Saturday, May 24, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Cozumel Vacation - Post 4
I know I have been back a whole week, but I thought I would go ahead and finish my dive reports. I hope I remember everything.
Day Four
The day started out nice. We woke up a little later than the day before but were excited to enjoy our last day of diving. As we laid out our gear, I was looking at my mom's gear trying to trim it down. Who likes so much stuff hanging off your BCD? What could we get rid of? What about the safety sausage and reel? Its so huge and bulky and after 5 years of carrying it, have we ever used it? No. Mom got onto me and said she'd always take it, so we geared up and headed for the boat. This morning, we were excited because even though we had been on small boats all week, today was even better because there were only 3 other divers with us. A small group, just what we like! We headed out to Santa Rosa Wall. Mom wasn't too excited about this because in 2002, when we were new divers, we were on Santa Rosa Wall when a very strong current started taking Mom up over the reef (shore side, which is better than down the reef ocean side). Since we were new, it was a bit of a panicky situation. Our group was headed through a swim through where we couldn't see them and I was trying to tow mom to the mouth of the swim through - against the current. We finally got there, but it was a struggle. We were later told that we could have just gone over the reef and followed the groups bubbles and met them on the other side - duh. Makes sense now - and if it ever happens again, that's what we'll do.
This trip we had been keeping an eye on the Dive Master and followed from afar. We had branched out to look for critters under rocks and such, and looking for good pictures. Today had been different though. Our Dive Master said the currents might be strong (remember I said the currents were wacko this month) so we decided to stay close to our group. We dropped in the water and weren't even 10 feet down when we felt how strong the current was. I had my camera with me, mom had decided to leave hers, but I knew I wouldn't be able to take any photos in a current like this. Besides that, it was stirring up the sand so there would have been a lot of back scatter - not good conditions for photos. So I just held on to my camera and started to enjoy the flight. But as we dropped onto the wall, the current was too fast to even enjoy the reef. I was just trying not to hit it (which I didn't) or run into other divers (which I didn't). It wasn't long after we were being swept along that another group (large group) was quickly following behind us, shore side, kicking up sand. With them kicking up sand, and the current carrying it, soon we were in a white out - a tornado of sand. It was then that Mom got the DM's attention and wrote on her tablet to abort the dive - it sucked! This was only about 6-8 minutes into the dive. The DM agreed and we started to abort. It was during or right after the white out that there was a sandy break between the wall and the current was going West (towards the ocean) and speeding through the break. I knew Mom wasn't strong enough to swim against the current, but we were both trying to go up and across it. I looked to my side to check on Mom, she was there with me, and I kept swimming. I made it up over the wall, was with the group and we were doing a safety stop (although the DM said we didn't really need to only being in the water for 10 minutes - even though we went 80 feet) - but we did anyways and as we did the group started spreading out due to the currents. This is why he said not to do the safety stop - because the currents were so bad that it would separate the group. As we were doing the 3 minute stop, I was looking for mom. 1, 2, 3, 4 me, and 5 the DM. Where's Mom? She must be above me or below me - she isn't the greatest at safety stop stillness. Above? No. Below? No. 1, 2, 3, 4 me, 5 the DM. I was kinda freaked out but I knew the best thing was to stay calm. She probably got mixed up in the other group. She's a smart diver. She'll stay with them until they surface and then call for our boat. When we surfaced, I went straight to the DM and asked where my mom was. He said she was behind us quite a ways and had surfaced. OK. That's good. She had her safety sausage - thank goodness. Boy am I going to hear it from her about that! We boarded the boat and began to look for her. It wasn't a short boat ride, but it wasn't long either. We finally saw an orange sausage poking up through the waves. And then we saw a yellow sausage 50 ft west of the orange. Well, she wasn't the only one that had to surface alone. She's going to be mad. She's not going to want to dive again. She was the yellow and we went straight to her. She was exhausted, and a bit upset, but didn't cry (that I saw). She was strong in the water and held it together until she got to the boat, where she had to take some time to relax.
She rested on the boat as we drove to Chaankanab where there would be little to no current. As a team, we had decided to finish our first tanks (we all still had 1500-2000psi left) and then dive our second tank at Paradise Reef. I was proud of Mom for wanting to do the next two dives. I would think she might be too scared to. Though, she has sworn off Santa Rosa Wall for good. Chaankanab was really nice. A relaxing dive after the one we just had. We saw several drum fish and even a baby pipe fish. (I'll post pictures later - since they are on my home computer).
Paradise was OK. It was relaxing, but we swam a large stretch of sandy bottom which was kind of boring. I was going to go ahead and surface, but then I saw more coral heads, so I descended back to the reef. More of the usual sights, but I did see a new something. At first I thought it was trash in the water, but as I got closer, I noticed it wasn't. I took a picture of it, wondering what it was. Later (a whole week later), I found out it was a Conch Egg Sack. Cool. Again, I'll post pics later.
When we got back to the hotel, we rinsed our gear and let it dry for packing. We showered and headed off to get massages! A great way to end our dive trip. They were so relaxing. We walked around town, ate, got Starbucks one more time (we only went twice!) and headed back to the hotel. I think we just went to bed, packed in the morning, and headed home.
Hope you enjoyed our dive trip tales and pictures!
Day Four
The day started out nice. We woke up a little later than the day before but were excited to enjoy our last day of diving. As we laid out our gear, I was looking at my mom's gear trying to trim it down. Who likes so much stuff hanging off your BCD? What could we get rid of? What about the safety sausage and reel? Its so huge and bulky and after 5 years of carrying it, have we ever used it? No. Mom got onto me and said she'd always take it, so we geared up and headed for the boat. This morning, we were excited because even though we had been on small boats all week, today was even better because there were only 3 other divers with us. A small group, just what we like! We headed out to Santa Rosa Wall. Mom wasn't too excited about this because in 2002, when we were new divers, we were on Santa Rosa Wall when a very strong current started taking Mom up over the reef (shore side, which is better than down the reef ocean side). Since we were new, it was a bit of a panicky situation. Our group was headed through a swim through where we couldn't see them and I was trying to tow mom to the mouth of the swim through - against the current. We finally got there, but it was a struggle. We were later told that we could have just gone over the reef and followed the groups bubbles and met them on the other side - duh. Makes sense now - and if it ever happens again, that's what we'll do.
This trip we had been keeping an eye on the Dive Master and followed from afar. We had branched out to look for critters under rocks and such, and looking for good pictures. Today had been different though. Our Dive Master said the currents might be strong (remember I said the currents were wacko this month) so we decided to stay close to our group. We dropped in the water and weren't even 10 feet down when we felt how strong the current was. I had my camera with me, mom had decided to leave hers, but I knew I wouldn't be able to take any photos in a current like this. Besides that, it was stirring up the sand so there would have been a lot of back scatter - not good conditions for photos. So I just held on to my camera and started to enjoy the flight. But as we dropped onto the wall, the current was too fast to even enjoy the reef. I was just trying not to hit it (which I didn't) or run into other divers (which I didn't). It wasn't long after we were being swept along that another group (large group) was quickly following behind us, shore side, kicking up sand. With them kicking up sand, and the current carrying it, soon we were in a white out - a tornado of sand. It was then that Mom got the DM's attention and wrote on her tablet to abort the dive - it sucked! This was only about 6-8 minutes into the dive. The DM agreed and we started to abort. It was during or right after the white out that there was a sandy break between the wall and the current was going West (towards the ocean) and speeding through the break. I knew Mom wasn't strong enough to swim against the current, but we were both trying to go up and across it. I looked to my side to check on Mom, she was there with me, and I kept swimming. I made it up over the wall, was with the group and we were doing a safety stop (although the DM said we didn't really need to only being in the water for 10 minutes - even though we went 80 feet) - but we did anyways and as we did the group started spreading out due to the currents. This is why he said not to do the safety stop - because the currents were so bad that it would separate the group. As we were doing the 3 minute stop, I was looking for mom. 1, 2, 3, 4 me, and 5 the DM. Where's Mom? She must be above me or below me - she isn't the greatest at safety stop stillness. Above? No. Below? No. 1, 2, 3, 4 me, 5 the DM. I was kinda freaked out but I knew the best thing was to stay calm. She probably got mixed up in the other group. She's a smart diver. She'll stay with them until they surface and then call for our boat. When we surfaced, I went straight to the DM and asked where my mom was. He said she was behind us quite a ways and had surfaced. OK. That's good. She had her safety sausage - thank goodness. Boy am I going to hear it from her about that! We boarded the boat and began to look for her. It wasn't a short boat ride, but it wasn't long either. We finally saw an orange sausage poking up through the waves. And then we saw a yellow sausage 50 ft west of the orange. Well, she wasn't the only one that had to surface alone. She's going to be mad. She's not going to want to dive again. She was the yellow and we went straight to her. She was exhausted, and a bit upset, but didn't cry (that I saw). She was strong in the water and held it together until she got to the boat, where she had to take some time to relax.
She rested on the boat as we drove to Chaankanab where there would be little to no current. As a team, we had decided to finish our first tanks (we all still had 1500-2000psi left) and then dive our second tank at Paradise Reef. I was proud of Mom for wanting to do the next two dives. I would think she might be too scared to. Though, she has sworn off Santa Rosa Wall for good. Chaankanab was really nice. A relaxing dive after the one we just had. We saw several drum fish and even a baby pipe fish. (I'll post pictures later - since they are on my home computer).
Paradise was OK. It was relaxing, but we swam a large stretch of sandy bottom which was kind of boring. I was going to go ahead and surface, but then I saw more coral heads, so I descended back to the reef. More of the usual sights, but I did see a new something. At first I thought it was trash in the water, but as I got closer, I noticed it wasn't. I took a picture of it, wondering what it was. Later (a whole week later), I found out it was a Conch Egg Sack. Cool. Again, I'll post pics later.
When we got back to the hotel, we rinsed our gear and let it dry for packing. We showered and headed off to get massages! A great way to end our dive trip. They were so relaxing. We walked around town, ate, got Starbucks one more time (we only went twice!) and headed back to the hotel. I think we just went to bed, packed in the morning, and headed home.
Hope you enjoyed our dive trip tales and pictures!
Monday, May 19, 2008
House Update 05/18/2008
The tile in the hall bath is done! Just need to grout.
The master bath is being prepared...
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Cozumel Vacation - Post 3
Day Two (cont'd)
Not really much else to report for Day Two. I slept literally all afternoon. We got up around 6pm, showered, and went to dinner at Casa Mission. We werent really dressed for the occasion, but we didnt know. Food was good. Seafood... and of course, guacamole as an appetizer. Flan for dessert. Then we came back to the hotel, I watched the Hills (I know, I know) on the internet and then went to bed.
Day Three
Up early again this morning for more diving. Today it was Palancar Bricks and Tormentos in the morning. The first was a few swim-throughs and coral columns. I am really saddened that the reefs havent really recovered from Hurricane Wilma a few years ago. The reefs are still covered with sand and the famous Cozumel reefs are missing the color they once had. We havent really seen the sea life we once did either. No eels on our morning dives. Boo. Below are some pics. I didnt get to buy a red filter yesterday, but I used Mom's. Some of the pics are a little better, but I didnt take too many on this trip.
Lunch was Nachos and yes, guacamole. Love the stuff! Then I read some of Marley & Me by the pool (yes Rachael, I am finally reading it! and will return it soon!). We also watched What Women Want on TV as we waited for our next dive.
Tonight we did a night dive on Paradise Reef. There were too many other divers on the reef, but other than that it was a great dive. Oh, and the fact that my dive light died, but everyone else's light was enough. I got some GREAT shots on the night dive (night dives are always better for photography). Saw too many octupi to count. Some some sort of lobster - I forgot what he called them, but they look like humongus prehistoric cockroaches. Saw a spotted eel, a drum fish, a few crab, a flamingo tounge, and fish of course. Oh, and a toadfish. Oh, and a nurse shark. I really enjoy night dives!
Not really much else to report for Day Two. I slept literally all afternoon. We got up around 6pm, showered, and went to dinner at Casa Mission. We werent really dressed for the occasion, but we didnt know. Food was good. Seafood... and of course, guacamole as an appetizer. Flan for dessert. Then we came back to the hotel, I watched the Hills (I know, I know) on the internet and then went to bed.
Day Three
Up early again this morning for more diving. Today it was Palancar Bricks and Tormentos in the morning. The first was a few swim-throughs and coral columns. I am really saddened that the reefs havent really recovered from Hurricane Wilma a few years ago. The reefs are still covered with sand and the famous Cozumel reefs are missing the color they once had. We havent really seen the sea life we once did either. No eels on our morning dives. Boo. Below are some pics. I didnt get to buy a red filter yesterday, but I used Mom's. Some of the pics are a little better, but I didnt take too many on this trip.
Lunch was Nachos and yes, guacamole. Love the stuff! Then I read some of Marley & Me by the pool (yes Rachael, I am finally reading it! and will return it soon!). We also watched What Women Want on TV as we waited for our next dive.
Tonight we did a night dive on Paradise Reef. There were too many other divers on the reef, but other than that it was a great dive. Oh, and the fact that my dive light died, but everyone else's light was enough. I got some GREAT shots on the night dive (night dives are always better for photography). Saw too many octupi to count. Some some sort of lobster - I forgot what he called them, but they look like humongus prehistoric cockroaches. Saw a spotted eel, a drum fish, a few crab, a flamingo tounge, and fish of course. Oh, and a toadfish. Oh, and a nurse shark. I really enjoy night dives!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Cozumel Vacation - Post 2
Day Two
We work up this morning early to board the dive boat at 8am. We dove the Palancar Caves and the Cedral Wall. Both dives were nice, but the Cedral Wall was a little too swift for pictures. I did get a picture of a turtle and the ramora that was trying to attach to my fins.
We were in small fast boats, which we usually dont do, and had to do a backroll off the side of the boat to get in. I dont know why, but this always makes me nervous. Guess I am going to learn to enjoy it this week. Also, I never thought the day would come when the tables would be turned and we would be the experienced divers amongst the newbies, but it came today. At least these newbies were good ones. They probably hated us though because we dont suck our air as fast as they do. This is good for us, especially since the divemaster lets us use our tank instead of going up with everyone else - so each dive was 45-60 minutes. Nice and relaxing. I'll post the dive details later.
Here are some pictures, though not great because I didnt take my strobe down and I didnt have the red filter on my camera. I think this afternoon I am going to find the Ikelite dealer here and see if they have a filter I can buy.
We work up this morning early to board the dive boat at 8am. We dove the Palancar Caves and the Cedral Wall. Both dives were nice, but the Cedral Wall was a little too swift for pictures. I did get a picture of a turtle and the ramora that was trying to attach to my fins.
We were in small fast boats, which we usually dont do, and had to do a backroll off the side of the boat to get in. I dont know why, but this always makes me nervous. Guess I am going to learn to enjoy it this week. Also, I never thought the day would come when the tables would be turned and we would be the experienced divers amongst the newbies, but it came today. At least these newbies were good ones. They probably hated us though because we dont suck our air as fast as they do. This is good for us, especially since the divemaster lets us use our tank instead of going up with everyone else - so each dive was 45-60 minutes. Nice and relaxing. I'll post the dive details later.
Here are some pictures, though not great because I didnt take my strobe down and I didnt have the red filter on my camera. I think this afternoon I am going to find the Ikelite dealer here and see if they have a filter I can buy.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Cozumel Vacation - Post 1
Day Zero
The weekend before we left, I worked really hard in the backyard clearing out branches. (Thanks Mom and Mel for helping on Sunday). On Saturday, I worked all day and it got pretty hot, so I ended up taking my tank top off and just working in my sportsbra (I realize it probably isnt the best look for me, but it's my backyard and I can do what I want). Lets just say it wasnt the wisest decision and you shouldnt get sunburt BEFORE you go on vacation!
Day One
We got up super early this morning because Mom beleives in the "get to the airport 3 hours before for international flights" rule. I think she's crazy, but there I was, getting up at 4:30am for an 8am flight. Ugh. Thankfully there was an Einstein Bagels in Terminal D so we got some yummy breakfast. Being dreadfully tired, we got on the plane (cramped and sardined I might add as we were on Champion Air, a charter flight) and opted for sleeping over a movie. We were quite suprised, I might add, at the security of the plane (or lack thereof) as we saw the door to the cockpit wide open, and they let Mom check both her bags and mine and get my boarding pass while I was parking the car - so they never even saw me. Great. They are closing operations at the end of the month, so I am sure they dont really care.
Once we arrived in Cozumel, we got on the shuttle to go to the hotel when Mom started saying hello to everyone in the van. It was ackwardly quiet, so she was just trying to liven things up. After talking with her seatmates, she found out that she knew one of them! A lady from Wichita Falls that used to be in Mom's Sunday School class when she taught college at FBC when I was jut born. There is more to the story, but you'll have to ask me about it. Small World though.
We got to the hotel and checked in. I showered quickly as I got up before the sun and felt grimy after being on the plane. Then we were off to eat lunch at the restraunt next to the hotel. Not bad. And they have our favorite thing: Guacamole. (a little too much lime in it, but still yummy!) Then we checked our email with the free wifi in the hotel - we are loving that!
We talked with the dive shop about doing a shore dive to reacclimate ourselves with the water and diving, and to check to see how much weight we would need, but they had told us that over the last week the currents had been very finiky and strong and as they looked out to the bouys, they advised against diving right now. So we went back to our room and decided to watch a movie (Harry Potter 4) but we both fell asleep. A nap was a good thing. We woke up around 5ish and checked the currents again. Good to go. We geared up and headed out. We are right off the Villablanca wall, but didnt go out that far. We stayed close to shore, so there wasnt a lot of coral to see, but there was plenty sealife! We saw a lobster up close to the shore, 2 eels, some hermit crab type crabs, some arrow crab, some other sort of crab that buried himself in the sand, a huge blowfish, a trumpet fish, a drum fish, a peppermint shrimp and lots of regular fish. It was nice and relaxing. No underwater camera today. The current picked up right as we headed back in, so swimming back to shore was a little more tedious than I would have liked, but the dive was nice and relaxing.
After diving, we took a dip in the pool (also very relaxing) and then showered and headed to town. We stopped in at the local Chedraui (store like walmart) but didnt get anything (they didnt have Mojitos). I wasnt too hungry, but Mom wanted to eat something. We headed toward the large square that the cruise ships stop at (Senor Frogs, Carlos and Charlies, HardRock) and saw a new place there - STARBUCKS! I know, I know, I am not in USA and should "taste the culture" - well, we'll eat Mexican food, dont worry about that, but my Grande Carmel Frapp was good. And we got a panini there (though, I dont think I would really call it a panini). We walked back home and my feet are tired (all I brought was Croc flipflops). And now here I am, sitting on the shore in a lounge chair, writing on my blog to all you poor souls that have to work this week! :) hehe. Adios! I'll write again Manana!
The weekend before we left, I worked really hard in the backyard clearing out branches. (Thanks Mom and Mel for helping on Sunday). On Saturday, I worked all day and it got pretty hot, so I ended up taking my tank top off and just working in my sportsbra (I realize it probably isnt the best look for me, but it's my backyard and I can do what I want). Lets just say it wasnt the wisest decision and you shouldnt get sunburt BEFORE you go on vacation!
Day One
We got up super early this morning because Mom beleives in the "get to the airport 3 hours before for international flights" rule. I think she's crazy, but there I was, getting up at 4:30am for an 8am flight. Ugh. Thankfully there was an Einstein Bagels in Terminal D so we got some yummy breakfast. Being dreadfully tired, we got on the plane (cramped and sardined I might add as we were on Champion Air, a charter flight) and opted for sleeping over a movie. We were quite suprised, I might add, at the security of the plane (or lack thereof) as we saw the door to the cockpit wide open, and they let Mom check both her bags and mine and get my boarding pass while I was parking the car - so they never even saw me. Great. They are closing operations at the end of the month, so I am sure they dont really care.
Once we arrived in Cozumel, we got on the shuttle to go to the hotel when Mom started saying hello to everyone in the van. It was ackwardly quiet, so she was just trying to liven things up. After talking with her seatmates, she found out that she knew one of them! A lady from Wichita Falls that used to be in Mom's Sunday School class when she taught college at FBC when I was jut born. There is more to the story, but you'll have to ask me about it. Small World though.
We got to the hotel and checked in. I showered quickly as I got up before the sun and felt grimy after being on the plane. Then we were off to eat lunch at the restraunt next to the hotel. Not bad. And they have our favorite thing: Guacamole. (a little too much lime in it, but still yummy!) Then we checked our email with the free wifi in the hotel - we are loving that!
We talked with the dive shop about doing a shore dive to reacclimate ourselves with the water and diving, and to check to see how much weight we would need, but they had told us that over the last week the currents had been very finiky and strong and as they looked out to the bouys, they advised against diving right now. So we went back to our room and decided to watch a movie (Harry Potter 4) but we both fell asleep. A nap was a good thing. We woke up around 5ish and checked the currents again. Good to go. We geared up and headed out. We are right off the Villablanca wall, but didnt go out that far. We stayed close to shore, so there wasnt a lot of coral to see, but there was plenty sealife! We saw a lobster up close to the shore, 2 eels, some hermit crab type crabs, some arrow crab, some other sort of crab that buried himself in the sand, a huge blowfish, a trumpet fish, a drum fish, a peppermint shrimp and lots of regular fish. It was nice and relaxing. No underwater camera today. The current picked up right as we headed back in, so swimming back to shore was a little more tedious than I would have liked, but the dive was nice and relaxing.
After diving, we took a dip in the pool (also very relaxing) and then showered and headed to town. We stopped in at the local Chedraui (store like walmart) but didnt get anything (they didnt have Mojitos). I wasnt too hungry, but Mom wanted to eat something. We headed toward the large square that the cruise ships stop at (Senor Frogs, Carlos and Charlies, HardRock) and saw a new place there - STARBUCKS! I know, I know, I am not in USA and should "taste the culture" - well, we'll eat Mexican food, dont worry about that, but my Grande Carmel Frapp was good. And we got a panini there (though, I dont think I would really call it a panini). We walked back home and my feet are tired (all I brought was Croc flipflops). And now here I am, sitting on the shore in a lounge chair, writing on my blog to all you poor souls that have to work this week! :) hehe. Adios! I'll write again Manana!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Friday, May 09, 2008
Checking it Twice
Just thought I would lay out the tile to make sure I had enough of the small tile before Mom comes down. We didnt have enough of the large tile.
Monday, May 05, 2008
MS150 Brink's Rest Stop - 70's Theme
The Brink's Cycling Team (or some of them anyway)
The fruit Cutters!
House Update - painting cabinets
The stupid pole will be gone soon and the rest of the wood will be painted white as well.
I think they need a third coat. boo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)