Sandball Anyone?

You start with a glob of really wet sand. Then run to the dry sand and begin coating the wet sand with a small dusting of the dry stuff, all the while spinning the mass in your hands. When you are done, the infamous sandball. The ball will typically form in the size of whatever hands made the ball. Imagine that.

Then, you toss it to your buddy, take one step back and toss it back. Repeat action until ball explodes, crumbles, implodes or bounces off your melon.

Okay, these are not the greatest pictures. The light is horrible. But, who cares? It's sandball.

Just Doing My Job

The conversation went like this.


ME: "I'm going to bury you up to your neck in sand."
NEPHEW: "Aahh, no your not uncle Dan."
ME: "Yes I am."
NEPHEW: Scared look.
NEPHEW: Concerned look.
ME: "That is my job, that's what I do, I'm your uncle." "I'm supposed to bury you."
NEPHEW: Concerned look.

Fast forward two hours. We are now on the beach.

ME: "Okay, it's time. I'm digging a hole to bury you in."
NEPHEW: "No your not."
ME: "I'm digging."
NEPHEW: Concerned look.

Fast forward to hole being fully completed.

ME: "Okay, get in the hole."
NEPHEW: Look of total dejection, arms down, head down, slumping towards hole, resigned to knowing this is part of his wee life.
ME: "Get in there."

At first there was much uncertainty on that little, round face, but within a few minutes, being a dude, he was starting to get into it.

It makes for good snaps because he can't really move. We packed him in there fairly tight, so in terms of wiggle room, there was little.

And in the end, it was yet another rite of passage for one of the coolest knuckleheads on the planet.

Morocco Photo Moment 3

Yet again we visit Morocco, but this time from the edge of the vast expanse of desert. We spent just a single night out in the sands, but it was well worth the trip. Our timing was lucky, full moon, which lit the night like a well-oiled torch. You could see for miles in the white light.
We also spent a night in a cement room, more like a cell, close to the road which led us into this region. This room had baked in the sun all day and was as hot as any room I've ever tried to sleep in. Our plan was to sleep on the roof, but a sand storm forced us inside. The wind raged and the sand evaded all attempts to force it outside. I woke in the middle of the night feeling a little odd, only to switch on the flashlight and see the room was filled with sand. EVERYTHING was covered, including our sweat-soaked bodies, luggage, beds, etc. Again, worth every second.