Diving - Day 2 (136/365)

TIME: 3:30 PM
PLACE: Mermet Springs
SUBJECT: The Group

*~*~*

We finished off today with 2 dives.  The first dive we did compass navigation (a straight line out and back) and more stinkin' mask work (removal and replacement underwater - ugh!!!)  Once again, I powered through it and made it back up without too much struggle.

Me on the left, surviving the dive.

For the last dive, we swam above water across the quarry.  HH and I are bringing up the rear here.  If you look between us, you can see little red balls way out there in the quarry.  Look to the right of them - you can barely make out a white pole.

That's were we went.  

The Boeing 727 airplane form the movie "U.S. Marshals" is sunk there.  We descended with an instructor to explore around the fuselage.  The nose is at 50 feet, but we did not go down that far.  We only went to about 35' where there was a Jetski.  From there we made our way back past the Cessna (which I swam to yesterday) and then to the platforms by the primary dock.  It was a long swim in the murky water, but there were guidelines to follow and I had an instructor by my side and one just above me to make sure I went in the right direction and kept my buoyancy in the right spot.

I passed!  I am now Open Water Certified.

I am pretty proud of myself.
Yay me!!!

Diving - Day 1 (135/365)

 

TIME: 8:33 AM
PLACE: Mermet Springs, Belknap, IL
SUBJECT: View from the Deep Dock

*~*~*

Well, since I am posting this, it means I made it through the 1st day of the certification.

I had a few moments of panic during the mask flooding and purge on the 20' platform; I inhaled water and thought I was drowning, but I kept faith in the respirator, calmed myself down and completed it.

The visibility in the water was not the best - it was maybe 3 feet at the most.  The instructor said he had only seen it worse than this one other time(!).  On the bright side, he also said that if we can do this in this water, then all our other dives will be a piece of cake.  Hmmmmm.

I did get to see some bass and bluegill swimming around me. They got very close, so that was cool.

The wife of one of the people in our group was kind enough to take many photos and text them to me.  This is HH and I checking each others gear before going down to the dock.

And here I am stepping off the dock - or am I walking on water?  You didn't know I was that divine did you?

Here is HH going in as well - he hovers though.

Day 2 tomorrow!

Jack Beans (134/365)

TIME: 4:24 PM
PLACE: Home Office
SUBJECT: Jack's paw

*~*~*

Mr. Jack cannot jump up on my desk anymore because of his arthritis.

Instead, he enters the room and meows at me - very loudly too I might add. 

I pick him up and place him on the corner of my desk.

I like having him there.  Dirty little paws and all.

Pool (133/365)

TIME: 9:25 pm
PLACE: Sportsplex
SUBJECT: Pool

*~*~*

We had our last pool session tonight.

Next time we dive, it will be in the quarry for certification.

I can do this....right?

 

 

Wetsuited (132/365)

TIME: 12:18 PM
PLACE: Scuba World
SUBJECT: Me and HH

*~*~*

We were fitted for our wetsuits to wear this weekend during our open water diving certification.

These are 7mm (1/4") suits - they are for water temps between 59 degrees and 68 degrees..

 

We will also be wearing gloves, booties and a hood.

I will still probably be cold.

Hooray for the Archives (131/365)

TIME: 11 May 2010, 6:31 PM
PLACE: Little League Fields
SUBJECT: Bleacher seats

*~*~*

I was not in the mood to take any pictures today.

Here is one from the archives instead.

Sometimes I wish I could go back to those days. 

 

Love You Tessa (130/365)

 

TIME: 8:11 AM
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Tessa

*~*~*

We had to say goodbye to this sweet girl today.  Having her give us 17 years of head butts, purring, love, and resting bitch face made the goodbye all the more difficult.

StellaDella and Tessa grew up together and can't remember a time without her.  She is having a hard time with this.

We miss you so much already Tessa. You were the best girl. Even when you were grumpy.

 

Mother's Day (129/365)

TIME: 7:26 pm

PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: My kids

*~*~*

Love these guys.

My Graduate (128/365)

TIME: 10:46 AM
PLACE: Her Former Grade School
SUBJECT: DramaQueen

*~*~*

She is a college graduate!

She earned her degree in secondary education and plans on teaching social sciences in middle school.

She will be an excellent teacher and we are very proud of her!

Water Tower (127/365)

TIME: 7:01 PM
PLACE: Reservoir Park, St. Louis
SUBJECT: Compton Hill Water Tower

*~*~*

Originally built in 1898, this was a standpipe used to equalize water pressure for the water supply of the City of St. Louis. It was retired from use in 1929. 

A restoration was completed in 1999 and prior to COVID, it was open from April to November for tours.  Hopefully, it be able to re-open for tours again soon.  I'd like to take a tour and take photos from the top.  This one was taken from a moving car - HH was driving us north on S. Grand Avenue.

 

No Diving? (126/365)

TIME: 5:59 PM

PLACE: Recplex
SUBJECT: Oxygen cylinder, fins, boot socks, mask, snorkel & buoyancy control device (BCD)

*~*~*

Tonight we went underwater.

Not gonna lie, I have slight moments of panic when we first went down with the regulator.

However, I powered through all of the exercises, including switching to my buddy's 2nd stage regulator, filling the mask with water and clearing it, and having the air in the tank completely turned off for a moment. 

By the end I was feeling a bit more confident.

We have one more classroom session and one more pool session, then next weekend we have the big dive for certification.

I can do this.

Lights & Lines (125/365)

TIME: 7:50 pm
PLACE: Otts
SUBJECT: Side of building

*~*~*

We headed back to Otts tonight for Cinco de Mayo (Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla).

We each enjoyed a margarita and a plate of chimichangas with refried beans.

What Did I Sign Up For? (124/365)

TIME: 9:45 pm

PLACE: Scuba store
SUBJECT: Manual & Log

*~*~*

HH got an idea in his head we needed to do learn a new skill together.

What did he choose?

Open. Water. Diving.

We had our first of 2 classroom lessons tonight.  On Thursday we go to the pool with the equipment.

I hope I don't embarrass myself.

Monday Memory (123/365)

TIME: 3 May 2012, 7:48 PM
PLACE: Khoury League fields

SUBJECT: Sunset

*~*~*

9 years ago, in late April through June, we spent many evenings and weekend afternoons at these Little League fields.

Now, the Khoury League building and concession stand has been torn down. The fields are deserted. No one plays baseball in this location anymore.  

It makes me sad looking at the abandoned space where MonkeyBoy used to play ball.  It brings home the fact that my children are no longer little.  Times change and things are not what they used to be.

Cake and Cookie (122/365)

TIME: 11:58 am
PLACE: Otts
SUBJECT: Cake and Cookie

*~*~*

We had a little get-together to welcome back MonkeyBoy and to say goodbye to DramaQueen (she's moving out of state after graduation).

The bakery at the supermarket thought I was a bit nuts for wanting a cake with icing only on 1/2 of it, but they came through.  The un-iced part was actually pretty good.  I liked it better than the iced side myself.

May Day (121/365)

 

TIME: 7:51 pm

PLACE: Field across from the High School
SUBJECT: Butterweed

*~*~*

There are enough flowers here for everyone for May Day.

That is, if you like butterweed.

Best Belated Birthday Gift (120/365)

TIME: 11:55 am
PLACE: Airport
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy

*~*~*

MB called last night to let us know he was finally coming home.

I got to pick up my boy at the airport this morning.

That was the best belated birthday present I could have asked for.


So happy he is back safe and sound!

 

Birthday Level Up Bonus (119/365)

TIME: 9:33 am

PLACE: Home

SUBJECT: Birthday drawing

*~*~*

I hit Level 54 today.

I received the following bonuses for achieving this level : 

1. A drawing of Jack from StellaDella (above)

2. A Charcuterie platter from HH

3. A bouquet of purple roses was delivered courtesy of MonkeyBoy

4. A supper date with HH and DramaQueen.

It was a good day. 

It's Everywhere (118/365)

TIME: 7:13 pm
PLACE: Backyard
SUBJECT: Dog hair on flower

*~*~*

This photo is grainy.  In addition, the flowers were moving in the breeze, causing the blurring in the upper right.

But I did manage to capture the dog hair stuck between the petals of the flower in the middle left.

I think it's a Mulder hair.

Survivor (117/365)

TIME: 7:15 pm

PLACE: Backyard
SUBJECT: Hosta

*~*~*

My hostas survived last week's freak snow storm.

Hopefully, they will survive the being trampled by Mr. Mulder.

 

Let There Be Light (116/365)

TIME: 7:19 pm
PLACE: Stairwell
SUBJECT: Light fixture

*~*~*

We have been searching for a light fixture for the stairwell for quite some time.

We had one, but it used LED lights that could not be replaced; at least, we couldn't figure out how to replace them and the documentation that came with the light didn't tell us either.

So we've been in the dark on the stairs for over a year now.

The majority of the lighting we saw at the home improvement stores didn't have interior lights that shone down  as well as up.  There were plenty of exterior lights that had up and down lighting, but they looked like, well, exterior lights.

Then, one Saturday, I Googled like a mad woman and stumbled upon this website: Inmod
They had a wall sconce that met our requirements.  AND it takes light bulbs, so we can replace when they go out.  Glorious.

  

    

Happy Birthday Scully! (115/365)

TIME: 9:29 pm

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Scully

*~*~*

Miss Scully turned 3 years old today (That's 28 in human years according to this website).

StellaDella and I took her to White Cottage for a Scooby snack (we also brought one home for Mr. Mulder).

She was surprisingly well-behaved.

Happy birthday to a fellow Taurus.  No wonder we get along so well!

Empty Theatre (114/365)

TIME: 9:40 am
PLACE: Scottish Rite Valley of Southern Illinois
SUBJECT: Theatre seating

*~*~*

The local Scottish Rite is downsizing and selling their building and contents.

The content sale was today.  HH and I picked up a few things.

While there, I wandered into the auditorium/theatre to check out the colorful seating and flooring one last time.

  

 

Colorful Entrance (113/365)

TIME: 6:32 pm

PLACE: Casa Maria
SUBJECT: Entrance 

*~*~*

I needed puffy chicken tacos and a drink tonight.

Casa Maria never disappoints.

Globe Collection (112/365)

TIME: 10:19 am

PLACE: Home
SUBJECT: Globe collection

*~*~*

A portion of my globe collection in honor of Earth Day.

That little one on the bottom is mis-aligned.  I have tried to twist it to correct the maps, but it is stuck super tight.  It bothers me that South America is shifted.

Lettuce Give Thanks (111/365)

TIME: 7:24 PM
PLACE: Yard
SUBJECT: Lettuce

*~*~*

We survived the snow and freezing temps.

We even have some lettuce popping up.

April Snow (110/365)

TIME: 5:06 PM
PLACE: Front yard
SUBJECT: Squirrel in sand cherry

*~*~*

It's 4-20 and look at the that white stuff all over the place.  

Coincidence?

That's not right.

 

Preparing (109/365)

TIME: 6:40 pm

PLACE: Yard
SUBJECT: Cat litter containers

*~*~*

Yeah...I ending up feeling like shit today.  

I got the chills last night, and when I woke up, I felt like I was hit by a truck.  It even hurt to shower.

I still had to log on to work - I was the only supervisor available today.  That sucked.  But I powered through and felt much better by late afternoon.

Which was good.  We are supposed to have a hard frost and snow tomorrow. WFT?

My hostas just popped up and are surviving the dog's running all over them.  I'll be damned if I let a freak frost kill them now.  The peonies are getting covered with a sheet as well.  

 

Wallflower (108/365)

TIME: 10:41 am
PLACE: Yard
SUBJECT: Wallflower

*~*~*

SD & I received our 2nd Pfizer vaccination this morning.  Hopefully, if I end up feeling badly, it happens before tomorrow.

We shall see....  

Girders (107/365)

TIME: 7:45 pm

PLACE: St. Louis, Missouri
SUBJECT: Girders on McArthur Bridge

*~*~*

We took Dad to Pho Grand for dinner, then stopped at Ted Drewes for custard.

There was still some day light left when we drove east on the Poplar Street Bridge going into Illinois.

I experimented with the zoom on my cell phone camera.  It seems to work okay.

A Quick Trip (106/365)

TIME: 12:43 pm
PLACE: Red River Gorge, KY
SUBJECT: Our human guide and more importantly, our dog guide, Pepe

*~*~*

HH and I traveled to the Red River Gorge in Kentucky to paddle through an abandoned limestone mine in a clear kayak through SUP Kentucky.  Well, HH paddled and I sat in front.  That arrangement helped keep our marriage from ending in divorce.

Here's the official picture they took of us in the kayak...

Then on the drive back, I made him stop so we could hike a mile (uphill!) to Natural Bridge.

How you get to the top. 

There is a very narrow passageway

The view at the top

A nice quick trip.