, I guess.

There were lots of other people there, from college aged kids to what I assume to be freshmen. 'Twas nice. I liked knowing there were a lot of other people around. People are cool sometimes.

Being outside was the major attraction for me. Nature is the bomb and being by the water was great. The trees, the sun, the dirt - it's a beautiful scene. On the other hand there were some ducks getting their freak on, and some geese that I swear were flirting. So birds are cool too. Apparently there was a turtle somewhere. I never got to see it. :(

It had a strong rewarding element to it. I couldn't help remembering a book I just got done reading about an LA chick whose dad moved her to a farm. She hated it at first but eventually got into it and fell in love. She always talked about how it was rewarding to know she put in work to prepare the food she was eating, and to be so connected to everything. 

Now this was just a pond and so it doesn't have the same concept to it per se, but it was still great. There's something about nature and hard work that, when combined, make you feel at peace. Nothing else matters when you're outside doing something. It's just... as full of nothing as the sky is, you know? It's plain and vast and empty yet full with the satisfaction of getting away from stress. Like a vacation that's only 15 minutes away from home, in the middle of everything. I feel like Fitzgerald with the way I'm gushing with details, but deal with it please, because it truly was awesome. 

Remember how I said I had anxiety when I was working with kids before? Well I had NONE this time around. I was actually happier than I've been in a long time working there.

When we had a break for water and snacks it was awkward but good, and here's why. Well as EVERYBODY knows, me and Zoe and Katrina and Auriana (when she's around) are really loud. This was no exception. I'm hyper-aware of my surroundings and what's going on, so I could feel that weird atmosphere, the quietness that encompasses everything when people in a space are being loud and weird and no one else is really talking or being weird with them... I got a little self conscious but then Auriana and Zoe were being ridiculously funny so I said you know what YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE and just went about with life. This feels like too much, but I'm shoving these observations into this post because it's relevant to me. Honestly though, I'm always aware of everything and that's pretty important because that trait of mine can make or break me... Especially when volunteering and encountering new people. Okay, done with that rant.
In conclusion - I'm dying to go back. I plan to spend a lot of time there to finish hours for this project, my overall hours to graduate, and just to spend some time stress free and enjoying my surroundings.


'Twas great. My best experience with volunteering thus far.

I'm not too into environmental stuff but I'd stay we all made a slight difference - or that we may over time if we continue to work here.

Beware - this sign has sharp corners.

I know - we're cool.

I like this because I've never had a picture where I've not wanted to delete it after.  I think I'm pretty awesome looking here... Because I look happy, I was happy. What a rare thing... 'Tis a genuine smile.

Walking walking walking, walking walking walking...