OKAY

It's been raining for two weeks now. Instead of getting better, it's getting worse. (raining more and more) I haven't complained yet, but I'm on holiday till Monday, it is becoming apparent that it is waiting for me to go back to work before the sun comes out again.

Spooky Scissors

I have a pair of those first aid type of scissors, the kind they cut a penny in half with on TV years ago. Exactly like the ones in the picture. Last night they were missing. I asked the OI Girl if she'd seen them, she said she just used them and they were right there. I couldn't find them, she came out and looked and she couldn't find them. I said "Oh well", slightly peeved. She went back in the room to email, a minute later I went back there. 5 minutes later, we both come to the kitchen and the scissors are right there, sitting on the counter, near the edge, way out in the open. No way they were there when we were looking for them.
The OI Girl was telling me the other day she was hearing some weird noises when she was home alone. I remember when I first moved into this apartment, that I'd occasionally hear the sound of someone exhaling very close to me, like they were hiding, holding their breath and couldn't hold it anymore. I wonder if we've got ghosties???

Scuba Divers Don't Eat Grouper

You can print this picture.

What Next?

Here I am at home, the OI Girl is at work, all my Inner Space friends have gone home, I have no studying to do.... I've been doing laundry and reading a book called Marley and Me. A book about a dog. The OI girl gave it to me. My dog is 7 years old, he's still a puppy to me but he already has a gray beard. At 7, in the book, the dog Marley is already really old.
It's the first book I've read since I started my class, 10 months ago. I used to always be reading a book.
Also, I have a nice black eye, I whacked myself in the face with my dive computer. I was pulling a tank out from under the seat on the boat and my computer on my wrist/hand (see picture below) touched my cheek, It didn't hurt or anything, but I got a black eye from it. I've been telling everyone the OI Girl beats me regularly.
It's kind of weird, I finished my class the same time I started vacation, I went diving every day the first week, now that is finished and I don't have a fixed schedule, a routine to go by. I've already caught myself saying aloud "I miss studying" . . . Twice. I think I'll take Spanish next. Again. Yo estudio espanol mucho, pero no hablo mucho porque no tengo opportunidad al practicar. The OI Girl speaks fluent Spanish.

Here's a picture of me taken underwater that I really like. I emailed a copy to my Mom.

Technically speaking

Technically, today is the last day of diving for inner space. Dang, it went fast. At least I didn't get sick like last year.
Today I am planning a deep dive, my deepest so far on the rebreather, 350 feet.
even though Inner Space is all but over, I still am off work till June 4th!

more than half way

Inner Space is already more than half way over. So far, it's been great! Fantastic dives every day.
The only thing that could improve would be the weather. It rains every day, and today is downright cold.
Here's a pic my friend took of the rain, hitting the water like bullets!

I hope it gets sunny and super hot, that's how I like it!

Inner Space pics

a picture at the hotel at the dive shop

sunset

A KISS rebreather

snapper fish

I've been diving two days now at Inner Space. It has been great so far, except today one guy got the bends, he has a skin rash after he came up, and I guess he was feeling some discomfort. The divemaster put him on oxygen and he went away in an ambulance. I'm sure he'll be OK, but he probably won't be doing any diving this week. Sorry. My dive buddy John is here and we've been having some great dives. He's probably diving right now but I'm home. I'm going to the airport in a while to pick up the OI Girl!!! She's coming back from New York today, and guess what? At the wedding she caught the bouquet . . .

PS: On my last two tests, I got a 92 and a 97, making my overall average a 92.1%

pre dive

Woke up this morning a little before 6, went to the dive shop and dropped off a bunch of tanks I should have dropped off days ago, now I'm back home, getting ready to go to the airport to pick up my dive buddy, John.
I've been in contact with the OI Girl, she's having a blast in NY. She just came out of the salon and she's sending me pictures of her hair.
That's it, I'll be diving all week now!

FINISHED!!!!

I have just completed my
Cleveland Institute of Electronics Course!!
I started July 19th, 2006 - I finished today,
May 18, 2007.
It took me 10 months, the time limit was
two years.
I was told by my student counselor that so far, I have a 91.96 Percent average-
(not including the results from the last two tests I just took, which I will get Monday, hopefully increasing my average!!!)
I am done!!
YIPPEE!!!!!!

I'm taking my dawg to the beach now!!

back

I'm back up and studying again. I'm wondering if I can be done by lunch!?!?!?

2 to go

I have been studying all day. I have two lessons to go. I am doing them both at the same time. There are like interrelated reviews. I want to finish them tomorrow.
I'm going to bed now. It is way past my 8:30 bedtime.

Today

Today is my last day of work before I go on Holiday!
I actually don't feel so excited about it though, I just took the OI Girl to the airport, she's going to the US for a few days for a friends wedding. I'll miss her. (I do already)

Friday a dive buddy of mine arrives from Jamaica, and Saturday a dive buddy of mine arrives from Virginia Beach. I will be diving a lot! A LOT!

US Navy History

I got this from Spence's Blog, A Sailors Life:

This may not be accurate, but it’s pretty funny and gives you an idea of what the old navy used to be like, (even before my time!)

The U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides) as a combat vessel carried 48,600 gallons of fresh water for her crew of 475 officers and men. This was sufficient to last six months of sustained operations at sea. She carried no evaporators.

However, let it be noted that according to her log, "On July 27, 1798, the U.S.S. Constitution sailed from Boston with a full complement of 475 officers and men, 48,600 gallons of fresh water, 7,400 cannon shot, 11,600 pounds of black powder and 79,400 gallons of rum."

Her mission: "To destroy and harass English shipping."

Making Jamaica on 6 October, she took on 826 pounds of flour and 68,300 gallons of rum. Then she headed for the Azores, arriving there 12 November. She provisioned with 550 pounds of beef and 64,300 gallons of Portuguese wine. On 18 November, she set sail for England. In the ensuing days she defeated five British men-of-war and captured and scuttled 12 English merchantmen, salvaging only the rum aboard each. By 26 January, her powder and shot were exhausted. Nevertheless, although unarmed she made a night raid up the Firth of Clyde in Scotland Her landing party captured a whisky distillery and transferred 40,000 gallons of single malt Scotch aboard by dawn.

Then she headed home.

The U.S.S. Constitution arrived in Boston on 20 February, 1799, with no cannon shot, no food, no powder, no rum, no wine, no whisky and 38,600 gallons of stagnant water.

GO NAVY!

Twas a good weekend

Good weekend, I swam in a half mile sea swim, and came in second in my age group. I got my third trophy!
This week I work till Wednesday and then I'm on vacation! It's Inner Space time again and I am READY to dive. I already whined about how little diving I've done in the past year so I won't do it again.

This morning I brought a bunch of sweet pepper plants, spider plants and some aloe plants into work to give away. I dropped the whole bunch face down on the floor. I think they'll be OK, but dammit, I was specifically trying to NOT dump them.
dats it.

Bonus

This morning I finished a lesson, I was freekin because I couldn't find the next one. I finally did find it, in the stack of lessons I've finished. I did it and didn't mark it off my list! BONUS!
Only 6 more to go!

A taste

Last night The OI Girl had a work related dinner party. It was the awards ceremony for a fishing contest. It was a nice dinner and fun.
I went to sleep sometime after 12:30 AM. At 3:30, when the alarm went off to study, I turned it off. I woke up at 6, light coming in the window. It was so great, to just wake up, without an alarm. I can't remember the last time I did that.
If I could have stayed in bed, it would have been nice, but I got up, and now I'm at work.
It was a taste of life after my course.
Now I have to find a time to study today.

dive more

I took off last week, now I'm back at work. Our receptionist quit. She was here longer than I have been.
I'm getting ready to go on vacation, in 10 days is Inner Space, the big rebreather dive week. I have barely been diving since Inner Space last year. Too much studying. I rekkon. That has to change. Do you remember when I used to dive? I need to dive more. remember when I used to dive?

Eight Lessons To Go

I have 8 lessons to go. It still seems like a long way, and, right now I have no feelings of excitement or anything at the prospect of finishing the course.
Eight more to go.
blah

Rain

It is raining, I can't remember the last time it rained.
It's because I have the day off. . . .
And I watered the heck out of all my plants yesterday evening.

New computer case

I bought a new computer case for my laptop. I was very careful, I took my laptop in and made sure it fit. There is a nice storage area in the lid and a special place for the charger and all. It was very nice.

I got it home and found the storage area in the lid is bogus. You can't put anything in it because then you can't close the lid.

I am so disappointed.

I can't take it back because I aleady peeled off the stickers and stuff. It's used already.

It's a Pelican 1490

titleless

I have a few days off this week. I'm not going back till Monday, but I need Monday off too, so I'll see what I can swing. I'm just studying, and so far haven't left the apartment.
I have 11 lesson sleft. I want to finish this course fast. bad.