Author: Bill

Yes – I am still expounding on the first of the month… for reasons I’ll probably never get….. I like the sound of ‘the One-th‘…….  Up after a reasonable nights sleep – and in town a little earlier than usual to resume taking pictures of a Rescue Diver course…… a couple of hours of class work and hands on training, before moving out into the water for practical application. Once we got into the water – I went from the ocean floor to the surface so many times….. I actually lost count of the number of times I went up and down. Fortunately- none of the trips to the bottom was more than 25′-30’ so the up and down did not do a lot of harm to my body…… I will log them all as one compilation dive….. 1 dive for ‘X’ number of minutes….. fortunately… my dive computer will do that math for me. The couple doing the dives got put through their paces plus some extra……. Again, it is so much fun to watch everybody else doing that instead of me – although I did get a pretty good workout today trying to get ‘that perfect shot’ that I’m sure my employer is looking for. Now that I have the pictures edited – I’m 99.9999% sure I have a ton of pictures she is going to be really happy with. LOVE my new camera……..!

Back at the house… gear rinsed…. I inhaled my double quarter pounder from yesterday [and still hungry] and having drinks while I chat with you all. Had a fun conversation with neighbors while out smokin’ a cigarette when they came home. Now back in trying to get you all close to 500 words.

I have an appointment with Doc in the a.m. – trying to get my BP under control. Will probably stop and have a drink or 6 at Blues while we’re back in that part of the island – then I want to swing out past another dive shop and look at lights and a tray for my camera……. depending on the number of drinks I have had, will probably determine whether I come home with a new lighting system for my camera  😉 Right now, I am in serious need of a shower and some sleep – so some shots from today……… May try and get some random shots tomorrow – as I know there are several of you that like them……

Good Night Ya’ll ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) Thankx for stopping in~!

Up bright and early after a wonderful nights slumber in that oh so wonderful conditioned air. Even though we had a pouring rain in the middle of the night – our usually ever present trade wind across the island has been mostly absent and even though it rarely ever gets over 90° here, without that wonderful breeze – it can get down right stuffy. Getting the little A/C for our bedroom was definitely a good call, as it allows for the much needed comfortable nights sleep us old fogey’s need….. well, at least me anyway.

Plan was to go car shopping today for my Bride, after the island ‘kids‘ got done using my truck……… My bride made us a scrump-dilli-icious breakfast while waited…. only to be pinged and said use of truck plans were cancelled for the day. No worries – we finished up what we needed around here and headed out looking for vehicles……. jeezus what a joke on this island. We checked out several places, only to give up and stop at Blues.  Actually a good thing we did, as during normal bar conversation we came upon what sounds to be exactly the car [in our price range] that we were looking for, for my Queen. Conversation and plans in place to check it out as soon as it available. So we sat and chatted with friends we haven’t seen in a while and just had a ball. Sure was great to be hanging out there again~! We sat there until I was at the point where I was going to have to switch to water….. which I really didn’t want to do – but luckily, my bride was ready to go at that point, so we settled up our bill and headed out. Good, good times……..

I was mostly hungry by that point and in serious need of something solid in my belly – so I took the long way back and swung into one of our local McDonalds. We got our meal reasonably quick [for island time] less than 15 minutes and we were on out way. I munched on 2 Filet-0-Fish sammiches and a medium order of fries while I called the v-e-r-y slow driver in front of me all kinds of names. In all fairness though…. I was also trying to deal with someone calling me on the phone (4 different  times….Angie was answering the phone so be quiet girls) plus answering questions from a FB message….. not an ideal situation to enjoy a long anticipated Mickey D’s meal…… but we finally made it back, without hitting anyone, although admittedly, I did yell out the window a couple of times….. we’re back now and safe – mostly full (I hate to admit my double quarter pounder will have to wait until probably after diving tomorrow)….. I have gulped a bottle of water [and 3 Excedrin] and am now trying desperately to make sense while I type this. I opted out of apple pies from McD’S (which they’re usually out of anyways) so I can have yet another piece of the delicious cake my Honeybear sent me for Fathers day. Now I am one of the original junk food junkies…. but let me tell you….. this cake is soooooo rich….. how rich is it??? OMG – I am down to one little sliver at a time when I have a piece – but I ain’t giving up~! Got another contract to shoot more pictures with a local dive shop…. so back to work tomorrow [under water] — Woo-hoo~!!!

Good Night Ya’ll* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thankx for stopping in~!

My cake from my Honeybear~~~ <3

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Why yes – those are air fresheners hanging from that bush…… No – I have no friggin’ idea why……..

Up and at it early this morning, to get ready for my final day of the Divemaster training….. turned out, all that was left was final signing of paperwork…. but I dutifully captured it on my camera [started to say on film] 😉  The instructor invited me to tag along on the next class he was starting after lunch…… and well, I was there…. I had my gear and my camera’s….. so what the heck. I hung around waiting for class to start. As it turned out… another instructor was teaching an Open Water class…. so I slid on over and popped off several pictures of him and his class while I waited. Finally in the water for the newest Rescue Diver class. Having been through that class – I felt a little more at ease, knowing what was coming and what to expect. It made taking pictures a little bit easier too, as I knew the procedures, which made it easier for me to know what position to be in to get the best shots. I also managed to sneak in a couple of minutes of playing with my camera while the students did their search patterns…. which would have basically been pictures of people swimming….. so I played with my camera for a little bit — couple of cool shots out of of the dozen or so I took. I can’t hardly wait for some fun dives to toy with the camera…….. I spent the rest of the day, once again chasing students around under water and watch them getting put through their paces. Instructor finally wrapped it up and we headed back for the shop.

Back here….. gear rinsed, me showered, a bite to eat and editing now done….. looking forward to spending the day with my Queen tomorrow looking for another vehicle for her…. may have to stop by Blues and have a drink or six before heading back to this end of the island. Island kids need to borrow the truck tomorrow morning before we head out – so looking forward to a nice slow start to the day. For now though…. glad the day is done and looking forward to some nice conditioned air sleep. Will try and snap some ‘out and about’ photo’s tomorrow….. but not promising anything…… lot’s of pictures from today to share in case I don’t get any taken tomorrow.

Good Night Ya’ll + + + + + + + + + + + + Thankx for stopping in~!

REALLY slow day today after a presentable night’s sleep and a nice breakfast. Not feeling in tip top shape…. I opted not to go for a walk today…..I will resume them though~! Decided I do need to make that dive tomorrow — re-reading my schedule – it is a ‘fun’ dive for the guys in the class to celebrate finishing their course – and if I don’t take some pictures of that, it just won’t feel like I completed my job correctly….. plus I get to dive. 😉

Not going to bore you with the rest of the day….. so I’m out. Some older pictures from Curacao……

Good Night Ya’ll – – – – – – – – – – – – – Thankx for stopping in~!

Helping out island ‘kids‘ today…… we were up, ate and in town early enough to take over the business of taking folks on an ATV tour of our gorgeous rain forest and mountains here on the West end of the island……. true to island time — almost everybody was late showing up for their appointment – but we finally got them all in, paperwork signed, pictures taken (a couple of them had a birthday) and on their way……. Pretty sure I could not adequately do this job all year long (365) – but so far, the amount of times I am being put to work is more than tolerable…… I guess putting up with some of these yahoo’s is my issue – but I [mostly] happily work on my attitude toward them.  Just wish folks would admit – they don’t know how to ride and go from there instead of being the cowboys they wish they were. First tour had a couple of birthdays to celebrate – and even though birthday girl manage to launch her a$$ into the weeds once – it turned out to be a mostly fun [albeit REALLY slow] tour. I am confident they all had a good time – even though no one bothered to tip to show gratitude…… but you’ll have that too every now and again. Second group was equally fun [but even slower] and I’m equally sure they all had a good time – which, when it comes right down to it, is the most important thing – besides the fact we get them all back safely……………. I’m just glad the day is over….. because after 4+ hours of sucking down dust (yes I wear a mask) – another ½ hour of cleaning machines before putting them up – I ‘get’ to come back to the house and spend another 2+ hours editing pictures and getting them put up on FB. Be clear — I am not complaining….. because for me, this is a means to an end…… the better I get at my photography…. the more I will be able to charge [and get] down the road…….. and I  am willing to ‘pay that price’ now….. You don’t get that corner office right off the bat unless you work for it [or know somebody]….  😉

Nothing planned for tomorrow…….. I have been invited to join the Dive Master/Instructor class for a non-class dive Monday…. course – I am welcome to take pictures ”if I want”.  😉  I may do it, simply because it already feels like ”forever” since I have been in the water. I also need to get my happy touchas back on the road walking some more……. I have to get some of this gut burned off of me so I can make a pig of myself when we finally get back to the states and I can get into Turoni’s…….. :-)~  For now tho – I’m out…… sharing some pictures from today’s adventures……..

Good Night Ya’ll * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thankx for stopping in~!

Shortly after I logged off last night – dude called me back and said he found a ‘mobile’ Notary Public who was still working and she would run out to this end of the island yet that night. So I agreed to meet them in town — she was late in true island fashion, but soon showed up – got the paperwork notarized and was on her way. Dude was amped and asked if he could come get the truck in the morning or next day, as his wife was not going to be available to drop him off. I knew he lived fairly close to us – so I offered to drive the truck up to his house if he would give me a ride back (I knew he was needing the truck for his work) He jumped at it and by 7:00pm had the truck delivered to his house (up a very fugly road) and back here having drinks with my Queen. He later admitted to me, that’s where he test drove the truck…… he wanted to make sure it could make it up the road to his driveway [[fugly~!]]  Anxious to bolster the balance of our checking account – I had Angie do a mobile deposit on the check……. only to find out, that the credit union has a $2500.00 limit on mobile deposits…….. Dammit Emmit~! A problem for the next day……. After a mostly FUBAR’d nights sleep for me….. a tasty breakfast, I settled into working on my ‘bills’ spreadsheet until 10:00, when I could call the bank (09:00 there) It took a couple of calls, but the young ladies there at HFCU put in an extra effort…. even though it took most of the day…. and got me a 1 hour window to mobile deposit our check for the truck…. we did it with 56 minutes to spare. A pretty great team there at HFCU~!

I am still trying to get a refund on the hotel where we were [supposed] to stay for our last visit back….. and I worked on that for a bit (not near the effort from the Fairfield team) – I sat and paid bills for most of July…… so that’s out of the way now — so I am hoping I can start doing a WHOLE lot of fun dives for a while and start ‘playing’ with my new camera and start learning and understanding some of it’s many capabilities.

We both are working in the morning for Gecko’s ATV tours – so the owners can spend that the early part of the day with a couple of their visiting Daughters that are going back to the states tomorrow. So – fun on the trails tomorrow for me [and naturally will be taking pictures] while my Queen runs the office….. then over the next week…car shopping for my Bride, a doctors appointment for me (BP follow up) and hopefully some fun diving~!

Good Night Ya’ll > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Thankx for stopping in~!

Up a little earlier than I would have liked – when I heard/felt my Queen get up to the alarm clock. She was getting up early to take the truck [DD 1.0] in for some general maintenance stuff. After she took off, I made myself a yummy breakfast and sat down to catch up on some odds and ends that needed tending to. She was back after a couple of hours and we spent the rest of the morning each quietly wrapped up in our own little world. I have been spending time mostly on web sites doing some homework on what kind of light system I think I need on my new camera. Lots of stuff to learn, but I’m getting there.

It got to be a little after noon and I got the phone call I was waiting on from dude who wanted to look at the truck. He showed up when he said he was, took the truck for a drive and asked a lot of intelligent questions. He wanted to discuss it with his wife but seemed really interested in it.  A couple of phone calls later and he confirmed he wants the truck~! By then it was well after 4:00 and he wanted to get the process started, but we needed a Notary Public to witness me signing the title over to him…. and at that time of the day on this island….. just ain’t gonna happen. So we’ll resume that process in the morning and hopefully by end of day tomorrow – DD1.0 will have a new home. Then I will need to take my bride out vehicle shopping. I do not like the idea of her being ‘stranded’ here without a set of wheels. We have lots of folks that would gladly come giver her a ride or let her borrow their vehicle – but it’s just not the same….. so that should be fun….. I think.

That’s really about it… a nice, slow, boring island day. Most of our heavy dust is gone from Africa and we now have our trademark beautiful blue skies back. It also makes breathing a little easier~! Not sure what tomorrow is gonna bring, but it’s usually fun finding out.

Good Night Ya’ll / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / Thankx for stopping in~!

I spent the bulk of today underwater with my new camera housing taking pictures of 5 guys who have had their collective a$$es worked off over the last 6 weeks working toward their Dive Master certificates. I’m glad and honored to have watched them complete their training today and earn their certs……… I took right at 300 pictures today just on my GoPro and ‘killed‘ myself to narrow it down to 85 pictures I deemed worthy of saving…… truth be told – there were only about 2 dozen that needed to be deleted – but I didn’t want to over whelm my ’employer’. I haven’t even loaded my ‘good’ camera pictures yet……. just too friggin’ tired and probably will wait until tomorrow to load them. Got home and had to contend with what sounds like a very interesting lead on the truck [selling it [[DD 1.0]], trying to get some kind of food in me….. turned out to be 2 nuked pieces of KFC and 2 nuked hot dogs…… probably not an ideal meal for an aging fat boy… but it was quick, easy, hot and reasonably tasty….. which pretty much hits all the requirements for a meal for me…….. First round of pictures loaded – and I’ll share some of them tonight…… for now – a shower and some shut eye. Dude is supposed to be by tomorrow to look at the truck – please keep your fingers crossed for us………

I am now once again officially ‘un-employed‘ – but neighbor [friend & dive shop owner] has already approached me about becoming a part-time staff photographer for them for their DSD’s (Discover SCUBA Dives) We talked about fees and expectations and came to an agreement – so looks like I am picking up some more work as an underwater photographer. My plan is to have enough of these type of gig’s to keep me diving [without paying for it] and make a couple of bucks in the process…… if I get good enough – so be it – and I can maybe start jacking my prices up a little bit………  😉

I think I’m gonna wrap it up here good peoples…… I’m half shot and ready to be clean, dry and in bed…………………………

Good Night Ya’ll………………………… Thankx for stopping in~!

I was hoping to sleep in this morning…… and that I did. Until just shortly after 08:00~ Ooh-Rah~!!! An appropriate amount of alcohol and 2 Advil PM’s probably helped along the fact I was worn out — but a solid night’s sleep I got~! Almost too solid, as I was dragging a bit….. but peacefully rested. My Queen made us a nice decent breakfast…. I opted out of the ‘nice big‘ breakfast…. maybe I am learning something. I spent most of morning/early afternoon on line, paying bills and getting caught up on stuff I have overlooked this past week. I had a notice from the USPS that said my camera housing was here [the one I have been chomping at the bit to get]….. but those notices often turn out to be ‘not true’…. misleading, inaccurate…  whatever you want to call it. I decided to wait until well after lunch to go up to the post office, hoping some of the crowd would be done getting their mail and I would actually be able to get a parking spot. Well, apparently, every other person on this end of the island had the same idea. OMG~! Long story shorten…. after circling the block several times – I parked at the bottom of the hill and hiked up to the post office……. jeez Louise….. I had the anticipated ‘call to window’ slip in my PO box….. and I dutifully donned my mask and took my place in line with about 2 dozen people…… utilizing social distancing, we were wrapped around almost the length of the building. About 30 minutes later…. I was strutting out the door with a box that clearly indicated it was my long awaited camera housing~! Now to get it back to the house and see if it was the right one.  It is….Yay~!!!! Now to get it in the water~! This will absolutely become my primary camera now and hopefully you will see/notice huge improvements in my picture quality.

We each made us a bite to eat (left overs night……  I hate throwing food away) Bellies full… my Queen is watching another Hallmark special and as soon as I get done with my evening ‘stuff‘ done- I’m going back to playing with my camera. I have to work again in the morning…. taking underwater pictures….. and now I’m really looking forward to using my new tool~~~  Hopefully will get a bunch of extra good shots~! (Below shots are with heavy ‘dust’ in the air and no red filter)  🙁

Good Night Ya’ll : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Thankx for stopping in~!

Up before I intended to be, compliments of what I can only describe as some pretty funky chicken…… yay varily….. my Fathers Day meal of KFC turned out to be the bad idea I suspected all along…… the chicken was a bit soggy and WAY over seasoned when I got it – but I was starving at that point and as I stuffed it down my gullet – it tasted mostly wonderful. Unhappy grumblings from my belly as I crawled booze laden and completely worn out from the day into bed, told me, that if I made it through the night without a ‘clenching’ run to the bathroom…. I was doin’ alright…….. so I made it…. but JUST barely…….   😉   Kinda like my beloved pizza now….. if I get onions on it- about 6-8 hours later it just absolutely ‘kills‘ me…… but I don’t care…. same with spaghetti sauce. If I can’t have those items…. well there just ain’t no sense hanging around~! (well – other than wives, Daughters, Grandbabies and all them other important folks in your life – but you get what I’m sayin’….. dammit – work with me here folks~!!) Today’s classes were both off the boat… which made me very happy – because my second dive of the day was going to be my 200th dive~! I think I touched on that last night – so I won’t expound on it – but during the second dive….. everybody on the dive, made it a point to find me and give me a fist bump or a high 5…. a very neat feeling~! A couple of the Dive Masters on the dive came up and took my camera away from me to take pictures…… just not sure if any came out yet (my little GoPro can be pretty finicky)…… been a long day and I am POOOOOOPED.…. and haven’t even started loading pictures yet….. you can bet your ears though – I will share them as soon as I get them loaded and edited. I made a really rookie mistake today…. by bailing into the water and THEN  realizing – I had left my red filter laying on the table…… DAMMIT EMMIT~! ( I had taken the filter off for shooting trail pictures and forgot to put it back on when I left this morning for diving…… what a SCHMO…… I just hoping I can edit that issue out. I’m just to worn out to mess with pictures tonight.

Tomorrow is my first day ‘off‘ in almost a [7 day] week – and I am excited~! I am looking forward to sleeping in – if only for a wee bit – a nice big breakfast – and not doing a %$#@! thing unless I want [other than edit pictures] The dive shop has asked me for all pictures taken so far [by tomorrow] – so I need to get that to her – but that’s not going to be an issue – but the rest of the day will be for just me and my Queen….. and I’m really looking forward to it until the following day – when I have to go back to work………. retired ?

Good Night Ya’ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thankx for stopping in~!