1 part water, 3 parts Gangster

Running through the sand on Alamitos Beach, I think to myself, 'thank God I am not barefoot'. How I miss the days of soft sand sprints, running the tide line as water and sand go to work as a loofa on the old feet. Nowadays, 2 inches of duomax and solyte separate our union.. and about 2 millimetres of styrofoam, a drinking straw, some El Pollo Loco wrappers, a used condom, three soiled nappies and countless strains of rogue bacteria.

What is it about Long Beach that cause the people to not care about its appearance or functionality? Sydney-siders would verbally abuse, then physically beat anyone who eats their noxious take away food then drops the wrappers, the styrofoam and half the meal, whilst they walk off with reckless abandon. I just don't get it....
Why does the USA still allow the use of styrofoam? It was outlawed in Australia in the early 90's. Do I need to move back there to escape it? I mean, seriously. There are countless products that will just as efficiently wrap or contain food with even better thermal retention and liquid-tightness properties. Is styrofoam really that much cheaper and lighter? It certainly does not bio-degrade and the trash dozers on the beach only act to shred and smash it into harder to pick up pieces, a calling card we will leave for our great grandchildren.

An exercise in futility perhaps? I have been told to change the things I have control over, to accept the things I cannot change, and to have the wisdom to know the difference. Perhaps wisdom is not a trait I have matured into at this age, for I cannot see, for the life of me, why certain things like this are tolerated. That and water wasting (look for a future post along with video. Yay!)

So back to the sandpit... the really dirty, festy, render-me-an-ear-infection one. It's no wonder property prices on this beach are lower than anywhere else in the state that has a direct water frontage. It's no wonder no one swims. Except all those kids in shirts and jeans..... (now, now)
So what is the solution in my opinion?
Eliminate the Breakwater, at least in part, and institute an environmental awareness campaign that actually ENFORCES (a strange word around these parts) the legislature. The rest will sort itself out naturally.

Until then, I will run and cough and splutter and be generally pained by the level of apathy.

I will enroll in a yoga class (ironically, I just typed yoda class), to deal with my inner demons.

I will continue to sporadically volunteer for the CLEAN ALAMITOS BEACH, 2nd Saturday of every month pelican-walk (or was it flamingo? Or pigeon?) Regardless, I will trudge the sand for about an hour whilst passers-by mutter 'I wonder what he did?' I figure cleaning this place up seems so banal to most that the only way I would do it would be through mandatory community service.

I will continue to stoop and pick up someone else's COLT 45 can, another's lip gloss and a over populated families $2.49 chicken and soda family value special.

I will cringe silently when I flick into the trash bag last night's euphoric, random, tight and dark encounter; yet thankfully safe, savored in a micro-thin, pink flavoured and studded prophylactic souvenir case and I will continue to fill more bags like this one (pictured).

Anyone know the sorority girl that may have lost this badge? I want to return her genetic souvenir too.... never know when that might come in handy. Woopty Woop Mutha Wooooot!