The oil spill was unbelievable. I do still get teary eyed at times thinking about it. But I’m not a negative person and it’s so hard to only think negatively when the beach is so beautiful and brings such joy and happiness to me, my family, and everyone who visits. Just doesn’t seem right to be so ho hum about it.

Even with the amazing weather and the clear water, it saddens me to know that there isn’t any talk about the oil spill anymore. We still are left in the dark about all of the specifics of what happened and what’s still happening. The oil clean up crews are still here. Their coach buses that are left running all day are parked in front of the beach access points. Their g0-carts are parked 6-8 in a row on the beach, dripping oil and whatnot off the bottom of them onto the sand. The cigarette butts are still being thrown on the ground and flicked off into the sea oats. I still think they should force them to clean up the trash that is left on the beach. Obama said that everything would be cleaner than before the oil spill happened… I wonder if he actually meant it or if he was still just in “campaign mode” like he has been his entire presidency. It would just be nice to hear what’s going on without having to call BP myself. And that’s tempting.

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While the oil clean up crew is still moving along in their little go-carty looking things… there has still been no oil around. Thank God! We’ve seriously been blessed with not having the oil wash up and ruin the beaches.

Every time I go to the beach, I’m reminded of how lucky I am, we are, to live so closely to the most beautiful beach in the world.

Be still.

We’ve been waiting for the rain to come from Tropical Storm Bonnie. Still hasn’t come yet! Always clouds in the sky but no rain. I even went to the beach yesterday with the clouds up above and still came home with a nice red nose! The beach is relaxing, clouds in the sky or not.

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I’ve heard on the news lately that the oil clean up crews have been packed up and moved further west to help with the places that have been really hit hard like Pensacola. It was hard to think that they were actually gone until I drove down Front Beach Road and didn’t see a single one of them. Or their big coach busses. Or their huge fenced in headquarters. They really are gone!

I’m so thankful that we’ve been lucky so far with the oil not reaching us.

The water might have a little seaweed in it but that’s better than oil! I once read a lady complaining about all the June Grass that had washed up on the shore and was mad about how no one was cleaning it up. Lady, the tide washed it away just like it brought it in. There is no need for a large vehicle to come parading down the beach with a ginormous rake behind it. It’s only seaweed. The beach is still just as beautiful with it there than it is without it. Just be happy there isn’t any oil!

View All Oil Spill Updates for Panama City Beach Florida ~ Click Here

Took gck-1 down to the beach this morning around 8′ish. It was pretty hot out already but there was a slight breeze so it was still fairly comfortable out. Right where we enter the beach, the clean up crew has pretty much set up shop. They have their big coach bus out in front of it and all their go carts lined up along the side of it.
I’m glad they’re here and that they are looking to help clean up the beaches… to a certain extent. I’ve over heard a newer guy telling his boss that “finding oil can’t be that hard. If I see it, I see it. I’ve watched you look for it so I think I know what I’m doing.” He was also missing half his teeth. Then there are the ones that smoke on the job. I don’t have a problem with you smoking. What you put in your body is your own doing but I have a HUGE problem with how you flick your cigarette butt into the water or flick it in front of you and then while you’re walking over it you try and hide it in the sand with your shoe. The next time I see this, you bet your butt I’m speaking up.
Why can’t they walk with trash bags and pick up trash while they’re at it? I have yet to see any of them have a bag in hand or gloves on in case oil is found so why don’t you make super good use of them and have them clean up the beaches while they’re here?! I could’ve sworn Obama said that the clean up crews were going to make the beaches look better than the were before. Well Obama, let’s get a move on it shall we?!

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panama city beach July 11, 2010 from sand and starfish on Vimeo.

Anyway, the beaches are incredible. We’ve had some clouds move in here and there but no rain for the last couple days. It’s been hot here too. Super hot. And super humid. Drink lots of water!

Still no oil smell in the air.
Still no oil on the beaches.
Just lots of sunshine and smiles.