Actually, I'm not very good at getting a self portrait but thought I would give it a try.
So this is the crazy woman in action.

This was taken in the bathroom mirror and then flipped so you could read the sign (well, part of it).
It says: Live Well... Laugh Often... Love Much

The sign was given to me by the Free Advice Guy at White Rock Lake in Dallas.
Sorry... I'm afraid there is another story coming.

So these two guys have been coming to the northwest shore of White Rock Lake in Dallas every Sunday for 18 years. I read about them but never actually saw them.
I think maybe they have only missed a couple times in the past 18 years.

I was wandering around the lake just looking for a photo op when I saw the two flags and the big sign saying "Free Advice".
Heck yeah! I could use some free advice so I went over and pulled up a lawn chair and Roddy introduced himself and engaged me in conversation.

His advice he explains is from the heart and he is a very gentle soul.
Anyone is welcome to join the group but only he and the person receiving advice are allowed to speak.
If people want to have other discussions then there is another group of chairs a little ways away where you can do so.

He does not give you answers to your problems but rather makes you more introspective about your own wants and needs.
There is no hurry and he is very observant as he talks with you.
In the end, I think you leave with a better feeling about yourself and perhaps have more direction to your life.

At the end of the conversation, he told me that he felt that I was a fascilitator as I seemed to encourage people to do better and that I celebrated their success, which I think is very true.
He gave me the sign that hangs behind me in the photo.
I felt so awkward taking the sign but the fella sitting next to me said to take it... that this is what the advice guy does.

So I sat there as others came and discussed their troubles and before I knew it, I had been sitting there for nearly 4 hours in 100° temperatures.
It was not only free advice but free entertainment in a strange sort of way.
One woman's story nearly brought me to tears. Funny how people will open up to Roddy.
Many times he would reach into his bag and pull out a book, or a video or a special coin to give to someone, and I venture to say, that his offerings will be cherished in a special kind of way.

It was all so fascinating, that I returned the next two Sundays to listen again and sat in the blistering heat to hear more of his good advice.

To read more about the "free advice" guy and to see some of my photos, go to:
http://theinquisitiveeye.zenfolio.com/blog