"Parker, Parker, Parker..."

It was around mid March of this year that I found myself back in Key Largo. There are a couple places within Outward Bound that hold special magic for me, and Key Largo is definitely one of them. It's the place where I got my ass handed to me by the Everglades. Then it became the place where I came storming back. It's the place where I was in awe of a couple of powerful mentors, and it's the place where I formed some phenomenal, can't-live-without-em friendships.

So it's a little different being back without all of those people. Other things that are different...well for starters turning in a canoe and a paddle for a desk and a computer. And...how about the four days in the field rather than 20? It threw me for a loop for a while, but then I realized that there are still a lot of adventures to be had. Kim and I  kicked off my month in the keys by spending St. Patrick's Day paddling into the mangroves, sneaking into a notorious OB instructor spot near the sea house. It was a day of a lot of natural greens.

I was really excited to get down to work when my team got to Key Largo. But pretty soon brief was over, they were in the field and I was faced with course from the other side. The thing that threw me for a loop right off the bat was going to see the Hunger Games on night one of course, a night when I'm usually teaching kids how to clean dishes over the grey water bucket and making sure they set up their healy hammocks the right way. But I soon settled into a routine of field visits, working in the office, and a general carpe diem attitude in regards to play time.

Heading out to River Visit

One night, Kelley and I went out to dinner. As we pulled up to the restaurant, we noticed a group of people near the water, taking pictures of something. The 'something' turned out to be the Logistics Coordinator of the Key Largo Base. Mike had gone out for a sunset paddleboard, which was a postcard-type moment for most of the visiting tourists. He then offered to let Kelley and myself paddleboard. We spent about ten minutes, trying to get on the board. Kelley got completely soaked and I nearly peed my pants laughing. After a quick change of clothes in the parking lot, we were off to Sharkey's. It always ends at Sharkey's.

I headed out to solo to see the team. It was a pretty fun couple of days that resulted in a lot of good pictures. When I returned to base, a storm hit the team and they were going to have to take a different route and really motor to get home in time. I was so nervous about them that I refused to post any pictures from solo until I knew they were home safe and sound. Turns out they rocked it and there was no need to worry anyways.

Colleen being supportive.

Trying to figure out knots.

Kristin and I have been lots of places together, but in the entire time we had been in Outward Bound we had yet to be at Highland together. It was a monumentous occasion, one that we toasted with diet orange soda over breakfast.

This was serious talk time. Two minutes later it was serious run around the beach and take pictures time. See below: the butts.

Team infectious waste. The butts.

Getting back to Key Largo meant getting back to some good friends. Jinky and Marnocha got into town just in time for a spectacular sunset, and Phil and I tagged along.

Our Special Day

Since I've known Kelley Taylor, we've endured butt injuries, crazy ass tropical storms trying to drown us, and at-risk kiddos with their strange medical afflictions and even stranger questions. We've nearly peed our pants laughing together so many times I've lost count. It's been six months of friendship. Today we took it to the next level and tried to achieve the perfect day. Or as it was also called: "Busack and K-Bot's DAY OF FUN!!!"

We got up this morning on a mission: to squeeze as much fun and adventures into a day as we could. The following tale is the result.

STEP 1: One or both participants must get tattoos...

Kelley woke up on a mission this morning to get a tattoo. When the Alex patrol (Tiberio and Busack) came out to watch, she said "Ok, which one of them will be leaving with ink today?" Sure enough, by the end of the day, Kelley and Alex both had tattoos. Don't worry, Mom, it was the other Alex...

Brandon getting started.

Halfway done.

Alex surprised us later in the day with a text saying he had gone back...and presto!

STEP 2: There must be a roadtrip of some sort, preferrably with a view of bright blue/green water...

Yahtzee.

Driving with the top down.

STEP 3: Dolphins

I'd had dolphins on the brain for days, making it difficult to get any work done. So after extensive research (1o minutes online and then a recommendation from Jinky) we decided on the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, FL. It was a bit of a drive (see Step 2) but it afforded us the chance to not only see real live dolphins frolicking around, but creepy giant ones out front as well (see Step 6).

Creepy dolphins out front.

Making a break for it. So long and thanks for all the fish.

Guy smiley.

So happy.

STEP 4: Flowers

Take pictures of flowers that you see, whilst yelling "Flower day!" and drawing attention to yourself as you snap away.

STEP 5: Pie

When you're in the Keys, this can mean only one thing: Key Lime Pie. And holy hell did we stumble upon a great Key Lime Pie at Ma's Fish Camp.

STEP 6: Find a roadside attraction, preferably something terrifying

Fortunately the Florida Keys have abundant resources of such things. You usually have to drive no more than 10 miles north or south to find a critter or animal enlarged to epic proportions.

Lobster apocalypse? Not concerned.

STEP 7: Cap off the day with drinks during a SPECTACULAR sunset

Anything less than spectacular is unacceptable, so that magic hour on either side of 7:30 p.m. can make or break your perfect day. We lucked out this time, and were joined by some good friends at the Big Chill for appetizers and beers as the sun set over Florida Bay.

So now that the perfect day is over, what else do we have to look forward to? We asked ourselves the same question and decided that this will be perfect day #1 of 4 for 2012. We've decided to call it the FANTASTIC FOUR. Our next perfect day will take place in Kelley's home town of Boone, NC. #3 will take place in my hometown of Olympia, WA. And the grand finale is scheduled for somewhere in Belize. Stay tuned.